Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-03
.4nswer orMe President Of Congress.

w ith the greatest satisfaction the general
congress nave received The homage that the
founder of the republic has offered tn the first
representative body of the nation. The gen
eral congress consider you as the father Of the
countryside terror Of despotism-snd the
protector of the liberty, and independence, and
justice of Colombia. At all times YOU will
obtain the applause of history, and the bcnc-
dictons OF pUsterity, and your name will ev-
er be pronounced in Colombia, with pride -
throughout the civilized world, with venera-
tloA the glory which you have earned, is not
that of other heroes who have most frequent
ly obtained that brilliant title, by the opisres-
sion of mankind, sprinkling the earth with
blood, and sowing the earth with desoIation
to elevate the throne of their greatness upc.l
the afllictions and degradation of man upon
the contamination or enslavement of nations !;
and upon the fears, MORNINGS, and miserIes
OF the people. people long trodden down.
but worthy to be free the unfortunate VIC
inns of their harbarous oppressors-deprived
Tor centuries of the bouhteous gifts allotted To
them by nature, receive at last from the han&
OF Bolivar, their liberties, and with it enter
upon their political career, and take their
rank among the other independent nations OF
the earth.
The inspiration of your soul spreads its in
iiuence over the republic, she lives, progress
es, and under your commanding spirit, APP
pears elevated and triumphant Superior to
all the warriors whom history has immortal
lied, you have reduced tyrants To the dust =
the oppressors of your country have disap-
peared and you have displayed to the whole
world, that people, directed by a wise
chief, uniting prudence with the virtues, eau
never be inundated To the capricious nsnence
of despotsm. Let Sparta glory in her Leon
das, Thebes her Epinlanondas, Athens her
PhOcion, an Aristes, and Themistocles,
Rome the superb, a Camillus, Il FaIius and
a Cincinnatus Colombia glories, with more
substantial Justice, in the possession of the
immortal BotUdr who, by his prudence, saga
city, anis couraSc-his Observation-Disclosures Of
which there Is, perhaps no parallel and who,
1t may be feared, will have few mitators :;
has eclipsed the glory and fame of all the he
roes who had preceded him. Colombia
proclaimed you her HJerut0r-and in rccciv-
ins the blessings of liberty, will ac!lnowlrge
herself indebted TO you for all those enjoy
ments. Colombia has broken the yoke, af-
ter you had broken the chains which were
composed ofthe triple links of isnominy, ty-
ranny, and iauaticsrn, and has already givea
TO itself constitution, which will ensure for
ever the liberty (which you conquered for.
her with such signal glory. The constitution,
this sacred CODE which fixes the rights and
the duties of the citiZens--which determines
the attributes of every branch of power in the
republic, will be al all times, the most secure.
guarantee of the blessings we are destined to
enjoy, by those whose good fortune it is to be-
long 10 our country
Congress has all unspeakable pleasure at
this particular moment, in placing in your
hands this sacred deposit, which sanctioned
by your name, will be rcSiousy observed
throughout she republic. The work will ba
| complete, ii, at the termination of the war, the
| republic shall he at your retirement securely
established Then it will be said of Bolivar,
with more Justice than OF the founder of the
superb Rome, Bolivar founded this great and
| extensive republic; Bolivar drew il forth from
| nothing-Bolivar sustained il with his arm
vivilied it with his spirt-and conquered its
liberty and independence, and as an inestima-
bic blessing confcrrcdm perpetual inheritance,
gave Il, together with peace,th more unalter.
able, of which this constitution is the sage.
The country requires from you this new sac
rliice. The republic with an irresistible voice
has called you To- the first magistracy of the
state, and you could not abandon the work oi
| your own hands, ut the moment in which it
was most in want of your guardianship and
! care No f! never can you he a dangerous
| citizen to IA country, which owes its liberty to
| you, and for which you have sacrificed youT
tranquility, your repose, your fortune, aud to
which you had consecrated your life. On the
contrary Bolivar will be always the most So
lid support of ColOmbians, the fortress Of the
national sovereignty, and the defender Of the
| rights of the people. Your example will ar
rest ambitious views, and your virtues VIZ
be held forth an example to your s,Icccssnrs
in the magistracy, the duties which they will
have to fulfil, and will he restraint ON the
| mpetuosity of the passions of human nature.
| no citizen will in future approach the seat
! OF the supreme magislracy, hut penetrated
| with holy awe and respect, and will say
! To himself in the profOundness of his heart,
! Bolivar was the first who occupied this chair
No one WAS more DISTINGUISHED than ht
vas, more vrtuous, nor more devoted &c
liberty he not only put down Tyranny, bu
on IFS ruins he confirmed to- all Colombia the
| empire of justice, and law hc was great n
mOng the heroes, and eminent among nlagis
trates.
You must accept that command which
your magnanimty and generosity had drsir
ed To reIlnquish TO the sovereignty of the IA
ion you must pursue your enterprise, con
sunmaie the great rk,and if possible di!ius
still greater blessings over the surface OF Co
lombia.
a general acclamation succeeded the pro
found silence, which had prevailed till Tx
close Of the presidents speech emotions an,
feelings repressed with delightful pain, bat Wis
= ible on the countenances of MI who were pre-
seut-and repeated bursts orjoy and congrai
ulation, marked this sublime occasion.
!, Presentation OF the Constitution, to the Pre-
sident, By committee ofthe general cos
II gress.
n SrR-You have here the sacred code tli
n expression of thc general will the tcstint