State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-04-12
MONTPELIER, (vT.) APRIL ~, ls3G.

signal for raIlying TO oppose their former
tyrants Will the virgins, at your bidding,
cease to chaunt the songs ofLiberty, which
so lately animated the youth 10 victory =
Was the patriotic blood Of Colombia all ex
pended in the fields o. Vargas, Bayacan,
and Carebobo? The schools may cease to
enforce upon their pupils the love oil coun-
try, drawn from the examples Of Cato and
the Bruti, Harmodius and Aristogitin, but
the glorious example Of patriotic devotion,
exhibited in your own Hacienda, will sup
ply their place. Depend on it, sir, that the
moment which shall announce the coninu-
ance of arbitrary power in your hands will
be the commencement OF connections which
will require all your talents and energies TO
suppress. You may succeed. The disci-
plined army, at your disposal may be too
powerful for an unarmed, undiScipEned,
and scattered population; but one unsuc-
ceSsiul effort will not content them, and
your feelings will be eternay racked by
being obliged to make war upon those who
have been accustomed to call you their ia
Their, and TO invoke blessings on your head,
and for no cause but their adherence to
principles which you yourself had taught
them to regard more than their lives.
II by the strong government which the
advocates for The proposed change so siren
uouslv recommend, one without response
biity is intended, which may put men to
death, aud immune them in dungeons, with
out trial. and one where the army is every
thing, and the people nothing, | must say,
that, if the tranquility Of Colombia is 10 be
preserved in this way, the widest anarchy
would be preferable. Out of that anarchy
a better government might arise but the
chains Of military despotism once fastened
upon nation, ages might pass away be-
fore they could be shaken oil.
But contend that the strongest OF gov
ernments is that which is most free. We
consider that OF the United States as the
strongest, precisely, because il is the most
free. 1t possesses the faculties, equally 10
protect itself from foreign force or internal
convulsion. In both, il has been sufficient
ly tried. In no country upon earth, would
an armed opposition TO the laws be sooner
or more efiectualy put down. Not so much
by the terrors of the guillotne or the glib
| BET, as from the aroused determination OF
the nation, exhibiting their strength, and
convincing the factions that their cause was
hopeless. No, sir, depend upon il, that the
possession of arbitrary power, by the gov
eminent Of Colombia, will not be the means
Of securing tranquility nor will the danger
of disturbances solely arise from the oppo
stion of the People. The power, and the
military force which it will be necessary TO
put into the hands Of the Governors Of the
distant provinces, added to the nature Of
the country, will continually present to
those officers the temptation, and The means
Of revolt.
Will the proposed change restore pros
perity to the country With the best in
tentiOns to do so, will you be able TO recall
commerce TO lis shores and give new life to
the dropping state of agriculture! The
cause Of the constant decline, in these great
interests, cannot be mistaken. 1t arises
\ from the lcwness Of those who labor, and
the number of those who are TO be supper
ted by that labor. To support swarm Of
luxurious & idle monks, & an army greatly
disproportioned TO the resources Of the
country, with body of officers, in a ten
fold degree dispropOrtioned TO the army,
every branch Of industry is oppressed with
, burdens which deprive the ingenious man
of the profits Of his ingenuity, and the la
T borer of his reward. TO satisfy the con-
slant and pressing demands which are
: made upon il, the Treasury seizes upon ev-
5 cry thing within its grasp-destroying the
very germ Of future prosperity. Is there
any prospect that these evils will cease with
the proposed change? Can the army be
dispensed with ?-Will the influence OF the
monks be no longer necessary? Believe
me, sir, that the support which the govern
ment derives from both these sources, will
r be more than ever requisite.
But the most important inquiry is, the
. effect which this strong government is 10
have upon the people themselves. VIII II
tend 10 improve and elevate their character,
and fit them for the freedom which 1t is
pretended is ultimately 10 be bestowed upon
f them? The question has been answered
} from the age OF Homer. Man does not
learn under oppression those noble qualities
and feelings which fit him Tor the enjoy
= ment of liberty. Nor is despotism the pro-
per school in which TO acquire the knowl-
G edge of the principles Of Republican gov
q eminent. A government whose revenues
. are derived from divcrting the very SPUR
q ces of wealth from its subjects, vii not find
= the means of improving the morals and en-
e tightening the minds Of the youth, by sup
e porting systems OF liberal education and
b If il could, it would not.
S In relation to the effect which this invest
: nent of power is 10 have upon your happi-
1 ness and your fame, will the pomp and gilt
S Ter ola court, and the Aattery of venal
y courtiers, reward you for the troubles and
r anXietes attendant upon the exercise OF
e sovereignty, every where, aud those which
+ flow from your peculiar situation? Or
? power, supported by the hayonel, Tor that
e willing homage which you were wont Ia
= receive from your telow-ctizens The
= groans of dissatisfied and oppressed people
+, will penetrate the inmost recesses of y0uI
+ palace, and you will be tortured by the re-
II Election, that you no longer possess tha
e place in their affection which was once your
G pride and boast, and which would have