The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-05
GENERAL JOSE ANTONIO PaKz.

vailed in bodily strength aud agility OF those days
incident is related which is characteristic of the
courage which he afterwards displayed
When fifteen eighteen years old having of alone
day his farm for long journey, he met in the
road two mounted banditti. who knew he had money
They had been lying in wait to rob him Young Paez
did not know their intentions, and them One
seized the eins and the other fell upon him He strug
ged alone with BOTH killed instantly and rode off at
full speed overthrowing the other robber and his horse
This fact being KNOWN ths young hero at became
famous and highly regarded.
In 1906 find that the first efforts Of the yenezue
lans made to their independence but it
until after the entrance of the French into Spain that
these patriots In any successful In 1871
five years afterward freedom proclaimed by the
Congress which assembled at Caracas and liberal cap
stuion framed. This prosperity not however, OF
long duration for the earthquake of 1872 unsettled the
minds of the people, and Montverde loyalis general
took possession of the government In 1878 another
revolution succeeded, when Bolivar rescued the people
from the hands of their oppessors and in 1877 estab
lished an independent government. In 1919 union
was formed with New Grenada called the 'Repubc of
Columbia, and the of independence closed in 1928
by the taking of Porto Cabello by Gen Paez SPAIN by
treaty in ls47 renowned forever all rights of sover
eighty in Venezuela. and since the dissolution OF the
republic OF Columbia although there have been internal
and divisions the government of Venezuela Is
becoming stable aud efficient Throughout this long
and desperate struggle Gen. Paez, next to Bolivar per-
formed the most important and gained the most
battles.
In 1870 with band of followers of his selection,
find him the terror of the Spanards. Returning to
his farm in 1911, during the amnesty, he became obnox
ious to of the Spaniards who mutnied and COM
PEELED the governor to place him in prison. Here he
4
his noble conduct, he persuaded to make common
effort for their liberty 1t successful and Barinas
was once freed. Again he placed himself at the
head of his followers and again he became the
csssul and at the time the most terrible to the
Spaniars of all the officers engaged with Bolivar in the
memorable campaign OF 1878 and 1914 the plains Of
Apure, Achaquas, and Casanare His soldiers idozed
him; regarded him the greatest hero in the world
even greater than Napoleon. His daring and individual
acts of courage are wonderful AT Ortiz lSlS when
ordered to cover the of Bolivars infantry he was
seized with fit after having killed thirty nine Spanias
with his own hands. In Guayabel, with two thousand
men, he routed three thousand under the command
of Gen Calzda In Calabozo Morllo and Paez met in
general battle, the issue Of which was the routing OF
twenty five hundred men, and the complete dispersion of
Morillo whole army, six thousand strong.
The battle which decided the liberty of Venezuela
that Of Carabobo fought between Bolivar and Itsre
Paez decided the fate of that BATTLE and the spanars
forced to retire to Porto Cabeo from which they
afterwards driven by Paez, and their power and in
fucncc destroyed forever
In $780, at the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Columbia, Paez be-
came the first President Of Venezuela Dr. Jose Vargas
was his successor during whose administration Of the
government revolution broke out which was quelled
by Paez From this time on, during all their internal
difficulties General Paez the true friend of the
was several times President and always maintained the
entire confidence and respect Of the people. But lie
always destined to receive that respect which his SER
vices merted Upon the succession of Monagas his old
enemy to the presidency, the Congress of ls49 was
sacred and he forced to exile himself for nine long
years.
General Paez is about 10 years old He is exceedingly
modest humane, and unpretentious but brave as the
most brave and we doubt whether there is any living
soldier in the world who has been tried ia more pitched
battles and who could boast of personal exploits
the history of which 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 Casa
Under these circumstances, it must be highly
gratifying to him after long exile to be recalled
by the people for whom he has done much to once
more watch over their interests
During his visit to Washington, the Goth ult
General paez accompanied by Senior Roa 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 he is distinguished
General Paez introduced by General Glass; Secretary
of State and in brief and eloquent words stated that he
came bid farewell to this nation through its President
He considered the United States his second home and
expressed the hope that the ympathes bestowed upon
him in his exile would be extended to Venezuela The
high respect and gratitude that he felt for the United
States would daily increase at his reside and where
his friendship would be abundantly manifested trib
which he owed to the people whose ustrious chief
now received his adieu
The President with feeling, replied that he happy
to see the who great name in the Column
bian of Independence, and who had made many
sacrifices for his country Gen Paez being known the
defender of constitutional liberty it was gratifying
the President that he had received the nations sympa-
thy With all his heart he wished him triumphant
her liberties under such eminent leader Entertaining
the warmest feelings for the prosperity of Venezuela
desired that the two countries should maintain the most
friendly relations and If any difficulty should arise be
tween them he entertained doubt il would be AMIGA
bly, settled.
Gen Paex expressed himself highly gratfod with his
reception did he afterwards change his opinion of the
courtesy of the President and the Secretary of State
when he partook of social dinner with each of them
He has already left this city for New York; where it is
understood that he will embark for his country in a