The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-20 00:00:00

coLoMRIA.

BOGOTA. MAY 19.
?Ise news of Goldschmides failure has produced, as you may ii
suppose, the greatest consternation here.
An extraordinary meeting of Congress had previmiely been called, I
tor the purpose of taking measures to provide funds for remitting i
The interest on the foreign dept, in consequence of information that
the bills drawn by the Government of Peru M Loudon, in favour
of the Colombian Government, wouhl not be paid.
It is very* unfortunate that the Government should have relied
upon any such source as this fs r so important a payment as teat of
a dividend ; so, however, the matter is, and both the Executive
and the Congress are now herd et work to remedy the mischief, and
I sincerely believe that they are earnest in their wish to do all they
can. Three messages have been passed from the Executive to the
Congress, recommending. first, that Congress should authorise the
immediate remittance of whatever money exists in the Custom.
house and in the Mint; secondly, the levying a " Contribution
Patriotica" for the same purpose; and, thirdly, the furnishing Mr.
Denude with certain powers. All these matters are under close
discussion, and I hope something will come from them.
Boot:rn, MAY 4.
We have just been able to obtain the following Decree. :mein
convoking the Congress. From its importance in every pent of
view, but particularly on account of the nintices assigns(' ter it,
and the subjects to he taken into consideration during the C7ilVl-
ordinary session, we have made room for it, and hasten to lay it
before our readers :
" TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHASISER
• OF seen ESENTATIVER.
" Palageof Government, Ilogove May I, 1826-10.
" Most Excellentleir—l have the honour to inclose to your Ex-
cellency an authentic copy of the Decree which I have passed.
convoking the Congress extraordinary for the 3d instant, in order
that your Excellency may take measures for ire fulfilment accord-
ing to the Constitutione—trod preserve your Excellency.
" F. De P. SexTennes."
" DECREE.
" Francisco de Paula Santander, &c. Etc.—The eirnimettuice of
Peru not having been able to obtain a loan in Europe, having oc-
curred diving the last days of the ordinary Sevions of Congress,
lertoe which Loan the Government of the Republic had founded its
hopes of paying the interest of the foreign debt, during the present
year, as Pent is indebted in considerable sums to Colombia, and
considering that this is one of the cases provided for in the 113th
Article of the Constrintion, and that if immediate steps be not
taken to devise means in lire thereof, to fulfil personally our en-
gagements, the Republic will suffer in its national credit, and
even in its tranquillity and security, I have, in exercise of the au-
thority conceded to me by the said 113th Article, and with the ad-
vice of my Council, decreed, and do decree as follows :
" Art. I. The Congress of the Republic is convoked extraordi-
narily for the 3d of the present month.
" 2. The subjects which will occupy exclusively the attention
ut Congress daring the extraordinary Seteinn are :—The discus.
soon and approhanoti of the Bill now pending for the Consolidation
ut public credit ; and that for the patriotic cop tribe:ion, or subsidy,
to aid of the said public credit.
" 3. If, when the Congress terminates its ordinary Sessions, the
B:U on Public Credit should have passed, the Bill of Registers and
Mortgages will then be taken into consideration. And as the
Chambers may have some leisure moments until the two Bills
spoken of in the preceding Articles ere returned by the Executive,
wall its approbation or objections, the Congress may, during that
tire, continue the discussion of the Penal Code.
" 4. The sanction of the Esecutive being given to the Bills
spoken of in •he 2tl and beginning of the 3sl Articles of this Dr-
eyer, Congress will close the extraordinary Session for which It is
now convoked.
" The Secretary of State of the Interior i, charged with the exe-
cution of this Decree.
" Given in the Palsce of Government, in Bogota, May 1,
1026-16. " F. DE P. SANTANDER.
" The Secretary of State for the Interior.
" J• M. itEESTREPO."
The following is the Message of Santander:—
'
" EXECUTIVE.
" Fellow-citizens of the Senate and Chanibzr of Representatives,
The honour tine credit of the Republic have ineuced me to con-
voke you extraordinarily, in virtue of one of the fundamental an.
tides of the Constitution. At the close of your ordinary session,
the Executive received the disagreeable intelligence that it could
not dispose of the funds with which it had Intended to pay the in-
terest due on the foreign debt, and provide for the gradual extinc-
tion of the capital. The Executive Government possessed well.
grounded hopes that the successive improvement of our finances,
and the reductions which would be made in die public expenditure
in the War Department, would leave means sufficient to meet the
pecuniary engagements of the Republic.without its being necessary
to burthen the people with fresh contributions; but as the improve-
ment of the Revenue is not the work of a moment, nor would it be
prudent, In our present state, to diminish the army, the Executive
had appropriated a part of what was owing us by Peru foe the pay-
ment of the interest of the Foreign Debt during the present year.
" The Government of Peru deceinined to neg•niate a loan In
Europe, to facilitate the reimbursement of the debt it had con.
traded with the Republic of Colombia; but, from circumstances
which were not within its control the negotiation was not effected ;
in consequence of this unexpected occurrence the Executive sees
itself surrounded with serious diffienhies, which you Rime, from
tee nature of your functions, are able to remove. The honour of'
the nation being deeply involved. and our public faith being corn-
promised, 1 have judged it absolutely necessary to convoke Con-
gress to an extraordinary session.
