Role of José Cecilio del Valle in independence
The figure of José Cecilio del Valle is closely linked to the independence of Central America. He successfully navigated the political transition from the colonial period to the era of independence. Initially opposed to independence, Valle became a defender of it once it was adopted.
Jose del Valle was a mature man during the early events of Independence. Following the French invasion of Spain in 1808, which dethroned King Ferdinand VII and created political chaos in the Iberian Peninsula, Spaniards rebelled against the invaders, refusing to recognize the French-appointed Joseph I as their monarch. They convened a national constituent assembly that promulgated the Constitution of Cadiz in 1812.
This constitution established universal suffrage, national sovereignty, separation of powers, freedom of the press, land distribution, and freedom of industry, among other things. These changes had an impact on Central America.
The Central American liberals enthusiastically embraced these ideas and began propagating the idea of independence, despite the opposition of the colonial regime. In 1811, the first acts of insurrection against the Spanish colonial government took place in San Salvador and Nicaragua, but they were harshly suppressed by Captain General José de Bustamante y Guerra.
The following year (November 25, 1812), the first elections for municipalities and deputies were held in Central America. The liberals sought to establish the first democratic institutions, despite the hostility of Bustamante, a staunch opponent of the Cadiz Constitution.
Due to these events, Valle feared a revolt in the Kingdom of Guatemala, so he considered it appropriate to make improvements before proclaiming independence. His extensive work experience in public administration during the colonial period (1803-1821) had revealed to Valle the «weaknesses» of Central America, which may have made him doubt its capacity to exercise autonomy as a nation.
Conspiracy of Belén
In 1813, the Conspiracy of Belén took place, which failed to achieve its objectives. During these events, Valle not only did not remain on the sidelines, but he also received new signs of consideration and was appointed as the War Auditor of the Army and Province of Guatemala.
Due to Valle’s stance on these events, his adversaries considered him an opponent of independence. According to writers like Ramón Rosa, Valle continued to be the «submissive» employee of the colonial government: «Valle’s behavior at that time is understandable because he was educated under that regime, had gained trust, considerations, and honors, in addition to being employed by it. He may have believed that his feelings of loyalty obliged him unconditionally… That’s what he must have believed when he acted contrary to the cause of the independentists.»
However, historians and his political adversary, Pedro Molina, assert that Valle «was, like a good American, a friend of independence; but as a prudent man, he knew how to conceal his tendencies.» In addition to this, Valle’s writings also reveal that he always believed in the right of nations to obtain their freedom.
He knew it was impossible «for a people to be forever governed by someone far away.» But he thought it was not the right time to proclaim independence and conditioned it on the argument that the voice of all the provinces should be heard before making a final judgment.
Independence
In 1818, Bustamante left power and was replaced by Don Carlos Urrutia, a man of weak character who provided relief to the independentists. During his government, they gained ground, but their momentum was stronger in 1820 when the king of Spain, Fernando VII, was forced to restore the constitution of 1812.
As a result, freedom of the press was declared in Central America. Dr. Pedro Molina Mazariegos, an independentist, seized this opportunity and founded «El Editor Constitucional» through which he promoted independence. Valle, in turn, founded «El Amigo de la Patria,» a newspaper in which he opposed Molina’s political ideas.
If Molina represented radicalism, Valle embodied the moderate idea. The rivalries between Molina and Valle gave rise to the birth of two political parties: the Gazistas, led by Valle, and the Cacos, led by Pedro Molina.
Both parties competed in elections for representatives, with Valle’s party prevailing. However, the Cacos achieved a victory by removing Captain Urrutia from power and replacing him with army sub-inspector Don Gabino Gaínza on March 9, 1821. Gaínza was an elderly man with a weak and changeable character.
