Public Leger, Volume 2, Number 60, Richmond, Wayne County, 14 May 1825 — Page 1

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FRIENDLY TO THE BEST PURSUITS OF MAN,

FRIENDLY TO THOUGHT, TO FREEDOM. AND TO PEACE."

Coirper.

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RICHMOND, WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA, SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1 825.

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puoii,;; wo shall see the schemes of the

legislator, and the unanimous votes of the Mexican fulfilled in the first constitutional congress. My heart rejoices at the happii.ess we

enjoy, and at that which it hopes to enjoy ; still. The magnificent edifice of liberty, which formerly was a beautiful ideal prospect, has been seated on an indestructible ! basis, and now shines by the institution

a great nation deserved. The high attributes with which the law

land the will of mv fellow-citizens have

enabled me to employ all my exertions for ; its usefulness. A glance, although a rapid ! one, over the progrcssivie existence of our ! affairs, will convince you, genth men, that I have caused to be done the greatest good possible, according to the sphere of my nj bilitv in the short lime of my presidency. Happy if I have succeeded in filling up the j vast circle of my duties to the country ! The secretary of the treasury will shew

to congress, that if its situation is not ad-

Rl- PUBLIC OF MEXICO. htcMcti-jn of the first constitutional congresss of Mexico.

The representatives having assembled vantageous, either on account of its income

jrtiieir 'nil. the act of the lat propaiato- . or its duties, we have succeeded, by great p- .on inittte was re.d and approved. j exertions, in clothing. arming and increas'Thc senators then appeared, and, hav-j ing the army and navy, to send succors to in-r taken seats between the representa- ! New-Mexico, to the California, and to all

lives, the lit of the deputies appointed to ! j the frontiers ; to appease the clamors of the a I . 1 . A. l' A I. . . . 1 I . ! ! . ' .'. .

j oincers ol the republic, whose pay was m , arrears. and todefrav.inall its parts, the administration, with the wise and legal use of the foreign loans. The organization of ; the treasury has, by the last law, r.onsiderablv improved in its economical branch, j and advances, without doubt, towards perfection. -May the projects which will be submitted to the house deserve its approj batio!:! The safety of the republic requires ! sacrifices, but these are always compatible

with the state, the exertion and patriotism

1 of its heroic citizens.

The federal judiciary not existing, and the government being precluded from the intervention which it A-rmerlv had in that of the ancient provinces, it action,in this respect, has been almost null, and will be o until the supreme court be instituted In a l'w designating the number ami local relations of t he dit rict and circuit judges, and prescribing rules for territorial tribunals, and the federal district. Notwithstanding this, the end of justice has been effected as fir as possible, arid the citizens can complain on! v of the vices of legislation, and of those introduced bv the degrading indolence of the Spanish governors. The prisons and houses of correction have had the fate of the times; but I do nrt despair of rendering them useful, without increas

ing the nllln lion of the delinquents.

The Mexican army, which gathered so many laurels, has considerably improved in its discipline.- It is to he completed ; and that now in existence is well armed, in proportion to the arms contracted for, in order to raise the army according to the dictates of our situation and of law. The secretary of war and marine will elucidate my exertions in this branch. The system happily adopted, cot fides the internal administration to the people and to its local authorities. The government, within its orbit, has undertaken to cut offstate abuse? ; and in this, the patriotic laws begin to unfold their betificent activity. This will be explained by the secretary of the interior. In all the free countries of the universe, wishes are formed for the consolidation of the Mexican independence ; and as soon as they are enabled to calculate the immense force which union has given to our individual and collective prosperity, I am persuaded, gentlemen, that they will admit us to the rank of independent and sovereign nations. And is this the people who, for three centuries, was under a' ridiculous administration, a wretched government? The Mexicans, deprived, of an equitable system, and after having guttered above the limits of human forbearance, broke olftheir connection with the metropolis. Our villages burnt, our properties invaded, prisons continually full; grief, despair and death, perpetually hanging over our heads; such were the titles, such the characters that stamped with fire and blood the freedom we now enjoy.. In recovering our rights, and when the strong arm was uplifted for the glory of the country, we gave remarkable examples of moderation. Our detractors now defeated, admire, if for once they can be called just, the empire of the amiable disposition of the Mexican nation, and its more philanthropic system of legislation and government. Citizens of both houses of the general congress of the heroic Mexican nation!

