The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-21
THE DAILY UNION
pro.sc. British property from sack


AT this time (:s43) Oribe was investing Mon,cvi
deo with about 900 men; the fortifcntions Of the
city were guarded by the emancpaied blacks, and
militia, to the number Of 5000. General Riyien
was on the rear Of Or6e, with army Of 900 cav
airy, in daily skinnishes, guerllas, with the out.
posts or advance guards Of the enemy. Maldo-
nado, Tucarembo, and other points, were still in pos
session of Rvieras forces; and one Of his generals
/ (Paez) had some 1900 men in the northwest or
centre of the province. The Buenos Ayrean squad
ron was at anchor near the port, and the English,
French, and American squadrops were lying as
| neutral spectators. a -ra
4 IL would be well to mention here, that the term OF
Riyieras second presidency had expired. The con-
stituton had provided in the 77th article for such
an event as the period for the election of its chief
officer happening when the country should be 20
much involved in civil dissensions as to pre-
vent the free will Of its citizens being exercised in
such election. In such a case, the president Of the
Senate becomes the actual president for such time
as those circumstances should continue to prevent
the free appointment Of the candidate most agreea-
BILE to the majority Of the elective constituency. This
course has been pursued in the present instance. Ri
viera yielded up his authority into the hands Of those
chambers, who made decree in conformity with the
aforementioned article Of the constitution that the
functions of that Office be exercised, during the pres
en disastrous circumstances, by the president of the
Senate; and subsequently the new government
chief of the army 1t Is understood that PROPOSE
ton was made, through the British minister, on the
part OF the government Of Buenos Ayres, to con-
ciude an armlstce for limited period, (without,
however, any withdrawal Of troops,) and that, du-
ring its existence, the new president should be
chosen; but il is stated that Commodore Purvis,
who was present at the conference when the propo.
sition was made by Mr.. Vaudeville, declared 20
strong an opinion Of its injustice, that the motion
found no second, and il fell to the ground 1t may
he NO rIxnH sk.e =
Buenos Ayrean army, notwithstanding the boasts
OF us overwhelming force, may arise from partial
indifference to the settlement Of affairs on the part
of Rosas whose grand object appears 10 be the de.
preston and humiliation of the rival country and
it, resources: Il would be even more fully carried
out by the continuance of the present entire prostra
ton Of its trade than by the establishment Of his
own creatures in its government And now, as to
the effect the success Of Orbe would have upon for
egn interests In the first place. the province Of the
Banda Oriental would be Immediately joined to the
Argentine confederation; and the system Of active
full force both sides Of the river Plate The ef
feet of this may be well imagined, by contrasting
the extent of trade carried on in Buenos Ayres be-
fore the present system was established, and ito
present comparative insigni6cance, with the con-
| tinual augmentation Of the importance Of that of
Montcvideo, which has risen from employing about
one-fourth of the tonnage formerly employed at
Buenos Ayres, until its amount in times Of moder-
ate tranquility, 10 nearly double that Of the latter
place. In Buenos Ayres so many obstacles have
been placed In the why Of such foreigners as had
established themselves in the interior of the country
that with the natural capabilities Of affording rich
return for labor and capital there are few estates in
the hands of foreigners that have not enaled upon
the owners loss, rather than a gain. But though
il has been stated before, that there is no doubt or
Orbes intention with respectto confederation there
may be much said with respect to the acquiescence
of that portion Of his forces composed OF Oriental
citizens in such an arrangement. II, therefore,
Oribe does enter Montevideo, leaving, as he must
do, Riviera strong outside, il will no, be difficult for
the latter, when it is really known that the system
Of Rosas-which is by no means popular here's
10 be carried out to its fullest extent and the repub
lie become province, to make his army rallying
point for all the dsaected and complete the ruin Of
the country by another three years war. When
Riviera successfully opposed the established govern
ment of Oribe, his facilities were by no means great
er than those he now possesses.
His talents military chief are most extraor-
binary, and suited TO the peculiar class Of warfare
to which these people are accustomed; and he has
the additional advantage Of great popularity in the
country, and perfect knowledge Of every square
league il contains. II lis important fact TO state,
that in Montevideo we have had hitherto, and at
present, silver currency; no government Of the
republic hard pressed has yet been able to force the
| receipt Of paper. When this is contras,ed with
Buenos Ayres, in market where foreign merchan-
disc has always been sold at credit more or less
extensive gradual decline has taken Mace in the
value of the current dollars from 46 in 1895, TO
in l643 it must be seen how this alone must gradtl-
ally have absolved the gains of trade.
The identical paper, current in Buenos Ayres has
already been introduced by Oribe wherever he
rules, and it is said that individuals have been
severely punished for refusing to receive il as cur
rent money. 1t may be further noticed, that the
present government of Montevideo have not only
yielded to the British demand Of engaging by treaty
TO do all in its power towards the suppression of the
slave-trade, but have also concluded treaty Of
commerce with Great Britain, which Oribe always
refused to do. The cdict declaring the total eman.
cipaton ofthe slaves is now the law of the land 1t
is understood that Oribe is disposed to question its
legality, on the ground of the motives that Influenced
its enaction. Itwould, however, appear very unlikely,
that 80 great boon to humanity will be permitted
to be undone, to please some few interested propre-
tors; and we may therefore regard this country as
aording the means Of placing it's free labor in COM
petition with that of the slaves of Brazil, In all Of
the productions which are common to both coun.
tries. @
A glance at the map Of South America will ex-
hibit and prove the advantage which this tract of
country possesses, and the power which its subjec
ton would confer upon either Of the neighboring
States--Brazil, the Argentine confederation. Il
may be borne in mind as certain that II Buenos
Ayres should obtain the sovereignty Of the Banda
Oriental her well-known idea that It s her interest
nations but herself, would have much less difficulty
in being carried into execution s-
The rich republic Of Paraguay, already inclined,
from fear of the encroaching ambition Of General
Rosas TO isolate itself once more from the rest of the
world, would then be entirely lost to commercial en-
terprse The looms Of Corlova would again re-
ceve the attention and fostering protection Of the
sovereign ruler Of the river Plate; and the uxtapo
sition of frontier Of the Argentine and Brazilian ter
rltories would give those nations the opportunity of
shutting out all foreign interests from the whole
breadth Of the east coast Of South America.
The consequences Of such power in the hands Of
such man ais General Rosas would lead to the ex-
termination of foreign settlers from the INTERIOR and
destruction Of large amounts Of capital, which for
eigners, relying upon the immunit;ss they have
hitherto enjoyed, have been led to embark in the
purchase Of property estates. The enormous in
crease that has taken place in the trade of Montev
dec has not been without its effect upon the jealousy
of the rival government of Buenos Ayres; and many
have been the public boasts of the partiea in ahor