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DOCUMENT**.
M1LLED&EV1LLE, G. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1818.
SO U T11 - A M K U1 r A N \ K V A111S.
uments referred tn in the Vresiih ut's message
I the commencement of the second session ij
tfifteenth Congress.
Wash ugtnn City, 5th Nov. 1S18.
Ir,—I have the honor to present the i t -
j herewith enclosed, ngiealily to the d
Inf Mr. Graham, who, on reflection, pet -
[d submitting some additional remarks,
epnrate paper. For this purpose two
he dot uments referred to in the report
hin in his possession—Dr. F ine's outlines
pc events in the United Provinces, sin-e
evolution, and the manifesto nfimiepiid-
by the Congress of Turuinan.
It a re the honor to he, with great respect,
most obedient servant,
C. A. RODNEY. j
h. John Q Adams, Secretary ol' Stale.
LVr. Rodney to the Secretary of State.
r.—1 have now the honor to submit to
[consideration my report on the subje-t
le late mission to South- America, rul
ing the information derived from the va-
j sources within mj power, so far as I
kn opportunity of improving the udvan-
! possessed.
tli the history of the conquest of the
sli possessions in America, you must
liliar. They were principally, if nm
|ively, achieved by private adventu-
W lie'll completed, a most oppressive
i Of government, or rather despotism,
tablished by the parent country,
tse exmisi ve'regions were origin all v
Id by two vire-roys. The dominions ol
|, in North-America, were under tin
iment of the vice-roy of Mexico, and
|r possessions in South-America wor-
|t to the control of tlic vjcc-roy of Peru,
i remoteness of some parts of the roim-
»m the residence of the vice-roy at Li-
Ecasimied, in trt9, the establishment
other vii e-royalty at Santa Fe de Ho
lii the kingdom of New-Givnada. In
New-Grenada was divided, and a huin-
the provinces composing that king-
tere separated from it. These wore put
[ the juridiction of a captain general
csidrnt, w hose seat of government was
faceas.
|568, Chili was erected into a separate
i generalship; in i;78, a new vice-
was established at Buenos Ayres,
Ihending ali the Spanisli possessions to
It ol the Western Cordilleras am! to
1th of the river Marauon.
immense empire seems according to
i of the Indies, to have been ronsi-
distinct kingdom of itself, though
i Spain, and annexed to the t rown -if
In this light it is viewed by Uaron
Idt, in his essay on. New-Spain.
1 some slight shades of difference in
stations establisiied in tliese govern-
the prominent features of their poli-
■stitutions exhibit a striking resem-
[ as the general system was the same,
[commerce was confined to the par-
Itry, and to Spanish vess#U exclu-
Tliey were prohibited, under th
Hesides all tliese there were stamp taxes, ta
vern licenses, and stuns paid lor the sale of
■'dices, of titles of nobility, papal bulls, the
imposition and ronlirmaliou of lands, with
. number of others of an inferior grade.
Under the Spanish minini-chs, who had
i nrly obtained from the pope the cerlesiasti
•al dominion, and thus had united in their
coyal persons all civil and religious authorii
the reins of government, and finally, in the
year 1310, sent off the viceroy Cisneros, and
hi3 principal adherents. Fora summary ol
events subsequent to this period, until the
time of my departure, 1 beg leave to refer
to the outlines subjoined, (Appendix A) from
the pe.i of De. Filin', drawn up, in part, at
my request. Without vouching fur the per
fect accuracy of the work, 1 think, froth the
■ oppressive hierarchy was established.[information 'received, it wit! 'probably be
with its numerous train of itHces and orders, found to contain, in general, a correct and
succeeded by the inquisition. impartial sketch of the prominent transac
tin'posts of honor and profit, from the | tions and occurrences,
highest to the lowest, were tilled almost ex- In perusing this interesting document, 1
i ..sively i> the. natives ot Old Spain. have to lament, that its pages are marked
1 ac principal code of law, thus maintain- [ with some cases of severity & cruelty, which
mg the supremacy ol Spain over these dis- seem almost insrperable from great rerol ti
tan .regions, almost locked up from the rest dons. It must ..owever be coiis.iliiig to ob-
■4 tlie work,, emanated from the council of serve, that they appear to have
to'' Indies established by the king, in which
j lie Was supposed to be always present. The
royal rescrips, the recopitationes of the In-
dies, and the partidas, furnished the general
rule ot decision ; and when these were silent
or doubtful, recourse was had to the opin
ions of professional men.
