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III. That the President of the Council shall appoint Secretaries at War and of the Navy.

IV. That the Executive Council shall convoke the Legislature, to meet in the month of September of the next year;

V. And that the Secretary General shall make these orders and this proclamation known, to whom it may concern.

Head Quarters, Lima, Sept. 1st, 1826. SIMON BOLIVAR. For His Excellency, the Liberator, JOES GABRIEL PEREZ. Secretary General.

Peruvians!

Colombia calls, and I obey. I now feel how much I love you; for I cannot tear myself away, without the deepest sorrow.

I had conceived the bold design of being your benefactor :-but it is I that am loaded with the honourable burthen of your munificence, my public services vanish, before the monuments they have earned from the generosity of Peru; and even the recollection of them will be lost in your unbounded gratitude. You have surpassed me.

I do not all depart; for I leave you my love, in the President and executive council, fit depositories of the Supreme authority; I leave you my confidence, in the magistrates that govern you; I leave you my political opinions, in the constitutions which I have offered; and I leave you your independence, in the heroes of Ayacucho. The legislature will, next year, render permanent, by the wisdom of their acts, all the blessings of liberty. There is but one danger which you have to fear: and I provide the remedy.-Continue

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Simon Bolivar, Liberator President of Colombia,

Taking into consideration, 1st. The state of agitation in which the Republic now finds itself, in consequence of the transactions in Venezuela, and that it is divided in opinion with regard to the political administration; and alarmed at the prospect of a civil war, and an invasion from abroad by the common enemy. 2d. That there are well founded reasons for apprehending that the Spanish Government intends to renew hos tilities with the forces which it is assembling in the island of Cuba. 3d. That the majority of the Departments have declared it as their opinion that the President of the Republic should be invested with such extraordinary powers as may be indispensibly necessary to reestablish that national integrity, and preserve Colombia from civil and foreign war; and, 4th. That the Executive Power has already declared itself to be within the case of article 128 of the Constitution, and has therefore opportunely convoked the Congress; and desiring on the one hand to correspond to the confidence of the people, and on the other to preserve the present Constitution until the

nation, by legitimate and competent means, may effect a reform of it, I have concluded, upon consultation with the Council of Government, to decree, and do decree, the following:

Article 1. From this day forward I am a President of the Republic, within the case of article 128 of the Constitution, and in the exercise of all the extraordinary powers emanating from it, both for the purpose of re-establishing internal tranquillity and for securing the Republic against anarchy and external war.

Art. 2. In my absence from this capital, the Vice-President of the Republic, being charged with the executive power, will exercise

the said extraordinary powers in all parts of the territory where they cannot be immediately exercised by one.

Art. 3. Except with regard to the matters and affairs which may be decided to come within the scope of the exercise of the said extraordinary powers, the constitution and laws will be duly observed.

Art. 4. An account will be rendered to the next Congress of all that may be done in virtue of this decree, as is provided in the said article 128 of the Constitution.

Dated the 23d November, 1826, and signed by General BOLIVAR and the Secretary of State for Do-. mestic Affairs.

BRAZIL.

SPEECH OF DON PEDRO, EMPEROR OF BRAZIL, TO THE TWO HOUSES OF ASSEMBLY, MAY 3, 1827.

Most worthy Representatives of

the Brazilian Nation, I open the Constitutional Assembly with the enthusiasm which has always attended this act, but not with the same satisfaction, as my heart is penetrated with grief consequent upon the death of my most beloved consort the Empress, who died on the 11th December last, leaving this world for the habitation of the just-the place appointed by the Most High for those who, like her, have led a life of virtue and religion. This bereavement, so unfortunate for us all, took place while I was in the Province of Rio Grande, endeavouring, by all the means which the love of country could suggest, to terminate the war between

Brazil and Buenos Ayres, by rousing up the energies of the brave inhabitants of that Province. This war continues, and will continue, until the Banda Oriental, which is ours, shall be freed from its invaders, and Buenos Ayres shall recognize the independence of Brazil, and of that Province which has freely and with one aecord, declared themselves part of our Empire. I am confident that this assembly will co-operate and promote the objects proposed at their last session, in conformity to the answer to the speech from the throne, presented to me by a deputation from this body.

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The organization of a system of finance will claim your first attention, for the existing one (as

will appear by the Report of the Secretary for that department) is extremely defective, and gives facility to every species of embezzlement; a new system of finance that shall prevent these peculations which the present laws facilitate, and which the government has not been able to check, although every means has been devised to administer a remedy. This system must be based on a good judiciary system.

We have no laws suited to the present ideas of justice; the old laws are contradictory, the judges do not know how to decide, individuals suffer, criminals go unpunished, and the salaries of the judges are not sufficient to guard them from temptations to bribery and corruption. It is therefore necessary that this Assembly should lay the foundation of public felicity and tranquillity. Without a good system of finance, and without an independent administration of justice, no nation can exist. I am aware that there are many subjects claiming the attention of this Assembly, that every thing cannot be accomplished at a single session, that much has been postponed from session to session, but it is necessary to com'mence with unanimity in these two essential points, and when subjects call for attention, I expect it will be given by this Assembly without loss of time, as every moment is precious and indispensible. In a state of war when affairs are not organized, it is requisite that the government should be clothed with the power to prevent peculation of the public money, to punish those public servants who neglect their duty, and those

who shall dare to disturb the public order.

