About The reflector. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1817-1819 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1818)
THE REFLECTOR. M1LLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1818. \it. 59. DOCUMENTS. DUTlI-A MERIC A N AFFAIRS. •nts referred to in the President's message commencement of the second session of fteenth Congress. odney to the Secretary of State—Concluded, ngst the causes of dissatisfaction, t. have alluded, the preponderance of ital has been mentioned. Its great in the scale of national affairs is to ibed to its greater exertions in the na- ause. These are owing to its com- e wealth, and to its active, intelligent, h'.rprizing population. The armies ve been raised in this city and the iring country, with the supplies in and munitions of war drawn from mrrcs.liave been truly extraordinary, sold be a difficult task to make an ex- culation, or to form even a probable e, but all seemed to concede the merit claimed on account of xertions, when compared with their and population ; and it is not unlike- Buenos Ayres has, in consequence, d a higher tone, and acquired a con- influence, which she has sometimes her source nf discontent is the unfor- Idispute between the Banda Oriental Vnus Ayres, which had also an influ. i the proceedings of the latter towards ftuguese. original cause of division mity be (to a jealousy, long subsisting, between al cities of Monte Video and Buenos This lias become habitual, and lias pd to the country. Private interests mnal views have also increased their Sons. rral Artigas (who bears the character "of tiie Orientals, as lias been alrca- rd, and has also assumed that of pro- If the Entre Rios and Santa Fee) was illy in the royal service, a captain in /. ial corps. In this lie continued for lie after the revolution had enmmeue- luenos Ayres. But,in th° year 1811, offence, as it is said, at some conduct Spanish commandant, of Culonia, lie ned the royal cause, and entered the |of the patriots. So early as the year then acting against Montevideo, lie [dissatisfied with Sarratea, the corn- fin chief from Buenos Ayres. On his I from the head of the array, he qoar- vith general Rondeau, who, it was would have been acceptable to I finally withdrew, before the siege le Viedo was finished under general For this conduct, Posadas, when keeled to the government, treated him erter from their service. By a pro- fin, he offered a reward for his appre and set a price upon his head : an kh general Artigas never forgot or ng thosubsequent directorship of Al- induced the Calbildo of Buenos (polled the royalists, and set tip for them selves. Since this period, they appear to have adopted a partial non-intercourse sys tem. But lhienos Ayres, on one occasion, succeeded in obtaining an understanding with 'hem. Some suspect that they are secretly inimical to the existing order of things, and wish to keep themselves within their shell, that, in case of a change, they may profit by lutnre events; others calculate with someeon- lidencc on their ultimate union with Buenos Ayres, with whu h, at present, they indulge a limited, and reluctant intercourse. Para guay is under the immediate control of a per son named Francia, who styles himself di rector of Paraguay. From the domestic concerns of the pro vinces, we naturally turn to their foreign re lations. On this subject the commissioners were informed that they had nothing more than a friendly understanding with any fo reign nation. With the Portuguese govern ment they concluded an arrangement in 1813 under the mediation, it is said of the British, with respect to the Banda Oriental. They have since had a correspondence with them on tho subject of their entrance into that pro vince, and the forcible occupation by a Por tuguese army of the city of Monte Video.— The superior naval force of the Portuguese, stationed in the river La Plata, could have effectually blockaded all the ports of Buenos Ayres. By this means they would have pre vented supplies of arms and munitions of war, and entirely destroyed the great source of revenue to the state, the duties on imports and tonnage, at a season when money was much wanted. For about this period Buenos Ay res had a powerful army to contend with on the side of Peru, and had taken the hur- heen greatly augmented ; the natural conse quence of the important political events which daily transpire, and in which every man, like the i itizens of Athens, feels an in terest. The. newspapers arc every where circulated, together with the manifestos of the government, which is obliged to court the approbation of public opinion oil all mea sures of moment. It ik not very unusual lor the same countryman, who, a few years ago never troubled himself about any thing be- yond the narrow circle of lus domestic con cerns, to purchase a newspaper on coming to town as a matter of course, and if una ble to read, to request the first one he meets to do him that favor. The country curates are, moreover enjoined to read the newspa pers and manifestoes regularly to their flocks —The spirit of improvement may he seen >n every thing. Even some of those who arc under the influence of strong prejudices a- gainst the revolution, frequently remark the changes for better which have tauen place. Their habits, manners, dress, and mode of living, have been improved by mlcrco irsc with strangers, and the free introduction >f foreign customs, particularly English, Ame rican, and French. Great prejudices pre vail against wuatever is Spanish. It is -veil offensive to them to he called by this name ; they prefer to be identified with the aborigi nes of the country. The appellation whit li they have assumed, and in which they tak< a pride, is that of South-Americans. A powertol stimulus must necessarily hav •. been given to their industry, by two ioipor taut circumstances, the diminution in prices of foreign merchandize, and the great in crease in value of the products of the coun try, wiili the consequent rise of property. den of the renewed contest of Chili with' Though the grounds in the neighborhood of Spain. Under such circumstances, they were i cBies are highly improved, as l nave alrca- in some measure obliged to adopt a cautious d)' stated, agriculture, compariiively speak- and moderate policy. Their conduct in this; is in a luw condition. In general, the respect seems t < have been coerced. Theirs I* 4111 * 8 are badly tilled. The ploug is raro- uiiliappy state with the Orientals had also an b used, and the substitute is a very imliifei iniloeti-t on their measures , they alledged cut one. But, notwitostamliiig the dis.ul- tlmt the restless comi i t of Artigas had fur- vantages of the present method of culture, uisheri the Portuguese a pretext lor the iiiva- j 1 " ils informed by respectable persons that sion : hut, it is probable, that they will ulti- jUic average crop of wheat is not less than 50 mately break with the government ol*j bushels pev aerc in good seasons. Brazils. j On the subject of religion, (.specially, the The British government has, th.-iugh their change in the public mind lias been very official agents, entered into commercial slipu- geeat. i'he catholic faith is established latious with general Artigas, as the chief of the Orientals, on the subject of their trade with the eastern shore. The government of Buenos Ayres have a confidential person in Europe, soliciting from England and other powers, it is said, assist ance of every kind, and a recognition of their independence. England lias a consul, who, with her naval commander on that sta tion, appeared to conduct the. confidential affairs if the British cabinet with the govern ment of Buenos Ayres. What effects the victory of Mtvipu will pro duce abroad, it would he hazardous io me to conjecture. Whether, like the capture of Burgoyne, it will procure for the United issue a similar proclamation against! Provinces foreign alliances, 1 cannot pre- Artigas. When Alvear was dismis- j tend to say. i people of Buenos Ayres endeavor- bne for their conduct by burning with lark of ignominy, the degrading pro- n. They also addressed a concilia- rr to the general, and received from brrespnnding answer. These were bary to a fruitless attempt at recon- made by the director ad interim, [Alvares, who succeeded Aivear.—*- adeavors to reconcile him have failed. From a source which is entitled to credit, I was informed the raising and embarkation of Osorio’s army in Peru was not accomplish ed without serious difficulties. Alternate force and persuasion were used to collect them, and nothing hut the name, character, and pro mises of their general, could have induced them to go on hoard the vessels prepared for the purpose, at the port of Callao. Some I of them were actually in a state of mutiny, tanding the changes in the office of! notwithstanding they were, told they would at Buenos Ayres, Oil one or- be received with open arms by their breth- £he proposition was made, that the Iren in Chili, riental should remain independent The forces finally embarked, agreeably to s Ayres, and merely send deputies an account furnished by a gentleman of mi neral congress, to concert measures doubted veracity on the spot, consisted of the common enemy. On another, the following troops : 1 company of artille- Portuguese army was approaching | ry, 70 ; 1 do. sappers and miners, 81 ; regi- iers of the Banda Oriental, an effort I ment of Bruges, 900 ; do. of San Carlos iit- ie by Pueyrredon to reconcile him, fantry, 907 ; do. of Arcquipa, 1000 ; Arc- Re him in the common defence. Am- quipa dragoons, 360 ; Lamas, 144—total, pies of arms and munitions of war, red, and some furnished ; but this klso failed. Ial Artigas is thought, by persons on - 3263. This army was composed of all the regu lar soldiers they could spare from Lima, who were united at Talraguna, to the royal forc- Irredil, to be a firm friend to the in-j es left in Chili. By the battle of Maipu it has ace of the country. To express a I ceased to exist, The probable effects in I’e- bpinionon this delirate question would I ru, and other parts of South America, may ! be expected of me, as my position ; he conjectured, but cannot be affirmed. The