The Sun.
London, England, 1834-02-14 00:00:00

CITIZENS

• The fatigues of the two campaigns in which the inte-
rests of liberty required my presence have given a shock
to my health, and placed it in such danger as to render it
necessary for me to apply to the august National Congress
tor permission to proceed for fhc months to my retreat in
the country—to that peaceful asylum which I abandoned
only in obedience to the call of my country. The
Chambers have granted my prayer. I leave you, then,
; but at parting it is my duty to address
you, to explain the desires and express the ardent wishes
of one who thinks himself entitled to be regarded as the
first of your friends.

I carry with me the gratifying reflection that the peace
so bravely fought for during the last year is consolidated.
Great was the anxiety, dreadful the agitation ; but the
invincible people put forth their resources, and humbled
for ever their enemies. Those federal institutions, which
misled or perverse politicians allege to be in direct and
permanent contradiction with our habits and our wants,
have resisted all the eff,rts of the interested opponents
of social improvement, the shock of all the passions and
all the furies concentrated, and are now about to pro-
ceed tranquilly in their course, gradually ameliorating
the condition of our population. A spark of the
fl me still remains to be extinguished in a corner of the
South. A General, whose name has been associated with
several public calamities, has recently appeared with the
torch of discord in his hand, and has put himself at the
head of the miserable remains of the insurgents. One
chastisement more is what he has to expect. I have
summoned him, both officially and in a friendly manner,
to orch•r. If he should disregard this last opportunity of
saving himself, then will b' repeated, with g! eater dis-
grace and detriment to him, the day of Tulancingo.
Brave Generals, federalists worthy of public confidence,
will conquer in Chilepa, as they conquered in Guanajuato,
the best troops of the rebels. I have directed the neces-
sary measures, and soon there will remain of the insurrec-
tion only the odium attached to its memory.
The powers given to the Executive in moments of crisis
have been spontaneously resigned by me, and restored to
the Congress. The constitution has recov,red its empire,
and the tutelary laws of citizenship their benign influ-
ence. I recommend to you, my countrymen, the most
sincere, frank, and faithful attachment to the fundamental
law which so often has save• us in our political ship.
wrecks. Nine years of social exis'ence under its auspices
afford the best proof of the sound judgment of the con-
stituents of 1824. In some of the new Republics of our
America, every revolution, every commotion, ev. ry tumult
has had for its result a new constitution. Affairs
and men have thus constantly been in an unsettled
state. We can congratulate ourselves, that though the
shocks have injured, they have not destroyed our social
edifice. The constitution facilitates the means of repara-

tion and conservation. Reforms may be accomplished
without causing subversions ; and by listening to the use-
ful lessons of experience, you be able to give to that
work of wisdom the perfection of which it is susceptible.
Let public opinion be enlightened, the door to discussion
on our great political intere,ts he thrown wide open, the
will of the people be ascertained, and the National Con.
gress will then completely satisfy your wishes.
Those eyes must be obstin itely shut which do not see
the progress of knowledge, which do not perceive that
the time has arrived for accommodating to its growing in-
fluence even the secondary institutions of Mexican society.
The improving movement which has been the tendency
of that society since the commencement of its revolution,
has received a new impulse, because the question has for-
tut:lively been opened on reasonable and just principles,
and because the resistance and the obstinacy of the enemies
of liberty have demonstrated that the benefit, which is
with base design disputed, should no longer be delayed.
The people will exercise with moderation the rights which
the Mexican legislators will, with their well known pru-
dence, secure and regulate.

The inflexible severity of the laws is about to be directed
against those who pervert the blessings of peace. All po-
litical necessities and emergencies have been foreseen.
Allow the laws to operate, and crime will no longer enjoy
impunity, nor will innocence be trampled on and op-
pressed. Tolerance is the only balsam which can cure
the wounds opened by civil dissension. It is the peculiar
characteristic of free nations, and elevates their govern
ments above the sphere of turbulent and atrocious pas-
sions. Union, fellow citizens,--union is earnestly recom-
mended to you on paring, by one who retains no
resentment, who needs to make no effort to pardon inju-
ries, because be forgets them.
I hope that Providence will continue to us the favour
of its manifest protection. But if new conflicts should
yet occur, know, my friends, that I belong entirely to our
dear country. Her voice will not he disregarded—her
commands will be executed with that submissive will with
which I have always obeyed them. Announce to me the
epoch of danger, and it will be the signal for my instant
return to the difficult and complicated labours of public
administration, or to the fatigues of the field.
But these alternatives are distant, for the good sense of
the nation banishes all fear, and I have placed the reins of
the Government in that upright magistrate who never
bowed his head in the storm, and who knows how to main-
tain it erect and serene in opposition to every low and
selfish intrigue.
No compunctions of conscience accompany me. I
have laboured to do good with the purest intentions.
You will excuse the errors of judgment, if curb there
have been, and mistakes' which have arisen from that
cause. Never shall I forget, fellow-citizens, that you have
bestowed on me all that a people who are, and deserve to
be free, could give. My means of recompense are sterile,
but my gratitude, my life, my honour, my all, is due to
the great and magnanimous Mexican nation.
ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA.
Mexico, Dec. 14, 1833.