the inexhaustible resources of her soil, and in the adventurous valor of her sons. She proclaimed maxims of universal justice, and her desires to unite herself to all the nations by the ties of a friendship the most intimate, and the reciprocity of rights and obligations. No flag has been excluded from her ports, and her rich commerce remains constantly open to the speculations of the subjects of all countries. This philanthropic conduct has gained the Mexican United States the esteem and the approbation of nations, while at the same time the tranquility of the interior, and the free circulation of riches have strengthened her elements of defence. The government of the republic regards it as beyond the circle of probabilities, that any power distinct from Spain, should venture on the enterprize of disturbing the pacific possession of an existence which valor acquired and moderation protects. But if contrary to all expectation, the classic soil of liberty should be profaned, Mexico by herself alone, will be enough to defend and preserve her rights and her dignities. "The emperor Alexander, in the last days of his life, when he descended to the tomb bowed down by the weight of the dominion of Europe, proclaimed solemnly his principles, his wishes, and his intentions in respect to the American revolution. Mr. Clay announced to the cabinet of St. Petersburg the profound considerations which bound it to interfere in so important a business. The secretary of the United States insists on the idea that the peace of the world will not be irrevocably assured, while the convulsions and the uncertain struggle in America remain. The designs of the cabinet at Washing ton will do honor to it always, because they have been worthy of its fore-sight, of its calculation, and of its philosophy. The foundations of American independence are analyzed with singular dexterity, light is diffused over facts, and the final developement, which, after so various events, has at length occurred, is foretold. The necessity of conforming to circumstances and to the irresistible power of a triumphant revolution, is enforced with great boldness. The resources of the new states are shown, and the fear lest the continuation of the war, of a war fatal to Spain itself, may give a pernicious turn to certain interests, to the united forces of twenty million men confederated and conquering. Nothing is omitted which may conduce to set forth events of which the evidence is so palpable. It must, in justice, be confessed, that the emperor of Russia did not turn a deaf ear to an invitation which concerned his generous character as regulator of the destinies of Europe. Count Nesselrode, in a note of the 20th August, of last year, confines himself to declaring, that the opinione of his majesty do not permit him, in so important a case, to anticipate the determinations of the mother country; and that Russia cannot give a definitive reply to the propositions of the United States, till she shall have received positive intelligence of the further designs of Spain and the intention of the allies. The favorite maxims of a cabinet which marches at the head of the allied powers are not unknown, neither will it be hidden from him who reflects on the phrases of this celebrated document that they involve hostile projects of Russia against the modern republics. Extracts from the MESSAGE of the Vice-President of the Republic of COLOMBIA, acting as President, to the Congress of 1825. "His catholic majesty, so far from relinquishing his old pretensions to the sovereignty of these countries, warned, as he has been, by justice, experience and the ruin of the Spanish nation, still retains his hostile views, nor is there the least prospect of reconciliation." "Congress may remain satisfied that our means of defence are most abundant, and, whatever enterprise may be attempted by Spain, will only end in her disgrace, and add to the lustre of our arms. "Our relations with the American governments are on the footing of friendship and good intelligence, that ought ever to exist between states maintaining the same cause. The assistance we have afforded Peru has produced such an important change in that country, that her independence can no longer be matter of doubt." "The government of Mexico has just presented a terrible example to the usurpers of the power of the people. The general Iturbide contemned the law which banished him, and entered the Mexican territory in a manner which alarmed the government. An act of congress declared him a traitor, and condemned him to die, which sentence was accomplished without the least disturbance. By this conduct, it appears certain, that the Mexican government has advanced one step towards stability and happiness. Recent information, from that part of America, has acquainted us with the energetic and extraordinary measures which have been rendered necessary to be employed for the defence of independence against the views of Spain, and to recall those to a sense of duty who have treated the compact of union with contempt." "The provinces of Guatemala preserve, without any opposition, the state of sovereignty, for which they declared by their spontaneous will. An accredited minister, on the part of that government, to this republic, resides in the capital. This affords a favorable opportunity for us to understand each other on points deeply interesting to both parties. The fixing the boundaries between Colombia and Guatemala, is a point of the utmost necessity at the present moment, for some strangers have pretended to speculate on the Mosquito Shore, and the interior boundary is entirely uncertain. The executive, according to the fundamental law of the 12th July, 1821. has claimed, as belonging to the republic, the whole of the Atlantic coast between Cape Gracios a Dios, and the river Chagres; deeming all colonies unlawful, that have not been planted with the permission of the government, and in virtue of the laws of Colombia." "The agitated state in which Brazil has hitherto remained, has prevented our entering into relations of amity and good will with that government, with whom we ought also to settle the important question of boundaries." "With the United States we maintain the most friendly and cordial relations. You will have before you in a short time, for your examination and approbation, the treaty of peace, friendship, navigation and commerce, that the executive has concluded with the government of those states." "Colombia will be proud of ha ving been the first of the old Spanish American states that has presented itself to the world, united by means of public treaties, with a nation pre-eminently favored by the genius of liberty. You will, likewise, receive for examination, the convention which has been settled with the same states, to put an end to the horrible slave trade; our laws have declared against that execrable commerce, and on this basis the executive regulated its conduct. The law of the 21st of July, of the 11th year, prohibits the introduction of slaves: The law regulating cruisers, declares all vessels found trafficing in slaves in the waters within the jurisdiction of the republic, to be lawful prizes; but as there are no punishments for the infraction of the law, and it being for the benefit of the human race, that the authority of the law regulating cruisers should be extended, it appears to the executive that this convention with the United States supplies this deficiency." [The document then proceeds to notice the relations of the government with Great Britain, and states that the executive had deferred the exequator to the commissions of the British consuls, on account of the ambiguous manner in which they were worded, but allowed them to remain on the