No. 47.
Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States in Central America,
Guatemala, March 21, 1877.
(Received April 27.)
No. 595.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose you herewith copy
and translation of a decree, No. 175, of the Government of Guatemala,
published in the semi-official paper El Progreso on the 18th instant. No
date is found in the copy of the decree, but it purports to have been
published on the 8th of this month.
The promulgation of this decree, for some cause unknown to me, and apparently
unknown to any of the many persons with whom I have conversed, was made on
the 15th instant in a most formal manner; and, under the orders of the
government, the day was observed as a holiday and the city was illuminated
at night.
The circular note of the government inclosed with my No. 590 informed you
that the government had extended invitations to the diplomatic and consular
corps in this city to attend the ceremonies of the promulgation on the 15tb
instant in the hall of the university. All of us attended. We were politely
received and seated by the minister of foreign affairs.
It may seem strange that the codes which purported to have been promulgated
on the 15th instant to take effect on the 15th September next, have not been
published in any form up to date. Their provisions, whatever they may be,
remain known only to the persons that were charged with their preparation,
and to the few in authority. I am promised copies by the minister of foreign
affairs, whenever they are published. He tells me the laws they contain are
“entirely new.”
I have the honor, &c.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
The codes of the Republic.
On the 8th day of the month, the following decree was published:
Decree No. 175.
J. Rufino Barrios, general of division and president of the republic of
Guatemala, considering that the legislation which up to the present has
ruled the republic, and which for the greater part being the old Spanish
legislation, is incomplete, confused, and difficult in its understanding
and explanation, on account of being embodied in different acts: that
the government, with the idea of replacing these defective laws by codes
which may be in conformity with the advance of the age and the progress
of the country, named, in an act of July 26, 1875, a commission of
lawyers intrusted with the drawing up of said codes, and that the said
commission has given an account of the projects of the civil code and of
the proceedings which are in conformity with the principles of modern
legislation, and adaptable to the peculiar circumstances of the
republic; and in use of the ample faculties with which I am invested, I
decree the following codes civil and of proceedings which shall begin to
rule the republic from the 15th day of September next.
(Here follow the codes.)
For the which, let this be published for its solemn promulgation and
observance.
Given in the national palace of
Guatemala, the 8th day of March, 1877.
- J. RUFINO BARRIOS,
Minister of
Government, Justice, and Ecclesiastical
Business. - J. BARBARENA,
Minister of Finance
and Public Credit. - JOSÉ ANTONIO SALAZAR,
Minister of
War. - J. M. BARRUNDIA,
Minister of Foreign
Affairs. - JOAQUIN MACAL,
Minister of
Interior. - MANUEL HERRERA,
Minister of
Interior. - LORENZO MONTUFAR.
