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II. FOREIGN.

NEW-GRENADA.

MESSAGE of PRESIDENT SANTANDER, at the opening of the Congress.

Fellow Citizens of the Senate,

and House of Representatives, The representative government adopted by New-Grenada, would be a mere form, were you not authorized to express the will of the nation, and to investigate the conduct of all its agents. The people of Grenada have sent you to inquire into its wants, to supply them if in your power, to revise and improve the laws, and bring nearer to perfection that system which it has cost so much to rear. It is my duty to aid you in this difficult task, by laying before you a statement of the political and military situation of our country, its revenues, its expenses and resources; with a sketch of those ameliorations and reforms, which may be introduced into each branch of the administration. This duty I shall fulfil with that sincerity and candour which is required for the advantage of the country, the character of the government, and my own honour; leaving it to the secretaries of state to inform you of the particulars relating to their scveral departments. Should the picture which I shall present, not prove, on all points, as flattering as we could desire, yet no charge of dishonour can, on that account, be laid against our country; twenty-three years of war, discord and disaster, form a sufficient apology, if the results of the glorious enterprise which we commenced in 1810, be not so great as was then expected. But if the beneficial effects already produced by our independence, and those which we have begun to experience,

since the re-establishment of the laws, offer any assurance of future prosperity, New-Grenada must obtain those advantages which it sought when the yoke of Spain was thrown off, and a government substituted without a throne, aristocra. cy, or privileges; a government founded on the principle of national sovereignty, and the system of popular representation. The strength and stability of this government are not to be appreciated solely by the time which it has already endured, but by the nature of the institutions, by the progress made towards the attainment of the great ends of society, by the feelings of true patriotism which it has excited, by the sympathy which it has created abroad.

Our foreign relations have been, of course, affected by the political situation in which imperious circumstances have placed us. On the dissolution of the republic of Colombia, New-Grenada respected the treaties which had been concluded with the United States, Great Britain and Holland, recognising, to the fullest extent, the obligations contracted with each; and though the agents of all those powers with which Colombia had entered into diplomatic correspondence, have continued to reside in this capital, thus acknowledging de facto the system adopted by our republic, France alone has as yet formally accredited a chargé d'Affaires to the Gre nadian government. A provisional treaty of amity and commerce has, in consequence, been concluded with

that kingdom, which will shortly be presented for your approval.

The honour of the nation and my own duty will be the only guides in my endeavours to preserve the existing amicable relations with foreign states; and in its intercourse with them, the executive will make it a rule of conduct to dispense equal justice to all, complying with every requisition of each, which is founded on terms of treaty, and insisting on the same observances from all.

of the doubts, anxieties, and difficulties which have for three years beset us, producing distrust abroad, and giving the most effectual aid to the machinations of enemies at home.

The state of New-Grenada now comprehends the whole territory designated in the fundamental law of November 17th, 1831. It was believed that we should not recover the southern provinces then occupied by the government of Equator, without much bloodshed and calamity; but owing to the prudence displayed by the executive, to the skill of the commander-in-chief of the first division of our army, who conducted the operations in that quarter, to the influence of public opinion, which was in our favour, and, finally, to the justice and liberality exercised towards the government of Equator, the existing difficulties were terminated by a treaty, not only defining the limits of the states, but also giving promise of strict amity between them. This important document will be submitted to you, and, I doubt not, be received with pleasure.

The good understanding which has existed between Colombia and the other new American republics, remains unchanged; and now that our internal discords are at an end, we should assiduously occupy ourselves in strengthening these fraternal relations, and extending our alliances with states which are bound to us by the ties of identity of feeling, and identity of principles. This desirable object cannot, however, be effected, until the interests which the three Colombian states have in common are actually defined and settled, as well as the obligations to be discharged by each. The lamentable differences which have for some time subsisted between New-Grenada and Equator, have rendered it hitherto impossible to treat on this delicate matter; but now that Providence has sent us peace, of the duration of which there can be no doubt, we have to resolve one of the most important political questions: one in which the cause of liberty throughout the new world is most deeply interested. The executive has lately invited the governments of Venezuela and Equator to appoint commissioners to meet those of New-Grenada, for the purpose of discussing these affairs, and deliberating on the relations which are to subsist between the three states. Whatever be the result, it The provincial legislatures met will be preferable to a continuance at the time appointed by the law,

