Star.
London, England, 1830-01-12 00:00:00

COLUMBIA

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.
PART TM-LETTER XV.

POLITICAL ENQUIRY INTO THE STATE OF COLUMBIA
TO THE END OF THE YEAR 1829.
Maw Moe, SOW radpdan mediocriz, wet mil• Aire.
&am, Oce. 5, lIMP.
Si it—Human affairs are so connected, and interwoven,
that to estimate truly the present state of the nation, we
areoften underthe necessity of recurring to the principles
by which it has been swayed, so that we may disoover
the causes of the existing order of affairs, and give to
them their just value. For this reason, before we at-
tempt to examine into the actual state of Co/cambia, it
wiU be expedient to contemplate the different phases of
its existence.

Glancing over the most eminent points of her history,
the epoch first presents itself when a speculative philo-
sophy occupied the throne of Grenada and Venezuela,
and dictated the laws of our society—an eposh, in which
the sovereignty of the People, being our political
dogma, " ignorance as well as intelligence, the spirit of
liberty, as well as the most cruel desFotism—vices, as
well as virtues, presided over the march of our infancy."
The melancholy consequences followed which might be
expected from a like inversion of all the social principles.
We thep trace the most glorious career of' the Republic,,
until ambition, misery, and extravagant -ideas, reduced
the country to such a deplorable condition, that if it had
not been for Bor.lVAit, who preserved Columbia at the
very confines between death and life, that magical and
sacred name would certainly have been effaced; and we,
her sons, would have assisted at her funeral rites, co-
vered with parricidal infamy and shame.
Scarcely had the Li IL R ATO R heard the national voice
that called upon hint to save the Republic ; scarcely had
he charged himself with the supreme authority, when he
framed regulations for the guidance of his conduct,
Dictator without precedent, he expedited the organic
Decree of the 27th of August, in which he set limits to
his own power, creating a council of state, whose ex-
pressed opinion should have the greatest influence in 111
the measures of the chief of the administration. The
most important rights of the Columbiana,' were guaran-
i teed in this provisional state of the law, and a convoca-
tion of the national representation was promised for the
2d of Jan. 1830, a promise that we hare since seen ful-
filled with the most religious exactitude.
But the passions never reason ; a month had not passed
when the promulgation of the organic decree afforded
the LIBERATOR the most victorious answer to those,
who accused him of aiming at absolute power, when a
crime the moat atrocious, and at the same time the
moat absurd, was attempted. Persons who clamoured
about morality in all their discourses and writings, pro-
posed a horrible murder ! Individuals, who professed
virtue with their lips, by becoming accomplices, mani-
fested how far it was from being in their breasts. Those
who valued themselves on being the friends of liberty.
and order, proved, by the like project, that they knew of
no other means of cementing theni; but by blood and
ruins. "'the death of the foundeP Cohuniii, brava
planned, and the conspirators were individuals who owie
him the greatest gratitude ! The brigade ot artillery.'
which was in the capital, being seduced by the chiefs of
the plot, the palace of the chief of the nation was con-
verted into a theatre for slaughter ; the parricide dagger
all but reached Bette A R ; happily
" With his wings
The angel of the eoantry covered him,
• And his preciovs life was saved."
The meritorious URDA ETA, crowned on this occasion
his distinguished services to the Republic, placing himself
at the head of the betake of Vargas, and of the first
Isquadrim of mounted grenadiers, and sustained by other
worthy companions, he routed the conspirators, preserved
the city from the horrors which threatened,. and snatching
the LIBERATOR from his assassins, saved Colombia from
infallible destruction.
A few days after this horrible scene, the disorganising
o:ltraced at °calla began to unfold themselves. A
„_0 BAN Do—raised the standard of rebellion in
Atria, under the pretext of sustaining the Constitution
at Cucuta ; and, successful in the first moment, he occu-
pied Popayax, that he might await there the aid pro-
amied.by the Governor of Peru in support of the inner-
Indian, and interrupt the direct communication between
'he army of the South and the capital. The loyalty of
the inhabitants of Cauca—the vigorous measures taken
.111 the instant by the LIBERATOR—his approach to the
neighbourhood of the revolters, and the imposing attitude
assumed by the distinguished General FLoR Es, with the
troops in the South, checked the progress of the disorder.
The factions dislodged from Popaym by Con nova ,
defeated by HERTA in Pastor, finding no support from
the inhabitants in their criminal attempt, sad prevented by
our army of the south (who on thin, pccasion rendered
the most signal service to Columbia). from effecting a
benetioe with the Peruvian army; tonid 'End no refuge
t 'hi submission. A decree of. hbathinZtuld amnesty
being forwarded by the Luazearo,p, they teetered.
ebedsence to the Government, and " the civil &emit
which afflicted the country was mothered in the n16:01
clemency."
'Heaven grant that this rebellion May elate in Cohnew
Ma the earestof similar attempts—may 'military seditious
' for ever disappear from our soil; "thole seditions which
are the mortal poisons of states, which. eicasion the rule
of nations, and the loss of all freedomia."
It was at this epoch the army of Peru throatiest'
Se invade our territory, an act with which the ins*
Governors of that country proposed to fill tip the mile-
sere of her injuries against the liberators of her country ;
Ant it is necessary to take a retrospective. view .of those
*juries, which form one of the most remarkable chapters
la the history of ingratitude.
After having induced the Calmehias division, which
4111.4011 g. BOLIVAR had left in Law to revolt. and
`4t ;aching `."Mels with the

Peru had usurrol in contravention of the tai possidetes
which all the American Stated had proposed as the fele
for domarcation of their territory ; and the Peruvian
Envoy declared "that he had no orders or instructions, to
treat upon that subject." Our Government had required.
the liquidation and payment of the debt which Pent hid
contracted with Coin/shin, in furtherance of the war of in •
dependence, and the Minister confessed "he was not
authorized to discuss the topic." It appeared, indeed, that
he had no powers, but to add new outrages and insults to
the many we had received, to encourage the disaffected by
offering co-operation and support to their criminal en-
terprizes, and to concert with some Traitor the means to
dismember the Republic.
The patience of the Chief of Columbia being exhausted,
after having in rain attempted to conciliate his wish of
peace with what was due to justice—the Pseudo Envoy
of Concord withdrew, and our Government found itself
obliged to publish a manifesto of the motives which de-
termined it to declare was against Peru.
GARCIA DEL RIO.
Rasamm.—Eleven lines from bottom of Letter XIV. for D
palls. read Distentions.