The Sun.
London, England, 1824-06-25 00:00:00

SOUTH AMERICA..

MESSAGE of the VICE-PRESIDENT of COLOMBIA,
Charged with the GOVERNMENT, to the CONGRESS
of 1824.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the Chamber of
Representatives.
The present Congress meets under more favourable auspices
than the former. Last year the enemy etilloccepied some im-
portant posts in the Republic, from whence, spreading alarm
to the neighbouring departments, he redoubled the efforts of
his power to gain a fortunate blow, to which the machinations
of the disaffected, whom we
_generously tolerate in our terri-
tory, might contribute. Happily their enterprizes were •
checked, and their projects have only served to consolidate the
public opinion, and to- give additional lustre to the glory of
Colombia. You come to deliberate • for the benefit of our
Constituents, in the • tranquil days which Providence has
granted us, by the constant sacrifices of the Colombian people
and army. As uncertain as may be the continuation of the
present calm, the Executive feels itself animated with the most
lively pleasure, to present to you a faithful picture of the Re-
public, and to offer you the ideas which experience has fur-
nished, persuaded that you will never 'have a greater field than
in-this session, to employ, with success, your patriotism and
talents.
- The Government of his Catholic Majesty persists in its an-
-cient scheme of disavowing the justice of our emancipation,
and the power which has placed its Republic upon the level
of Independent States. The Cortes of Cadiz, in its last gasp,
denied the recognition of the new .American States, insisting
upon the measure of sending Commissioners out, who might
hear our petition. The Executive had no knowledge of the
Commission relative to Colombia, and attributes it to the ex-
plicit declaration made to Congress in the former meseage, not
to hear or admit any negotiation on the part of the Government
of Spain, which should not have for its basis the firm acknow-
ledgment of our national sovereignty. Notwithstanding, the
executive has not let pass an occasion or favourable jancture to
persuade the Spanish Government that we are ready to forget
our grievances, to put an end to the war, and to promote
the happiness and prosperity of both nations; but the ca-
tastrophe which the present regime in the Peninsula has just
suffered, reduces us to the extremity of not expecting any
thing, but by the force of arms, The King (Ferdinand) has
been restored to absolute power, by the aid of a French army,
to which the Spaniards- themselves afforded assistance. His
official acts, as far as regard the new American States, show
clearly that he intends to renew the war—to subject us to the
ancient odious servitude of Spain. If the Executive does not '
doubt the views of the Cabinet of Madrid, neither does it
doubt that the forces which the Republic will oppose to it will
be of such a nature as, in the end, to save its independence, its
government, and its laws. Congress has a very essential study
in completing our defence, by ,granting. to the Executive the
means of 'preserving the external and internal tranquillity of
the Republic; and I hope that your first labours will forward
so important an object; and for that purpose I refer to my
Communication of the 9th May last.
Our relations with the Government of America have taken
growth and consistency. The military situation of Peru has
carried our warriors to that country, and the President—
the Liberator, using the permission of Congress, has under-
taken the task of leading them on to victory. The presence of
the Liberator in Peru has constributed strongly to save the
State from the terrible calamities of civil war. The confidence
which the Peruvian Government and people have reposed in
the Liberator is a happy presage of their liberty, and there is
no doubt, if, on our part, we furnish other auxiliaries, the war
of Peru will terminate favourably, and-the fate of South Ame-
rica remain secured. The succour which the Republic has
granted to Peru exceeds its obligation by the Treaty of Al.
liance which the Executive, with your consent and approbation,
ratified ; but as the geographical position of that State iden-
tifies itself with the lot of Colombia, prudence tells us that in.
Peru we are acting in our own defence. The• Peruvian Con-
gress has ratified, without alteration, the Treaty of Alliance
and Amity with the Republic, and the Chilian Congress will
have ratified theirs with the same modifications. The Treaty
entered into with the Government of Buenos Ayres will he pre-
sented for your examination and approval, along with that
which has been made with the Government of Mexico, if, in
proper time, they arrive in the capital. All these Treaties have
completed the-American Confederation which the Government
of Colombia undertook to form, to give stability to the inde-
pendence of the New World ; and as such an important 'pro-
ject has commenced, to produce in Europe the effects which we
foresaw, the Executive will not rest until it sees united the Con-
gress of Plenipotentiaries of the new American Government.
