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the reflector.
—rr i
MILLEDGEV1LLE, G. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 18U
\U.
DOCUMENTS.
TH-AMKRICAN AFFAIRS,
s referred to iti the President's message
•nrncemcnt if the second session of
\fteentk Congress.
City of Washington, 5tl\ Nov. 1813.
Mr. Rodney haring undertaken t<»
i (or utir joint signature, a report
is; the situation of the country we
r visited under the order of the Piv
and circumstances having prevented
>m presenting it to me for perusal, un-
Intcarrival in this city, I was not
ill then, that I should have occasion
nttojou inv individual views on that
But, on an attentive perusal ofth
drew up, I found that, althougl
as not perhaps any important fact on
e essentially differed, yet ihat som
ateil of wliii h 1 was not aware : and
had taken views which might be dif-
combine during the short time then
to ns. A cf which it might be proper
u should be put in possession. Under
rannstanres,I thought it better to sub-
tic disadvantage of hastily throwin .
ervations together, and of presenting
pnrately, than to ask him to derange
end tenor of his report by introduc-
iii into it.
arrival of Mr. Bland, who will ncres-
makc a separate report, will, 1 trust,
lie the President to the course I have
as, from a combined view of what wi
unlit state, he may, perhaps, be hot-
liled to draw his own inferences as to
al situation and future prospects
ntry
lie
ire tn t! 8 } !' c ,no8t . immediate perhaps
villi II e f 0U "' tl,e ''W'idents roniiceied
tw ;' invasions of the country by the
u s . the years t8°5 and 1806, and in
i ,iir !/T i ' , i ,U ' V( ‘ l ‘ t8 inS l* ain » as they hud
, . Lt tendency to show to these people
.j 1 , 1 - <) ," U . s,lvn Sth, and the incapacity of
. • ■ r
we visited, than from any joint.
n which wc all could have agreed, as,
ordinary cireninstances, that must
en the result of a compromise of
aml would probably have excluded
rts, or sumc views, w hich one or tin
us will, in the mode now adopted,
to yon.
y particular situation, however. 1
rnish information on points which 1
“rent respect, I have the honor to he.
most obedient servant,
JIMIX GRAHAM.
.John Q. Adams, sec'y ofstate.
Mr. Graham to the secretary ofState.
untry formerly known as the vice
if Beunos Ayres, extending from
western sources of the river La
the southern cape of America, and
confines of Brazil and the ocean, to
of the Andes, may he considered
hirh is called “ The United Provin-
nth America.”
the royal government, it was di-
the intendencies or provinces of
yree, Paraguay, Cordova, Salta,
lata, Cochabamba La Paz, and Pu-
sequently to the revolution, in the
t, another division was made ; nod
provinces of Cordova, Salta, and
yres, were taken those of Cnyo or
, Tucuman, Covientes, Entre Rios
anda Oriental. The others, it is
retained their former boundaries,
i the exception of Paraguay, are
called Upper Peru,
idely extended country embraces
cry variety of climate and soil, and
c of almost every variety of prodtir-
large part of it, however, partirli
the west side of the river La Plata,
Uerly towards Cape Horn, is defi-
ood, even for fuel, and in water;
ch is found is generally brackish,
gli three centuries have passed by
Spaniards made their first settle-
tliis country, and some consider a
and cities have grown in it, y et its
uiprovemcnt and population have
ans kept pace w ith them j for the
vinces have been almost entirely a-
to the immense herds of cattle which
their plains, and require only the
re of a comparatively few herds-
d the inhabitants of Upper Peru
n engaged more generally in the
of mining than was favorable to hu
nt or population. Certain small
having peculiar advantages, are
well cultivated, and very produr-
t agriculture, has, in general, been
b neglected. It is, in a great de
fined to the vicinity of the towns
, and maybe said to limit its sup-
eir demands. This state of things,
with the regulations of the former
nt, the influence of climate, and
of example, has stamped the cha-
indolcnce upon that class of society
onsidcred as the laboring class.—
causes have not operated, at least
c eaidk force, upon the other iii-
of the country, hence they are
strious, and more active. Their
re social, friendly, and polite.—
talents they arc said to be inferior
le; and they have given proofs
are capable of great and persever-
; that they arc ardently attached
untrv, and warmly enlisted in the
ts independence.
necessary for me to enter into a
c causes which led to the revolu-
w . apaoi ty
•Spain, to give them protection or enforce o-
h 1 i in t j ||e ground work was, however,
t.uu in the jealous and oppressive, system a-
oopted at a more curly period by the kings
!' ‘M'ain, whose policy it seemed tube, to
seep within as narrow limits as riivumatan-
< es would permit, the intelligence, wealth,
and population, of that part of America sub
ject to their dominion, as the surest means
Preserving an empire which they consi-
i.crcd tlic great source of their wealth and
powrr.
