Star.
London, England, 1824-02-25 00:00:00

LAW.

The Senate and House of Representatives of the Re-
public of Colombia, in Congress assembled, having
examined the Message of the Executive I'owel- and the
documents thereunto annexed, and in which the conduct
pursued by the late Minister of Colombia, as regards
his financial operations in Europe, is submitted to a Re•
solution of the Legislative Body, and taking also into
ccn,ideration—

Ist. That even if the Ex-Minister Zea had been legally authorized
for finance operations, and with competent power to.solicit loans in
the name of the Republic of Colombia, he only could have nego-
elate 1 and contracted for them; but in no way definitively con-
cluded them, and muck less received' and disposed of the amount
thereof, without having obtained the previous consent and approba-
tion of the Congren, or its express authority to receive and dispose
of the same, without 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.
Lilly. That the Ex-Minister lea not only contracted in Europe a
loan of two millions sterling in the name of the Republic, but be
has also received, distributed, and consumed the greatest part of the
same on his own authority, in making compromises of anterior de-
mands not competently settled, and of 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 exorbitaot additions to
many; and, in One, by receiving as money theobligations and bonds
which the said Zea himself had given, by virtue of an agreement
entered into in London, on the lst of August, 1890, to the creditors
of the Republic, without their respective accounts having been
legally audited and passed; together with other obligations he also
put into circulation in the same arbitrary manner, 'without having
in due anti solicited, waited for, or ever obtained the approbation,
indispensably necessary for similarl operations.
3dly. That the two countries of New Grenada and Venezuela beiv
united into one body of a nation, under the denomination of Re-
public of Colombia, on the 12th of July, 1821, by a solemn act of
their legitimate representatives, assembled for the purpose of sanc-
tioning this new political association and its fundamental institu-
tions; by the said Act, the powers of all the previous Functionaries
and Public Agents ceased, and in conseqbence thereof also termi-
nated the powers conferred under date of the 24th of--Deteibbet,'
1819, in the city of Angostura, on the Ex-Minister Zea, not only
so as to disable him from continuing, by virtue thereof, the diplo-
matic operations to which his instructions were confined, but also
chicly from entering into financial negociations to which be aftei-
wards sought to extend the said powers, at the time be was already
informed of the substantial change above mentioned, u is proved
by the allusions he makes to the ne* laws, in the bonds-he issued
on the 15th of March, 1 UM
In short, that at the same time It is the duty of the Con-
gress to guard intainat the waste or malversation of the property of
the nation, whew, rights are deposited in their bands; it is equally
so religiously to comply with the just obligations in which their
responsibility, honour, and reputation are implicated ; and wishing
to consult and abide by these considerations, and not defraud pri-
vate individuals out of their just tights, they hereby do decree,
" Art. 1. The compromises made with creditors, loans concluded,
and all other financial operations carried into effect in Europe by
the Ex-Minister' Francisco Antonio Zea, are hereby disapproved..
" Art. 2. Nevertheless, all the amounts which the creditors can
legally prove to have been furnished for the Republic, in money and
effects, together with their respective interest, are acknowledged.
" Art. 3. For their settlement the Executive Power is hereby
fully authorized, so as to be able to do the same in the manner they
may think most expedient.
Art. 4. The Executive Power is hereby in like manner autho-
rized to approve and ratify, themselves, or through the medium of
such person or persons to whom fee this pnrpees they may delegate
their powers, the result of the said settlement, so that they may
call in the obligationo, bonds, or bills, put in circulation by the deceased
Francisco Antonio Zest, and issue such as they may deem necessary
as far as the.amount settled and approved of, which said bonds
are to be signed by the Preddent of the Republic, or the person
exercising the Executive Power, or by the 'person by him duly
authorised, so as to receive these new obligations or bonds as Mt.
merical amounts in any other loan that may be decreed ; and,
finally, in order that they may name arbitrators, or friendly and
conciliating referees, in the case or cases of any disputes arising
with the creditors, whether in the territory of Colombia, or in any
other country of Europe.
" Art. 5. The aforesaid Executive Power shall be authorized to
agree as to the term for the paying off of the amount which may he
thus settled, as to the mortgages by which the demadds are to be
secured, and as to the manner in which the interest is to be paid,
until the consolidation of the national debt has been completed, in
which the Congress are engaged. •
" Art. 6. Finally, the Executive Power is hereby authorjzed to
remove all diflculties which may occur in the execution of the pre-
sent decree.

" Doae in Bogota, capital of the Rapid)lie, this lit day of July,
1823,and 13th of Independence.—(Signed)
" JERONIMO *MIRES, Vice-President of the Senate.
" DOMINGO CAECEDO, President of the House of
Representatives.
" ANTONIO JOSE CARO, Secretary of the Senate.
" JOSE JOAQUIN SHARES, Deputy and Secretary.
" Pained Government in Bogota, this 7th day of July, 1823.
Let the same be executed.—(Signed)
"-FRANCISCO DE P. SANTANDER.

"JOSE MARIA DEL CASTELLO, Secretary of State for
the Finance Department." .

It ikreported (we know not with what truth) that
all the principal characters in the new Work of " Sayinp and
Doings,' re drawu from originals chosen among the. Author's
friends ands ,wquaintance' their lives and actions being found to
illustrate his paints more completely than his own imagination, fer-
tile as it is, enabled hint to do.

Mr. GODWIN'S History of the Commonwealth, on
which he has beets engaged some yeats, we understand
will appear on Thursday nest.
" There is bo part of the History of this Island," says the A u-
thor, iu his l'reface, " which has been so inadequately treated as
the characters and acts of those leaders, who had, for the moat
'part, the direction of the public affairs of England, front 1640 to
1660. The men who figured during the interregnum were, Inuit,.
diately after the Itesioratioir, spoken of with horror, and their Me.
.moire were composed alter the manner of the Newgate Calendar.
What was begun front party rage, has been continued from indo-
lence. No researtb hth butt exercised, no public measures hale
been traced to their ripe authors; eyen the succession of Judges,
Public Waters, and Stineenee, has been left in impenetrable cop-
fusion. It is the object of die present work to remedy this defect,
and 'preview tit* trammetiosts of that period with the same calm-
Impartialty, and lailsetible justice, as if they had preceded the
Universal Deluge, or had taken place in one of the remotest Is-
lands of thc-South Sea."