No. 190.
Mr. Scruggs to Mr. Fish.
Bogotá, February 17, 1875. (Received April 3.)
Sir: The Colombian constitution provides that “the election for President of the union shall be made by vote of the States, each State having one vote, which shall be that of the relative majority of its electors, according to its own legislation,” (article 75.)
The election for President for the term beginning April 1, 1876, and ending April 1, 1878, takes place during the present year, or before the annual meeting of Congress, February 1, 1876, at which session that body will, under the provisions of the constitution, “declare to be elected President the citizen who shall obtain the absolute majority of the votes of the States.” In case no candidate shall have such majority, then “Congress shall choose a President from among those candidates having the highest number of votes,” (article 75.)
For some weeks past the ensuing election has been the exciting topic here. The rival candidates are Señor Rafael Nuñez, of Carthagena, and Señor Aquileo Parra, late of President Perez’s cabinet. Both are members of the liberal party, but the latter is understood to be the choice of the administration, while the former represents the “outs.” The conservatives have as yet no candidate in the field.
It is customary here to make presidential nominations by states, through their respective delegations in Congress; and in the present instance the contest became very close and exciting. A scheme was finally developed, on the 5th instant, to have the army cast its vote in a body. This movement is understood to have been in the interest of Senor Nunez. On the 8th instant the President sent to Congress a special message, denouncing the measure as unconstitutional, and as calculated to seriously disturb the peace and order of the country. He was sustained by a bare majority of both houses.
Generals Vila and Wilches, respectively secretary of war and commander-in-chief [Page 423] of the national forces, were understood as being in sympathy with this opposition movement; and fears began to be entertained that they contemplated revolution should that become necessary to insure its success/This apprehension was heightened by the fact that both those distinguished gentlemen refused acquiescence in the decision of Congress, and had become openly hostile to the policy of the President.
Matters thus continued, and the excitement reached a high pitch on the morning of the 12th instant, when the President by executive order deposed both Vila and Wilches. He nominated to the place of the former Señor Wenceslao Ibáñez, and named General Joaquin Réyes as commander-in-chief of the armies. Meantime Señor Parra, the administration candidate, resigned his position in the cabinet, and his place is temporarily filled by the nomination of Señor José M. Villamoza Gallardo.
With these changes, the excitement began to subside; and although Generals Vila and Wilches are active and vigilant opponents, all apprehensions of a revolution seem passed. Apparently all is again tranquil, although the contest between the two opposing candidates is still undecided.
I have, &c.,