Carlos Eugenio Restrepo
Encyclopedia
For the President of Colombia from 1966 to 1970, see Carlos Lleras Restrepo
Carlos Eugenio Restrepo Restrepo (September 12, 1867 – July 6, 1937) was a Colombia
n lawyer, writer, and statesman, who was elected President of Colombia
in 1910. During his administration he worked towards making political reconciliation among the Conservative and Liberals. He appointed members of the Liberal Party
to his Cabinet, and to the dismay of some of his own party, adopted a neutral stand on all issues. He later served as Minister of Government
and Ambassador
to the Vatican City State.
of Andes
, in the south of Antioquia. He had two brothers: Nicanor, a merchant who served as president of the Departamental Assembly of Antioquia in 1924, and Juan María, a distinguished theologian at the service of the Holy See
.
Restrepo married Isabel Gaviria Duque on April 16, 1890. Together they had nine children: Tulia, Carlos, Ignacio, Sofía, Margarita, Ana, Adolfo, Isabel, and Vicente.
, and Medellín; he later attended the Institute of Higher Learning in what is now the Seminario Conciliar de Medellín. He studied Law
, but had to suspend his studies at the age of 18, because of the raging Civil War in 1815. He was forced to teach himself the basics while also practicing in the law firm
of his father and his business partner, Alejandro Botero Uribe, who would later become Minister of Government
in 1909.
for the Department of Antioquia in 1898.
He later became a professor in the Law Department of the University of Antioquia
, and also became the University's Rector
. He also participated in various charities, he helped established the Colombian Red Cross in Medellín, became president of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
in Colombia, and founded the Society for the Improvement of Public Works in Medellín in 1901.
(1899–1902). He served as Chief of Staff of the Army under the command of General Pedro Nel Ospina
.
.
In 1904, General Rafael Reyes
had decreed the creation of the “Cámara de Comercio de Medellín” (Chamber of Commerce of Medellín), to be preside by the Governor of Antioquia. On January 23, 1905, 26 members to the Board of Directors were elected, among them Alonso Angel, Ricardo Restrepo, Carlos Uribe, Apolinar Villa and Carlos E. Restrepo.
He was elected to the House of Representatives of Colombia in 1909.
On March 13, 1909 he founded the Unión Republicana or Republican Union, a political party that emphasized political reconciliation, Republican values
, modernization, and National identity
. He took his Republican ideas from the French writer and critic Émile Faguet
, of whom he would later write a biography. This political movement had the support of prominent members of both Conservatives
and Liberals
like, José Vicente Concha
, Pedro Nel Ospina
and Miguel Abadía
, from the Colombian Conservative Party
and Nicolás Esguerra, Benjamín Herrera and Enrique Olaya
from the Colombian Liberal Party
.
In 1910, General Ramón González Valencia
had convened the National Assembly. Two conservative candidates were nominated to become the future President of Colombia: Restrepo and José Vicente Concha
. On July 15, 1910, the election took place and Restrepo obtained 23 votes and Concha 18. Thus, Restrepo was inaugurated as President on August 7, 1910, succeeding General González Valencia. this enthusiastic Colombian fundated the newspaper el espectador and el bar/ hotel la robergalarga.
and he collaborated in many magazines and newspapers of Antioquia, such as La Miscelánea (1888, 1905), Lectura y Arte (1903), Alpha (1906, 1907, 1908, 1910) and “el Diario de Pedro”, with articles of political, literary, and religious subjects, and also helped with some translations. He worked as the editor in chief of El Correo de Antioquia, where he created a contest to help give music to the Anthem of Antioquia.
Restrepo also founded and directed "Colombia" in 1891, which was a newspapre severely censured by the bishops of the Catholic Church as they considered most dangerous due to its anticlerical and pro-lay stands and teachings. In 1897, he also established the newspaper “el Montañés".
He worked in poetry and wrote an extensive number of essays and letters to friends and family due to the lack of local newspapers to express his opinions. Some of his works are:
. However, there were a growing number of members who gave their support to Restrepo for fear of war against Peru, for his solid law background, and for his eloquence as an orator. There was also a need for new figures to take the lead, especially representatives from Antioquia, who had been left out of the presidential rotation. For all of these reasons, Restrepo was quickly included as a Presidential Candidate in the National Assembly of 1910, along with Guillermo Quintero Calderón, and José Vicente Concha
.
