The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-30 00:00:00

COLOMBIAN' PAPERS.

Prom the Gazette of Colombia of Oct. 12.]
LA WI e and House of Representa.
tires of the Republic of Colombia in Congresi assembled, hay.
ing examined the Message of the Executive Power and the
documents thereunto annexed, and in which the conduct put--
:sued by the late ,Minister of Colombia, as regards, his financial
'operations in Europe, is submitted to a resolution of the Legis.
lative Body, and taking also into consideration—
st. That even i(the Ex-Minister Zea had been legally au.

AhLrised for finance operations, and with competent limier to
SQH:cit loans in the name of the Republic of Colombia, he only
have negotiated and contracted for them : but in no
'• way ditinitively concluded them, and much less received
and disposed of the amount thereof, without having obtained
„ the previous consent and approbation of the Congress, or its
express authority to receive anti dispose of the same, with-
out which the lenders could not advance the said amount,
without spontaneously subjecting themselves to the contin-
gency of an approbation or disapprobation which subsequently
might be expressed, by the Legislative Body, exclusively
'authorised by the fundamental laws of the Republic to contract
debts on the credit of the nation, and dispose of the treasure
thereof.

. 2dly. That the Ex-Minister Zea not only contracted in Eu-
lope a loan of two millions sterling in the name of the Republic,
but he has also received, distributed, and consumed the greatest
'part of the same on his own authority, in making compromises
'Of anterior demands not competently settled, and subsequent
ones which he himself has created by operations enormously
. burdensome to the State, either by increasing the capitals,
gratuitously doubling the interest, and by acknowledging debts,
some without the necessary vouchers, others purely gratuitous,
and with exorbitant additions to many; and, in fine, by re-
ceiving as money the obligations and bonds which the said Zea
himself had given, by yirtue of an agreement entered into in
London, on the Ist of August, 1020, to the creditors of the
Republic, without their respective accounts having been le-
gully audited and passed ; together with other obligations
Ise also put into circulation in the same arbitrary manner,
without having in due time solicited, waited for, or ever oh.
..tain the approbation indispensably necessary for similar ope-
rations.

idly. That the two countries of New Grenada and Vene.
zuela being united into one body of a nation, under the deno.
inination of Republic of Colombia, on the 12th ,of July, 1121,
by a solemn act of their legislative representatives, assembled
for the purpose of sanctioning this new political association and
its fundamental institutions; by the said Act, the powers of
AU the previous Functionaries and the Public Agents ceased,
ind in consequence thereof . also terminated the powers confer.
rod under date of the 24th of December, 1019, in the city of
Angostura, on the Ex-Minister Zea, ma only so as, to dibiatdo
acnn coralutitnit, by virtue thereof, the diplomatic opera.:
Lions to which his instructions were confined, but also dimity
from entering into financial negociations to which he after.
wards Sought to extend the said powers, at the time he was al-
ready informed of the substantial change above-mentioned, as
is proved by the allusions. he • makes to the new laws, in the
bonds he issued on the 13th of March, 1022. •

'Wily. In short, that at the same time it is the duty of the
Congress to guard against the waste or malversation of the pro.
vory of the nation, whose rights are deposited in their bands ;
it is equally so religiously to comply with the just obligations
in which their responsibility, honour, ard reputation are implir.
eatral ; and wishing to consult and abide by these considera-
tions, anti not defraud private individuals out of their jutit
rights.