New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-01-08
yeuezeeIa.

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race in South America is an interesting question
and as the history Of Venezuela. from the Bolivar
usgrpstOn TO tho present time, has an instructive
bearing upon il, We propose &c devote few word.
to the subject.
Az ths time Of Bohvsrs uprise, the three reyub-
lies Of Venezuela, Ecuador snd New Grenada were
separate and independent Governments divided
alike by their phc4l position, their interna
systems Of government and the moral and CONNER
cisl relations Of their inhabitants Bolivar how
ever. drawing his IDEAS from the gigantic designs
Of the Od-school consolidationists Of this country
and resOutey shutting hrs eyes 70 the fac;-or per
haps beng really ignorant Of it--thst theirs was
not the system under which we had grown and
Aourished, formed the scheme Of destroying these
individual Governments and uniting them into one
This new Government he called a Republic, Of
which the President was elected for lfe-he HIM
self Of course being the first. The system was IN
fact elective monarchy. and his election mere
military usurpstion As such, his Government ne
cessarly became intensely obnoxious 10 the intel
/ lgent citizens Of all these countries and Bolivar
once worshipped second Washington died IN
disgrace and obscunty very small pattern OF
second Napoleon
Among the most active snd vigorous Of his Op
poDents YVES Gen Paez the commando Of the
army Of Venezuela-a man Of great wealth, char
acter and Intelligence and whose courage and
military skill had been established IN more than
! fifty battles Ranying around him the hidagos Of
his country. the flower Of the Spanish race, young
and old. he infused into them his own spirit. and
led them boldly face 70 face with Bolivar and HE
imperial army The President hestated moment
receded. and finally abandoned the contest and
thus his il oipted empire was. without blow.
shattered ia pieces aud returned 10 rs rle1nal
elements.
Venezuela, now restored to independence, lost
no time in constructing herself into real demo
cratic republic, with President elected for four
years and Ineligible for two consecutive terms, and
with popular Congress, chosen by general suf-
frage and organized nearly like our own. Paez
was unanimously elected President, aud the new
Republic commenced its existence under favorable
auspices. powerful germ offuturc trouble bow
ever existed in the fact that the recent events had
concentrated a majority Of the wealth. rank and
talent Of the country in the army, and that most
Of the appointments and emoluments Of the Gov
eminent were shared among its members. The
President saw this evil. and determined 10 remedy
and gradually extinguish it. He therefore com
mcnced cautiously but hrnly, retrenching tho vast
disproportion Of military appointments comforting
valuable Offices upon distinguished and worthy
civilians. and otherwise curtailing the oppressive
and exclusive privileges Of army. This course
gave great satisfaction to the people but naturally
exaspcrated the militMy-who, drawn together by
tho cohesive power of public plundor rapidly
formed themselves into a distinct party, putting
forth Gen. MonegDs the Commander in. Chief OF
the army under President Pace as their candidate
for the Presidency. The civilians on their part
nominated DR. Vagos, an eminent aud patriotic
citizen who received the support of Paez and hls
friends and was consequently elected by an over
whclming majority-Paez retiring, amid tho heart
felt blessings of his people to his plantations IN the
interior of the country Monngas and his defeated
chiefla aims could not bring themscves TO submit
quietly to tho decision Of the ballot box and hay
ing secretly concoctcd the plan Of rebellion they
suddenly rose at tho head OF the army. seized the
roins 81 Government and banished President Nagos
TO Curacao
This reasonable revolt took tho country by sur.
prize and. amid tho dismay and CONSERVATION OF
every real republican an unanimous appeal was
made to Pasz to losvo his retirement and avert
tho impending ruin he obeyed the call Al the
sound of his well known voice the country rallied
around him, aud Monagus and his followers were
captured almost without resistance, aud surron
dored expecting nothing but instant death. Paez,
however, pardoned the traitors without conditions,
and even restored them to their rank IN the army
He then recalled President Wages, re instated him
IN has seat and again retired 10 the grateful shades
OF private life
But Monagas and his party were OF course as IN.
sincere ms they had been uaitorous, and watched
patiently for an opportunity to resume their as
sauts upon tho constitution and the Liberties OF
their country. II is not necessary 10 trace events
infinitely from this time to the final triumph OF
Monacas, and the defeat by open aud mnm,Iratod
,reachcry in the hour Of battle Of Paez, who
obliged to save his hfs by fight--loaving all power
in the hands Of the traitor Monagas and his gans OF
military robbers OF course under their rule the
country rapidly rotrograded toward anarchy be
came parslyzod m its agriculture, commerce and
every species of It's industry. and Is now fast tend
ing tow ard utter ruin and national extinction.
During the second Presidency Of Peez new
and important element had been added 10 the 20
tcal existence Of the country. by the formation Of
the Liberal party, composed of the lower classes
of laborers. blacks. whites. meEtizoes Sc. SC. who
banded together under political organization,
protesting the most ultra agrsran principles. and
openly aiming to snnul the rights ofproperty ana di
vide up the country among themselves. At frs, the
idol Of this motley crew was man named Guz.
man. whom Paex overthrow his first attempt
upon the Government aud whom the Courts had
condemned to death BY some means. however,
he managed to put of the execution Of the sen
tencc until Paexs second term had expired and
Monagss had at length, by force OF intrigue. been
slsced snec~sd him. One OF the FIRST OF Presi
dent Nonagas W as the unconditional pardon Of Guz
man and his appointment TO an important post IN
the Government. But Guzman has now lost the
confidence OF his party, from lack OF icrOciy and
recklessuess and bis former friend and ocnhdsnt,
a man named Bias Brurusl. is at the present mo
ment the favorte Of the Liberals Brlzual
is a rivsl candidate for the Presidency against
C;uxman on the one side and Gen. Jose Gregorio.