On July 15, 1910 The National Assembly elected the 42 year old Restrepo to assume the Presidency of Colombia
. Restrepo had won the election with 23 votes in his favor against 18 votes for his contender José Vicente Concha
. He became the first Antioquian to be elected to preside over the country. His victory was a surprise to many who considered him just a journalist, and more surprisingly yet, was his victory on both sides of the aisle winning the majority on both parties.
Restrepo was elected with no Vice President
as the National Assembly that had convened that summer had replaced the Vice Presidential post with that of a Designado, someone with no executive office or powers, who would, in the case of the President's death or inability to assume power, would then assume the presidency.
On August 7, 1910, Restrepo became the 12th President of Colombia
succeeding the incumbent Ramón González Valencia
, for the term 1910-1914.
ing any bill
he deemed not in favor of the Nation. Some of the policies that took place during Restrepo's mandate were the abolition of the Capital Punishment
, the annual meeting of Congress
, the installment of life pensions for retired teachers, and the constructions of various hospitals in the Caribbean Region
to combat tropical diseases.
Restrepo received the country with grave fiscal problems
. There was a deficit of COP$
3.5 Millions to COP$4 Million. The new president forced the collection of taxes and reduced government spending, achieving an end to the deficit in less than a year; by 1911 there was a surplus. The Economy of Colombia
was improved with the raise of taxes and the raise in the price and exports of coffee
.
The administration prohibited the new emission of banknote
s, and he reinstated the Gold
and Silver standard
.
He reformed the Colombian National Police
, introducing the Fingerprint
ing system, the creation of the first Judicial Body of the National Police, the first training academy, the Police marching band, and the official magazine of the National Police. He also helped establish a financial aids program for the families of fallen police officers.
, and Vichada
to reinstate Colombia's claim on these territories from the UPCA
, Peru
, and Venezuela
respectively. These territories were later made into Departments
following the Constitutional changes of 1991.
during the administration of Restrepo were marked by the continued threat of a Peruvian invasion into Colombian territory, and continued resentment towards the United States for its involvement in Panama. Restrepo, conscious of Colombia's weak military power towards these aggressors, tried to solve matters diplomatically.
President Restrepo had four Ministers of Foreign Affairs
during his presidency, they were in order, Enrique Olaya
, José María González Valencia, Pedro Maria Carreño, and Francisco José Urrutia
.
were of growing concern for many Colombians and the government. The Colombian Jungles of Putumayo and Caquetá
, in the south of Colombia became the centre of conflict and debate during the administration of Restrepo. The borders with Peru were not clearly marked, and this became a problem during the first half of the century. The Casa Arana, a Peruvian based Rubber
Company, had expanded into Colombian territory, and was exploiting its resources and oppressing the Indigenous people of this region. The situation became national news when reported killings of natives was reported to have been committed by Casa Arana, and on July 1911, Peruvian forces attacked the military base stationed in La Pedrera
.
The growing pressure of Congress and the public to go to war was met with some stiff opposition. Colombia had just recovered from the Thousand Days War
, and did not wished to be involved in another conflict, nor it had the resources to do so. Restrepo, was opposed to armed conflict, and wished to resolve matters diplomatically. Colombia's Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, Enrique Olaya
, who had the total support of the president, handled the matter with a hand great efficacy. On July 15, 1911, Olaya Herrera, and its Peruvian counterpart, Ernesto de Tezanos Pinto, signed a Modus vivendi
agreement.
This alone would not have ended the conflict, if it were not because there was a beriberi
and yellow fever
outbreak within the Peruvian army in the area, causing a great number of casualties. For now the conflict was resolved, but it would again surface in 1934 with the Colombia-Peru War
.
and its continued involvement in Latin America
. Restrepo was also critical of the United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution
, which he considered as a "violation of the rights of and an attack on international justice".
On April 6, 1914, during the administrations of Presidents Restrepo and Woodrow Wilson
, and after months of negotiations, the United States Ambassador to Colombia
Thaddeus Austin Thompson and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco José Urrutia
, signed the Thomson-Urrutia Treaty
, where Colombia recognized Panama's independence, and received free access to the Panama Canal
, and the United States offered an official apology for its involvement in the separation, and offered to pay $25 million dollars as compensation to the Colombian government. This was a great victory for the Colombian government as it resolved the conflict with Panama and mended the ties with its neighbors. This treaty was controversial in the United States as many regarded it as an unjust condemnation of president Theodore Roosevelt
's policies.
