CAREER OF THE BLACK PRESIDENT OF GUATEMALA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 592, 10 July 1858, Page 3

CAREER OF THE BLACK PRESIDENT OF GUATEMALA.

1 h&y&'(giine:.i\ir6u.<j;\i such an "exiraprHin'ary 'career i as Ek^PCarrera! jvk^bbm'in, the'vill'agS: l:of fea'iitUv'B'n'safion1 the' voad'Trbm^&iiatem^ia to. ;was "an" 'Indian,'"arid^ Xi fs'_ hiiitlVei1, jot !tlie miked ' VaJp of. :fia^i}^^p^is'4^^ji6nlm youth \yas;. fylb'tii], tn^'ta^ou's^Pi^^o; ;%'rpig-dmer^ 'pr [mc^r&ifSro, " ras ('iVfis''^allfe'dVin' 'Griiatefiiala... It. . 'seejms l Wat ?^eMes i! th is "ji o'nourable'^rpPessionf' - he follow/ed 'th'e'.'nlore.'injtelligen|^cupafiidn of ;a._ ■ "Aq&ferr W-g'aWbler' oii]'a^'in"air Tli^^lii-' :Jveter^te fp'assion\!^'fp^'ga'piW •lowest- cla'sses'orSpiahlisli'iirnm ;f6rj trlie/'inostint.blligdri^'aiifbnjsfst'-tjiera.'{p';eX-'^ '^s^^i^ai^ior'kr^^ro'f^bl^^n^ '; jji£tecl f compah'i:oils; i:''P^reija'^e^^Ho^liaye^ee^ 1' -pne of;'thoss:'siicc'essfui!^batfHers of' lo\v!%ame', : !,a^id sHe l!becamie 'thb-spoifsr^f -iijic'^m^oyl „JK>u"ferß':'of; :yi£H^ rsQrrpuridin^)^(X^feiia«isV!;i'.He ;,extea! de'ol ■Xis !iprofessipnal;;visi!ts ';evie'ri] a^ far;a^; Xa Antigua^the'anferent'capiffii of. (atia'temala)^ > wKere^a'tji'^acci'dent 'Kagpen'ecl J't6".-Wim'wliib: h 'is" 'teharactens'tic <6nh'e l! Bifferenqe-' be|ween^iiafael •ihe maranero aud »w^^^pji'^'^layerj^and^ ! • President of; Gfua^e-' :' «iaia. ;i 'fie vttadj^been^rep^ateaiy o^iervMi'; to gamble witH'tHe labourers of a"cocliitiealplanf:j : tatiori,-' beiorigirig'tb'a Frenchman.''! The 'latter indignant at the constant robbery of tlie'Vages , ,of [his -ser-vahts,- "caught ..Rafael one day in -the ,act; of gambling1, behind the, ;\vall of a cqurtiyard, and kicked him out ;6f: the pale of his doimipion. Some years after this occurrence, the iiianve of Carrera beg-an":first to be whispered resound1 above the>uproar of bldody revolutions : a President is prdtilhinved,' ;an4 His'/na-he is; Garrera. The] unfortunate; | Frfencliraan recollects his ignominious treatmen^ .of .^ the ./man wjio has since thon waded '.through.' blood to the supreme seat of poxyer; th 4 Pi-esi-ient's reputation for mercy stood not Very-high, and the Frenchman thinks of. saving, himself^by flight. In the tact of making his escape, he is caught, brought before. Rafael, : who, to the astonishment of all around, extends ! to ihim the hand of mercy, forgives him; and; | assures him of his perfect safety in remaining on: his property.' But between this bright act of itrue grandeur of soul and the low source from which it was developed, lies-a long period of aarkness, blood, and crime.. The inhabitants 6f^ Satita Eosa and its vicinity • are mountaineers; a hardy, wild race, ill treated by their -neighbours, whenever, .their power, profession, and consequent want have made of these lgno- ' raiit and: headstrong beings, a race of revengeful and bloody fanatics. Their mountainous territory is full of secret and impregnable strongholds, whence, hi war, parties oi formidable* partisans sally, and in peace, bands of do-, termined robbers. Among such a race a man of eunnino-, and knowledge of human character soon .acquires influence. A; display of "courage now and then, and a judicious and occasional deportment of hauteur go very far witli such people and soon insinuate the possession or capabilities for encountering any