The Aftermath of Pavón

Abstract

N SEPTEMBER 17, 1861, a battle was fought on the northern plains of the Province of Buenos Aires. Though the niame and date of that battle are a byword to the general reader of Argentine history, the significance of that moment of national reorganization deserves special attention. What made Pavon a landmark in the development of the Argentine nation in the period from 1852 to 1880? To discover the answer we must examine the events which followed that indecisive battle. Three principal personalities, each representing forces in the Argentine scene, had dominated the confliet which led to Pavon. Justo Jose de Urquiza, victor of Caseros and organizer of the Confederation, had descended from the presidency of Argentina in 1860 after obtaining the nominal incorporationi of the recalcitrant Province of Buenos Aires into the nation. Upon laying down the mantle of national authority, he had been elected governor of his ownl Province of Entre Rios and was destined to play a principal role inl national politics as leader of the Federalist party. His duty was to guard the interests of the interior and littoral provinces against the wealth and power of the recently incorporated state of Buenos Aires. A second figure who intervened in the developments before Pavon was Bartolome Mitre. After gaining distilictioll as deputy, minister, and general in portei7io circles, he had been elected to governi the Province of Buenos Aires during the difficult period of readjustment within the national structure. His role was as traditiollal to the Argentine past as that of Urquiza, for he represented the effort of Buenos Aires to control the nation through the Liberal party which was springing up in the other provilnces. The third figure of the national triumvirate which had come into existence in 1860 was Santiago Derqui, president of the fourteen reunited provinces. Despite his title, his was a weak position. While Urquiza and Mitre represented traditional forces as governors of provinces or leaders of parties,