ry federal congress at Aguachapan, and to unite their military forces with those of Salvador, for the purpose of sustaining the con. stitutional representation. If it was unconstitutional for the president to convoke an extraordinary congress, it was not the less so for one state, or four states, to undertake to assign the time and place of assembling the ordinary congress, and to organize a military force to accomplish their object.

Previous to this, events had oc. curred in the state of Guatemala, which tended greatly to aggravate the public disorders already explained. In the contradictory accounts which are given of the motives and intentions of the parties, it is no easy matter to ascertain the truth, without fuller intelligence than has yet reached this country. But the facts stated are, that Barrundia, governor of the state of Guatemala, in September, 1826, ar rested one Espinola, a military officer in the national service, on the charge of having forcibly entered houses with a picquet, without warrant from the civil authorities. A dispute, which ensued in consequence, between Barrundia and president Arce, terminated, it is said, in the seizure by the latter, of the arms belonging to the state, and the suspension of the governor's functions, which devolved on the vice-chief, Civilo Flores. Soon afterwards, this magistrate, who is

described as a person of good fami. ly and character, and liberal in his political principles, was attacked by a low mob in the province of Quezaltenango, in the state of Guatemala, and cruelly murdered, in some ebullition of misguided popular resentment.

The government of the state of Guatemala being disorganized by these events, the president of the republic issued a decree, under date of October 30th, 1826, ordering the government to be reorganized by popular election. This was accordingly done in the forms of the constitution, the legislative and executive authorities being duly elected by the inhabitants of the state. The government of Salvador afterwards complained of this, also, as illegal; but, at the time, they urged the president to adopt this course, and even sent him military forces to aid him in this among other objects. The new legislature commenced its sessions with the year 1827; but the election of supreme chief or governor was not completed until the month following. In reading the inaugural address of this magistrate, Mariano Aycinena, installed March 1st, 1827, it is grateful to observe a quotation from Washington's Farewell Address, introduced by these words: "Let us remember what is said by the immortal Washington, the father of the American republics." If the nations of the

south had more carefully observed the precepts of this Father of the American Republics, they would not have exhibited so many examples of fatal anarchy and civil discord.

No sooner was the new legislature organized, than the provisional governor communicated the intelligence to all the other states, under the date of January 7th, 1827. Shortly afterwards, the government of Guatemala invited those of Salvador and Costarica to unite in adopting the requisite measures for terminating the dissentions, with which Honduras and Nicaragua continued to be still afflicted. The state of Gautemala did not stipulate for concurrence in the extraordinary congress; but proposed, if more agreeable to the government of Salvador, to proceed to the elec. tion of new members for a constitutional congress, objecting only to submitting to the authority of the members assembled in October, who, as the Guatemaltecans said, had greatly contributed to the existing difficulties. The federal authorities, and those of the state of Costarica, indicated a disposition to view the proceedings in Guatemala favourably. But the state of Salvador did not vouchsafe even to reply to the two communications. The government of Guatemala then addressed a third communication to Salvador, early in February, annexing a copy of those

which had preceded it. For answer to this, Guatemala received a communication from Salvador, which explained nothing of itself, but referred to a certain decree of the state assembly, said to form a part of the communication, but not in fact accompanying it. Upon this, the government of Guatemala, charitably supposing, or acting upon the supposition, that the omission was accidental, sent to request of Salvador a copy of the decree ; but to this request no answer was returned. Private letters from Salvador, however, confidently assured the Guatemaltecans that the omission was designedly made.

It is natural to suppose that the people of Guatemala were greatly displeased and irritated by this disingenuous mode of proceeding. But even while the communications above described were passing between the two states, Salvador had been preparing to commence hostilities. She assembled troops, and caused them to be marched towards the territory of Guatemala, evidently threatening military occupation of the department of Chiquimula, belonging to Guatemala. But the people of Chiquimula took arms to resist the aggression; and, aided by the troops of the confederacy, held the Salvadoreños in check. The latter continued cantoned in Metapam and Santa Ana, gradually accumulating and concentrating their forces upon posi

tions convenient for entering the territory of Guatemala. Having been unsuccessful in their attempts upon Chiquimula, whose inhabitants, guided and animated by their civil chief, Indalecio Perdomo, had compelled the aggressors to relinquish their enterprise in that quarter, the Salvadoreños next conceived the bolder design of attack ing the city of Guatemala itself. They alleged their aim, in this absurd movement, to be the suppression of the supposed central faction, and the pretended enemies of the federal constitution. unfortunately for their cause, they thus became voluntary assailants. This measure threw them into a state of open warfare, not only with the executive authorities of the re public, whom they accused of dishonest ambition; but also in opposition to the powerful state of Guatemala: and their failure was therefore as signal as their undertaking had been precipi. tate and violent.

