Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-25
No..
Don Jose Maria Salazar to the Secretary Of State
Translation.
LEGATION OF COLOMBIA,


have the honor to inform you that have re-
ceived the note of the goth current, in which
you are pleased to communicate to me the hope
Of favorable result to the good Offices OF His
Majesty the Emperor of Russia with the great
Powers Of Europe, and with Spain, to put an
end to the war of America. The Government
of Colombia, being informed by me OF the IN
structions given to the American Minister at
St. Petersburgh, which you had the goodness
to read to me last spring, has seen, with the
greatest satisfaction, this measure freal TREND
ship. and love ofhumanity, Of the Government
: of the United States; and charged me to declare
its gratitude, as well as its anxiety for the con-
tinuance Of those good Offices with the otner
Powers Of the Continent Of Europe,
AS to the views of the President OF the onited
States for suspending the invasion OF the lslanas
of Cuba and Porto Rico, until the result Is 90
tanned of the mediation OF the great Powers win
Spain, shall have the honor OF transmitting
them to my Government, by the trst oppor'u'
nifty. Being able, in the mean time, TO assure
YOU, that neither, by official communications,
nor by my private letters from Colombia, have
any knowledge relative to the expedition
which is preparing at Carthagena, am, eonse'
ouently, inclined to believe that what is said up
on that matter, is founded on vague conjecture,
or, perhaps, on the convenience and opportuni-
ty of invasion. ought, likewise, to add, in
confirmation Of my private opinion, that as
have been informed, there are, at Carthagena,
only the troops necessary to garrison the place,
such as is requisite in these times, when new
expeditions have sailed from the ports OF the
Peninsula, and are announced against America,
and when the Spanish army in the Islands OF
Cuba and Porto Rico has been augmented
When the great facility is considered, OF acting
against the territory of Colombia or Mexico by
the advantageous situation Of said Islands, their
great resources, and what is more important,
the superiority Of the Marine which has assem-
bled there, it will not be denied that Colombia
has sufficient causes of alarm. 1t is true in sup
port Of said conjectures on the approaching IN
vasion Of Cuba and Porto Rico, the necessity
presents itself, under which the Government OF
Colombia is, of Withdrawing the auxiliary forces
from Peru, by the way Of Panama and Cartha
gena; which is the most convenient, ready, and
economical way to place them on the Atlantic,
IN an attitude of giving immediate succour to
any point of our territory, or OF that OF our al
lies, which may be invaded; but it is clear that
this military operation is rather the necessary
effect of the geographical situation OF Colombia
and Peru, than a medi,ated plan of an expedi-
ton without the continent.
To these reason, which, in my private opini-
on, and for want Of official communications from
my government upon the subject, sufficiently
explain the movements of troops which are 60
ing on in Colombia, permit me to repeat to you
what said upon another occasion, that this mi
litary attitude, extremely grievous to our peo-
pie, is necessary consequence Of the obstinacy
Of the Spanish Government, in prolonging
useless war, and in declining every idea Of treat
ing with Independent America, no less than the
lamentably equivocal policy of the great Cont
mental Powers, which, Notwithstanding they see
our independence i-revocably established by
force of arms, and upon the solid basis Of gene
raj opinion, and of just and moderate Govern
ments, refuse the formal recognition ofthe new
Republics, pretending to misunderstood what
their own interest, Justice, reason, and humanl-
ty, demand. In this situation of Justly inspired
doubt and inquietude, when the obstinacy oil
Spain, and the indifference Of the rest Of Europe,
have convinced us even that we are engaged In
a question Of fact, when the nations Of America
have displayed all the vigor of youth, and know
the value Of their forces and combined resour-
ces, and when our armies have gloriously ter
minated the campaign which has forever Sc
cured the liberty Of the South, twill not appear
to many, reasonable to renounce all these favor
able circumstances to terminate at once the
evils of war, and dictate conditions OF peace,
with the manifest advantage of the American
system, in the absolute expulsion OF one Euro
pean nation from the important Islands OF Gu
ba and Porto Rico, which, in the precarious
and miserable situation Of Spain, are not with.
GU, the possibility Of falling into the power OF
some Of the great Powers of Europe.
1t will appear even less reasonable that Co
lombia and her allies should have to continue
in state of inaction, enduring the heavy ex-
penses, and grievous Inconvenience which &C
company the maintenance Of the army and the
marine upon a war footing, not being able to re-
ly upon guarantee of suspension from arma'
ments and attacks on the part of Spain, which,
in spite of its nullty, does not cease in its ef-
forts to augment the army of America, so tar
as to induce US to suspect that foreign hand
affords these aids, which are by no means in
harmony with the scantiness the resources OF
the Peninsula.
lean likewise assure you that my Govern
ment has always regarded, with all due circum-
spection, the consequences which might result
from an ill-directed expedition against Cuba
and Porto Rico: and Notwithstanding the ur-
gent necessity which it has had, to attack the
head quarters, (ifI may so speak, Of our enc
L IL, III fn0n