The Western Register and Terre-Haute advertiser, Volume 3, Number 34, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 28 October 1826 — Page 1

*R iror 1

Translated for th« National Gazette.! SPEECH Of Don Manuel Lorenzo tic Yidaurrftjr

MinfcterfijomPeru, at the opening of the American Congress at Papama, on the 22d June, 182G.* The inhabitants of what was formorly "Spnnish America, will ba covered with th* deepest infamy, if they do not promulgate taws, the wisdotn ami canity of which shalfjsecure present prosperity, and hand it down unimpaired to the latest generations. Restored to his natural condition, free and independent, in full possession of all his rights, enjoying the reason with which the sublime iAuthor of his being lias endowed him, pian approachPS nearer to perfection ^!\an in theearliestday^ofhis existence. iTAen, without the benefit of experience, jhe could not 3e wise without the knowevil he knew not how to avoid was without the ability to enjoy, being without the experience alike pleasure and pain. JVbw, in the full exercise of his faculties, he easily dkfe tiuguisbes the just from the unjust, tjm useful ami agreeable from what is pernicious and hurtful, safety from danger, continued moderate enjoyment from the momentary delights oi intense pleasure The subversion of «mpiro", the ebb and flow of wealth in all quarters of the known world, the destruction of some cities, the elevation of others, the grandeur and decline of States, ail are lessons, of which he can avail himself all are rules by which he leargs to regulate his present conduct

ine

frJ{hoof

Among the various revolutions, physical, moral and political, whi|h history has recorded and philosophy investigated, ours has no parallel in China oue 'i|" dynasty succeeded another from Fohi to the period when the Tartar chief as-

Earned the throne *, the Egyptians count upwards of 300 generations to Set the "Persians succeeded the Medes as the latter had done the Assyrians 4 the Romans survived theoi all a cloud of locusts issued from the North to ravage and possess the South of Europe Colunrbus discovers a nW world Cortez, Pizar.ro and other wicked adventurers dethrone the sovereigns of the fourtti f, part of the globe and sieze their terntories human nature still knows no bene fit every day- she becomes more a slave to the /criminal passions of a few, and by a^assiveirratidnal subservience sinks into an accomplice to the crimes, of those who hide her degradation irom herself and make her forget her noble origin. Dynasties have been destroyed, the vices of government remain unaltered t-*

Even when the Greslc, the Roman or the Carthaginian of antiqu ty displayed an apparent love of liberty, va» riable, jealous, dissatisfied with their own territories, great warriors but had citizens, we see in them vice only in diflereut forms, and a continuous series qX error and calamity the glories of Marathon and Salamis may be sung in lofty measures but the Athenian trem bles at the prognostic that the walls of the Piraeus are to be levelled with the

earth the sons of Thebes weep over the ruin of their own. coiuitrjr v^asi lianus sheds a tear over the ashes of Carthage, because he foresees that the barbarians will on© day sack the palaces of Home, her gorgeous monuments be consigned to the flames, her children

S6ggmg

ininj| with famine,1 crowd her streets for relief or death* Man was yet unacquainted -with true happiness Tke sublime theory of rights aud respossibilities was yet unknown. Whilst' nations were defended, the rights of individuals were unprotected.

It would seem that the English first labored successfully for the rights of man, Their ancient charter, wrested frpm the hands of John, and their progress ihiwigh to the time of the revolution, prove that we should regard them as the discoverers of the great political system. Che Anglo American is oompelled to admit thai the light which he received from his ancestors has since guided him in th« contest, and conducted him to the haven where he reposes under the shelter of a just and moderate liberty

Our situation is still more advantage derive instruction from the ous. 'V

.sjSfcwia

«xpprienVB

our 0VVn

of the virtues and vices of

sixty two [fifty eight] centuries, "The ufcaniipity of the Swiss, (the cnstancy of the Hollanders, the prudence of the North Americans, the atrocities of the trench revolution, the factions of the Belgian province, and even those of

soil, afford examples to imitate

or avoid. I his day the great American Congress, which. i* in bn a council in the hour of cosflict. the faithful interpreter of treaties a mediator in domestic contentions, and which is charged with the formation of our new body of international Jsiw, has been organized and in--veste'l with ail the powers competent to attain the important and dignified end for vyhich it is convoked All the precious materials are prepared to our J)and, A world regards our labours with live deepest attention*. From the fnost powerful monarch, to the humblest peasant of the Southern conta*rent,no on? .views our task w$b indifference T»is will be -the last opportunity for the attempt to prove that man can be happy. My friends I the field of glorv trodden by Jto'ivur^San

Martin, O'Hipg'ns, Gaudelupe, lies

pen to us. 'Our names aire to be recorded either with eternal honor or perpetual shame. Let us then proudly stand forth the representatives of millions of freemen, and inspired with a noble complacency assimulate ourselves to the great Creator himself when, be first gave laws to the Universes.

