New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-12
1s.nernl 80 Antoalo paez.

taa resided in this country since bis Punishment from
Venezuela ID 1919:
General Jose Antonio Paez was born in 1885, in
fhe city OF Aragua, Venezuela. He passed MS youth
u 1l DAYS in raising cattle and cutivating the land
md was unriEalled In bodily strength and aglnty.
al those days incident is related which is char
anteristc Of the indomtabe courage which he alter
wards displayed When fifteen or eighteen years old,
having set OFF alone one day from his farm or long
4 Journey, he met in the road two mounted bandlttl,
i who knew he had money. They bad been lying in
wait to rob him. Young Paez did not know their in
tentions, and came near them. he struggled alone
with both killed one instantly, and rode on at iull
sDeed oveIthroWing the other robber and his horse,
This fact being known, the young hero at once be
came famous and highly regarded.
In IsOe we lind that the first efforts Of the Yene-
zueans were made to secure their independence but
Il was not until after the entrance Of the French into
Spain that these patriots were In any success
full III 1911 FIVE years afterward, freedom was pro
claimed by the Congress which assembled at CarTaC-
cas-, and liberal constitution framed. This pros
perity not, however, Of long duration, for the
earthquake OF 1872 unsettled the minds OF the people,
and Montverde loyalist general took possession Of
the government. Ia 1918 another revolution sue
ceeded, when Bolivar rescued the people from the
hands OF their oppressors and In 1917 established an
independent government. In 1919 union was
formed with New Grenada, called the "Repnbic of
Columbia and the war OF independence closed IN
1928 by the taking of Porto GabeilO by Gen. Paez
Spain BY treaty. in 1877 renowned forever all rights
Of sovereignty in Venezuela and SINCE the dissolution
of the republic of Columbia, although there have
been internal dissensons and divisions, the govern
ment OF Venezuela is becoming stable and efficient
Throughout this long and desperate struggle, Gen
Paez, next to Bolivar performed the most important
services and gained the most battlss.
In 1910, with band Of followers of his own seec-
ton, we find him the terror of the Spaniards Re-
turning to his farm in 1911, during the amnesty, he
became obnoxious to some Of the Spaniards, who
mutnied and compelled the Governor to place him in
bn nr1n ua hun1rad AM 6ftv rria
ers Of war, whom, by his noble conduct, he per-
shaded to make one common effort for their liberty,
1t was successful, and Baripas was once freed.
Again he placed himself at the head Of his followers,
and again he became the most successful and, at the
same time the most terrible to the Spaniards of ali
the officers engaged with Bolivar in the memorable
campaign Of 1913 and 1914, on the plains of Apure,
Achaquas and GasanaTe. His soldiers idolized him j;
regarded him as the greatest hero in the WOrldeyen
greater than Napoleon. His daring and individual
acts Of courage are wonderful At Ortiz, in 1878,
when ordered to cover the retreat of Bolivars intan
try, he was seized with fit, after having killed
thirty.nine Spaniards with his own hands. In Quay
abel, with two thousand men, he routed three thou
sand men under the command of Gen. Calzada, In
Calabozo, Morilo and Paez met in general battle,
the issue Of which was the routing Of twenty-five
hundred men, and the complete dispersion Of Moril
los whole army, six thousand strong.
The battle which decided the liberty of Venezuela
was that Of Carabobo fought between Bolivar and
Latoue. Paez decided the fate Of that battle, and
the Spanards forced to retire to Porto Cabello,
from which they were afterwards driven by PaeZ,
and their power and influence destroyed forever.
In 1880, at the dsmemberment of Columbia, Paez
became the first President of Venezuela. DR.. Jose
Vargas was his successor, during whose administra-
ton OF the Government revolution broke out which
was quelled by Paez. From this time on, during all
their internal difficulties Gen Paez was ever the true
friend Of the people and the champion of republican
principles. He was several times President, and
always maintained the entire confidence and respect
Of the people. But he was not always destined to
receive that respect which his services merited.