But

Guatemala lost no time in preparing to meet her enemies, who united rebellion against the gene. ral government to invasion of a confederate member of the union. The supreme chief of the state, Aycinena, issued a manifesto, in justification of the conduct of his government, explaining the efforts which it had made to avoid hostilities; and the necessity which it was now under of arming in self

defence. On the sixteenth of March, the supreme chief announced the approach of the hostile forces. The legislature of Guate mala immediately invested the state executive, with all the requisite powers for defending the capital, placing all the authority of the government in his hands, only recommending to him to co-operate with the president of the republic, in making common cause against their common assailants. The government earnestly called on the citizens to come forward in de fence of their homes and their lives, and soon found ample resources in men, money, and munitions of war, at their command. Their military force consisted of the troops of the confederacy, the militia of Guatemala, and a numerous volunteer corps. The greatest enthusiasm, in vindication of their rights, appeared to pervade the whole community. Daily en. listments in the regular army, and in the volunteer corps, continued to augment them, and placed them upon a respectable footing previous to the appearance of the Salvado

reños.

The troops employed in this expedition by the state of Salvador, were estimated at twelve or four. teen hundred men, commanded by Nicolas Raou, and Isidore Saget, foreigners, of French origin, possessed of some military knowledge and experience; and by Cleto Or.

doñez, a citizen of the state of Salvador. They came in sight of the city March 22d, and after a slight skirmish, and an ineffectual attempt to throw themselves between the national troops and the capitol, fortified a position upon the heights in the neighbourhood. Colonel Ordoñez, as commander in chief, addressed a proclamation to the citizens of Guatemala, assuring them that his object was only to free them from the yoke of the chapetones; and exhorting them to make no resistance. In this position they sustained a vigorous attack, made by the national troops and forces of Guatemala, commanded by the president; and after an ac. tion of two hours duration, were totally routed and driven from the field in complete disorder. They endeavoured, at first, to make good a regular retreat; but receiving intelligence of the approach of colonel Sanchez, with the troops of Chiquimula, their retreat was speedily converted into a precipitate flight among the mountains: and thus terminated this ill-judged and insurrectionary movement against Guatemala. Although the loss on the side of the repulsed Salvadoreños was not great, since it amounted to only seventy killed, with a number of prisoners and two field-pieces, yet the victory was justly hailed by the conquerors as a triumph of the highest importIt was celebrated in the

ance.

city with extravagant rejoicings; and congratulations upon the result, poured in from the other departments of the state.

arms.

The next day the president issued a proclamation, announcing his determination to reduce them to submission by force, if they did not voluntarily lay down their It is unnecessary to particularize the various regulations adopted for the security of the city, and the maintenance of public order during this season of confusion and calamity. Suffice it to say, they were such as the exigency required. The government also deemed itself justified in declaring, by name, certain citizens of the state of Guatemala, who had been active in exciting the state of Salvador to this expedition, to be outlaws and public enemies; and denouncing the same fate against all others who had aided and abetted them, unless they. should render in their submission within а given time.

The cause of the federal authorities was now completely triumphant. The president, leaving the civil functions of the general government in the hands of the vice president Mariano de Beltranena, and devoting himself to the com. mand of the army, proceeded to collect forces for the purpose of pursuing the flying insurgents, and reducing St. Salvador itself to submission. He could rely upon

the co-operation of the states of Guatemala and Costa Rica; and by their firmness and sacrifice, could hope to restore tranquillity in the rest of the republic. The districts of Sonsonate and Santa Ana, speedily gave in their adhe. sion to the authority of the presi. dent; and Honduras did the same. But the majority of the people of Nicaragua continued in a state of insubordination; and Salvador prepared to defend herself, should her ill-judged attack on Guatemala be retorted upon her. Meanwhile, the vice president, on assuming the reins of government, had addressed a communication to the authorities of the state of Sal. vador, exhorting them to withdraw the invading forces from the territory of Guatemala. The vice president professed to be impartial, and uncommitted by any of the previous difficulties. His influence, therefore, could not fail to be useful in strengthening the cause of constitutional order. Of course, the victory obtained by Arce, seemed likely to be followed by very important consequences. In deed, considering the small popu. lation, and the narrow resources of the country, and its short standing as a nation, the battle fought near Guatemala, was of a nature to exercise as much influence over the condition of the states of Central America; as a more bloody en

gagement would have done in other countries.

By the middle of April, Arce was at Santa Ana, with a body of 3000 men, on his way towards the city of St. Salvador. Guatemala was quiet, and well guarded by its inhabitants, whose military organization it was thought proper to maintain, notwithstanding the repulse of the Salvadoreños, until affairs should become settled. Forced contributions imposed by the government, had been levied on the foreigners resident there, as well as the citizens. Before the close of the month, Arce reached Nejapa, a village distant only four leagues from St. Salvador, with an army well disciplined and equip. ped; and opened a negotiation with the city authorities, upon the basis of assembling a new congress and senate to adjust all differences, and re-establish the constitution. But the negotiations miscarried, because the citizens of St. Salvador demanded as an indispensable condition of peace, that the national legislature should be convoked in the city of St. Salvador, among other things equally inadmissible in the opinion of the government; and the two parties retained their hos tile attitude until late in the summer. A repulse was suffered by the president, during this time; but he was generally successful, and the cause of the insurgent