The New York Herald Newspaper, June 24, 1852, Page 2

y BY AN IMPARTIAL OBSERVER. “In medio tutissimus ibis.” "Pho present condition of the republic of Vene- wucla, and the causes that have led to that condi- tion, have been matter of remark and discussion for seme four or five years B roa and a variety of ac- | ‘eounts have been presented to the public, no two of | which have agreed, in consequence of their being more or less partigan in their tone. It is a matter ef great importance that it should be placed on a elear, impartial and, asthe same party differ- ences that have so convalsed that beautiful coun- try, exist in principle in the other twe republics of dor and New Granada, and slowly, though warely, both of them are advancing te more blood- shed and intestinal commotions. Even now, whilst | writing, rumors of several political disturbances ip the Ecuador are arriving, and New Granada is re- ported to be up inarms. That these republics, which zo gallantly, and with such unanimity (under the tatle of Colombia) ackieved their independence of the ‘ish rule by a war almost unprecedented in ry for severity and obstinate fighting on beth sides—that these republics I say, sheuld not | ‘de able to remain in peace after all their extraor- | @inary efforts, from 1509 to 1823, is a riddle which | the Anglo-Saxons cannot solve. All that is gene- rally known of these blies, is, that revolution succeede revolution, until it has become almost pro- verbial to say, ‘‘as uneasy as a South American republic.” ¢ objest, therefore, of the following papers, will be to place in a clear light the cause of this remarkable political restlessness. Our first towards this will be to give a succinct narrative ef the political events that have happened in Vene- weela sinee her formation as a sovereign and inde- ‘pendent republic. Hereafter we may be induced to give a similar narrative of events in the Ecuador and New Granada. For the present we deal solely with Venezuela. ‘The war of independence, between Spain and Co- Jombia, beehatnnted in the year 1823 with the tak- img ef Puerto Cabello by the patriot troops under General Jose Antonio Paez. This was the last rtrengbold of the Spaniards, and though they fore months afterwards kept up a species of guerilla warfare, it was soon quelled and, de facto, the teking ef Puerto Cabello was the termination of the wer. Previeus to the taking of that city, the battles of Beyaca, in New Granada, and Carabobo, in Vene- weecla— beth decisive victorics over the Spanish troops —had £0 disheartened these latter, that the patriots purened their advantage, and drove them cut of the land. Subsequently, in 1824, Belivar was call- eden by the Peruvian patriots to assist them in ziving out the Spaniarde from thence. He went to Poru with a respectable ferce,and the Speniards were driven out. The decisive engagement in this eampaign was the battle of Ayacucho, where the Grand Marshal Sucre led the patriots with such sig- mal suecess. We may mention here that Sucre was Seay assassinated by orders of General Obando, who, at ys nt time, is Commender-in- ehief ef the army of New Granada. At the conclusion of the Peruvian campaign, Bolivar returned to Bogota, was there made Presi- gent, and General Francisco de Paulo Santander, Viee President, and the Republic of Colombia, re- eegnized by the European governments, also by that of the United States, took her station Se) the nations of the earth. Spain obstinately refusec to acknowledge her independence. Some years af- terwards, however, she did so; at.all events, she mever attempted to regain her lost colonies by force efarms. All the fighting in Colombia since then hat been domestic. Of the final fate ef Bolivar, it ie melancholy to speak, nor does itenter into the purpose of these articles. He has been accused of aiming at dictatorial power, of having even en- deavored to contract matrimonial allience with fumi- hee of the crowned heads of Europe, and establish an ewpire with lineal succession, and various other anti-republican projects. Be ali thie as it may, we eannot now enter into the question, (though it weuld ferm a mest interesting topic,) we will mere- ». say, he remained at the head of affairs until the b ef May, 1830, when he left Bogota as a private titizen, Kaving yielded np the government paciti- eally te his opponents, who placed General Joaquim Mosquera in the Presidential chair. Bolivar jour- neyed on towards the coast, intending to embark from thenee for Europe. He did noc verify this hewever. He remained on the eoast for some months, and after some unavailing attempts to reuse bis party again, he finally died, broken beart- ¢¢@. at Santa Marta, on the 17th September, 1530. During the time be was at the head of go: ment he was exposed to several attempts at assa mation: in one of them the gallant Colonel Fergu- see was killod by the conspirators, who mistook him for Bolivar. General Samtander was implicated in another, and was actually in exile in the United | Statce, on account of that attempt, when Bol; died. The reason of all th tempts on Boliy. life, and the pelitical oppo: n that he met with, mas thie Mativesshe civicantuasty Nedito uin(eliey, whiel: was purely military; und bere we have the yeet ef all the dis ve since then kept there republics The civil party againet the mil against the eivil—be the ort int of differenee what it muy. this is always the real causa teterrima belli During Boliv government, and, indeed, up to the last moments of his life, be was much opposed to the dismemberment of Colombia Gencral Paez, however, was very de enemela as a separate and ind poblic. and in the commencement of th a rous to esta- ndent re | | . we may say he began his ope on that date he had appointed General Mar i mander-in-Chief of the department of Orinoco, wi 1 directions to watch the fronti ; ard in January, 1530, he of it formed the commandant of the third military dis- srict, that he had decided on the one hand to avoid open warfare with the general government of Bogota and the rest of Colombia, but on the other hand, that he was ready to receive, under his protection, apy ofthe towns or provinces that would ate themcelves under the government of Venezuela. In ether words, his war against the government of Colombia would solely be a defensive one. To | sustain his policy he raised a militia force, and called on the old battalions of veterans, | aud ordered that the commissioners, whom he ! reason to expect Would be sent from Bogota not be adimitted into the republic. He nor provisions! government, by which the affairs of State were to be carried on until the question of the inde- pendence of Venezucla was settled; and finally or- dered a general election of electors to take place in every parish, on the Ist March, 1830. These elec- tere were to mect in the capital of each province, on the lst April, and clect national deputies for a Con- ese, Which was to meet in Valencia, on the Ist jsy, there and then to prepare a constitution, elect # President, &e j In the meantime, the general government in Bo- | gota, unaware of the strength of the Paez move- ment in Venezuela, deemed it an affair of little | impertance; but on hearing the real state of the | ease, the Congress wisely resolved not to employ | Soree against it. They projected a new Colombian | eenstitution, and concluded to send commissioners | to Venezuela ¢o offer it to them. It was more libe- | ya) in ite provisions than the then existing one, and | it was confidently expected would satisfy the Vene- | in Bogota, t quera, who sueeeeded Bolivar as President, and he were, he certainly did not