The Colonial Spanish-American City: Urban Life in the Age of Atlantic Capitalism

Chapter 4: The Administration of the Colonial City

chapter 4 The Administration of the Colonial City G the municipal council Colonial Spanish-American towns and cities were often much larger geographically than their North American counterparts. With regard to area under their jurisdiction, Spanish-American cities were rather more like North American counties than cities.The city of Quito held jurisdiction over an area that ran approximately 200 miles in length and 75 to 90 miles in width. In frontier regions the jurisdiction was commonly imprecise and subject to local interpretation and the capability of a municipality to exert an effective claim. Accordingly, with no nearby city to contest its reach, Buenos Aires exerted jurisdiction over an area 300 miles northwest to the boundary claimed by Córdoba, 170 miles northeast toward Santa Fe, and the vast Indian territory to the south.1 At the center of this jurisdiction (whether village, town, or city) was the municipal council: the cabildo or ayuntamiento, as it was referred to alternatively . The composition of each council depended on the official status of the town or city which it served. As we have seen, in the Spanish Empire urban and near-urban habitats were categorized legally into three broad groups. First were the cities, then the towns and villages.Villages and towns could become elevated officially to the status of city through special service to the Crown, an honor that conveyed the right to possess a coat of arms. Similarly, a city could be elevated by the Crown to the status of first city of the realm. Here we refer to the first among several as municipalities—municipalidades . Each urban habitat received a foro, a charter of privileges and responsibilities. The most important city among cities of the realm was entitled to two alcaldes, a minimum of twelve regidores (aldermen), and several 33 the colonial spanish-american city other officials. Lesser cities were entitled to two alcaldes and eight regidores as well as the standard array of lesser officials. Towns and villages were permitted only one alcalde and up to four regidores. Following are the main urban officials that formed the town councils: Alcalde ordinario (magistrate with executive/administrative responsibilities) Regidor (alderman) Alférez real (royal standard bearer) Alguacil mayor (chief constable) Fiel ejecutor (inspector of weights and measures) Procurador general or síndico (procurator or syndic—the council’s chief legal counsel) In addition, there were lesser officials, such as the escribano mayor (the council’s chief notary), depositario general (keeper of accounts), alcalde provincial (alcalde of the provincial region), escribano (notary/scribe), portero (courier), and, in the larger cities, alcaldes de barrios. Another urban official enjoyed little prestige but was of great importance in preliterate Spanish America—the town crier (pregonero). When town council decisions were considered important enough for the general population to be aware of, the town crier would walk through the streets shouting out those decisions. For instance, in April 1589 the town council of Potosí determined to limit the number of small general stores and confine them to a restricted area of the mining capital. At 10 o’clock one morning the town crier, Benito de Camudio, walked through the streets announcing the decision and, in the main plaza, the names of the favored storekeepers.2 Of all the urban officers in Spanish America, it is the alcalde who most de- fies North American comprehension.The alcalde was not a mayor, as North Americans understand that term, although it is often incorrectly translated as ‘‘mayor.’’ Essentially, the alcalde was a magistrate, somewhat akin to the North American local town justice. Alcaldes also held administrative responsibilities and privileges of an executive nature, however, although not to the degree associated with mayors. Furthermore (and here there was frequent deviation), the provincial governor, or his agent, was authorized to preside over village, town, and city council meetings and indeed enjoyed the right of first vote, a privilege that could amount to a weighty influence among the councilmen. The early conquistadors who established towns appointed the first alcaldes , regidores, and other officials. Following the initial appointment, al34 the administration of the colonial city caldes were elected by the regidores, supposedly from among the town’s vecinos (citizens). Initially, the vecinos were the leading landowning citizens, with all other residents being classified as moradores. The vecinos were permitted to vote in special town council meetings that were opened for public deliberation, called cabildos abiertos. As the towns increased...