The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-24
THE REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA


Narrative OF the Principal Political Events
that have occurred since ner Formation
ss AN Indie pendent Republic, In 1890, mp To
she present day.
BY AN IMPARTIAL OBSERVER.
I'm rsdio tutissimus ibis
TIE present condition Of the republic OF Vene-
vueIa and the causes that have led TO that condl-
tScu have been matter Of remark and discussion for
some four or Ave years past, and variety OF ac-
counts have been presented to the public, no two of
which have agreed, in consequence of their being
more or less partisan in their tone. 1t is matter
VI great importance that II should be placed on a
clear, impartial ground, as the same party differ
snses that have so conyulsed that beautiful eoun-
Try, exist IN principle in the other tive republics of
Ecuador and New Granada, and slowly, though
surely, both Of them are advancing to more blood
shed and intestinal connections. Even now, whilst
writing rumors of several political disturbances IN
the Ecuador are arriving, and New Granada j. re-
ported to be up in arms. That these republics, which
70 CALAMITY, and with such unaEimity (under the
Nte Of Cosomba achieved their independence OF the
Spanish rule by war almost unprecedented IN
history for severity and obstinate fighting on
beth sides-that these republics l say, should not
be able remain In peace after all their extraor-
binary efforts, from 1909 10 1923, is riddle which
ths ABglo-Sayon cannot solve. All that is gene
rally known of these republics, is that revolution
succeeds revolution, until it has become almost pro-
verbal 10 say, : as uneasy as South American
republic" The object, therefore, of the following
Dapers will be to place in clear light the cause
Of this remarkable political restlessness. Our first
sep towards this will be to give succinct narrative
Of the political events that have happened in Venc
BaeA since her formation rs sovereign and indie
pendent republic. Hereafter we may be induced to
give a similar narrative of events in the Ecuador
and New Granada. For the present we deal solely
with Venezuela.
The war os independence, between Spain and Co
lsmba, terminated in the year 1923 with the TAX
ing Of Puerto Cabello by the patriot troops under
General Jose Antonio Paez. This was the last
stronghold Of the Spanards, and though they for a
few months afterwards kept up species of guerilla
warfare il was soon quelled and de dcto, the taking
Of Puerto Cabello was the termination of the war,
Previous to the taking of that city, the battles OF
beyaca, in New Granada, and Carahobo, in Vene-
sseabcth decisive victories over the Spanish troops
had dieheartened these latter that the patriots
pursued their advantage, and drove them cut Of
the land. Subsequently, in 1924, Bolivar was call
ed en- by the Peruvian patriots 80 assist them in
diving OUT the Spaniards from thence. He went TO
Peru with respectable force, and the Speniarts
were driven out. The decisive engagement in this
campaign was the battle of Ayacucho, where the
Grand Marshal Sucre led the patriots with such sig
mi success. We may mention here that Eucre was
subsequently assasslnated by orders of General
Obando, who, at the present time, is Commander in
chief Of the army Of New Granada
At the conclusion Of the Peruvian campaign,
Bolivar returned to BOgota, was there made Pres-
dent and General Francisco de Paulo Santander,
Vice President and the Republic of Colombia. re-
eognized by the European governments, also by
shat Of the United States, took her station among
me natl0De OF the eartn SPAIN refused
70 acknowledge her independence. Some years af-
forwards, however, she did so at all events, she
attempted to regain her lost colonies by force
Of arms All the fighting in Colombia since then
Aas been domestic. OF the final fate Of Bolivar 1T
Is melancholy to speak, nor does IL enter into the
pHTp0se Of these articles. lie has been accused of
aiming at dictatoral power, of having even en-
seavored to contract matrimonial alliance with fam
hes Of the crowned heads Of Europe, and establish
empire with hneal succession, and various other
anti-republcan projects Be all this as ii may, we
cannot now enter into the question, (though it
weuld fern most interesting topc,) we will mere
~ say, he remained at the head Of affairs until the
Stk Of May, 1880, when he left Bogota a private
sitizen, having yielded up the government paeif-
sally to his opponents who placed General Joaquin
Aossuera in the Presidential chair. Bolivar jour
from thence for Europe. He did not verify this
However. He remained on the coast for some
months, and after some unavailing attempts to
reuse his party again, he finally died, broken heart
ID. at Santa Marta. en- the 18th September, 1880.
During the time he at the head of govern
nent he exposed to several attempts at assassi-
nation III one of them the gallant Colonel Fergu-
ses was killed by the consprators who mistook him
Tor Bolivar. General Sanander was implicated in
another, and was actually N exile in the United
States, on account of that attempt, when Bolivar
died. The reason of all these attempts on Bolivar
life, and the political opposition that he met with,
the dislike the civilian party had to his policy,
which was purely military; and here have the
rect ef all the discussions that have since then kept
these republics in ferment. The civil party
against the military, or the military against the
civilbe the ostensible point Of difference what 1t
may, this is always the real cGusd tcterrimd bsth
During Bolvars government, and. indeed, up to
the last moments of his life, he was much opposed
&c the dsmemberment Of Colombia
General Paez, however. was very DESTROYS to esta-
klisb Venezuela as a separate and independent re-
public. and in the commencement of the year 1880,
he. the leading man of the country, confident OF
the support Of the people determined to carry this
plan into effect. Indeed since the loth OF Decem-
her. 1899, we may say he began his operations, as
on that date he had appointed General Marino Com
naBder-i Chief Of the department Of Ornoco with
especial directions to watch the frontier Of New
Granada; and in January, $50, he officially IN
formed the commandant OF the third military dis
irict that he had decided the one hand to avoid
epen warfare with the general government of Bogota
and the rest of Colombia, but on the other hand,
that be ready to receive, under his protection
any Of the towns provinces that would range
themselves under the government of Venezuela. In
other words, his war against the government OF
Colombia would solely be a defensive one. To
sustain his policy he raised militia force,
and called on the old battalions of veterans,
and ordered that the commissioners, whom he had
reason TO expect would be sent from Bogota. should
not be admitted into the republic He nominated a
provisional government, by which the affairs oil state
were TO he carried until the question OF the indie
pendenee Of Venezuela was settled; and finally or
aered general election of electors TO take place in
avery parish, OF the ist March, 1880. These cleo
tors to meet in the capital OF each province, on
the let Apr and elect national deputies for Con-
gress, which was to meet in Valencia, on the lst
Nay, there and then to prepare constitution, elect
a President, sc.
In the meantime, the general government in Be-
pota unaware of the strength Of the Paez move
ment in Venezuela, deemed it an affair Of little
inheritance; but on hearing the real state OF the
ease. the Congress wisely resolved not to employ
scree against it, They projected new Colombian
constitution, and concluded to send commissioners
"a n 0tp IL q them
raj in its provisions than the then existing one and
u was confidently expected would satisfy the Vene-
zusans and shew them that their fears Of an illibe-
raj and monarchical form Of government were UNI
founded These commissioners were met by others
from the Paez government. at San Rosario de GU
euta OIL the frontiers Of New Granada, on the 18th
April 1880; but after two or three days discussion,
no agreement could be come to-tbe Venezuelans
affirming that they were too thoroughly convinced
of the tendency to monarchy in Bogota, aud their
country too determined to avoid all such risks and
,Lerefore not at all inclined to retract from their
position. The commissioners dissolved their ses-