The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-13

General Jose Creg0ri0 Monagas, last year, and his
the inheritance is kept in the family though the pos
session be changed occasionally for the sake Of ap-
pearances This is after the manner of their prede
cessors. General Paez set the example. He nomi-
mated his successors when it was convenient to have
| q change. And it was in this manner the Monagas
| dynasty came into power. One day General Paez
thought, for the sake of appearances, to nominate
friend to succeed him. as President with the inten-
ton, however, of still governing through his nom
nee. That nominee was elected-as who could
| doubt he would be for Paez was alpowerful. It
was Jose Tadeo Monagas Doubtless there was
previous understanding between the two friends-be-
| tween the great chief and his nominee. But power
/ IL sweet to the ambitious, and men deceive each
other. The history Of the Presidents Generals and
great pa<riots-and God only knows how manV there
are Of theni-of the Spanish republics Of South
America, is one OF treachery and revenge. Most Of
the devastating revolutions that are continually
| occurring in one or other Of those republics may
be traced to that cause. General Paez himself
had set the example, and General Monagas fol.
lowed it, The newly elected President disreg arded
the will of the man who put him in power, and
| showed his determination to be the President in
reality, as well as nominally. Monagas felt that he
had the power in his hands, and resolved to exercise
it Whatever may be said Of bis want of good faith
to his patron or treason to his friends Monagas had
the argument as well as the power. He could say
with truth that ne alone was responsible to the peO
| pie, and that the people would not make Paez, but
himself accountable for the acts of his government
Paez was deceived; he found his friend and nominee
had reyolted from the Paez dynasty, and was about
to establish dynasty himself. Paez saw the scep-
tie about to depart ard he made effort to seize it
| by violence. The chief who had held power SO long
who was the head of the oligarchsthe conservative
| party-became revolutionst aud conspirat0r. Jose
| Tadeo Monagas, the President, became aware of the
conspiracy, and when it was ripe crushed it. He
slaughtered his enemies without mercy, and estab-
lished himself firmly. Paez spared, and became
an exile, with many others of his party. In their
exile they felt keenly the wounds Monagas had in
tlcted. Paez never ceased to feel the loss OF
his power, nor TO be ambitious of regaiaing it.
From the day Of their first defeat till the failure of
the recent s. Paez expedition" they never ceased
10 plot and hope for the downfall OF the Monagas
liberal party, or rather the Monagas dynasty. New
York has been the centre of these movements Gen.
Paez and his frienos have abused the hospitality
and freedom they enjoyed in the United States, in
endeayoring to toment civil in Venezuela,
from feelings of revenge and motives of ambition
solely Paez has exhausted his resources, and is
politically dead. Monagas Is firmly established in
the government, and will probably rule till new
element of political strife having it's representa-
tive some able and ambitious man, will overthrow
him.
II must not be supposed, from this contest, that
there was any great difference in the political views
Of the contendiDg chiefs parties. No. the contest
arose and was continued, "a in almost all cases in
these South American republics from personal am
biton and revenge. But, though there was but lit
tie or no difference of political sentiment there
came out of the struggle question of vast import
arce, not only to Venezuela, but to other States
of the power of the white and black races in the
republic. Monagas, when he had destroyed the plat
form from which he had stepped into power-when
he had RACED the foundations OF his former inHu-
encesaw the necessity of another basis for the fabric
Of his authority. This he found in the colored
population Nearly all the white citizens, especially
those Of property, were or became Paez men, and
were called "Oligarchs' But in respect TO numbers
this party was weak. Thrce-fourths of the popula-
ton Of Venezuela are colored. The Monagas knew
this was power properly USED, which would be more
than match for the oligarchs. They made their
party, therefore, the liberals or colored party
Colored men were raised to political power and in
huence; the army was composed of colored men,
not only as to the private soldiers but to many of
the officers also. They were raised 10 social posi-
ton they had never before occupied. The Mona
gas and their families were pleased, and particu-
larry the late President, Jose Gregoro Monagas to
make friends and associates of colored people.
Slavery, which was being abolished gradually from
the time of Bolivar, still existed, though there were
not more than thirty thousand slaves in the republic
The total abolition Of slavery was, as matter Of
course, popular measure with the colored peo-
and finally, during the administration of Jose
Gregorio, was carried ont by law abolish
ing slavery forever in Venezuela. Thus,
they pandered in every way to the prejudices,
vanity and ambition OF that numerous race who had
occupied before position politically and socially
inferior to the whites. Neither Tadeo Gregorio
Monagas are men of more than ordinary intellectu-
al capacity, and might have failed in their policy
but that they were aided by such men as Guzman
and Planas, men of more ability, bold and unscru-
puous politicians, without patriotism, and looking
only to their own power and the actual condition OF
things. The Monagas and their ministers, either
did not comprehend or were Indifferent to the future
results Of such policy. They were more pleased
when negro threw up his cap and hurrahed for
them, than when respectable white man applaud
ed. They did not see or did not care about what
must follow-the domination of the coOred race and
the ruin OF their country.
This, then, the actual state of things in Venezue-
T.. gHL
is despot All power is virtually in his hands:
not only executive, but he can do what he pleases
with the Congress and tribunals of the country
And this power is based on the popular sympthies
the "oligarchs," or respectable white men, abstain
from exercising their political rights; they will not
enter into such an unequal contest, and therefore
everything is in the hands Of the liberals" or Co
lored party. 1t is said however--and / have no
doubt of i-that the President begins to foresee the
consequences OF his policy and Is DESTROYS of con-
ciliatng the oligarchs of reducing the colored pow
& Is his Sea az But i sss
Has he not gone too far into 1.-The shades of dark
Dess!" Already hear it rumored that the colored
ing in most aiectonate terms Of Jose Gregorio his
brother, who was out and out q negro worshipper.
venezuela is on the way to the same negro destiny
Of Hayti, unless ayerted by powerful Influences
OBSERVER.
Commercial Progress of the Argentine Rs
public During the Year 1854.
We are indebted to the Minister Of Finance Of
this republic for some very instructive commnnica
tons relative to the commercial movement of Buenos
Ayres, which will serve to give general idea of
the commerce of the republic. Since the fall of the
administration of Dictator Rosas, which displayed
great ignorance in commercial affairs il has not az
yet been possible to assemble the necessary statti-
cal materials to enable to establish with precision
the consumption Of the country in the different
branches Of commerce. Let Us, for example, take
the number Of yards OF imported cloth, and compare
it with the number Of inhabitants we can easily
calculate how many yards fall 70 the share of each
individual, and we may come to conclusion as to
the amount Of individual comfort enjoyed. One
fact will serve as proof Of this general idea. l