Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-10-22

y
way they could best sdministef their
own concerns, without being Deepen.
dant on, or embroiled in the quarrels Of
their neighbors. Unattended by poll
! teal commotion or anarchy, junta Of
! the principalinhabitant was assembled
to deliberate on the best plan to form
and carry OH local government, when
upwards of one thousand deputies unan
imously declared in favor of total in
dependence, and, as it were, political
seclusioh, and in that state they have
remained ever since. They further
/ determined thatthe government should
be confded in the person who, from his
virtues and knowledge, was most de.
serving public confidence; but. in or
der to avoid the conflict Of two parties,
headed by two individuals equally enti-
! tied to this distinction, they determined
to elect Dr.. Francia, and Nj. Yedros.
joint governors. These two persons adj
mnistered the affairs of Paraguay joint.
ly, each having separate district. and
commanding an equal force; but in the
course Of time, the growing ascendan.
cy of Dr.. Francia deprived his rival
of his party, and through the sanction
Of another meeting of the inhabitants,
he was made supreme dictator, the title
he now bears, and poor Yedros became
his prisoner, and had the limits of the
city given to him. as the boundary Of
bis rarsonal fraednm
From the peculiar traits of character
DR.. Francia has since evinced, il can
hardly be supposed that this wish to ex-
ercise the supreme command, originated
in interested or ambitious views. Had
he been DISTRACTED by the interference
Of another, possibly lie could never
have 80 successfully guarded shis coun-
try from civil connections, and raised
it to the state of prosperity and happi-
ness it now enjoys beyond any other
portion of South America.
DR.. Francia is native Of Paraguay,
and was bred lawyer. Not fond of
society, and rich enough to live with
ease and independence previous to the
Revolution, he remained retired In the
country, principally devoted to study.
fits pursuits gave him a reputation for
learning beyond any of his countrymen,
and his yirtuous and moral conduct, ad-
ded to his known disinterestedness,
subsequently secured their confidence.
Gradually, DIR Francia has consolida-
ted his power, and becomea sovereign
over his country; but without having
any of the appendages OF mourning the
expenses Of ruler. Equity, justice
and policy are his guides, and his ad-
ministration ia founded on no written
code of laws. The trade of the coun>
try affords him sufficient revenue, and
this is expended with the greatest fru-
gality. The Postmaster and Collector
Of the Customs are the only pubic
functionaries he employs; should they
be wanting in their duty, he dismisses
them and appoints others. He sees to
every thing himself; purchases the clo-
thing and arms for his militia, settles
disputes, grants passports,-in short,
fills every department in the state. He
has no favorites, and his impartial de-
meanour stands unimpeached in the o.
pinion of his fellow countrymen, after
governing them for number of years.
The militia of Paraguay is astonishing.
ly we'll organized.-One halfis on du-
ty during six months in the year, and
for a similar period is succeeded by the
other half Thus he has always at
least 5000 men at his disposal, and he
commands them in person, Since he
came into power he hasfrefused all po-
litical intercourse with the neighboring
provinces, rejected the overtures
made, and dismissed the emissaries sent
TO him. He has repealed the attacks of
Buenos Ayres, routed Der armies, and
defended his territory from the hostili-
ties of savage Indians.
1t has been the object Of DR.. Fran.
cia to keep Paraguay clear from those
feuds and broils, which have unfortu-
nately so often desolated Buenos Ayres
and the other provinces, and by his a.
bility and management ne has prevent
ed anarchy and rendered his country
prosperous. Emigrants have flocked
there from Corrientes, Tucuman, Bue-
nos Ayres, &c. and particularly from
the eastern bank. The population of
Paraguay, under the last Spanish Go
vernon, that ia, about the year 1905,
was only from $50, 600 to 100000 souls;
now it exceedq 100000 1t cannot be
attacked unless it is by ascending the