Note 75 — Chapter VI · THE AUDIENCIA AND THE GOVERNOR: GENERAL RELATIONS

There were occasions when the audiencia enacted administrative measures in which the governor failed to participate. These were especially noticeable during the administrations of Acuña, Fajardo, and Corcuera—governors who spent much of their time away from Manila. A more recent instance of this occurred in 1790 when the natives of the province of Ilocos revolted against a tyrannical and dissolute alcalde mayor. The acuerdo, notwithstanding the objection of Governor Marquina, removed the offending official and appointed another, and this action was subsequently approved by the king.75 According to the laws of the Indies the authority of removal and appointment of such officials rested with the governor.76 The tendency of the acuerdo to act in civil affairs without the advice or presence of the governor was checked by the royal order of November 12, 1840, wherein the audiencia was ordered not to attempt to carry its acuerdos into execution without the authority of the superior government.77 The evil effects of the audiencia’s intervention in provincial government were pointed out in 1842 by Sinibaldo de Mas, when he wrote: “the government of the provinces is in charge of an alcalde-mayor, who is at once judge of first instance, chief of political matters, subdelegate of the treasury, and war-captain or military commandant, for whose different attributes he is subject to authorities distinct from one another.”78