1 lie revolution having been auspiciously
i ominenced in the city of Buenos Ayres, was
warmly and zealously supported by the great
mass ol the people descended from the Span
iards ; but the native Spaniards, as well as
those domesticated in the country as those in
tic service ot the king, were almost all on-
posed to it, particularly at the time, and mi
nor the cimimst..nccs it took place. Dis-
sentions were the immediate result, and their
long standing jealousy and distrust of each
oilier, have by subsequent events been heigh
tened into deadly hostility, which time alone
can wear away. These dissentions have
been considered as one of the causes that
produced those which subsequently took
I'looc amongst the patriots themselves, and
wliioli have been most serious obstacles to
llie progress of the revolution. Other ubsta-
Ies, however, have been presented by the
royal government in Peru, which lias hither
to not only been able to maintain itself there,
but lias found means by enlisting the native
Peruvians into its service, to send at differ
ent times considerable armies into the upper
provinces on tiic La Plata, where the war has
been carried on from toe commencement of
the revolution to the present day with various
it less necessary to go into detail. I success ; the great extent and peculiar chu
te that the report of Mr. Rodney | racter of the country, ami the want of re-
sour. es, having prevented either party from
making a blow decisive of the contest. When
we came away, the advantage in that quar
ter was on the side of the Spaniards, as they
were in possession of the provinces of Up
per Peru, which had, to a certain degree at
least, joined the revi lotion, and some of
which are represented in the congress. Eve
ry where else they have been obliged to yield
ip tin* government and abandon Lite country,
•r submit to the ruling power. Uie peculi
ar situation of Monte Video, on the east
side of the river La Plata, open to the sea,
and strongly fortified, enabled the Spanish
naval and military forces, at an early period
in the revolution, to make u stand there ;
they were ultimately obliged to surrender it;
not, however, until long protracted, and per
haps illy directed efforts on the part of the
assailants, had given rise to many,taring in
cidents between those who came from the
opposite s ion’s of the river, probably the
effect, in part at least, of ancient jealousies,
kept alive by the individual interest of parti
cular leaders ; these have been followed by-
events calculated to produce a still greater
alternation ; and, although several attempts
have been made to bring about a union, they
have hitherto been unsuccessful. The pro
vinces of the Banda Oriental, and the Entre
Rios, on the eastern side of the river under
the direction of general Artigas are now at
war with those on the western side, under
the government of the congress at Buenos
Ayres.
This war has originated from a combina
tion of causes, in which both parties have,
perhaps, something to complain of, and
something to blame themselves for.
General Artigas and his followers profess
a belief that it is the intention of the govern
ment of Buenos Ayres to put them down, and
oblige them to submit to such arrangements
as will deprive them of the privileges of self
government, to which they claim to have a
right. They say, however, that they arc
willing to unite with the people on the west
ern side of the river ; but not in such a way
as will subject them to what they call the ty
ranny of the city of Buenos Ayres. On the
other hand, it is stated that this is merely a
pretext; that the real object of general Ar
tigas and some of bis principal officers is to
prevent a union on any terms, and to pre
serve the power they hate acquired, by giv
ing an erroneous excitement to the people,
who follow them. That it is wished, and in
tended to place these provinces on a footing
with the others. That the respectable por
tion of their inhabitants are aware of this
fact, anil anxious for art union ; but arc pre
vented from openly expressing their senti
ments, from a fear of general Artigas, whose
power is uncontroled by law or justice, and
lienee the propriety and necessity of aiding
them to resist it. Armies have accordingly
been marched within the present year into
these provinces ; but they wore not joined
by a number of tho inhabitants, and were de
feated witli ^ftiat loss.
This war is evidently a source of great in
jury and regret, and at the same time of ex
traordinary irritation to both parties, for, in-
place a most important and valuable portion
of (heir country in tho hands of a foreign
power, which has invaded it with a powerful
and well appointed army, and is gradually
taking possession of commanding points,
IVurn which it may be difficult for their unit
ed force hereafter to dislodge them. That
they will unite is, I think, to be calculated
on, unless some event, disastrous to the cause
ol the revolution itself, takes place ; for their
mutual interest requires a union. But more
moderation and discretion may be necessary
to bring it about, than is at this time to be
expected from the irritated feelings of some
ot the principal personages oil both sides.
The city of Santa Fee, and a small dis
trict of country around it, also refuse to ac
knowledge the authority of the government
ol' Buenos Ay res
1 •Paraguay the events of the revolution
have differed from those in any other pro
vinrc, as tne inhabitants of that country have
uniformly resisted the effirts of the other
provinces to unite them. After having aid
ed the Spanish placed over them, to repel a
military loree which had been sent to over
throw them, they themselves expelled from
their country these authorities, and estab
lished a government of their own, totally
unconnected with that of the other provin
ces. with whom they manifest an unwilling
ness to keep op even a comincri ial inter
course. This has given rise to a suspicion
in the minds of some, that there is a secret
predilection among them for the ancient or-
Uerof tilings. But, from what is said of
their colu and calculating character—from
the safe position of their country, and its ca
pacity to supply its own wants, it is proba
ble that their object is to husband their re
sources, and profit by the exertions of others,
without giving their own in aid of them;
anil possibly, m case of ultimate failure, to
place their conduct in a less objectionable
point of view before the government of
Spain. Whatever may have been their mo
tives, they have hitherto contrived to escape,
in a great measure, the evils of war.
Their resources, in men and money,
said to be considerable, and no country is
more independent of foreign supplies.
Their conduct furnishes a striking con
trast to that ol the people ol Buenos Ayres,
who entered into the revolution with uu-
bouiidrii zeal amt euergj, and Have ever beeti
ready to meet the dilliciillies of so great an
ainiertakiiig. Tins i ircumstaiice, connect
ed with their local Situation, greater resour
ces and more general information, anil per
haps the fact ol their having been the first
to get power into their hauus, have nail
effect to give them a controlling inllncnc
ver Ui • revolutionary government, wllichhas
not failed to excite, in some degree, tfie joai-
otisy of the oilier provim es, and amongst
themselves a feeling ot superiority little i.;tl-
culated to allay tiicir jealousy. Great cuts
were, at one time, appreheuded from tins
state of tilings; but the Congress which
met at Tucuman, in March, 18161 coHipuseu
of deputies from the several provinces men
united, assumed the sovereign power of tile
country, boldly declared ils absolute inde
pendence, and adopted a provisional form ol
government, winch is unuerstood to nave the
effeet of allaying dissentions, and of intro
ducing a more regular administration ot
public affairs.
It will be seen from the documents in your,
possession, tiiat tins provisional constitution
recognizes many of the prim iples ul tree
government j but witli such urawoaiks us
are little calculated to enforce them in prm -
tice. Great allowances are doubtless to be.
made for the circumstances of toe times,
and the danger and difficulty of tearing up
ancient institutions, or of adapting new prin
ciples to them. But, alter due allowance for
all these considerations, it did not appear to
ine that so much had been done for the cause
of civil liberty as might have been expected,
or that those ifi power were its strongest ad
vocates. lt is generally admitted, however,
that some changes tor the better have been
made. Much care seems to be taken to ed
ucate the rising generation, andi as those
who are now on tho theatre of action, have
grown up since the commencement of the
revolution, and have had the advantage of
the light thrown in by it, it is fair to suppose
that they will be better prepared to support
and administer a free government, than those
whose habits were formed under the colonial
government of Spain.
The commerce and manufactures of the
country have grown beyond its agriculture.
