Spanish Army In Peru.
The Times, 1824-09-16T00:00:00

k eeUent Sir,--Having refltcted maturely since my circular of tile 5tis of tlhe monthi cirrent, on: the Royal derree of li's Majestyv dtaed :roln the port of St. M ary on the lit of October, 182, I. un- derstwid that, as the King las declarcd by article Ist of the above- mentioned decree null anti void all the ordinances, regulations, &c., from the 7th of 1lfarch, 1820, to the Ist of October. 1823, 1 anm jus- tified in not continuing the chiarge of this hiigh office, that I accepted gain.st niv will, mnd solely because the general good required it; no otaicr satisfaction having resulted to me during the thiree years that I have held it, but thLt. of htaving contributed, withi my cotnpaonions irn arts, to the preservation of this initegral partof tlie :tonarchy. Itn suppott of this opinion, thich for nte is an axiom, I fedl coat- pelied to mallke the following, observa ions:- Ist. That I resign this command without waiting for an order from hiis MAftjestv to pass over to the Peninsula, because it may be tite most pcaceable rneans b\' whichl General Olaneta and his fbflowv- ers cati be recalled to order, and equally to show any iniquitous titan vlio tiay entertain doubts as to tle rectitutle of miy intentikns, not only tmty obedience to the Sovereign will, but that nnt the stnalleat idea of amibition fot corninana bas p-ssed my mintd in the remotest iitatiner, of whicl there rrc sitiiv proofs in my repeated and esartest entreatiei to his Alajesiy. that lie wvoild relieve tne froto this painful service; and of thiis lis Royal mind tnust be tully informed. 2d. That thoseordinanc-c issue(d bv his Majesty from the 7th of iMarch, 1820, to the 1st of October, 1823, being null, it is cvidetit tltat my command should cease, anti the order for r::uuating the succession of coromatiders catinot include nie in this Viceroyship. Thlough, indubitably, I a,)) now the oldest General in these couti- tnes, yet it is manifest, that according to the snirit of the above- mentiotied Royal Decree of tlte I st of October, -r23, r ought not to remain in Peru, because the ordinantes for my reiiainitig, as well ais the approval of mv nomination of Captain-General and Vicer,y,' were-issued at the period of the Constitutional form, wliiel: the itiig has tbought properto annul. lfthisadmits ofno doubt. which I believe it does not,, neither should I hesitate to adhere 'to the Royal Ordinances of 1818, wlhen his Majesty thought proper to ac- cede to my resignation of Gcneral in Chief of the army of Upper Peru, and to translitc me to the Peninsula, whlich is no.w the only ruling ordintance, it being issued at the time that the King wss in all the plenitudeof his authiority; and, according to tiis, I cannot con- sider myself as havitig any relation to these countries, or as having atiy right to enter iitto the enjoyment of the orders for command that precede the Royal Ordinance of the 23d of October, 1806. 3d. That indLependent of the reasons I have here exposed, mv own delicacy requires that I should inot continue in tsie command. Con- vincetl of tiis, it ftllows thiat vour Excellency, being the senior General in active service, shioulti assume t,e command: taking into consideration, on ihat he,d only. the Roval orders not appert.linitng to the perioi of the Consittutionai system. It thus results, that there is no bri2adicr of older standling than yourself in Peru ; because, though General D. Pio Iristan is of the year 1810, still I consider tirts as having retired from service. I desire to give a new proof to his Majesty, and to tile universe, that I moreover now sacrifice ail to obedience to hist sovereign will, as well as to tte good of these coun- tries; they always having beeti objects of my cares and sacrifices, I think it tee"esary to pass over to the Peninsula immediately. The reasons I hiave stated, and my declining health, not allowing me to labour as I wish, and asl herctofore, justify aTnd give wreight i0 tihe motives whicl actuatc me to resign this high office; therefore I make no doubt that your Excellency, your chiefs and officers ot this armv. will agree to your Excellesicy s taking the cowmmand, as vour know- ledge, political as well as military, independent of your otfher quali- t:cs, are so well known, that Pcru will losc tiothine bv i . an the contrary, 1 am2 persuaded thatit will gain mucih by the chtatige under every consideration. With thii statement, I transcribe this to tie General.iin-ciiLef of the army of the South, nod to the principal authoritiesof t!2e pro- viness to whomn I have thought it necessary to commsunicate this step. I expect thiat y our Excelleicy will send me a reply withbuit delay, and by an express, being convinced that mV owsn delheicac requires me to resig.a this comima;d immediately, andr th:tt I shoula pass over tt) the Peninsul:t. t9 present oyseif to his .Majestv. I cons- mtnicate this to your Excellency, that you may bearit ini mind in the answer that you xvill give msc, aDd particularly conformably to m!n alove-mentioned circustar of the 5th. What r copy for oyou, Sir, (Gencral Valdez), is for the same ends, recotmmenditng yo:t again to send mcn ani answer by an express, ac- cording to my circular of the ,hl. Whut I copy for yott:, Sir, (General Olaneta). is with the sanme views, desiring yost not to tail to answer m)c legally and conformably tQ toe laws on the first question stated ti the same circular as noticed in mgy d ecree ot yesterday. Oruro, M arch 21, 182-.1 (A Copy . VALDEZ, OLA NE PA. SPANVISM AflMF IN PERU. RESIGNATION OF GENERAL, LA SERNA. A?LI At' XCEI,LEVCY7 TMIE GENERAL IN' CHTIEF OF TIlE ARMY OF TfIE OILTnT MlIN Tflo P-r-1