No. 496.
Mr. Baker
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Caracas, March 17, 1879.
(Received April 8.)
No. 105.]Sir: I send herewith a copy of a decree by General
Guzman Blanco, as the same appears in La Opinion Nacional of the 28th
ultimo, together with a translation thereof. This decree calls a congress of
plenipotentiaries to meet in the federal district on the 27th of April next,
or the most contiguous day, to be composed of the presidents of the States,
or of representative substitutes appointed by them; this congress to fix
provisional institutions for the country, elect a provisional president,
&c. This document, like that transmitted with my No. 104, should be read
in full.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure in No.
105.—Translation.]
guzman blanco, illustrious american, pacificator
and re generator of venezuela, supreme director of the
revindication, etc.
In use of the powers which the people have conferred upon me for the
political and administrative reorganization of the republic—
I decree:
- Article 1. On the 27th of April
next, or the day most contiguous, a congress of
[Page 1042]
plenipotentiaries will meet in
the federal district, composed of the presidents of the States,
or of citizens in their places who represent them, whom they may
name in case of not being able to be present.
- Art. 2. The congress of
plenipotentiaries will install itself, and open each session
with at least one more than half its members; and in default of
this number on the day upon which it should install itself,
those present will meet in a preparatory commission, and,
previously electing one to preside over them, dictate means for
the concurrence of the absentees.
- Art. 3. The congress of
plenipotentaries will fix the institutions which shall
provisionally rule the country until they are reformed according
to the legal formulas.
- Art. 4. The congress of
plenipotentiaries will elect the citizen who may have to
discharge provisionally the presidency of the republic until he
may be substituted constitutionally.
- Art. 5. The congress of
plenipotentiaries will occupy itself with resolving the other
matters which the supreme director may submit to its
consideration in all the branches of the public
administration.
- Art. 6. The minister of interior
relations is charged with the execution of this decree.
Given, signed with my hand, and
countersigned by the proper minister (ministro del ramo) in the
capitol of Caracas, the 27th of February,
1879.
GUZMAN BLANCO.
Countersigned. The minister of interior relations:
