Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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