deserve to be thus in- | neration of | pired, was ratified by it. zuelans, and shew them that th fears of an illibe- yal and monarchical form of government were un- | founded. These commissioncrs were met by others from the Paez government, at San Rosario de Cu- euta, on the frontiers of New Granada, on the 18th April, 1830; but after two or three days’ discussion, no agreement could be come to—the Venezu affirming that they were too thoroughly ¢ ef the tendency to monarchy in Bogota, | ple. | second Presidential term. | expire, constitutionally, on the 20th Junuary, 1835. | and a decided partizan of Pacz’s policy; | Yearned prudence from having suffered every species | of ills she soes in the General, Simon Bolivar, the | erigin of them, and trembles yet at the thoughts of the risk she has hitherto run of becomin, mony for ever; therefore she to he remains in the territory of Colombia she eannot proceed with the arrangements mentioned in the ig patri- rotests that whilst revious bar ay When those documents arrived y fell into the hands of General Mos- the references to Boli- sent the last one, containing Whatever his faults | var, to him, at Carthagena. sulted inhis exile. As before mentioned, he died broken hearted at Santa Marta, on the 17th Sep- tember following. We have given a slight sketch of the first esta- | blishment ef an independent government in Vene- | guela. General Paez took the initiatory step en the 15th December, 1829; and, on the 28th of May, 1880, he was installed President by the Congress | of Valencia, composed of thirty-three members. | Our task is now to detail, ina suceinet manner, the | leading events that have transpired since then, a period of twenty-two years. Everything went on tolerably quict in Venezuela during the rest of the year 1830. The exile of Boli- yar, andthe getting into power of his opponents, naturally quieted any fears that might have existed in Venesucla of farther desires on the part of Colem- bia to forcibly resist her dismemberment. Still there existed many military chiefs, much atteshed to Bolivar, who had fosght for them for so many yeare, and had so effectually driven the Spaniard out of the country. In the ‘eyes of these ol@_mili- tary men, his desire to establish a hard military +—aye, even a monarchical form—of government was no sin, on the contrary, rather a recommendation. Those of them especially who lived in Vonezuela, saw their old comrade Paes clevated to the highest civic rank, whilst the leader of the patriot army of independence languished in exile and disgrace. ‘Twenty odd years of warfare, of the fiercest and most cruel description, was not exactly the best school to teach calm submission to civie laws, if they proved unpalatable ; consequently a reaction commenced, and new intrigues were-entered into by various chiefs, to pronounce once more in favor of the integrity of Celombia, as gained from the Spaniards. "These intrigues were quickened by core tain articles in the constitution of Venezuela, which did not please the military party, and which, some years subsequently, we shall see were the causes of serious disturbances and even denger to the govern- ment of Pa Thus passed om I830. In Septem- ber of that x died Bolivar; cave a fatal blow to his party in New Granada. And, henceforth, woe shall take eof the events in that republic,” as they are foreign to our subject. Froi the deficiency of roads and means of com- munication, which, even at the present day, are al- most in a state of natural wildness, the positive news of the death of the liberator did not reach Ve- nezuela for seme time; thus, on the 15th Janvery, 1831, it was not yet known ia the eastern provinces of the coun! On that day the city of Aragua, of Barcelona, pronounced against Paez’s government and proclaimed the integrity of Colombia, neminat- ing General Jose Tadeo Monagas as civil and mili- tary chief, and putting themselves under his gui- dance. A number of towns in the eastern -provin- ces united with this movement, and the inserrection | the Sth July, seized the persons of Vargas and tomed the country to strife, and the results first ave the idea to the ins how an cligarchy might formed, and retain possession of the reins of gov- erpment for an vecmecanva pg Vargas was inaugurated on the 9h vir 1835. est continued its session until the April following. On the 29th, the doctor presented is resignation of the oflice of President, but unfortu- nately cone did not accept it. The military party, before alluded to as having put forward Marino ae candidate for the Presidency, | seeing the petitical imbecility of Vargas and his adwinistration, commenced attacking it bitterly through the press, as well they might; for a more contemptible attempt at government never took | place. The old military chiefs, throughout the re- | publie, picked up courage. And whilst they had not the energetic Paex to deal with, arranged con- spiracies throughout the country, and managed the matter so well, that simultaneous!. ree Maracaibo amd Caracas, Marino was declared President, and the authority of Vargas denied. They did not con- ‘ine themselves to mere words, but the troops that garrisoned Caracas joined them, heart and soul, on are yarte, and shipped them off to St. Thomas, remain- ing in possession of Caracas. ate Vargas was removed to Laguayra for em- barkation, he was confined te his house a close pri- soner. He found means, however, to procure there a session of the Consejo de Estado, as it is termed, a species of board of constitutional advisers. The: all got together in his house, and he gave them his Yresidential authority to raise men, having declared the country and constitution in danger. His Pro- sidential authority to raise troops was dated the 8th or 9th of July. “The Consejo de Estade did not know what to do, or where to turn; they were con- founded at thus suddenly seeing their capital in the hands of a faction, who demanded reforms, without, however, specifying -what those reforms were to be. For some fourteen hours they remaineé in session in the house of the President, consulting what they should do. Time passed on, however, and as they knew that that evening their deliberations would be forcibly broken up by the reformistas, who had mi- litary possession of the city, and, in fuet, kept Var- \gas prisoner in his own house, where they were then ‘inet, it became necessary to act with promptness, so ‘they resolved to make a protest mgainst the acts of the insurrectionists against the tegitimate and con- stitutional government, so thatthe existing institu- tions inight not be upset completely. This protest was at once drawn up, and a cepy of it sent to the | insurrection They also passed a resolution for Cong eastward. Puerto Cabello was the ony place that now held out, and by the treachery ef part of its garrison, the town was finally delivered up to Paes, who was besieging it. This wagon the Ist of March, | 1836, and bad Monagas held out longer in Cumana, it wight have eost the government an infinity of | trouble to step the progress of the in: mnt it. The disturbances commenced op the of July, and thus was the revolution, knewn in Venewuela as La Reforma, brought to an end. On reviewing the official history of thie period, | there does not seem to be much credit due te Paez | for his acts in this matter~acts on which much of | his reputation asa Governor of Venezuela has been | founded. Valencia yielded to him without a blow. | Caraeas he found andefended. To the eastward he was so foiled by Menagas that he had to make the best terms he could with him—terms that were | certeinly not the