happiness, will fall to the ground. To betray your goodfaith, to inflame your imaginations, and to entrap you blindly into political systems, which the lessons of experience prove to be absolutely incompatible with your present situation, and to promote their own interests in separating you from the general union of the provinces, so indispensable to the consolidation and security of our independence, they have attempted to persuade you, that a faction, sold to Portugal, controlled the political operations of this empire, with the view of subjecting it to the old dominion of the Portuguese, and the despotism of their government. So profound has been the impression produced by this atrocious calumny, on the. minds of credulous persons, zealous for the preservation of their rising liberties, that notwithstanding the many decided proofs to the contrary, they are not yet entirely undeceived. But the moment has arrived when the illusion will completely vanish.

The Portuguese government, which is doubtless ruled by a few ambitious or incompetent ministers, having neglected the opportunity which our moderation and prudence afforded for negotiating an advantageous and permanent peace with this empire, and perhaps, still influenced by the old habit of despotically controlling the fate of this population, has conceived that the speediest and most effectual mode of gaining their object will be by force of arms; and according to the latest Lisbon Gazettes, an expedition is preparing to sail for this country. The empire has determined to take up arms to repel this unjust and useless aggression, and your Emperor, the perpetual defender, faithful to the obligations he has contracted with you, is about to head the brave troops of Brasil, and to prove that the glorious title in which he so highly prides himself, is not a mere empty sound. Having perfectly identified himself with the Brasilian people, he is resolved to share their fate, whatever it may be. His

interest, happiness, and glory do, and always will correspond with those of the Brasilian people; and he will never sheath his sword until every portion of the empire equally enjoys independence and freedom.

Pernambucans! What precious time has been lost! What immense sacrifices have been made to deliver you from the manœuvres of the anarchical demagogues who have desolated so many of these fine provinces ! What would have become of the insolent enemy who now threatens us, if our forces had been constantly united! If instead of weakening by internal divisions so important a point of the empire, you had rallied round the common centre of union, like the other provinces. Would the enemy have dared to attack us if he had not calculated on deriving advantage from your fatal disunion? Would he have dared to attack us if from the Amazons to the Rio de la Plata we had presented to him one solidly united mass, one uniform resistance, directed by a wellcombined general plan? Certainly not.

Thus, then, being ignorant of the point to which the enemy's forces may be directed, and it being imperiously necessary to secure against invasion the capital of the empire, as on it essentially depends the salvation of all the provinces, it becomes indispensable to concentrate at this spot the whole of our maritime force. But what pain does not my paternal heart feel at finding, that instead of sufficiently augmenting the force on your station to assist you in defending your selves against the foreign enemy, I am obliged to withdraw it.. However, be not disheartened, Pernambucans! Put an end to the hatred and internal dissensions which divide and distract you. Unite, with heart and good-will, for the common defence, and you will find in your soil and your valour infinite resources against the foreign enemy, who cannot long maintain himself in these remote regions. Never think of capitulation with such unjust aggressors; but rely upon it, that the

capital being defended, to whatever point the enemy may direct his attack, thither will our land and sea forces be sent to its succour. Pernambucans! Have courage, constancy, and above all things, internal union, and the enemy will be overTHE EMPEROR.

come.

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PROCLAMATION

Issued at Pernambuco by the President Carvalho.

Inhabitants of the Northern Provinces of Brasil!-Providence, which constantly watches over our felicity, continues to arrange every thing for our more readily obtaining it. His imperial and constitutional Majesty is not satisfied with despotically and insolently dissolving the sovereign constituent and legislative assembly of Brazil-with attacking in this manner the national sovereignty in the august persons of the representatives he has endeavoured to divide us, and to instigate the king of Portugal to make an attack on our firesides. Now, after involving us in a war which, notwithstanding we are certain of victory, is most unjust and iniquitous— Brazilians, who would imagine it?-after exposing us to the bayonets and the cannon of the Portuguese, his imperial and constitutional majesty has ordered all his forces to repair to the capital for the sole defence of his own person, and he has abandoned those who elevated him to the throne, and placed the imperial crown on his head. Brazilians! the Emperor leaves us to ourselves. What, then, remains for us to do? Let us unite for our common safety; let us establish a supreme and truly constitutional government, charged with our defence and security. Brasilians! let us unite, and we will be invincible.

MANUEL DE CARVALHO PAES D'ANDRADE,
President.

Pernambuco, Palace of the Government,

July 2d, 1824.

COLOMBIA.

Message of the Vice-President of Colombia charged with the government of the Congress of 1824.

Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the chamber of Representatives,

The present Congress meets under more favorable auspices than the former. Last the year still occupied some enemy important posts in the Republic, from whence, spreading alarm to the neighbouring departments, he redoubled the efforts of his power to gain a fortunate blow, to which the machinations of the disaffected, whom we generously tolerate in our territory, might contribute. Happily their enterprises were checked, and their projects have only served to consolidate the public opinion, and to give additional lustre to the glory of Colombia. You come to deliberate for the benefit of our constituents, in the tranquil days which providence has granted us, by the constant sacrifices of the Colombian people and army. As uncertain as may be the continuation of the present calm, the Executive feels itself animated with the most lively pleasure, to present to you a faithful picture of the Republic, and to offer you the ideas which experience has furnished, persuaded that you will never have a greater field than in this session, to employ with success your patriotism and talents.

The Government of his Catholic Majesty persists in its ancient scheme of disavowing the justice of our emancipation, and the power which has placed the Republic upon the level of independent states. The Cortes of Cadiz, in its last gasp denied the recognition of the new American States, insisting upon the measure of sending commissioners out who

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might hear our petition. The Executive had no knowledge of the commission relative to Colombia, and attributes it to the explicit declaration made to Congress in the former message, not to hear or admit any negociation on the part of the government of Spain which should not have for its basis the firm acknowledgment of our national sovereignty. Notwithstanding, the Executive has not let pass an occasion or favora→ ble juncture to persuade the Spanish Government that we are ready to forget our grievances, to put an end to the war, and to promote the happiness and prosperity of both nations; but the catastrophe which the present regime in the Peninsula has just suffered, reduces us to the extremity of not expecting any thing but by the force of arms. The king (Ferdinand) has been restored to absolute power by the aid of a French army, to which the Spaniards themselves afforded assistance. His official acts as far as regard the new American States, -show clearly that he intends to renew the war, to subject us to the ancient odious servitude of Spain. If the Executive does not doubt the views of the Cabinet of Madrid, neither does it doubt that the forces which the Republic will oppose to it will be of such a nature as, in the end, to save its independence, its government, and its laws. Congress has a very essential study in completing our defence, by granting to the Executive the means of preserving the external and internal tranquillity of the republic; and I hope that your first labours will forwards so important an object; and for that purpose I refer to my communication of the 9th of May last.

Our relations with the government of America, have taken growth and consistency. The military situation of Peru has carried our warriors to that country, and the Pre.sident, the Liberator, using the permission of Congress, has undertaken the task of leading them on to victory. The presence of the Liberator in Peru has contributed strongly to save the state from the terrible calamities of civil war, The VOL. I. No. 1.

K