The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-23

offence from these men, In his repeated rebellions he
was always object Of public confederation. 1t fell
to my lot to command the army sent against him. and
disarmed him without employing other arms than
those Of reason Of justice, and arguments founded
had been reposing at his home in peace, under the
protection of the constitution, promoting his interests
ing the pay appointed BY lava The ssm aed
party who opposed General Monagas in 1881 and in
1885, elevated him to the Presidency in 1s47. Might
1t not have been expected that he would prove faithful
to the principles that had controlled his election that
he would show himself grateful for the generosity
The country had right to expect such rssuit: but
the return has been barbarous assassination of the
peoples representatives!
Congress to support the Constitution, and was a
witness of the first acts Of his they
lily Such was the position Of affairs when my duties
as chief Of the army compelled me- in the latter part
March, to quit the capital was at very great dis.
lance when received the of the first
OF General Monagas. sincerely deplored them yet
harbored the hope that the responsibility he
and the immense danger to which he exposed the re-
public would cause him to retrace his steps was also
mistaken this time In the midst of the excitemen mt
manifested in consequenceof notorious abuse Of power
lsbored strenuously advising calmness and forbear-
ance and always found ready to every sacri-
flee to save the country Thus when in the part
sgniying his desire to have an interview with me in
the place of LIS Cocuisas answered him
and ! immediately commenced my journey to meet
to me Of his own free will and under the pretence
of illness he avoided meeting sought by himself; and
into New Granada, having previously obtained per-
mission for that purpose from the government the
26h receivedat Calaboxo the astounding news of the
horrid crime perpetrated in Caracas against the re-
a .ns ns
subsequent news, and the public declarations some
towns made me take the resolution expressed in my
letter Of the 3lst of January to General Monagas and
in my address of the 4th of February. Both these
Documents will be found in appendix to this ma
sion Of details Of which have been subseSuenty we'll
informed did not know, for instance, that the Sci
nate Of the republic having been escorted to the go
Monagas to show himself in the place where Congress
was assembled, and to order the firing against the
TO cease andstbat the General answered
tnued for two hours amusing himself airing the
Of lively firing; ! did not know that the
blood carried on mems shoulders to the Government
House, and reclining upon sofa, did not receive the
ss ,en marx Of not even solitary sx
know that the Representatives of the people, made
OF by the militia, were Instantly presented
some Of them, and tormented others with cruel sar-
casm and abandoned all to the ferocty Of his agents
did not know that General Santiago Marine shut up
in the Convent Of San Jacinto with 500 men, was
urged by chief aud several officers to hasten to the
spot Where Congress was sitting in order to prevent
tie butchery Of the representatives. and that this
neral CONTEMPORARY disregarded the request saying
lthese his own words3 :" that what was passinS
was no great matter " did not know that before the
putchery commenced all the outlets of the city were
obstructed by the public force. Finally, | did not
know other details, which shall ntion in the course
sary.
1t was my duty not to hesitate, from the moment
the honorable title Of President Of the Republic for
the abompabe oce of the assassin of the peoples re-
resentatives The crime filed me with horror saw
my country annihiated, her furnished, her go-
rIee hclied, and the sword q blood thirsty tvrapt
hanging over the heads of good citizens Followed by
rev men, moved to Fl Rastre on the 9th Of Jan
IN the morning there received the letter of General
MoDagas, the answer to which have already cited;
md there as the fruit of my meditatiops aud the
uit OF my profound convictions, and accepting the
new honor conferred en- me by my fellow citizens
determined to direct to them address of the 4th of
feo ,t;y was aware then Of the difficulty Of the
arms OF any kind, because General Monagas had
cautiously taken POSSESSION of them al without
bey in fine, without the elements Necessary to resist
tyrant who, abusing the able names govern
ment constitution, and laws. had been preparing
n'mseH FOR whole year. to inact amortal blow upon
society, ! determined. Notwithstanding, to run all
risk to save my name at least from in
fanny. Could have acted otherwise Could con-
tinue In the country, silent spectator Of what had
passed aud of what feared for the future, or con-
tinue my journey to New Granada to remain indif.
fertnt to the affecting situation of Venezuela? /
could have saved myself from the general conagration
but what would save! The days which remain tolme
Of life, and my individual fortune would be unwor-
thy even of the name of patriot, it, having obtained
in her most terrible trbustion in order preserve
in exchange mere physical existence. A soldier OF
honor Of honor accorded to him for more than a
hundred battles all glorious for the State-cannot har
Dor in his breast the calculations of cold selfish
My honor and political conscience advised me to the
act of the 4th Of February and think have given
another proof of fidelity to my high duties.
For fifteen days remained at FL Rastro, accompa-
MED only by nifty men The constant solicitations
to come and head the movement which they wished
to make In favor of the cause of order, aud the
tonvictions entertained that our forces ought to
upon 1t on the 18th of February, followed BY 200 men,
who by that time. had joined me. On the goth of the
fame month entered San Fernando, where
received with public and solemn proofs of the patriot
ism which has always distinguished its inhsbitants
They had strongly declared against the crime Of the
Iath OF January and for the punishment of it's
BILE author. The inhabitants of Apure aockej from all
to offer their cooperation in defence Of the
national caLse. and earnestly devoted myself to
ganze the basis of an army. was compelled to inter-
rupt this labor in consequence Of the information
was receiving Of the violent means used by
General Munoz to collect men to defend the assassi-
nations Of the oath Of January The same language
was used everywbere; the Constitution was on their
lips but their acts proved the existence of despoc
power Gen. Muhoz compelled all to follow him,
ming them with death he seized their pro-
perry IN barbarous manner Let one act reveal the
morality which prevailed in the councils of NIu-
hoz Manuel Segovia left Mu1ozs campment, in the
early part Of last February with orders to bring alive
or dead before that chief hernandez sonn law of
said Segovia, who faithfully executed the order Sc
sovia rted yak asssssns surprised HERNANDEZ
at 81. house and asssssinated him. The father
ders the sen worthy Offering from the defe nders of
the oath of January to the constitution of 1890 Cen
Muiioz rewarded Segovia by making him captain; but
Divine Provide nee. always just decreed that Segove
should be among the 6rst to perish the points OF the
lsLces OF the friends Of order the 10th of March
1he nation would have speedily recovered lis free.
dcm, tyranny would have persisted the moment II
showed itself, and the tyrant would have been now
the consequences of his atrocious wicked
hess, an act tina. unds no parallel in the history
OF similar evcnts hal sot interviewed to compcate the
tN4e Cfmy country. refer to the raseeembDg of the
oWes on the 2G;h Of January. have not ceased tes-
tfypg ny respect and admiration for those dis
tnguisbrd senators aud representatives who the
2fth of January trsoved TO die in their seats to
ment with their blood the Institutions Of the republic
zee them subsequently,, meet in Congress the 10Th
in bin obedience to the despot and approve without
discussion scts which villify the country and which
suddenly, but efectually, change the Venezuelan
character from intelligent brave and noble. into
stupJ. cowardiv and mean. My pen here runs with
dimculty am transported by the heroic conduct Of
the representatives Of Venezuela the Gath of Janu