Star.
London, England, 1830-01-13 00:00:00

COLUMBIA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR-1.
LETTER In
esosira, Oct. It. lOW
Although reduced to this painful necessity, yet the.
Lasuuwrou always inclined to make an amicable set_
Clement of the differences with Pent, sent a mission of

peace to that State ; but its president, who had arrogantly
rejected the mediation of the conqueror of Ayacucho,
(generously offered by him as he passed by Callao, oa
his way from Bolivia to Columbia,) refused with sub-
terfuge to receive the Columbian plenipotentiary, and
thus manifested how far distant his obstinacy and blind-
ness were from giving us as just satisfaction.
The Peruvian Congress being oppressed by the ruling
faction, gave the world a great example of scandal. A
decree was expedited to LA MAR, to levy war on Co-
lumbia, to that Columbia which had liberated Peru.—
When both countries required repose to heal the
evils of war, when both had so muny conquests to
make over the obstacles to improvement in their own
territory, Peru, flattering herself, and confiding in our
intestine dissentions, believed the moment was arrived
to realize the old design of re-establishing the empire of
the Incas, and extending her rule from Juane:m/4 to
Potosi. Her governors, not content with having re-
fused Columbia, as a reward for her eminent services.
" Gratitude, Glory, Debt, and even the faith of Treaties,"
marched to tear to pieces the bosom of her benefactress,
and to spill the blood of her children.
The Peruvians commenced their infamous attack on
the unoffending people of Curved!, the latent object
of their avaricious ambition ; but at the end of three
days' combat, the valour of the garrison, and the loyalty
of the inhabitants, obliged them to abandon their enter-
prise with loss ; but they were more fortunate in a later
operation, for all our disposable troops having marched
into Guyaquil to join the corps d'armee assembling to
resist the invading enemy on the land side, the city was
advised to capitulate, and Waft occupied by a Peruvian
division.

The troops of LA MAR already stood upon the holy I
soil of Columbia, and calculating on the support of some
unnatural children of her country, flattered themselves
they were about to enforce on her their law. In vain
the hero of Ayacucho strove to persuade the enemy's
Chief of the injustice of his proceedings, and offered to
enter into amicable negociations.
The President of Peru, rendered presumptuous by the
knowledge of the numerical superiority of his force, and
fancying himself already a victor, presumed to dictate to
Columbia, as the price of peace; conditions which she
could not accept without injury and dishonour; and adding
perfidy to arrogance, he commenced military movements,
during the time negociations were going forward.
His illusion did not last long—thirty days of cam-
paign were sufficient to prove that the same Colum-
bian valour, which had freed the land of the Incas, would
perform prodigies when it was to be exerted in defence
of our hearths and preservation of the national honour,
In Saraguro the Peruvians received the first evidenee of
our immense moral superiority, and in the Porte& of
Tarqui, the army of LA MAR was completely routed
with the loss of 2,500 men by General SUCRIC, whothos
acquired new laurels to the spotless crown which adorned
his brows. As generous after victory as before the
combat, Scene, who might have annihilated the
wretched remnant of the enemy, only demanded the same
terms of peace which he had required before his me-
morable triumph ; the preliminary treaty of Jiro* was
signed, which contained nothing onerous, or humiliating
for the conquered.
The noble Columbia, after having gathered her palms,
of victory—after having done herself so much honor by
the many proofs of moderation she had given, required'
the evacuation of the territory ; but with unparallelial
perfidy, and contempt of good faith, 1,4 i MAR refused
to execute the treaty, although ratified by hiss, and
even sent by the officer, ostensibly charged with the order
for the evacuation of Guyaquil, secret instructions to
keep the place. To justify his conduct, be had recourse
to the most miserable pretexts, unworthy his rank as
the magistrate of Peru, and of every man of honour.
The Vice President charged in Lima with the exe-
cutive power, manifested himself equally deaf to the
appeal of justice. Both guided by their obstinacy, and
insensible to every sentiment of shame, resolved to pro-
secute the war.
Happily further successes have changed the face of
affairs. The President LA MAR has been deprived of
the command which he unconstitutionally exercised, and
as a reward for his treason he has been deported to Cen-
tral America.

Whilst these events were passing in Pima, General
LA FUZNTE was raised in Lions, provisionally, to the
supreme authority, and public opinion so long suppressed
was allowed to express itself freely. We have seen
this opinion condemn the acts of the former treacherous
. .

administration—reclaim the execution of Treaties—aid
require THAT PEACE which the interests of Pent Mid
Columbia imperatively demand. We have seen.rvaily-
aqui, and the Columbian territory evacuated, as a pre-
liminary step to that peace • and though that resolution
may not have been characterised with all-bicomipg
generosity and good !kith, at all events the principal ob-
stacle to peace has b;en removed, since Columbia could
never have made any Treaty whilst the foot of an armed
enemy was on her territory.