Libertad o Muerte! Pt. XVII - 1849
After the announcement that a convention would be held to decide over the nations future form of government elections and assemblies were held in many cities, towns and even villages all over the country to choose delegates for the upcoming Constitutional Congress. In the end over three hundred delegates from all corners of the empire assembled at Rosario representing the whole variety of platinean society. They came from urban as well as rural areas, from the periphery like Catamarca or from the center Buenos Aires itself. They were lawyers, famers, entrepreneurs and litterateurs.
The Constitutional Congress started on September 14th with high hopes for a fast solution of the national crisis through a liberal constitution. In the first place it seemed as these hopes could be fullfilled quite easily. In the first weeks the delegates managed to agree on a whole bunch of major topics like civil rights, the judiciary as an independent branch of government, a supreme court and a strong parliament. But as september died into october all discussions, debates and backroom negotiations came to a standstill. It wasn't that the factions weren't talking with each other in fact they were constantly shouting. Positions became hardened and both conservatives and liberals were toughing it out.
While the conservatives insisted that a monarch should still be the head of state the liberals were preferring a president. And as the liberals were supporting the proposition of universal suffrage the conservatives were in sharp opposition to it. The third hotly debated topic was the question about the layout of parliament. At this point the cleavage between supporters of an unicammeral and a bicammeral parliament was going through both factions.
During this stalemate the factions began to reassemble and what should become the nations future parties was taking their first steps. The conservative faction was united under the banner of the Federalistas. The "Casino Society", the "Union for Liberty and Justice" and the "Libertines" united and formed the "Union Liberal" which encompassed nearly the whole liberal faction. Only the "Movimento Progresivo" denied to become part of the liberal union and became a depository for radical liberals instead.
As october slowly faded into november conciliation was a distant prospect. During the first days of november José de San Martin arrived in Rosario due to pricely orders to negotiate between the two factions. For a dozen days he was sitting in several backrooms to get a better picture of the situation and loking for ooportunities of conciliation. A supporter of constitutional monarchy himself San Martin convinced the liberal leaders to give up their support for a president. With this accomodation as a bargaining chip he offered the conservatives a deal. The liberal support for a constitutional monarchy if the conservatives would support universal suffrage. Despite initial opposition among the "Federalistas" negotiations were successfull and the deal could be closed.
Conciliation about the nature of parliament wasn't so easy to achieve as the conservatives wanted a dominant second chamber and the liberals wanted no second chamber at all. One constitution after the other was designed, discussed, modified, debated and rejected. By mid-november news reached the delegates that King Carlos I. had arrived at Rio de Janeiro and rumors said he was seeking support at the brazilian court for a military campaign to regain his throne. These news lead to rash activity as the delegates feared that brazilian troops could be already on their way to Rosario to smack the revolution. Within a single day a new constitutional design was drawn and admitted. The factions agreed upon a bicammeral parliament with a predominant first chamber.
The signing of the constitution by all delegates and the 'king-elect'[1] that followed was a mere formal act. Only the preamble was changed due to the kings wish to codify the royal duties as keeper of liberty and freedom and protector of the platinean people.
King-elect Juan I. assigned José de San Martin with the task to build a provisional government and to serve as Prime Minister till a new government could be elected in june. San Martin accepted his new task and chose prominent politicians from the "Union Liberal" as well as from the "Partido Federalista" to keep his cabinet balanced and the country in order till the people would decide who will govern Platinea. Juan Bautista Alberdi, head of the liberals, became secretary of domestic affairs and instantly began with the partly dissolution of the order of Jesu. Miguel Torres, head of the conservatives, became secretary of foreign affairs.
Various notable members of government: Secretary of justice - Emilio Estevez; Secretary of education - Faustino Sarmiento; Secretary of the treasury - Santiago Derqui; Secretary of commerce - Bartolomé Mitre.
[1] Prince Juan is already approved as king by the constitution but he isn't crowned yet.
Author's note:
Selfmade event: The Constitutional Congress
Selfmade event: The Constitution of 1849