adyantageous ones a victor could | have commanded. Marecaibo obtained for itself as advantageous terms as Monagas did. The reform- istas lost the day at Valencia, though not to Paez, as he was not present. Colonel Codazzi commanded the government: troops there, and Puerto Cabello was yielded to Paes through threachery--etill the country was quieted, and all once more resumed its wonte eb. The redoubtable President, Vargas, and his Vice President, Narvarte, had retarned from their trip to St. Thomas shortly after Paez reached Caracas from Valencia. Congrese met again in the commencement of 1836, and Vargas again presented his resignation, which, this time, was accepted, and Narvarte, the Vice Pre- sident, continued the acting President. By a decree of the 12th of April, °36, thanks and recom were given to the constitutional army which had served through the crises, and to Paez was awarded a golden sword and the title of Exclarecido Cuida- dano, or illustrious citizen, by which he was to be culled in all public documents. Some alterations were made in the various courts and judicial pro- ceedings. And having learned by experience that fortresses, in the hands of an insurgent foree, could le used against the government, several of the etrongest in the country were-ordered to be demolish- ed. The remainder of the year 1836 d off with- out any thing worthy of note, and 1837 commenced with the meeting of Congress, as usual. On the 20th of January Senor Narva’s Vice Presi- sidential term expired; and.as Vargas had resigned, | Binee found out—it has lon; | maine: anytbingelso. Its credits and those of different politics, whilst to their owa par- tizane every accommodation was afforded—indeed, too much for the good of the bank, as it has lon, been nambered wit the things that wore. It had decidedly g most per- nicious influence. 2 Trade and commerce, also the agriculture of the country, went on Progressing, and everything re- uiet. In 1842 or “43 (we are not sure which), Bolivar’s bones were brought from Santa Marta with much pomp, and deposited in Caracas. Time works wonders. Ta 1830, Venezuela, or rather her rulers, insisting on the expatriation of Bolivar ; and, in 1842, those same rulers bringing his bones with such pomp to Caracas. i Guzman continued proclai me hie liberal doe- trincs through his paper, which had now acquired considerable influence, and had aroused the atten- tion of many. In 1844, the elections for Vice Pre- sident took place, and Urbaneja, a Pacz man—the same one who was Vice President with Paez in 1830-32—was elected over Aranda, the liberal can- didate. There was a slight outbreak at this election in the vilage of Orituco, in the province of Caracas; amd the voting there, which showed in favor of Aranda, was quashed by the government, on the ground of illegality. Jn this year Guzman, in his character of spokes- man of the liberal party through the sheets of the Verzolano, came into collision with the govern- ment. It appears that a pasquinade against & prominent citizen of Caracas appeared in a paper printed at the job office of the Venezolano. The citizen, seriously offended at the pasquinade, demanded the name of the author from the printer, The name was immediately furnished him, and proved to be that of an obscure citizen. The case was presented before the tribunals, and the libelled ities were shutto | toria and Maraca re ‘This angwer was sent to Reyna and Rojas, ane was agreed upon. On the let of September, Tai, Guzman left } Cavacas, numerously attended by his partisans of all classes oF octaly. On the following days they ar- rived atthe village of Consejo, some three miles distant from Victoria. On this day, Guzman re- eeived a letter from Caracas, and also verbal infor- mation, from various parts, that en actual out- break of his party against the government had taken place in Villa de Cura, headed by Colonel Ranjel, with 500 men, The immediate cause of his rising had been the conduct of the government in quashing the elections there, which had resulted. immensely in favor of the liberals. We may here notice that Colonel Ezequiel Zamora was with Guzman in Consejo. Tatiora left Caracas with Guzman, though, as he had just arrived previously from Villa de Cura, it is but fair to presume he knew what was about to take place there. In ad- dition to all this news, Guaman received further in~ formation from Caracas that President Soublette, in consequence of the outbreak at Villa de Cura, had demanded and obtained extraordinary powers, and had appointed our old friend, Paez, a3 chief of active operations agaiast Ranjel, and General Monagas as chief of any operations that might be necessary to keep the eastern poriness quiet. All this sudden news had, of course, considerable effect on the liberals assembled in Victoria, and it became a most delicate matter for them how to proceed. They consulted together, and finally con- cluded that Guzman ought to proceed te Victorla, and keep his appointment with Paez, as agreed upon, as the state of the country was petting more and more dangerous. They accordingly went on, and arrived there the same day. On arrival, w messenger was dns lately deere cet to Paez, a& Maracay, informing him that if he would fix an hour, Guzman was ready to méet him at Tarmere. citizen proved that the person whose name had been given as author, could not be so, as it was well known that he had not the eapacity sufficient to produce such a plans libel. It must be observed that the plaintitf was intimately connected with the pank. The case finally went for adjudication by the jury, it having been ruled by the court that Guz- man, as proprietor of the printing office where the paper was printed, was responsible for the libel. On the ninth of February, 1844, sentence of guilty was about to be pronounced, when the partizans of Guaz- it became necessary to appoint an executive. Gen, Soublette, who it will ‘be remembered was a candi- date for the Presidency with Vargas, had been sub- sequently elected Vice President, to succeed Nar- the immediate raising of 10,060 men, to act agaixst the refermistas, and elected General Paez as the commander-in-chief and director of operations m the field. Having done thus much, the reformistas in- terrupted them by force, and Doctor Vargas and Narvarte were seized by force, put on board a vessel at Laguayra, which transported them to St. Thomas, and the capital of Venezuela remained in the hands of the Reformistas. This reformista party, as before remarked, was ie more than the chi Bolivar party resusci- tated. The reforms they clamored for were a mere etext for getting into por In fact, they never q tinctly stated what the) \ ished. Some generali- | ties regarding ing back to military men their | former immunities and privileges of the time of Co- lombia, and _a few specious arguments about pro- went on, assuming a most formidable character. As before remarked, it was supported by the mili- tary party, and also many of the clergy, on account of the objectionable artic n the eonstitetion pre- pared by the Congress of Valencia. tionable articles were those which deprived the ‘mi- litary of many of their former immunities and ex- emptior from the action of the civil law—and as to the clergy, they objected to the payment of contri- | butions and taxes like other citizens, which they were exempt from in the time of Colombia. They also objected to the toleration of other religions be- sides the Roman Catholic. When Paez learned the extent of the movement he judged it necessary to raise an army sufficiently | He numerous te overawe the insurgents at on ised a force and