174. The United Provinces of Central America.

Whereas the National Constituent Assembly of the said Provinces has decreed as follows:

Having discussed the subject, and received the Reports of the different Commissions which have laboured to collect and present to this Assembly all possible information on the above Points; considering all that may be necessary to the establishment of a New State; and also considering:

First That Independence of the Spanish Government has been and is necessary in the situation of that Nation, and that of all the Nations of America; that it was and is just in itself, and essentially consonant to the sacred rights of nature; that it was imperiously demanded by the lights of the Age, the necessities of the New World, and all the dearest interests of the People who inhabit it:

That Nature itself resists the dependence of this part of the Globe, separated by an immense Ocean from that which was its Metropolis, and with which it is impossible to maintain the immediate and frequent communication indispensable between the People of the same State:

That the experience of more than three hundred Years has convinced America that Her felicity was altogether incompatible with the nullity to which She was reduced by the sad condition of a Colony to a small part of Europe:

That the arbitrary manner in which She was governed by the Spanish Nation, and the conduct always pursued by it since the Conquest, excited in the People the most ardent desire to re-conquer their usurped rights:

That, impelled by these just sentiments, all the Provinces of America threw off the yoke which had oppressed them for the space of three Centuries: That those of the ancient Kingdom of Guatemala gloriously proclaimed their Independence towards the close of 1821; and that the determination to preserve and maintain it is the general and uniform resolve of all its Inhabitants.

Secondly Considering also, that the incorporation of these Provinces with the extinguished Mexican Empire, was effected, only de facto, at the end of 1821 and the beginning of 1822, and was a hasty decision extorted by vicious and illegal means: That it was neither granted nor pronounced, by legitimate organs or means: That in consequence the National Representatives of the Mexican State never expressly accepted it, nor could of right accept it; and that the orders dictated and expedited by Don Augustin Iturbide, respecting this Union are null:

That the said Union was, and is, contrary to the interests and sacred rights of the People we represent, and opposed to their will, and that the concurrence of circumstances so powerful and irresistible, requires that the Provinces of the ancient Kingdom of Guatemala should be constituted of themselves and separately from the Mexican State.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the said Provinces, in their names, with their authority, and conformably to their wishes, solemnly declare “1. That and Independent of the said Provinces, represented in this Assembly, the old or the new world, patrimony of any person or family. and that they are not, and ought not to be, the "2. That in consequence they are, and form, a sovereign nation, with the right freely to exercise and enjoy such acts, contracts, and functions, as are exercised and enjoyed by the other free people of the earth.

Old Spain, of Mexico,and of every other power,who are F

"3. That the abovenamed provinces represented in this assembly, and the others of those forming the ancient kingdom of Guatemala, which shall spontane ously unite themselves, shall, henceforth, without prejudice to the constitution about to be formed, be called, The United Provinces of Central America.

"And we command, that this declaration, and the act of our installation, shall be published with due solemnity in this town of Guatemala, and in all, and each of the towns represented in this assembly; and that they be printed and circulated; that they be communicated to the provinces of Leon, Granada, Costarrica, and Chiapas; and that they be communicated to the governments of Spain and Mexico, and to the other independent states of both Américas, in the form and manner which may be determined upon. [Here follow the signatures of forty-three deputies.] PEDRO MOLINA, President.

By the supreme executive authority
National Palace of Guatemala, July 11, 1823.

175. Treaty of Perpetual Union, League, and Confederation, between Colom. bia and Mexico, published on the 20th of September, 1825.

The Government of the Republic of Colombia, on the one part, and that of Mexico, on the other, sincerely desirous of terminating the evils of the present war, into which they have been forced by the King of Spain, and having determined to employ their whole naval and land forces in defence of their liberty; and anxious, also, that this league should be general among all the States of Spanish America, that they may contribute their united strength and resources to maintain the common cause of their independence, have appointed Plenipotentiaries, who have concluded the following treaty of union, league, and confederation:

Art. 1. The Republics of Colombia and Mexico unite, league, and confederate, forever, in peace and war, to maintain, with their naval and land forces, as far as circumstances may permit, their independence of Spain and all other foreign dominion; and, after the recognition of their independence, to assure their mutual prosperity, harmony, and good intelligence, both among their people and citizens, and the States with which they may institute relations.