This system was generally executed by the
vice roys, captains general, and by the tri
bunals of justice, with a spirit corresponding:
with the rigorous policy that produced it. To
this form of government, the country had 1 for
centuries submitted with implicit obedience,
and -probably would have continued much
longer, but lor events in this country and the
changes in Europe. The sagacioiet minds of
many able writers, penetrating into thc'fu-
ture, had predicted, at some distant date, a
revolution in South America, before that in
North America had commenced. From the
period of the successful termination of our
own struggle for independence, tiiat of the
inhabitants of the south lias been with more
■onfidenre foretold ; anil there is reason to
believe it has been hastened liv this fortunate;
event. The conduct of Spain, during the
war of our revolution, was calculated to
make a lasting impression on her colonics.
This result was tlienforescch by intelligent po-
iitii ians: main were surprised that she could
hr so blind to her own interest, after she had,
mi one occasion, manifested the strongest
suspicion of Paraguay ; for to her scrupu
lous jealousy of this power the expulsion of
the jesuits from that country, in 1750, is to
be attributed.
The wars that arose from the Frew h rev
olution have prodm ed, in Europe, changes
of [lie greatest magnitude, which have had
an immense influence on the affairs of South
America. When Spain joined France a-
gaikst the combined prim es, she exposed her
distant possessions to British hostilities.
The great naval power c:f England gave
her ready access to the American colonies.
Engaged in an arduous contest, she was
prompted, by her feelings and interest, to re
taliate on Spain the conduct she experienced
from her during the war of our independ
ence. Encouraged, perhaps, by the coun
sels of her enemies, the first symptoms ol
insurrection, in the continental possessions
of Spain, were exhibited in the
passed
through the state, whi< li might possibly hav
rendered examples necessary, and to hav
arrived, perhaps, at that stage, when, the
passions becoming less turbulent, and the
people more enlightened, a milder system
may be expected to prevail.
Their dissensions have produced most of
their calain ities. In such seasons they were
naturally to he expected. But their dis
putes have been principally healed, by the
prudent and energetic measures of the Con
gress, which roinmeneedTts sittings in Tu-
cuman in the year 1815, and adjourned in
the year following from thence to Buenos
Ayres, where it remained in session, occu
pied with the task of forming a permanent
constitution. This 1'espectabie body, besides
acting as a convention, or a constituent as
sembly, exercises temporarily legislative
powers. Their sittings are publi', with a
gallery of audience, lor citizens and stran
gers. ’l'he debates are frequently inti rest
ing, and arc condui ted with ability and de
corum ; they are published every month for
the information of the people.
The dispute xvir.li Artigas, the chief of the
Orientals, has not been adjusted. This,
every variety ol climate to befoun d betweerj,
different and distant latitudes, and biesscil
with a large portion of fertile soil, ,it is capa
ble of producing all that is to be found in tho
temperate or torrid /.ones. Immense herds
of cattle and horses graze on its extensive
plains, and constitute at tiiis time tfieir prin
cipal source of wealth. The mines of Poto-
si are also included within its boundaries.—.
There are no woods for a very considerable
distance from Buenos Ayres. No forest
trees arc to be seen on the widely extended
pampas, except at intervals a solitary um-
boo. After passing the Saladildo, in a nor
therly direction, the woods begin, and pro
ceeding in the upper provinces, the hills ap
pear, and mountains rise in succession, inter
spersed with vallieS. On the east side of tho
rivers Ea Plata anil Parana, the country is
said to be very fine. The Elitre Rios is rep
resented as capaoie of being made a garden
spot; and the Banda Oriental presents hills
and dales, rich bottoms, line streams of wa
ter, and at. a distance from the great river,
■ m the banks of the smaller streams, some
excellent woodland. Between Malii muda
and .vlonte V iden, the cast ridge of cue Uor-
dilleras irr.itiuat: s on the river La Plata.
Since tiie rev dution, five more provinces
have been crei ieu, making in all fourteen
within the limits of the ancient vice royalty p
viz. Tueumau, taken from Salta ; Mendoza
or Cuvo, taken from Cordova; Uorrientos,
Jtiiitre Rios, comprising the country between
the Uruguay, and the Parana, and the Ban
da Oriental, or eastern shore of the river La
Plata. The two last were taken from tbo
province ol Buenos Ayres, which was tims
reduced to the toi ritory on the. south sid" of
mat river. The subordinate divisions of the
country, with the 'principal towns, will m
found in tiie appendix to tiiis report, wim an
account of the produce, or manufactures of
tiie diflerent districts. ,( Appendix D.)