Let not the triutnpha of the revolution be

rut'-min any the president of the republic

o i his entrance and taking leave, composed t f six mernbeis of each-house, appointel 'n tneir respective presidents, agrcea;lv to rule, was read. T ' session was suspended whilst the p,r. :! entered who having taken Ids s. it. h1. lr'-ed the two houses in the follow r 'i t i ins : "(i-lfmu: It will henceforth be im-j-j , n, ditilt, as it has been pretendei. it s me period, whether social instituti esta!dived for the freedom of manLi i. are the indispensable result of the fp .rr.-s of just and benevolent ideas, or exists (. ly for a time, bv the shamelul su vrioa of principles, and for the turn i- '1 ih advancement of passion. The pr,, -lies ofstate tvrannv, th se who make c mpK ts and duties emerge from the el-Hid, fleny the legitimacy and vigor oi p 'V n .ments which have sprung from the s v. -reign people. Fr, according to these l : . cl v i J 1 1 ds. free brings have no limit or f'.nranties ; according to them, they assent and devour each other, and in this strife, ( rin Itv and rn- rciless anger annil.iiit' tiie hope of any orderly system of leg-i.-l iti an. h is not supposed, gentlemen, that, in orr r to cent, u id the enemies of the pen- !". I tieed lead them to the ruins of Cart , to rraise the remembrance of free K tnc, or to unfold the pages of that G recce, tvlirn- letter-, line arts, and sublime philos jtyhv, g ivc liirth to institutions which have u'-'ni .-idrnired in all ages. No! America, trad.red country, raising its he. id over ;:'.'ti"'io times, resedvrd the most in-t-Vsti'er problem of humanity, and has "' Va i taken the veil which covered the Cn u and the end :ind object of power. I'i- profound legislator of Carolina, and . k '' inn Peon, the friend of man, planted ' '" y irgia soil of America the prec ious h ,.f civil libertv, which cultivated afj t -v.,r l by Washington and Franklin, find Jl' 'lvew ,(()W deposited, with the fruit pr ,lured, in that capitol, which has fr,fhd wisdom on the banks of the Poto- "' Kri.m thence are issued desolating 4 v un d'-spotisrn, and from there appears res,rnieration ol sovereign nations. gl..r for the new world! How im-

gianueur oi us destiny! admirable, gentlemen, that the lig

"la i;ivi iwxioii-.i.,,! t .1,.

r - s- ' m i uir tiM'Moer, . 'led by the adventuter Medellin. It " rtaiu tliat genius overcame resistance, lll.'lt in .1 . ' t i.i .

, " "-us weakened ttie heat nt nart es.

ght

M"u (Lit ... I - r t -i .i

to I onmgiiis oi pniianinropv came 'fc-' the place customs and errors r(l "'me had consecrated. co-. l aV cnir, here, gentlemen, to !,-r;dulaleyvit!i you, because the triumph ;,J,',,ln)"' of ,ljr doctrines, have ' rn!)led us on tti f..niwi-. e

iV ; V rlt by ourselves and for our own C( I'(t Wl'ocan lake from the repreWrt " Ulu ,e:iV t,ICS StatS Con sv, ' m(;rit and virtue, the great tVn'TCl,on of bt'in wpiccd by citizens fl - lv respet table, and equally anxious " public welfare yyith themselves? M- j i ''l(( y ahd tl,e W('lf:'"C of the u 7 ,,ay4,'' confided to prudent hands. ur ? ;U,vicc ol 'wisdom, will attract themselves the admiration of a peoandt I W ,,ow nppwtt-' justice reel-a n , 11 W wr- wt delec tions to the advantage of the

: lost to us! Let the satellites of the despoti power give, as a tribute to the ideas of the age & to the progress of civilization in Amej rica,the testimonials of its forced and tardy repentance! Let your ardent zeal for the I constitution; your constant love of country and liberty; your wisdom and energy, faiciliate the inestimable felicity of elevating I the Mexican United States to that high

pitch of greatness, decreed by the supreme arbitrator of destinies! I have done." Reply of the president of the congress to the president oj the republic. "The Mexican republic, that beloved

country, which although it broke otr its j foreign yoke, has not yet been enabled to ! gather the fruit of so many sacrifices, hej roically made, to obtain felicity, has within - that space, received the sacred charter I which sanctions its rights, restores her to the groat sphere of independent nations, and opens to her the highway to that op- ; ulence and prosperity which nature has

designed. The nation, has, in fact, sworn to the expected constitution; but, what an immense latitude between the oath and its observance. Inclination?, habits, opinions, the fatal result of so many ages of darkness and servitude, are obstacles which can be conquered by the docility and remarkable genius of Mexicans, the vast materials for the exertions of experience, for the display of knowledge, and for the sacrifice, even of life, should honor require it; for such sacrifices can be demanded of those who have the honor to govern the nation, the general congress and president of the Mexcan United States. No constitution, however wisely combined, can stifle the existence of parties in a popular government; they are the offsprings of liberty ; and determined to support our independence, in this point alone we are unanimous ; for our honor precludes the belief, that any can dissent to this, or that there exists one single individual yvho does not feel indignant at the idea of foreign servitude or dependence ; unanimous only I repeat, in this point, we shall bave t struggle with opinions from the moment that they will arise from incidents, which we must tolerate to a certain degree : and inasmuch as the law, without destroying the passions, leads them towards right; thus the government, without being enabled to shun altogether actions and reactions, or master the ebb and tide of opinion, has, for its difficult and sublime .duty, to balance, moderate and regulate those movements in such manner, as that their jarring eventuate in the peace, the justice, and the reciprocal benefit of both. The federal republic, composed of so many and various elements, is a complicated machinery, whose action requires so much precision, so much delicacy in its direction, that it is reserved to superior understandings. But the congress and president have an infallible support. In order to fulfil their great trust, they can meet, and even surpass the expectation of

