Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-09-02
FOREIGN.
COLOMBIA.

years been resident in South America The
view which he gives OF the present state OF Colon
bia is the more acceptable rs we have had m, few
pens employed in sketching country which il now !
OF great political and commercial Importance and
which bids fair to hold high if not the first rank
among the South American Republics. To can
ialists, men Of enterprise and emigran,s the facts
which u so clearly cluciiaes must be particularly
acceptable. We have full confidence 10 the cor |
rec,ness of the writer
LAGUAYRA, 23d July, 1925.
This Is not the country, whatever it may be- |
coma IN time, either for printers or editors. With
out readers, what field is open for writers, And
be assured, that j, may require half century to die
sernate knowledge, and excite liberal curiosity,
generally, among the people. Suppose the sun 10
shine on nation of blind men, how frutless were
the fountain of light without an eye to observe
and profit by it! Nevertheless, am still sanauine
IN the belief OF Colombian grandeur, in all respects
but am bound 10 behold and describe actual
things just as they are, else might mislcad YOU
and others into wild and ruinous adventures.
Never since the commencement. of the revolu-
Non, nave It's friends and advocates been able TO
support the pe.tiest gazette, (ecen IL, CGraccas)
with s'eadiness All prematurely dwindlci and
vanished. n few persons would set up press
on accession, and contribute quotas 10 dcfray ex
penses: pairy or valuable paper would liut,er
a few weeks or months, but finding no root for
want OF community OF readers, was certain 20
perish The only gazette which survived in Ca
raccas, ia spite OF Indifference, is the &c Colour
b'ano, weekly print, established and maintained
oY Londo'. hercdntite house. In all Colom-
Ola, says an acquaintance OF mine. there are moi
1000 persons who peruse gazettes of any kind
Yet these people, wherever they have a chance of
learning, have very clear heads and quick percep
lions. Their descendants Will form great re
public.
9 How then, you would ask did Colombia per-
sist triumphantly IN carrying through her revolu-
'ionary contest! This struggle was produced by a
great impulse, when there were few eminent mon
capable OF rallying their countryInen and of form
mg wise institutions, most or those, however died
curing The war, and nov their country is extreme
- embarrassed Tor want OF practical talents Man
vel Torres, could he rise from the tomb with his
naaheial knowledSe, would he more valuable 10
colombia, than all her Congress, her secretaries
anu wee President. Bolivar, ingenious, generous,
ana disinteresled genuine patriot; lacks entire
~ al yHfResS for business, which he detcsts Ii
mas been common saying of his, that n man
would only lose IN cirH office the reputation he
gains by any other career!'' This aversion which
Is unfortunate 70. lis country, is the true secret of
his keeping aloof in Peru He is more wanted
here than there; and always was. Barbarty itself
may sometimes be, (though rarely, grant) sub
siitu;e Tor patriotism. The inhabitants of Cundi
numarca, and Quito represented as endowed,
with humane, hospable, tractable dispo,ilions: in
81 the maritime sections of Venezuela, Sc the
people, ii people one style them, are exactly
Inc reverse Light, yes nine-tenths, like mere sa-
wages, bitterly hate all foreigners whatever. With
tins barbarous feeling ever in their hearts and
beastiy reproaches forever in their mouths the
Sambos, blacks and mulattos, (aided by handuls of
British and Irish troops) have been the bulwark of
~oionoia See how the worthless may be inslrri-
napis OF achieving national benefits for posterity
Tame whites elsewhere submitted to Spain, while
rancorous savages resisted her. They, with most
OF their leaders, II must be confessed, only con-
tended TO place themselves in the stead OF SPAIN
and TO domineer like her: for they had not learned
justice, and knew not the meaning of republicanism
Of course
&c Thus the revolution in the field rolled awav:
,has " leaves The grander revolution in morals and
knowledge TO begin. Doubtless great Moderation
VIII slowly succeed; for industry i'll create opuepce
--opuience beget education and refinement But
as yet, foreigners not safer here than in Hay-
H. In litigation OF any kind if il ever be necessary,
nothing out secret bride can purchase any share of
justice lRemember, exclude the upper class,
with the High Court Of Caracas from this cIassit-
caon Ii is owing to this hostility, that for eisners
are discouraged from cuivating estates for these
naive Peoaes will not work any toerable terms
and are sure to plage them at all events Foreigners
then, must direct their footsteps to other sections OF
Colombia. Merchants indeed in few instances |
succeed; as 10 shoemakers and sometimes cabinet |
prosper better in any other quarter. The appre- |
tensions OF the priests, relative the decension of
their putriie mummery, from a large accession of |
emisrants, make them prompt the rabble 10 ceascss
enmiiy against all visters. Men of capital and
hardly any other, can overcome the obstacles in |
'her way They alone can smooth the path by a |
golden or silver roller-so to speak From The |
nature OF products, and train Of commerce. il re-
q1ires ducais, Shylock says, to make ducats |
breed" For the moneyIess and friendless there is |
no spot on the globe more dreary; because the few
ness OF Industrious branches in use, nsures a pro-
portionate paucity Of resource. Not road for
carriage In all this country, not a canal when
these extend, many an article of American work
rnanship, In wood and ron &c. will find their ,vay
to the interior. Now, the country is glut,eJ with
imports and nearly bankrupt
My general opinion of Colombia is altered only
oy the Perverse exception offered by the nhospi,a
bic class in Venezuela, SIC. Yet these. in spi,e oG
themselves, and without much political weight. |
have obtained advantages for others On earth there
IS not more dignhed, polite, intelligent set OF
men that the better class in Colombia. Experience
is all they want to emulate the most illustrous
models.
" II IS probable, | think very probable that We
nezuea will insist federal frame of covers,
ment instead OF the present. This belief, or some
pass conspracies, crushed in the shell, may have
induced Congress TO adopt severe law AT Iss, &C.
sions, against sedon revolt, Sc
" You already know The varied resources of this
territory, mineral, ANIMAL and vegetable. Iflabor
were natural 70 man. Colombia would flourish ill ;,
one Of the palm trees: but this habit which peces
sity sooner forms in cold than in suIry climates is
still wanting to perfect the development of her
capabilities. Nothing will hasten it more than The
incentive Of gain Avarice itself is sworn foe to
incidence.
Immigrants may thrive in New Grenada. in
Mexico, IN Cuba, La Plata, Paraguay, or Chile