POLITICAL HISTORY OF CHILI. 227 
however, had no confidence in him, and prepared for the coming 
struggle. Santa Cruz's minister returned to Peru. He was followed 
by the Chilian fleet, having a high diplomatic agent on board, with 
the government sine qua non, viz., the abandonment of the Con- 
federation, and the restoration of the independent sovereignties of 
Peru and Bolivia. Santa Cruz refused to receive a minister attended 
by an armed force, which had the appearance of a menace. In vain 
did the Chilian minister offer to send them away, and remain in the 
smallest vessel of the squadron, saying the latter was merely to guard 
against a repetition of Freyre's expedition. Nothing was done. The 
Chilian minister returned home, and Chili then declared war against 
the Confederation, on the 12th of December, 1836. Freyre's attempt 
was crushed in August, 1836. 
Chili became sensible too late, of her error in not protesting at 
first against the armed interference of Santa Cruz in the affairs of 
Peru, by not doing which she tacitly assented, and thus encouraged 
him. But, occupied with her internal concerns, she heeded little 
what was passing around her, and had not Freyre's expedition been 
fitted out in Peru, Santa Cruz's plans of government would have 
been unmolested. She felt too late that no confidence could be placed 
in her new neighbours. Bent, therefore, on his downfall, an expedi- 
tion against him was planned, composed of naval and land forces, and 
numerous banished Peruvians living in Chili were permitted to 
join, who formed themselves into a separate body, under General La 
Fuente, a distinguished Peruvian revolutionist. The first ill effects 
of a revival of a military spirit in Chili were now experienced. As 
before mentioned, one of the reforms of the government was the 
reduction of the army to a number barely sufficient to protect the 
southern frontier against the Indians. To create a force, therefore, 
it became necessary to raise recruits in every direction. Congress 
being in session, granted extraordinary powers to the President, a 
very necessary step to give effect to executive decrees. 
The following is a translation of a decree of the President, issued 
by Portales, as Minister of the Interior, at the breaking out of the war : 
Department of the Interior. 
In consequence of the power that the 43d and 82d articles of the 
Constitution have conferred upon me, I have well considered and 
approved the following resolution of the National Congress. 
1 st. He who has been condemned to remain in a particular part of 