footing of agents for commerce and seamen. The commissioners of his Britannic majesty had accepted this condition with pleasure, without having refuted the arguments on which the exequator was deferred.] "The executive of Hayti has despatched an accredited agent to this government, to propose the adjustment of a treaty of defensive alliance against the respective in vaders of both territories. The language of liberty employed in the propositions of the agent, and the private services which the liberator received from the humane and sensible Petion, in the hour of calamity, have not misled the execu tive in the line of conduct it was his duty to adopt on so delicate a negotiation. Hayti defended her independence against the pretensions of France, of which she was a part, and Colombia defended hers against those of Spain. A defensive alliance with Hayti would place us under the necessity of going to war with a nation against whom we have no cause of complaint, and whom we ought not unnecessarily to provoke." After some further observations, the message adds— "All these considerations have caused the executive to lay by the proposition of the Haytien agent, until the assembly of the plenipotentiaries of the American governments shall meet. Our allies and France will see, in this noble proceeding, the good faith and principles on which the policy of the Colombian government is founded, and France, in particular, will observe that we have acted in the most open manner, in the steps we have taken, to incline his most christian majesty in favor of the republic, and that we do not attri bute to the French government the suspicious and insidious conduct observed by persons who came to Colombia in the frigate Tarne, whose voyage appears to have been undertaken to visit this country and observe the state of its affairs.". "The tranquility enjoyed by the republic has permitted the executive to provide for the propagation of the new mode of instruction; to augment the number of colleges; to establish new professorships, and to reform some colleges which were yet suffering from the old colonial system of education, and from the horrors of war," &c. "In general, I am able to assure you, that the order and regularity of the progress of the constitutional rule, has suffered no alteration. The authorities respect the institutions, and the citizens enjoy the right freely to demand the fulfilment of the laws. It would, indeed, be a phenomenon, were a new born society to progress towards prosperity without encountering some obstacles, without some small oscillations. Colombia has yet to suffer from the wanderings of ignorance, and the effects of the incessant suggestions of its enemies, although it is true, that neither the one nor the other can prevent its reaching that point at which it must one day arrive. The disturbances of Pasto, which, it was feared, would be prolonged, from the nature of the country and the character of the people, have disappeared, and the government have been as indulgent as the public security would permit. The people desire to live in peace under the protection of the laws; and whilst they take upon themselves the task of preserving public order, and sustaining our institutions, the republic will enjoy internal peace, and the armed force will no longer have to attend to this duty." "The commerce of the interior requires some regulations to repress the abuses of the sailors, and to favor navigation; and, as regards the external commerce on the coast inhabited by wandering tribes, some special laws are ne cessary to relieve the executive from the trouble and difficulties he has encountered on that head within the last few years. I ask of congress to pass a law prohibiting the granting of letters of naturalization to individuals of any nation with whom the republic is at war. This is one of the laws contained in the code of a nation who may call herself truly free, and on the utility of which it would be superfluous to expatiate. "The poverty of the national treasury must exist, whilst the payment of the old debt falls on the annual ordinary rents, and whilst the system is continued of not fixing the public expenditure and properly covering it." 66 "I hope this legislature will extend its consideration to the uniform regulation of the decimal rents, to the reform of the law on direct contribution, and to the other objects which the executive will point out to you, in virtue of the permission which is conceded by the constitution. "The various and disagreeable questions occasioned by the loan of March, 1822, have been settled to the satisfaction of those interested in it, and to the honor of the republic. The executive employed in this transaction the power conceded by the act of the 1st of July, 1823, the results of which will be speedily communicated to you. "Congress may rest assured, that the conduct we have pursued in this affair, has received the approbation of the most respectable foreigners who have been able to comprehend all its difficulties." "It is very important to the public prosperity, and to the national credit, to provide for funding the national debt. Every year new difficulties are added to those already accumulated on this subject. The debt embraces different epochs, different objects and creditors, which have not been properly classed. Although, during the last session, one act on this subject was passed, you will agree, with the executive, that it is very imperfect. "The army has continually given proofs of its obedience to the laws. Although within the republic there have been no enemies for it to contend with, it has remained on the war footing required by European politics. "Our navy is receiving all the increase and strength that our present circumstances admit of. The Colombian flag is respected in every sea; and wherever it has fought against the Castilian flag, it has left a monument of our superiority. "Naval schools have been form ed in Carthagena and Guayaquil, as far as the limited means at the disposal of the executive admitted." The message closes as follows: "This is the present state of our republic, in every branch of its administration. Friendship and the best disposition with the American - and foreign governments-regularities in treaties and conventions order and tranquility in the interior-respect and submission to the laws a free press-the increase of public education-well founded hopes of improving the national wealth-an army covered with glory, consecrated entirely to the cause of liberty and independence; and sufficient resources to meet any event, and to sustain its dignity, government and laws. It is for you to remove the obstacles that impede the rapid progress of this republic to happiness and prosperity, and reform those defects to which public opinion pointed out, and which you acknowledge to exist. If we cast our eyes back on the period when the code of laws was first published, and recollect what Colombia was then, we shall perceive, with agreeable surprise, that we have made a rapid stride, and conquered vast difficulties. This ought to animate us to prosecute our designs with the greatest zeal and patriotism. The executive firmly believes, that these virtues exist in the legislative body; and you, I hope, will have sufficient confidence in me to believe, that I shall afford all the assistance that the experience of administration may have placed in my power; and above all, I shall be extremely punctual in the execution of your wise deliberations." [Signed by FRANCISCO DE P. SANTANDER, and dated at Bogota, January 2, 1825.] The following is the definitive reply of the executive power of COLOMBIA to the commission from HAYTI, which is mentioned in the last message of the vice-president. |