Various causes, however, have contributed
to lessen some branches of manufacture since
the revolution, Uut commerce is understood
to have been increased by it. A much great
er variety and quantity of foreign goods are
imported, and a greater demand is opened
for the productions of the country. The
city of Buenos Ayres is the seat of this
commerce; From it foreign, and some do
mestic goods, are spread through the interi
or, as far as Chili and Upper Peru, and, in
return, the various productions are drawn
to it. This trade is carried on principally
by land, as is that between the different pro
vinces, though some small portion of it finds
its way up and down the large rivers form-
dependcntly of other causes of recrimination,j ing the La Plata, which is itself not so much
each accuses the other of having brought a- a river as a great bay. The abundance of
bout that state of things which threatens to 1 cattle, horseh anti mules, and of some other
animals peculiar to the country, which are
used in the mountainous regions of Peru, fur
nish facilities for transportation, not to be
found in any other country so little, improv
ed ; hence tin* price of transportation is ve
ry low, and the internal trade greater th anit
otherwise would be, though it had been nia-
terially lessened in Some important branches
by the war with Peru, and the system adopt
ed in Paraguay,
The export and import trade is principally
in the liahds of the British, though the Uni
ted States and other nations participate in it
to a certain degree. It is depended on as,
the great suture of revenue to the state ;
hence they have been tempted to make the
duties very high, and to lay them upon both
imports and exports, with the exception of
lumbe r and military stores. This circum
stance, connected with the fact that payment
is demanded at the custom house before tho
goods are delivered, has led to a regular sys
tem of smuggling, which is said to be car
ried to great excess, and doubtless occasions
the official returns to fall short of the actual
amount of the trade. This may be the rea
son why they were not given to us. The ar
ticles imported are almost every variety of
European and Fast India goods, principally
from England. Rum, sugar, coffee, tobac
co, cotton and timber from Brazil. Lum
ber ol almost every description, cod-fish,
turniturej gin, and some smaller articles
from tile United States, together with mili
tary stores ; which, however, find their way
into the country directly from Europe, anil
are thus furnished at a cheaper rate than we
can sell them. The principal articles of ex
port are taken from the various animals of
the country, tame and wild, from the ox to
the chinchilla—copper from Chili, and south
ot the precious metals, drawn principally
from Peru; but, as gold is worth Si7 the oz.
and passed by tale at that rate, very little of
it is exported ; hence the currency of the
Oiuitry is gold, for they have no paper mo.
nej. The «» Libranzas,” or bills of credit,
issued by the government, arei however, ait
article ol traffic among the merchants, .is
they are received in payment of one half of
the duties. No distinction is made in favor
ot the trade of any nation, save only that
the British merchants have smrte ‘peculiar
facilities granted them in relation to tli.'ir-
letters, which are an object of taxation, at
least so far as applies to those Sent out of the
country,
In the official statements given to us, and
to which I heg leaVe generally to refer for
information as to the foreign relations, the
productions, military and naval force, revet
line and population, the latter is stated at ],-
300,000 exclusive of Indians. This is un
derstood asAiinpr'chcuding the population of
ail the pro mines j but, as surrte of them nrq
not under thidwcrmiient at Buenos Ayres,
i have though^roper to annex the several
estimates 1 collected of the population of
cadi province, as they may servo to give
some general information on that point. Th®
most immediate difficulty felt by the govern
ment, whilst we were in the country, seemed
to arise from the wafit of money ; for altho*
the debt was small, their credit was low.—^
lt bad not been found practicable to adopt a
system of finance adequate to the exigen/ieq
d the times, though it would seem, from
the statement given to us, that the menu®
ol the last year exceeded the expenses. Tli®
important events'©!' the presej;. year in Chi
li, of which you are informed, will doubts
less have the ellect to raise the credit of tho
country, and to lessen the pressure upon it,
at least for a time, and will probably leave
the government moro at leisure to attend to
its internal affairs.
When wc t ame away, it was understood
that a committee of the congress was engage
ed in drafting a new constitution, the power
of forming and adopting it being exclusively ‘
vested in the congress. Whether it will as
sume a federal or a national character,- is
somewhat doubtful, as there are evidently
two parties in the country, whose views in
this respect, are very different, and it is be.
licved tiiat they are both represented in the
congress; Tire ono party is in favor of a con.
solidated or national governmeht, tho other
wishes for a federal government, somewhat
upon the principles of that of the United
States. The probability seems to be, that,
although there might be a majority of the
people in the provinces generally in favor of
federal system, that it would not be adopted
upoh the ground that it Was not so well cal
culated as a national government to provide
for the common defence, the great object no\y
in view. The same general reason may bo
urged, perhaps for giving to the latter,
should it be adopted, less of a republican cha
racter than probably would have been given
to it in more quiet and pcateablo times.
There is danger, too, as the power of form
ing and adopting the constitution is placed
in the hands of a few, that the rights and
privileges of the people may not be so well
understood or attended to as they would have
been had the people themselves had a more
immediate agency in the affair. It is not to
be doubted, however, that it will at least
have a republican form, and be bottoms I up.
on the principles of independence ; whi h ig
contended for by all descriptions of politi*
cians in the country, who have token part ip
the revolution, and will, it is believed, bo