Star.
London, England, 1830-03-12 00:00:00

SOUTH AMERICAN REGISTER.

COLOMBIA.

Caraccas papers, which we hate received from the 231 of Decem-
ber to the 13th of January last, leave no doubt as to the fact the
the Republic of Colombia is separating into its old colonial pros
winces, and that Venezuela has been declared independent of Bo-
livar and the southern districts of the union. The connexion be-
tween the province of New Granada and the coast districts is so
loose, the communications so difficult or laborious, and the interests
of the inhabitants so different or opposed, that a separation (before
been attempted) has long appeared within the range of probability.
The Ant symptom of an active resistance to the central government
took place at Carat:cis, on the transmission of the following extract
ea letter from Bolivar, dated Guayaquil, September 13th, to his
former friend Parz, the superior chief of the province :
" I have ordered the publication of a circular, inviting all the
citizens and corporations to a formal and solemn expression of their
opinions. You may now legally press it upon the public to say
what they please. The time has arrived in which Venezuela must
express herself without regard to any thing whatever else than the
general good. If radical means are adopted to express what you
really desire, reforms will be perfect, and the public wish will be
fulfilled. Commerce will open her fountains, agriculture will be
every where extended; in short, every thing will be performed as you
desire. I shall not attempt to suggest any thing, because Ido not
wish to become responsible, being resolved not to remain in the au-
preme command. As the Congress is one of an admirable character,
there is no danger in asking what you please, and it will know how
to accomplish the business with wisdom and calmness. Never has
there been so great necessity as on this occasion, since nothing lass
is in debate than to constitute society anew, or, so to speak, to give
it a new existence.

"It would be well, In such circumstances, to take great care of
the revolutionists ; because, under the pretext of public opinion,
they may attempt some crime which we ought not to tolerate. Let
the congress be told with moderation what is just, or what you will;
but nothing by deeds, and even less by way of threatening. I do
not desire the command : but if they wish to wrest it from me by
force or intrigue,l will fight to the last. I will cheerfully withdraw
by the road of honour. Tell every body so from me. Finally, I
have said this because it is feared that I shall produce tumults by
any circular, and there are persons who are not pleased with the de-
claration of the College of Caraccas. For me every thing is good
with moderation, which conforms to instructions. I remain,! my
dear General, your grateful friend—l say grateful, because your
letter to which I reply is noble and generous towards me. I have
been affected by the idea you have communicated to me : and
oh ! that I might enjoy with you private life and intimate comps.
panionship. heartily yours, "BOLIVAR."

This letter came to Canteens enclosed in one by General Paez,
dated Valencia, Nov. 17, and addressed to General Arismendi, re-
commending compliance with the recommendations of the Liberator,
When she contents of these documents were spread, all the patriots
or influential persons at Caraecas concurred in the expediency of
meeting to take the matters to which they referred into considera-
tion. The Chief of the Police was invited to put himself at the head
of this movement,and to maintain order. This officer issued an in-
vitation or circular to thedistinguished citizens to assemble for delibe-
ration on a subject on which the public happiness depended. About
400 obeyed the summons, and met at the residence of his Excellency,
where they were required to give their opinions on the present emu.
gency. Speeches of the purest patriotism are said to have been de.
livered. The greatest regard for public tranquillity is said to have
been shown, both mixed with wisdom and moderation. At this
meeting the chief resolution adopted was, to assemble the people on
the following day. All this was done in pretended compliance with,
the expressed wishes of the Liberator. The General-in-Chief of
the Police, the Military Commandant of the City, the Archbishop
of the Province, and the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court, severally
issued addresses to the people on the subject of their meeting. The
imeeting accordingly took place, attended among others by the 400
citizens who had formed the preparatory junta. A president was
chosen in the person of the Prefect ; secretaries were likewise elected
and a mode of taking the public suffrages was settled. Various orators
addressed the people on the nature of the crisis, and the voice of all
was against the existing order of things. The conduct and character
of Bolivar were roughly handled; his ambition was denounced, and
separation from his government was proclaimed. The meeting came
to five resolutions ; the first of which was, that a separation should
take place between Venezuela and the Government of Bogota; and
that the authority of General Bolivar should be renounced, though
they would maintain peace and concord with the provinces of the
south and centre of Colombia. The second was, that a paper, jus-
tificatory of this resolution, should be drawn up, and circulated over
the old province of Venezuela, inviting its other towns to imitate
the example of Caracas. The other three resolutions had for their
object the completion of the scheme of separation. The paper was
immediately signed by 486 persons. It is dated the 20th of Nov.
On the Bth of December the town of La Guerra followed the ex-
ample. The citizens declared that Bolivar, haring annourced on
several occasions the Presidency of the Republic, and having assured
Pats that he did not wish for command, and there appearing no
other chief capable of preserving the integrity of Colombia, the
territory of ancient Venezuela had formed itself into a sovereign
state,desirous however of maintaining the relations of peace and good
neighbourhood with Colombia.

On the 20th of December, Cumarra joined the other great towns
of the province, in proclaiming its independence.
The Gaosta del Goloicrao of January 2, contains the address of
the people of Caraecu to the President-Liberator Bolivar, explain-
ing the motives of their separation, and deprecating any attack on
their independence. This address is signed by Pan, the chief offi-
cers of the army, and 1,500 other persons. In the Gazette of Jan.
0, we find Valencia following the example of the other chief towns,
and separating itself from Colombia. Puerto-Cabello had already
declared its independence on the 25th of December.
Thus nearly all the extensive province of Venezuela has separated
itself from the inland and southern territory of Colombia, depriving
the republic of its seaports and its emporiums of trade. From the
regularity and firmness with which the different towns have pro-
ceeded in this insurrection—from the unanimity which they have
shown in asserting their independence, and the cordial support of-
fered by the military chiefs to the patriotic cause, joined to a hatred
of subjection to a distant capital, and a deep-rooted, though proba-
bly unjust jealousy of Bolivar, there Is great reason to believe that
their union with the southern provinces can only be cemented by
blood, and it is not likely that the central government will imme-
diately hazard the chances of a civil war.

Lisbon Gazettes, to the 27thof February inclusive, ar-
rived yesterday. They contain long and very distorted
comments on the proceedings which have taken place in
the British Parliament, and are otherwise totally unin-
teresting to the English reader.

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