Star.
London, England, 1824-12-02 00:00:00

COLOMBIA.

We have received files of three Colombian Papers,
to a late date—the Correo de Bogota to the 24th of Sep-
tember, the Gazeta de Colombia to the 26th, and the
Constitutional to the 23d of the same month. The Ga-
zeta de Colombia is the paper of the Executive, and
contains, like the Moniteur in France, or the London
Gazette in England, official dispatches and Government
decrees. The Constitutional, a weekly paper, published
both in Spanish and English, is a journal of news and
discussion, possessing the additional feature of adver-
tisements, on the plan of the _English or North Ame-
rican newspapers. The Correo, or Courier of Bogota,
is likewise a weekly journal, filled chiefly with political
discussion and remark. On this occasion they are all nearly
equally destitute of political intelligence that would in-
terest the English reader. The Constitutional has in
every number a well•wtitten leading article on some
topic connected with the internal condition, political re-
lations, or the administrative proceedings of the Re-
public. The publication of a decree for calling out the
National Militia having become the cause of a real, or
the pretence of a feigned alum, this journal, in its
mum,er of September 23, thus exposes the folly of the
apprehension, and explains the natureof the measure:
" The pusillanimous, and the enemies of our indepen•
dente, have devoted no small portion of their attention
these last few days, to the decree for the general enlistment
of all citizens ; affix ming, that by it the nation was ren•
dered subject to martial law, and inventing all sorts of
nonsense about expeditions ft out Spain, Russia, France,
&c. and whatever the last gasps of a party at the mo-
ment of its dissolution can suggest to the imagination
of its infatuated followers. The fact is, that a decree
has beer published by the Executive, for which they are
author•zed by Congress, for the formation of the Na-
tional Jliiitia of Colombia; a measure of the greatest
importance to all free countries, end at which we are
only surprised that it has not been put in practice be-
tore, by a law which the constituent Congress was em-
powered, and perhaps ought, to have passed. But this
measure is not only not Martial law, but from it,' and
the other ceps which the Executive are very• prudently
taking, it is almost impossible that any circumstances
could arise which should render its publication neces-
sary—that is, which should call upon every citizen to
take arms, and, suspending all civil au:l-unity, turn the
whole cratatry into a tield of battle. What greater plea-
SO I e could be afforded to the enemies of freedom, than
:0 imagine even the Passibility of such an event?

it
"We say by this, sne,einsre, • bec:wsc •is Atprificiple
well understood, that after public opiqicoN tnatiomal
militia well organized, is one of the he.st•fecorities,ku•
the liberty of the people ; and we call thstsetprepasa
tions for defence prudent, because proclence.olone.cpuld
render them necessary in the present state ullaff.sike.
" The Government are fully aware that we do not
quire a larger standing army than may be barely suf-
ficient to bring the campaign in Peru to a conclusion;
in which we a:e at present engaged, and for the pt.
rison of the fortified, towns of the Republic ;,hut if: 4w
the deceitful threats of the Holy Alliance, and the
pompous decree of Ferdinand ..bout levies, aCc. we did
not take proper measures to put ourselves in an imprer
nable state of defence, the enemies of our liberty would
take courage from our apathy, anJ perhaps some dar-
ing Spanish Mandarin miglit venture to repeat the ha-
zardous attempt of Morales, though at the risk •of mtet•
ing with the same success. Then the vet y same who
now say—. Tne Government is,- earnestly pressing the
enlistments; takes measures of defence, makes prepa-
ration to enable the• nation to resist, en masse, any inva-
sion; then great straties- most be coming to attack Cr),
lombia: we are ruined; would say great armies are
coming against Colombia; Government makes no pte•
pararions for defer ce ; we !Ave tin army; we are
ruined: Hyporites ! it is not the welfare or misfortune
of your*ountry that affects you; it is your own pri-
vate and peculiar interest; and as you are in hones
of *obtaining your ends, it little matters by what
means! Continue your useless intrigues; you will be
sufficiently punished by the result. No one will attack
the independence and liberty of Colombia: at the first
threat of an invasion, all good citizens will hasten on
all sides to offer their services ; the National Militia will
be drawn out, the constitutional march of the Govern-
ment will be strengthened, and they will act with the
energy the circumstances will require; the civilized
world will admit us to the rank of the other nations of
the earth, and you, without deserving it, and contrary to
your Wishes, will be Free and Independent."
One great object of the Cot reo seems to be to expose
the extravagant pretensions, and to unmask the perfi-
dious designs of the fanatical party,•which in Colombia,
as well as in Spain, is inveterately hostile to the esta-
blishment of constitutional liberty, furious in support of
ancient abuses, and prepared to defend, at the expene
of calumny and falsehood, the worst claim's of a profit-
able superstition. These enemies of the new order of
things in Colombia, represent religion as identified with
institutions most hostile to its spit it. The receptacle of
the lazy monk—the scene of idleness, ignorance, and
corruption, is with them the strong hold of Christianity;
and a proposal by the Legislatute to sell convents for
the benefit of the State, is treated as an act of sacrilege
and impiety. The Correa answers the abuse cf such
persons by asking—" Is there, in the whole Gospel, a
single word that establishes a convent? In the purer
times of Christianity, was it ever pretended that the
doctrine of Jesus could not subsist, unless there wet e in
every parish so many monastei ies, and every monastery
had from 20 to 500 head of cattle, and from 20 to 50
slaves ?" Under the_bead of Anti fanatic conversations,
we have in this Journal a series-of articles, in which the
usurpations and 'errors of the Church of Rome-are ex-
posed with considerable knowledge and spirit. The au-
thor clearly thews that the Popes have not been infaili-
ble, nor considered such by the most sen.ibl- Church-
men ; but we leave him to argue this and other eqeally
important points with his fellow Catholics.

,SPA
PROM THE MONITEUR.

MADRID; NOVEMBER i 5.

4t appears that the departure id the French .troops
from the capital will begin to take place on the 23d,
and continue daily till the Ist of becember; but some
Swiss Regiments will remain, to fin m the especiAl paid
of his Majesty.