Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-16
BUENos AYREs.

10 tue neV y. .. SIEWAkIj OF lhc DtaNSs
Navy, for the following interesting and succnct ac
count Of the present condition of Buenos Ayres,
which, amid the conflicting statements of partisan
papers, is Of great value:
BuESos AYREs, JANUARY "a
am now in Buenos Ayres for fourth time within the
two years past AT each visit have found it politically
In new aspect The contrast between its present state
and that in which first il is particularly striking
Then, February, 1857 for years before, Rosas the
Governor and Captan-Genera of the city and province
encharged with the foreign relations OF the rest oil Inc
Argentine States and virtually the uncontrolled Dictator
Of the entire Confederation apparently as secure as
in his iron rule. The embems of submission and
adhesion TO his bood-sained powerthe red vests, red
hat-bands red breast bands of the men, stamped with
The motto of death 10 all opposed 10 him III p0ltca
opinion and the red in the headdresses OF the
women, gared every where upon the eye while the red
easements of every house red door and doors red
wndowframes and shutters red guards 10 the sidewalks
red lampposts red watercart red wagons red drays,
red carriages, red every thing proclaimed in like manner
universal slavery of fear Still all observation gave
of public order quiet and seeming prosperity
On every hand there the hustle Of active business
IN the crowded landing and thronged thoroughare; IN
the multitude of boats and lighters plying rapidly between
the shipping and shores in the loaded trucks of the ware
houses and ponderous wagons from the ships
OF the Pampas with their long lines of cucumber
ing the streets, Pleasure was and heard on
every side in the gay chat Of oslng promenaders in
rich equipages dashng through the Streets and in the
laugh and gaop OF riders both male and female coursng
along the shore
February, 1852 the defeatn battle the overthrow
IN power and the exile of Rosas And now the end
OF another year. what change for the in every
respect has taken place True the red the red hat
band, and the red breast rband of the with its
motto of !" DEATH" and the red streamers from the
womens heads are no longer With the downfall of
the yrant who imposed their tokens Of seryy to
linn, these torn off and rampled in the dust Now,
toe any color, apon the houses and throughout the
streets has been substituted pleasure for the hue Of
blood; but thing than snge-handed despotism
the wearing of deested because prescribed color has
iefaen the place in rule of anarchy and in civil
Through these, for months past all business
foreign and domestic has been suspended. The custom
house has been closed boats and boamen, lighters and
ghtermen, carts and carmen have been impressed for
purposes of the landing and mole appear for the
most part, like those of city of the dead the shop
windows barred, and the of places of traffic
trey shat up while the houses, with their iron grated
windows and fortressike doors, than ever |
Ike prisons IN the silence which pervades them and in
the deserton of the streets Every native male nhab
tnt between the ages of sixteen and sixty under
by force Of martial law and daily duty the being
hegf throughout the entire suburbs to within dozen
squares Of its centre by mounted bands of Guachos the
demsayages of the pampas led by petty chiefans and
tactonsts from its citizens. These not only cut off
supplies and interrupt all intercourse with the country
and interior of the province but bring the murderous fire
Of their muskets and into the very which
they have resided and upon the dwellings Of their neigh
bors friends and relatives, that scarcely day
without booished and death on side or the other
And what it will be asked is the Of this wretched
state of things! Even here the very spot the best
informed on the subject whose feelings and judgment
unwarped by party spirit, will reply Who tell"
This much is clear il is not struggle of patriotism
against tyranny; it is contest for liberty for the
right persons for the right Of property for the right
Ct e it is defence either side of political prn-
cipe arising from the conflicting policy of opposing par
ties Neither patriotism liberty, political prin
oe enters at all into the merits of the The struggle
j. that Of few ambitious men, civil and military, Tor
Powerfor power not for the good of their country but
power the receipt of customs and power the
Governmental bank, that they may officially plumber
the treasury others heretofore have done and aggrn
DIE themselves and their parsans at the sacrifice Of
every better and every higher consideration This may
seem very summary and harsh exposition of the motives
Of the contendng factions but it is truthful and real
aud throws light upon if il docs justify the vindica
ton offered by Rosas for his rule of blood when he said
Of the Buenos Ayreans, and he knew them WE'LL they
can be governed only with knife at their throats 1t
was only with the knife at their Threats that twenty
age he put down spirit Of anarchy and faction among
them similar TO that which exists and ceRened and
reared in blood the foundations and supersructure of his
rule TO the day Of its overthrow by invading power
But though the question at present between the bel
gerent parties is only, leader side well
presses it, question Of heads who shall succeed best
il keeping his upon his shoulders and in cutting off
that Of another still the origin and history Of the
tons Of the past which have led the existing issue
are not without show at least Of plausible cause.
Crquiza the hberator of the Confederation from the
despotsm Of Rosas in February, 1882 is q Buenos
Ayrean or Porteno, the distinctive appellaton here of
one bora in the city province HI is the native citizen
Governor and CapainGenera Of Entire Rios another of
the states Liberal anu generous the motives
nvowed by him for his enterprise Against Rosas and
fully every act after his sustained the avowa
be eyed stranger by the native citizens. and the
power which had fallen into his hands vicor-though
victor who had freed them from chains-was regarded
by them with jealousy and suspicion This parcu-
larry the with three four Of talent and nu
ence who in long exile penalty Of death under Rosas
had FASTENED joyfully the first intelligence Of his
downfall TO their families and their homes. They had
sacrificed and suffered much they believed for their
country and felt that they had strong claims upon its
der the dictatorship Of comparative stranger and alien
however unavoidable under the circumstances and /
however temporary that dictatorship might be- That
resveness, through their position and influence,
readily md extensively communicated to others.
Evidence Of this wanting the first en- \
Of the berator into the city at the head Of his
triumphant troops Surrounded by brilliant staff, he
came in wearing the red band unavodaby associated
in the minds Of the people with tyranny Of blood and
selves had Indignantly torn off, But the offence thus
occasioned was without just ground The red hatband
was not one Of the embems Of seryy imposed by Rosas
but the badge Of the Federal party which both Rosas
and Urquiza beongadopted before his usurpaton and
patriotic aud fraternal in its significance Urquza had
Long worn IT, worn it always, and to
lay II aside Still the Circumstance, trihng MS ii was
engendered murmurings and discomfort.
Other for dissatisfaction and complaint with or
without better foundation, rapidly multiplied till
in June the compact OF San Nicholas brought the dis
affection to crisis. This compact you will rccollect
agreed upon by convention Of the Governors Of the
several provinces Of the Confederation held the call Of
Urquza, intatory 20 General Congress for the con
solidation of Government under constitution similar
that of the United States II invested Urquza with
supreme power including the management Of foreign
1aya whpn pxNuia