Animated with celestial fire, and looking steadily and with reverence to the Author of our IJeing, difficulties the rtiost appalling shrink into insignificance 1'iie basis of our ronfederar tion ia .fi

Pea.cc tcilh the, world

rjBspcct for European government^, even where their political .principles are diametrically opposed to those acknowledged in America

Jree 'commerce

with all nations, a-ud*a diminution of imposts on the trade of su^h^ have acknowledged our iadepf»dence

tolcraiion

religiov*

for such as observe diff rent

rites from those established by our constitution How emphatically are we taught by the blood which fanaticism has spilt, from the time of the Jews to the commencement of the present century, to be compassionate and tolerant to all wuo travel to .the same point by different paths Let the stanger of whatever mode or faith come hither he sha'l be protected and respected, unless his morals, the.true standard of religion, be opposed to the S} stem given us by the

cssiah. Let him come and

instruct us in the agriculture and the arts. Let Hhe sad and abject countenance of the poor African, bending under the chains of rapacity and oppression. no longer be seen in these dimes let him be endowed with equal privile ges \vjth the white man, whose colc^i* he has been taught to regard as a b^dge of superior it) let him, in learning that he is not distinct from other men. learn to become a rational being* Immortal Pitt! eloquent Fox! intetoupt for a moment your slumbers, and. raising yourselves from the tomb, behold that the regions, once emphatically the regions of slavery, are now those where your philanthropic precepts arfc most regarded.

As respects ourselves two dangers ate principally to be avoided: The desire of aggrandizement in one state at the expense of another, and the poss^f bility that some ambitious individual will aspire to enslave and tyrannize o* ver his fcllow-citizens. Both these are as much to be apprehended, as the weak efforts of the Spaniards are to be contemned. Human passions will always operate and can never be extinguished nor indeed should we wish to stifle them. Man is always aspiring, and ne» ver content, with present possessions he has always been iniquitous, and can we at once inspire him with a love of justice? I trust we can —he has had a dire experience of the ravages which uncontrolled passion has caused.

Sully and Henry IV. projected a tribunal which should save Kurope from the first of these calamities. In our own day. Gondon has written a treatise on the same subject.^ This assembly realizes the laudable views of the king

ill

and the philosopher Let us avoid wftr by a con&nqa and uniform reference to negociabon^JThe consequence of war is conquest: one state increased by the destruction of another By each victory Napolean added new territories to France. The first simptom of war in our plains an4 mountains, will sound like a peal of thunder throughout the continent and islands. For what* in* deed, are we to contend? Our products are every where abundant', oar territories extensive our portscommodi ous and safe One republic has no cause to envy another. Shall tnerieh shepherd dare to rob the Ibid of his poor neighbour? What injustice! The diet will never consent to it

As alliances have freq^fently given birth to wars, America will eats? into none but by the common consent of ail the contracting parties I however abstain from pursuing the sobjeofeere, as anticipating the decision of the Congress.

The second danger may be provided against fey simple .precautions 1st Let the confederated republics guarantee the liberty and independence of each other 2. Let no greater power be entrusted to any one, than i* necessary to the end for which it is confided. 3. la proportion to the extent of that power let the period of its enjoyment oe abridgea. 4 Let tie individual to whom the power is given, be always responsible to the people as distinct from the military.., 5 Let no standing armies be allowed in time o' peace "Let us avoid generally the evil to which 1 have aHudedj so little recoacileable with the interests of society, by all the means that oar ability enables us to employ, and honor and prudence recommend 1 have noc forgotten thai in an obscure corner of the JSscuriai or the palace at Aranjuez, plans for new expeditions against ns are BOW feiwuig. The history of 8paiu, however, gives abundant proof (that they will be unasrailing.

Did Philip II and his grand aon reduce Holland to subjecticm, or could Philip IV. ever recover Portugali AVould Catalo^a have been recovered but lor the generosity of France? Has Gibraltar 'er Jamaica «v«r been restored I The history of her treaties is little else than that of successive renunciations of her rights and territories. What she gsiretl at the battle of Pavia and St Qui&tin, she tost by the treaties of^Twvins, Westphalia, the Pyrenees, Kemi guen and Aix la Chape lie. .The North Americans compelled her to surrender the Floridas which she had aequired by *he treaty of Paris.