" The conclusion of the law on the consolidation of public credit,
and of that which the Chamber of Representatives has begun to this.
• cuss relative to the extraordinary contribution in aid of letblie credit,
are the subjects to which you will confine your legisletive tamers.
Without these laws Colombia would lose, in the opinion of foreign
countries—the credit of the nation would sink, and perhaps the
enemies of our independence would think to find in such a state
of things a most fevourable opportunity to push forward their hos-
tile designs against American freedom. On the contrary, by the
*section of these two important laws, the fortunes of the Colombian
people receive protection and encouragement ; the national credit
is raised to its proper level ; friendly nations will be confirmed in
the advantageous opinion they have formed of Colombia ; neutral
states will receive a fresh proof of our moral and political capable
iter to preserve the post we have assumed among nations ; our
creditors, both et home and aboad, will no longer nee withheld
from them what is so justly theirs ; and the blindly obstinate ene-
mies of Colombia will lose even the hope of being able to disturb
our peace and prosperity. I believe you to be animated with these
generous feelings for die welfare and honour of the Colombian peo-
ple, and I am led to believe that your deliberations will not dos-
aepoint their expectations.
•• The Executive, front an anxious wish that the opportunity
• of the present extraordinary Session should not be lost, and eta-
riddling that, between the discussion and approbation of the above
• two laws, in the mode and forms prescribed by the Constitution,
you may have sonic motnents of leisure which it would not be pru.
dent to leave unemployed, has thought proper to authorise you to
continue the discussion of the Penal Code, in which considerable
' progress appears to have been made. Although this is an object of
secondary importance, the Executive, from your known patriotic
zeal, relies that you will devote the leisere moments of the Session
• to the consideratien of a subject which the people, our constituents,
se loudly and so justly cull for.
" The two laws which I have pointed out to you will form a
worthy conclusion to the meditations, and a convincing proof of the
patriotism, of the first Constitutional Congress. The fruit of your
Mrs ours is consigned in the codes of laws which have been delivered
to die people, and if the results correspond as I hope to your de-
sires, happiness, liberty, and prosperity will be the inheritance of
Colombia.
•• Bogota, May 3, 1C26. " F. Di P. SANTANDER."
" REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA.—INTENDANCY OF
VENEZUELA.
" Crimea., May 7, 10951.
" Str,—l have tee honour to acquaint your Excellency that no.
thing further of consequence his happened which can disturb the
order and tranquillity of this territory, or the personal security and
penalty of the inhabitants. 'l'ite disturbances which happened in
Valencia on the 3001 of April, and which have been reported every
where, have liar their object the cominurcion of General Peet in die
command of the army of this department, until the arrival of the
Ltberame President, whose mediation and advice are earnestly de-
sired to adjust these domestic differences, and to promote such re-
harms as may be useful in our internal administration, without afe
tecting in any manner our internal relations, or altering the national
integrity of the Republic. I have just been officially assured of
teis front his Excellency General Marino, who arrived hod night
Isom head-quaners, and this assurance bites. me to confine: my
reritcei to the Republic in the situation confided to nie by its Go-
veremrt t. " I have the honour to be, Sir,
" With the greatest consideration,
" Your obedient servant,
" CHRISTOYAL MENDOZA.
fo his Excellency R. Kew Porter, Esq.
Consul of his Britannic Majesty."
Flom the Si. Jago Gar"' of June 10.1
Hay Tr.—We learn, from an intelligent officer of the Druid, 44,
oust arrived from Port-au-Prince, that the President, Boyer, was
nut so popular as was expected in England, owing to his anxiety to
!wolf the sum due to the French Government for giving up their
• claims to the island. which the eledee frigate, 46, was waiting to
. receive. There appeared to exist three parties at Port-au-Prince,
s-z. the Mulattoes and French, the Haitian Government, and the
English and Black population, and a various party of disappointed
or discontented natives, who are encouraged by American agenta to
oppose every measure of Boyer's. The French and Americans .e
prifeent monopolize the trade of the island. Ilow far the present
treaty will improve ours is uncertain ; but one stipulation has been
acceded to, viz. that all nonage, who run away from the British
Colonies, are to be restored, on application being made to the
Prerideet fur them, and repaying any expenses that may have
been Incurred by their detention, or otherwise; so that in future
tio apprehensions may be entertained of our slaves meeting with a
favourable reception in that island, should they run away. The
- town of Port-au-Prince was healthy, but will never again be a
place of importance, owing to the frequent earthquakes preventing
the inhabitants from building other than wooden edifices, and those
only on.one floor. Even the palace of the Presttient is little better
then that of the aborigines 260 years past, and the streets are so cut
up by the heavy mina, that walking is dangerous and always dirty.
—Royal Gazette.
• The Lord Bishop of this island arrived on Monday at PM
he*, in his Majesty's ship Valorous, and we are happy to lean
that his health is completely reerstablisbed.