MESSAGE of the Government, on the Opening of the Legislature of the Province of Buenos Ayres. 14th June, 1828. SENORES,

(Translation.)

THE Government of the Province of Buenos Ayres sees with the greatest satisfaction the Opening of the Seventh Legislative Assembly: at this moment are realized the hopes conceived on the first days of the Revolution; therefore it presents itself with the fullest confidence to salute the honourable Representatives, and to give a faithful account of the affairs confided to its direction; nevertheless, it is not possible to do so with the same minuteness as heretofore, the War having paralyzed a portion of the means of interior improvement; and for this reason, it can only speak of the most important points, as far as the actual state of the Country will permit. Internal tranquillity has been the first object to which it directed its attention, satisfied that without that we should be contemned by the World, and be the derision of our Enemies. Past experience has not been sufficient to convince us, that the formation of a State is subjected to the general laws of nature, in which nothing can arrive at perfection except slowly and progressively. The Government, acting upon this principle, applied itself to the extinction of discord, and the re-establishment of the quiet of the interior under whose shade alone can flourish the real interests by which the Nation must be hereafter united; it has the satisfaction to announce to you, that the result has corresponded with its hopes, and that reason has rarely obtained a triumph so easy and rapid in the midst of so much agitation. The Government has cause to congratulate itself in the naming of the Deputies who have acted in a negotiation so important; the Provinces, in addition to having withdrawn their arms from Civil War, have given them a more noble direction, and have named Representatives to form a Convention in the City of Santa Fé, which will probably have the good fortune to lay the foundation of the national happiness.

The Negotiations for Peace with His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil still continue, and there are well founded hopes that the day is not far distant in which the War will terminate satisfactorily; notwithstanding which, the Government, sensible that honor is the vital principle of Nations, continues to support it at every sacrifice, until Peace

can be realized; and it hopes that should necessity require it, you will with pleasure make every necessary sacrifice. The Nations of our Continent continue to give us proofs of their good wishes, and Great Britain constantly renders us the good offices of a true friend. The Officers and Forces by land and sea have displayed great constancy and bravery, and have obtained considerable advantages, which recommend them to the respect and gratitude of every good Citizen. When it appeared that the War was at a stand, and that the Armies of the two hostile Powers faced each other without either being able to advance, an intrepid Chief, with a handful of Argentines, has recovered our old Possessions of the "Missiones Orientales;" his Force has been there increased, and the joy evinced by the Inhabitants in returning to the bosom of the Republick, sufficiently proves the absurdity of Conquest; the expedition from the North, now marching to the same point, when united to the said Force, will form a respectable Army, the expense of which is inconsiderable, and which can easily combine its operations with the main Army, and will prove the symbol of the concord and enthusiasm of the Provinces.

The Militia of the City and the Country, which had been almost dissolved, and in a state of nullity, has been reorganized, and performs important services, enabling the troops of the line to be placed on the frontiers, and wherever their presence may be called for in the Foreign War. The new line of frontier is established-this undertaking, as desirable as it is important, commenced under the most auspicious circumstances. The Indians, with whom the Government continues the measures of peace and conciliation with the most happy effects, will no more commit depredations with impunity, and the immense acquisition of Territory has doubled the guarantee of the Publick Debt, so that this burthen may be taken off in a short time if it be found necessary. But the most important is, that in this establishment we have occupied the interesting position of White Bay (Bahia Blanca) which is surrounded with commodious harbours, agricultural land, and extensive woods: its maritime coasts abound with fisheries and some Ports, enabling us to have hereafter a respectable Marine, which will be the shield of the Republick. The communication with Chile by land from the same point is short and convenient; and the navigation of the Red River (Rio Colorado) will perhaps afford a more easy exportation of the produce of some of the interior Provinces. The Government has ordered the land to be surveyed, and the most proper place to be pointed out whereon to erect a City, to be called the New Buenos Ayres; the importance to which it is likely to arrive, gives it a claim to so glorious a title. The zeal manifested in this undertaking by all those charged with the execution of it, deserves the highest praise. Owing to the stagnation of our Foreign Commerce, that of the interior has

rapidly increased, especially those capitals that have been applied to agricultural purposes, Labourers being abundant owing to the cessation of the impressment.