, whom he had defeated in the previous election. His political party, Unión Republicana ceased to exist, with his former members quickly returning to party lines after his presidency. After leaving the presidency, he relocated to Medellín, and returned to his writings and business.
In 1920, under the leadership of Restrepo, the shipping company “La Naviera Colombiana” is created for the operation of steam ships of cargo and passengers in the Magdalena River
. This was a revolutionary accomplishment, which transformed the Riverway systems of the country. The highlight of this enterprise was the introduction of luxury riverboats, the first in the nation to offer formal dining rooms, state rooms and first class service. The Naviera’s first steam boat was “El Tolima”, weighing 150 tons. By 1932, the Naviera’s fleet accounted for more than 10,000 tons.
He returned to politics in 1930, when he backed the nomination of his political friend, Enrique Olaya
, as he presented a political plan that seemed to reflect the values of Republicanism.
President Olaya elected him to serve in his cabinet as Minister of Government
, post he took on August 7, 1930 when Olaya Herrera assumed the presidency.
He was later appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Vatican City State.
.
Carlos E. Restrepo and General Pedro Nel Ospina
were the intellectuals of the new republican conservative party, which promoted the ideals of political reconciliation and moderation between partisan lines. His peace efforts were among his greatest legacy.
During his time he was regarded as one of the most progressive and modern South American statesman and a lawyer with wide experience and author of high reputation.
Carlos Lleras Restrepo
Carlos Lleras Restrepo was a Colombian lawyer and political figure, President of Colombia .- Biographic data :...
Carlos Eugenio Restrepo Restrepo (September 12, 1867 – July 6, 1937) was a Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n lawyer, writer, and statesman, who was elected President of Colombia
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
in 1910. During his administration he worked towards making political reconciliation among the Conservative and Liberals. He appointed members of the Liberal Party
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
to his Cabinet, and to the dismay of some of his own party, adopted a neutral stand on all issues. He later served as Minister of Government
Ministry of the Interior and Justice
The Ministry of the Interior and Justice , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice and interior ministries of other countries....
and Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the Vatican City State.
Early life
Family
Restrepo was born in the home of Cruzana Restrepo Jaramillo and Pedro Antonio Restrepo, a lawyer and nephew of José Félix de Restrepo. His father was the founder of the MunicipalityMunicipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Andes
Andes, Antioquia
Andes is a town and municipality in the Antioquia Department, Colombia. Part of the subregion of Southwestern Antioquia.Statistics:Foundation: 1852,Climate: 22 degrees C,Altitude: 1350 meters,Size: 444 km,Distance from Medellín: 119 km,...
, in the south of Antioquia. He had two brothers: Nicanor, a merchant who served as president of the Departamental Assembly of Antioquia in 1924, and Juan María, a distinguished theologian at the service of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.
Restrepo married Isabel Gaviria Duque on April 16, 1890. Together they had nine children: Tulia, Carlos, Ignacio, Sofía, Margarita, Ana, Adolfo, Isabel, and Vicente.
Education
Restrepo went to school in ItagüíItagüí
Itagüí is a town and municipality in Antioquia Department, Colombia. Itagüí is part of the Metropolitan Area of Medellín.Itagüí is known as the most industrialized city in all Colombia, therefore having the nickname, "La ciudad industrial"....
, and Medellín; he later attended the Institute of Higher Learning in what is now the Seminario Conciliar de Medellín. He studied Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, but had to suspend his studies at the age of 18, because of the raging Civil War in 1815. He was forced to teach himself the basics while also practicing in the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of his father and his business partner, Alejandro Botero Uribe, who would later become Minister of Government
Ministry of the Interior and Justice
The Ministry of the Interior and Justice , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice and interior ministries of other countries....
in 1909.
Professional career
Restrepo quickly became an avid and respected lawyer moving up in different ranks. He worked as a Public Inspector of Education in 1888. He then became a prosecutor in the Supreme Court of Antioquia, a Judge of the lower circuit of Antioquia, and finally the Attorney GeneralAttorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
for the Department of Antioquia in 1898.
He later became a professor in the Law Department of the University of Antioquia
University of Antioquia
The University of Antioquia , also called UdeA, is a public, departmental, coeducational, research university based primarily in the city of Medellín, Antioquía, Colombia. It is the largest higher education institution by student population in the northwest of the country, and the second in...
