We, the representatives of the confederated provinces of Venezuela, invoking the Most High, to witness the justice of our cause, and the rectitude of our intentions, imploring his divine assistance to ratify, at the epoch of our political birth, the dignity to which his Providence has restored us, the ardent desire to live and die free, and in the belief, and the defence of the holy Catholic and apostolic religion of Jesus Christ, as the first of our duties

We, therefore, in the name, by the will and under the authority which we hold for the virtuous inhabitants of Venezuela; do solemnly declare to the world, that these united provinces are and ought to be, from this day forth, in fact, and of right free, sovereign and independent States-that they are absolved from all allegiance to the crown of Spain, and of those who now call, or may hereafter call, themselves as representatives or agents; and that as free, sovereign and independent States, we hold full power to adopt whatever form of government may be deemed suitable to the general will of its inhabitants; to declare war, make peace, form alliances, make commercial alliances, establish commercial treaties, define boundaries and regulate navigation; and to propose and execute all other acts, usually made and executed by free and independent nations: and for the due fulfilment, validity, and stability of this, our solemn declaration, we mutually and reciprocally pledge and bind the provinces to each other, our lives, fortunes, and the honor of the nation.

Done at the Federal Palace of the Caracas, signed with our hands, and sealed with the Great Seal of the provincial Confederation, and countersigned by the Secretary to the Congress assembled, on the 5th day of July, in the year 1811, and in the first of our independence.

J. ANT. RODRIGUEZ, rep. and president of Obispos, in province of Barinas. LUIS IGNACIA MENDO, representative, Vice-President of Nutrias, in province of Barinas.

Signed, by the Representatives assembled, of the provinces of Caricas, Cumana, Barcelona, Farinas, Magarita, Merida, Truxillo, and Villa of Aragua and province of Barcelona. A true copy, (L. S.) FRANCISCO IZNARDI, Secretary.

169.

Buenos Ayres.

St. del Tucuman,

The congress of the United Provinces resumed its discussiol 1816.

on the great and august subject of the independence of the people which compose them. The voice of the whole territory was universally constant and decisive for solemn em→ ancipation from the despotic power of the king of Spain. Notwithstanding that their representatives devoted to so arduous a task all the energy of their talents, the uprightness of their intentions, and the interest which the sanction of their fate require from the representatives of the people and their posterity; and at the closing of their sessions, they were asked if they wished that the provinces of the union might be a free nation, and independent of the kings of Spain and their metropolis, they immediately cried out, full of the holy ardor of justice, and one after another repeated, successively, their unanimous and spontane ous decision for the independence of the country, in virtue of which they decreed the following Declaration :

the people whom we represent, promen, the justice which rules our deciwhole world, that it is the unanimous to break the burdensome chains which

We, the representatives of the United Provinces of South America, in general congress assembled, invoking that Eternal Power who presides over the universe, in the name and by the authority testing to Heaven, to all nations, and to sions, solemnly declare, in the face and unquestionable will of these unite them to the king of Spain to resume the rights of which they have been dispossessed, and invest emselves with the high character of a free nation, and independent of Ferdinand the seventh, his successors, and metropolis; to remain consequently, in truth of right, with an ample and full power to give to themselves the form of government which justice dictates, and the in crease of their actual circumstances demand; thus, all and each of them, publish, declare, and confirm, obliging themselves, through us, to the fulfilment and maintenance of this their will, pledging, as security and guarantee, their lives, fortunes,

and honors.

The present Declaration shall be communicated to all whom it may concern, for its publication; and in virtue of the respect due to all nations, let them ex plain by a manifesto the great motives which have given place to this solemn Declaration.

Passed in the Hall of Sessions-signed with our hands, and sealed with the seal of Congress, and certified by our Secretary.

[Here follow the names of the deputies of the different States and Provinces.]

