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PART FOURTH

THE REPUBLICS OF SOUTH AMERICA

THE REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY

THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE

THE REPUBLIC OF PERU

THE REPUBLIC OF ECUADOR

THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA
THE REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY
THE REPUBLIC OF BOLIVIA

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REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY.

HISTORICAL NOTES.

The Republic of Uruguay, situated in a region that, on account of its location east of the Uruguay River, was called in former times "La Banda Oriental" (The Eastern Shore), officially designated in its constitution "El Estado Oriental del Uruguay." It is now usually known by the name of "República Oriental del Uruguay," and owes its political existence to the treaty of peace concluded, through the mediation of Great Britain, on the 27th of August, 1828, between Brazil and the Argentine Republic. By this treaty both nations renounced their claims to the Uruguayan territory, and recognized and guaranteed the independence of the Republic established in conformity

thereto..

About one year thereafter duly elected representatives of the Uruguayan people met at Montevideo and framed the Constitution of September 10, 1829, which, after being approved (May 26, 1830) by the Brazilian and the Argentine governments, was sworn to and put in operation on the 18th of July of the same year. This Constitution, with some slight modifications, is the one now in force.

When the Constitution was adopted the territory of Uruguay was divided into nine departments. At present the departments are nineteen, as follows: Rocha, Maldonado, Canelones, Montevideo, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Rio Negro, Paysandú, Salto, Artigas, Florida, Flores, Minas, Durazno, Tacuarembó, Treinta y tres, Cerro Largo, y Rivera.

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CONSTITUTION.

(September 10, 1829.)

En el Nombre de Dios Todopoderoso, Autor, Legislador y Conservador Supremo del Universo, nosotros, los Representantes nombrados por los Pueblos situados á la parte oriental del Río Uruguay, que, en conformidad de la Convención Preliminar de Paz, celebrada entre la República Argentina y el Imperio del Brasil, en veintisiete de agosto del año próximo pasado de mil ochocientos veintiocho, deben componer un Estado libre é independiente, reunidos en Asamblea General, usando de las facultades que se nos han cometido, cumpliendo con nuestro deber y con los vehementes deseos de nuestros representados, en orden á proveer á su común defensa y tranquilidad interior, á establecerles justicia, promover el bien y la felicidad general, asegurando los derechos y prerrogativas de su libertad civil y política, propiedad é igualdad, fijando las bases fundamentales, y una forma de gobierno que les afiance aquellos del modo más conforme con sus costumbres, y que sea más adaptable á sus actuales circunstancias y situación; según nuestro saber, y lo que nos dicta nuestra íntima conciencia, acordamos, establecemos, y sancionamos la presente Constitución.

SECCIÓN I.

DE LA NACIÓN, SU SOBERANÍA Y

CULTO.

CAPÍTULO I.

ARTÍCULO 1. El Estado Oriental del Uruguay es la asociacíon política de todos los ciudadanos

In the name of Almighty God, the Author, Legislator, and Supreme Preserver of the Universe, we, the representatives appointed by the people of the eastern shore of the Uruguay River, who, in conformity with the preliminary Convention of Peace, concluded between the Argentine Republic and the Empire of Brazil on the twentyseventh of August, eighteen hundred and twenty-eight, must now form a free and independent State, sitting in General Assembly, in use of the powers vested in us, acting in compliance with our duty and with the vehement desire of our constituents, wishing to provide for their common defense and internal peace, establish justice, promote public good and general welfare, secure for them the rights and prerogatives of civil and political liberty, property and equality, fix the fundamental basis of a government, which may guarantee the said benefits, in the manner most conformable with their customs and best adapted to their present conditions and circumstances, to the best of our knowledge and following the dictates of our consciences, do hereby ordain, establish and sanction the present Constitution.

SECTION I.

THE NATION, ITS SOVEREIGNTY AND RELIGION.

CHAPTER I.

ARTICLE 1. The Oriental State of Uruguay is the political association of all the citizens inhabiting

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ART. 6. Los ciudadanos del Estado Oriental del Uruguay son naturales ó legales.

ART. 7. Ciudadanos naturales son todos los hombres libres nacidos en cualquier punto del territorio del Estado.

ART. 8. Ciudadanos legales son: los extranjeros, padres de ciudadanos naturales, avecindados en el país antes del establecimiento de la presente Constitución; los hijos de padre o madre natural del país, nacidos fuera del Estado, desde el acto de avecindarse en él; los extranjeros que, en calidad de oficiales, han combatido y combatieren en los Ejércitos de mar ó tierra de la Nación; los extranjeros, aunque sin hijos, ó con hijos extranjeros, pero casados con hijas del país, que, profesando alguna ciencia, arte ó industria, ó poseyendo algún capital en giro, ó propiedad raíz, se hallen residiendo en el Es

the nine Departments now forming its territory.

ART. 2. The State is, and shall be forever, free and independent of all foreign power.

ART. 3. It shall never be the patrimony of any person or family.

CHAPTER II.

ART. 4. The sovereignty is vested fully and primarily in the Nation, to which the exclusive right belongs of enacting its laws in the manner to be explained hereafter.

CHAPTER III.

ART. 5. The religion of the State is the Roman Catholic Apostolic.

SECTION II.

CITIZENSHIP, ITS RIGHTS, SUSPENSION AND LOSS.

CHAPTER I.

ART. 6. The citizens of the Oriental State of Uruguay are either native or legal.

ART. 7. Native citizens are all free men born in any part of the territory of the State.

ART. 8. Legal citizens are: All foreigners, residing in the country previously to the establishment of the present Constitution, who are fathers of native Uruguayan citizens; the sons of native Uruguayan fathers or mothers, born outside of the State, from the date of their domiciliation in Uruguay; the foreigners who served as army officers in the armies of the Republic and fought its battles on land or sea; the foreigners with no children or with foreign children, who are married to Uruguayan wives, if engaged in some science, art, or industry, or in business, owning some capital, or real estate, and

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