The first one to be created
was Panama. Then followed Antioquia in 1856, and Santander, Bolivar,
Boyaca, Cauca, Cundinamarca and Magdalena in 1857. General
Mosquera, the leader of the revolution in i860, created in that year the
sovereign State of Tolima, composed of some provinces of the State of
Cundinamarca.
The nine States mentioned acquired at the time of their creation, the
power to legislate in matters of public, domestic and private law, that is,
in constitutional, administrative and penal matters; in civil, commercial
and matters of procedure ; but with the obligation of respecting the
individual or social guaranties recognized in the national Constitution,
and also matters under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Nation, such as
foreign commerce, coasting trade, the coining of money, the legislation
and procedure in cases of prizes, reprisals, piracy and other crimes, and
in general regarding acts occurring on the high seas, and the civil and
penal legislation in cases of violation of International Law. The Federal
Government enjoyed the exclusive representation of the Republic
abroad, and as it directly administered certain Territories, it had its
private and public law for application thereto particularly.
Hence it is that during the Federation there were in the country ten
distinct bodies of laws ; those of the nine States, and that of the General
Government.