POLITICAL HISTORY OF CHILI. 213 



Admiral Blanco was next named President by the Congress then 

 in session, and Don Augustin Azyguine Vice-President. Blanco was 

 one of the vainest of men. Fortunately for the country, he was so 

 much mortified at the opposition shown to some of his fancies, that he 

 resigned, two months and three days after his appointment. The 

 Vice-President succeeded him. Such dissensions, however, prevailed, 

 that he also became disgusted and resigned. Pinto was charged with 

 the presidency, which he exercised from the 5th of May, 1827, till 

 14th July, 1829, when, on the plea of ill health, he resigned, and went 

 to his estate. 



In conformity with a law of 1826, the President of the Senate acted 

 as president until the middle of October, when the elections took place, 

 and General Pinto was returned to the office. During his acting 

 presidency, two military revolts had occurred, and the country was 

 full of factions. As the elections to Congress were considered to have 

 been illegally conducted, the general opposition to its measures was 

 ascribed to that cause. Pinto, therefore, on being elected, informed 

 them, that he would only accept on condition that the Congress should 

 be dissolved, and that new elections, according to the constitution, 

 should take place. They did not concur in this, when he declined 

 occupying the office, and it went begging again. Vicunea, President of 

 the Senate, entered upon the duties of President ; the clamours through- 

 out the country increased; the whole population was in movement, a 

 party behind pushing it on. Town meetings were held, and repre- 

 sentatives sent to Santiago. 



The government refused to receive their committee, and on this 

 being communicated to the meeting, a junta gobernativa was ap- 

 pointed, and the country was pronounced to be against the Congress, 

 as an unconstitutional body. Collecting a great number of all classes, 

 they again went to the President's house, and found he had set out in 

 the night, with all his ministers, for Valparaiso. The greatest confu- 

 sion prevailed in the capital ; orders were received at the public offices 

 from the Junta and from the acting President, both claiming to be 

 representatives of the people. In the mean time, the southern army, 

 under General Prieto, approached the city. It had declared for the 

 Junta. The troops in the city, under General Lastra, considered 

 themselves subject to the order of the President for the time. The 

 armies met on the field of Ochagavia, and the first blood in civil war 

 was shed. Both parties claimed the victory, after a sharp contest. A 

 convention was, however, entered into, and Freyre was again called 

 forward, to aid in restoring tranquillity to the country. Nothing 

 satisfactory grew out of this arrangement. Freyre became disgusted 



