Phenix Gazette

POLITICAL SITUATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA.
From the New York Evening Post.

We have received from the American Minister at Colombia a pamphlet, in the Spanish language just published at Bogota entitled An Exposition, made to the Executive by the Council of Ministers, concerning the Measures required by the present situation of Colombia, and the decrees issued in consequence. We make the following brief abstract of its contents.

The Exposition begins by stating that by the events of August last, the principal officers of the republic refusing to exercise their authority, the capital of Colombia was thrown into a state of complete anarchy, in consequence of which a meeting was held of the respectable inhabitants, at which Bolivar was called upon to place himself at the head of the nation, and in the mean time, until he should arrive, the supreme authority was committed to Urdaneta. This declaration of the capital was adopted throughout the department of Cundinamarca, whence it extended to Boyaca, Magdalena, Antioquia, and Cauca; and the authority of Urdaneta was recognized in them all, with the exception of the province of Casanare, which never obeyed the constitutional government—that of Riobamba, which rebelled, but has now returned to his duty—the circuit of Popayan, and some of the cantons of Buenaventura, which have joined themselves to the departments of the South—and the province of Pasto, which has done the same thing conditionally. The Isthmus has adopted a separate government.

It was hoped that this calamitous state of things would have yielded to the able and skilful management of the Liberator. He however, refused the supreme command, with a view of quieting the jealousy of those who suspected him of ambitious views. The entreaties which assailed him on all sides might, perhaps, says the document before us, have prevailed over the repugnance of the Liberator; but, in the mean time, his hour of departure was come—he died, and left the republic in orphanage.

In this state of things it is left for the acting Executive of Colombia to devise some cure or lenitive for the public evils, in the execution of existing laws, or in the Constitution adopted in 1830. This constitution, by the declarations placing Urdaneta at the head of the republic was prescribed as the rule of his public conduct, so far as was consistent with the objects of the declarations themselves. The Council of ministers are of opinion that the provisions of this constitution, with the decree of May 5th, 1830, ought now to be carried strictly into effect. By the decree of May it was directed, that in case the provinces of Venezuela should refuse to accept the constitution, under any qualification or modification, no force should be used to compel their consent, but a meeting should be held of the deputies of the remaining portion of Colombia, who should consider what course is proper and necessary for the Executive in the present situation of the republic, revise the constitution, and make in it such changes as circumstances render indispensable.

The refusal of the provinces of Venezuela to accept the constitution, and the separation of the departments of Ecuador, Guayaquil and Azuai from the republic, all of which, however, declare themselves desirous of maintaining the integrity of Colombia under a system of confederation, present a case which, in the opinion of the Ministers, calls for the execution of the decree of the 5th of May. They propose, therefore, that a convention of all the provinces or towns which recognize the authority of the national government shall be called; that they shall fulfil the objects of the decree, (while at the same time they are to do nothing that may prevent the re-union of all portions of the republic,) and to provide for the election of the executive officers, and the appointment of the magistracy. The Ministers likewise propose, that commissioners shall be sent to Venezuela and the Southern departments, to assure them of friendly intentions on the part of Colombia, and to induce them to cease from all hostile operations, while orders are despatched to the troops on the frontier to maintain a strictly defensive attitude. This document is dated Bogota, Jan. 12th, and signed by the four Ministers of the Interior, of the Treasury, of War, and of Foreign Relations.

Annexed to the Exposition are several decrees of Urdaneta, declaring the constitution of 1830 to be in force, and providing for the election of the deputies to the convention.