The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-12-28 00:00:00

-nns STATESMAN ;

converted by their swain lato *stinks, or large
grazing farms for cattle, and abaci*, or growing
grain. The small farms ir qelotes, lathe nelghboor,
hood of cities, ore in deeerder. Thoseeroued Buenos
Ayres, which' tarnish their market with an ample
'apply of fruit sod vEletabki, are, by irrigation, is
lase highest Mete of 'Myst,.
"—Tim popelation, exclusive of the Indians, is
now calculated at en* million three hundred lbws-
sand ; but, adding the civilized
_lndians only, who
`see pf great importance, it would in all probability
itsc#6lt two "trillion's.
" 'The whole population consists of natives of Old
Spain, and their deseendsets, born in the country,
or, as they style thesinelvelt, &oath Americans; of
Indians civilized, or onreclajased,.with different
costs,' or mixed blood
.„.,•
rut Africans, and their
descendents, or negro., anCesulattoes.
• N I Could nol ascertsiss,.. With satisfaction, the po-
pulation of the different Provinces t the Province of
Buenos Ayres contains about one bendred and twenty
Usound, whilst the population of Entre Rios and
Banda Oriental is computed at fifty thousand.
• IP The city of Buenos Ayres contains a population
*rat,. thdesitsd. The inhabitants of this place ap-
pear tote amiable, and en interesting People. They
are considered brace and beeline ; possessing
ca pable. of great *VI liana. and perseverance,
and manifesting n cheerful devotion to the cause of
freedom and independence.
" There is also a certain etedieerity and equality
of fortune prevailing among them, extremely fa.
vonrable to a union of the popular sentiment in sop-
port of the common weal. Many industrious me-
chanics and enterprising merchants are, however,
Increasing their estates, and adding to the ?Nick of
capital in the country.
The People of the provineesf Buenos Ayres, re-
siding oat of the city, are, generally speaking, poor,
and rather indolent; though a hardy race, and when
excited to action, they become sealoos defenders of
the liberties of their country. They are capable of
great improvement, and, ender the influence of a
good example, when a change takes place in their
habits and manner of lilting, duty bid fair to become
useful and industrious citizens.

" The inhabitants of Cordova are said to be more
superstitious, and more industrious, but less patrio.
tic. This is principally attributed to the loss of
the trade with Peru, occasioned by the revelationary
war.
" Tucuman, .I was informed, possessed an excel-
lent population.
" The People of Mendou, or Cup, are moral,
industrious, and patriotic. They base sacrificed
largely at the shrine of independence, supporting
with zeal sod confidence the cause of their country,
whilst the citizens of Santa Fe are represented as ins.
moral and insubordinate, and manifestiugon most or.
casions, ao estreme jealousy of their neighbours.
66 The population of Entre Rios and Banda
Oriental is perhaps not 'inferior in valour to that of
Buenos Ayres. Nor is it deficient to military skill,
particularly in carrying on a partisan warfare, for
which its troops are admirably tdepted. Task other
good qualities have been probably somewhat impair-
ed by the system pursued in that quarter, where they
have been compelled to give up every thing Alt civil
avocations, and to continua without any regular
kind of Government, under the absolute commit
of a Chief, who, whatever may be its polka* prin.
ci pies or professions, in practice concentrates all
power—legislative, judicisl, and isecutive, in himself.
" The General Congress of the United Provinces,
assembled at Buenos Ayrear en the 3d of December,
of 1817, established,,,lat ji Provisional Statutes a
tempurary form of Goutoo'W, which will be found
in Appendix marked E.
" This Congress is comprised of Deputies from
the different provinces. It actually consists of .26
Members. But, as a Representative is allowed for
every 15,000 citizens, it would be numerous, if all
the provinces bad seat delegates in that ratio of po-
pulation.
66 With some exceptions, sod particularly of that
palladium of oar rights, which is unknown to the
Civil Law, the Trial by Jury, the Provisional Consti-
tution will be found, on an attentive perusal, to
contain a distinct recognition of many of the vital
principles of (lee Government. A church establith-
meet also, that of the Catholic faith, is contrary to
our ideas of religious freedom ; though a measure,
adopted from necessity, perhaps, by them.
66 It, declares, that all power, legislative, judicial,
and executive, resides in the nation. The Congress
are to be chosen by electors, who are are .to ba
voted for by the people in the Primary Assemblies.,
The cabildos, or municipalities, are to be elected los.
mediately by the citizens. It recognizes the inde-
pendence of the judiciary, and dedlares the tenure of
office, with respect to the superior Judges, Lobe dur-
ing good behaviour. It provides for the Election of
a Chief Magistrate by Coogrest, removeable when
they choOse to appoint a successor, and responsible
for the elocution of the duties of his office, which are
defined and limited. In the Oath of office, he is'
sworn to preserve the ibtegrity iseo iedepandence of ,
the smoky.
"The three great depa o tit, of tbelrea.
sury, and of War, art distinctly marked oat and
their respective powers and duties itasigued.
" On some subjects it enters sore into detail than is
usual with es,particularly in those ,1 their army, navy,
and militia. Bat this, perhaps, is their situation, was
necessary.
" It provides that no citizen 1.11, II accept a title of
oobilityesithoifforfeiting the *tractor of citizen.
ship. •
66 It provides, also, whist ,goneral warrants,
and tbs siruat of individuals,• lawless on probable
proof of guilt:
" It contains a salutary provision, that a Judge,
having original jurisdictien, before taking cognisance
of the cause, shall use all possible means of reconcil-
I jog the parties. 'I his.o Destitution is bet temporary.
The Congress are engaged' in the task of forming a
permanent one. In the mean time, no Wiliam**
tau be made in the present, unless with the consent
or two-thirds of the Members. In this maossit 1001010
alterations have been adopted. • .
The subject of a permanent Constitutiow wee
before's Committee of sixteen Members of Convemi.
There was a difference of ispleist, !NW*
them on the point of a cosdedert*. kedowelliktviall
Gorernateut. IT they should -edit** forserothej
• 1 4.7 •

