Kentucky Gazette

Gen. Bolivar's Speech
TO THE CONGRESS OF VENEZUELA.

[concluded.]

By increasing in the balance of power the weight of the Congress, by the number of Legislators and the nature of the Senate, a fixed basis is bestowed on this primary body of the Nation, and it is invested with great importance for the exercise of its sovereign functions.

In separating distinctly the executive from the Legislative power, it is not intended to sow division betwixt those Supreme Authorities, but to unite them with those bonds of harmony which proceed from independence.

In investing the Executive with a Power and Authority much exceeding what it hitherto possessed, it is by no means intended to enable a despot to tyrannise over the Republic, but to prevent deliberative despotism becoming the immediate cause of a round of despotic changes, in which anarchy would be alternately replaced by oligarchy and monarchy.

In soliciting the independence of judges, the establishment of Juries, and a new code, the security of civil liberty is requested, the most estimable, the most equitable, the most necessary, and in one word the only Liberty, as without it, all others are a nullity. An amendment is asked of the lamented abuses in our Judicature, and which derive their origin from the filthy sink of Spanish Legislation, collected in various ages, and from various sources, equally from the productions of folly, and of talent, equally the fruit of good sense, and of extravagance, and equally the memorial of genius and of caprice. That judicial Encyclopedia, that monster with ten thousand heads, which has hitherto been a rod of punishment to Spanish Nations, is the fiercest calamity the anger of Heaven ever permitted that unfortunate Empire to be afflicted with.

Meditating on the most efficient mode of regenerating the character and habits, which tyranny and war have given us, I have been led to suggest a moral power, drawn from the remote ages of antiquity, and those obsolete Laws, which for some time maintained public virtue amongst the Greeks and Romans, and although it may be considered a mere whim of fancy, it is possible, and I flatter myself, that you will not altogether overlook an idea, which when meliorated by experience and knowledge, may prove of the greatest efficacy.

Terrified at the disunion which has hitherto existed, and must exist amongst us from the subtle spirit characterising the Federative system, I have been induced to solicit you to adopt the concentration and union of all the States of Venezuela into one Republic, one, and indivisible. A measure in my opinion, urgent, vital, and saving, and of such a nature that without it, the fruit of our regeneration would be destruction.

It is my duty, Legislators, to present to you a just and faithful picture of my political, civil, and military Administration, but to do so would tire your valuable attention too much and rob you at this moment of time equally precious and pressing, and the Secretaries of State will therefore give an account to the Congress of their various departments, and exhibit at the same time those documents and records, necessary to illustrate every thing, and to make you thoroughly acquainted with the real and actual state of the Republic.

I will not notice the most momentous acts of my command, although they concern most of my countrymen, and will call your attention only to the last memorable revolution. Horrid, atrocious, and impious slavery, covered with her sable mantle the Land of Venezuela, and our atmosphere lowered with the dark gloomy clouds of the tempest, threatening a fiery deluge. I implored the protection of the God of Nature, and at his Almighty word, the storm was dispelled. The day-star of liberty rose, slavery broke her chains, and Venezuela was surrounded with new and with grateful sons, who turned the instruments of her thrall and bondage, into arms of freedom. Yes! those who were formerly slaves, are now free, those who were formerly the enemies of our country, are now its defenders.

I leave to your sovereign authority the reform or repeal of all my ordinances, statutes, and decrees, but I implore you to confirm the complete emancipation of the Slaves, as I would beg my life, or the salvation of the Republic.

To exhibit the military history of Venezuela, would be to bring to our recollection the history of Republican heroism amongst the ancients; it would shew that Venezuela had made as brilliant sacrifices on the sacred Altar of Liberty. The noble hearts of our generous warriors, have been filled with those sublime and honorable feelings, which have ever been attributed to the benefactors of the human race. Not fighting for power or fortune, nor even glory, but for Liberty alone: the title of Liberator of the Republic has been their highest recompense, having, in forming an association of those gallant heroes, instituted the order of Liberators of Venezuela. Legislators! To you it belongs to confer honours and decorations, and it is your duty to exercise that act of national gratitude. Men who have given up all the benefits and advantages they formerly enjoyed as a proof of their virtue and disinterestedness—men who have undergone every thing horrible in a most inhuman war, suffering the most painful privations and the cruellest anguish—men so deserving of their country, merit the attention of Government; and I have therefore given directions to recompense them out of the National Property.