In Mexico, the revolution achieved a complete triumph, and through the Plan of Iguala, it declared its total independence from Spain on February 24, 1821. This event heightened the desire of Guatemalan liberals, and with Gaínza yielding to their demands, he convened a meeting to decide the country’s political course. Ramón Rosa describes the climax of Independence as follows:
The Guatemalan independents… pressed Gainza with their pleas and representations, flattering his vanity and interests at the same time, making him understand that he would be the Chief of the new nation. Yielding to necessity and convenience, and motivated by the various and great incentives that impelled him to save his responsibility, without contradicting the currents of public opinion, and subjecting himself to the vote of the Provincial Deputation, he convened a General Assembly of officials and corporations in Guatemala to determine the appropriate measures regarding the capital issue of independence. The Assembly met on September 15, 1821, in the Government Palace. Valle took the floor and in an eloquent speech, demonstrated the necessity and justice of independence but expressed that the voice of the provinces must be heard before proclaiming it. Valle’s brilliant ideas were met with applause, but his proposal for postponement was not adopted. The majority of the Assembly, fueled by the enthusiastic and impetuous demonstrations of the massed people, decided to immediately proclaim the Independence of Central America. The Provincial Deputation and the Municipality of Guatemala, the legitimate organs of the people’s will, agreed on the points of the Act to be celebrated, and Valle drafted that memorable document. Valle also drafted the Manifesto published by Captain General Gainza regarding the great event of independence.
Provisional Advisory Board
In a way, time proved Valle right, as Central America was not prepared to govern itself. Evidence of this was the chaos that ensued after independence was adopted. On one hand, the economic situation of the Central American provinces, upon assuming their new independent legal status, was calamitous. With no revenues in the national treasury and the need to cover ordinary expenses, the government had to resort to loans.
The declaration of free trade proved counterproductive, as shipments of coins and gold belonging to Spaniards fleeing the uncertainty of the new government began to leave the country. This destabilized the monetary situation and made it even more ruinous.
Despite the existing problems, Valle left behind his past with the Spanish empire. As a representative of Comayagua, he was part of the Provisional Advisory Board established alongside Gaínza, Mariano de Aycinena y Piñol, Miguel Larreynaga, Don José Valdes, Ángel María Candina, José Antonio Alvarado, and Antonio Robles.
These men abolished the Spanish government while retaining the governing structure of the colony. They also decided to temporarily maintain Spanish laws and authorities. Additionally, they established that the provinces would elect their representatives to form the congress.
This congress would meet on March 22, 1822, to ratify independence, establish the constitution, and lay the foundations of the new government. During these events, Valle acted with «great prudence and political acumen.» He understood that independence marked an important yet dangerous leap, and it was necessary to avoid a «fatal fall.» He also recognized the need for a «conciliatory transition, a true social evolution.»
Valle was entrusted with the formation of an administrative plan. Additionally, he proposed commissions for security and defense, public instruction, statistics, agriculture, commerce, and public finance.
Valle personally took charge of the revenue department, which he believed was the «bronze column» on which independence rested. He worked tirelessly in shaping the new government, envisioning a «political evolution that gradually and prudently advanced the cause of liberal education among the people, creating a solid regime of free institutions in Central America.»
However, amidst all this, the liberals disrupted the cooperative atmosphere that had existed in forming the new government. They requested the repeal of Article 3 of the Act of Independence, as well as demanded that the election of provincial representatives be left to the governmental boards that had elected representatives to the courts. They also called for the establishment of national militias and the removal of employees suspected of having connections with the former colonial regime. Furthermore, they sought to participate in the deliberations of the Advisory Board.
This active participation of the liberals in government affairs infuriated the illustrious families, who saw their privileges as the upper class threatened. This gave rise to the birth of two political parties: the conservatives and the liberals, who from then on would be incapable of working for the benefit of the nation.
The conservatives maneuvered with the sole purpose of maintaining the privileges they had obtained during the Spanish government, while the liberals sought to impose their ideas at any cost. Thus, with this marked political division, coupled with the fragility of its institutions, the future of Central America became intertwined with the events in Mexico.