170. Chili.

Force has been the supreme reason, which, during upwards of three hundred years, has maintained the new world under the necessity of reverencing, as dogma, the usurpation of its rights and seeking therein the origin of its most important duties. It was evident that a day would come, when this enforced submission would cease; but in the mean time it was impossible to anticipate it: the resistance of the inferior against the superior, stamps with a sacrilegious character, his pretensions and serves only to discredit the justice, upon which they are founded. For the 19th century was reserved the spectacle of hearing innocent America claim her rights, and show, that the period of her sufferings could continue no longer than that of her debility. The revolution of the 18th September of 1810, was the first effort Chili made towards accomplishing these high destinies, to which she was called by time and nature. Her inhabitants have given since proofs of the energy and firmness of her will, scorning all the vicissitudes of war.

But the actual circumstances of the war, not permitting the convocation of a national Congress to sanction the public votes, we have ordered that a register should be opened, in which all the citizens of the state might declare for themselves, free and spontaneously, their votes for the urgent necessity of the government proclaiming immediately the independence or for delaying it, or for the negative; and having found, that the generality of the citizens have irrevocably decided by the affirmative this proposition, we have thought proper, in the exer. cise of the extraordinary power, with which we have been vested by the people for this particular case, to declare solemnly in their names, in the presence of the Almighty, to make known to the great confederation of mankind, that the continental territory of Chili and her adjacent islands form, in fact and right, a free, independent and sovereign state, and are forever separated from the monarchy of Spain, and fully qualified to adopt the form of government most convenient to their interest.

Given at the Directorial Palace of Conception on the 1st January, 1818, signed with mý hand and countersigned by our ministers and secretaries of state for the department of state, treasury and war. BERNARDO O’HIGGINS.

Miguel Zanartu, Hipolito De Villegas, Jose Ignacio Zenteno.

171. Peru.

In the royal city of Lima, 15th July,

ing yesterday assembled in the most eThe señors, who compose it, hav

Senate with the most excellent and most illustrious Señor, the archbishop of this holy Metropolitan church, the prelates of the religious convents, titulars of Castile and various neighbours of this capital, for the purpose of fulfilling, what had been provided in the official letter of the most excellent Señor, the general in chief of the liberator army of Peru, D. José de San Martin, the contents of which were read; and persuaded of the soundness of the same containing what persons of known probity, learning and patriotism, who inhabit this capital, would express, if the general opinion for indepen dence had been resolved on, which vote will serve as a guide to the said General for proceeding to take the oath: all the Señors agreeing for themselves and satis fied of the opinion of the inhabitants of the capital, said, that the general will was decided for the independence of Peru, of the Spanish dominion and of any foreign dominion whatever, and that they would proceed to sanction the same by means of a solemn oath.

172. Mexico. Extract.

After the long night of three ages, in which America has lain plunged in darkness, the aurora of her felicity at last burst forth; that day dawned for which she has sighed and which she desires may be perpetual: This consummation would never have been obtained, if it had not been founded in justice, nor if justice herself were not to be the base of the government which is to consolidate it. But the junta has the satisfaction to announce that both considerations are combined in the emancipation which we have accomplished.

Nature has marked out the territories of nations by rivers, mountains and other boundaries, which establish their limits. How many states are divided by the Po and the Rhine, as the Alps and the Pyrenees divides France from Italy and from Spain. From this last, immense seas and a vast distance divide America; distances which not only make them different as kingdoms, but establish them as belonging to two different worlds. Policy must necessarily conform to the order of nature, and as it would be monstrous to put in the same space the contrary elements of fire and water, it is equally so to unite in one province, people who are distinct and distant; especially if that difference and distance, extend to the extremity of the two worlds, since then it embraces all the contrarieties which climate can originate. The two vast globes, and opposite movements, cannot revolve without embarrassment upon one axis, but each requires its own; in the same manner, two empires of distinct and opposite qualities require two governments, without being susceptible of being united in one, which is never sufficient to govern both well.

