Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-10-11

OF Columbian America:
Brave Counfrymrn and Friends,
OBEDiENr to your wishes, and to
the repeated requests and calls of the coun-
try, 10 whose service we have cheer
fully consecra,ed the greater part of our
lives, we have disembarked in this pro-
vince of Caracas. The opportunity and
time appear to US highly favorable for the
completion OF our designs and all per.
sons composing this army are your friends
or countrymen all resolved to sacrifice
their lives, il necessary, for your Liberty
and Independence, under the auspices and
fircfection Of the British Nary With
those auxiliaries, we can safely say, that
the day will come when OUR AMERICA,
recovering her Sovereign independence,
her sous will be able freely To shew to the
universe their exalted spirit. The op.
pre<siye, un!eelihg government, which has
cbscured our fner qualities, and biaclSen-
ed with calumnes our Difference and cha
racter, managed also 10 maintain her abn.
m;nabe system Of administrator FOR three
successive centuries, but WAS never able
20 eradicate from our hearts those moral
= and civil virtues which holy religion, and
& regular code of laws, Incorporated. with
OUr customs, and led 10 an honest and ma
tutal course of action.
lie, us be worthy then Of those admirable
qualities, that the mean, od,ous agents
OF the Court Of Madrid being expelled,
We may be abb quietly 10 establish the
civil order necessary to the completion
OF so honorable an undertaking-The re-.
covery Of our rights as Citizens, and of
our rational glory as Columbian Anne
ricans, will be- amongst the least bene-
fIs we shall derive from that so jus, and
necessary determination.
The innocent Indians and other men
will consider us all as Brother Citizens,
and that precedeuoy belongs only TO me
rit and virtue. in which belief they will
primarily obtain, most certainly military
and civil recompences, the reward Of me.
ri, alone,
If the Dutch and Portuguese were able
in tormer tunes to throw off the yoke of
Spanish oppression f; if the Swiss and A..
merIcans, our neighbors, have equally
succeeded 10 establish their liberty and
independence with the general applause
of the world, and 10 the benefit of their in.
scarcely contained or 10000 of peo-
pie; Why then shall we, who are at the
least 100000, not be able easily to extri
Cate ourselves! Possessing besides, over
and above these considerations, the most
fertile inexhaus;ible, and rich Continent
in the known world ! The lact is that il
depends solely upon our own willard
that the will, progressing 10 our ,nde-
pendenoe, Union will assure To us per-
mapent and perpetual happiness: the
Divine Providence ordains IL, To- alleviate
The miseries of our unhapy conn,rymen,
and for the protection and benefit of the
human species
Those peopie, who are timorous or less
instructed, and who wish to inform them
selves OF The groundwork, of the Justice
ard equity winch those proceedings re-
oure Joined To the historical truths that
prove ihe inconceivabie ingraiitude, TN.
hea,d OF crueities, and a,rocious persec GU
items OF the Spanish government, towards
tie innocent and unhappy inhabitants OF
the New World, almost from the mo.
msn, of its discovery, will resd the sub,
joined address Of Don Juan Piscardo, of
ihe Order of Jesus, directed to his c0un-
trymen, and they will find 10 it irreffaga-
bic proofs and solid Arguments in favor
OF our cause dictated by a holy man, at
a time when he was about taking his leave
OF Ibis world, 10 appear before the Crea'
tor otihe Universe.
To carry this plan into its due effect
With security and efficacy, the citizens will
be Obliged, without distinction of Classes
or station, (ecciesiastics only excepted in
the parts where they may be appointedD
TO conform themselves strictly to The iol-
loving articles:
|. Every person, military, Judicial, eli.
vii, or ecclesiasiic, who exercises any au.
thpri,y granted by the court of Madrid,
shall suspend ihso faefo their funGtions--
and those who may continue them after
thc present publication, as well as those
who obey such persons, shall be severely
punished
III. The Ecclesiastic Courts and Courts
Of Justice, In all the cities towns and pla-
ces, shall exercise, ad interim, all the
functions ofgover6uient, civil, administra.
tive, and judicial, with personal responsi.
bilily, and regulated by the laws of the
country and the curates of parishes and
missionaries shall fefnan in their respec-
tive churches and parishes. without alter