142 



PRESIDENT AND PARMER. 



of Bolivia?" He was told that "they desired to trade with the Bolivi- 

 ans." After he left, a lady said he was opposed to the opening of the 

 navigable streams of the country to the commerce of the United States, 

 and had informed the people that it would be the cause of declaring 

 religious liberty. 



The cabinet ministers returned visits, and expressed themselves highly 

 in favor of the enterprise. The minister of state said my proposition 

 should be attended to as soon as they arrived at the Capital, and he 

 should be pleased to hear from me, should T wish to address him on the 

 subject. 



The President enclosed a short note to the principal families in the 

 city, saying he regret&d his public duties kept him so much confined 

 that he had not time to call upon them, but if they had any orders for 

 Potosi or Sucre, he would be happy to attend to them. 



The government troops were drawn up in the plaza on Sunday, De- 

 cember 21, 1851, and after being inspected, the cavalry was ordered off 

 in advance of the president, who has appointed Monday morning for his 

 own departure. 



A fine-looking man, who had been colonel under Balivian, and left the 

 country when Belzu came into power, had recently returned to Cocha- 

 bamba. As he took no particular or active part in politics, and was 

 successfully farming in the valley, his friends persuaded him to go and 

 pay his respects to the President before he left. So he walked in with 

 some other persons. As he dined with us after his visit, we offer the 

 account he gave of it to a number of gentlemen, with the spirit and 

 merriment of a good actor on the stage. " I have come, sir," said the 

 colonel, bowing, "to pay my respects to the President of Bolivia." 

 Belzu in a rage. "You are the scoundrel who raised volunteers and 

 fought against me !" Colonel bowing again respectfully : " Yes, sir ; 

 and in doing so I did what every officer is expected to do — obeyed the 

 authorities of my country." Belzu in greater rage. "Get out of my 

 sight, sir ; if ever I hear of your taking part against me again, you will 

 be shot in the centre of the plaza." The Bolivians all laughed, and 

 like himself seemed to think it a very amusing visit. I noticed closely 

 the effect produced upon the faces of the party as they listened ; not 

 one of them looked grave. They seemed to listen as though they expected 

 some joke of the sort, or with admiration of a noble looking fellow for 

 daring to speak out so freely of what had taken place. He left us 

 after dinner, and in the evening we saw him standing in the plaza telling 

 a number of his friends the same story. Many leading men who 

 belonged to the Balivian party kept very close while the President 

 remained here. The election of president is a fighting affair usually. 