Upon the succession OF MOnagas, his old enemy, to
the Presidency, the Congress of lS49 was mastered
and he was forced to exile himseffor nine long years
General Paez is about 10 years old, He is exceed
iDgly modest, humane and unpretentous, but brave
as the most brave; aud we doubt whether there is
any living soldier in the world who has been tried in
more pitched battles and who could boast OF more
personal exploits the history of which is not yet duly
known in the world, but remains written with his
lance in almost every town. every village and every
hamlet of Venezuela and Casanare. Under these
it must be highly gratifying to him
after so long exile to be recalled by the people for
whom he has done so much to once more watch over
their interests.
During his visit to Washington, on the Doth nit,
Gen. Paez, accompanied by Senior Roias and two
other members of the Venezuelan Government, and
also by General Herran, the Minister from New
Granada, waited upon the President of the United
States, who received him with that courtesy for
which be is SO distinguished, General Paez was in.
troduced by General Cass Secretary Of State and in
brief and eloquent words stated that he to bid
farewell TO this nation through its President. He
considered the United States his second home and
expressed the hope that the sympathies bestowed
upon him In his exile would be extended to Venezuela
The high respect and gratitude that he felt for the
United States woud daily increase at his iresdei and
where justice or the good name of the United States
required it bis friendship would be abundanty mani
tested as tribute whicthe Owed to the people whose
ilnstrious chief now received his adieu
The President, with feeling, replied that he was
happy TO see the man who won so great name in
the Columbian war of independence, and who had
made so many sacrifices for his country. Gen. Paez
being known as the defender OF constitutional liberty
it was gratifying to the President that he had re-
eeived the nations sympathy. With all bis heart he
wished him triumphant success on his return, and
that Venezuela may consolidate her liberties under
such an eminent leader, Entertaining the warmest
feelings for the prosperity of Venezuela, he desired
that the two countries should maintain the most
friendly relations, and il any difficulty should arise
between them, he entertained ne doubt it would be
amicably settled.
Gen, Paez expressed himself highly gratifed with
his reception did he afterwards change his opin-
ion of the courtesy of the President and the Secretary
of State when he parool Of social dinner with each
of them. He has already left this city for New York
where 1t is understood that he will embark for bis
own country in national vessel which has been ten.
dered for bis passage
A CONVICTION AND MURDER IN BALTIMORE.
On the 9th inst Henry Gombrill, one of notorious
gang of rowdies that nrest the southern part of Bal
timore, was convicted Of murder in the first degree
he having about month ago deliberately shot dead
policeman named Benton. This conviction led to a
tragedy the day, which is thus related in the
Clipper;
Police officer Robert ne. Rigdon, of the Western
station, was wantony and cruelty murdered shortly
after o'clock last night whilst peaceably standing
in his house, West Baltimore street. between Pear
and Pine. He had reached his house, and after
taking of his coat stood in the back ROOM near the
mantlepiece conyersing with his wife, when bal
entered the window leading from the alley and pene
! trated his heart He never spoke afterwards but
/ utterng grean, fell upon the floor aud expired
/ The firing drew together several officers, who pur
/ sued and arrested man named Peter Curry. He
was taken to the Western station where he gave in.
| formation which led to the arrest of a man named
| Marion Crops.
An examination was held, and Curry turned State
evidence, declaring that Crops shot Rigdon, and that
he himself was in company with the former and ran
away for fear Of being suspected. They were both
committed for trial, The Clipper says :
It will be recolected that officer Rgdon was one d
the principal witnesses, on the part Of the State ii
/ the murder case which terminated in the Crmina
| Court yesterday, by the conviction of Henry Gam
/ brill for the murder OF officer Benton. Il is said thai
his life had been threatened in consequence of tht
evidence which be gave in this case and it is know
that during the last few days be has been taken of
! night duty and placed on the day service
------s
Nor IN THE BILLs,-The Baltimore Dispatch re
counts scene which occurred at the Holiday street
theater few evenings since, which was not in the
I