The Arkansas advocate., 1831-05-11
MISCELLAN
From the Washington Globe.

1oloHnfa, Has transmitted to us some accounts of that country, and of interest ing incidents belonging to the history of its struggles for liberty. The simple truth contained in the following narra- tive of the fate of lovely Columbian Iady, who suffered under the sentence of military court. presents themefor tragedy, that requires no aid from fic- ton to make it most deeply interesting.
 "Policarpa Salavarietta was young, and amiable and beautiful. She was betrothed to q young officer in the Patr- ot army, and nothing but the turbulence and distraction of the times prevented their union. In lSl6, her lover was made q prisonerby Morilo, the Spanish commander, with many other officers. Morillo, dead 10 every sentiment of hu- manity, and to every principle of chi valry, exercised his talents for invention. by devising cruel and unheard of pun ishments, for the purpose of ehastising those attached to the Patriot cause. To punish the officers, he forced them,s as common soldiers, into the ranks of the Spanish army. This was the fate of .,elliiccaspe's lover. IL would haze been but natural, thatin the contemplation of the fnislo,ttiiies of her country, and of him to whom she was tenderly attached, she would have been overwhelmed with sorrow, and incapable of indnlging any other passion but that of grief But in. stead bending to the storm, she thought only of venaeanee--making an effort to deliver her lover from bondage, and to promote the holy cause ofliberty. With this view shc obtained from Patriot Colonel (who to save himself, had affect ed to renounee his principles, and had entered the Spanish service) state ment of the force in Bogota, and of the military dispositions of the commander. Having obtained this, she planned the escape of her lover, and five or six of his comrades-she succeeded. and they attempted to make their way 10 the Patriots who were under arms in the plains, carrying with them the document furnished by the Colonel. They were pursued and oyertaken, and the paper found in their possession. itwas traced to Policarpa, and she denied nothing but the means by which she had procured it. Suspicion, however, fell upon the Colo nel and he was arrested and imprisoned. Having nothing to rely upon for his safety but the courage and fidelity of a young and inexperienced female, he gave himself up for lost. He did not know the determined spirit and uncom- promising integrity of his fair accom- plice. She might have sacrificed him. and thus have saved her own life, and pernaPs that of her lover. Love and life and ali their Embellishments were be- fore her. But what was their price?- The destruction of him she had instiga- ted to commit an offence, that. accord ing to the military usages, admitted of no paliation, and which the sanguinarv Spaniard, who commanded. assuredly would not pardon. In this awful con- juncturc, the tirmness of a hero might have been tried-bnt Policarpa waver- ed not-she resigned herseIfto her fate and thought only of saving the Colonel. To effect this, she sent him, ingeniously concealed in q basket of fruit, the fol. lowing lines:--" Say always that you have never known me, and you will be safe" He followed her advice, and as nothing glconld he proved against him on his trial, he was acquitted.
 Policarpa,'her lover, and his comrades, after a very summary process, were condemned to be shot in the public square, as traitors. She heard her sen tenee unmoved. The day. and the hour of execution arrived--she was summoned to prepare for death-the summons found her not unprepared. and s-rEle at once obeyed it. On the way to the square, her steps we're firm, her counteuance severe and composed and whilst all around her was agony and despair, she alone was tranquil and un- pcfsurbsd. She contemplatedfhe blood stained banquiila, {the bench on which criminals were seated to be shot,) and the murderous array of soldiers before her, without emotion. She proceeded (says the historian) "to the place of ex- ecntion with a firm step, upbraiding the Spaniards with their barbarous cruel ties, and exhorting her companions to meet death with the iortitude of free