Republic Of Colombia.
The Times, 1824-09-23T00:00:00

Wre have before us several iinportant papers respecting the state of Colombia, ani abstract of which may not be an- interesting to some of our readers, though they contain nothinig that can properly be called news. In the outset, it may not be entirely superfluous to mention, that this quar- ter of America is the only one which has received a new name since its (leclaration of independence, and the union of its provinces under its present constitution. We recog- nize in the titles and bounidaries of the new states of MTexico, Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru, the designations and limtits of the old colonial viceroyal ties of the same names. The colonial yoke has been thrown off-the Spaniish Vieeroy has been exchanged for the President or Political Chief of an in(lepen(lent state-the Viceregal Couancil has been transforme&l into a Senate, or an As- sembly of Representativas-the Viceroyalty has be- come a Republic-and the ancient Spanish atdiencias hlave started up free provinces; but the o0l( geogra- phic names and boundaries are the same, and we are at no loss in (ietermining their position. Colombia, on the otlief hand, is a new name, and a geographer of two or three years back would nof recognize in it the old( Spaniish Viceroyalty of New' Granada, and the Capitania-General of Caraccas. Perhaps, in this case, some designation wasine- cessary to marlk a union of two states formerly separated; and as neither of them ha(d a title that could well be ex- tendted to the other, a new one was the more neces- sary and excusable. Colombia, wlichl the North mlerican states neglected to appropriate, was a(droit- ly laid hold of by the new autlhorities in the soutlh, an(d applied probably, without pedantry, to the region wlhich Columbus pointed out to thie enterprise of his coun- trymen in his fouirth and last visit to thie world which he hlad discovered. This vast commonwealthl, extending from the Caribbean Sea to Peru, and from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, embracing a territory nearly as large as all Europe, is inhabited only by about three millions of peo- ple, wbo have succeeded in conquering their independenco, after a severer struggle than any of. the other States have been called upon to sustaini, and who now exhibit a higher example of social or(der than scarcely any of the other republis have yet reached. By one of the papers which lies before us, we find that about the middle of June last a new territorial division of the State was decreed, an outline of which we shall lay be- fore our readers, as it may serve to remind themr. of the extent of Colombia, and the numerous provinces of which it is composed. By this decree, Colombia is divideil Into 12 departments, each of wbich is divided into a number of provinces; and the latter, again, into a number of cantonis rhe 12 departments, with their capitals, are the following: 1, Orinoco, the capital of which is Cumaina; 2, Venezuela, the capital of which is Caraccas; 3, Apure, the capital of' which is Barinas ; 4, Zulia, the capital of whihl is Mara- i caibo; 5, Boyaca, the capital of which is Tanja; 6, Cnn- dinainarca, the capital of which is Bogota; 7, Magdalena, the capital of whichi is Cartagena; 8, Cauca, the capital of which is Popavan ; 9, Ystmo, the capital of which is Panana ; 10, Euador, the capital of wvhich is Quito ; 11, Lasuay, the capital of which is Cuenqa; and 12, Guayaquil, with its capital of the same name. It would be tedious to enter into any furtlher details on this merely geographical subject : we shall, therefore, proceed to lay before our readers some extracts of an official reporton the internal state of the Republic, made to Congress, by one of the MSinisters, in the cnd of April last. This document embraces various topics which we must omit,-such as the recapitulation of the laws, which ini the opinion of the MNinister ought to be reformed-of laws which are wanting to complete the Colombian svstem of Government-of laws to be enacted respecting educa- tion-of the regulations necessary in the manumis- sion of slaves-of regulations necessary to encou- rage the making of roads, the recommendation of a new census, and the passing of laws for the civili- zation of the native Indians under the Colombian Go- verninent. 'T'he most interesting portion relates to tbe efflets lproduccd in the Re)public by the new Constitution. " The admirable effects of our present political organiza- tion," observes the report, ' especially of the intimate union of Quito, Cundinainarca (Spanfsh New Granada), andl Venezuela, under one popular representative Govern- mnc;3t, are manifest in the tranquillity which reigns over this vast territory-in the order,regularity, an(l submission to the laws wvhich distinguish every Colombian citizen, fromn the first magistrate of the state dOWn to the most insigni- ficant inlivi(dual. But these effects will be more mani- fest still, if we cast a rapid glance on our history, and call to mind the less fortunate days which have served to form nations in the school of