New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-03
THE VENEZUELAN BILL OF RIGHTS.
PERSONAL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AMONG
THE RIGHTS GUARANTEED-THE DEATH
PENALTY ABOLISHED.

Panama Sept 25.-Advices from Caracas say that
the Congress has passed bill providing guarantee OF
rights TO individual citizens. The President has no
veto power Following is summary Of the piOvi-
siOns Of the bill:
The penalty of death is abolished.
The absolute right over private property must be
respected under all circumstances, except mat Is
subject to such taxation as may be Gecd 0gb the se
where previous payment for the same mas peeh hiduV
The mail Service is inviolable and the secrecy Of
private letters is guaranteed. .. - ..oo
The homes of citizens must not be entered by iofce
except TO prevent the commission OF crime ana tnen
only in conformity with law. =, A., ..A,,,.,oo -,
Personal liberty is guaranteed by the prohlpuoh oi
forribe recruiting of soldiers and the prohibition OF
slavery Every slave stepping upon Venezuelan ter
free eXpression Of opinion is guaranteed, by word
OF mouth or through the press in the latter case wil-
out any restriction whatever. . ..,,. =
Travel is free, with Or without property WITHOUT
Frecdom in the choice Of industries and guarantee
of exclusive property rights to discoveries OF pro-
Citizens may assemble in public private con-
The right Of petition and OF appeal through resolu
tons, from the authority OF any hncuonaiy Is sa SI
Snonsbe for the contents Of the document and for the
authenticity OF the other signatures;
Any citizen past the age OF eighteen may vote Id
Tie Government will provide for all primary instrnc-
ton in schools well instruction In art ana tadcs
Full religious liberty is guaranteed ,,,, .
Personal security Is guaranteed by the following ::
Cured through fraud or larceny be forced TO re
ceive or lodge soldiers in his home nor be ludged 10y
appointed by law nor be arrested without legal war
rant unless unprecedented In the preparation OF crime
ont trial nor be forced to bear witness In criminal cases
against himself his wife, other relatives to Inc fourth
TaSe nor be held prisoner after the charges preferred
have been dsproved; nor be forced 10 serve any
before s @ RSr DC nsr tie be 70 W
common criminals before trial; nor be deprived OF
mai" All citizens in equality, must be judged by the
same laws and render the same service, duties and
s aHeS SS Wis Viii be e Conferred PSc officials viii
receive the consideration at the hands OF the
ANY one Who shall enact. sign. execute cause
to be executed any decree, order or resolution which
violates or infringes upon tese guarantees TO nehehc
citizen may bring accusation under this provision.
The Bill of Rights just voted by the Venezuelan
Congress affords the latest and perhaps the strongest
proof OF the moral influence exercised by the United
states over some of rs sister republics in South Amer
lea Venezuela had been ruled in an absolute fashion
by Guzman BlancO, who did not dare, however to
continue himself in power, and caused R0ias Papl TO
be accepted as his successor, four years ago. But
Guzman was mistaken in his expectation that the
new President woud be of straw, keeping tho
Presidential chair for another occupation Of 10
by the former Dictator Roas Paul obeyed the popular
sentiment. which was running strongly against the
Blanco policy and which led TO wholesale destruction
Of the inuumerable statutes which the Dictator had
caused 10 be erected In his honor in most OF the
Venezuelan cities. stl, at the end of his Presidential
term, Rojas Paul antagonlzed, through motives Of
personal Jealousy the general drift OF public opinion
which designated DR.. Jesus AunOz Tebar the future
President and he lent the support Of the Administia
lion TO AnduZa Paacos, who is now President Of
Venezuela The country was not yet sufficiently
concentrated from electoral habits contracted under
Guzman BlancOs dictatorship, and the Presidential
election was carried almost entirely according TO the
dicta,ion sent from La Amarillo Casa or tho
Yellow Palace the Venezuelan White House But the
m Of Rights Just voted by the Caracas Congress shows
that great political progress has been made In Ven
eznele Perhaps DR.. Jesus MunOz Ieber may have
mad a large part in aiding that progress, which may
load 10 his election the future President " the
south American Republic. lie has spent most OF the
last year IN this country, and published book, FL
Personsllsmo el Legallsmo' which has been widely
circulated In NeneZuela and In which DIR. Tebar pre-
sents TO his countrymen me political system Of the
American countries. And the Caracas Chamber In
voting the BIZ Of Rights, seem to have applied In fact
the theories exp0unded In DR.. Tebar's book