 On 16 July 1868 , a Progressive cabinet led by Zacarias resigned following a political crisis and Pedro II asked the Conservatives to form a new government . As always when a party returned to power , new elections were held , though marked by fraud . The two main wings of the Progressive Party ( Progressive , to which Porto Alegre belonged , and Historical ) set aside their disputes , became more disciplined in their unity and renamed their party the Liberal Party . When Porto Alegre 's term as general deputy ended in 1866 , the ongoing war precluded elections in Rio Grande do Sul . Predictably , in the elections organized under the Conservative Party 's direction in early 1869 , he was not elected . He turned his attention to organizing a Liberal stronghold in his native province . At the request of the national Liberal Center , Porto Alegre created and became president of the province 's Liberal board of directors . 