If occasionally, the order of nature is violated, in departing from the bounda ries she fixes, it must happen as with fire inclosed in the mines, that an explosion will finally take place. The two Spains, Old and New, or, which is the same thing, Castile and Mexico, which have hitherto borne those names, belong to distinct regions of the earth, to different portions of the globe, to opposite zones of the sphere; differences which at once evince the justice of their separation. If they have been united, as Esau and Jacob in the womb of Rebecca, and have long remained so; this alone, giving to the latter her growth, has rendered it necessary that they should separate, as these twins did, first in the maternal bosom, and afterwards in their descendants. This idea is further enforced by illustrations drawn from animal nature, wherein the offspring, when capable of providing for itself, leaves its dam, the young bird its nest; and New Spain having arrived at the vigor of manhood, is bound by all analogy, it is said, to separate and shift for itself. This it is which justifies the independence of America. She has burst her chains, in order to acquire liberty, and to withdraw herself from the yoke which embarrassed her prosperity, by limiting her labour, her industry, her commerce, by the sole interest or pleasure of the mother country.

[It is then generally stated, that until a meeting of the cortez, the laws and constitution of Spain, as far as they are applicable, will be the law of the land. The Declaration concludes with a general expression of the desire of the Mexicans to cultivate amicable relations with all

their choicest favor and highest privileges to other nations-reserving, however,

sprung,] Signed at Mexico, October 18, 1821.

Spanish nation, from which they

ANTONIO, bishop of Puebla, as President.

173. Brazil.

This kingdom, since it acknowledged me their perpetual defender, required of me, immediately, to adopt the most energetic measures for the preservation of their honor and prosperity.

Had I hesitated in my determination, I would at once have violated my sacred promise, on the one hand; and, on the other, would have given rise to all the evils of anarchy, the dismemberment of the provinces, and all the fury of a democracy. What wrestling would there not have been amidst such sanguinary parties, between a thousand successive and opposing factions? Who would have retained possession of the gold and diamonds of her mines?-of those formidable rivers which are

the strength of our state?-of that astonishing fertility, the inexaustible fund of so much riches and prosperity? Who could have appeased, allayed the fury of so many conflicting parties?-who could have civilized our distant provinces, divided by so many rivers? Who would have penetrated into the wildness of the interminable forests, to offer aid to our poor deserted Indian?-who could have ascended their lofty and inaccessible mountians? Most assuredly, Brazilians: Brazil would have been ruined, this precious jewel of all beautiful nature, which is at once the envy and admiration of the whole world.

I should have been answerable for all these evils-for all the blood shed-for the unfortunate victims which, unquestionably, would have been sacrificed to tho particular views and interests of such contending factions, had I not adopted the measures so carnestly solicited by the people: I, therefore, immediately directed that an assembly of Brazilians should be called for the cement of the political independence of this kingdom, at the same time not intending to break the bonds of the Portuguese fraternity; to tranquilize, on principles of justice, the united kingdoms of Portugal, Brazil and Algarves, and to preserve, under the same chief, two families, separated by a wide ocean, who can only live united by the equality of rights, and the reciprocation of their interests.

Brazilians! it is not necessary for you to recollect all the evils to which you were subject, or what induced you to make the representation transmitted to me by the chamber of representatives and the people, on the 23d of May, and which gave rise to my royal decree of the 3d of June, of the present year; but a deference for the opinions of mankind requires us to declare the reasons which dictated this course the history of the acts of the congress of Lisbon, with regard to Brazil, is a history of continual injustice and deceit all having in direct object to destroy the prosperity of Brazil, and so effectually to paralize all its energies, as to make it entirely dependent on the mother country; that the world may have been witness to the justice of our cause, we appeal to the following facts:

The congress of Lisbon gave laws to Brazil without waiting for its representation, thus destroying the sovereignty of the majesty of the nation.

They denied us a delegation of executive power, so necessary to the proper developement of our physical means. Knowing, at the same time, the great distance which separated us, leaving us without laws appropriate to our climate, our wants, and our local situation:

They gave us a government without stability, and without unity, formed in insubordination, rivalship and contradictions-thus depriving us of the rank which she enjoys, and weakening the foundation of our future grandeur and prosperity, and driving us into all the horrors of anarchy and confusion:

They excluded the Brazilians from all participation in the emoluments arising from offices of honor or profit, and filled your cities with European bayonets, commanded by cruel, rapacious and foreign chiefs:

They received with enthusiasm, and loaded with benefits, all those monsters who attempted to destroy the best affections of the heart, and who triumphed in the idea of extinguishing the last ray of hope among the people:

