Manifesto of the national government–Circular to the provincial governors..
In view of the events occurring in the province of Cuyo, the vice-president of the republic has issued the annexed declaration.
The turn of events shows clearly that it is not a local sedition merely calling for federal intervention, as we supposed when the fallen governor of Mendoza called for our aid, but a full-fledged rebellion in open hostilities, as appears from the acts and circumstances set forth in the vice-president’s preamble. After desolating the province where the sedition arose, the rebels have audaciously invaded San Juan, fired on the national and provincial troops there upholding the national flag, expelled the lawful authorities, and delivered up to every kind of excess that unfortunate city which vainly confided in the protection of the constitution and of the national authorities.
We had reason to hope that those sad times were past and gone when the provinces were isolated from each other, and ferocious bands of marauders carried destruction and bloodshed in thei path. We had confided in the reorganization of the republic under one common law and the direction of national authorities elected by the provinces themselves. We had trusted never again to see a repetition of those scenes of grief and desolation, when a band of lawless criminals trampled on towns and provinces, shedding the blood of the peaceful inhabitants, and destroying the fruits of the industry of generations.
But, unhappily, we are called on to witness these evils again. Some unnatural Argentines have formed the wicked design of upsetting the national institutions, and, counting on the necessary delay of the government in sending to chastise them, owing to their great distance from the seat of authority, have begun their plot with a local sedition, then spread terror and outrage far and wide, and finally broken down all barriers of law and order.
I have to call your excellency’s attention to one special feature of this rebellion. The republic is at war with a foreign power that dared to insult our flag and profane our soil, and is now bound to come gloriously out of the struggle, not only for the vindication of our rights, but for the dignity of our nation, for the sake of the alliance into which the war has forced us, and for our good name among the nations of America and Europe, that are spectators of the war and friends to the progress of the republic.
The present rebellion has for its primary result to divert a portion of the nation’s efforts from the sole purpose to which they should be devoted; the rebellion, therefore, lends the most efficacious help to the enemy, and does so avowedly. To combat the rebels amounts to the same as combating the Paraguayans within our own territory, and by putting down the rebels we destroy one of the most powerful aids of our common enemy.
The vice-president, by whose orders I pass you this note, desires that your government will use the utmost vigilance to prevent the rebels from finding a shadow of protection in your territory, and convince the inhabitants of their strict and solemn duties as citizens of the Argentine Republic. The vice-president does not fear that there exists in your province a single Argentine, of whatever political color, who will be an accomplice in this treasonable crime that the constitution hesitates even to name, but which is stamped with infamy by the legislative code. He trusts, however, that if a traitor be found in your province, your excellency will at once submit him to the penalties of the law.
Meantime the national government has taken measures to suppress the rebellion without delay, and free the unfortunate provinces from the horrible weight of calamities that now oppresses them.
Having now fulfilled the vice-president’s orders, it only remains for me to assure you of my consideration and esteem.
His Excellency the Governor of ——.