If I have acquired any portion of merit in the eyes of my countrymen, I entreat you, Representatives, to vouchsafe my petition as the reward of my feeble services, and let the Congress order a distribution of the National Property, conformable to the ordinance I passed in the name of the Republic, in favor of the Military sons of Venezuela.

After our having in a succession of victories destroyed the Spanish armies, the court of Madrid in despair, vainly endeavored to take by surprise the feelings of those magnanimous Sovereigns, who had just extirpated usurpation and tyranny in Europe, and who ought to protect the legitimacy and justice of the cause of America. Spain unable to reduce us to submission by dint of arms, had recourse to her insidious policy, and tried every perfidious art. Ferdinand humbled himself so far as to confess, that without the assistance of foreign aid, he could not force us back under his ignominious yoke; a yoke which no mortal power can oblige us to submit to.

Venezuela convinced that she is in possession of sufficient strength to repel her oppressors, has declared through the organ of Government, her fixed and final determination to fight to annihilation in defence of her political life, not only against Spain, but even against the universe, should the universe be so degraded as to assume the party of a destructive government, whose only objects are an exterminating sword, and the shrieks of the Inquisition—a government that desires not fertile regions, but deserts—no cities, but ruins—not subjects, but sepulchres. The declaration of the Republic of Venezuela is the most glorious, the most heroic, and the most dignified act of a free people; and it is with peculiar satisfaction, I have the honor of laying it before congress, sanctioned as it is by the unanimous approbation of the free people of the land.

Since the second epoch of the Republic, our armies wanted the necessaries of war; they were constantly void of arms and ammunition, and were at all times badly equipped; but at present the brave Defenders of Independence are not only armed with justice, but with power, and our troops may rank with the choicest in Europe, now that they possess equal means of destruction.

For these important advantages, we are indebted to the unbounded liberality of some generous Foreigners, who, hearing the groans of suffering humanity, and seeing the cause of freedom, reason, and justice, ready to sink, could not remain quiet but flew to our succour with their munificent aid and protection, and furnished the Republic with every thing needful to cause their philanthropical principles triumph. These friends of mankind are the Guardian Geniuses of America, and to them we owe a debt of eternal gratitude, as well as a religious fulfilment of the several obligations contracted with them. The National Debt, Legislators, is the deposit of the good faith, the honour and the gratitude of Venezuela: respect it as the holy ark which encloses not only the rights of our benefactors, but the glory of our fidelity. Let us perish rather than fail in any the smallest point in the completion of those engagements, which have been the salvation of our country, and of the lives of her sons.

The union of New Grenada and Venezuela in one great State, has uniformly been the ardent wish of the people and governments of these Republics. The fortune of war has effected this junction so much desired by every American, and in fact we are incorporated. These Sister Nations have entrusted to you their interests, rights and destinies. In contemplating the union of this immense district, my mind rises with delight to the stupendous height necessary for viewing properly so wonderful a picture. Flying from present and approaching times, my imagination plunges into future ages in which I observe with admiration and amazement, the prosperity, the splendour, and the animation, which this vast region will have acquired;—my ideas are wafted on, and I see my beloved native land in the center of the universe expanding herself on her extensive coasts between those oceans, which nature has separated, and which our country will have united with large and capacious canals. I see her the bond, the center, and the emporium of the human race; I see her transmitting to earth's remotest bounds, those treasures contained in her mountains of gold and silver: I see her distributing by her salutiferous plants, health and life to the afflicted of the old world; I see her imparting to the sages of other regions her inestimable secrets, ignorant until then, how much her height of knowledge transcends her excessive wealth. Yes! I see her seated on the throne of freedom, wielding the sceptre of justice, and crowned with glory, shew the old world the majesty of the new.

[The concluding paragraphs were published in the Gazette several weeks ago.]