The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-20
OUR CARACAS CORRESPONDENTS.

OUR CARACAS CORRESPONDENTS.
CARACAS March II, 1854
Meeting of Congess-Deteat Of BIN Permitting the Re
turn Of Of the Rxles 10 Venesuela-OPinions ON inc
Paes acknowledgements Measures for Public I'M
Observation-Disclosures Laso upon the Claims Of Fo-
reign1s-GeneraI Hondgas Message 10 Congress on "'e
Abolition of SldrTy-Freedom given by Geieras a0nagas
to his o,on Slares-Animdtion Of Agriculture
On this occasion snail conhne myself to giving youa
brief summary OF the most important recent eYen Ii
this country.
Tho rumors of new revolution prevented many OF the
members from meeting in Congress until last month,
ben sucb fears had somewhat subsided but they had
scarcey assembled when fresh reports were insidously
that General and his parsans had been able
70 raise such supplies upon their credit as would
enable them to organize INVASION with the view of
oyerthrowing the actual government of Venezuela The
belief this rumor obtained at first, though it Is
now almost entirely discredited, sufficient for the
prompt defeat Of bill actually under the consideration
OF Congress- allowing the President to recall from ban
ishment all part Of the political exes Indeed,
entirely did the feeling of Congress change that it i'm
medately voted resolution empowering the President
to prepare for the defence of the republic by calling part
OF the militia into active service and by raising the ne
cessary funds for the The majority of the peo
pie far from fearing rather desire fresh invasion from
true onehat the hostile return of General Paez would
give them the opportunity OF possessing themselves of
bis person, not with the intention of sacrificing him,
since it is well known that the liberal party have long
Since abolished the penalty OF death for political offences
The desire to hold Paez in their hands is simply that
1Acy may overwhelm him by their clcmsncy leaving him
at complete liberty within the country where they feel
sure that from the contempt into which he has fallen he
wall be able to raise more seditions.
This excitement over, the Congress and cabinet have
rected their attention TO many important national pro-
ects.
The Minister of the Interior in his budget has asked
or the appropriation of considerable in aid of the
nurosd from Puerto Csbello to San Felipe. We must
Vl int pH in anf
rise do not sufficiently of tho protection
hey have received from the government, gentleman
filling to believe it, that Mr.. Suti, of the firm OF S.
Agreda, Jove Co.. "a house engaged in commerce be-
Between New York and Puerto Cabello and which has
contracted for the construction of the raroad bit
ter opponent of the government of Venezues and
tisan OF Gen. Paez.
Congress- has under consideration the following bills
Dine for pecunary aid to the ruined city of Cumana
for the appropriation of $500 600 to the improvement of
marriage roads for extending the grant made to Mr.
Franklin Gett for the steam navigation of the Lake
Df Maacabo and one for the granting privilege of 90
years for the construction of railroad between agusy
and Puerto Cabello-a work that will nearly double
4he value of that part Of the country by facilitating the
transportation Of produce aud rendering valuable large
aracs 6 land at present waste but half cultivated
on he i instant, Congress sanctioned law explana-
81 ne rights of foreigners with respect to claims,
uiJect which has given rise to great and repeated
abuses The government, you know has been pressed
by claims for property seized by the rebels in order
carry ON the war This property, though belonging to
natives has often been fegned to belong TO foreigners
In order to give Importance to the claim and in
dhe rebellion and spontaneously aided it with their
means, upon its suppression making claims for indemni
used against her under the preext that such property
belonged to foreigners. Government has also been
pressed by foreigners for ndemnfcaton for the loss of
Sums they had themselves advanced to the rebels
matter of speculation.
We will cite some facts to the purpose In Maracaibo
Mr. Serrano headed the revolution aided it with funds
and then claimed naturalization from the government
Tor the same a claim is made for indemnity for
in al
from the estate of Bbasco (Which he then mauag
ing) under the pretext that the estate belonged to
Senior Serga foreigner Two Spaniars of the Of
Marques, merchants of Baul last JuNe spontaneously
furnished the rebels with money and all the arms they
had in their store. One of these Marqug's went down
5he river Coede in the employment Of the rebels, to
Jake them firearms from Senior Fernando de Apure and
they now pretend to insist that the government shall
pay them that money and the value of those arms, be-
cause they foreigners.
Amongst us there are many strangers who do honor
and assist the country both by their industry and CAPT
tal but, also, there not wanting individuals who
abuse for the most reprehensbe ends the privileges they
poy foreigners For this Congress has issued
he law to which we refer, and which says the follow
Big
treasury the value of any property seized by fao
This law in perfect accordance with the law of
Hons and has already been sanctioned by the treaties
9ntered into by Venezuela with Great Britain SPAIN the
United States and other countries since in those treaties
1T is stipulated that the citizens subjects OF other
countries shall be subjected to the laws in the
manner the citizens OF Venezuela The laws Vene
zuclx do not give her citizens the right OF claiming from
government the indemnifcation OF value taken from
them by factions and have observed the natives
and foreigners placed the same footing in this
spect
Another project has caused the greatest enthusiasm
in this capital On the 10th inst Gen Monagas sent
to Congress urging them to adopt for
the immediate abolition of slavery, himself etting the
example by freeing all his slaves Congress received
the proposal with loud acclamatons, and the
74th ins the second debate upon the they
resolved upon such q method Of ndemufying the slave
that in three years all their claims viii be salts
fed. To that purpose has been destined, as sacred
fund, ten per cent of all municipal revenues and also
the produce of tax levied upon national production
which is not exported, but has large domestic con-
Rumption-the sugar and the distillaton of brandy
The slaves who will he freed by this not
many Last year there existed about $780, and to day
the number does not amount to than 10 900, the
greater part of them being old Their average value will
not exceed 5000, which gives total OF 81 000 600.
In conclusion must observe that although rumors of
revolution have been rife, they but rumors. The
country improves sensbly all her products continue to
increase especially coffee and sugar plantations are
commencing to yield their crops and the borders OF
the lake of valencia steam mills have been
erected, which will prove of great benefit to the pro-
Tinces of Aragua and Carabobo.