“MONSTROUS AND ILLEGAL PROCEEDINGS”: LAW ...

On the back of Urquiza’s support, Bica began to integrate himself into the political
conflicts between the provincial government and the local leaders dominating the ranchlands
in the southeastern portion of the province. Bica threw his support behind the pro-Urquiza
faction operating in the region. His connections to Urquiza in turn bolstered his local
political position. By 1859, Bica became juez de paz in the department. 217 A year later, he
served on the departmental commission in charge of the distribution of public lands. 218 Bica
also assumed a prominent place in the militia. He served as an officer in the local forces in
the early 1860s. 219 Through Bica’s growing status, therefore, Urquiza gained a beachhead in
the correntino borderlands. This assisted his own efforts to bring the province further into his
political orbit.
At the same time, Bica’s various offices ensured that the Brazilian possessed
substantial control over the distribution of economic and legal rights throughout the
department. Bica used this position to benefit his personal and political allies. He
distributed patronage in order to cement his position in the town and enhance his status in
the process. Bica apparently was quite aggressive in selling public lands. In an 1863 letter to
the provincial government, officials in Monte Caseros alleged that Bica had failed to account
for a number of land sales as required by law. They also alleged that he owed the
department some 500 pesos stemming from the transactions. 220
217 AGPC. Correspondencia Oficial [C.O.], T. 162, Antonio Fernandez, Juzgado de Paz de
Monte Caseros al S.S. el Señor Ministro del Exmo. Gobierno de la Provincia (June 13, 1859).
218 AGPC. C.O., T. 164, Juez de Paz del Departamento de Monte Caseros Manuel Bica al Exmo.
Sor. Gobernador de la Provincia (January 12, 1860).
219 AGPC. C.O., T. 175, D. Solano Romero al S.S. Ministros Drs. D. Juan E. Torrent y D.
Wenceslao Diaz Colodrero (January 2, 1862). The letter notes that Bica arranged for funding
from taxes to supply the Monte Caseros militia.
220 AGPC. C.O., T. 189, José Belmont al S.S. el Sor. Ministro Gral. de Gobierno D. Juan José
Camelino (October 24, 1863).
250