Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-11-10
SELECTIONS.
From the Philadelphia Gazette, Nov. ~
ADDRESS OF GEN. BOLIVAR.

nylng the plan OF Constitution for the Gov
eminent of that State.
LeSislotors!AIn offering you the project of a
constitution for Bolivia / feel myself overwhelm-
ed with confusion and timidity, because am per
suaded OF my incapacty to make laws. when /
consider that the wisdom of all ages, is not suffi-
cient to compose fundamental law that may be
perfect, and that the most enlightened Lawgiver
Is the imm ediate of human infelicity. and
sports, IT we may say so, with his divine ministry,
what shall say of the soldier who, born among
slaves, and buried IN the deserts of his country,
has seen nothing but csptives in chains, and com
panions in arms to break those chains! | A Lee
| GisLAroR! Your delusion and my consenting
dispute Tor the preference: and know not which
will suffer most in the horrible confiict-you.
from the evils which you ought to fear from the
laws you have asked of me, or l. from the dis =
grace 10 which you have condemned me by YOUR
confidence
nave collected all my powers TO express nv
opinions on the mode of managing freemen by the
principles adopted among civilized people, although
the lessons OF experience shew US only long Pc
rous OF disasters, interrupted by flashes of good
fortune. What guide shall we follow in the shade
OF so many gloomy examples,
! Legislators! Your duty calls you 10 resist the
shock OF two monstrons enemies which fight re-
ciprocaliy, and both attack at the same time,
Tyranny and anarchy form an immense ocean
OF oppression, which surround the lille isle of Ii
berry, beaten perpeually by The Minds and the
waves, which drag 1t along without ceasing, to
snS II. Look at the sea which you are going TO
plough in irail bark, whose pilot is so unexperi-
enced.
The project of the Constitution for Bolivia j.
divided into four political powers, having a,hled
one more, without thereby compcating the cIas-
sic division OF any OF the Others The Elsc-
tordI has received powers which are not distin
guished in other Governments which account them
selves among the most liberal These attributes
make II app oxmate 10 the federal system II has
| appeared to me not only convenient and useful,
out also easy, 10 grant 10 the Imme late rep7esen-
tatives OF the people those privileges which are
most desired by the citizens OF each Department.
Province and Canton. No object is more impor-
tant TO cItizen than the election of his Lawgiv-
ers, Magistrates, Judges and Pastors The electo.
raj College OF each province, represents its inte-
res;s and ITS necessities; and serves 10 complain
OF iniractions OF the laws, and abuses of the ma
| sistrates. / will venture to say with some posi
iyehess, that this representation pariakes of the
rights which particular governments enjoy In the
federal states In this way, new weight is placed
IN the balance against the Executives and the Co.
Vernment has scQu red more guarantees, moru po-
pularity, and titles for il TO excel among the
most democratic
Every ten ciIizens name eiector: and TIM, a
nation hnds ITSELF rel resented by the one-tentb
part of its citizens. Nothing is required Of tle,m
but capacity, and ii is not necessary TO possess
properly TO represent the august functions of III
sovereign: but he ought to know how to writ
his votes, sign his name and read the laws ~
mus profess science, or some art which ensuras
him an honest livelihood No other exclusions
are made than those of vice, idleness. and .b
soluie ignorance. Wisdom and honour nor nc
ney, is that which the exercise of publi,. rove.
requires.
The Legislative Body has a composition which
must make 1t necessarily harmonious in IFS mart
It VIII never hnd Itself divided for want of an ar
bitraiing JadSe, happens when there are no mora
than two chambers. Having these here, discord
between two will he settled by the third. and a,cb
question will be examined by two contending mar
ties, and an impartial body which decides in this
manner no useful law will remain without effer,
or at least It Will be examined, once twice three
times, before 1t is negatived. la all affairs be,ve.
two parties, third is named to decide; and yould
II not be absurd, that in the most important in O.
rests oil society, should disdain provision die,
| tated by imperious necessity? Thus the chambers
preserve among themselves, those considera,ions
which are indispensable for maintaining the nniou
OF the whole, which ought 10 deliberate in the al
fence oil The Passions, and with the caltoness re-
wisdom. Modern Congresses, Git will be said 10
rne,) are composed of two sect ons ONLY 7, ;e
because in England which has served for a mol,
! the nobility and the commons are Represented in
TWO Chambers; and II the same thing is observ ed
IN North America without nobility, il NAV be
supposed that their having been under The English
Government, has inspired this imitation The fac,
IS, that two bodies celebrating mus, combat srne
tuslly. Pe
The first chamber is that OF the Tribpnes sod
it enjoys the attribute of commencing the la,ys,.
lstIVe 10 the Treasury, Peace and War. This bod,
has the Immediate inspection Of those branches
when the Executive administers without the direct
intervention of the Legislature.
The Senators form the Ecclesiastical Cole. and
Regulations: and watch over the Tribunals and
Public Worship. 1t belongs TO the Senate IN
choose the Projects, the District Judges. Govern.
ors, Conegdors, and all the subalterns of the de.
/ partment OF Justice. II proposes TO the chamber
of Censors, the members Of the Supreme Tribunal.
the Archbishops, Bishops, Digntsres and Csnnons.
Whatever apPeriains to the laws or to religion.
i falls within the province Of the Senate
The Censor7 exercise political and moral noyv-
er which has some resemblance 10 that of the 4 .
reopsgus of Athens, and the Censors of Rome. II
belongs to them to institute proceedings against
| the Government, 10 watch If the constitution and
public treaties are reIigiously observed The M
/ tiOnai JudicdtuTe, which is 10 decide on the good
or bad administration OF the executive, is placed
under It's segis.
1t is the Censors that protect morals, the scien-
ces, the arts, Instruction, and the press The most
terrible it is the most august function belono D.
the Censors. They consign the usurpers OF the
sovereign authority, and iuslrious criminals. 70
( eternal nfamy They graft public honors 10 the
services and the virtues Of illusifious citizens
The sgnet Of glory is entrusted to their hands; for
that reason, the Censors ought to have an immacu.
late reputation, and life without spot. # thew
are guilty Of any delinquency, they are to be &C
cgsed; even for the smallest faults. To those
/ of bo l.. I -. 4.