those whose confidence they possess: they may render their fame adored, placing it on a line with that of Solon, Lock, Penn, Washington and the other benefactors of mankind. In virtue alone is to be found that supporter in that republican virtue, that knows hoyv to lose sight of its personal interest, whose ambition looks up to the public good, and which can distinguish through the clouds of passion, at a clear and perspicacious glance, the path that leads to nublic felicity. The heart of ev

ery Mexican expands at the idea that such will be the guide, the luminary, the soul ol its congress and president. This virtue shall identify itself with their opinions, will gather their votes, dictate their statutes, render them indefatigable, and will concentrate their strength to secure to the country its liberty and I he accumulation of the advantages it deserves. You are going to exhibit to Mexico and to the world, a sublime spectacle, in your rectitude, purity, efticacy and unanimity; and soon you will deserve, from your country and posterity, the applause and tribute due to the sons of republican virtue. You will be the source from which shall flow, on all classes of the Anahuac society, that equitable spirit of benevolence that charac- j izes and supports good governments. A vast and luminous career is open before you, and at its end is perspectivelv seen the majestic and safe march of the federal republic of Mexico, the friendly nations, (and all ought to be so), allied to her, Asia, and Europe at her side, connected by important and pacific relations, and le licity dispensing, by the hand ot Mexic

its treasures and lights to the i .habitants of the universe. By a happy coincidence, you are going to direct its councils, at proaly the most important time, when each instant is critical, each conjecture decisive: when the new institutions are on the. point of breaking oflftheir course, emerging from the obstructions and rujns heaped by despotism and its ministers', by ignorance and fear; and when their irresistible current is to bo directed by you, between tao precipicest created by slavery and anarchy. To you belongs the fulfilling of the pledges given by our constitution, and to prove to other nations that the Mexicans are not only able to re-conquer their liberty, but, moreover, to allot to themselves the most permanent and yvise institutions; that it has within itself the means to cause itself to be respected and looked upon with admiration, by others; and that, Iaitlv,it is capabe of completing the remarkable work of its felicity, as inspired by Providence. Such must be the result of the virtue that auimatt.8 the congress and president of the Mexican republic." The president of the republic then withdreyv,and the president of the house of representatives proclaimed that, "the general constitutional congress opens to-dav, the 1st of Jan. 1825." The house then adjourned.

CENTRAL AMERICA. AnoLisnMEN'T of Slavery. The General Assembly of the United Provinces of Central America conceiving that the sytem of Government adopted by this Republic would differ in nothing from that heretofore imposed by Spain, were not the principles of liberty, equality, and justice, to be extended to every citizen of these states; and believing that it would be unjust in a free Government to suffer a portion of our fellow men to remain in Slavery, and not to restore them to tiieir natural condition the possession of liberty, and wishing at the same time to indemnify the owners of slaves for their emancipation, has passed the following decree: 1. From the publication of this law, all slaves, of every age and sex, in every part of the confederated states of Cei tral America, shall be free; and hereafter, shall no person be born slaves. 2. No person born or naturalized in these states, shall hold another in slavery under any ptelext, nor traffic in shves, within, or out of these states." In the first case, the slaves shall become free; and in both, the trader shall lose the rights of citizenship. 3. No foreigner, engaged in this traffic, shall be admitted within these states. 4. The regulations and orders of the Spanish Government, giving freedom to those slaves who shall escape to these states from others, to regain their liberty, shall be preserved in force; observing however the stipulations on this subject, by public treaties. 5. Each piovince of the confederation, respectively, shall indemnify the owners of the slaves, after the following man er: ' 1. The owners of slaves under 12 years, who may claim indemnity for the parents

of these slaves, shall have no claim on account of their emancipation. If indemnity be mule for the father or mother, alone, of the said slaves they shall be paid for at half their just valuation. Persons, yvho may have iiberated the parents of such slaves under 12 years, shall he indemnified for them, at their full value. Those yvho shall have acquired such slaves by purchase, shall receive indemnity for them, at their proper value, as for slaves above 12 years of age. " 2 Fo. slaves above the age ol 1 2 years indemnity shall be made as provided by

regulations to be lorrneu ioi uos u.yt 1 1. "3. N indemnity shall he allowed for slaves above fifty years of age." 6. In everv province, a fund shall be created from'duties to be imposed for the special purpose of indemnify ing the owners of slaves. The collection and management of these funds shall belong to the junta of indemnification which shall be established in each province, under the regulations to be enacted. 7. Every owner of slaves, who, after the publication of this l w,at the place or town where thev reside, shall compel tin m to anv service, or shall prevent them Iruin applying to the nearest municipality for their document of liberation, shall be tried and punished, as provided for in the case of those who conspire against personal liberty; and they shall moreover, be subj ct...i icrtfthft indemnity for the val-

' ue of the slave, who shall be so treated.

...