Ot the fourteen provinces into wniih i.us
ancient vice royalty is u.,w divided, live were,
w ith a certain jealously of the superior influ- ‘ l tmy departure, principally on upicd by the
ence of the city of Buenos Ay res on the gen- j *'oy al lori es, (which, in consequence ot tho
oral affairs of the provinces 5 the conduct I v * c tory of Maipu, were expected soon t > rr-
V eneznela. These were succeeded by
f death, to trade with fur- igncrs. i the attempls of Miranda in the same quae
res of Old Spain composed the body i which were accompanied; or were'fid In w-
merchants. Though tiiis part of the I ?d, since the Vacillating state of the Spun-
jiad, previously to tlie'revolution, Been
in some degree, particularly by the
[f free commerce, as it is styled, the
ns partial, and the restrictions coh-
Ivere and oppressive,
l ess to the Spanisli settlements was
} foreigners, and even the inhabitants
cut provinces were prohibited from
se with one another, unless under
e'st regulations.
irious manufactures, that might in-
litli those of Spain, were not permit-
ley were prevented, under severe
ffrom raising flax, hemp, or saffron,
tea most congenial to them, the cul-
V grape and the olive was prohibit-
kccount of the distance of Peru and
|d tiie difficulty of transporting oil
[to tliese remote regions, they were
to plant vines and olives, but were
1 the. culturo of tobarco. At Bue-
, by special indulgence of the vice
were allowed to cultivate grapes
1 merely for the use of the‘table,
ierc compelled to 'procure from the
[mitry articles of tiie first necessity:
thus rendered dependant on her
yvenienres of life, as well as luxti
1 crown possessed the monopoly of
lilt, and gunpowder.
oppressive regulations and re-
fcvas added an odious system oftax-
pm the Indians was exacted a tri-
1 shape of a poll tax, or a certain
1 the mines, called the mita. A
B'f the produce of cultivated lands
under tiie denomination of tithes,
tla, tax varying from two and a
[per cent, on every sale and resal
moveable and immovable, was
tted, though in some cases a com-
1 allowed. Royal and munici-
vere laid on imports and on the
jitrahre and clearance of vessels,
jlfferent appellation:! of almoxari-
[alcavala, ccrso, consulado, arnia-
nadilla. To these may be added
His of the precious metals, the
Itant tax in tho mining districts.
ish monarchy, liy revolutionary imiveuients
in Mexico, Grenada, Peru, Chili, and Buen
os Ayres '; and from which scarcely any
part erf the Spanish dominions in America
lias been entirely exempt.
The occurrences that led the way tn the
subsequent important events in the provinc
es of La Plata, were the invasion of the
British, under Pnpham and Bereaford, in
the year 1806, atul their expulsion, a few
months afterwards. By the collected forces uf
the country under Leniers and Puey rredon.
These incidents fortunately gave to the peo
ple a just idea of their own strength
they afterwards repelled, with a firmness
t honor, tin
h under Gen
and lira very Tli at did them great honor, tin
form id able attack of the Britis
AYliitlocke.
The wretched state to which Spain was
reduced, By the policy, the power*, and the
arts of Napoleaii, the resignation of Charles
the 4tli in favor of Ferdinand the 7th, and
the renunciation of both in favor of Napo-
lean, were productive of the most important
results. They threw the Kingdom into tli
greatest confusion. The alternate successes
and disasters of the French armies produc
ed a new era in Spain. The people, gener
ally, revolted at the idea of being governed
by the brother of Napolcan, to wiiotn lie
had transferred the crown. Juntas were
established, who acted in tho name of Fer
dinand, then confined in France. Tliese
were substituted for the ancient Cortes, anil
the regular council of the nation, to which,
in times of eminent danger, they ought to
have recurred agreeably to their usages.
Conflicting authorities produced a distract-
cdstate of affairs. In the scenes that endued
the proper attention was not paid to the A-
merican provinces. Their conduct towards
them was versatile and inconsistent 5 they
were lost sight of or neglected, until it was
too late. Conceiving they wet e abandoned
by the parent state, they thought it justifia
ble to act for themselves. It was not very-
long before the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres,
embracing tiie example of their brethren in
Spain, established a junta, which assumed
of the government of Buenos Ayres, to
wards tli;* Portuguese, and the high tariff" of
duties, which I understand have been since
reduced, appeared tn constitute tiie princi
pal causes of dissatisfaction at tiie time of
my departure.
The declaration by Congress of that in
dependence, which they had for many years
previously maintained in fact, was a meas
ure of the highest importance, and lias been
productive of an unanimity and a decision
before unknown. This summit of their
wishes, was only to be readied by slow and
gradual progress. The public mind had to
be illumined on the subject by their pulpits,
their presses and'thrir public orations. The
people were to be prepared for the event.
V In n the season arrived, they cut the. knot
whid; could not be untied. The dedara-
lionof independence was adopted in the di
rectorship of Mr. Fury rredon. 011 the ninth
day of Jnly, 1816, It. was succeeded by
■nr 1797. an able exposition of the causes that extort
ed it, tojustify, to their fi llow-citizens and
to the world, the measur * they had deliber
ately voted to support with their fortunes
and their lives.
Believing the latter paper might be thought
worthy of perusal, a translation has been
annexed (Appendix B.)