Command a view of the whole ground, same gentleman who has been mentioned, It the satisfaction to he derived from and who is conversant in Peruvian affairs, lal interview with general Artigas.! apprehended that important changes would unquestionably, a man of rare and result. [talents. But if I were to hazard a I cannot conclude this paper, without I think it not Improbable, that in drawing your attention to a rapid survey of tin most family disputes, there have the reforms and improvements in the pro mts on both sides. It is to be lament- vinee of Buenos Ayres, produced by the re- Biey are in open hostility. The war Volution, and its influence on knowledge, so- j prosecuted with great animosity ; riety and manners. vo late engagements, the troops of The effects of the revolution are visible iti byres have been defeated with great; the changes produced in the state of society, some it was said that the inhabit- The difference in the freedom of acting and eastern shore were anxious that, thinking, which preceded the revolution, lion should take place, whilst the must necessarily lie great. The freedom of Ihe country preferred their present commerce must have given a spring to cx- jertionsof native enterprise and intelligence, sot omit to take a glance at the sit-1 while the active scenes of war and politics, Parrnguay. This province pre- for the last ten years, have awakened the ngular spectacle. It stands aloof genius of the country, which had so long Irest, The people with the aid of slumbered. ’I lie generation now oil the ktnaining royal troops, repulsed an stage may almost hr said to have been rcar- I to compel them to join the common etl under a new order of tilings. The com that of the stale, but there arc manv adul ates, both in conversation anil in writing, of universal toleration. Some uiemoers of congress, are strongly in favor of it, but tbo ignorant and superstitious part of the people, together witu tins regular tlergy, would not be satisfied with such a measure while the liberality prevailing among the better informed classes is such as to sec me a virtual toleration for the present. Besides from the circumstance of there being no sects in the country, such a provision may wait the progress of liberality in public opinion, in tart, tiie human mind lias been set free, on all matters of a general abstr.rt nature, although the liberty of the press is circum scribed in some degree with respect to stric tures on public measures and men, and the established religion ; but there is neither in quisition nor previous license. They ac knowledge the pope as a spiritual head merely, and do not think him entitled to any authority to interfere in their temporal con cerns. Ilis bull in favor of the king of Spain against the colonists, which may b almost regarded as uii excommunication, produced little or no sensation. ’I'he number of monks and nuns never iVere very great in Buenos Ayres, when compar ed with other portions of the Spanish domin ions. They have diminished since the re volution. There was at one time a positive law passed, forbidding any one to become a monk or a nun : but they were obliged to repeal it, and it was afterwards passed with some modifications. The restrictions sub stituted aided by public opinion, have near ly produced the desired effect. Few of the j youth of the country apply themselves to the tudy of theology, since other occupations, much more tempting to their ambition, have been opened to their choice. Formerly the priesthood wus the chief aim of young men of the best families, who were desirous of distinction ; as, in fact, it constituted almost the only profession, to which those who had received a liberal education could devote themselves : which will readily account for the circumstance of so many of the secular clergy directing their attention, at present, almost exclusively to politics. The regular clergy, who are not permitted, by the na ture of their profession, to take part in the business of the world, nr to hold secular of fices, arc many of them Europeans : but (hose of them who are natives, take the same lively interest in the passing events, with the other classes of the community. They have gone cautiously to work in re forms in the different branches of their mu nicipal laws, and the administration of them. The number of offices has been considerably diminished, ami responsibility rendered more direct and severe. The judiciary sys tem has undergone many improvements, and nearly all the leading features of the law, w hich did not harmonise with the principles of free government, have been expunged though some of the former evils still remain I'lie barbarous impositions on the aborigines. Vta-y 909B afterward* they ex- [ men stock of ideas among tho people lias\have been abolished. Tipi odious nkavalU, and other obnoxious taxes, modified, so an to he no longer vexatious—slavery, and iho slave trade, forbidden in future—and all ti tles of nobility prohibited, under the pain of the loss of citizenship. ’I'lie law of primo geniture is also expunged from tlicir system. In the provisional