, and also became the University's Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
. He also participated in various charities, he helped established the Colombian Red Cross in Medellín, became president of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
The St Vincent de Paul Society is an international Roman Catholic voluntary organization dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need. Active in England & Wales since 1844, today it continues to address social and material need in all...
in Colombia, and founded the Society for the Improvement of Public Works in Medellín in 1901.
Military career
Restrepo sided with the conservative party when he volunteered to fight in the civil war known as the Thousand Days WarThousand Days War
The Thousand Days' War , was a civil armed conflict in the newly created Republic of Colombia, between the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and its radical factions. In 1899 the ruling conservatives were accused of maintaining power through fraudulent elections...
(1899–1902). He served as Chief of Staff of the Army under the command of General Pedro Nel Ospina
Pedro Nel Ospina
Pedro Nel Ospina Vázquez was a Colombian general and political figure. He served as president of Colombia between 1922 and 1926.- Biography:...
.
Political career
Restrepo was a member of the Colombian Conservative PartyColombian Conservative Party
The Colombian Conservative Party , is a conservative political party in Colombia. The party was unofficially founded by a group of Revolutionary Commoners during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the Spanish Monarchy and later formally established during the Greater Colombia...
.
In 1904, General Rafael Reyes
Rafael Reyes
Rafael Reyes Prieto was Chief of Staff of the Colombian National Army and President of Colombia .- Biographic data :...
had decreed the creation of the “Cámara de Comercio de Medellín” (Chamber of Commerce of Medellín), to be preside by the Governor of Antioquia. On January 23, 1905, 26 members to the Board of Directors were elected, among them Alonso Angel, Ricardo Restrepo, Carlos Uribe, Apolinar Villa and Carlos E. Restrepo.
He was elected to the House of Representatives of Colombia in 1909.
On March 13, 1909 he founded the Unión Republicana or Republican Union, a political party that emphasized political reconciliation, Republican values
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
, modernization, and National identity
National identity
National identity is the person's identity and sense of belonging to one state or to one nation, a feeling one shares with a group of people, regardless of one's citizenship status....
. He took his Republican ideas from the French writer and critic Émile Faguet
Émile Faguet
Auguste Émile Faguet was a French author and literary critic.Faguet was born at La Roche-sur-Yon, and educated at the École normale supérieure in Paris. After teaching for some time in La Rochelle and Bordeaux, he returned to Paris to act as assistant professor of poetry in the university. He...
, of whom he would later write a biography. This political movement had the support of prominent members of both Conservatives
Colombian Conservative Party
The Colombian Conservative Party , is a conservative political party in Colombia. The party was unofficially founded by a group of Revolutionary Commoners during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the Spanish Monarchy and later formally established during the Greater Colombia...
and Liberals
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
like, José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha was a Colombian politician who served as President of Colombia from 1914-1918. He was also a noted member of the Colombian Conservative Party.- Biographic data :...
, Pedro Nel Ospina
Pedro Nel Ospina
Pedro Nel Ospina Vázquez was a Colombian general and political figure. He served as president of Colombia between 1922 and 1926.- Biography:...
and Miguel Abadía
Miguel Abadía Méndez
Miguel Abadía Méndez was the 17th President of Colombia . A Conservative party politician, Abadía was the last president of the period known as the Conservative Hegemony, running unopposed and forming a one party Cabinet.- Political career :Abadía, as a young lawyer, was a professor and MP...
, from the Colombian Conservative Party
Colombian Conservative Party
The Colombian Conservative Party , is a conservative political party in Colombia. The party was unofficially founded by a group of Revolutionary Commoners during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the Spanish Monarchy and later formally established during the Greater Colombia...
and Nicolás Esguerra, Benjamín Herrera and Enrique Olaya
Enrique Olaya Herrera
Enrique Alfredo Olaya Herrera was a Colombian journalist and politician, President of Colombia from August 7, 1930 until August 7, 1934 representing the Colombian Liberal Party.- Early years :...
from the Colombian Liberal Party
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
.
In 1910, General Ramón González Valencia
Ramón González Valencia
Ramón González Valencia was a Colombian conservative, military officer and statesman. He participated in the civil wars of 1876, Colombian Civil War of 1895, and the Thousand Days War.- Biographic data :...
had convened the National Assembly. Two conservative candidates were nominated to become the future President of Colombia: Restrepo and José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha was a Colombian politician who served as President of Colombia from 1914-1918. He was also a noted member of the Colombian Conservative Party.- Biographic data :...