confided the command e| General Marino, whom he despatched to meet the enemy, with orders, however, first. to endeavor to reason them into submission. In this, Marino failed, and resorted to arms against t with va- ried cess, when the news of Belivar’s death arriving, disheartened Monagas and his friends, They nd ing then offered to come to terms with arino; however, the terms agreed to by Marino were not | ratified by the government at Caracas, and Paez in person took the field about the end of April, 1831, and on the 24th June following, Monagas yielded himself up to Paez and reeeived a free pardon for him and followers, on condition of their hence- forth keeping quiet. Thus ended the first revolu- tion in the first year of the existence of the Repub- lic ot Venezuelg. In the meantime a more formal election for {a con- stitutional President and Vice I’resident had taken place throughout the reput lted in the election of General Paez t f th im. of four y and the lic a President for the term of two s only elected for two years, in ord ter each Presidential term mi Vice Presidents—for ance, Urban for two years only. The next Vice be electéd for four 3 in the middle of th commenced on the its session passed The year 1831 passed off without any far nce—the country relieved from. the 2 ad hitherto afflicted it, t than during t pect of contiv ty, everything went on smoothly progressively. Agriculture ¢ d to flouri public would all thought the infint r hardy manhood. The second con- on the Slet of Jannary, ion took place regarding the lunion with New Granad time, had e: become a jan ed out; matter. nd some di nymation of a fede: r, Which, by thi eign republic. T later we shall s sove what was donc Some laws regulating the location of the districts of the Supreme Courts were passed. The year 1832 thus passed off without anything | worthy of note, save that the constitution was found to work well, and the same prosperous condi- tion to which we ¢ hitherto inued on the increase. Paez, at the he e govern- ment, seemed to give unive: action. The ed to iB ge- attentiou of the government was » providing means of education for tizel In January, 1833, the third Congress assembled, and the election of Dr. A Narvarte as Vice resident to succeed Urban term had ex- ion of tobac- co andits sale both were declared free; they had formerly been monopolies of the government. The payment of tithes to the church, by the people, was abolished, and the government assumed its support. The plan of a Colombian Confedetation of sovereign and independent republics, was abandoned as not feasible, but commissioners were sent to Bogota to ar- nge about the distribution of the debt to England, and to make treaties with Ecuador and New Gra- nada. This year passed off qui rything prosperous In January, 1834, Congress aga This session'several important lawa wi one granting toleration for the free of any form of religious worship in Venez A very good law--the only drawback to it is, that it would be impossible to put it in force at the present time, owing to the fanaticism and ignorance of the peo- During this year came on the vtions for the Puer's f would sembled. passed— No less than f candidates were started, v ur + | Senor Urbaneja, who had served as Vice President $3, eneral | under Paez for two years from the first Cong: an old soldier of the war of independ x les ii vid 2 e] ks. r ry 4 “ | country too determined to avoid all such risks, and | the came who headed the expedition against Mona- not at all inclined to retract from their | jas in} Marino's sympathies, at that time, position. The commissioners dissolved their ses- sions, and returned to their homes. Meanwhile things were going revolte and mutinics were taking 3d May, 1830 before remarked, Bolivar resigned, and proce¢dedtestag const with the intention of em- warking for E These occurrences were not known in Venezw however, for some time after | On the 6th May, 1830, the national deputies, whom | Paez had ordered to be elected, met at Valencia. | They were only thirty-three in number; still they | were judged sufficient, and immediately toek into | eration the state of the country, and their i et was to vote for the continuance of General | Paex as the actual head of the government, until | some further resolution should be come to. The nal officers of government, whom he had no- | od on the 13th January, 1830, were also con- | They were-tenerat So Migte!l Pefia, badly ” ne Interior, Justi ay, 1830, Paex took t © fulfil and carry out the desires of the 1 tives ation, a8 exprossed by their | The Congress cved two. of 1 represe Valencia, on the follows 1 notices to the Colombia nforming them of ey hwi taken, and the installation Paer as the President of the republic of and the readiness of the new republic to ements with New Granada and their common compromises with outstand Ngiish loan, &c.; 4 an amicable spirit into all the te necessary. The second was a wost document, and would go to show the v were) } tenden , at the time evignation or and bie party of the ar. Cit must be re of mending these derpateh: aod depercure from Bogota was not Know -uele) “Venezuela,” soye the de jt in Bogota; | but ; and on the | ings, votes, | mg, and no cloud to be seen on the political ho- r most humble tone with the voters; he never ceased declaring that he was unfit for the office they wished to elect him te t they had better take another candidate. down @ ser everything int | were devidedly in favor of the military party, or hose composing the old party attached to Bol farino j fect Jack Impulse in hi d though a brave soldier, has no eaps for government, it is probable he was put forward merely as @ man of straw, to give the military par- ty a chance get in power. General Soublette, an- other seldier of the war of independence, was the | third candidate—a thoroughly wedded to | Paex’s party. Dr. Va a gentleman enjoying | great reputation as a medical man, v ty arth. This latte dlidate was not openly attached to any party, and adopted a most humble and catory attitude towards the voters. It te- pra= sume from his eminence a8 a practitioner | that he would make an excellent President; and fin he was elected by Congress, as amongst al) thee idates, none bad a sufficient number of | . so the election went to the House. He was | formally installed on the 9th of February, 1835, and | General Paez retired to private life. We have thus seen General Paez obtain for Vene- ela an independent government—we have seen m act a8 Presi for a constitutional term, put ue revolt, calm the country, bring | 4 flourishing condition, and finally | tial seat, the credit of the country mmerce and agriculture increas- od, its trade, rizon We have remarked that Dr. Vargas assumed a | that be did not desire to serve, that Far better Venezuela would it have been this day had they ved him; for his weakness, irresolution and timi- ) the respect the minority or military stablished constitution, and gave f the possibility.of over- by fo and trampling utional authorities Doctor lection did moremit accus- Thece objec- | it to | | republic, many | constitutional troops a tecting the Catholic religion, (to serve as a means | of gaining adherents among the lower classes,) were | absolutely all that they declared. The truth is, | the military party thought Paez had had sufficient with one Presidential term. They saw Vargas was | a weak, indeed an impotent President, and thus | thought they could, by force, possess themselves of the reins ef government. In this reformista movement, Antonio Leocadto Guzman, the present Vice President, figured some- what. He