State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-04-12
LETTER,
addressed by WyM H. HARRISON, to
SIMON BOLIV.AR, President and
LiJeratOy Of Colombia, ,Ohen he acaS about
10 assume deSpotic po,Cer.

SIR,-lf there is any thing in the STYLE
the matter, or TIE object ofthiS letter, which
is calculated to give offence to your Excel
lency, lam persuadcdy ouwi readily l2rgive
it, when you reflect on the motives which
induced me TO write it. An old soldier could
possess no feelings but those Of the kindest
character towards one who has shed so much
luStre on the profession OF arms nor can a
citizen Of the country of Washington cease
10 wish that, in Bolivar, the world might
behold another instance of the highest mill
ltary atainments, united with the purest
PATRIOTISM and the greatest capacy for
civil government.
Such, sir, have been the fond hopes, not
only Of the people of the u. States, but of
the friends Of liberty throughout the world.
will not say that your Exceency has for
med projects to defeat these hopes But,
there is no doubt, that they have not only
been formed, but are, al this moment in
progress to maturity, and openly avowed by
those who possess Your entire confidence.
will not attribute to these men impure mo-
tives; but can they be diSinterested advisers?
Are they not the very persons who will gain
most by the proposed change? who will in
deed gain all that is to be gained, without
furnishing any part ofthe equivalent That
that, the price Of their future wealth s. hon
ors, is to be furnished exclusivel by your
self! And of what does it consist? Your
great character. Such one, that, If nan
were wise, and possessed Of the empire OF
The CPSars, in its best days, he would give
all to obtain. Are you prepared to make
this sacrifice, for such an object?
am persuaded that those who advocate
these measures, have never dared to induce
you to adopt them, by any argument foun-
ded on your personal interests and thai, to
succeed it would be necessary TO convince
you that no other course remained, TO save
the country from the evils of anarchy. This
is the question, then, 10 be examined.
Does the history Of this country, since the
adoption of the Constitution, really exhibit
nneeqnivocai evidence that the people are
unfit TO be free? Is the exploded opinion of
European philosopher of the last age, that
sin the new hemisphere, man is degraded
being" TO he renewed, supported by the
example Of CoEmbia' The proofs should
INDEED De str9ag, to induce an American to
adopt an 9Aqh1 SO humiating.
feell2z Is deep interest in the sue
cY the reVusfkutions in the late Spanish
America, nave meyer been an nattentve
observer oil events events, pending and posterior TO
the achlevemenlol II. a independence. In these
show that, in Coum6S af least The s,,,c
If society is unsuited ~ The adont;on If n
free Government. wiz II he soid that n iroc
government did exist, ~, heinz G1nnd IN.
ADEQUATE to the objects TO ,,bich !, had hecn
instituted, il had been ST. oorceded NV one of
dilierent cnataI'. ~ ,eXt h the concurrence
CT the MAJORITY y, etao Aple'
1t is the most u,i,,ou' ling in the world
session of their rights, as froon,on Wv wppnld
over be willing TO surrend ,r tbon and snb-
nit themselves to the VIII nr n master IF
any such instances are on recorJ tho mower
thus transferred has beer in mnment NJ
extreme public danger, nd then Iimited IN
very short period. lilo not think that il
is by any n'eaus ", sB,n, that the majority
,oi the frehch peuPN favored the elevation
OF Napoleon ~ uSTf hrone Of France. But
.aoc were different @ were rd the c G G
: omba, Where lhe Constitution Of Concuta
was overthrown. AT the period Of the ele-
walton OF Napoleon to the First Consulate,
all the powers of.Europe were the open or
secret enemies of France-civil war ragged
within her borders--the hereditary king pos
sessed many partiZans in every province
the people, continually betrayed by the fac
tons which murdered and succeeded each
other, had mbibed portion OF their leroc-
ity, and every town and village witnessed
the indiscriminale slaughter OF both mer
and women, of all parties and principles
Does the history of Colombia, since the ex.
pulsion Of the Spaniards, present any paral
lei TO these scenes Her frontiers have
been never seriously menaced-no civil wal
has ragged not a portion Of the former gov
eminent was to he found in the whole cX
tent Of her terrory-nO factions cOnlendeC
with each other iOr the possession of power
ihe executive government remained in the
hands OF those TO whom it had been commit
ted by the People, in fair election. In fact
no people ever passed from under the yok,
OF despOtc government to the enjoymen
OF entire freedom, with less disposition Il
abuse their newly acquired power thai
those Of Colombia. They submitted indeet
10 o continuance Of some OF the most arbi
trary and unjust features which distinguish
ed the former government. II there wa
any disposition on the part Of the great mas
of The people, to effect any change in tn
existing order OF things; if the Colombian
act from the same motives and upon In
same principles which govern mankind else
where, and III all ages, they would have de
sired to take from the government part q
the power, which, in their ineXperienCC
thew had cOnfded to il. The monopoly O
certain articles of agricultural produce, am
the oppressive duty of the AIcavaa, Nigh
have been tolerated, until the last of thei
,yrants were driven from the country. Blu
when peace was restored when not one en-
envy remained within its borders, il Nigh
reasonably have been supposed that the pee
pie would have desired TO abolish these re
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