. On July 15, 1910, the election took place and Restrepo obtained 23 votes and Concha 18. Thus, Restrepo was inaugurated as President on August 7, 1910, succeeding General González Valencia. this enthusiastic Colombian fundated the newspaper el espectador and el bar/ hotel la robergalarga.
Writer and Journalist
Restrepo was also involved in journalismJournalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and he collaborated in many magazines and newspapers of Antioquia, such as La Miscelánea (1888, 1905), Lectura y Arte (1903), Alpha (1906, 1907, 1908, 1910) and “el Diario de Pedro”, with articles of political, literary, and religious subjects, and also helped with some translations. He worked as the editor in chief of El Correo de Antioquia, where he created a contest to help give music to the Anthem of Antioquia.
Restrepo also founded and directed "Colombia" in 1891, which was a newspapre severely censured by the bishops of the Catholic Church as they considered most dangerous due to its anticlerical and pro-lay stands and teachings. In 1897, he also established the newspaper “el Montañés".
He worked in poetry and wrote an extensive number of essays and letters to friends and family due to the lack of local newspapers to express his opinions. Some of his works are:
- A mi hija Tulia (1893)
- Defensa en verso, de la mujer antioqueña (1894) (Under the pseudonymPseudonymA pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
W. Ll. de Ch.) - Los versos de Enrique W. Fernández (1896)
- Un héroe oscuro (1903)
- Risa trágica (1905)
- El saltimbanqui, el primero de los personajes colombianos (1906)
- Emilio Faguet (1916),
- Lo que enseña la vida maravillosa de Pasteur (1916)
- M. Tobón Mejía: un hombre y un artista (1917)
- Orientación Republicana (1917) (1930)
- Los neófitos (1917)
- Gregorio Gutiérrez González: la simbiosis del poeta y la tierra (1926)
- Pedro Justo Berrío, o el sentir común, la probidad y el carácter (1927)
Elections of 1910
Initially, Restrepo refused to run for the presidential candidature, and he did not have the support from the rest of the Representatives of Antioquia for his solid stand on RepublicanismRepublicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
. However, there were a growing number of members who gave their support to Restrepo for fear of war against Peru, for his solid law background, and for his eloquence as an orator. There was also a need for new figures to take the lead, especially representatives from Antioquia, who had been left out of the presidential rotation. For all of these reasons, Restrepo was quickly included as a Presidential Candidate in the National Assembly of 1910, along with Guillermo Quintero Calderón, and José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha was a Colombian politician who served as President of Colombia from 1914-1918. He was also a noted member of the Colombian Conservative Party.- Biographic data :...
.
On July 15, 1910 The National Assembly elected the 42 year old Restrepo to assume the Presidency of Colombia
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
. Restrepo had won the election with 23 votes in his favor against 18 votes for his contender José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha was a Colombian politician who served as President of Colombia from 1914-1918. He was also a noted member of the Colombian Conservative Party.- Biographic data :...
. He became the first Antioquian to be elected to preside over the country. His victory was a surprise to many who considered him just a journalist, and more surprisingly yet, was his victory on both sides of the aisle winning the majority on both parties.
Restrepo was elected with no Vice President
Vice President of Colombia
The Vice President of Colombia is the first in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of Colombia upon leaves of absence or death, resignation, or removal of the President, as designated by the Colombian Constitution of 1991 which also reinstated the vice president figure...
as the National Assembly that had convened that summer had replaced the Vice Presidential post with that of a Designado, someone with no executive office or powers, who would, in the case of the President's death or inability to assume power, would then assume the presidency.
On August 7, 1910, Restrepo became the 12th President of Colombia
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
succeeding the incumbent Ramón González Valencia
Ramón González Valencia
Ramón González Valencia was a Colombian conservative, military officer and statesman. He participated in the civil wars of 1876, Colombian Civil War of 1895, and the Thousand Days War.- Biographic data :...
, for the term 1910-1914.
Domestic policy
During his presidency, Restrepo was known as Monsieur Veto for his common practice of vetoVeto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
ing any bill
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
he deemed not in favor of the Nation. Some of the policies that took place during Restrepo's mandate were the abolition of the Capital Punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
, the annual meeting of Congress
Congress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.The Congress of Colombia consists of the 102-seat Senate , and the 166-seat Chamber of Representatives ...