eceupied, at that time, a position in the | office of the Ministry of the Interior, and also belong- | ed to the Consejo de Estado. Guzman is a person | who, from various causes, has figured considerably since then inthe political affairs of the country, | and hereaiter we shall have occasion to speak more at length of bi The object.ofthese papers is merely to give a nar- rative of facts without enlarging on the personal motives of the individuals mentioned. Guzman early | commenced his political career in the time of Co- | lombia. He is of the school of Bolivar, and is much opposed to Paez and all his acts. } _ Ohi ution of Venezuela, then, onthe 10th of July, 1835, was as follows:—The constitutional President and Vice President had been forced to fly the country. They had done so under prote t, and had left their constitutional power with the Consejo de Estado to raise men, arms and inoney, and name officers to march against and put down by force the revolutionists. Meantime, these revolutionists had on of the capital and several of the nt cities in the country had declared in eneral Marino was the nominal chief it, though he was really but the man litary db ing for some time on his | estate called dit was on the Mth July that the news of all th: renched him, aud with the news he a | nomination from the imprisoned Conse} the operations to be conducted against the insur- gents. He a pted the position, and on red. proclamation in which he th 1 pledged himself to use every effort to save the con- stituiion of the country, so rudely menaced, and on the 17ta sallied forth from San_ P: r handfal i ity of Val the reformis e By this time his force had in Yinen, all well mount- ed. With the y of Venezuelians, the reformistas of Valencia joined immediat and pronounced again in favor of the titntional President, the unlucky Vargas. On the 24th, proceeded on toward Caracas, with his 300 men aug mented by the Valencia ex-reformistas. He pursued his mayeli with rapidity, and on the morning of the 2sth, arrived in Caracas, but found that the refor- mistas had evacuated the city the night previous, and had marched bag and baggage to the eastward. In twenty days from the time he received his com- mission from the imprisoned Consejo de Estado, he wh arrived in Caracas, aud re-established the constitu- | tion, proclaiming Vargas and Narvarte again. Though he bad gained the capita, much still re- mained to be done. ‘The fire of the old military party was in full blaze. He had certainly achieve successes against them, but they were of a negative character. Maracaibo and Porto Cabello were all up in arms, the insurgents were marching to the eastward, and fanning the flames; wherever there was an old soldier of the war of independeuce, there there was a focus of discontent. Paez was per- senally disliked by all the Bolivar party, and his heing called by the civil party to act as actual President embittered their feelings towards him. Many accused him, and to this day believe that he acted as he did more from a desire to be ruller par excellence, of Venezuela, than from any pure, pa- triotic desire to save the constitution. Fickle and volatile in their likes and dislikes ag they are, as a nation, still the most unreflecting of them could not avoid feeling that Paez was assuming an indi- vidual importance, as a ruler, incompatible with the existence of a government ona republican basis. They reflected that, from the very commencement, Paez was, and had been, the ruler and disposer of everything in the republic; and though no one could say the country had not progressed, yet, what with the old feelings of the AGT against him, and much such a feeling as led the Athenian to ostracise Aristides—‘* because he was tire ing him called the just”—considerable i ted against Paez, and much fear that Veno- ja would at last become merely his estate, and that a complete oligarchy would be formed by him and his partizans, to the exclusion of all others. How far these fears were verified we shall see here- after. In consequence of the rude state of society preva- lent in Venezuela at the period of her becoming a ve, especially those relative to the system of m: had been carried out by Paez with great severity. The representatives in Con- gress had been much swayed by him; in fact be had find a very difficult and trying part to perform, and, ae might’ be expected, had not escaped without forming personal enemies. In reply to all this he certainly could point to the flourishing condition of the republic at the end of his Presidential term ill there is no doubt that the imbecility of Vargas, giving occasion to his eo quickly re-appenring on the seene, and in the charncier of a castigator, too, led to the revival of all these sources of dislike to him, which would gradually have died away, had he not s@ soon been brought so prominently before the people again. The reformista troubles lasted, with varied for- tunes on both sides, until the Ist of March, 1836, when they were finally brought to a close. 1 eastward, in Cumana and Barcelona, Tadeo Monagas commanded the and though Paez in person commanded the inst him, yet he never could do anything decisive. At’ last, on the 3d of November, 1885, finding he was no match for Monagas, he came to terms with hiin—Monagas withdrawing his opposition to the government on recciving an amnesty, by which all his military rank and privileges, together with his right asa citizen, were given him. In fact the government secm to have have been glad to compromise with him and his party on any terms, as the prospect of his reduction by force of arms was very doubtful. Paez then returned to Caracas, to see how things were going on there. Maracaibo and Puerto Cabello still held out egeinet the government, and the reformistas felt themselves so strong that they made an attempt on Valencia, in which, hewever, they failed, and were miserably defeated by an inferior force. They con- sequently retired within Puerto Cabello. The news of the defeat at Valencia reached Maracaibo and caused a panic there, insomuch that the leader of varte, but he was absent on a mission to Spain, whither he had Fone previons to the breaking out of the reform revolution, consequently General J. M. Carreno, the President of the Consejo de Estado, was nominated to act, pro tem., until the return of Soublette, which happened on the 11th of May. He had been unsuccessful in his mission; still his return was hailed'with the liveliest satisfaction, and he commenced ‘his term:with every prospect of peace. He wasa new man; and though known to be of the Paez school, still the military party were more satisfied than if Paez had again been put in. Nevertheless many of that party were dissatis- fied. The West India Islands were thronged with numbers of them, who had been expelled from Venezuela for the part they took in the reform bu- siness. They complained that the election of Sou- blette had been gained by foree, and not from votes; in fact, the old feeling, the military against civilian, stillexisted, and was not in any way tranquilized by the civilians gaining the day. tation in of- fice was called for, and bitter complaints made, that everything was monopolized by Paea and his friends, for though Soublette was the acting Vice President, the military party declared that Paez was the real ‘‘power behind the throne.” It certainly was hard for veteran seldiers who had spent their life fighting through the war of inde- pendence, to be reduced in their declining years to Re peonaiecay of wanderers and exiles in foreign ands. The answer of Paez, Soublette & Co. to all these