Star.
London, England, 1830-01-02 00:00:00

COLUMBIA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.
LETTICR VII.

_

BOGOTA, Seel. 29, 120.

Sta,.-Deaf to the voice of the Liberator, the Con-
gress, degraded, the character of the Deputy of the
nation, by giving to the election of the Representatives
a basis disproportioned to the capacity of the mass, for
the charge of the legislative functions. Tyranny was
introduced in the very sanctuary of the laws, by the
Chambers being made the only Judge of all the mea-
sures which were calculated to influence the prosperity,
or prejudice the interests of Columbia. Instead of pre-
serving that due equilibrium between the high constitu-
tional powers, and assuring to the Executive the inde-
pendence of its attributions, the whole governing
authority was submitted to the inspection and controul
of the Legislature. The action of the Government
was so weakened ; it was so sty ictly contracted in its
faculties, that it might be said, that it was no more
than an instrument of the Legislative Chambers, for, not
only did its dissent from their views count for almost no-
thing, but unless one or the other of them consented, the
Executife could not elect its principal agents, adopt a
line of foreign policy, or direct interior reforms or im-
provements. No responsibility was attached to the Se-
cretaries of State; consequently those exercising them
important functions degenerated into mere amanuenses,
or tools of him who exercised the executive power, hav-
ing no emulation for the discharge of their respective
duties as Ministers, nor stimulus to display energy against
any ill-advised wish of the First Magistrate. Fiaally,
the system of Government was altogether wanting in
that sufficient consistency which would have had Arens th
enough to regulate the force, and the interests, the aspira-
tions,and the resentments, of individuals, and bow them in
homage at the pedestal of authority, and of the laws.
But as one fault is always followed by another, whilst
seeking to supply the inefficiency of the executive In
some cases, a wide breach was made in the constitution
itself for the destruction of liberty. From the very mo-
ment extraordinary faculties, faculties ad arbittiom
were granted the Chief of the Government ; without
well defining the limits of their exercise, it was very
evident that any day the executive chose it might also, b
all the power of the others. Copying article for article of
the Constitution of the United States of America, at
least in their federal form, the duration of the Presi-
dentship, and Vice-Presidentship,- was limited to the
period of four years, without bearing in mind that
in a population like ours, necessarily deficient
in the civic virtues, but inflated with perso-
nal pretensions, this frequency of election must be a
seed-plot for discords, if not a principle of death itself to
the state. Man frequently touches the opposite extremes,
flying from federation to centralize all, disregarding lo-
cality, to attend solely to what is general. The Con-
gress in this case also neglected to establish a well re-
gulated
Departmental organisation—an organisation of
the first necessity in Columbia, in consequence of the
immense distances which separate portions of our popu-
lation from the centre of authority, and of the different
measures required by the distinct wants of the agricul-
ture, the industry, commerce, and education, of our pro-
vinces, some of them situated far inland, others on the
coast, some at the basis of the Cordilleras, others on their
summits, offering amongst them in their moral
and physical state little resemblance. From these omis-
sions, and from not having established the necessary
gradations for the social interests, the Legislature found
itself over-charged with affairs, without time and with-
out sufficient intelligence to dispatch them with sufficient
prudence, from whence the gravest prejudices and
local discontents originated. A multitude of Laws were
proclaimed, some of which prescribed a different regi-
men for different parts, and Authorities of the Republic,
and which in no respect harmonized with the Constitution.
Others were imperfect, or presented practical inconveni-
ences in their execution. If some were founded on the
basis of eternal reason, others were pernicious, or un-
seasonable at least, since they were not adapted to the
condition of our society.
The Congress terminated its labours in the space of
three months. Believing that all was settled and se-
cured,)- ..use they had stamped on the paper our social
compact, and various laws, and not having perfectioned
their work with the organic principles it required, a
wavering, and tendency to vacillate, adhered to their
political system.
The structure of the edifice being rather traced than
solidly establiahed,we soon perceived the effect of the pre-
cipitation, and the want of foresight of oar legislators. In
the commencement of all Representative Governments,
--- inevitable. P- shows itself

some errors are .a. _ .A change-
able in its acts, whilst the multitude expresses impatience
in its desires.

Almost immediately, our ancient customs combined,
with certain prepossessions of locality, to prevent
the new regimen from striking too deep root. Pas-
sions fermented, interests clashed, and the Press, some-
times directed by mischievous men, at others by enthu-
siastic monitors, commenced the undermining of our new-
born institutions. One party declaimed against Bogota
being jealous of her being declared the seat of Government;
others decried the Constitution because it was not alto-
gether fcederal ; some objected to the power granted the
Executive ; some ridiculed the noblest acts of the Revo-
lution ; and some ecclesiastics made even the pulpits of
their churches rostrums from which they attacked the Go-
vernment of Columbia. The infant republic thus harrassed
by intestine divisions, struggling against an obstinate ene-
my,without money, without commerce, without agriculture,
and without marine, owed the preservation of its exist-
ence to the valour and to the virtues of the army and
its chiefs.
Whilst the seducers of the people clamoured after ideal
systems, or made use of their influence to drag them into
the abyss of revolution, the Liberator and his worthy com-
panions in arms, occupied themselves in expelling the
enemy from the soil of their country. Fortune sometimes
exposed their constancy to severe proofs, but victory the
most complete crowned their efforts in the Plains of Ca.
mbobo. Seven thousand Spaniards were entirely defeated
in that memorable action, which conferred liberty on 4-
most the whole of Venezuela, and which enabled General
Botrvase to march sad break the fetters of the children
of the Equator.
• • 04111 CIA DIM RIO.

GREECE. . •

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Sts,—lf there be any truth in the rumoured elevation
of Prince LROPOLD to the Sovereignty of Greece, I beg
to call his attention, through the Columns of the STAR,
to the following fact.
During the existence of the Greek Committee, and '
when the more active members felt the importance of ,
establishing a close intimacy between this country and
the new State, then nobly struggling for freedom,
ten youths were brought to this country for the
purpose of being educated. Of these, five are still
in England, and have made such a progress in
every useful branch of knowledge, that they could not
fail to become a valuable acquisition to the Prince.
Nothing would, in fact, be more calculated to increase
the popularity of a first arrival, than being accompanied
by the youths in question. From their having attended
equally to the study of modern Greek and English, their
facility in both languages makes them peculiarly fitted
for public ogees, or to act as interpreters.
Should this suggestion meet the eye of the PRINCE,
and he should be desirous of farther information, it wilt
be afforded by referring to the Secretary of the Education
Committee, at the Laucasterian School in the Borough-
road, by far the best regulated and most useful institution
of the kind in Europe. Nor can I conclude without
offering my tribute of admiration to the individuals of
that Committee, whose philanthropic and generous labours
have not been confined exclusively to Greece, but em-
braced every spot on earth whole a possibility existed of
introducing one of the greatest blessings reserved for
social man. I am, Sir, &c.
George's Coffee House, Jan. 1. E. B.