CHAPTER XV.

CITY OF LEON-HISTORY-DECREE OF ANNEXATION TO THE UNITED STATESCONSTITUTION ADOPTED-ABOLISHMENT OF PAPAL BULLS, MONASTERIESABRIDGMENT OF CERTAIN ECCLESIASTICAL PRIVILEGES-THE NATIONAL FLAG -THE BISHOP, ARCHBISHOP, AND HIS HOLINESS THE POPE-VARIOUS WARS -GENERAL MORAZAN-CARRERA-MALESPIN-CAPTURE OF SAN JUAN BY THE ENGLISH-SAMOZA-A KNIGHT-HIS REVOLUTION-CAPTURE AND DEATHDEATH OF MUNOZ-PRESIDENT PINEDA'S SUMMARY REMOVAL-WALKER-A CHANGE COMES OVER NICARAGUA-THOUGHTS AND SPECULATIONS.

LEON has been the scene of many severe and sanguinary struggles, especially in the wars between the Servile and Liberal factions. The Serviles of the States adjoining Nicaragua determined upon placing the entire country under the sovereignty of Mexico, with Iturbide as emperor. Step by step the battle was fought. Hopes long sustained in secret by the Monarchists, found full vent. The Republicans were aroused first at San Salvador, Guatemala; they adopted measures for

defense and resistance, and defeated the army sent by Mexico. Granada was second in the field; San Jose in Costa Rica, third; while in Leon, the bishop who favored the monarchy, opposed republican principles, and advocated, by threats of excommunication, the Mexican scheme. Battle succeeded battle; the imperial forces were soon arrayed; and the Liberals of San Salvador, after a remarkable contest, were forced to submit.

In 1822 the Mexican government was proclaimed in Guatemala, and by an Imperial decree the country was divided into three Captain-Generalcies: the Serviles of course filling every post of emolument, profit, or honor. Though the Liberals were defeated, they remained true to their principles, and the Provisional Congress still remained unbroken. It was during this period of distrust and anarchy, that the country having become truly and purely nationalized, this Congress resolved upon annexation to the United States of America; and by an act dated December 2d, 1822, decreed its incorporation with the American Confederacy; and yet true as this is, how singular that our Government took no action in the matter. The dream of monarchy was soon dispelled. The Serviles were beaten by the recoil of their own magnificently adjusted plans. Iturbide was dead, and without foreign aid, they could not sustain themselves, while the Republicans assumed their prior position. Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, San Salvador, and Honduras, determined upon an union of States, declaring themselves

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independent of Spain, Mexico, and every other power, while Chiapas alone remained subservient to Mexico. This decree is dated July 1st, 1823.

The Constitution of the Confederation was adopted in November, 1824, in which was embodied the guaranties of individual rights, the habeas corpus, the liberty of the press, the representative principle; all of which, however, were combatted by its enemies. Titles and privileges of rank were abolished, the sale of papal bulls prohibited, all foreigners were guaranteed the security of their property, and the title of "The Republic of Central America" was fixed upon, and its national flag bore the device "five volcanoes," and the motto, "Dios, Union, Libertad." By a decree passed April 17th, 1824, slavery and slave-dealing were to be heavily punished. The Constitution, although published December 27th, 1823, was not decreed until November 22d, 1825. Matters swam happily on for a time, yet the Serviles, aided by the bishop, were not forever quieted; and although his party were in the minority, they were men of wealth and influence; after a time civil war again drenched the streets of Leon. For over one hundred days, brother met brother armed for the strife; the richest and choicest portions of the city were burned; one thousand dwellings were consumed by fire in a single night, and this butchery continued until the Liberals received a reinforcement from San Salvador. The church had openly arrayed

itself against Republicanism, and the war was one where quarter was neither asked nor granted.

Then from this chaos rose the light, the beginning of better days. Schools were established which were made free. The soldier threw aside his knife and bayonet to hold in his brawny hand the primer; and thus from a confusion of blood-stained cliques arose the Independence of Nicaragua. San Salvador deemed the power vested in the State to choose for herself her religious principles and its expounders, and acting thereon, elected or appointed one of its own citizens Bishop of the State. The Archbishop of course denounced the act, and the Pope himself threatened excommunication, but it fell fruitlessly upon the ear-subsequently Costa Rica followed San Salvador. Years passed away, when the Serviles prepared for war, and the Liberals, taken by surprise, were overpowered. Many of their best men were brutally murdered; finally, after a union of the forces of Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala, affairs were restored, while Costa Rica remained in her mountain fastnesses, a calm spectator of the butchery and assassination of her sworn friends. General Morazan, probably the greatest man of Central America, certainly the man for the times in which he was born and lived, after assuming the leadership of the Republicans, determined to strike a blow at the church, and thereby relieve his oppressed and bleeding country. The Archbishop, and the heads of the monkish orders

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generally, the Capuchins, Dominicans and Franciscans, were arrested, escorted by a military guard to a distant port, and thence banished. The convents were put to the use of the masses, and some appropriated for prisons, others for schools; while the inmates of the nunneries were free to go where they pleased, and the future taking of the veil was prohibited.

In 1832, all laws recognizing the Catholic creed as the faith of the country were annulled, and freedom to worship the Creator as each desired, was decreed by the several States. From this confederacy, in 1829 or 1830, Costa Rica seceded, and maintained a neutrality; but in 1831, when the Republic was re-established, she re-entered. Various events, similar in character to those described, followed, till in 1838, when a convention assembled in Nicaragua, and then and there declared Nicaragua an independent Republic, and framed its constitution. Honduras followed; each, however, sustaining the idea of nationality, and providing for the resuming of their positions when there should be a confederated reorganization. Years sped, and the changes which marked former times, still followed the successive periods, till Morazan with his two sons was shot at San Jose, in 1842, after a glorious struggle for Republican principles.

Carrera, his rival, thus swayed anew, till Malespin, a former bandit, having conciliated Morazan's friends, was placed in power, but subsequently went to San Salvador, and occupied