The establishment of Publick Grammar Schools for Children in the City and Country required, at the same time, particular attention; the Government took this subject into consideration, and having placed at the head of the Schools an Individual who is well known for his philanthropy, the desired effect has been produced. Private Colleges and houses of education have begun to be established; the Government encourages, by every means, this species of industry, the most useful for the Country, and hopes that, in a short time, it will not be necessary for Youths, in seeking the treasures of science, to cross the Seas, with the danger of losing those sentiments which can alone be cultivated in their Native Land. The Ladies of the Benevolent Society have shown, in the present Year, how much the Nation is indebted to them for their assiduous efforts to promote education. The Publick Schools continue in the same state: that of San Miguel has improved the works at the Cathedral Church, and on the high road to Ensenada, and the Canal of San Fernando, are nearly completed. Many Country Towns have been assisted with Funds to repair their Churches, or to build new ones; and until, in process of time, our Laws and habits shall have been improved, a new Prison will be established for the confinement of Debtors. The Hospitals, especially that for the reception of Females, receive considerable improvements: the Government thus endeavouring to alleviate the sufferings of the unfortunate. The important establishment for vaccination has been augmented, and its utility has never been more felt than at this moment, for whilst the neighbouring Provinces are visited by the terrible scourge of the small-pox, it has scarcely been seen in this city, and the Government has put in practice every means entirely to eradicate it.

The liberty of the press has of late been greatly abused; some ill advised Persons have carried its licentiousness to such an extent, as to bring discredit upon the Country among Foreign Nations, where it is not possible to know that such productions create here only contempt for their Authors. The Law of the 8th of May has, in a great measure, suppressed this licentious writing, and publick opinion will by degrees lead to its extirpation. The administration of Justice requires a change, from which considerable advantages may be expected; the Government will have the honour of submitting this matter for your consideration.

Of all our domestic wants, none is more urgent, than that of fixing in a certain positive manner, the basis of the National Bank; this establishment at present requires the strongest guarantees; and to obtain them it will be only necessary to act with prudence.

As the Province of Buenos Ayres has provided exclusively the [1827-28.]

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Funds for the defence of the Nation, it may be right to state, that, when the present Administration shall have been one Year in office, in August next, they will have expended 1,000,000 of dollars less than they had calculated upon; after having discharged enormous out-standing Debts; established the Frontier; clothed, armed, and paid, the Army and Navy; provided for the transport and armament of the Contingents from the Provinces; as well as the expenses of Foreign Affairs, and nearly all those of the Convention; supplied the Parks of Artillery and the Magazines; and having also, at the same time, defrayed the internal expenses of the Province. It is true, that they have suspended, for the present, the payment of the interest upon the Loan in London, and that this distressing measure was foreseen at the time of making the above calculations; but it was one of those alternatives necessary to be taken, in order to avoid greater evils;-the operation of issuing Paper in Buenos Ayres, in order to send gold to England, would be like adding fuel to fire, and would in the end exhaust all our resources. The Government has had the satisfaction to learn, by means of a respectable House in London, to whom it has confided the management of this affair, that the holders of the Bonds have duly appreciated the circumstances of the Country, not doubting that the Government intends (as it most certainly does) to remit to them, upon the first opportunity, the Funds necessary for the fulfilment of its engagements.

Every day proves the necessity of placing the direct Taxes upon a solid foundation, and that the Projects of Law for that purpose, submitted in the preceding Session, should receive your sanction as soon as possible; the Government, on its part, is prepared to give a new form to the mode of collection; the system of contract with private Individuals, in farming it out, might have been very desirable at the commencement, but, now that more information has been obtained upon the subject, it will be advisable to administer it by Persons who should be permanently employed, receive adequate salaries, and who might be promoted according to their labours and merits.

The Department of Architectural Engineers, and the Botanical Garden, have been suppressed; as will also be other Departments and expenses; not because the Government did not recognize their utility, taken in the abstract, but because they were out of proportion with its means to sustain and employ them, and served only as a vain appearance: the Government, disdaining an ephemeral popularity, in this respect, will perform its duty. The expenses of the War have been reduced to the lowest possible amount; and it may be confidently stated, that the burthen of them upon the Revenue is hardly one-third of what might have been expected.

Finally, Senores Representatives, if a comparative view be taken of the present state of the Province, and of that in which it stood in the