212 A HISTORY OF CHILE thority by the provincial assemblies, as those bodies had been created to act only upon such matters as might be presented to them by congress. Congress was in the anomalous position of having created states for the purpose of forming a confederacy and then hav» ing its children dictate terms to it. Santiago went so far as to vote in its assembly that no law passed by congress should be binding upon that province without its consent ; the Colchagua assembly took possession of the national funds in that province and appropriated them according to its own judgment. It was apparent to congress that it must dissolve the provincial assemblies ; yet this could hardly be done and carry out the federal idea. Following its plan of a federation, congress changed the title of the supreme-director to that of president, and created the office of vice president. Friere became, as a matter of course, president; Francisco Anibal Pinto, vice president. But this was not for long. Surrounded by difficulties and seeing no prospect of better things, Freire on the and of May, resigned the presidenc}'. His resignation was referred by congress to a com- mittee, and on the 4th, the committee reported. As the report was considered to be too general, it was sent back to the committee and the next day was reported more specifically; first, they voted to accept the pres- ident's resignation, second, that the vice president should act as the executive, third that the president of the legislative body should signify to General Freire their sentiments of regret. The result was comm.uni- cated to the president, with the accompanying request that he should continue to act until the authority could be regularly committed to the vice president. Pinto was next communicated with and notified that he should fill the office made vacant by Freire's resig-