Let us recal to memory other circumstances —Philip II perraittedhis troops to support themselves by rapine, and thus gradually exhausted the patience of the Hollanders CliarlesII exacted taxes to the amount of fifteen per cent, and trafficked away the Viceroyalties of Mexico and Peru to support bis armies. Such was the policy of the Spanish monarch, when the Sun always shone on some portion of his dominions, and when passive obedience characterized bis subjects At this day what can he accomplish, stripped of his colonics, nithou^union at home,and with a hundred thousand Frenchmen quartered in the Peninsula. We all know by what means the,expedition of 1820 was fitted out the indemnities paid by the French, the privy puree of the king, all were appropriated. Every resource has been exhausted vessels of war are wanting the l&^t decayed bulks in the service have been despatched to the Havanna arms are not to be procured, atifd Spanish troops evince little disposition to perish on our shores by either the swords of enemies or the mortality of the climate

It is not my intention to advlse^wlr disarming ourselves on the' contrary, ofir military and naval forces should be increased, and not allowed to remain inactive and in quarters We should strike a blow which may appal a nation at once so obstinate and blind to its own interests. To wait to be attacked would be to wait for the Messiah, and to remain eternally in arms. Let us rather, by decisive measures, compel our enemy to give up his rashness and

'V Wi* •..

caprice. AH Euwpe disippmves o*" his eonduct' Not even the princes of the boose of Bourbon venture to ^olr out the least encouragement. No nation feels an interest in the continuance of the war, the general wish is for peace. Without

commerce is interruptedi

generally to tbe prejudice of industrioui and trading communitiaa ffeir different was th« situatioa bf Great Britain when she recognized tbe independence of tbe United States! Wise Srclitftt teach and guide these i»!ind Spanmrds.

Whilst Spain obstinately resists tba mediation of the powers ttwt protect us» the products of her soil of ail kinds, a* welt as 'her ntann&etoret, are totally prshibited They Mte sieved wbereve* they are discovered and tboie who am convicted of breaking a law, with wbicjt we cinnot dispense, uniformly low their cargoes Tbe maaufociarers of Valencia and Barcelona have ceased, twable to export their gpods their iinj dustry is paralyzed Ferdinand TIL persuading himself, that by withholding Ms recognition* be forces «n tm enormous expenses in maintaining our am mies, at the same moment dbtrayi the remaining energies of a kingdom already torn by discord, and "gtoaiihjg wider a foreign yoke If ever nis judgment shoaldl opened to tbe couneahi of jcstice—^ifhe ever could be psrsua* ded how tiseless is tbe attempt to recover what it is impossible to retain—IT be eooM be convinced ibat in America th *re are no factions and strong holds of which he can avail himself—Americans would then use a different ianguagtf towards him We will not buy our in* dependence Otir j»ouls revolt at the^/ name of freedmen. Oar coaaramnities are constituted wi& privileges sinnkr txrthose of European States We ar» men spontaneously united, Itsd on! bound by the compact, which in the fu exercise of reason we have formed. If* Ferdinand will recognize us, and enter into terms like those which a« offered in a spirit of perfect generosity, we will forget tbe injtmesbe has done t», and the day of peace wiM be the £cg% of sincere reconciliation It is wim extrx-ni^ r^uctance that w« contim» thei war. We wMl «ad It with the most Mvely satisfaction, ifwii can and it without dishonor.

full

Bat, my friewbf st set the point of most importance to Holland -was rich and victorious before her recognition- Switzerland formed alliances^ with tbe sovereigns of Europe before the house of Austria acknowledged her as a nation. Hie ««istence of a state depend# on oft«r cirtumst&nces $ recognition only procures the extension, of her foreign relations its being mncb more depends on its internal political organizations. Let ns secure the best. Let ns maintain a propriety of demean* or let ns admit no foreign agents* without regulat diplomatic credeatiale.

Within eur harbours no iags are permitted to wave, hut those ef the Soveteigns and Republics that allow the entrance of our vessels

At'ovc all, let us form one family^ and forget the names of our respective* countries is the more general denomination of brothers let us trade without1 restrictions, without prohibitions—let articles of American growth be free from duty in all our ports—let as give each other continual proofs of confidence, disinterestedness and truetriendship—let us form a body of public law, which the civilised world may admire In It* A wrong to one state shall be regarded at an injury to a!^ as in a well tegulated community injustice to an individual concerns the rest of the republic. Let us solve the problem as to the bent of governments. The form which we adopt, securing to individuals au po»»iliie benefit*, and to tbfc nation the greatest advantages, is that which, beyond doubt) reaches the greatest felicity, of which human nature is suscep* tible, the highest perfection of human institutlims. •?.'

And when

hdJt-M

our

•V-

&y~

labours iff tortciudeuj

let us return to our homes* and sur^ rounded by our children and grands children, let us select the youngest of those beloved objccts, and uplifting it, a fit offering to the Supreme Being, teach it in teuder accents to give thaak%