complaints, was the presperous condition of the country and its continued progress—the favorable condition of their foreign credit—the public treasu- ry rapidly filling—the public employees all receiv- ing their salaries with regularity. Certainly these were incontrovertible arguments, still the idea of the complete oligarcha) system that was forming under Paez, was gall and wormwood tothe opposite party, let alone the many other causes of irritation they -had against him ever since the time of Boli- var. The military party were thus still much opposed to the civilian, but though opposed, they were also impotent; nevertheless there were not wanting de- sultory attempts against the Paez government. A certain Colonel Farfan landed in Guyana, and pro- claimed the m' in the’ province of Apure—a ially adapted for cavalry — tactic ts of immense 8 pmomander-in-€ undertaken against Farf ted for the Apure, and we and his men, net seem to nor proelaimed any bis insurrection in the Apur character of @ marauding ex else Tho remainder of 18 During 1857 t place the y the term commencing January . gas’ term would have .” We have seen how aself, and how Soublette, the he proved. hi I In Angust, 1837, ident, ag election, The military ered the effects of th A campaign: ir pri al men red about in exile, among the West In- great enthusiasm had been kindled | among the Pacz party by the general's reformista | campaigns, and the ie generally were fully o¢- | cupied repairing the private disasters that bad hap- | pened to them during the turbulent times just | Passed; consequently, when Paez was proposed as candidate, no opposition was offered. The army of office holders, avd all in any way dependent on gov- | ernment, went for him, and the military party being dispirited and broken up, suilenly assented. He was elected, and assumed the Presidential office again in 1888, Soublette remaining as Vice President. Things went on very quietly durirg 1838 and 1839—there was no opposition to the gov- ernment—everybody seemed easy and quict. The military party seemed to have made up their mind to live under Paez’s rule, and it was hoped that henceforth Venezuela would be quiet. Vain hope, as we shall see hereafter. In August, 1839, the Vice Presidential elections came on—Soublette’s term expiring on the 20th January, 1840. Santos Mitchelena, a Paez man, was elected to that oftice, and there wasno outbreak during the elections, though considerable excite- ment was manifested. In the year 1840 commenced an epoch which had considerable, indeed every, in- ie on the fate of Venezuela up to the present ate. We have on a former occasion mentioned the name of Antonia Leocadio Guzman. Guzman has long been opposed to Paez. even from before the time of separation from Colombia. Guzman is a most devoted disciple of Bolivar, and had, in the soit part of his career, enjoyed the confidonce of the liberator, both personally and pelitically. He is a man of considerable talent, and a thorough going democrat in his political ideas. As we have seen, he oceupied aresponsible position in the government | at the time of the Vargas’ farce; and, indeed, all | agree that the sound advice he gave to Vargas the day he was imprisoned in his house, saved the country at that time from being ruthlessly seized b; the military party. Nevertheless, Paez, in i830, probably with a view of conciliating Guzman, in- vited him to take an office under his government, | and Guzman accepted the offer. In the month of February, 1840, Guzman was re- moved fiom his post in a most laconic manner. This, of course, was not very pleasant, and, more- over, his sudden removal gave rise to many reports derogatory to Guzman’s character—among others, that he had been removed “for having revealed important government secrets regarding the settle- ment of the foreigndebt ” Guzman denies all these scandals, and produces conclusive arguments that it was impossible he could have revealed anything, as there was nothing for him to reveal. However, he remained with his former feeling of dislike towards beta Paez, increased to positive hatred and isgust. On leaving office he set up a newspaper, called the Venezolano, the principles of which were opposed to Paez’s government and party. The first number appeared on the 24th August, 1840. Things went, on quietly enough, however, though the repeated rubs the Venezolano gave them began to be felt by the government, all unused, as it was, to such sting- ing attacks on it. During the following year the old Bolivar party, seeing the continued warfare which Guzman so pertinaciously ae up against their old opponent, Paez, began to pick up courage, and concluded to, in a certain degree, join Guzman, in hopes that they might thus form themselves into a more tangible shape as a party. To rebut this new and unexpected opposition be- came now a point of importance with the govern- ment, and during this year they prepared the best kind of defence. They chartered a National Bank, with a capital of $3,000,000. It was a bank of dis- count, deposit, and circulation, and proved a most efficacious weapon in the hands of the pike tit In the month of August, 1841, the Presidential election eame on. Soublette was presented by the Paez party, and though Mitchelena was presented by the more ‘Moderate liberals, Soublette carried the day, and took the chair on the 20th January, 1842, Mitchelena continuing his seat as Vice President until January, 1844, when we shall see, hereafter, how things went on. Inthe meantime, the National Bank was got well under way by Paez, Soublette & Co., and, as may be supposed, had no little influence about election Limes. Without wishing te exprese any harsh opinions, es the military party there accepted an amnesty from government, on phe same terms as Mon»gas to the peal as this is a mere narrative of facts, it is well man in Caracas assembled en masse, proceeded to the court room, and defied them to sentence him. The court, overawed, acquitted him, and thus ended the libel case against Guzman. There is no doubt that this was an attempt on the part of the government to muzzle the press, and as they did not succeed in carrying out their wish, it merely gave fresh courage to the liberals, and showed them their real strength as a eke bd From that day the prestige of the Paez party began to decline, and the liberals anticipated gaining the day at the next Presidential election, and oustin, Paez from the power he had so continually held, directly or indirectly, since 1830. The remainder of 1844 and 1845 passed off quietly enough, inasmuch as no direct outbreak took place, though the excitement of parties was rapidly gain- ing headway, and everything seemed to betoken a stormy time chet the Srutpeching Presidential election in August, 1846, when the liberals were de- termined to try their strength with the Paezistas. and destroy the oligarchy which had been formed during so many years of office. The result of (iuz- man’s trial for libel was an ominous affair for the government party, and showed them in unmis- takeable terms that there existed a very strong op- position; they felt that all their strength would be needed to stem the torrent of liberalism that was rushing over the land. Still possession has been said to be nine points of the law, and the Paez- ista party determined to avail themselves of al] the advantages which their position gave them. Ina country like Venezuela, where the population is so sparse—where a system of centralization of po- litical power in the capital is the natural result of the office-dispensing patronage that the executive poe possesses—it