Star.
London, England, 1811-10-01 00:00:00

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AMERICA.

INDEPENDENCE OF THE CARACCAS.
IN THE NAME OF TIDE MOST HIGH.
" We, the representatives of the federal provinces
Caraccas, Cumana, Barinas, Margalta, Barce•
lova, Merida, and Truxillo, constituting the confede-
ration of Venezuela, on the Southern Continent of
America, in Congress assembled ; considering that
rte have been in the full entire possession of our na-
tal al rights since the 19th of April, 1810, whieh we
re-assumed in consequence of the transaction at Bay-
oane, the abdication of the Spanish throne, by the'
conquest of Spain, and the accession of a new dya
nasty, established without our consent—while we avail
ourselves of the rights of men, which have been with.
held from us by force for more than three centuries,
and to which we are restored by the political revolu-
tions in human affairs, think it becoming to state to
the world the reasons by which we are called to the
lice exercise of the sovereign authority.
We deem it unnecessary to insist upon the un-
questionable right which every conquered country
Ilds to restore itself to liberty and independence—
we pass over in a generous silence, the long series of
a filictions, oppressions and privations, in which the
f atal law of conquest has indiscriminately involved
the discoverers, conquerors, and settlers, of these
countries—whose condition has been made wretched
by the very means which should have promoted their
felicity—throwing a veil over three centuries of Spa-
nish dominion in America, we shall confine ourselves
to the narration ofrecent and Well-known facts, which
prove how much we have been afflicted ; and that we
not be involved in the commotions, diserderi,
inai conquests which have divided Spain.
id The disorders in Europe had increased the evils
under which we before suffered, by obstructing Com-
i• Writs, and frustrating the means of redress ; by au-
thorising the Governors placed over us by Spain, to
insult and oppress us with impunity, leaving us with-
out the protection or support of the laws.
di It is contrary to the order of nature, impracti-1
cable in relation to the Government of Spain, and
has been most afflicting to America, that the terri-
tories so much more extensive, and a population in-
comparably more numerous, should he subjected and
dependent on a peninsular corner of the European
Continent.
4, The cession and abdication made at Bayonne,
the transactions at the Escurial and at Aranjuez, and
the orders issued by the Imperial Lieuteliant, the
Marshal Duke of Berg, to America, authorised the
'exercise of those rights, which till. that period the
Americans had sacrificed to the preservation and in-
t: grity of the Spanish nation.
~ The people of Venezuela were the first who ge-
nerally acknowledged, and who preferred that inte
gi ity ; never forsaking the interests of their European
arethren, while there remained the least prospect of
salvation.
~ America has acquired a new existence ; she was
able and was bound to take charge of her own safety
and prosperity— she was at liberty to acknowledge or
to rejact the authority of a King who was so little de.
aarving of that power as to regard his personal safety
snore than that of the nation over which he had been
I,l•Accd. •
• All the Bourbons who concurred, in the futile
clinutoinns of Bayonne, having withdrawn from the
Spanish territory contrary to toe will or the people,
abrogated, dishonoured, and trampled upon all the
sacred obligations which they had contracted with the
'Spaniards sit both worlds, who with their blood and
treasures had placed them on the throne, in opposition
to the efforts of the house of Austria—such conduct
LAS rendered them unfit to . rule over a free people,
whom they disposed of like a gang of slaves.
• The intrusive government, which have arrogated
to themselves the authority which belongs only to the
national representation, treacherously availed them-
selves of the- known good faith, the distance, and el-
fs•cts which ignorance and oppression had produced
among the Americans, to direct their passions against
• the new dynasty which had been imposed upon Spain
—and, in opposition to their own principles, kept up
the illusion amongst us in favour of Ferdinand, but
in order to baffle our national hopes, and to
snake us sith greater impunity their prey—fficy
held forth to us promises of liberty, equality, and fro.
. ternity, in pompous discourses, the most effectually
Ito conceal the snare which they were insidiously lay.
ing for us by an inefficient and degrading chew of re-
presentation.

" As soon as the various forms of the Spanish' go-
vtrnment were overthrown, and Others had been suc-
cessively substituted, and imperious neeps.:ity had
taught Venezuela to look to her own-safety, in order
ta support the King, and afford an. asylum to their
European brethren against the calamities by which.
they were men iced, all their former se'r'vices were dis-
regarded, new measures were adopted against us, al..'
fr.e very steps taken for the presertration- Of the Spa 4
nish Government were branded with the titles of in;
stirrection, perfidy, and ingsatimdebtOdhly
the door w:as closed against a mondtpdlyi.Of
which they expected to perpetuate in, the,.ntune of a
King, whose dominion was imagina'ry.
" Notwithstanding our moderation, vi generosity
and the purity of our intentions, and Opposition to the
wishes of our brethren in Europe, we were declared
to the world in a state of blockade—hostilities were
commenced against us—agents sent.among us to ex-
cite revolt, and arm us against each other—whilst
oil- national character was traduced, and foreign ria-
ti.nis excited to make war upon us.
" Deaf to oursemonstrances, without submitting
our reasons to the impartial judgment of mankind,
and deprived of every other arbitrament but that of
our enemies, tee were prohibited front all intercourse
with our brethren ; and adding contempt to calumny,
4 they undertook- to appoint delegates for us ; and,
without our consent, who were to assist at their Cor-
ti:6, the more effectually to dispose of our persons and
property, and render us subject to the poser of our
enemies.
In order to defeat the wholesome measures of
our national representation, when' obliged to receg-
nize it, they undertook to reduce the ratio of our po-
p,,i iti,.n submitting the forms of election to servile
-Committees, acting at the disposal of arbitrary rulers;
thus insulting our inexperience and good faith, and
iv' -My regardless of our political importance or our
epolf are. .

0 The Spanish Gcreentrucnt, ever deaf to the dq

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