Art. 2. The Republics of Colombia and Mexico, therefore, enter into and mutually form, a perpetual compact of alliance, and firm and constant friendship, for their common defence, obliging themselves to aid each other, and mutually repel any attack or invasion that may, in any manner, menace the security of their independence and liberty, affect their interests, or disturb their peace: Provided, that, in the last case, requisition be made by one or other of two Governments legally established.

Art. 3. To effect the objects of the preceding article, the contracting parties promise to aid each other with the amount of land forces that may be fixed upon by special conventions, as the circumstances may demand, and during the continuance of the occasion. Art. 4. The military navy of both contracting parties shall also be in fulfilment of the preceding convention.

Art. 5. In cases where aid is suddenly required, each party shall operate against the enemy with all the disposable forces within the territories of the other, if time be not allowed for concert between both governments. But the party thus operating shall observe the laws and ordinances of the State, as far as circumstances may permit, and shall respect and obey its Government. The expenses thus incurred, shall be fixed by separate conventions, and paid one year after the conclusion of the present war.

Art. 6. The contracting parties oblige themselves to furnish whatever assistance they may be able, to the military and mercantile vessels arriving at the ports of each other, from distress or other cause; and they shall have power to repair, refit, provision, arm, and increase their armament and crews, so as to be able to continue their voyages or cruises, at the expense of the State or individuals to whom they may belong.

Art. 7. To avoid abuses, by armed privateers, of the commerce of the State, and that of neutrals, the contracting parties agree to extend the jurisdiction of the maritime courts of each other, to their privateers and prizes, indifferently, when they cannot readily ascertain their port of departure, and abuses shall be suspected of the commerce of neutral nations.

Art. 8. The contracting parties mutually guaranty to each other the integrity of their respective territories, as they existed before the present war, recognizing, also, as part of this territory, what was not included in the Vice-royalties of Mexico and New Granada, but is now a component part of it.

Art. 9. The component parts of the territory of both parties shall be defined and recognized.

Art. 10. If internal quiet should unfortunately be disturbed, in the territory of either party, by disorderly men and enemies of legal government, the contracting parties engage to make common cause against them, until order and the empire of law be re-established. Their forces shall be furnished as provided by Articles 2 and 3.

Art. 11. All persons taking arms against either Government, legally established, and fleeing from justice, if found within the territory of either contracting party, shall be delivered up, to be tried by the Government against which the offence has been committed. Deserters from the army and navy are included in this article.

Art. 12. To strengthen the bonds of future union between the two states, and to prevent every interruption of their friendship and good intelligence, a congress shall be formed, to which each party shall send two plenipotentiaries, commissioned in the same form and manner as are observed towards ministers of equal grade to foreign nations.

Art. 13. Both parties oblige themselves to solicit the other ci-devant Spanish States of America to enter into this compact of perpetual union, league and confederation.

Art. 14. As soon as this important purpose shall have been obtained, a general congress of the American States shall assemble, composed of their plenipotentiaries. Its object will be to confirm and establish intimate relations between the whole and each one of the States: it will serve as a council on great occasions; a point of union in common danger; a faithful interpreter of public treaties in cases of misunderstanding; and as an arbitrator and conciliator of disputes and differences.

Art. 15. The Isthmus of Panama being an integral part of Colombia, and the most suitable point for the meeting of the Congress, this republic promises to furnish to plenipotentiaries of the Congress all the facilities demanded by hospitality among a kindred people, and by the sacred character of ambassadors.

Art. 16. Mexico agrees to the same obligation, if ever, by the accidents of war, or the consent of a majority of the states, the congress should meet within her jurisdiction.

Art. 17. This compact of perpetual union, league, and confederation, shall not, in anywise, affect the exercise of the national sovereignty of either contracting party, in regard to its laws and form of government, or its foreign relations. But the parties bind themselves, positively, not to accede to any demand of indemnity, tribute, or impost from Spain, for the loss of her former supremacy over these countries, or from any other nation in her naine. They also agree not to enter into any treaty with Spain, or any other nation, to the prejudice of their independence; but to maintain, at all times, their mutual interests, with the dignity and energy proper to free, independent, friendly, and confederate states.

