POLITICAL HISTORY OF CHILI. ^21 



Peruvians living in Chili were permitted to join, who formed them- 

 selves into a separate body, under General Lafuente, 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 exe- 

 cutive 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. 



1st. He who has been condemned to remain in a particular part of 

 the Republic, or exiled from it by the judicial sentence, and for the 

 crime of sedition, conspiracy, and riot, will suffer death if he breaks 

 his confinement or exile. 



2d. In whatever part of the Republic any one of the criminals 

 included in the foregoing article may be apprehended, without the 

 limits that have been assigned to him, the authorities will seize and 

 shoot him, within twenty-four hours, without any other proofs than 

 may be necessary to identify the person, and without suffering any 

 appeal to a higher authority. 



3d. The present law will begin to act, respecting all those who are 

 expelled the Republic for the crimes which are expressed in the first 

 article. 



On this account I direct it to be promulgated, and to take effect in 

 all parts, as a law of the state. 



(Signed) Prieto. 

 Diego Poe.tales. 



Santiago, January 28th, 1837. 



Inasmuch as the National Congress has declared the state to be in 

 actual war with Peru, and in consequence clothed the President of 

 the Republic with all the necessary powers that his prudence mav find 

 necessary for the exigency of the state, without any other limitation 

 than that he shall not condemn or give punishment of his own will, but 

 leave these to be judged by the established tribunals, or those which 

 this present government may hereafter establish. In consequence of 



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