, the installment of life pensions for retired teachers, and the constructions of various hospitals in the Caribbean Region
Caribbean Region
The Caribbean Region or Caribbean Coast Region is a natural region of Colombia mainly composed of eight Departments located contiguous to the Caribbean. The area covers a total land area of including the San Andres Island Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina in the Caribbean...
to combat tropical diseases.
Restrepo received the country with grave fiscal problems
Fiscal policy
In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure and revenue collection to influence the economy....
. There was a deficit of COP$
Colombian peso
The peso is the currency of Colombia. Its ISO 4217 code is COP and it is also informally abbreviated as COL$. However, the official peso symbol is $. As 20 July 2011, the exchange rate of the Colombian peso is 1750 Colombian pesos to 1 U.S. dollar.-History:The peso has been the currency of Colombia...
3.5 Millions to COP$4 Million. The new president forced the collection of taxes and reduced government spending, achieving an end to the deficit in less than a year; by 1911 there was a surplus. The Economy of Colombia
Economy of Colombia
Colombia has a free market economy with major commercial and investment ties to the United States. Transition from a highly regulated economy has been underway for more than a decade....
was improved with the raise of taxes and the raise in the price and exports of coffee
Colombian coffee
Colombian Coffee is a protected designation of origin granted by the European Union that applies to the coffee produced in Colombia. The Colombian coffee has been recognized worldwide as having high quality and distinctive taste...
.
The administration prohibited the new emission of banknote
Banknote
A banknote is a kind of negotiable instrument, a promissory note made by a bank payable to the bearer on demand, used as money, and in many jurisdictions is legal tender. In addition to coins, banknotes make up the cash or bearer forms of all modern fiat money...
s, and he reinstated the Gold
Gold standard
The gold standard is a monetary system in which the standard economic unit of account is a fixed mass of gold. There are distinct kinds of gold standard...
and Silver standard
Silver standard
The silver standard is a monetary system in which the standard economic unit of account is a fixed weight of silver. The silver specie standard was widespread from the fall of the Byzantine Empire until the 19th century...
.
He reformed the Colombian National Police
Colombian National Police
The National Police of Colombia is the national police force of Colombia. Although the National Police is not part of the Military of Colombia , it constitutes along with them the "Public Force" and is also controlled by the Ministry of Defense. They are the largest police force in Colombia...
, introducing the Fingerprint
Fingerprint
A fingerprint in its narrow sense is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. In a wider use of the term, fingerprints are the traces of an impression from the friction ridges of any part of a human hand. A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges...
ing system, the creation of the first Judicial Body of the National Police, the first training academy, the Police marching band, and the official magazine of the National Police. He also helped establish a financial aids program for the families of fallen police officers.
Creation of new territorial administrations
To address the growing concern of Colombia in relation to its borders, and with the help of the National Census of 1812, the Colombian government created the Intendencia of San Andres y Providencia and the Comisarías of CaquetáCaquetá
Caquetá may refer to:* Caquetá River, a river in Colombia* Caquetá Territory, a former territory of Colombia* Caquetá Department, a department of Colombia...
, and Vichada
Vichada
Vichada may refer to:*Department of Vichada, a subdivision of Colombia*Vichada River, a river in eastern Colombia...
to reinstate Colombia's claim on these territories from the UPCA
UPCA
UPCA could refer to:*United Professional Cleaning Alliance*Federal Republic of Central America in present-day Guatemala*University of the Philippines College of Agriculture*UPC-A a specific format of an Universal Product Code...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
respectively. These territories were later made into Departments
Departments of Colombia
Colombia is an unitary republic formed by thirty-two departments and a Capital District . Each department has a Governor and a Department Assembly , elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The governor cannot be re-elected in consecutive periods...
following the Constitutional changes of 1991.
Foreign policy
Colombia's Foreign relationsForeign relations of Colombia
Colombia seeks diplomatic and commercial relations with all countries, regardless of their ideologies or political or economic systems. For this reason, the Colombian economy is very open, relying on international trade and following the guidelines given by the international law.Regional relations...
during the administration of Restrepo were marked by the continued threat of a Peruvian invasion into Colombian territory, and continued resentment towards the United States for its involvement in Panama. Restrepo, conscious of Colombia's weak military power towards these aggressors, tried to solve matters diplomatically.
