The New York herald., 1850-12-27
Affairs In Venezuela.
OUR VENEZUELAN CORRESPONDENCE.
CApAc.s Nov 26 1874


CARACAS, Nov. 26, 1850.
6fairs in Heneznela- The Presidential Eleet,ox-
The Gold Washimgs, &c. Sc.
Agreeably with the apprehensions | expressed to
you in my late letters, Gen. Jose Gregorio Mona.
gas, brother Of the present incumbent of the Presi
Dental chair, came near being elected the chiel
is the beginning of the end
The President that may be is not the man to sil
calmly down, and bearup patiently under the many
insults which have been heaped upon him, and his
day of retribution will, l fear, be gloomy one
for Venezuela. You will naturally ask, how is il
that they have elected this man to succeed his
brother, when the people do not wish him Presi-
dent. The people-those masses, who ia other
and more fortunate republics, put their shoulder to
the wheel, and who prove that right is might, and
whose united strength nothing can Withstand, are
here afraid to cast their suffrages. They argue
thus: IL we vote and become the minority, Gen.
Monsgas will yet be elected and cut our throats for
voting against him /; if we do elect our candidate,
still the present President has the command of the
militia OF the country-they are his creatures, will
the overthrow Of any one who attempts TO usurp
the seat, which, par excellence, should be his
brothers.. And long ere the result was known,
rumor had been busy 10 the east, in the provinces
gus posse sses immense estates, in raising force
of soldiers and with this force he had determined
TO support his rretensions With qAec as eager a
display Of courage did the inhabitants of Valencia
declare, in their public prints, that were ose Greg
ono Monagas elected President they alone, and
unaided by the remainder of the republic, whom
they requested TO leave the matter in their hands,
would march on the capitals ana prevent the sue
cession of the said unpopular, and yet successful,
candidate. Now, that mis- election may take place
in January, VIC will the value ot this threat.
With sprit, depend upon IL, will any infringement
OF Monagess nShts be met, for neither the actual
President nor the elect is Of character easily
TO be alarmed both of them ranking high among
the soldiers OF the country. What appears more
singular in this recent election, is the fact, that
though there does not seem To have been liberty
OF action, nor even of speech, yet the liberty
OF the press has been unbounded. Never hava
L seen IN any country, nor in the widest poti-
cal excitement OF any canvass, more unbridled
expressions of opmion, than have characterized
the political organs of this capital, and the
other cities of the republic, during the late Pres
idential campaign. The press has reigned un-
controlled, and apparently untrammelled. On the
one side, epithets which no whig, democrat, tory,
or orangeman woald be guilty Of mouthing, much
less writing. have been hundred out against Mona
gas and his brother, and as bitter ones have been
ready tomeet them. Gullotnes have been proposed
as restorative OF quiet, and means of ridding
the country OF the present chief magistrates ene-
mics, and no name in the vocabulary Of insult
seemed too mild for the expression of the feelings
and memorable 24tb January are talked of as the
fate of the approaching Congress, but am in
hopes all will be quiet
Venezuela has unrivalled advantages, both com.
mercial and agricultural; she might be indepen-
dent of the world If she would; scarce mineral
can be named with which her rich hills, mountains
and rivers do not TEEN, and her herbarium is the
richest, or at least has the faculty of being made
the richest in the world. All she requires is a con-
tinuance Of the industry and patriotism which
made her free, and gave her a rank among the re-
pubcs Of the world, aud her tri. colored flag would
wave as proudly that Of any of her sister states
ReIublicansm m must blush for her now-may she
soon redeem her fallen name Many have left for
the gold washings of the Yuruary, bur the mea-
sures OF the government, which have been adopted
appear so stringent that few foreigners, when once
they become aware Of them, will venture To the
golden field. Among others would mention that
each god-hnder is obliged to hand over to the
government one hfth, or twenty per cent Of his
diggngs. This scenes severe, but IL is only one
OF the exacions. How they are TO secure this
one fihh is more than | know; but thousands of
accusations Of defrauding the revenue, and as
many defences, will have TO be gone through, be-
fore the Golfers Of the government will be glad
dened by the 20 per GEMS of the Yuruary wash
ings. FRsTUs