Kentucky Gazette

SOUTH AMERICA.

We are enabled, today, to lay before our readers an official copy of Bolivar's proclamation for convoking the congress of Venezuela. It contains a sketch of events well worth perusal, and, as many contradictory reports prevail, it is valuable, as it emanates from an authentic source.—Wash. City Gaz.

VENEZUELIAN PROCLAMATION

Simon Bolivar, chief supreme of the republic of Venezuela, captain general of its armies and those of New Grenada, &c. &c.

TO THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA.

The congress of Venezuela must fix the fate of the so many years opposed and wandering republic. Our wounds will heal under the shelter of a legitimate representation. It is not by a vain ostentation, nor to make my own apology, that I address you: I have served you, and owe you an account of my conduct.

When nature's convulsions buried the people of Venezuela under the heaviest dejection, Gen. Monteverde brought to nothing our new-born republic. Fearing rather tyranny than death, I then bade farewell to the shores of Venezuela, and went in search of the war that raged against the tyrants of New Grenada, as the only relief to the pangs of my heart. Heaven listened to my vows and lamentations, and the government of Cartagena intrusted to my care 400 soldiers, which in a few days liberated Magdalena, and the greater part of the province of Santa Martha. I afterwards marched to Cuenca, and there victory declared for our arms. Venezuela saw me appear upon its territory crowned with the favors of fortune.

The congress of New Grenada granted me leave to redeem my native country. I had soon the good fortune to reinstate the authorities constituted in the first epoch of the republic in the provinces of Truxillo, Merida, and Barinas.—The capital of Caracas received in its bosom the brave Grenadians. Puerto Cabello, protected by its walls, attracted soon my attention by its resistance, and hardly gave me time to take measures to save from disorders the populous country we had wrested from the tyrants of Spain.

Salomon's expedition gave new hopes to the royalists; and though defeated at Barbula and Las Orincheras, infused such confidence into our enemies, that the plain and the western part of Venezuela revolted almost on a sudden, in the battles of Mosquitero and Araure, the western part and the plain. I hastened then from the field of battle to the capital—I made a renunciation of the supreme power, and the 2d of January, 1814, gave accounts to the people of the events of the campaign, and of my civil and military administration. The people, all at once, answered with an unanimous voice of approbation, bestowing even the dictatorial power which I already exercised.—

New reverses called for me in the field. and after a bloody conflict, I came from the field of Carabobo, to assemble the representatives of the people, that they might constitute the government of the republic. The disaster of La Puerta buried in confusion our afflicted country, and nothing then could stop the thunderbolts thrown against it by the wrath of Heaven.

I marched to New Grenada; gave accounts to the congress of the success of my commission; they rewarded my services, though fruitless, intrusting to me a new army of Grenadians and Venezuelans. Cartagena proved the grave of that army, that was to restore life to Venezuela.

I forsook every thing for the safety of the mother country; I voluntarily chose to banish myself, that I might be useful to New Grenada and Venezuela. Providence had already resolved upon the ruin of those wretched regions, and delivered them to Morillo with his exterminatory bands.

I sought after an asylum in a foreign island; I came to Jamaica alone, helpless and almost hopeless. Though Venezuela and New Grenada were lost; yet I durst think of expelling their tyrants. The Island of Haiti received me with hospitality; the magnanimous president Petion, lent me his protection; and under his auspices I formed an expedition of three hundred men, comparable to the companions of Leonidas. Almost all of them have fallen: yet the exterminatory army has fallen also; three hundred patriots have marched to destroy ten thousand European tyrants, and have succeeded.

When I arrived at Margarita, a general assembly elected me supreme chief of the nation : I had a mind to convoke the congress. I, in effect, convoked it a few months afterwards: the events of war did not however permit me to accomplish that wished for act of national will. Free (Guayana! Free, the greater part of Venezuela; nothing hinders us now, from restoring to the people their sovereign rights. Venezuelians; our arms have overthrown the obstacles, which tyranny opposed, to our emancipation. In the name of the delivering army, I put you in possession of the enjoyment of your imprescriptible rights; our soldiers have fought to save their brethren, wives, fathers, and sons ; but did not fight to subjugate them. The army of Venezuela only imposes upon you the condition, that you should keep entire the sacred deposit of liberty ; I impose upon you another condition not less just and necessary to the attainment of that precious state. Elect for your magistrates the most virtuous of your fellow citizens, and forget, if you can, in your choice, those who delivered you. For my part, I renounce, for always, the power you have conferred upon me ; and I will never admit of any other but a military one, as long as lasts the unhappy war of Venezuela. The first moment of peace will be the last of my command.

Venezuelians! cast your eyes upon the past, but to shudder at the shoals which have undone you—withdraw your eyes from the woful monuments that recall to your memory painful losses.—Think only of what you are about to do, and penetrate well yourselves, that you are all Venezuelians, the sons of the same country, members of the same society, and citizens of the same republic. The word of Venezuela is liberty and peace. Our arms conquered peace; your wisdom will give us liberty.