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THE RE VOL UTIONAR Y PERIOD 145 Ayres, and in this capacity obtained three hundred Chilean troops for the assistance of La Plata. The junta had called an assembly, or congress, fixing the elections for April, 181 1, and prescribing the man- ner of representation. The regulations for the election of deputies prescribed a certain number of members for each municipality, which, not being according to population, gave rise afterward to much dissatisfaction. During the time of the elections, a body of troops was stationed in the square of Santiago to preserve order. This detachment was commanded by Don Tomas de Figueroa, a European Spaniard who had at first de- clared in favor of the revolution, yet had been intri- guing against the junta; he now sought to use his situa- tion to crush the revolution in its incipiency. A skir- mish took place between the squad commanded by Figu- eroa and a party of patriots led by Jos6 Miguel Car- rera, who was afterward head of the army and govern- ment. Fifty or sixty men were killed, but the patriots were successful. The affair inspired the revolutionary leaders ; Figueroa was executed and the leading con- spirators banished. The first congress assembled on July 4th, 181 1. Many reformatory measures were passed, including the aboli- tion of slavery. The Ro3^al Audience had been dissolved, a camera de apolaciones appointed in its stead, and the executive power vested in the junta. Congress decreed that curates should be paid from the public treasury, not by tithes ; that restriction should be removed from commerce ; that the ancient law regulating the appoint- ment of officers in the municipalities (the cabildos') should be annulled, and that henceforth such offices should be filled by annual elections. Certain offices were abolished and salaries reduced. The powers of