290 POLITICAL HISTORY OF PERU. 



argument, that it contained stipulations injurious to, and contrary to the 

 true policy of Peru, which was to endeavour to promote a free inter- 

 course with all nations, a policy which outweighed all the advantages 

 that could be derived from the treaty with Chili. 



Jn 1836, General Herrera was received as ambassador from Bolivia 

 by Orbejoso, and with General Moran, who commanded the troops, 

 seems to have exerted a great influence over Orbejoso. He entered 

 into an offensive and defensive alliance with Bolivia, which gave all 

 the ascendency to Bolivia, or rather to Santa Cruz, engaging that the 

 Bolivian army should remain in Peru until peace should be established 

 at the north. From this it was evident that Peru was ruled by stran- 

 gers, and her interests were forgotten. The people, therefore, soon 

 became dissatisfied with the administration of Orbejoso, and when he 

 ordered a new election of deputies, they in many of the towns refused 

 to vote, believing that his real object was to secure himself a re-elec- 

 tion by the Assembly. 



He dismembered the eight provinces of Peru, by declaring that foui 

 of them should be known hereafter under the name of South Peru, 

 composed of the departments of Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cusco, and 

 Puno. Nothing can be more absurd than the way in which he seems 

 to have conducted the government, and the bombastic and foolish tone 

 of his decrees, wherein he is styled, or styles himself, " Citizen, Don 

 Louis Orbejoso, Great Hero and meritorious General of Divisions, and 

 Grand Marshal of the State of South Peru." 



The Assembly of Sicuani met on the 17th March, when it conferred 

 upon Santa Cruz the title of Supreme Protector of South Peru, con- 

 sisting of the four above mentioned provinces of Arequipa, Cusco, 

 Ayacucho, and Puno. At the same time, every power was given him 

 over the state, as well as the right to convene a legislature as soon as 

 he should think proper. This was virtually extending his power over 

 the half of Peru next bordering on Bolivia, and was the first step 

 towards making him head of both states. The Assembly likewise 

 bestowed great encomiums on the Bolivian army, awarding to them 

 medals and thanks. On Santa Cruz it conferred the title of Invincible 

 Pacificator of Peru; voted that an equestrian statue of him should be 

 erected on the field of Socabaya, and that his portrait should be hung 

 up in their hall, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the repub- 

 lic. The next act was to appoint a committee to wait upon Santa 

 Cruz, to present him with the declaration of independence, and to 

 invest him with the Supreme Protectorate, a '.yarding to him like vise 

 a salary of thirty thousand dollars a year for the expenses of his 

 exalted situation. 



