tection which it afforded to the royal treasures during transportation, and to the community at large, it did not give unqualified satisfaction. Its absolute power, and the precipitancy with which it hurried through the trials of captives, led to the commission of abuses and injustice. Though collisions with other judicial authorities occurred, and complaints from private individuals were frequently preferred against the action of lieutenants and comisarios of the acordada, it was firmly supported by viceroys and kings during a long period.[1] Both the civil and territorial jurisdiction of the tribunal was greatly extended, and robbers in the distant provinces of Nueva Galicia and Nueva Vizcaya learned to dread the name of the acordada, which employed nearly two thousand five hundred men in its services, while smugglers, vagabonds, and petty thieves avoided its servants as they would the revenue guards or the city police.[2]
Finally, such representations were made to his Majesty with regard to the easy indifference with which the lives of his vassals were disposed of, that a royal cédula was issued ordering the sentences of the acordada not to be carried out without the approval of the viceroy, who was invested with the power to revoke or modify every form of punishment.[3] The result was that within a few years the list of cases tried by this tribunal was reduced to one eighth of its former number, and. the viceroy was of opinion that if the ordinary courts of justice were properly administered there would be no further need for the former.
- ↑ The arbitrary form of trial was, however, somewhat modified by royal cédula of 21st December 1765, by which it was ordered that the judge should be assisted by two asesores, or legal advisers, and that the sentences passed after hearing the defender of the accused should be signed by all three. But there was no appeal.
- ↑ The jurisdiction in matters connected with prohibited liquors was also conferred upon the acordada. The titles of the chief were also multiplied. They were alcalde provincial de la hermandad, juez de la acordada, guarda mayor de los caminos, and juez de bebidos prohibidos. Cédulario, MS., iii. 113-29; Revilla Gigedo, Instruc., 24.
- ↑ ’Con el dictámen de una junta, compuesta de un alcalde de corte, el asesor del virreynato, y un abogado de toda su confianza.' Id., 25. Azanza, Ynstruc., MS., 25.
