ERA OF CONSTITUTION MAKING 209 gress. At the same time, they withdrew the power of the seven Santiago representatives and subjected their conduct to the consideration of a commission appointed for that purpose, consisting of eight distinguished citi- zens. Freire was asked to take necessary steps for the public tranquillity and to secure the persons causing trouble and anarchy. A circular was addressed to the people by the govern- ment, setting forth the disturbances as a reason for dissolving the false congress. A measure of security was promulgated, banishing eleven individuals, distin- guished citizens of Santiago, who had been prominent in fomenting the disturbances, and also giving immi- grants who had lately landed from San Juan, disaf- fected chiefs, twenty-four hours to leave Chile. Other ministers were nominated to all the departments of pub- lic business, Campino, foreign affairs, Novoa, war and marine, Benevente, revenue; and the director gave as- surances that another and constituent congress should be soon assembled. On the i2th, the director named in a public decree a body, called the "Consulting Council," composed of the ministers of the government, the president of the supreme court of justice, the chief of the court of appeals, and others, who should sit twice a week and aid him in expediting the serious affairs of state, and agree upon means for the best management of his office. Disorganization had been general and parties had now become more sharply defined. The liberal party, arising originall}' from the reaction against the dicta- torial policy of General Bernardo O'Higgins, formed now diverse factions, such as the federalists, who advo- cated, with Don Jose Miguel Infante as their spokes- man, a federal form of government with the provinces as states, and the pipiolas, who were followers and
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