The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-21

srsEE ~ y w IN \ ~ AO n, ssx u
q Letter Of The minister of ueyv Gsransds IN
ths United States, On the Last Events shas
have taken place In thas Country.
s. NEW Yosx, July 10, 1854.
B. HMTrn, ESQ:
My Esteemed Friend-In consequence OF the de-
6re you express In your vs'aed favor OF the 18th
nit, to hear something from me OF the events
that have recently occurred IN New Granada, feel
great pleasure In sletching them slightly for You
but before doing 90 allow me to refer to some ante
cedent circumstances which are connected with
those actually passing, and may serve to give you
clearer IDA of the political state OF the country.
New Granada, in common with the other sections
that constituted Spanish America, has been COM
PEELED to maintain perpetual struggle against deep
~ rooted popular preudces OF every sort. engender
cd by the colonial regime Immediately after
Wrestling their independence from Spain, these
countries made an effort to regenerate them
selves completely; for no part Of tho ancient
system could secure their happiness, or was
compatible with the degree Of civilization to which
we have actually attained-a civilization which is
making rapid advances, and everywhere demands
notifications and changes in the political system,
and in the very structure Of society; but more e.
pecally does it demand those changes in countries
which, like Spain and the Spanish American States
have passed three centuries in statu quo when they
have made no retrograde movement. But this re-
generation in the course Of which 1t was necessary
to produce a complete metamorphosis, required
means fer the reazation which could not but shake
society to its basis, 80 deeply seated was the
cancer.
It was necessary to effect these changes slowly;
Otherwise they would have been impossible. Hence
II ID that only after forty years Of continual strug
giles between liberty and despotism, between truth
and fAlsehood New Granada has been able to crown,
amidst the general enthusiasm, the work she COM
menced at the beginning OF the century.
In vain should attempt, in til narrow compass
OF this letter, to review, however briefly, the nu
merous and complicated events through which m0
Countrymen have had to pass, and the almost in
superable obstacles they have overcome. will only
tell you that New Granada has at length secured
The reward Of her efforts for although old habits
and few prejudices still oppose feeble resistance
to the triumphant march of the ideas of liberty and
progress, this resistance grows weaker every day,
and the lapse Of few years will in itself be suf
fcient to conquer it.
New Granada has achieved threefourths of her
task within the last i've years, having labored
constantly and severely to overcome, not only the
unavoidable difficulties Of vast an enterprise but
also those arising from the sntpathies and ealouses
which her reforms excited in other countries,
calling themselves republics, though possessing
nonarchical ms buttons. individuals from those
countries, and some other ignorant charlatans
who have visited . small part Of the repub-
Lie, have diffused the idea that all the
reforms that have taken place there are mere Uto-
pias-fruits Of the ideas that have been adopted
from French exaggerations. Such vulgar common
places and other calumnies Of the same nature, in
vented by the servile supporters Of despotsm, who
do not even understand the nature of liberty, have
been reproduced by foreign periodicals., as though
they were worthy Of belief; 90 that the country
Instead of being supported by the republicans Of
other nations interested in the progress Of humane
ty has been the object Of their rude and senseless
attacks. But New Granada, like noble minded
man, conscious Of his rscttude, has despsed these
attacks, and trusts her vindication to time, that
viii bring to light the results Of her actions in
manner that must convince alike the wise, the in.
credulous and the stolid.
Let what win be said Of New Granada-of tina
country set in the heayt Of the torid zone in the
centre Of America forming the link that unites her
two grea. divisions, washed both by the Atlantic
and Pacific, and facilitating the Communication be.
tween them TO the commerce Of the world-this
country, repeat, in which the tremendous and ma
jestic Andes everywhere exhibit their noblest fea-
lures their richest and most enchanting loneliness
IL arising republic which win soon be worthy to
serve as model to many others, and will challenge
The attention Of the world not only for the perfec-
tion which pure and true democracy and the whole
republican system are attaining there but also for
the precious productions which abound in her SOIL
of nature su geneis that attracts and fascinates,
and retains IN her bosom all those who are capable
Of appreciating IL.
There are not wanting those who win continue to
declare that the Wanted reforms Of New Granada are
but ridiculous Utopias. would ask them to cite but
one that Is Utopian. Those who write or speak upon
the subject should at least be acquainted with the
facts that have taken place 10 the country, for they
have been of such great importance and notoriety
shat they could not escape the sight Of any inquirer
however ignorant. / am one of those who have
aided to produce them. They are no other than the
following:-
l. The abolition of slavery by means Of just in
Identification to the slave owners.
2. The liberty Of the press.
8. The liberty of every branch Of industry and
instruction which is not openly opposed to mo
ralty.
4. The abolition Of all monopolies that fettered
labor, and vexed and oppressed the people in the
most unequal and insupportable manner; commenc
ing with the abolition Of the monopoly Of tobacco
one Of the most productive branches Of labor in the
country-which monopoly weighed most heavily up
on the people.
s. The separation of the Roman church from
the State, and the liberation Of all forms of wor.
ship. This measure has secured to all tha right Of
protesting whatever religion they choose, and the
government and the people are exempt from the
exacions, restrictions and servitude imposed upon
them by the monarchical theocracy which was or
gained and interpolated in the republic, under the
name of Roman Catholic Church.
6. The decentralization OF authority and Of tn