shot the soldier; he was retained for trial, but was released subsequently. Feeling for a time ran high.
On the 5th of April a decree was promulgated making Valparaíso the capital of the maritime department, and the port at which foreign men-of-war should receive and answer salutes.
Congress was inaugurated August 15th, 1828. It assembled first in Santiago but soon retired to Valparaíso. In time a new constitution was adopted which it was hoped would give satisfaction and bring stability to the government. It was a liberal constitution and unsatisfactory to the conservative party.
In July of the following year, 1829, General Pinto resigned, but two months afterward resumed his office, having been reelected in the general elections, which also returned the congress.
The new assembly passed diverse laws bearing upon social and political reforms, but the passions of leaders and party spirit became more irritated and aggressive and made it almost impossible to carry on the government in the regular way. The pelucones, or conservatives, accused the president and congress of abuses and irregularities, and, unwilling to submit to the successes of the pipiolas, or liberals, began to conspire against them. Pinto divined the gathering storm and a month and a half after his reelection, resigned his office into the hands of the president of the senate, Don Francisco Ramón Vicuña, in the midst of general disorder, November 2nd, 1829.
