No. 391.
Mr. Biddle to Mr. Fish.
San Salvador, Dec. 11, 1871. (Received Jan. 1, 1872.)
Sir: The correspondence of my predecessor has extended to the overthrow of the government of General Dueñas, and the assumption of power by “the citizen marshal president, Don Santiago Gonzalez.”
[Page 504]On the 18th day of October, of this year, a national constituent congress proclaimed a liberal republican constitution for Salvador, special reference to which shall form the subject of a future dispatch. The declaration of rights guarantees the essential elements of freedom; the respective functions of the executive, legislative, and judicial are well balanced, and careful provision is made to insure representation of the masses and purity in the elections. On the 3d instant these were duly inaugurated, terminating in the almost unanimous choice of the provisional President as the supreme ruler tor the ensuing two years. The ceremonies were conducted with perfect order. None were restrained in speech or action, and the President elect received the salutation of his compatriots with becoming dignity. It is, however, a noticeable fact, that while the population of this city is estimated at over twenty thousand, not beyond one hundred individuals qualified themselves, by timely registration, to vote. And I am told that this neglect applied equally to the country districts. I was informed by the minister of foreign relations that it was the only peaceful and satisfactory event of the kind within his knowledge, and that it heralded an era of peace and prosperity. By the 16th and 17th sections of article 36, Chapter VIII, it is one of the attributes of the legislative power to declare and proclaim in general assembly the election of President and Vice-President of the republic, and to themselves vote, (as in the United States.) when a plurality of suffrages only is possessed by the leading candidate. Also, the oath of office is administered before the congress. This body convenes, without letter of convocation, in each year, from the 1st to the 5th of January, and the sessions cannot exceed forty days. It is composed of two chambers, one of deputies and the other of senators. The deputies are elected each year $ the senators for three years, but so that one-third shall be annually renewed.
Thus a fair prospect of future tranquillity seems opened for Salvador. Within her borders the elements are calm, but prudence might dictate reserve in an opinion as to the portents abroad. Guatemala is yet very unsettled, and the torch of war may yet be re-lighted.
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Honduras is in a fierce contest with a serious revolt of its Indian population, and the authorities are aided by troops from Salvador. Nicaragua seems now inactive, but intently watching results. As sudden and as unforeseen as the volcanic eruptions in these lands are, the political vicissitudes and a preponderance of some of the above-named influences might at any time precipitate war upon these communities. There is a proposition for the assembling at La Union, in Salvador, of delegates from the live Central American states, to discuss the proposition of the revival of their confederation. This existed from 1823 until 1839, and all efforts for its restoration have hitherto proved futile. Properly consolidated, it should prove a powerful guarantee of peace, progress, and strength, but at the threshold it meets opposition. It will be difficult to reconcile sectional jealousies and private ambitions, and the equitable adjustment of the national indebtedness will be fraught with perplexities. Thus Salvador has no foreign and only a trifling domestic debt, readily disposed of, while some of the other states owe millions. They have before them, however, the example of the United States of Colombia, in which a pro-rata distribution was effectively accomplished. And Salvador, moreover, seems to be the very standard-bearer for union. In his speech upon my presentation, President Gonzalez says, “Aspiramos por la consolidacion de unestro órden politico, á seme jarnos á lagran republica del Norte,”&c, (we may hope for the [Page 505] consolidation of our political order, assimilating ourselves to the great republic of the North, &c.)
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After enumerating the advantages to be derived from the imitation of virtuous patriots, the salutary exercise of the rights of citizenship, the advice of intelligent and honorable men, that right may be the most powerful ally of morality and progress, and that, finally, the great necessity is the confederation of the states, “as liberty cannot exist in any one of these countries separated from the fortunes of the rest.”
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I have held a conversation with President Gonzalez, in which lie spoke with absolute enthusiasm of the President and people of the United States, and spoke of the unity of these republics as nearest Ms heart He however thought that it would necessarily be the work of time, many prejudices and obstacles opposing. His visit to the confines of Guatemala had been fruitless, the President of that state being absent from the appointed place through illness. He seemed to imagine that the influence of Costa Rica might be adverse to the re-union, but thought that the steady co-operation of Guatemala and Salvador, if effected, would carry the day. He told me that in the principle that union was strength, was the very foundation of his political views, lie spoke, also, of the impulsion which internal improvements would give to Salvador, and said that he advocated the construction of roads and telegraphs whenever justified financially.
I have, &c,