war followed, the brave Araucanians never yielding the country to their hated invaders. This aboriginal love of independence has been ascribed as a natural reason of the powerful feeling shown afterward by the Chilians, heirs in some respect of those courageous men, in sustaining their honor and independence against all foreign people. With the exception of the war with the Araucanians, in which many Governors of Chili lost their power and life, and which was terminated in the peace of Negrete, in 1793, there occurred nothing worthy of the notice of posterity during the dominion of the Spaniards. But in 1810, the energetic Chilians, feeling tired of being a mere appendix to the viceroyalty of Perú, which country they supplied with flour, hides, tallow, and other coarse articles and manufactures, rose against Spain, guided by the most powerful, influential and aristocratic families of the country. Among those who occupied the first rank was that of the Carrera, whose centre were the enterprising brothers, José Miguel, Juan José, and Luis, and that of the Larrain, called popularly the family of the eight hundred, owing to its vast relationships. The Chilians fought two years bravely against the troops sent from Perú, but the two leading families of the country having unfortunately divided in feuds, the common enemy took advantage, and the army commanded by the Carrera being defeated in the battle of Rancagua, in the neighborhood of Santiago, on the 1st of October, 1814, the cause of their independence was temporarily lost. But in 1817, the famous San Martin came to the rescue of Chili, traversing the Andes from the Argentine Republic with an army of four thousand men, and defeating the Spaniards twice in Chacabuco (February 12th, 1817), and on the plains of Maipo, in the outskirts of Santiago (the 5th of April, 1818), assured for ever the independence of the Republic. General O'Higgins, a native of Chili, and son of the most distinguished vice-king of Perú, Don Ambrosio O'Higgins, an Irishman by birth, was appointed supreme chief of the Republic, as an honor paid to his bravery and patriotism, having been San Martin's most active lieutenant. San Martin and O'Higgins, once in power, planned the liberty of Perú, where the stronghold of the Spanish power lay, and in 1820, sent a naval and military expedition, the first under the famous Lord Cochrane, and the last guided by San Martin himself. After a successful and wonderful campaign, the Chilian army occupied Lima on the 21st of July, 1821, and a week afterwards the independence of Perú was solemnly proclaimed (28th of July, 1821). After a glorious career, the military government of Gen. O'Higgins was superseded by that of Gen. Freire (Jan. 28, 1823). A decade of troubles abortive attempts at a unitarian and federal government, followed, until the country was pacified by the superior talent and energy of a civilian, Don Diego Portales, who, although a merchant by profession, showed the most extraordinary talents as a Statesman. Under a rather despotic Constitution the political factions were subdued, until the cords of power being too much stretched, Portales himself fell a victim to a military revolt, while organizing an expedition against the President of Bolivia, General Santa Cruz, who had usurped the supreme power of Perú. The Expedition was carried out, notwithstanding the death of Portales (June 16th, 1836), first under General Blanco, and afterwards under the command of the successful General Búlnes, who completely defeated Santa Cruz in the famous battle of Jungay (January 20th, 1839), restoring thus for the second time to Perú its independence and liberty. In 1841, General Búlnes was elected President, on his return from Perú, and governed quietly for two constitutional terms. In 1851 D. Manuel Montt, an eminent lawyer, was elected, and although he governed with a party rather than with the nation, he kept the power until, in 1861, Don José Joaquin Perez was elected President. The first period of his administration ends next September, and it is very probable that he will be elected for the next term, owing to his good management of the public affairs, particularly in sustaining the honor of the country in the war with Spain. This war is the great event of South America and Chili. We have referred to it more fully in the second part of this work, and we have only to say here that the Chilians commenced it gloriously, attacking and taking one of the Spanish ships-of-war, the "Covadanga," off the port of Papudo, on the 26th November, 1865. By a treaty of alliance, Perú takes sides with Chili in the war with Spain, which was solemnly declared in Lima on the 15th January last. Ecuador followed on the 30th of January, and it is expected that Bolivia, New Granada and Venezuela will come forward to support the old and glorious brotherhood of the South American Republics. This struggle cannot last long, as Spain has no power to carry it on, and all the nations of Europe are opposed to her shameful depredations upon the prosperous republics of South America. GOVERNMENT. The Republic of Chili is governed under the rule of a very strong political constitution, framed through the influence of the famous Portales, or at least of his party, and which was sanctioned on the 25th May, 1833. It is, consequently, the oldest constitution of America, after that of the United States, and it is must be acknowledged that its age is its principal title to respect. The form of government is republican, representative and electoral, all citizens possessing certain political qualifications being electors and eligible. Most of the German emigrants, settled in the south of Chili, have a right to vote, and have taken a lively part in the politics of the country. The three political branches of a representative government, the executive, the legislative and the judiciary, are clearly defined by the Constitution. The President, or chief of the executive, is elected for five years, and is eligible for a second term, but not for a third, until a period of five years has elapsed. He is assisted by a Council of State, composed of thirteen persons, all of his own choosing, and removable at his will. There are four cabinet ministers, viz.-of foreign and home affairs, of finance, of war and marine, of justice, religion and education. They are responsible for every official act, and cannot leave the country for six months after the expiration of their term of public service. No order or document from the president is legal without the countersignature of the minister to whose department it belongs. The Legislature is composed of a Senate of twenty mem bers, elected for nine years, one-third of whom go out of office every three years, and a House of Deputies, consisting of one for every twenty thousand inhabitants, elected for three years. Government officers may be members of either branch of the legislature, and still hold their offices. They may, and often do, also, represent more than one constituency. The judiciary consists of primary courts, three courts of appeal, and a supreme court. The judges of the higher courts are appointed for life, or rather during good behavior, and can only be removed by impeachment. The Government of Chili has acquired great credit for the management of her relations with foreign powers.This peculiar trait has been ascribed to the natural discreet and quiet character of the people, and in some measure to the interference and wisdom of the celebrated Venezuelan savant, Don Andres Bello, undoubtedly the most famous Spanish writer on international law, and chief clerk for many years of the foreign department. During the last forty-seven years, Chili has ratified not less than twenty treaties with foreign nations. The following table shows the names and the date of those conventions: Treaties between the Republic of Chili and the Argentine Confedera Feb. 5, 1819 Aug. 30, 1855 Oct. 7, 1845 do. do. Cerdeña, June 28, 1856 THE PUBLIC REVENUE. The public revenue of Chili is comparatively small, taking into consideration the extent, wealth and population of the country. But the reason of this is highly creditable to the country, as there is not on the surface of the globe a people less taxed than that of Chili. If the taxes were only half of those established in the United States, or a third of those of England, the actual revenue of Chili would be almost double that now collected, Indeed, there is in Chili, properly speaking, but one general tax, and that is paid directly by the foreign commerce -the Custom House duties, which constitute two-thirds of the public revenue. The other third is derived principally from two branches-the tobacco monopoly, which produces a million; and a light, although unequal tax on real estate, which yields a little more than half a million. Urban real estate and capital are not taxed at all in Chili; and, owing to this unequal distribution of charges, there exists a strong movement to establish a single direct tax, taking as a basis the capital or the revenue. The amount of the public revenue in 1863, including all its branches, is shown in the following table: |