The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-16
VOL. l..
From the Providence ar. n Courier,

unimportant errors, gives, as we believe, a
faithful and accurate statement of the origin,
nature and object of the war now waged by
Chill against Peru.
Information in reference to this matter CON-
ing through the CHILEAN and Buenos Ayrean
papers, is to be received with great distrust !;
inasmuch as the press is, in both countries,
hampered by Government interference and
censorship.
II is amusing enough to see the charge of
tyranny brought against Gen. Santa Cruz by
these enslayed presses: for it is well known
to those who are at allacquainted with South
American affairs, that this distinguished indi-
yidual is one Of the most enlightened and IL
beral-minded men that the Spanish Ameri-
can revolution has produced, and that this
Government is far more mild, and more sub
ect to the wholesome restraints Of law, than
either that Of Buenos Ayres or Chill.
Indeed, it is difficult to conceive Of more
frightful and debasing despotism than that es-
tablished by the Dictator, Rosas, in the for
mer unhappy country; whilst the actual I'd
ministration Of the latter has, after arriving at
its post by violence, destroyed the liberty OF
the press, and filed the prisons and places Of
Punishment with persons accused Of political
offences |; some Of them amongst the earliest
and most meritorious patriots Of the revolu-
ton.
THE TYRANT OF PERU.
The American press is adopting the denun-
Citations in the Chilian papers Of General San
ia Cruz, the accomplished and enlightened
President of the confederation Of Peru and
Bolivia, with evidently, an entire ignorance
Of the grounds Of the unreasonable war which
Chill is forcing on Peru. Now the real facts
are, that General Santa Cruz is the most Ii
beral friend of the United States that has ever
been placed at the head of affairs in any Of
the South American States and the war Of
Chill and Peru is a war directly against the
interests of the United States. Instead Of be.
ing tyrant and usurper, General Santa Cruz
has been duly called to the office he holds,
as President Protector, and has put an end to
the feuds that had caused such frequent revo-
buttons in Peru, as to render the commerce of
the United States with that portion of South
America, extremely precarious.
The two States of Peru and Bolivia, were
constantly at variance, principally respecting
their ports Of entry. The natural relations
Of the two States pointed to a union, as the
best possible security to both, and this was
effected by as free expression Of the popular
will as can be, attained in the present condi-
ton Of South American Republics. While
the civil war between Peru and Bolivia was
going on, the channel of foreign commerce
was diverted from the former to Valparaiso
Chill also had the exclusive benefit of the
market of Lima, for her great staple, wheat.
The duties on American flour and cottons, in
Peru amounted to prohibition, and it was a
matter of great interest to the United States
to open that market to our -four and manu-
features. All the attempts of our official
agents to effect that object, had failed until
General Santa Cruz was placed at the head
of affairs. He clearly perceived the force OF
the arguments urged by our minister, that it
was for the interest of Peru to open her ports
to American -four and cottons at reasonable
duty, which would prevent smuggling, and in
sure the receipt Of certain revenue from that
source.
The former did not come in competition
with any staple Of Peru, and the latter was
so much preferred to the coarse fabrics pro-
duced by hand labor in the mountains, that
high duties only held out temptations to snug
Cling. The result has been, that under the
administration of General Santa Cruz, and
through the active influence Of our late min
lister to Peru, the United States obtained what
could never be obtained before, viz. reduc-
ton of the prohibitory duty on cottons to 20
per cent. and on flour to Sc per barrel; and
also treaty of commerce placing the United
States, which had previously been behind
Great Britain in all commercial relations, on
the footing of the most favored nations.
1t is mainly for this act of justice and Ii
berality to the United States, that Chill is
waging that very war against Peru, which
the American press SO ignorantly applauds as
a war against "a tyrant and usurper."
The restoration of permanent peace be-
tween Bolivia and Peru, by their Confedera-
ton, has restored trade to its original channel,
and this is loss of commercial advantage to
Chill. But her greatest complaint is, that no
higher duties are imposed on American flour
than on Chilan wheat, and the former being
of much better quality and decidedly prefer
red, it gives the United States the advantage
in competition. Her demand therefore is,
that Peru shall give Chill the exclusive bene-
fit Of the market for wheat; and this is at the
bottom of the war she is now waging. Every
effort has been made to drive American flour
from Peru. The agents of Chill have fire.
quenty alarmed the people by representations
of pretended chemical examinations, showing
that American flour, which is much whittier
than the Chilian article, was made so by be-
ing adulterated with plaster Of Paris, or other
pernicious ingredients, and this prejudice has
been removed only by the fact being at last
understood that the genuine article was
cheaper than the pretended adulterations.
In the meantime, Gen. Santa Cruz has
merely stood on the defensive. He has re-
sorted to no aggression, and has at all times
been DESTROYS to avert the war. So honor
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