pily succeed in overthrowing the constitution of Colombia, and should turn his arms against Peru, he would have to cope with men who are not greatly inferior to himself in talents. La Mar, the president elect, being absent in the south of Colombia, the functions of the executive authority devolved upon the vice president, who or. ganized the government, by appointing, first, D. Manuel del Rio ; and afterwards, D. Francisco Xavier Mariateguia, to the department of foreign relations; D. José Morales y Ugalde, to that of the treasury; and D. Juan Salazar, to that of war and marine. Among the acts of congress and of the government, the most interesting relate to the Bolivian constitution, and to the relations of Peru with Colombia. The vice president Salazar communicated intelligence of the election of La Mar and of himself, to general Santander, by note, dated June 23d, immediately after his installation. At the same time, the minister of foreign relations, despatched to the Colombian secretary of state official copies of the decrees of congress which affected Bolivar and Colombia. By the first of these decrees, passed June 11th, the constituent congress declared that the constitution sworn to on the 9th of December, had been ratified in a manner illegal, and subversive of the national sovereignty; and was therefore null, and of no ef fect; the constitution of 1823 being revived as the provisional fundamental law of Peru. In the second, passed June 23d, Bolivar was disposed of in the following manner: The General Constituent Congress of Peru-CONSIDERING, "That the council of government has, through the medium of a Peruvian colonel, notified general Bolivar, president of Colombia, of the nomination made by the electoral colleges, of him as perpetual president of the republic: "That congress has, by the decree of June 11th, declared null and of no effect, the constitution sworn to December 9th, of the year preceding, and said nomination of perpetual president thereby becoming invalid, DOTH DECREE THE FOLLOWING: "That the executive power shall officially communicate to the Liberator, Simon Bolivar, president of Colombia, the installation of the general constituent congress, and the decree passed upon the constitution, called the Bolivian; and also the election of a president and vice president, citizens belonging to the republic: "And that in the name of the general congress, the executive shall signify to him the gratitude of the nation, for the services he has rendered in the cause of independence. Dated at Lima, June 23d, 1827." In this laconic and cavalier style, did the new congress dispose of the Bolivian code, and the presidency of Bolivar for life. And although the government expressed, and probably felt, a sincere de. sire to preserve peace with Colombia, yet, on the 26th of June, the consul general, and chargé des affaires of Colombia, Sr. Cristoval Armero, was ordered to quit the territory of the republic within the space of eighteen hours; and after various communications with the ministry, was under the necessity of departing for Guayaquil. A demiofficial article in the Peruano news. paper, assigns as the reasons of this harsh measure, the unremitted interference of Armero in the domestic affairs of Peru; alleging numerous acts of this kind, performed under protection of his privileges as foreign minister, but in violation of the rules recognised by the law of nations. Nothing official has yet transpired on the subject, within our knowledge; and therefore the grounds of the expulsion cannot be stated from authority. La Mar was received and install. ed in office in August. He landed on the 19th, about forty miles to the north of Lima, and took a private route, in order to avoid the triumphal arches, and other popular honours, which had been prepared in congratulation of his ar rival. A just and well founded enthusiasm was universally manifested on the occasion of his installation; for the Peruvians then began to enjoy, for the first time, since the opening of the revolution, a regularly organized government of their own free choice, entirely delivered from foreign influence. The compactness of the territory of Peru, its ample resources, both public and private, and the situa tion of its government, all combine to render its prospects far better than those of the other South American States. Its only dangerous neighbour is Colombia. The boundary between the two countries is not well set. led, inasmuch as the provinces of Jaen de Bracamoros and Mainas, although claimed as part of Colombia, are, de facto, governed by Peru. But this matter is not likely to disturb the good understanding between the two nations; and Bolivar's ambition is the only source from which any interruption of their mutual harmony is to be dreaded. The feelings of the Colombian go. vernment on the subject of Peru, aside from Bolivar himself, may be inferred from a single circumstance. When Heres reached Colombia, he hastened to Bolivar's quarters in Cartajena, from whence he addressed a communication to the vice president Santander, explaining the reasons for his leaving Lima, and complaining of the conduct of the third division, whose officers he wished to have brought to trial. Soublette replied, "that the government had nothing to do with the case of general Heres, who had never served the republic of Colombia under the orders of the executive authority." So little sympathy was entertained at Bogo. ta for the ejected members of the council. And it is to be hoped that Bolivar is too wise to bring the indignation of the whole civi. lized world upon him by an act so outrageous as the invasion of Peru.* * The materials of this chapter are found in the files of La Estrella de Chile, of El Republicano, of El Cometa, and La Cola del Cometa, of El Conductor, and of Gaceta de Colombia, newspapers of Colombia, Peru, and Chile; in El Amigo del Puablo sobre lo Acaecido en Lima, &c., the Cronica de Lima, Discurso del Deputado Vidaurre sobre Imprentas, and other publications printed at Lima. CHAPTER XI. Scanty accounts of Upper Peru-Sucre reappointed by congress-Colombian troops-Sucre's address on his election-Bolivian code sworn to— Movement of Fuente on Puno-Sucre stands neutral as to Peru-His address to the Colombian army-Conspiracy in Bolivia-Acquisition of Arica--Bolivia not recognised by Buenos Ayres-Sucre intends to resign. THE remoteness of BOLIVIA CO- ed to draw the attention of the rest operates with its retired position, of South America to this quarter, in the centre, as it were, of South has made Bolivia an object of some America, to render the accounts of jealousy among the patriots of Coits condition, which reach the Uni- lombia and Chili. Yet the country ted States, extremely scanty and is interesting and important, as well imperfect. As it possesses no sea. for the extraordinary richness of ports, the penetrating spirit of our its mines, as because it has been commerce has not yet lifted the veil the theatre of the famous insurrecfrom the rich cities of La Paz, La tion of Tupac Amaru, who attemptPlata, and Potosi. Our informa- ed to restore the empire of the Intion of this region, therefore, comes cas, and of some of the fiercest batto us through channels which can- tles and most remarkable scenes of not be trusted implicitly in all the revolution. the revolution. The few authentic cases; because their separate in- facts in its history, which come terests are apt to give an improper within the scope of this chapter, colouring to facts. Buenos Ayres may be briefly despatched. on the one side, and Peru on the other, would each gladly swallow up, or at least form a union with the new republic of Bolivia. And the celebrated Bolivian code, drawn up by Bolivar for the nation which his arms created, while it has serv. We concluded our notice of Bolivia the last year, with a short account of the constitution prepared for this republic by Bolivar. The address to the constituent congress, which accompanies that code, we perceive is dated, May 25th, 1826; |