dangerous emergency. Thus Eafael became very soon a man of influence amongst them, and, as was said, andaba con ana dozena decompanwos, ; which 'means-literally, thaUie went about with a dozen comrades, but it infers that he,went about for the purpose of waging a priv^e war, ■with- twelve men ready to cut their own throats orlthe throats of others if required• &i-.;lum.. Ati that period, (and, indeed, as usual),,Co»tfal. America was oonvu'Ucdfby. revolutionary warrarb.. ...Mowizan; a man ot great talei^ t!>en Prjisident of Guatemala, had proclaimed a central, federal government for thowholeot ■'Central America- for the five provinces of the old

■ ■ *From Mitla. -A Narrative,of. Incidents and Personal Adventures in Mexico, Guatemala, and Salvador. By G. T. Yon Tempsky. ,- -

MaptUitifhip'YcUp.fidnia) 'of 6uiiterhiiik^:, <.)after ■' havih'g,-ih'l^2l, 'Syairi/^hadj^iiV $Bss,' %r/jied "tHe'rrfsdlveV iiito/ iseparat'y j'stei<'e's!; ,Tl(es'e';'separate, stages "were/ ■GiaWrnara;1 rSan Salvador,,"^ Ilonduraa.'^TJieay-/,' !kg|uaj'and ''^os'ta^Jlic^' .Mdrazan £o' : 'reunite^'tjiesa'sf'^tesIi ( nto: on atid 'wslS ( assisted* in,; 'this'^by^^tfrong'^pai'ties nSi' aji'^o? . th (iem'. ]'\ For:, " ( somei tirae'j;his' tal|?ht!as/a',C r kptainsa:n^d'^ srates- ■ ;iman,' ti-ixiinphed everywi'iere ;;:Ibut'Hfe..fikd'"cora-/ ■ rmittedv>'ane !> terrible mistake^—^a'^fnistailce into', ■'which':grefit'' .iiiirids.1' i'r'e^apl^.to/Failf^thaV'''"^^ ; go;irig: iii advatice 6!f ;h'is fage, wit'houii^pqSsessitig' '■fchfit1' laVi^' and greatesii degreHqf power, to, drag.' "■his :bliri"d''fc:6ritem^6raries''a]bftgi witb n'iinI.',' Se" prpclaihiiid;f 'tlie•, abolition of".'al]'' £he ; k coiivents'' ; througlioiit' ; G?n<;raV; iCraisn6ai^:Bu£''thef Wyii''tliat i J; ; he] •thus'''^nVeinded: l!'tbf;^r'pfes^ '■' agni'nst'-liini'v 5 tind; 'sw^lle'd' 'the; ranl£S'p|r^ii.s;a.n-;1 'tagdn'ists',-'-bringing 0 yi itH;! tfrem.' a.-wild 'entlm-^ ''^dsm;' of!iali j I 'blevv''the''flaipe:^^^^^ sinking"' Courage'int'o'.aonenacirig'^qrffl^^^^ (it} is! 'said') Jair\tKei'^brtlfsi,e'xi)elledi froM''th'eJ ir :^ .•'convents'immedia'tely 'sh'^uldeyed' ?th'^'. rhuisket,5, j ■and ';marche'd|'"in rank'^ahd;fileT ? :to gi\^e'*cSi,raaT ibattle'; t'6';; their arch"'? en'eiiiy.'!; !Tt t rnay! BeV' ima-' ;ginedfi' tl.iat;''■ l>e'si'dtl&' i 'those '/ope'My^/'ic'iivb'' 'iii*,' /jyiprazah's 6ye'rthV6\\H:;theyr4si'o^ •ise^rebly/iindenri?ned; hTs pbwer' krnongWli'isj|wn' ; .•parfcyi' - Tliere':tiiigii ft yet'liave 'b'eeh 'a Jclia(i)ce bf ' i his. partial 'suceesis, Tdi'/ambhgsthis 'ostensible •oppo'ne^s^th'ere^yis'^rio'qne'svhoj'ctf^^^ .!Bured;against!h'iVii ihmiHraiy>skill/''6b'nrag fe.'an'd '! iiehergy; '''"Bat/from an' unknown're^ion^'lan,'J ; orqiripns:' figliiy '■ agpeare'd. 'on. the fflieatre'!o'f 'ilie1! ,!struggleV a': niafr- \viithout Ja i hame/'exc'ep't'thiat, . of ja'e'onternptibTelndian^ an'obScivre Muratifro. ' |.During •;-all;; 'tlie"^^'foi.-egbiiig' "" extraordinary^ ! ,everits!;!bff' )JMqra'zatf a.4 X| .swelled ltis'-band' of 'rubbers:.a'iid; pHrtizaii^'frßnt" a; dbzeh''t"6: dozens^ 'from, ,a hundre4'rto''hun- ,* i;dre!dsi':'' l'whe'n:--: ■a'ni'<;;Tu'hex!pe6ted '">'e^nt; '■threw' .:ijatb;)''> i --his' ;^ ohi andsu;;;the:';;rerriK^ or r| :po\v6r,' •,over!;the.':AvTiole' Indian, popula'tibn *north'f of ■ i■Gvtatetti'ii'av' • On' fa 'siiaden^a fearful r visita{ion'of'■ ''Oholer&i&owedVit^ ithej ril'onntaineeVs.'':; 'Tli^e"1 peopje''!