The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-13
SOUTH A RIGA.
Our Venezuelan Correspondence.
CARACAS, VENEZUELA. Dec. Is, Is,

heeH eesWS Mcteb o. Fenezueidn FOtHscs-1n
System Of the antilles Expiained- Domination O
the Coiored Raee-Organi-ed Efforts to Breal
UP Slare,y IN The United Sfates-Aggressiv,
Z Policy Of The European Po,rers ON this Cont
nent--Necessity Of Vigorous Act;on on the Par
Of our Gcronment to Resist t--Interesting
Sketch of he Present Venezuelan Dictator, Don
Jose Iadeo Monagas--Histo,y Of The Conflicting
Parties in the Republic
To your admirable journal, which, more than any
other, diftses daily intelligence to and from all
parts of the world, would give some information
Of this interesting but little known country; and
to the citizens of the United States especially is
useful and might say important, to know what
Venezuela is, and what she is likely to become;
for this country, more than any other in South OF
Central America belongs, and perhaps the only
country in South or Central America that does be-
long, to the system of the Antilles
First, then, before describing Venezuela in her
present political and social condition, and in her
probable future, will explain what mean by the
system of the Antilles" and why it is of impor-
tanoe for the United States to understand it, and the
condition OF Venezuela in connection with it. This,
! regret TO say, is better understood by British
statesmen aud other statesmen Of the Old World
than by Americans / mean, that throughout the
Antilles West Indies, there is state OF things
political, social and industrial, peculiar in itself, not
found in any other part of the world, and the
IN character, actually or in tendency, in every part
speak Of q state of things in part realized and in
part IN the process of realiZationthe domination of
the colored race. Take map and draw line from
the Bahamas OF the coast OF Florida, to the wind
ward, or eastward OF Hayti Porto Rico and Barba-
does. TO the mouths Of the Ornoco including all the
Lesser Antilles of Guadalupe, Martinique, Trini-
dad ana the rest then including Venezuela north
Of the 0ronoco, to the confines of New Granada, and
TO the Caribbean Sea, along the Caribbean to the Sea
of Honduras and the Gulf of Mexico, round the
Islands OF Jamaica and Cuba, and to the Bahamas
again: and within this circuit we see but one system
state Of things already developed in parts,
and the rest tending rapidly to the same develope
ment. The domination of the colored race, the de-
cline Of industry the relapse to state of sembar
ssrism with all the natural train Of consequences,
such revolutions, insecurity of life and property
outrages and tyranny, with all the foolery and
mummery of mock royalty such as we see at
Ha5ti at present, is the state OF things / call
the system Of the Antilles" And in this word
system, employ more extended meaning than
the order or adjustment of things spontaneously by
which has been designed and executed, or which is
pursued a. a plan. The ways OF Providence, or the
certain events Of inevitable canses, cannot be
ayelted, and, in trying to avert them, We fight
against Cod But this system of the Antilles"
induced by the Vaccinations Of a British aristo-
cracy by the jealousy Of the British nation Of the
commercial supremacy Of the United states, by the
long and deep laid plans Of British statesmen to
distract and weaken the great republic, and by the
designs OF French and other iniidel philanthropic
theorists and fanatics is pursued unremittingiy and
in every form that cunning diplomacy can devise or
power enforce. Ambition, national jealousy, and
fanatcism, gave birth to this state OF things, OF
system, and foster it increasingly, with the view Of
breaking up slavery in the United States, and Of
weakening or destroying the power OF our COME
Iteration. This is the key that will unlock
the secrets Of British diplomacy and intrigue
in the affairs of this continent and the West
Indies. Hence originate propositions of tri-
partite treaties the presump.uous surveillance
Of the Antilles and the surrounding, by British
fleets: the arrogant treatment Of the small republics
of America; the patronizing conduct o. the Queen
and government and aristocracy Of England TO negro
princes and dukes of Hayti, and the constant Off
cious medding with American affairs. This state
of things is not the result OF accidentnot the nat
raj effect Of natural, spontaneous causes; it is the
result of policy, profound and nvariable, Of the
enemies Of our country. Whether it was the policy
of such farsighted statesman as Pitt to destroy
weaken the West and to build up British power in
the East-whether it was Canning or 10 Palmer
merston-whether tory or WING in she Ministry,
the policy was and is the same The state of things
in the Antilles has been induced and is t05tered not
for the sake of the negro, not for humanity, but
from State policy, and with view TO operate upon
the United States.
II would be well, then, to watch closely this po-
icy and the progress of events, and to inaugurate a
policy as bold, astute and invariabe that of
enemies, to counterfeit the evil. Republics,
though more vigorous than monarchieal Or
aristocratic governments, are not 80 far-sight-
ed nor have such fixed conservative policy,
and in this respect we labor under a disadvantage
in such contest But if we examine this matter,
if we understand our own dignity and the presump-
tuous meddling of European Powers with American
affairs and if we see the danger of this state of
things" this system 0f the Antilles shall wise
y and Immediately inaugurate fixed policyts check
more efectually our adversaries. 1t must not be
mere talk about the Monroe doctrne-not the 2asco
made Of Congressional speeches or Presidential
messages State documents manufactured for
effect by Presidential asprants-but steady and
dgDiGed resistance to European diplomacy and in.
trgue the appointment Of able and patriotic agents,
land il would be better to have Southern men) as
Ministers and Consuls in every part bordering the
Caribbean Sea or Gulf Of Mexico, and the determi.
nation by all and every means to make our influence
supreme in all that part Of the world. 1t is not
question of day-it is not an unimportant one-it
is permanent and vital question. How long would
Great Britain. or any other Of the great European
Powers submit to the existence Of evil, state of
things near them which should threaten their
institutions, which should be growing me-
mace to the government itself, and not seek
to remove it-nay, not be determined to remove it at
any cost To study the history Of England and of
the Powers of Europe in this respect would be
full. We might initiate with great advantage.
This is an interesting question, upon which mnch
might be written. And the history Of emancipation
and the growth Of the negro power in Hayti and
other parts of the Antilles, Is subject worthy Of
more able pen. My purpose, however, Is only to
! speak of the country in which now am.
have said that Venezuela Is part of the "sys
tenn of the Antilles" Its geographical position, its
n--ca n
| thousand-its extensive commerce with the United
States-the exports amounting to three and half
mlons--and its climate and capacity for produc-
ton, make it country in every respect worthy
attention, but especially in connection with the
| question Of negro domination.
Venezuela is called republic-that is 10 say il
has President for chief magistrate elected every
four years by the peoples Congress, elected also
| by the people, composed of Senate and Chamber
and constitution. II is supposed to be some
| what similar to the government of the United