President Restrepo had four Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Colombia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also known as the Chancellery, is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for the foreign relations of Colombia through its diplomatic missions abroad by formulating foreign policy relevant to the matters of the State, it is...
during his presidency, they were in order, Enrique Olaya
Enrique Olaya Herrera
Enrique Alfredo Olaya Herrera was a Colombian journalist and politician, President of Colombia from August 7, 1930 until August 7, 1934 representing the Colombian Liberal Party.- Early years :...
, José María González Valencia, Pedro Maria Carreño, and Francisco José Urrutia
Francisco Jose Urrutia
Francisco José Urrutia Olano was a Colombian diplomat and international jurist. He served as Colombia's Minister of Foreign Affairs first from 1908 to 1909, and again from 1912 to 1914, which during he signed the Thomson–Urrutia Treaty, which re-established diplomatic relations between the United...
.
Relations with Peru
The foreign relations of Colombia with PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
were of growing concern for many Colombians and the government. The Colombian Jungles of Putumayo and Caquetá
Caquetá
Caquetá may refer to:* Caquetá River, a river in Colombia* Caquetá Territory, a former territory of Colombia* Caquetá Department, a department of Colombia...
, in the south of Colombia became the centre of conflict and debate during the administration of Restrepo. The borders with Peru were not clearly marked, and this became a problem during the first half of the century. The Casa Arana, a Peruvian based Rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
Company, had expanded into Colombian territory, and was exploiting its resources and oppressing the Indigenous people of this region. The situation became national news when reported killings of natives was reported to have been committed by Casa Arana, and on July 1911, Peruvian forces attacked the military base stationed in La Pedrera
La Pedrera, Amazonas
La Pedrera is a town and municipality in the southern Colombian Department of Amazonas.-References:*...
.
Thousand Days War
The Thousand Days' War , was a civil armed conflict in the newly created Republic of Colombia, between the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and its radical factions. In 1899 the ruling conservatives were accused of maintaining power through fraudulent elections...
, and did not wished to be involved in another conflict, nor it had the resources to do so. Restrepo, was opposed to armed conflict, and wished to resolve matters diplomatically. Colombia's Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, Enrique Olaya
Enrique Olaya Herrera
Enrique Alfredo Olaya Herrera was a Colombian journalist and politician, President of Colombia from August 7, 1930 until August 7, 1934 representing the Colombian Liberal Party.- Early years :...
, who had the total support of the president, handled the matter with a hand great efficacy. On July 15, 1911, Olaya Herrera, and its Peruvian counterpart, Ernesto de Tezanos Pinto, signed a Modus vivendi
Modus vivendi
Modus vivendi is a Latin phrase signifying an agreement between those whose opinions differ, such that they agree to disagree.Modus means mode, way. Vivendi means of living. Together, way of living, implies an accommodation between disputing parties to allow life to go on. It usually describes...
agreement.
This alone would not have ended the conflict, if it were not because there was a beriberi
Beriberi
Beriberi is a nervous system ailment caused by a thiamine deficiency in the diet. Thiamine is involved in the breakdown of energy molecules such as glucose and is also found on the membranes of neurons...
and yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
outbreak within the Peruvian army in the area, causing a great number of casualties. For now the conflict was resolved, but it would again surface in 1934 with the Colombia-Peru War
Colombia-Peru War
The Colombia–Peru War was an armed conflict between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Peru.-Civilian takeover:...
.
Relations with the United States and Panama
The Foreign relations of Colombia with the United States and Panama during the presidency of Restrepo were marked by Colombia's continued resentment towards the United States for its participation in the Separation of Panama from ColombiaSeparation of Panama from Colombia
The Separation of Panama from Colombia was formalized on 3 November 1903 with the establishment of the Republic of Panama from the Republic of Colombia's Department of Panama.-Prelude:...
and its continued involvement in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. Restrepo was also critical of the United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution
United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution
The United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution was varied. The United States relationship with Mexico has often been turbulent. For both economic and political reasons, the American government generally supported those who occupied the seats of power, whether they held that power...
, which he considered as a "violation of the rights of and an attack on international justice".
On April 6, 1914, during the administrations of Presidents Restrepo and Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, and after months of negotiations, the United States Ambassador to Colombia
United States Ambassador to Colombia
The following is a list of Ambassadors of the United States, or other chiefs of mission, to Colombia and its predecessor states. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.- Gran Colombia:The following...