They cast usurping hands upon the resources of the bank of Brazil, overloaded with an enormous national debt, which the congress never used; at a time when the credit of the bank was united with the public credit of Brazil, and with its own prosperity:

They negociated with foreign nations the alienation of portions of your territory, to weaken and enslave you:

They disarmed your fortresses, stripped your navy yards, left in a defenceless state your harbors, calling to Portugal all your nary-they exhausted your treasures with repeated demands to support the troops which came without your permission to shed your blood; and, at the same time, they prohibited the introduction of arms and ammunition with which you could arm yourselves and support your liberty:

They showed a project of commercial relations, which, under the false appearance of imaginary reciprocity and equality, monopolized your riches, and offered your ports to foreigners; thus destroying your agriculture and industry, and again reducing the inhabitants of Brazil to the state of fatherless and unsettled planters:

They have treated, from the beginning, with contempt and scorn, the representatives of Brazil, when they had the valor to proclaim their right; and even (but who can dare mention it!) threatened you with setting free all the slaves, that they might rise in opposition against their own masters:

To finish, then, this long narration of horrid injustice, when, for the first time that congress listened to the expressions of your just indignation, they doubled their opposition, and endeavored to take advantage of the goodness and confidence reposed in them.

The delegation of the executive power, which was rejected as unconstitutional by the congress, is now offered to us by a commission from that congress, without the necessary modification to make it acceptable to the people. Its acknowledg ment would be the signal of your destruction, and would tend to arm province against province, and brother against brother-thus realizing the views of those who formed it, for the purpose of prostrating your liberties,

Remember, then, generous inhabitants of this vast and powerful empire, that you now enjoy the independence and happiness which have been predicted at so many different periods by the politicians of Europe, You are now a sovereign people,-you have now entered into the great society of independent nations, to which you had every claim. Honor, national dignity, and the voice of nature, all commanded the colonies not to be colonies any longer, since they have arrived at maturity; and, although treated like colonies, they are capable of forming and maintaining a government independent of any foreign dominations. The same right which Portugal has to destroy its ancient institutions, and to establish new, you possess in an extended degree; you inhabit a vast and a spacious country, with a province, although disseminated, already greater than that of Portugal, and which promises to grow in power with unexampled rapidity. If Portugal denies to you this right, it renounces itself the right which it may claim, for the acknowledgment of its new constitution, from other nations.

Brazilians! Nothing further is to be done than to unite yourselves with inest love, and hopes;-to command the august assembly of Brazil to manage the helm of state, with justice and prudence, that we may avoid the rocks which the seas of revolutions unfortunately present to France, Spain, and even to Portugal.

Brazilians! Do not fear foreign nations: Europe which acknowledged the Independence of the United States of America, and which kept itself in a perfect state of neutrality towards the Spanish colonies, cannot fail to acknowledge Brazil, which, with so much justice, means and resources, also strives to enter into the great family of nations, We shall never interfere with their particular affairs, and consequently they will not obstruct the peaceful and commerce which we shall offer to them, secured by a representative government which we

shall establish.

Let no other shout be issued from your lips but UNION; let no other word be reiterated, from the Amazms to the Plate, but INDEPENDENCE. Let all our provinces be strongly chained into unanimity hot to be broken by any force. Let all ancient prejudices be banished at once, substituting in their place the love of the public good. Let mean blasphemers, oh! Brazilians, declaim with injuries and slanders against you, against me, and against our liberal system; for if they praise us, Brazil might be ruined. Let them say that we act against Portugal, against our mother country, against our benefactors; we, supporting our rights, punishing by our justice, and consolidating our liberty, wish to free Portugal from a new class of tyrants.

Brazilians, in general! Friends, let us unite ourselves; I am your companion, I am your defender; let us obtain, as the only reward of our toils, the honor, glory and prosperity of Brazil; for the accomplishment of which, I shall always be at your front, in the most dangerous places. Permit me to convince you that your felicity depends on mine. It is my glory to rule an upright, valiant and free people. Give me the example of your virtues, and of your union, and be assured that I shall be worthy of you. In the Palace of the Rio Janeiro, on the first day of August, 1822. Signed DON PEDRO, Prince Regent.