requires much, indeed, to dis- lodge the occupants of the public crib. The bank was a powers engine in the government hands—to this add the power of Church and State patronage, and the prestige of their successful management of the country ; and the Paez party, though aware they would have’ a severe probation to pass, were yet quite assured within themselves that they would continue in power. Guzman, triumphantly supported by the people, continued his daily asta rey them ‘s his Venezo- ano; and during 1845-6, many other papers devoted to the liberal cause sprung up and aided him. The old military party did not, however, go the full length ofthe liberals, though their sympathies were always against the Paez party. They still cherished remembrances of Bolivar ; and their discomfiture in $35, with its attendant disagreeables of fines, exiles, &e., rankled in their hearts. Thus passed on the time until 1846. The nominations were finally made, and, as was expected, Guzman was at once named as_the candidate of the liberty party, and Jose Feliz Blanco by the military liberals.” The Paezistas now found themselves in a tight pl for a candidate. The great cry against them—indeed, the strong ar- nt of the liberals—was, that they had formed rehy, and that for sixteen years the govern- brated between Pacz and Soublette, he exception of the short period in which had acted the episode of Vargas; that,in fret, ond no one elee but him, had been the trae of Venezuela since 1930, as Soublette had been nothing more than a passive instrament in his han * Rotation in office” was the cry of the liberals. yeus # chance, and do net monopo- lise everything.” Of course, in the face ofall these arguments, which, moreover, had the merit of being tiue, it became incumbent on the Paezistas to look up a new candidate, thougl some of them boldly pie dd to run Paez again. This, however, was reje |, a8 they were sensible that such a nomina- tion would too aay confirm the opposition argu- ments. Gradually they became aware that their salvation depended on their making a compromise, and this they resolved to do. Mention has been made several times during this narrative of General Jose Tadeo Monagas, a chief of the old Bolivar school. It will be remembered, that it was he who, in 1880, raised the standard for the integrity of Columbia, but was put down by Paez, on the 24th June, of that year. In 1835, Monagas again figured in the reformista troubles, anden that oocasion Paez had again to come to terms with him. Monagas is an immensely wealthy individual, probabably the largest landed proprietor in Venezuela, and his infiuence i all the eastern provinces, where he was raised and resides, is im- mense. Ho was one of the leaders in the war of independence, and history bears witness of his actions during that time. In fact, the prestige of his name, family, wealth, actions in the war of independence, and the firmness with which he always sustained his Bolivar sentiments, is very eat. Betwixt him and Paez a certain degree of Jealousy always existed, and their rencontres in the field had not done anything to mitigate that feeling. He had never identified himself with the Guzman liberal party, though as an old Bolivar man, he was a firm adherent to the military party. In their extremity Monagas was pitched upon by the Paez party as an advisable candidate. They reasoned thus:—Monagas wields immense interest in the eastern provinces, and has proved himself to be a formidable opponent in the field. By adopting him as our candidate, se disarm the liberals in that H ahagt for unless Menagas heads any movement there, no one else can doit. To the westward, we need fear no armed opposition, and with our office dispensing patronage, we ean secure them all. We shall thus get a new man in as President, conciliat- ing the grumblers against the oligarchy ; we shall defeat Master Guzman, and as Monages will find himeelf placed rd pk by us, it is very natural he will lend himself very readily to our views. Such was the policy that led to the nomination of Jose Tadeo Monagas as candidate of the Paez party for the Presidential chair, from 20th Janmary, 1847, wntil 20th January, 1851. Meantime, the ‘months passed on, and August, 1846, arrived, when the elections took place. As this is a mere narrative of occurrences, it does not enter into our plan to detail the various political strategies entered into both by the government and the liberals to secure a favorable result for their re= spective candidates. Documents, and official ones, too, exist, by which it could be proved that extr ordinary stretches of power were made on that occa- sion, such as citizens of that happy country, the United States, would hardly credit; but, with all the exertions, no result was obtained by the elec- tion—the votes being so divided amongst the three candidates, Monagas, Guzman, and Blanco, that the election went to the House of Congress. And here we will rest our direct narrative, whilst we give the particulars ef the famous Victoria revolution, as it was termed. About the middle of August, 1846, two editors of Caracas, Juan Reyna and Jose Maria Rojas, pro- posed to Guzman that he should have an interview with Gen, Paez, at some place where they could meet by appointment. Gen. Paez was at that time at Maracay, Guzman in Caracas. The object of this interview was to see if some amicable arrange- ment could not be entered into between them, and thus calm the intense excitement of the country. It is not known with certainty at whose instance this interview was proposed by Reyna and Rojas, or whether Paez bad directed them to ask for it. Guz- man replied that he must first consult his party in Caracas before answoring, and accordingly a meeting was held, and the proposition laid before them by Guzman. Considerable discussion took place. There were some dissentients, on various grounds. First, that they ought to hear what the party throughout the republic thought on the subject; and, secondly, they feared treachery from the Paezistas, and that the life of Guzman (who was such a thorn in their sides) might be taken by them, The majority, however, overruled per reagonings, and it was finally deter- mined that Guzman should g0 to the city of Victo- nown that the operations of thie bank did more to initate and disgust the opposition party than almost a ae a ee mE ee eee 7 and that the meeting was to take place at the Village of Turmero, that Jays half way betweon Vic- | Paez answered that he could not leave Maracey, but that he would receive Guzman there. 