Thaddeus Austin Thompson and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco José Urrutia
Francisco Jose Urrutia
Francisco José Urrutia Olano was a Colombian diplomat and international jurist. He served as Colombia's Minister of Foreign Affairs first from 1908 to 1909, and again from 1912 to 1914, which during he signed the Thomson–Urrutia Treaty, which re-established diplomatic relations between the United...
, signed the Thomson-Urrutia Treaty
Thomson-Urrutia Treaty
The Thomson-Urrutia Treaty was signed on April 20, 1921 between the United States and Colombia. Based on the terms of the agreement, the U.S. paid Colombia 25 million dollars in return for Colombia's recognition of Panama's independence.-External links:***...
, where Colombia recognized Panama's independence, and received free access to the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, and the United States offered an official apology for its involvement in the separation, and offered to pay $25 million dollars as compensation to the Colombian government. This was a great victory for the Colombian government as it resolved the conflict with Panama and mended the ties with its neighbors. This treaty was controversial in the United States as many regarded it as an unjust condemnation of president Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's policies.
Post-presidency
Restrepo's presidential term ended on August 7, 1914, he was succeeded by José Vicente ConchaJosé Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha was a Colombian politician who served as President of Colombia from 1914-1918. He was also a noted member of the Colombian Conservative Party.- Biographic data :...
, whom he had defeated in the previous election. His political party, Unión Republicana ceased to exist, with his former members quickly returning to party lines after his presidency. After leaving the presidency, he relocated to Medellín, and returned to his writings and business.
In 1920, under the leadership of Restrepo, the shipping company “La Naviera Colombiana” is created for the operation of steam ships of cargo and passengers in the Magdalena River
Magdalena River
The Magdalena River is the principal river of Colombia, flowing northward about through the western half of the country. It takes its name from the biblical figure Mary Magdalene. It is navigable through much of its lower reaches, in spite of the shifting sand bars at the mouth of its delta, as...
. This was a revolutionary accomplishment, which transformed the Riverway systems of the country. The highlight of this enterprise was the introduction of luxury riverboats, the first in the nation to offer formal dining rooms, state rooms and first class service. The Naviera’s first steam boat was “El Tolima”, weighing 150 tons. By 1932, the Naviera’s fleet accounted for more than 10,000 tons.
He returned to politics in 1930, when he backed the nomination of his political friend, Enrique Olaya
Enrique Olaya Herrera
Enrique Alfredo Olaya Herrera was a Colombian journalist and politician, President of Colombia from August 7, 1930 until August 7, 1934 representing the Colombian Liberal Party.- Early years :...
, as he presented a political plan that seemed to reflect the values of Republicanism.
President Olaya elected him to serve in his cabinet as Minister of Government
Ministry of the Interior and Justice
The Ministry of the Interior and Justice , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice and interior ministries of other countries....
, post he took on August 7, 1930 when Olaya Herrera assumed the presidency.
He was later appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Vatican City State.
Death and legacy
Carlos Eugenio Restrepo died on July 6, 1937, in his home in his natal city of Medellín at the age of 69 following an attack of pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
.
Carlos E. Restrepo and General Pedro Nel Ospina
Pedro Nel Ospina
Pedro Nel Ospina Vázquez was a Colombian general and political figure. He served as president of Colombia between 1922 and 1926.- Biography:...
were the intellectuals of the new republican conservative party, which promoted the ideals of political reconciliation and moderation between partisan lines. His peace efforts were among his greatest legacy.
During his time he was regarded as one of the most progressive and modern South American statesman and a lawyer with wide experience and author of high reputation.
See also
- Enrique Olaya HerreraEnrique Olaya HerreraEnrique Alfredo Olaya Herrera was a Colombian journalist and politician, President of Colombia from August 7, 1930 until August 7, 1934 representing the Colombian Liberal Party.- Early years :...
- José Vicente ConchaJosé Vicente ConchaJosé Vicente Concha was a Colombian politician who served as President of Colombia from 1914-1918. He was also a noted member of the Colombian Conservative Party.- Biographic data :...
- Separation of Panama from ColombiaSeparation of Panama from ColombiaThe Separation of Panama from Colombia was formalized on 3 November 1903 with the establishment of the Republic of Panama from the Republic of Colombia's Department of Panama.-Prelude:...