THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE 1821 TO 1833 BY W.ALISON PHILLIPS 1897

FIEST CONGRESS OF ARGOS 85
had, through their armed followers, complete control,
the Assembly was moved to Piada, not far from the
ancient Epidaurus. The oligarchs, in the meantime,
remained in Argos, and proceeded to revive the Peloponnesian
Senate, claiming for it such complete supremacy
in the Morea, that the central Government
remained practically powerless. Greece was thus, at
the end of the year 1821, divided into three sections,
each under its own senate, and all nominally dependent
on the central Government. But the Constitution
published by the Assembly at Piada, known as
that of Epidaurus, remained a dead letter; and the
provincial senates only exercised any power in so far
as they were governed by the faction which chanced
to have command of most men and money. For the
most part their pedantic discussions were treated by
the wild chiefs of the revolt with the contempt they
deserved.
The new Constitution was proclaimed on January
22, 1822, and Alexander Mavrocordatos was elected
President of Greece. He had few of the qualities
necessary to maintain so difficult a position. It is true
that in culture and experience, as in probity of motive,
he was superior to the mass of the leaders of the revolt ;
but he lacked strength and firmness, and the breadth
of view which enables a statesman to look beyond the