Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-07-04
Vol, JlI.-No. DC.
From Tie Philadelphia AURORA.
THE COLOMBIAN REPUBLIC.

The recent occurrences in Colombia have produced
variety OF opinions conJectures, fears and forebod
| ings some who had despared, af6C,cd to despair
others who wished, from rlalevoencc that the re-
volution should proceed have after changing their
hostility INTO admiration, evinCed banker after their
hrst notions Men must have proted but little by the
example of the North American revolution who can
persuade themselves that people who had been rau
ed up under the deputzed and multiplied and aggra-
waited desposm of Spain, should accomplish their rcyo
luton, and sit down with every purpose accornpshcd
as II lighting and sacrifices for fifteen years had some
kind of necessary effect supeseding or not recurring
experience.
With all the advantages of legislative discipline and
the practical terms of the judicial institutions: with tho
ideas of Locke, and the spirit of Athens mUiOed ia in
fancy and pracsed with The familiarity of donestica-
ton; the revolution of North America was not settled
down in day, did the expulsion of the oppressor
produce that immediate consummatiun of political
organization and order, which expected TO be found
now in countries where the institutions which wetn
from necessity preserved incompatible with
the principles and political order determined be cs-
tablIshed.
1t can be Justification of disorder, or departure
from the laws, that the United States had along with
the form and features of their free constitutions given
Precedents Of oPpWgHatioa also The youth gro,ye up
IN tle United States not well informed of the his
tory of tue last fifty years, tina, ofEUgand France
and OF South America, generally the knowledge nei-
ther extensive nor very particular. But the transact
tons of Shay and the Hartford convention and two mn,
lIca wars of Pennsy lvana; the project of Burr; and
though last not least, the gnobe and ayaricous trans
actions IN Georgia recently, every one Of them
events more serious aud mcnacing than the transactions
in Colombia.
Ithas been said of the oriental style Of writing that
IL had ITS source IN want of due regard To the mean,
ing OF words, and that the understanding was lost in te
machinery of metaphors, by which the accuracy of e
'act reasoning was destroy ed. This orieDtam was ex
tended with the language and institutions 60 the old
spanish possessions OF the world. Hence due al
towsnce must be made for every occurrence whether
of great or small Ine:;ti5 5;d it requires some in
terconrsc to DC able 10 by an accurate Seie
what Is always related scale that IS h,,,.r1o,taI
The accounts of the events which have aDpearcd in
the papers that we have seen, require even after
faithful translation, 20 be again iaerDrcLeL The in
cdent, out Of which the turbulence referred TO has ar
en- was, IN relation 10 the fact very trivial one; but
there were several causes, which, though alone ,hc
must have wasted themselves in discussion could nor
have produced any commoton alone; and as it NAV he
as well TO speak Of these frs shall notice the re.
suit last.
There can be no doubt that there prevails in several
OF the old provinces, which compose the republic:
OF Colombia, very strong desire, and sustained by
men OF The most Yirtuous reputation and public service
es TO have fcderaL Republic OF Jited States rather
thar ce"t'ut government, under twelve intendans,
not elected by the people, but appointed by the execu
i've, with all the consequent power patronage and in
uence.
There be doubt of the predominancv of This BE-
SIRE among virtuous men, can there be apv doubt
that the great who has led the destinies of Colon
bia Is fully aware ot the fact and Of the desire 10 sna
such system established But he is also aware that
TO tie federal form with very different views: he
has on this subject observed, tlia he United States
preserve their power and quiet by having each stale
centre OF us own, around which, the bad as III as
the good passions rally. Those who are covetous of
power there find channel pursue; whereas if tho
evil passions which develop themselves around tho
twenty four states, scveraliy were TO be Concentrated
ON central governments the effects would be very diff
teren that Colombia showed by the first constitution
established III the commencement of the revoluiien thar
those who composed II did not comprehend themselves
Z 10 on flspVf l,s,rr RI
Ter some general laws shall have been established to
which the Coombians may look as models that a ede
ray constitution can be expected 10 be suitable and SAL
uary.
1t is only intnuded here TO convey the IDEAS or t,
facts as related by friend Of the libcrator who stated
them.
The vast space which the Republic Occupies; tl,e on
tire want Of roads, and where the passages are NOT r.,
be surrnounted without great danger and unavtid,bj,
fatigue and priyaon interfere soruch with social oood
andInteTcOuse that members elected to CONGRESS whom
advanced IN years, lave declined proceed TO Tie
seat OF government, from apprehension of dancer and
iaigue heir communication rs letter is aJly COM
pared With states ADVANCED and these crcnrns,a
ces lead 20 desire local government but ALWAYS hole
ing IN view central government also ike the United
States.
The revolution and tie state of society arising ont If
The absence OF all the elegant and most Of the ,sefI
arts and tie change which has taken place in leveIIjn
, ak stations TO which natives were ineligible under
Spanish rule create vast number of men who look
to public cmpOyments. Then the nctC men those who
rose from obscuriy TO distinction by merit or by niIts
~ service; whose occupation, like dat of the soldiers
CT our own revolution, gone; who in the corro
raions learn enough Of politics 10 covet new power and
more profit forms great body of Office hunters in es,
stgtes, who with elective governor and tyo ,e
tive houses Of legislation and all the train Of state Off
GERS, forms vast mass inynciby solcous for federal
government by states
Then .he je; s,uses Of provinces which subsi,fcf nm
der tue revolution and died with its vicsiiudcs have
bad partial resurrection on The subject ofappopfments
he crrfar ,fC 81,
crotary OF War SoDblettc, and the Secretary of tbe
Navy General Clement are natives of Caracas
While the Secretary of the Interior BuuepoI is Of An
ogua, and of Finance CasllIol from CariharcDa. t
EeneznIans do not consider these officers bot scio
Ton Of The most mcritorious individuals: but i'm Cuud
n7narca, there arc persons who think themselves as veil
qualified any Caraccanian.
some OF the generals are suddenly placed in obscnr
y oy INC cessation o! war, and they who would find
emnencc IN one or other Of twelve states do not find
stations to put them IN Twelve departments The de-
SIRE Of place IS, IN fact If possible greater thar; IN t,o
oINeu 2t"tes' Tor reasons already referred 60.
IN each lDtCndaUCv or dppartp,O,t t,,-c