“MONSTROUS AND ILLEGAL PROCEEDINGS”: LAW ...

implicated in the central government’s investigation regarding local corruption in several
civic contracts. By linking Arteagada to Castro, Saldaña and his associates brought the
judge’s ability to administer justice in the town into question. Echoing the arguments made
by Guimaraens and his allies against Emilio Thevenet two years earlier, Saldaña was quick to
stress the “disorder” in the town regarding Castro’s service. 52 The men maintained that they
“would never fail to recognize” the judge’s authority. They were nonetheless concerned
about “arbitrary accusations” against Maldonado in connection with the judge’s own
personnel. The implication was clear: Arteagada’s continued presence threatened to result in
further violence, perhaps from Saldaña and his allies if they did not receive relief from the
government. Latorre’s administration appeared to understand the message. Officials in
Montevideo promptly acted. They removed Arteagada from his post before he could
conclude the investigation into the Maldonado and Delgado altercation. Officials in
Montevideo then appointed Carlos A. Berro to fill the vacated judgeship. Berro promptly
transferred the pending proceeding to nearby Paysandú where the juez letrado ordered both
men to pay a fine. 53
Through these types of proceedings, Saldaña and his allies confirmed their loyalty to
Latorre and his designated judicial officials. At the same time, however, they made it clear
that their loyalty and cooperation remained contingent upon the central state recognizing
their right to use their local reputation and power to control economic resources and secure
valuable property rights where they saw fit. In this way, Saldaña used Salto’s courts to
negotiate the terms by which national authority would be recognized in the town.
52 Ibid., 40.
53 Ibid., 40, 47bis.
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