It is most gratifying to the executive to state, that peace and tranquillity prevail throughout the vast extent of our territory, as the immediate result of the assent given by the great majority of the people, to the institutions which we have sworn to protect, and of the endeavours made by the executive and its agents, to have the laws fulfilled. The constitutional elections have been con. ducted with order, and the people have named their magistrates, representatives and judges. The provinces of Pasto and Buenaventura alone, from the recency of their incorporation into the state, could not exercise this privilege.

and have rivalled each other in pa- form as this, in the internal admintriotic exertions for the welfare of istration of the state, would produce the provinces under their jurisdic. the most precious results to Newtion. Education and public instruc- Grenada; for as the true prospetion have been specially attended rity of a nation is founded upon the to by the government; the courts acquisition of the means of subsistestablished by the constitution are ence, the preservation of political engaged in dispensing justice in independence, and the assurance of their respective districts; the manu- his civil rights to each citizen, the mission of the slaves is proceeding, provincial legislatures will advance and a class degraded by servitude the first, public education the second, is thus restored to society: new and a proper administration of justice modes of communication have been the last. Above all, let public inopened between distant parts of the struction be attended to; it is a duty country, and the civil rights of no which should be rigidly fulfilled, to citizen have been violated with im- provide every citizen with the means punity. of learning to read, write, and cast accounts; and with that view, to allow out of the public funds a certain sum for the support of schools in each parish. I shall send you a special message on this subject, which, with the reports of revenue and expenditure, will enable you to form an opinion.

But all these advantages cannot be secured, nor can we hope for others, until we have been extricated from the labyrinth in which we have been entangled by the confusion and irregularity of our previous legislation. It is difficult, nay, impossible, to define the functions of the various officers; to discover the As it is my earnest desire to promeans of settling a variety of cases duce a complete reconciliation and which occur in the management of unity of feeling among all our counpublic affairs, or to keep within le- trymen, I will submit to you in the gal limits, amid the infinity of laws course of the ensuing session, my and decrees, issued by the different ideas with respect to a modification administrations which have succes- of the law of November 28, 1831. sively presided over the country. At the time that law was passed by Ever since 1821, each government, the constituent convention, it was whether de facto or de jure, has perhaps necessary and prudent to been constantly employed in making use some severity, in order to renew regulations for the departments, strain the interference of excited or in altering or adding to former passions, and to prevent a repetiones, without any regard to princi- tion of excesses fatal to social orple or system. An entire revision der. But now, that our constituand reform is absolutely necessary, tional system begins to acquire and I solicit it, as being the greatest strength, and that less is to be fearbenefit which could now be confer- ed from the actions of misguided red on the people. I also recom- persons, I think it would advance mend to your most earnest atten- the happiness of New-Grenada, tion, the plan for public instruction, without endangering its peace, if the law which designates the rights some of the provisions of the law and limits of power of the provin- were repealed. I cannot, indeed, cial legislatures, and that respecting as yet, ask for its entire abrogation; judicial proceedings. Such a re- my duty is to insure the public tran

quillity, and I have therefore only to propose such alterations as will gradually extinguish the discontent of some individuals, with the hope that the time may come when they will, by proper conduct, have earned a right to claim reward as faithful servants to their country.

The government, in entering on the exercise of its constitutional powers, found the treasury not only exhausted, but also loaded with a heavy foreign debt, contracted, in a great part, for the purpose of restoring the empire of the laws. The financial affairs had been conducted without system. Civil discord, which had made so many ravages in all the branches of the administration, in morals and in politics, had also occasioned the public revenues to be dissipated in a most extravagant manner. The government employed itself assiduously in arranging a system which should give a proper direction, and due effect, to this most important department; economizing where possible, enforcing the collection and payment of the revenues, defining the duties and powers of the several officers of the treasury, and punctually fulfilling every obligation which it was under the necessity of contracting. I can safely assure you, that during the present state of tranquillity, if due economy be observed, there will be no need of increasing the public burthens, by additional taxes or du

ties.