No one more than I yields a ready obedience to the laws, but those who evade them are not promptly punished. The Government requires a special power to enforce punishment until the time shall arrive when every thing shall be reduced to order, and the national welfare shall be constitutionally promoted. The friendly relations of the Empire with those nations who have representatives here are in a settled state, and the departure of the Minister of the United States, so unexpectedly and causelessly, ought not to disturb us, as I rely on the prudence of the President of the United States, and the good sense, justice and impartiality of the North Americans.

The marriage rites of my daughter the Queen of Portugal, have been celebrated at Vienna, and I expect daily the arrival of my brother, her husband.

The constitutional principles are triumphant in Portugal, despite of the parties that opposed them, and this must ever be the case with that charter which was so constitutionally and legally given to the kingdom.

Relative to our own immediate concerns, I must say, I am fully persuaded, that all those who do not think with me, are not Constitutional Imperialists, but covert monsters, who only wait a favourable moment to quench their thirst in the blood of those who are the supporters of the Throne of their country and the defenders of their own religion. I am fully convinced that there is not one member of this assembly, who

does not think as I do, as to the means proper to accomplish our main object, which is, to have the Empire firmly established and the people perfectly happy.

Thus, Representatives of the Brazilian nation, I have recommended what appears to me most beneficial to our national in

terests. I leave you then, confident, that in my speech at the closing of this present session, I will have it in my power to say, ' I have nothing more to expect, I am perfectly satisfied, the nation is pleased, we are happy, thanks to the Assembly that has so wisely legislated!'

LOWER CANADA.

SPEECH OF THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.

Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, Gentlemen of the Assembly, I come to close this session of the Provincial Parliament, convinced, by the state of your proceedings, that nothing likely to promote the public interest can be now expected from your deliberations.

To you, Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, who have attended your duties in the Session, I offer my thanks on the part of his Majesty, as an acknowledgment of the regard which, by your presence, you have shown to the welfare of your country, and also of that proper respect which you have manifested for the Sovereign from whom your honours are derived.

Gentlemen of the Assembly—

It is painful to me, that I cannot speak my sentiments to you in

terms of approbation and thanks. The proceedings of this Session impose upon me a duty, of which, however unpleasant, I will acquit myself as a faithful Servant of my King, and a sincere friend to the Province. Many years of continued dison forms and accounts

cussion

have proved unavailing, to clear up and set at rest a dispute, which moderation and reason might have speedily terminated. It is lamen-, table to see that no efforts or concessions of His Majesty's Government have succeeded in reconciling those differences of opinion in the Legislature; but it is infinitely more so, that differences on one subject should cause a rejection of every other measure which His Majesty's Government recommends to your consideration.

The duties expected of you in this Session were not difficult: among the first was an examination of the public accounts of last year, and a report upon them, whether of approval or otherwise. Has that duty been done, so that your country can know the result ?

Have you considered the estimated expenditure for the current year, and granted the supply required in His Majesty's name? or have reasons been assigned for the refusal of them, that can be known and understood by the country?

Have the messages from His Majesty's representatives been duly acknowledged, and answered,

according to the rules and forms of Parliament, or according with the respect which is due by each Branch of the Legislature to the others?

Have the rules or orders of proceedings in the House of Assembly been duly attended to, in so far as they recognize the prerogative rights of the crown?

These are questions, gentlemen, which you are now to ask yourselves, individually, and answer to your constituents on your return to them.

These are questions which you are to answer to your own consciences, as men who are bound by others of fidelity to your country and to your king.

In my administration of this government, I have seen seven years pass away without any conclusive adjustment of the public accounts; thus accumulating a mass for future investigation, which must lead to confusion and misunderstanding. In the same years I have seen the measures of government directly applicable to the wants of the province, thrown aside without attention, and with out any reason assigned. I have seen the forms of Parliament utterly disregarded; and in this session a positive assumption of Executive authority, instead of that of Legislative, which last is alone your share in the constitution of the state.

The results of your proceedings in this session have been, the refusal of the supplies necessary for the ordinary expenses of government, the loss of the militia bill, the failure of all provisions for the maintenance of prisoners in

your jails and houses of correction for the support of insane and foundlings, and for the establishment of education and charity, and a total obstruction of local and public improvement.

In this state of things, and with this experience of past years, it is now no longer consistent with a proper discharge of the high trust committed to me, to entertain hopes of a return to better reason in the representative branch of this Parliament; but it is still my duty to call upon you as public men, and to call upon the coun try, as deeply interested in the result, to consider seriously the consequences of perseverance in such

a course.

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I shall conduct the Government with the means in my power, with an undiminished desire to to do good; but while I must submit myself to the interruption of all public improvement, under the authority of the civil government, I will declare my deep regret at such a state of things; I think it right to convey to the country, a free and unreserved expression of my sentiments upon these public misfortunes; and I will leave no doubt on the public mind of my determination to persevere firmly in the path of my duty, with a faithful regard to the rights of my sovereign, with which are also combined the best interests of the Province.

It only remains for me now, compelled by existing circumstances, to prorogue this Parliament, whatever may be the inconvenience resulting to the Province from such a measure.

March 7, 1827.

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