will frame the Constitotiott, in all probability, near.
ly offer the mode of that of the United States. Should
they decide on the latter, it is highly probable they
will incorporate the leading features of our system
into their fens of Government. They seem to con-
cur In the preposition to have a Chief Magistrate
elected for "term of years, and a Representative Le-
&Weary, to consist of two branches. A Senate, to
constitute the most permanent body, and a House of
Representatives, whose term of service shall be of
shorter duration.
"Perhaps it would be better for them to delay the
completion of this all important task, after the example
of the United States, until a period of peace. Their
present Provisional Statute is an improvement nn those
which preceded it; and we may expect their pro-
posed Constitetioo will be still more perfect, as they
advance is the knowledge of those principles on which
Republican Governmeots are constituted.
" Bat, however free in theory this Provisional Sta-
tute may be, it is undoubtedly true, that unless ad-
ministered agreeably to its letter and spirit, it will
not afford security to the citizen. Whether any in-
fractions hate warred since the date of its existence,
I cannot pretend to determine, not being in full pos-
session of the facts.
46 When we recollect that they have the benefit of
our example, it mey reasonably be expected that
they will, in general, adhere to the Constitution.—
They have also the fatal result of the French Revo-
lution. waning them of the dangers of its excesses,
of which they appear to be sensible.
" The productions arid• the. iseeefacteres of the
different provinces, will be foiad its Appendix D.;
but I was unable to procure any satisfactory esti-
mates of the probable vales or amount in each pro-
vince; Then is, however, considerable internal
trade carried on in the interchange of various articles
between the several provinces; cattle, bones, and
mules, furnish a considerable source of barter ; with
the latter, Peru is sepplied ; the Paraguay tea is a
great article of trade throughout the country. The
brandy, wine, raisins, aed figs of Mendoza and Sao
Juan, are becoming important ; the hides of oxen,
the skins of the vaccine and granaco, with a number
of bee fors,. afford Moab). articles of exchange.—
These, with the foreign pods transported in every
direction from Buenos
.very rapidly, by oxen
and moles, which also/arnisb the means of carrying
their native productions to their sea-ports, form a
branch of trade of great magnitude, considering the
population of the country.
" Their exports are calculated with some degree
of accuracy, at ten millions of dollars. These con-
sist, principally, of oz-hides, jerk beef, and tallow,
the preieot great staples of the country. A variety
of furs end peltties, some grain, copper, mostly
brought 'from Chili, nith gold and silver in bullion
and cola, chiefly from the miees of Potosi.
4"fhe imports are computed to be about equal to
their exports. British manufactures form the prin-
cipal mass, and they are to be bad in abundance.—
They consist of woollen and collon goods of every
description, some of them wrought to imitate the
manufactures of the country—ironmongery, cutlery,
hardware, saddlery, hatr, porter, ale, and cheese,
are among 'the remaining articles.
46 From the United States they receive Walser of
all kinds, and furniture of every description ; coaches
and carriages of all sorts; cod-fish, mackeret,sheds,
and herring; leather, hoots and shoes ; powder end
monitioni of seer, end naval stores, ships, and ea-
sets, particularly those calculated for their navy or
for privateers.
" From Brazils they nicolv‘lnsfar, coffee, cotton;'
and rem.
" From the north of Earopethey receive steel and
iron and from France a nember of articles of its
manufacture.

Their foreign commerce is principally carried
on by British capitalists, though there are some Ame-
ricans, a few French and other foreign merchants,
also settled at Buenos Ayres; VW are all placad, I
believe, on the same foothit attplutalitt." •