Mr. Hovey to Mr. Seward.
Sir: After an examination of the votes cast in the recent elections, congress, on the 1st instant, declared Colonel Balta the legal President of Peru, and on the following day he was solemnly installed in his position. His remarks, on his inauguration, were as follows:
Honourable Representatives: Invested with power by the national vote, and faithful to the oath which I have just subscribed to, I will be just, and nothing more than [Page 867] just, since I am convinced that in justice we will find that firmness necessary for the salvation of the republic.
I know that the financial condition of the country is not satisfactory, but relying on your valuable assistance, and on the patriotism of all Peruvians, we may hope speedily to remove all embarrassing circumstances—a complete forgetfulness of all past discords, national reform in all administrative branches, but a reform emanating from the law; protection to arts, industry, and agriculture; thus creating genuine sources of wealth.
Such will be my constant effort. Thus the public tranquillity will not be disturbed, and ambition will find the basis of a solid and honorable future in labor, and not in favor, or positions derived from favor.
To you, illustrious legislators, pertains the duty of assisting, with your efficacious cooperation, the constitutional government inaugurated to-day, and I, on my part, promise to be inexorable in extirpating discord or civil war.
May God guide and fortify you in your arduous duties, laboring for the health of the republic.
The new cabinet has been formed as follows:
President of the council and minister of war, Colonel Juan Wancisco Balta; minister of treasury, D. Francisco Garcia Calderan; minister of foreign affairs, D. J. Antonio Barrenchea; minister of interior, D. Pedro Galvez; minister of justice, D. Luciano B. Cisneros.
Mr. Barrenechea was the minister of foreign affairs during the latter portion of Colonel Prado’s administration, and was universally esteemed.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.