The salutary influence of this bold and
derisive step, was at once felt throughout
the country. It gave new life and strength
to the patriotic cause, and stability to the
government. The victories of Chacabiieo
if ml Maipu, achieved hv the arms of Chili
and B uen >s Ayres, have produced and con
firmed a similar declaration of independ
ence by the people of Chili, which, is also
annexed, (Appendix C) and cemented the
and cordial union, existing between the confed
erate states. The consequence has he n,
that, within these extensive teriutori-s, tuerc
is scarcely the vestige of a royal army to he
found, except on tin* borders of IVru.
Having thus, in connection with the suc
cinct account given by Dr. Funo, traced
the principal events, since tho revolution in
Buenos Ayres, I shall proceed to state the
result of the information received, accord
ing to the best opinion 1 could form of the ex
tent, population, government and resources
of the United Provinces, with their produr-.
thins, imports, and exports, trade and com
merce.
The late vice royalty of .Buenos Ayres,
of which that city was the metropolis, was by
many considered the largest, as well :r- the
most valuable of all the Spanish dominions
in South, America, extending in a direct line,
from its north to its soutli boundary, a dis
tance of more than two thousand miles ; and
from its eastern to its western, not loss than
eleven hundred.
It was composed, at tie commencement
of the revolution, of the nine provinces, or
intendencies following : Buenos Ayres, Par
aguay, Cordova, Salta, Potosi, La Plata,
Chncli&bambn, I,a Paz ami Puno,
Watered by the great river La Flata and
its numerous tributary streams, which afford
in easy communication with countries of an
immense extent, and furnishing an easy ac
cess to the treasures of Soutli America, if
has always been regarded by Spain as one ot
treat to Lower Peru) or partially under their
influence, viz, Potosi, La Plata, Curb ....ri
ba, La Paz, and Puno : and toe nine l-dluwv
ing, independent de facto of Spain, were in
the possession of the Patriots, viz. Buenos
Ay res, Paraguay, Mendoza, Salta, Corieh-
tes, Elitre Rios, and Banda Oriental. But
Paraguay and the city of Santa Fee act in
dependently’ of Bin 11 is Ayres, thougn Para
guay is not on unfriendly terms with tli in,
and it is hoped by Some will before long 1 ;iu
the union. Entre Rios and the Banda (ori
ental, under general Artigas in the character
uf chief of the Orientals, are 111 a state of
hostility with Buenos Ayres.
Monte V ided, the capital of the eastern
shore, was occupied by a Portuguese army,
and a squadron of ships of war from Brazil
bioi kaued the ports of Colonia and Maldo
nado, and prohibited flic entrance of neutral
1 csscls, unless liicy paid them tl.-a same du
ties on their cargoes, tuat they were charged
on the importation of the goods whcfe'lanucii
111 the country.
The territory, ol the United Provinces is
computed to contain one 1 undred and fil'iyr
thousand square leagues, lhong, 1 ii probably
exceeds that quantity. The lands occupied
in toe country, remote from the cities, are
generally converted by their owners, in. . s-
taniua, or large grazing farms for 1 ut< 1 ami
clnp ras for gr.isviii.., grain. Tln-sinaii .us,
or quintas, in the igiiborlmod of , i,i: s, are
in line order. Those around Buenos Ay 1 es,
which furnish their market. With an a.opio
supply of fruit aitd veg ‘table's, are, by irri
gation, in the highest s ate of culture.
The population, exrf -ove of the Indians,
is now calculated at about one, million force
hundred thousand : but, adding the c.vilizei
Indians only, who are of great inqiortaiu e„
it would in ail probably exceed two millions.
TI10 whole population consists of natives,
of old Spain, and their d srendauts bun in
the country, or, as they style fheinsilves,
Soutli Americans ; >f In iims civilized, or
unreclaimed, with ditt" rent •* casts,” or mix
ed blood ; of Africans, and their descend
ants, or negroes and r. uluttoes.
I could not ascertain, with satisfaction, the
population of the different provinces: tho
province of Buenos Ayres contains about
one hundred and twenty thousand, whilst tluv
population of Entre Rios and Banda Orien
tal is computed at fifty thousand.
The city of Buenos Ayres contains a pop
ulation of sixty thousand. The inhabitants
of this place appear to lie amiable, and an
interesting people. They are considered
brave and humane ; possessing intelligence,
capable of great exertions uni perseverance,
and manifesting a cheerful devotion to tho
cause of freedom and independence;
There is also a certain mediocrity and c-
quality of fortune prevailing Among them,
extremely favorable to an union of the pop.
dar sentiment in support of the rommoii
weal. Many industrious mechanics, and en
terprising merchants, are, however, increas
ing their estates, and adding to the stoc k of
capital in the country.
The people of the province of Buenos
Ayres, residing out of tiie city, ai'e, general
ly speaking poor, and rather indolent: tho’
1 hardy race, ami when excited to action,
iter most precious acquisitions. Enjoying they become zealous defenders of the liber-