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CHAPTER II THE CONSERVATIVES IN POWER PRIETO AND PORTALES — FREIRE'S REVOLUTION EXPEDITION AGAINST PERU THE BATTLE OF YUNGAY There were rapid changes in the government before the conservatives came into power in 1830. Six pres- idents were elected one after another and one provi- sional junta, consisting of three members, was formed. General Pinto had been called to the presidency with the congratulations of every peace-loving, well-disposed person in Chile, and it was hoped that there would be an end to party dissensions. Pinto was in favor of making Valparaiso a strongly fortified place, of lessen- ing the duties, storage and port charges, and doing away with transit duty. But turbulent times followed. The province of Concepcion undertook to separate itself from the general government, disorders prevailed, rob- beries were of daily occurrence, blood was shed, and foreigners fled to Valparaiso. In 1829, General Prieto started a revolt on the Arau- canian frontier with the army which was stationed tViere under his command. He marched upon the cap- ital where the conservatives organized a provisional junta to conduct the government, disregarding the au- thority of Francisco Vicuna, who had been acting as president from the time of Pinto's resignation. Vicuiia