Page:Tupper family records - 1835.djvu/105

Rh "There is little doubt that matters would have still gone well had General Freire acted with his accustomed integrity, but this weak man was completely led by two or three of the 'Estanqueros,' and, though the natural enemy of Prieto, he positively refused to support Vicuna,—on the contrary, leaning considerably to the other side.

"I was at this time quartered with my corps in Santiago, and I considered it my duty to support the government and congress, because I think that the case is extremely rare in which a military man can with honor do otherwise, and because I was satisfied that the matter in question was not one in which the interference of the military was at all called for, the greatest grievance urged by the rebels being confined to the allegation that the letter of the law had not been adhered to in the election of vice-president. I knew moreover that all parties, whatever their avowed object might be, only sought the furtherance of their private views,—that they all wished to be in place, and to plunder the country at discretion,—and above all, I considered that no free government or orderly state could exist an hour if the military were once allowed to throw the sword into the scale, and decide points of legislation by the force of arms, as is now too generally the case in South America. Fortunately the chiefs, who were in garrison in the capital, were much of this opinion. We determined to give Prieto battle in support of legitimate authority, and the several corps therefore left Santiago. The enemy was encamped about a league from the city, on ground higher than ours, though not otherwise favorable to him, as many ditches and walls (with the exception of the position itself low) rendered ineffectual