The political situation of Mexienis.very.different to what it
was last year.. The Mexican people and army, excited against
the administration of their chief, Iturbide, re-established. the
authority of the Congress—dethroned and banished that per-
sonage to Europe. This event may have eradicated all the
monarchical principles which had been proclaimed, and will '
serve as the basis of a popular Representative Goverement.—
The New Mexican Government marches along this path with
energy and firmness—its measures to re-unite the Congress,
prohibit trade with subjects of the Spanish Government,
blockade the fortress of San Juan de Ulloa, and expel the
disaffected from its territories, sufficiently demonstrate it.—
The provinces of the old Captain-Generalship of Guatimala
have organized 11.11 Independent States and, for its first act,
it is known that it has adopted the popular representative
systeM. Some people of its jurisdiction have sought refuge
in Colombia, in the epoch of the agitation of the Imperial
Government; but as the Executive ought not to countenance
the disorganization of the other -States, or to extend the ter-
ritory of the Republic against its fundamental law, I limited
myself to interpose our good offices with the. Uovernitient of
Mexico in their favour, and 1 offered an inviolable asylum
to persecuted patriots. This occasion appears to me favour-
able, to declare that the Government of Colombia never has
adopted the pernicious doctrine of interfering in the internal
affairs of other Independent States.
. • The residence in this capital of the Minister Plenipotentiary
of the United States, will afford us the means of strengthen-
ing the relations of amity which exist between the two Govern-
ments, and to favour the interests of the Republic. The Mi-
nister of Colombia was received in Washington with the consi-
deration which his character, and the identity of principles of
both nations, ought to exact. The President -of the United
States has signalized his administration with an act eminently
just and worthy of the classic land of liberty. In his last mes-
sage to Congress, he has declared that he looks upon any inter-
ference of any European Power, directed to oppress or violate
the destinies of the Independent Governments of America,
as a manifestation of hostile dispositions towards the United
States. That Government considers any attempt on the part
of the Allied Powers to extend their system to any portion of
the-American hemisphere, as dangeroue to the peace and secu-
rity of the before-mentioned State. A similar policy of the
human race might give to Celombia a powerful alliance, in case
its independence and liberty were threatened by the Allied
Powers. The Executive cannot be indifferent to the turn
which the politics of the United States have taken, is occupied
efficaciously in reducing the question to defihitive and decisive
points. The republic of Colombia cannot be accused of any
thing by the Allied Powers; she and her Government have
highly respected the rights of Sovereigns, and those of their
subjects. Ready to open to all nations the fountain of her na-
tional righte, she does not require any other obligation than
that they respect her independence and her
institutions. But
if an evil genius should raise up new enemies, time will prove
that the Government and the Colombians have sufficient pa-
triotism to make the most costly sacrifices for our independence
a" liberty. In a mercantile view, I haVe managed to clear
of difficulties our relations with the United States, and the pro-
tection of our Commerce, by means of• tile appointment of Con-
suls and Agents, and publishing and observing scrupulously
our laws and statutes.
The Executive had directed its relations to Europe—with
Great Britain particularly, whose politics appear favourable to
the cause of South America, and whose commercial relatiohs
have been more extensive and active. The sympathy of the
opinion of the British public and its Government, inspire the
Executive with the most flattering hopes, lam sorry that I
cannot communicate to you what may be the ultimate resolu-
tion of' the Government of his Britannic Majesty, with respect
to the Republic. A Commission from the English Government
is now actually in this capital, from whom we have received sa-
tisfactory proofs of the interest with which our State inspires the
mind of the magnanimous people of England. , The security
us against which it has given the rumour that France will assist
in the war which Spain intends to begin anew, to reduce us to her
obedience, places us in a situation of not fearing such en occur-
rence. The Executive, as well as the Republic, have highly es-
timated their declarations, and I can assure the Congress that in
the progress cf the negotiation which may come on the carpet,