The revenue during the financial year, beginning on the 1st of July, 1831, and ending on the last day of June, 1832, amounted to 2,327,310 dollars, 6 reals; and the calculated expenses of the present year amount to 2,171,621 dollars, 33 reals, exclusive of 346,080 dollars destined for the purchase, freight, and carriage of tobacco; because in the

statement of revenues, the product of the sale of that article only was given, without noticing the quantity remaining in the factories and warehouses, which is probably worth as much more. But even if it should prove to be less, no embarrassment will be caused to the treasury by the difference against it, between the calculated expenditure, and the statement of revenue for the last fi nancial year; for, in the documents which will be laid before you by the secretary of the treasury, you will observe,

1. That the revenue for the five months between July and Novem. ber, 1832, was much less than that for the latter five months of the financial year, ending with the 30th of June last, which arises from the prevalence of tranquillity within, from the regularity introduced by the new system, and the zeal of the officers employed; all which circumstances give a reason to hope, that the total income of this year will be greater than that of the last.

2. That in the calculation of expenditure, not only all the expenses of the administration and the army are included, but also those which might possibly be necessary for the complete security of the state, which latter may, and probably will, be less than rated.

3. That the 150,000 dollars named for contingent expenses, are not to be employed of course; for of 200,000 dollars granted under that denomination for the past year, scarcely 19,000 were expended. If we add, that some military men may be appointed to civil offices, and will thus receive but one sala. ry, that vacancies often occur which are not filled within the year, and that the southern provinces are now incorporated into the republic, it may be fairly supposed, that no augmen

tation of taxes will be necessary. This is a most fortunate circumstance; for while the people are yet labouring under the evils produced by civil discord, they would be unable to bear any addition to their burthens.

Congress should, however, revise the laws establishing duties on imports and exports. Custom houses are, throughout the world, intended to serve two purposes: to supply the public treasury, and to favour the national industry; both highly important to us at present. Statesmen and writers on political economy have been long discussing the question, whether restrictions and prohibitions laid on foreign commerce had any real effect, or not, in protecting national industry. The executive is strongly inclined to the opinion of experienced men, sustained, too, by the example of all nations, who conceive that restrictions should be imposed, either directly or indirectly, on foreign articles, when the same can be produced or manufactured at home; and popular opinion being likewise in favour of protecting, by this means, certain productions our soil, as well as the manufactories which now begin to supply our interior provinces, the executive conceives that this system should be adopted, even if with no other view than that of trying its effects in our own case; and will therefore submit to you a plan for that purpose.

Opinions have also been much divided with regard to the tax on tobacco, and an opportunity seems now to be offered for examining them. I will begin by observing, that any change from our present system, made upon other than strong grounds, might render it impossible to obtain the revenue necessary for the support of government; nor

would it be easy if this were found to be the case, to restore things to their former situation. It was, in fact, a fear of this kind which induced the French legislature, in 1814, to continue the monopoly of tobacco. This duty produced during the last financial year, 488,770 dollars, of which the treasury_received net 211,560 dollars. The produce and duty will this year be greater, as may be inferred from the fact, that during the last five months 206,174 dollars were received; a reduction has moreover been made in the expenses of collection, and a plan yet more simple and effectual for that purpose will be laid before you. Calculating, therefore, that the tax of ten per cent. will assist our factories, as it has already, the executive conceives that it should be retained, and that the planting of tobacco should be extended, as far as necessary, to meet foreign demands. If this be the pleasure of the legislature, the se. cretary of the treasury will inform you of certain ameliorations of the system, calculated to advance the objects in view; namely, to provide for the supply of the interior, and to afford an income to the treasury for the use of the administration, and the payment of the nation1 debt.

The national debt is a subject of the deepest interest to the government. WE ARE DEBTORS, AND WE MUST PAY. The constituent convention has acknowledged that portion of the foreign debt which falls to the share of New-Grenada; and it becomes you to arrange some effectual method of gradually extinguishing it.

Whatever may be the result of the meeting of the commissioners of the three states, New-Grenada has pledged herself to pay a part of the

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