Art. 18. Provides for the time of ratification of this treaty.
The foregoing treaty has been duly ratified.

By the Pres't. Lucas Alaman.

GAUDALOUPE VICTORIA.

176. Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Peru and Equator. Extract. [Lima, 27th Dec. 1832 Independence 13th.!

Art. 1. Citizens of Peru shall pay in Equator the same duties and enjoy the same commercial privileges and exemptions as if they were Equatorians-and citizens of Equator shall pay in Peru the same duties and enjoy the same commercial privileges and exemptions as if they were Peruvians.

Art. 2. All laws of prohibition and monopoly, which impede the free commerce of the fruits and productions of Peru and Equator, shall be abolished in each state.

Art. 3. The productions of the soil and industry of Equator, can only be introduced into the ports of Peru in Peruvian or Equatorian vessels; and the productions of the soil and industry of Peru, can only enter the ports of Equator, in vessels of one or the other nations.

Art. 4. All articles imported from either country into the other according to the terms of the foregoing article, shall pay no other duty than that of eight per cent. on their valuation at the place of entry, which duty shall include that known under the title of duty of Consulado.

Art. 5. Shall be excepted however from the regulation established in the preceding article all brandy and sugar imported into Equator from Peru, the duties on which shall viz: twelve per cent. on the value of the sugar at the place of importation, and twelve reals on each arroba of brandy.*

Art. 6. In order that a vessel should be considered Peruvian or Equatorian, her master or mate, and at least one third of her crew must be natives of the Republic whose flag she bears, and she must moreover carry a certificate of her having been duly registered in her own country.

Art. 7. The minor ports (those which are not ports of entry) of each country, shall be open to Peruvian or Equatorian vessels, carrying the productions of their res. *The arroba measures 981 cubic inches, o 4 galls, and one quart English wine theasure.

pective countries, and foreign articles which have already paid duties in the ports of entry; but no foreign goods taken on board during the voyage, or on which duties have not been paid, can be landed in any minor port.

Art. 8. Equatorian vessels shall, however, be required to touch at some Peruvian port of entry, and there to pay duties on their cargoes according to invoice, before they can proceed to any of the minor ports of Peru for which they may be bound. They may however sail directly for a minor port, for the purpose of there taking in a cargo of Peruvian productions.

Art. 9. Peruvian vessels bound for any of the minor ports of Equator, shall touch first either at Guayaquil or Monte Cristi, which latter shall be immediately declared a port of entry. They may however enter freely into any port, for the purpose of taking a cargo of Equatorian productions.

Art. 10. Foreign goods warehoused in either State, cannot be withdrawn for exportation, in foreign vessels, to any port in Peru or Equator, unless said goods previous to their being warehoused, shall have formed a part of the cargo of the same vessel, in which they are to be exported.

Art. 11. A foreign vessel withdrawing warehoused goods, by virtue of the latter part of the tenth Article, must take a certified list of the same. Whenever a foreign vessel does not discharge the whole of its cargo at any port in Peru cr Equator, a list of the remainder, specifying the number, marks and contents of the packages, as by the manifest, shall be made at the custom-house, and delivered sealed to the Captain, which list he must present before he can be allowed to unload, at any port of entry in the other country.

Art. 12. Equatorian vessels are to be considered Peruvian in Peru, and Peruvian vessels Equatorian in Equator, neither shall in the ports of the other pay any higher duties, of tonnage, anchorage, or any description whatever, than are paid by the vessels of the country in which the port is situated.

Art. 13. Vessels of either nation may be repaired and equipped in the ports of the other, in perfect security, receiving the same protection, and subject to no other duties, or liabilities than those of the country. This arrangement extends to ships of war, whose commanders, however, are to agree with the local authorities as the period of their stay.

Art. 14. No vessel can load, or unload, unless she arrives and departs furnished with the proper documents from the respective custom-houses. The custom-houses of each State shall correspond with those of the other, in order to communicate information as to the documents thus furnished; and they shall require from the Captains of vessels, certificates of their having complied with the proper forms, in the ports from which they came.

Art. 15. All officers of either country, guilty of having furnished false papers to vessels, shall on complaint being made by the government which suffered injury therefrom, be punished according to the law of their own nation, in the same manner as if the crime had been committed against itself.

