Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-04-13

Of Napoleon to the throne oil France. But, IL it were
so, how diff rent the circumstance Of that coun-
try, from those Of Columbia, when tho Constitution
Of Concna was ovcrlhrown. AT the period Of the
elevation Of Napoleon to the first Consulate all The
powers OF Europe the open enemies oil
Fancc-civ war ragged within her borders the here
ii airy king possesst many parzaus in every pro
vince; The people, betrayed by the factions which
murdered and succeeded each other, had inbbcd a
portion Of their ierocy, and every town and village
Witnessed the indIscrimnate slaughter Of both men
and women, Of all parties and principles Does the
history OF Columbia since the expulsion VI the Span
iards, present any parallel 10 these ,ccnosl Her
frontiers have been never seriously menaccd-no
civil war has ragcd-nut opottlon Of her former Gov.
eminent 10 he found in the whole extent ol her
territory no fac lions conrndcd with each other for
the possession OF power; The Executive Government
renal leJ ~ The hands OF Il oeo 10 whom it had been
committed by the people, in n fair election In fact,
no people ever passed from under the yoke Of a des
poc government to the en- OF entire freedom,
with less disposition 10 abuse Their newly acquired
power, than those OF Columbia They submitted, in
Decd to a continuance ~ some Of The most arbitrary
and unjust features which distinguished the ormtr
Government II there was any disposition the
part of the great mass OF the people, 10 ofrci any
change in the existing order ol things if the Col
umbians act from the motives and upon the
same principles which govern mankind elsewhere,
and in all agrs,i they would have desired take from
the government part Of the power which, in their
incxpcrence, they had confded 10 IT,. The monopo
" of ccrtain articles OF agricultural produce and the
oppressive duty ofthe Alcovaa, might have bee toll.
Grated, until The last Of their tyraus driven from
the country. But when peace restored WHEN
not one enemy remained within lie borders it might
REASONABLY have been supposed that the people would
have desired 10 abolish these remains OF arbitrary gov
eminent and substitute for the M tax II orc equal
and accordant with republican principles.
On the contrary il IL pretended, that they had be-
come enomorcd with these desporic mCosnrcs and so
disguised with the freedom they did enjoy tina. they
more than willing 10 commit their dcsut 10 The
uncontrolled will OF your Excccncy. Let mc assure
you, sir that these assertions will gain credit wi
the present generation, with postcry. They will
demand the facts which had Induced a people, by
means defricnt IN intelligence 20 to Nhun.
don the principles for which they had 80 calamity
fought, and omcly surrender that liberty, which had
been obtained al the expense Of 80 mnch blood. And
what facts be produced7 1t cannot be saId that
life and property were not well protected under
the republican government they have ever been
nor that there existed any opposition to the Const'u-
lion and law too strong for the ordinary powers ofthe
government 10 put down.
II The insurrectlon OF Gen. PACE, in Vcno zuela is
adduced, would ask, by what means was he reduced
TO obrdlence7 Your Excclency, the legitimate head
of the Republic, appeared, and in a moment all OPP
position ceased. aud Venezuela was restored TO the
Republic. But il is said, that this was effected by
your personal inucr ce, the dread OF your military
talent, and that, 10 keep Genera PACE, and other
amnious chiefs, from dsmcmbcriug the Republic, it
necessary 10 invest your Exccllency with The ex.
traordnnry powers you rossess. There would be
come in this, il you bad refused 10 act without
these pow els having acted, you did You had
bren unable to accomplish any Thing without them.
Bul yon succeeded completely, and there can be no
possible reason assigned, why you would not have
succeeded, with the same means, against any future
attempt Of Gen Paez any other General
There appears, however, 10 be one sentiment, in
which all parties unite that is that matters now
stand you alone the country from RUM at
least from much calamity. Thay differ how ever,
very widely, as 10 the measures 10 be taken 10 put
your Excellency in the wey 10 render this important
service. The lesser, and more Interested party, is
for placing The Government in you! hands for lite
either with Your present title with one, VIII Oh, il
must be confessed, better accords with The nature OF
the powers TO be exercised. If they adopt the less
offensive title and il they weave into their system
apparent check 10 your will, 1t is only for the
purpose of masking in degree. their real object
which is nothing short OF the establishment OF u des-
potism. The plea Of necessity, That eternal argn-
men, Of all eonsprt9rs nnc,e n. or modorn; AGAINST
you 10 acccde 10 their measures and the unsettled
state OF tie country, which has been dcsiscedly pre-
duced by them, will be adduced as eyidclce Of iha,
necessity.
There is but ore way for your Exc lency 10 es-
cape from the which have been so arfnly laid
to enrap yon, and that is, stop short in the
which, unfortunately has cen already commenced
Every step you advance under the influence OF such
councils, will make retreat more difficult, until IL will
become irnpraclicabe. You wall be told The inten
ton is only vest You with authority To cOrec what
i, wrong III the Administrations, aud 10 put down The
factions. and that, when The country once enjoys Tam
guilty. The Government may be restored 10 the Pco
p!e Decisive will be the hopes % those who rel,
upon this declaration The promised honf of tan
guilty will arrive. II evens tended 10 produce
il, they would be counletacted by the Government
itself II was strong remark Of a former Presdrn
OF the United States that Sooner will the lover b,
conenled with the first smiles OF his ress, Than
Government cease TO endcavor 10 preserve and cxenC
its powers" With Whatever reluctance your Excel
lency may commence the carer with whuievrr dis
position abandon il when the objects for which i
was commenced have been oblanCd; when once
ary entered, you will be borne along by the irr sis
thle iorce oil pride, habit Of command, and need, fol
self preservation and II will be impossible 10 recede
But, il is said, that is for The People hai the pro
posed change is 10 be made; and that by you! talent
and influence, alone, aided by unlimited power, III,
ambitious chiefs IN the dfaren! departments Il
be restrained, aud the integrity Of the republic pre-
served. | have said, and / most sincerely believe
that, from the state into which The country has beer
brought that you alone can preserve il from The her
rors OF anarchy. BIT cannot conceive that any ex
iraoI binary powers necessary. The Authority Il
$50 that the laws are executed 10 call out The siren cIl
OIL tie country ic enforce their eAeon'lon IS all that II
required and is what is posscssd by The ChleI M"ss
trae oi the United States, aud of every Other Repub
lie; and is what conidcd 10 the Executive, by
the Constitution OF Cucuta. Would your talents q
your energies be Impaired in the council, or the field
or your influence lesSenod, when oclIng as head OF
Republic2
propose 10 examine, very briefly, tho suits whicI
are likely 10 flow from The proposed change OF gov
eminent: LIST, in relation 10 the coutry and I'd, Il
yourself personally. Is The tranquility Of the coun
Try to be secured by IN Is it possible for your Ex
cellency TO believe, that when tho mnsk has heer
thrown off, and Tho pcope discover hat despJp
governmt has been fixed upon them, that they vii
quietly submit to III Will they forget the pass wore
which, like The of fire, wac tine signaIior rally
ing 10 oppose their former tyran,s1 WI! the Virgin
al yoNr bidding TO chnuut The songs of Liberty
which 80 lately animated The youth 10 vcluryl Wa
tho patriotic blood OF Columbia all expended in III
fields oil Vargas, Blpacan, and Carebobo Tn
schools may C ase 10 enforce upon their pupils IN
love OF country, drawn from he examples OF Cato
tbe Rruti Hnrnodus ard Afisipoiln but tbn OF ori