The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-07
COMMUNICATIONS Ms.
BUENos AYREs AND MoNTEvIDEo.

tain a long article on the present anomalous condi-
ton Of affairs ON the river Plate, and the causes
which have led to il. With respect TO the forei-
BILE Intervention of France and England in the pot-
can il is presumed, be but one opinion in this coun-
try. My business, however, il not 40 much with
this part Of the subject, as with the relative merits
of the question between the beligerens themselves,
and the narrative" of occurrences anterior TO and
during the course Of this unhappy contest. This
narrative has evidently been written by an inhabt-
ant of Monteyideo; and though more candid than
the generality Of the documents issuing from that
quarter, is nevertheless but one-sided statement,
and far from giving that ~rportant review so ncces-
sary TO the right under ing of the whole matter
by persons unacquan 18th the ever-fuctuating
politics of Spanish America. Having resided long
in the countries bordering the Rio de la Plata and
for nearly twenty years taken warm interest in all
that concerns them, | should like, with your per-
mission, to do justice to both sides, particularly as
these affairs seem to be exciting attention
in the United States than ever, and questions Of a
grave national character may be involved in the
issue.
As the political history of those countries is but
indifferenty understood here, it may, perhaps, be
well to 60 somewhat further back than the "narra-
tve"--say to the wars from 1925 to 1928 between
Buenos Ayres and the empire Of Brazil, which grew
out Of the old conflicting claims of Portugal and
Spain to the territory now known as the "Banda
Oriental of the Uruguay" Buenos Ayres, on the
PRONUNCIATION her independence, claimed il as part
ofthe yiceroy atty; while Brazil succeeding by her
revolution, TO the rights of the Clown Of Portugal,
revived the ancient claim Of that monarchy. It's en-
tire Independence the result; the treaty of peace
(now before me) being negotiated through the
friendly mediation Of Great Britain; but whatever
guarantee nigh, be implied, from the position ofthat
power between the parties, up to the time of the
installation OF u constitutional government, such
guarantee could extend no farther; and even il il
could the Oriental State has barred the plea, by be-
ing herself the aggressor, and the first in right of
her absolute sovereignty, to declare the war. I'm
mediaely after the celebration Of the peace in 1898
provisional government was formed at Montevi-
dec, the capital, in conformity with the treaty, of
which General Rondeau became the head and all
the other conditions were regularly and satisfactorily
complied with. While things we're going on in this
amicable manner the northern side Of the river,
events were taking place in the south, from which
all the subsequent evils have sprung. Only a few
weeks after the return of the victorious army to
Buenos Ayres, and almost in the midst of the gen
eTal rejocings its cemmander-n-chief, General La
vale, instigated it is said, by the so-caed Unita-
rian party, abused his influence with the troops to
bring about military revolution, which displaced
the legal government and dissolved the legislature
by main force. The governor (Col. Don Manuel
Dorrego) was pursued into the interior, where he
had placed himself at the head Of the country mill
tia under Colonel (pow GeneraD Rosas, and final
ly defeated in brief action A few days after, he
was taken prisoner, and shot in front Of the DIVISION
by Lavae's order, without the form or pretence Of
trial. This man, on his return to the city, had of
course no difficulty in getting himself proclaimed
provisional governor by an informal assembly
of the inhabitants; and for about six months,
a civil war was raging between. the town and
the garrison on one side, and the whole mass
Of the country population on the other, at
the head of which was naturally placed Col. Rosas
who, in fact, their legal chief having held the
office of commandant of the country districts at the
breaking out of the rebellion. 1t is unnecessary for
the present object to detail the events which follow
ed. The violence Of Lavalle was disspproved of by
his own party, though they were not without we'll
founded causes Of complaint against their opponents
treaty was finally signed, under which the old
legislature was restored, (having failed in attempt
by previous one to elect new house agreeable to
both parties,) and Rosas was appointed governor
and commander-n-chief, the greater part of the
provinces charging him specially with the foreign
relations Of the nation.
II was about this time, after, that the lead
ers and many Of the influential men Of the Unitari-
an party, fearing the resentment of their enemies,
the Federas, now returned to power; and distrust-
ing the faith Of the newly-appointed chief retired
some TO the distant provinces, and many to the new
state-the Banda Oricntal--where, in the course of
time, their Vaccinations against Rosas and his
friends were too open to be denied, any more than
the covert protection and assistance afforded them
by Rivera, who was elevated TO the presidency in
1881, on the PRONUNCIATION Of the permanent const-
tuition. A positive act of Punishment, I believe,
soon followed what was originally a voluntary ey-
patration on the part of the Unitarians; and the
lalions between the two neghborng powers were
anything but cordial, though they remained at
peace Whether the Buenos Ayrean government
in an underhand manner, contributed to the insur-
rectionary movement which took place in 1892 in
the Banda Oriental under General Lavaleja is only
known to those acquainted with the secrets f party
intrigue. 1t is very possible it may have been so,
though overt warrants the inference; while all
its endeayors to induce Rivera to discourage and
prevent the plottngs Of its enemies proved abortiye
Your correspondent seems much disposed to
exalt the merits and consequence of Rivera at the
expense Of his successor Oribe. His military tai
ents are those of guerilla chief, and are, have
no doubt, in that peculiar warfare, superior to those
of his opponent, though much exaggerated by his
admirers. But as to personal responsibility and
standing in the community, Oribe is very much his
superior; nor could Rivera have preventedhs election
to the presidency, unless by acrmnal exercise of his
influence with the most ignorant part Of the commu-
nifty His promoting that election is the best proof
that he did not believe the calumny that Oribe had
been party 70 the attempt to expel him from his
high Office. The suicidal measure Of selling his
country to the Argentine confederation, imputed so
cooly TO Oribe, is equally without proof and prob
ability with the desire of Rosas to obtain such
union; and there is nothing to support the charge
but the very suspicious authority of the opposing
Journals whose great object has been to enlist for
eign sympathy and assistance; and as to his alb
dcation and retirement on the rebellion Of Rivera,
the situation Of affairs is sufficient to show that the
act was forced upon him to save the effuson Of
human blood, and morally as ineffcaci9us, as re-
spects his legal rights as if done ct tho point Of the
bayonet He entered his protest at the first oppor-
tunty, and was received as the lawful President by
the sister republic to which he had fled for protec
ton; though the quarrel, being of the nature of a
family one, he received assistance to pursue his
legitimate claims. The case, however, was alto
gether changed, when the new government at Mon
teyideo in the climax of their folly, allowed them
selves TO be daxzIsd by the eclat of European al
lance, and actually declared war, the more ehec-
tually to distress Rosas by assisting France in
strict blockade Of Buenos Ayres. This power,
however, saw in time the injustice of her course,
and made an honorable peace; leaving her weak and
foolish ally to taste the bitter fruits Of her meddng
The assistance to the emigrants by Montevideo,
after her declaration Of war, was, of course open
and aboyeboard. Lavae invaded his country with
considerable force and fortune at first seemed ia
- u l.