Statute, as lias already been stated, nearly all the principles of free representative government are recognized, accompanied, it is true, with certain draw backs, for which they plead the necessity of the times, but which they profess tlicir inten tion to do away, on the final settlement of the government—a consummation anxiously desired by all classes of inhabitants. Tho example of France h is warned them not to attempt too much at first: they have follow ed the plan of the United States in the in- trod action of gradual reforms, instead of resorting to violent and sudden innovation'* and revolutions. Next to the establishment of their inde pendence by arms, the education of their y .iitli appears to be the subject of the most anxious interest. They complain, that eve ry possible impediment was thrown in tho way of education previous to the revolution : 'hat, so far from fostering public institutions for this purpose, several schools were actual- ly prohibited in the capital, and the young men were not without restraint permitted to go abroad f>r tlicir education. There wus a college at Cordova, at which those destined for the bar, or the priesthood, completed their studies, upon the ancient monkish prin ciples, Another called San Carlos (now tho Union of the South) had been opened at Bue nos Ayres, but was afterwards converted in to barracks for soldiers. It is an immense) building, uore extensive,perhaps, than any >vhi< it has been dedicated to learning in tois country ; and it has lately been fitted up at i very great expense. The school was to have opened in May or June last, on a more modern and liberal plan of discipline and in struction. The library of the state is kept in an adjoining building; it occupies a suit of six rooms, and contains newly twenty thousand volumes : the greater part rare, and valuable. It is formed out of the library of the Jesuits, the books collected in the differ ent monasteries, donations from individuals, and an annual appropriation by the gov.-ru men t, and contains works on all subjects .uid in all the languages of the polished nau ,o» of Europe. A very valuable additi us aas been lately made* of several thousand vo- 1 tunes, brought to Buenos Ayres by M. Bonp- land, a companion of the celebrated Hum boldt. Besides the University of Cot'dnva, at which there are about one hundred and fifty students, there are public schools in all the principal towns, supported by their respec tive corporations. In Buenos Ayres, besides an academy, in which are taught tiie higher branches, and the college before mentioned, there are eight public schools, for whose sup port the corporation contributes about seven thousand dollars annually : and, according to the. returns of last year, the number of scholars amounted to eight hundred and six- tv-four. There are five other schools exclu sively for the benefit of the poor, and under the charge of tho different monasteries; thesa are supplied w ith hooks and stationary at toe public expense. There arc also parish sc boots in the country, for the support of which a portion of the tithes has been lately set apart, it is rare to meet with ahoy ten or twelve years of age, in the city of Buenos Ayres, who cannot read and write. Besides toe scholars thus instructed, many have privato tutors. In addition to all this, I must not o- init to mention the military academies sup. ported by gov niment at Buenos Ayres, and Tucuman, at wnich there arc a considerable number of cadets. There are no prohibited books of any kind ; all are permitted to circulate freely, or to be openly sold in the hook-stores ; a- mong them is the New Testament in Spanish. This alone is a prodigious step towards the mancipation of their minds from prejudices, flierc are several book-stores, whose, profits have rapidly increased; a proof that tho number of readers has augmented in tho same proportion. There had been a large importation of English books, a language becoming daily more familar to them. Eight years ago, the mechanic art of printing was scarcely known in Buenos Ayres : at present there are three printing offices, one of then* very extensive, containing four presses. Tho price of printing is, notwithstanding, at least three times higher than in the United States : but, a3 there is no trade or inter course with Spain, all school hooks used in the country, some of them original, are pub lished at Buenos Ayres; the business is therefore prolitable, and rapidly extending. There are many political essays, which in stead of being inserted in the newspapers, are published in loose sheets ; there are also original pamphlets, as well as publications of foreign works. The constitution of the Uni ted States, and of the different states, togeth er with a very goi*d history of our country, and many of our most important state pa pers, arc widely circulated. The work of Dean Funcs, the venerable historian of the C ountry, comprised in three large octavo vo lumes, considering the infancy of tho typo graphic art in this part of tlift world,may bo regarded as ho undertaking of some magnittrifo'
