The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-04

three days, and have considered il a TT occasion
for giving brief outline of his remarkable history
A friend. who 10 familiar with Venezuelan politics
and on whom we can rely for a correct statement
in this natter has furnished with the following
Short but interesting sketch of this distinguished
South American patriot and statesman.
General PAEz is now about sixty years Of age,
of low stature, strongly built and Of great muscus
lar and mental power. He is wholly self made
man. He entered the Republican army. in the
struggle Of Colombia with Spain, mere youth, and
rose gradually but rapidly from the position Of pri
vate soldier, until at the age of twenty eight years.
he had become major general under General ST.
MON BoLrvAR. the first President OF the republic of
Colombia, which was then composed of the present
governments of Venezuela, New Grenada, and
Ecuador
Shortly after the recognition of the indepen-
dcnce of Colombia by other nations. the people of
Venezuela desired q separation from Colombia.
and almost unanimously resolved to procure it.
General Pace, always ready to obey the will Of the
people. was the chosen military leader Of ventzu
ella in that contest.
The separation was accomplished without the
shedding Of blood, but not without engcndering
feuds and animosities, which continue even to the
present day. General MoNAGAs (under whose
presidency General Pace was exiled during last
year) WINS OF those military chieftains who OPP
posed the separate independence of Venezuela, but
who was discounted in that contest.
The result Of that contest the establishment
Of the present constitution of Venezuela. writer
upon Venezuelan politics, who ia worthy of all
dsnce, gives the following vivid sketch of the events
of that interesting period:
ain the year $780, shortly after the dissolution of
Colombia, of which Venezuela formed part, she
established written constitution, under the aus
pices and guidance of that distinguished patti lot,
General JOSH ANTONIO PACE, one of the founders
OF South American independence. 1t had scarcely
been adopted, when. in 1881, military insuvrec-
ton, headed by General JOSH T. MoNAGAs, (iats
Prssidsnt,) broke out against the government.
General PAEz suppressed this military insurrec-
ton, and established the supremacy of the law,
capturing General MosAaAs and his principal
adherents, to whom, in June, 1881, he granted
full PARDON
General PACE the first President of Vcne-
zuela, from 1881 to 1885.
BY thoir constitution, no man can be twice Pre-
sident, in consecutive terms. In 1885 DIR. JosE M.
VARGAS, civilian, was elected President. in op-
position to General MARINo, the candidate of the
military faction, Of which faction MoNAaAs was
the master spirit. Another rebellion, under the
lead of MoSAGAs, followed, and the military party
openly demanded the establishment of a military
government, the establishment of the Catholic re-
ligion as the religion of the State, and the revival
of the abrogated privileges and nmunties formerly
enjoyed BY the military. They far succeeded
in their Efforts that they drove President VARGAS
from the country, and took possession of the gov
ernment buildings and archives. General PAEz,
being then retired on his estates, was again sum-
moned to rescue the constitution, and soon van
pushed the military party, with all their advan-
tagcs-took General MoNAGAs prisoner for the &C.
cond time, and for the second time granted him a
full pardon.
From 1889 to IS43 General PAEz was President
Of the republic, (his second term,) during which
period more was accomplished for the advance
ment OF trade, commerce, agriculture, and general
improvement, than during the residue of the whole
period of the existence of Venezuela as = republic.
General PACE succeeded in lS43 by General
SouBLErrE, whose administration, though PATRIOTIC
was not marked by that frmness and decision which
had distinguished the administrations of General
PACE.
In 1916 General PAEz was almost universallY
called upon to become, more, the President of
Venezuela. No opposition would have been made
to his election. He had been awarded by Con-
gress the title (given to other man in that
country of "Bsclarecido Ciudadano," or, "Ins H.
Iustriotn Citizen" and his popularity was I'M
bounded. Good lopsd him. and bad men fearsd
him. But he determined to set an example, which
in his country he thought might be useful, of
fusing to be President beyond t,oo terms. He re.
spectfuly, but firmly, declined the proffercd
honor.
In the contest of 1876 for the Presidency there
were several candidates, and amongst them Gene
raj MoNAGAs, hercinbefore spoken of.
Crediting the assurances of General MoNAGAs,
Of firm and faithful adherence to the principles
Of that constitution, in future, which he had ORR
ginaly opposed and tioice attempted Intellectually
to subvert General PACE, with the hope Of consoli
dating and frmly uniting the military party with
the party of the people, and thus putting an end TO
a long and bitter controversy, urged upon his
friends the support Of MoNAoAs for the Presidency
and he was accordingly elected, and began his
term in January, ls47.
It would be impossible, within any reasonable
space to nnrrAto the unconstitutional acts of Presi
dent MosAsAs during the first year of his term,
which resulted in the presentation of a bill of i'm
parchment by committee in the House of Repre-
sentatvcs, on the 22d or 23d day Of January, Is45
Suffice 1t to say, that the Gath day of January,
lS4S, and when this bill of Impeachment had been
thrice read, and was about to be passed. the hall of
the House of Representatives was suddenly at
tackled by the armed myrmidons Of the President,
and the most prominent of his accusers murdered
in cold blood, and in their seats
And four days afterwards that Congress, whose
rights had been thus outraged, were compelled, at
the point of the bayonet, to reassebe and pass an
act pardoning all persons concerned in the out
rage; and, within few short months thereafter,
they were compelled by the arguments (for
the brother of President MoNAaAs was at the head
OF near five thousand picked men, and in sight of the
captal) to resolve that General PAEz was traitor
in making one more effort to rescue the violated
constitution of his native land! And this same bro
Tier has no doubt been recently elevated to the Prcs
dency of that republic, by the came incontroverti
bic arguments, the next arrival from Venezuela
will assure us.
On hearing Of tho awful butchery of the mem
bers Of Congress, on the memorable Oath of Janua-
~, ls4s, General PACE made effort to rally the
people, and bring them to the support of the con-
sttution.
But his noble efforts were counteracted by
MosAeAs, who had taken possession OF the strong
holds Of tho countryside possession of all the arms
and munitions Of war-and who united the mill |
nnrtv nd .sd