Timeline of Events, 1873-74: Blanco Valderrama, the Caretaker (last part)
1873
November:The Junta General started to the discuss their very first budget, the General Budget of 1874. For the very first time, the deputies debated, analyzed and discussed the said legislation with an optimistic energy that never seen in the political history of the nation. Everyday, both Manila and provincial newspapers reported the developments from the Intendencia.
December: After a month of discussion, Junta President Joaquin Pardo de Tavera presented the final version of the 1874 Budget, which was estimated PH$15,500,000.00. According to the said budget, the money will used for infrastructure improvement, additional money to the hospitals and schools, and the modernization of the Army. The Governor-General signed the said bill.
1874
23 January: The Governor-General received a telegram from the Interim Spanish President Juan Prim, saying:
"NEGOTIATIONS FOR NEW PHILIPPINE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ONGOING STOP DESPITE PROBLEMS ON THE CARLISTS AND CUBA STOP BE A BETTER CARETAKER STOP"
February: In an extraordinary session of the Junta General, the Governor-General expressed to the deputies that his term was only temporary. Manuel Blanco Valderrama explained that the Madrid government is now negotiating with anyone whose willing to replace him on his position.
March: The Junta General passed a Law that calls for power-sharing between the Junta and the Juntas Provinciales. Called the Law of Responsibilities, the law required for shared responsibilities between the two entities, except for defense (exclusive for the Junta General) and local government (exclusive for Juntas Provinciales)
April: The Governor-General announced that he ceded his judicial power to the Real Audencia, now renamed the Audienca Suprema de la Justicia, as the result of an urgent resolution approved by the Junta General. According to the new Law of Justice, the Audiencia was composed of seven justice, headed by an Oidor General[1], all of them were selected by the Junta, confirmed by the President and approved by the Governor-General. Julian Carpio[2] was selected the Oidor General.
15 May: The Governor-General received a telegram from the newly elected President of the Spanish Government Praxedes Mateo Sagasta. He told Blanco Valderrama:
"DISCUSSION WITH SR. DE LA TORRE STILL ONGOING STOP EXPECT HIS ANSWER IN TWO WEEKS TIME STOP"
Praxedes Mateo Sagasta, President of the Spanish Government (1874-80)
16 May: After learning that the President of the Spanish Government was negotiating for Carlos Ma. de la Torre's comeback, friars and their conservative allies presented a telegram to Praxedes Mateo Sagasta to think twice before re-appoint their vowed enemy.
18 May: Back in Los Haros, President Mateo Sagasta received the telegram from the friars in Manila. He never replied; instead, he just teared the note.
29 May: Carlos Maria de la Torre accepted the Governor-General after President Sagasta assured to him that the newly created Junta General de Filipinas will support and cooperate to his policies.
31 May: The Governor-General received the telegram from President Sagasta,in which he said:
"SR. DE LA TORRE ACCEPTED THE POSITION STOP HE WILL ARRIVE THERE ON A MONTH AND A WEEK OR TWO STOP A MONTH OF PREPARATION FOR YOU STOP"
9 June: Carlos Maria de la Torre boarded on the ironclad Cadiz, the main warship of the reinforced Spanish Navy's Pacific Fleet. The destination was the Philippines.
23 June: Manuel Blanco Valderrama signed his very last law as the Interim Governor-General of the Philippines; the approval of the Law of Elections. In the said law, a Board of Elections was established. In addition, the Governor-General approved the request of the President of the Junta General to dissolve the Cortes de la Junta (the legislature of the Junta).
24 June: Blanco Valderrama received his very last telegram as Governor-General: it was from President Sagasta. It said:
"SR. DE LA TORRE IS ON BOARD SINCE NINTH OF JUNE STOP HE'S ON THE WARSHIP QUOTE CADIZ UNQUOTE STOP REINFORCING OUR FORCE IN THE PACIFIC STOP
10 July: As incoming Governor-General Carlos Maria de la Torre arrived in Manila, he was welcomed by the outgoing Governor-General Manuel Blanco Valderrama. As they discussed the events in the Malacañan Palace, Sr. de la Torre met the three personalities of the Junta General Filipina: Joaquín Pardo de Tavera (the President of the Junta), Numeriano Adriano[3] (the President of the Cortes) and Julian Carpio (the Oidor General).
SUMMARY
Manuel Blanco Valderrama's appointment as the Governor-General of the Philippines was immediate because of his predecessor's resignation. In spite of that, he made the public restored their confidence by placing amnesty to the exiles, culminating to the establishment of the Junta General Filipina. The laws passed by its Cortes were necessary for the future structure of the Philippine government, and his signature was vital to its final implementation. Though Blanco Valderrama's term as the Governor-General was short, it paved the way for an optimistic future, especially in the comeback of Carlos Ma. de la Torre.
Notes:
[1]IOTL Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
[2]IOTL he's a legal adviser to the Katipunan, one of the oldest.
[3]IOTL One of the key players of the Philippine Revolution, having influenced Apolinario Mabini.