PEllUVIAN CONGRESS. 



89 



ed, imprisoned, and afterwards banished him to 

 Panama. A new minister was chosen by the su- 

 preme delegate, and confirmed in his appointment 

 by San Martin on his return from Guayaquil; 

 from whence he sailed in August with a body of 

 troops furnished by Bolivar. 



The Sovereign Constituent Congress, consist- 

 ing of Representatives, elected by the different 

 liberated provinces, had been several times con- 

 voked, but as often prorogued : till at length, San 

 Martin, to the surprise of many persons who be- 

 lieved he was aiming at permanent power, com- 

 plied with the general wish of the people, and ac- 

 tually assembled the deputies on the 20th of Sep- 

 tember 1822. Into their hands he immediately 

 resigned the supreme authority which he had as- 

 sumed a year before. The congress, in return, 

 elected him, by unanimous decree, generalissimo 

 of the armies in Peru. But he resolutely declined 

 receiving more than the mere title, which he con- 

 sented to accept as a mark of the approbation and 

 confidence of the Peruvians ; declaring that, in 

 his opinion, his presence in Peru in command of 

 the forces was inconsistent with their authority* 



