The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-06

From Central America.
Extract ofd letter from Aulereon gentleman trav.
cling IN South dmericd. TO his friend IN Baitaor.
datsd
There is report to-day that the rebel chief Ranje the
present acting head of the Guzman faction, has been
killed. | am inclined TO doubt It's correctness. Guzman
who is still in prison. is represented as man Of
talent and education and his parsan say That he was
elected president by majority OF votes. His opponents
say that large number OF the votes given for him wen
Illegal and that the legally elected president is the pres
ent acting one Monagas, who was installed lew DAYS
since General Monagas IL stout, raw-boned man ia
said to be sensible andhas The reputation OF being goo
soldier. He was the candidate supported by Genera
Paez the most influential man in the republic. Paez has
himself served two terms as president; and like most
men OF great genius and strong possions he is warn
friend and bitter foe THIS extraordinary and sell,
made man decided the battle of Carobobo where Bolivar
commanded and upon the issue OF which the fate OF the
country depended, by his celebrated and furious change
OF cavalry, IN which, although he lost me hall OF his
DIVISION he completely routed the Spanish army, $500
strong and captured their arery-aiding another in.
stance OF the success of cavalry against artillery, OF which
Napolean gave such memorable example at Semosiena
and of which our own gallant May furnished such
brilliant illustration at Resaca de la Palma.
Paez is short stout, vigorous looking man, and as
indicated by his appearance OF great energy OF character
ably well Like most men who have distinguished
themselves by their military genius Paez has the per.
ceptve faculties strongly developed.
had opportunity of seeing, in an assembly, great
many of the distinguished personages OF the country and
remarked number OF hne looking men amongst them.
Amongst others struck with the appearance Of
Quntero the minister of justice; and am told, that his
reputation confirms the promise afforded BY his mtelec
tuay piled head
Gnzman was the warm advocate of the people of color
appealing strongly TO their peju Ices and their passions
The colored classes, body being inferior in wealth.
in social condition, and in intellectual aainments TO the
white creoles and Europeans have great Jealousy of
I,ta al Ihaxx hold 1a1l
the offices at present. being generally better qualified than
their coored fellow citizens Some colorei PERSONS how
ever OF good capacity, occupy distinguished posts and,
when the rising generation comes on the stage OF action,
the number will doubtless be much greater as grea,
many OF the young coored population are now being ed
ucated.
of the country had the Guzman party succeeded The
ignorance jealousy, and ferocy OF the great mass of his
party would have destroyed all the safeguards of society
However much disposed Guznlan himself, and some OF
his intelligent coadutors, might have BEEN to arrest
the tide OF destruction 1t would, in all probability have
been too strong for them, ii 1t had once fairly set in.
party that of prohibiting the forcble collection Of
due and unpaid mortgages real estate, and ALSO that
of freeing the slaves that still exist IN the republic,
amounting, in 1899, according 10 the census given by
Codazz 10 $4,000 out of population OF $4,000. But,
in consequence of manumsslons and deaths the actual
number is supposed not to exceed at this time, some "a
or 5000 BY layr passed by the Congress OF Vene
zuea, in 1880, which is still in existence, the chill
dren of all slaves born after the passage OF the law
free; and the masters or owners OF their mothers are
obliged to educate, feed and clohe Them in recon.
pense for whichethey entitled to their services until
they arrive al the age OF 81 but are prohibited from
separating the child from the mother If, however,
the of the mother omits or refuses to fulfil the
duties imposed upon him BY law, or treats the child
of his Slave with undue severity, it is made the
duty of the Sindco Procurao OF the district or coun
y in which such minor resides, TO institute proceedings
forthwith for the withdrawal of said minor from the con.
troll of said master, who is entitled in such case to receive
h the value OF the tariff established BY law for the price
fhn
of raising said child. For this purpose manumisslon
unta appointed for each district furnished with man
omission fund created from the following sources, VIZ:
two per cent. the estates of all deceased per.
sons who leave native heirs ten per cent upon the
estates of those whose heirs foreigners; the whole
of the estates OF those who die intesate' without
legal heirs, and whose estates would otherwise pass
into the national treasury and the gifts and esacles
Of philanthropy or pous individuals The tarh estab'
shed for the price OF slaves, to facilitate their manums'
sion, by themselves their friends very moderate
enabling them BY little industry and economy to free
themselves they choose to do so; as they havetw
days in the week 10 labor for themselves, asked very
lightly the days belonging TO their MASTER and are al
lowed 10 traffic on their own account. But, in general
they are treated eniently that comparatively but few
make any effort to free themselves.
The tariff graduated according to age; the price grad
ually augmentng from the first year up to fifteen; at
which age up 80 the price for slave, in order 10 free
him her, is only 300 pesos dollars of this country
making 1925 of currency; after the age OF 49, the
price gradually declines
This wise and humane law, similar in its great leading
10 the aDOltOn laws OF pennsylvania
OF the other free States, though more liberal and
provden for the slaves In its details, looks to the gradual
extrpaion OF the evil in the only way in which can be
done safely and usefuy by preparing the children OF the
slaves for the rational enjoyment OF higher destiny
avoiding the danger of nfchng upon the community The
curse of having number OF Ignorant lazy, and teroclou
human beings, without any knowledge OF the rights and
duties OF free cizens turned suddenly loose upon society,"
to become criminals paupers. and Migrants.
The British have important interests here. large
portion of the trade of the country their hands they
have branch of the Colonial Bank established in Ca
that does large and profitable business the bank
ing rate OF interest being IL per cent per annum and ne
difference between the buying and selling rates OF *
change atlorling liberal margin for profit the bills,
amounting to several millions per annum; very large
portion of which passes through the colonial institution
Notwithstanding the heavy British interests and the ma
turally prepondeatng influence that the British minister
might be supposed 10 possess, the present charge MI
Wilson, is not popular He is accused Of having inter
feed improperly in behalf OF the Guzman party; whether
the change be true not he certainly not very p0pu
lar with the powers that be-
Our charge, Mr. Shields, is not implicated in any
of the political struggles of the country, and his nfu
ence consequently remains intact for the protection OF
the interests and rights OF his fellow citizens, and the
faithful and digent prosecution OF the Legitimate anc
long standing claims of many of them, which never
made any progress before his time MIR Shields Is IRON
Alabama, where he quite distinguished political
man, and his ability, judg ment and prudence wou@
make HIM a respectable representative of our country
anywhere
A committee of the present Congress, in session
IN this city, have under consideration the subject OF re
modelling the present tariff of the country. Amon9s
other contemplated reforms, is that OF reduction OF the
duty upon -four which pays four dollars of this cur
rency per barrel duty, besides additional subsidy OF
10 per cent on that duty and four per cent additional o
road and wharf tax making 81 81, equal to ~ rs Vi