8 answer was submitted by Guzman to his friends; they all unanimously opposed his going to Maracay, 18 they feared treachery to his person. Several invitations were then sent to Paez to come to Victoria, but he finally answered, that the ap- paneeas as chief of active operations against jel, which he had just received, required his im- mediate presence elsewhere, and that therefore he could not attend to the meeting at all just then. Guzman laid this finul answer of Paez, before his friends, and addressed them at length on the situa- tion of the country. On the 3d or 4th of Septem- ber, news arrived at Victoria, that an action had taken place at Villade Cura, between Ranjel and the government troops under General Judas Tadec Tinango, which had resulted in the defeat of the latter. Guzman then addressed his partisans, who now had assembled at Victoria, to the number of some 2,000, and he advised them to disperse. They wished, however, to take up arms against the go» vernment, and su, ted as the first step, that they should proceed to Maracay, and capture Paez. This step Guzman opposed, and said he would not resort 0 physical force, but trust to the goodness of the liberal cause. This advice his friends did not relish, but they dispersed immediately, some to join Ranjel, and others towards the eastern provinces, where they raised the standard of the liberals. Guzman returned to Caracas, accompanied by a very few men, and this small number dwindled down te two or three, by the time he reached Antimano, a small village, a short distance outeide the capital. Here he was stopped by an Alcalde, and this officer accompanied him to the city, and took him before the Governor. No specific charge, hewever, was laid against him, and the Governor allowed him to go to his own house. This was about the 8th of Septem- ber. Two or three hours afterwards, he was again summoned to pppear before the Governor, this time, however, he declined answering the summons, and secreted himself. He remained secreted until the 5tla of October, and the authorities in vain searched for him. way found out, however, that 2 servant of his knew his hiding place, and seizing this servant, they threatened him with instant execution, unless he diseovered Guzman’s hiding place. The boy, overawed, finally disclosed it, and Guzman was ar- rested, and on the 6th of October, 1846, committed to prison, under a charge of high treason, in having stirred up the revolts that broke out contempora- neously with his visit to Victoria. Guzman’s fate produced a most disheartening effect on his party, and though they held out some- time, they were all defeated and dispersed before January, 1847. Paez conducted the military ope- rations of this campaign, and in January returned in the greatest pomp to Caracas. Colonel Guerrero, of the government side, made himself most notorious in this campaign. He took a large number of prisoners, and, to prevent their eseape, he secured them in what is termed in Spa- nish tramojo; that is to say, the arms are tied in an extended position, and a stout stick inserted be- tween the chin and the palms of the hands. In crossing rivers some 300 prisoners, thas secured, were drowned, as Guerrero had the barbarity to drive them into the water without loosening their hands. Various cruelties and enormities of this kind were committed, and, of course, did not much enhance the sympathies of the sufferers and their friends to- wards the Paez party. ‘Thus things went on until January, 1817, when Congress met, and was*called te select one of the three Presidential eandidates, viz.: Monagas, Guze man, and Blanco. The anomaly 2h individual, under accusation of high treason, being presented. aga candidate for the chief office in the republic, caused Congress to refuse Guztaan as a eandidate, and General Saloni’s name was substituted tor his. Their election, however, fell on Gen. Monagas, Paez’s candidate, and thus, beyond all doubt, Gen. Jose Tadeo Monagas was constitutionally elected. President of Venozuela, from the 24th of January, 1847, for four years. anjel, Zamora, and some other Guzmancistos, atisfied with this election, again touk up arms ire | favor of Guzman, contending that the substitution | Gen. of Saloni’s name for that of Guzman, before the | latter had been prowea guilty, was unconstitutional. | They were quickly put down, and the affair settled. | Paez himself did’ not command in person against | them, as he was otherwise occupied just then, as wilt | be explained hereafter. Zamora, we believe, es- caped with his life, but Ranjel was most barbarously murdered after his capture. His head was severed. from his body and sent to Caracas, whilst every in- dignity was shown to his body, and, finally, it was slung under the belly of a jackass, and thus sent to Villa de Cura, his place of residence. We will now return to Paez and Monegas. On the election of the latter by Congress, he was still in Cumana, consequently some time clapsed before his arrival at Laguayra on his way to Caracas. We have mentioned that in January, 1847, Paez returned with much pomp to Caracas after his campaign witly the liberals. Esclarecido Ciudadano shone eut ii great style, and his heart was gladdened by the election of his candidate for the Presidency. “Paes did not personally command against Ranjel and Zamora after Congress had elected Monagas, be= cause he was awaiting the arrival of Monagas at Laguayra from Cumana, as he wished to have the management of him from the first moment of his arrival. Monagas did arrive carly in March, and was received at Laguayra by Paez, with every de- monstration of friendship and confidence. They even wont up to Caracas in the same conveyance, and a magnificent collation, which cost $1,000, was given at Paez’s expense on the road; and at the same time was presented a list for the ministry, whicle Paez wished Monagas to appoint. At the head of them figured the name of Don Angel Quintero, Paez’s right hand man of all work. Monagas ae- cepted the ministry, and the “Ministerio del 6 de Marzo, 1847,” was formed. ‘Thus far everything had progressed favorably for the Paevistas. “Guzman was fast in prison, his party yutdown by force of arms; a President constitutionally elected, who was believed to be but a man of wax in Paey’s hands; and the proof they rested’on was hie having so promptly adopted a cabinet at Paea’g dictation. Things looked bright for the oligarchy, but all is not gold that glitters; and the oid Latin quotation “quem Deus vuli perder, prins dementat,? often occurred to calm lookers on. Things were culminating to a point against the oligarchy party; and this deceitful calm was merely the prelude of # most tremendous hurricane, which completely ship- wrecked them. Monagas was received with great rejoicings by the Paezistas in Caracas. Balls and parties were aaven him by them, and he and Paez seemed to be the dearest of friends. Congress was in session, and the first step taken by the ministry, and, indeed, by rAd 9 himself, was to see into the Guzman busi- ness. Monagas being of the pure old military party, was by no means inclined to the liberal side; and, moreover, the oligarch ministry, bestowed on him | by Paez, kept continually urging him to push on | Guaman’s tate. The trial progressed. At tho | moment of writing this we have before us the va- | rious official documents of this trial; and the im- partiality which we desire to pregerve, as narrators of these events, compels us to state that most ex~ traordinary and illegal measures were adopted by those in Pewee to procure the condemnation and death of the leader of the liberal party. “If any. defender of the then ¢: ng ministry is desirous of entering the lists with us, and arguing the matter in extenso, we pledge ourseives, from the official re- cords alone, to prove with mathematical cortainty that Guzman had not justice done him. His cause wis carried up through three courts, and in each of them he was found guilty, and his sentence waa death; for up to that timo the constitution ad- mitted of sentence of death for high treason. The first two trials wore held in the prison, contrary to the constitution. This was so ordered, because they feared that taking him from the prison to the court room would cause a rising of his partisans in Caracas, and a probable rescue by force. Tha Supreme Court, however, refused to go to the prisom to try him, and they wore foreed to manage his transmiseal from the prison to the court in great secrecy. i In the meantime, a most remarkable attempt was made by the oligarchs to smuggle Paez into power again, It was thus wise: Dr. Quintero, the Prime Miricter, went down to Congress, and presented to