Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-06-12
GENERAL HARRISON'S LETTER
TO BOLIVAR.

ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from the
United States to the Republic of Colombia. 1t
was suggested by the fear that Bolivar would
yield to the exigencies of the times. and assume
regal power, by converting the republican gov
eminent of Colombia into a despotism. General
Harrison Immediately conceived the purpose of
dissuading him from a design so inimical and
fatal to the cause of Rcpublicanism.
BocorA, September q, 1929.
Srp,-If there is any thing in the style, the matter,
or the object of this letter, which is calculated to giyC
offence to your Excellency, | am persuaded you will
readily forgive 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 lustrc on the pro-
fession of arms nor can n citizen OF the country OF
Washington. cease to wish that, in Bolivar, the world
might behold another instance OF the highest military
nttainments, united with the purcst patrlotisiii, and
the greatest capacity for civil government.
Such, sir, have been the fond hopes, not only OF
the people of the United States, but Of the friends OF
liberty throughout the world. will not say that
your Excellcncy has formed projects to defeat these
hopes. But there is no doubt that they have not only
been formed, but are, at this moment, III progress to
maturity, and openly avowed by those who possess
your entire confidence. ! will not attribute TO these
men impure motives; but can they be dlsinierested
advisers? Are they not the very persons who will
aain most by the proposed change Who will, indeed,
gain all that is to be gained, without furnishing any
part of the equivalent? That that, the price OF their
future wealth and honours, is to be furnished eXclu-
svely by yourself? Andof what does It consist! Your
great character. Such a ono, that, II a man were
wise, and possessed of the empire Of the Caesars, IN
its best days, he would give all to obtain. Az 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 founded on your personal
interests; and that, to succeed, 1t would he necessary
TO convince you that no other course remained to save
the country from the evils of anarchy. Tins is the
question, then, to be examined.
Does the history of this country, since the adoption
of the constitution, really exhibit unequivocal evidence
that the people are unfit to be free ? Is the exploded
opinion of q European philosopher, of the last arc,
that Sin the new hemisphere man us a degrade, beng
TO be renewed, and supported by the example OF Co
lombia /? The proofs should, indeed, be strong, to m
duce an American TO adopt an opinion so Illuminating.
Feeling always a deep interest in the success OF the
revolutions IN the late Spanish America, | have never
been an inattCntive observer of events pending, and
posterior to the achievement of It's independence. In
these events, 1 search in vain for single fact to show
that, in Columbia at least, the state of society IS I'M
suited TO the adoption of a free government. VIII II
he said that a free government did exist, but, being
found inadequate to the objects for which 1t had beer
instituted, it has been superseded by one of a dliiercn
character, with the concurrence OF a majority OF INT
people?.
Ii is the most difficult thing in the world for me t'
believe that a people in the possession of Their right
as freemen, would ever be wiling TO surrender t.lcm
und submit themselves to the will Of Il master. If an
such instances are on record, the power thus trans
ferred has been in a moment of extreme public dan
ger, and then limited to n very short period. | d
not think that it is by any means certain, that tn
majority of the French people fovoured the elevatio,
Of Napoleon to the throne Of France. But, fiji were
how different were the circumstances of that countr,
from those of Colombia, wnen the constitution 9
Cucuta was Oyerthrown! At the period of the elrya
ton of Napoleon to the frs, consulate. all the power
Of Europe were the open or secret enemies of France
civil war ragged within her border the hcred!tar
king possessed many partisans in every provi3ce; tn
people, continually betrayed by the factions who
murdered and succeeded each other, had imhibed
portion of their ferocity, and every town and vllaa
witnessed the indiscrininate slaughter of both me
and women, of all parties and principles. Does tn
history of Columbia, since the expulsion of the SIP;
niards present anv parallel to these scenes? Her frol
tiers have been never seriously menaced; no civil W;
ragged not a partisan of the former government WI
10 be found in the whole extent of her territory !
factions c ontended with each other for the possessio
1Ir1XTI. me executive - r.rr1r fat remained IN Il
hands of those to whomit had been committed by m
nronle. in n fair election. In fact. no people eve
pnssscd from under the yoke of n desporic governmen
70 tho oniovmcnto of entire freedom. with less dispOsl
TO-, , = aInsc Their newly ormnircI mower. ,h,n tbos
Of Columbia They submitted, indeed. 10 a cont
nuonce Of some Of the most arbitrary and unjust lca
tHres which u,s,ImG 6o 'he l3 ,hn ra @9Ve of ,he oroa
of ,ho noorJr to ciE,,ct onv chance in thc evils
me- ordrr NJ tthinrs if the C,olombions nt from IN
a 49, r,o,iros and nnon tho so,no nrincinlas wh;,
"overn monl,ind ciscwh"rc md in oil nrcs The
Gould In 20 desircd to TAKE cror, tho onvernrnCn, - mn,
nj Tho novcr which in their inovnerirnco thnv ho
~" W. Tbo nnon"nnlu g ,ri,i w., ~" -,
oor;o,l,rrol nroducn and Tho ,,rreecivr Intv nr IN
% - n;nht hoye 'h boon ,o)eIa,nI mia IN? inet
1Eeir 'I 1wr,ris were driven ram th,o country B,
~,hn, nooce was restnrcd v,hen pt one enemy II
u,a;ncd within ;ts horders il niuht reasonably ha,
been snnnosed that the people would have desired
abolish these remains of arbitrary government, an
substitute for them some tax more equal and acco
dant with republican principles.
On the contrary, it is pretended that they had bccon
enamOurcd with these despotic measures, and so Oh
usted with the freedom they did enjoy, that the
were more than willing to commit their destinies
the uncontrolled will of your Excellency. Let mct
sure YOU, Sir, that these assertions will gain no crel
with the present generation, or with postcrity. TIE
will demand the facts which had induced a people, )
no means deficient in intelligence, so soon to aband
the principles for which they had so CALAMITY iouM
and tamely surrender that liberty which had been o
tanned at the expense of so much blood. And VII
facts can be produced , 1t cannot be sad that life n
property were not as well protected under the rcpu
lican government, as they have ever been nor til
there existed any opposition to the constitution n
laws, too strong for the ordinary powers of the 90
eminent to put down.
Nthc Hsurrecl0n oil uencfal laeI, III 'el'eIo'
~ adduced; l would ask ny "lat means was ne
anceu 10 ooeueife : J our f'Ncohcncy' 'H' i'-i'I'H
mead Of the republic, appeared, ahu, IN moment
opposition ceased ana feIezuoIh was resioaT'd To-
repupnc. nu'; ~ - sa"' aaa, lns "as eioc'1