Art. 16. All productions of either country, entering the other by land, shall be entirely exempt from all duty whatsoever.

Art. 17. Foreign goods introduced from the Province of Piura (Peru) into that of Leja (Equator) shall pay a duty of four per cent., upon their value.

Art. 18. The Governments of the contracting parties,may establish consuls whereever they may think necessary, for the reciprocal protection of commerce, who shall enjoy all the immunities customary among European nations.

Art. 19. The regulations of the post between the two countries, shall remain as at present established.

Done at Lima, this 27th of December, in the year of our Lord 1832, and of the Independence of Peru the 13th. AUGUSTIN GAMARRA.

MANUEL DEL RIO, Secretary of State for Foreign Relations.

177. Extracts from a Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, Commerce, and Navigation, between the United Provinces of the Rio de la Platte and Chili. Art. 2. The Representatives, &c. contract a perpetual alliance, for the maintentheir Independence, against all foreign dominion whatever.

Art. 3. The Contracting Representatives bind themselves to guarantee the integrity of their Territories, and to co-operate against whatever foreign Power should attempt to alter, by force, their respective boundaries, as recognized before their emancipation, or subsequently in virtue of special treaties.

Art. 4. The Contracting Parties engage not to conclude treaties of peace, neutrality, or commerce, with the Spanish Government, unless preceded by a recognition on the part of that Government, of the Independence of all the States of America, formerly Spanish.

Art. 5. In respect of the alliance, their co-operation shall be regulated, conformably to the respective circumstances and resources of the contracting parties; articles not of the produce of either party, to pay ten per cent. duty.

Art. 6. The relations of amity, commerce, and navigation, between the two Republics, to be founded on a perfect reciprocity, &c.

Art. 9. All articles of produce or manufactures of the two Republics, to be introduced, by land, free of duties, &c.

Art. 18. Each of the Contracting Parties to name Consuls for the protection of

commerce.

In Santiago de Chili, November 20, 1826; the 17th of liberty of both States. IGNACIO ALVAREZ. MANUEL J. GAUDARILLAS.

178. Compensation of the Diplomatic Corps of Colombia.

Decree of the Colombian Government regulating the Appointment of Diplomatic Characters and Consuls in Foreign Countries:

F. De Pauline Santander, Gen. Vice President, &c.

Art. 1. Ministers Plenipotentiaries from the Republic of Colombia, to the Courts of Europe, shall receive, indiscriminately, $10,000 annually.

Art. 2. Ministers Plenipotentiaries to the American States, shall receive, indiscriminately, $ 8,000 annually.

Art. 3. Chargé d'Affaires to the Governments of Europe and America, shall receive one half the salary allotted to Ministers Plenipotentiaries by the two foregoing articles.

Art. 4. Secretaries of Legation shall receive yearly one quarter of the sum received by the Ministers Plenipotentiaries under whom they serve.

Art. 5. Each secretaryship of Legation established in Europe or America shall have two assistants attached to it. The chief assistant shall receive in Europe $ 1,800 annually, and in America $ 1.500.

Art. 6. There shall be likewise six supernumerary assistants attached to each Secretary of Legation in Europe and America. These situations shall be filled by youth of good property, of upwards of 17 years of age, whose parents may design them for a diplomatic line. In order to advance their education under the Ministers Plenipotentiaries with whom they serve, $600 shall be granted out of the National Treasury to those in Europe, and $300 to those in America.

Art. 7. Consuls-General of the Republic shail receive in Europe $ 3000, and in America $2,500.

Art. 8. Special Consuls or Commercial Agents, in any foreign part, shall receive for their services merely the amount of emoluments derived from their fees, agreeably to established usage and custom until a new scale of fees be introduced.

Art. 9. The salaries of Diplomatists shall commence from the day on which they leave the ports of the Republic for their destination.

Art. 10. The expenses to be incurred by Diplomatists in their voyage, or journeys to and from the countries to which they are appointed, shall be defrayed separately out of the National Treasury, for which purpose an account and examination of the said expenses must be made.

Art. 11. The salaries and income of the Diplomatists shall be paid entire and without deduction.

Given, &c. on the 7th of August, 1823; 13 of Independence.

By His Ex.: Pedro Gual.

F. de P. SANTANDER.