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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'