<vere ' •intb th'e''depth;bf'de¥pair;-se3ing iri;heir p'tire'rit:^ .their''childreri',1 theirb'rbtlie'rs aii'd^sisters'; 'mowed; dbyvn;ivi:an!illness 'of '"■&' few'hours;.'' The; howls! :of jnia'dilene'd Worjow^rangfrbihI.'every'raoui^^hi:! . gleii]'w}ir eh;;af yoice':was!'heard! 'problairhing^'tHe; of "this;' affiictiofr 'and 'tlie-'reraedy-f'lri '] -Saita"-•Rdsa'j'6:n "a %rtain'nig}ft;'C;irrera^oke : ; ;firs'tK'tb' si; 'crovvd2 'of :;'?ihbuaa;n'^/o^: .'despWiH'ng /wretches •^^■jp6ur:;\vells, > 'yow :bp^n ipoisWed-by -thp'Tecleralm^: vail jtlkt"have'-Indian blbiJd left in 'them';: w^will \ 'sgq \ and vdrih k; ■ h eiicefor th; but • the;; blood 'of the fjlede^alists."1' ■ Aiud'away:'they ''Went;f;;c'ai rrying ..tlie .'bloody1 rrhe*ssagei'fibVn: niqiintaiH.tb .itainV-and'ihebld'ilndianvwiifyells' ivere liear'cl;: agaid^in We" i:Sierri! (Madre.° :Tlie*T^clergy.ditt •their''utniost tb lielp';thecause";bf .Carrera; wlib" Tliad Tflim i f bpenly ;declkr6:d; \yai- ;a'gain3t.j\f qrazan; ; the inspirStion' ;r6'f -a;:?l)iv.ihe :was' at'tri4 . buted'byj theriifto ; "'Heligibdb •sympati \y"i of -racej-• .despair "and 'vvant>' Mobcl--:' ,;thiiisfci:ne>ss'•'and - rl6v.e r' of 'plundeiV^ll'fougHt on .lttiib;sid^ itf-tfoe 'rkviksv! of li.is ;In[dians; theni1 a-' tlireatening■ stbrni; bri:" th 6 ;side of Biin; . 'Salvador 'happened to call MorazAn' to .that quar-; ;terl andrliis;-divided fo'rcesi'g.avejyaj^at' JeaWt,; ; b;efpre <!'t!ie;p'ressure of fanatic, ninsse's. _-A:',Ge'ne- • ; frall Paredes: defended the towu'.of Griiatetn'ala-for'' some; ti me;'againsfc :Ca?rer^ ■"Becaiire1 exliaiisted,-'and^ i:the .opposit'e::party.;Tear-' ful;of a; ciiarige in -their luck, agreed; to' moder^ ate; eomproniuse, whereby;oVder; a'blessing lb'ng ; unknown,1 should bei restored.' 'The^ictatbrsliip'' of jGfuateihaUi'wiis1 offered to ;€arrera,; who ac- i cep'ted it;:'w'ith; certain; guarantees of life' and. propbrty;it\>r'J'the yielding party.^ Don. Rafa,el: J Garrei-a vya's Hibw President^'arid very soon formed j for! himself a new party, for this,'to him, nevf'| : exercise of :the functions' of governtnent:: All' j those; belonging to what was then called'the j liberal party had sided with Morazan ; the aris- j f tocrats of property and of the '.church were: against, him. Of these Carrera bad been first the too!, and then changed positions with them; j for he now for some time reigned absolute, j through the fearful phantom of his sway over the Indians, who,-as a party, belonged to him, alone in devotion to Ins Indian blood. " It was this bugbear that kept bis own party, in Guatemala, m constant terror of him. ; Morazan's last attempt,for rousing his Federalists into action was made in Costa .Rica, and there, in 1843, he paid for it with his life ; the ruling party having surprised him, captured him, 'arid had him shot. Carvera became thus the only man of fame and power in Central America. The succeeding years of his reign tended^ only to confirm his seat on the presidential chair, for . repeated attempts of the Liberals of Honduras and Salvador were signally defeated,, and added new laurels to his fame. In ' the last battle with them, near Chiquimula, I believe, he fought against seven generals, with General Cabanas, the hero of Honduras, at their head. Ever since they have left-him pretty much alone. . . ''[' "'"■/'' - ■