Office of the Historian

No. 210.
Mr. Wing to Mr. Fish.

United States Legation,
Quito, Ecuador, December 30, 1873. (Received Feb. 5, 1874.)
No. 359.]

Sir: As evincing the intense Catholicism prevailing in this country, I herewith forward original and translation (1 and 2) of an enactment of the late congress.

I have, &c.,

RUMSEY WING.
[Inclosure 2.—Translation.]

Decree of Congress placing Ecuador under the protection of the Sacred Heart.

The senate and house of deputies in Congress united, considering—

1st.
That the third provincial council of Quito has, by a special decree, consecrated the republic of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, placing it under its protection;
2d.
That it belongs to the legislature to co-operate, in the name of the nation, in an act which, being so in conformity with its sentiments of eminent Catholicism, is also the most efficacious mode of preserving the faith and extending the progress and temporal welfare of the state:

[Page 394]

Decree—

  • Article 1. The republic of Ecuador is consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and is declared its patron and protector.
  • Article 2. The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is declared a civic feast, with assistance of the first class, which will be celebrated in all the cathedrals of the republic, by the diocesan prelates, with the greatest solemnity possible.
  • Art. 3. An altar will be erected in every cathedral dedicated to the Heart of Jesus, so as to excite the zeal and piety of the diocesans.
  • Art. 4. In the frontispiece of each of the before-mentioned altars a stone will be-’ placed, at governmental cost, in which the present decree will be inscribed.

Let it be communicated to the executive power for its execution and compliance.

Given in Quito, the capital of the republic, October 8, 1873.

The president of the senate,
R. DE ASCASUBI.

The president of the house of deputies.
VICENTO LUCTO SALAZAR.

The secretary of the senate.
CARLOS CASARES.

The secretary of the house of deputies,
PEDRO JOSÉ CEVALLOS.

Government Palace in Quito, October 18, 1873. Let it be executed.
G. GARCIA MORENO.

Minister of the interior.
FRANCISCO JAVIER LEON.