affliction. As soon as Veneizuela had obtained an independent Government in 1810, the chiefs of the R.evolution in every provinc? endeavoured to enjoy the greatest liberty possible, by assuming all the rights of sovereignty. Thus they established a federal Republic, after the maodlel of the United States: but the people of Venezuela, wvho were not brought up in liberal institutions, divided themselves into small opposing parties. The federal administration was weak in the extreme; and being attacked by a hand- ful of men, whom Monteverde con(lucte(l from Coro, was subdued, tlhouglh at the head of a millioni of iniliabi- tants composing the Republic. Such were the fatal efrects of a disunioni of the provinces, to whichi, no doubt, the earthquake of 1812 contributed, being ascrib- ed by discontented superstition to the wrath of Heaveni against our declaratioin of independence. It is now evidlent that Monteverde must have been cxterminatedl, ha(i Vcnezuelapossesse(d at that tine a united Governiment. Qoito experienced the saine fate in the same year. 'I'hc first ilinta of that state, though at the hesd of 350,000 inhabitants, was put dowin by 400 men; NTew Grainada likewise laments, and will lhave to lament a long time, the efFects of disunion and the results of the fe.deral systerm, which has b:en the fruitful source of all its misfortunes. Hlence arose the absoltte separation of its provinces und(er the pompous title of sovereign an(l ineendent states; ihetnce the weakness of its Government and its permanent instability ; helnce the war oh' one province with another - hen ce the dilapidation of the public revenute, and its total anmiihilation ; hence, in flne, the imnperfectioni, insufflcienicy, adl wveakniess of the Government, whlich, without autho- rity to organize the provinces, or cure their divisions, lost the precious period of six years. lVhile the cannion: of Mlo- rillo sounded in our ears, we were disputing about a form of governmenit and the sovereignty of the provinces." How different became the aspect of these same pro- vinices when they were united under one central govern- jment! General Bolivar, who, in the midst of the univGr- I sal shipwreck, never despaired of the safety of his country, succee(led in uniting under his cominand a part of the plains watcied by the Orinoco, the Apure, and the Meta. After figlhting for two years against the veterans of Morillo, lie passed the Aindes of New Granada, and route(d the Spanisb division whiii defende(d it, thouglh double in ntumbers. The same Bolivar forced lforillo to follow the rules of re- gular warfare, and to make ani armistice. When hostilities again commenced, his army conquered at Corabobo the hosts of' the Spaniards, and put the seal to the indepen(lenice of Colombia. 'rhis elassical name, and the union of Quito, Cundiniamarca, and Venezuela, whichl it expresses, are the immortal work of the Deliverer. Projected in 1813, it received in 1819 the sanietioni of thie Congress of Venezuela, and in 1821 that of the Congress of Colombia, composed of legitimate representatives from nll the free provinces. TI'le union being consolidated, the Republic constituted, asmI the D)eliverer chosen 1'resident, tbe provinces of Quito were freed by the force of republican arms. NTew troops are organiziing in the south of Colomnbia, to garrison the new departments, or under the Deliverer have gonie to combat for the liberty and independeiice of America in the ancient empire of the Incas. Internal Irauquillity, submissioni to the faws, security of the most valuable riglhts of menl, a vigorous government, respectetd in all parts of ouir territory, are the prodligious effects produced by the new constitutioln of Colomribia." This pIicture may be a little too flattering, but it must be correct in its principal features. It is IIow two years and a half since the constitutioln of Colombia assumed its preseilt fornm, and since that time we have heard of no disturbances in any part of its territory. Much of this security and tranquil1ity mnust be ascribed to the wise and able coniduct of B,livar. It is (lifficalt to say what precise effect Iis de- feat in Pera would have oni the fortunes of Colombia, but it requires little reflection to see that the result would be very disastrous. Appenled to this report, we find a finian- cial accounlt of the pay allowed to the different functionaries of the state, legislative as well as executive. The mem- bers of the Senate, and of the Clhamber of Representatives, are paid salaries, probably that they may not receive bribes. The allowance of each is six dollars a day. The President enjoys a salary of 30,000 dollars a year, and the Vice-President 18,000. The wvhole internal administra- tion of the Republic, including provincial as well as gene- ral expenses, costs Colombia only halt a million of dol- lars per annum, or about 10,o0o0l. sterlin.. Thas the sum voted for the repaies of Windsor Castle would have supported the Government of Colombia, withl its Presi- sidents, its Judges, and. all its subbordiiiae 4gents ana officern, for thriee yrias:.n ' RPUBLTC iOF: COLOMBIA. -