Phenix Gazette

CHILOE.
From a Buenos Ayres paper of Dec. 6.

Among the public papers which, the last mail has brought us, we find the following

PROCLAMATION

The Supreme Director of Chili, to the inhabitants of Chiloe.

Men of Chiloe! Beloved Countrymen! The termination of your sufferings, and of the engagements which inevitable accidents brought upon you, is come. Your exertions must now yield to the irresistible torrent of events, which have put all America under the ægis of Liberty—except the portion which you inhabit. Your sacrifices being carried to their height, your honor and your own interest must now bring you into the arms of your brothers. Any delay or resistance would be a blamable temerity, and an attempt to deliver yourselves spontaneously with your fortunes and families to the fatal insults of a war against all the American Continent, interested in wresting the last point of support from the languid and despairing efforts of tottering Spain: which can neither protect your services nor reward them: Or that Spain, against whose unjust projects and pretensions Divine Providence has declared itself, manifesting itself clearly in our favor in the astonishing series of wonders with which it has dissipated, like smoke, her preparations for vengeance and extermination. Her fleets have been submerged, or fallen in our hands: her armies have either rebelled or perished in terrible battles, in which numbers and discipline seemed to place the advantage on her side: valor and justice being only, on ours.

You also know moreover what remuneration you could expect for your services, from the haughty character and cruel ingratitude of a stupid Sovereign, who, by his ferocity, principles and system, will never follow any other means to secure his dominion in these distant regions, than oppression, chains and death, and that insulting preference with which the Spaniards exclusively occupied the offices, commerce and distinctions of our own country.

Now compare that situation with the actual condition, and brilliant hopes of the now independent States. To the insolent preponderant servitude, it has substituted legal equality, and rational liberty, which even the Spaniards who have been our enemies enjoy completely among us: to involuntary inactions, and the studied suffocation of our resources, has succeeded the settlement of able foreigners, who, with their persons and capitals, naturalized activity, industry and commerce, which are going to make the happiness of posterity. It seems as if the earth itself opens her maternal bosom, and throws off the obstacles with which she concealed for three ages from the tyrant, treasures which it reserved for her oppressed children.

Let us follow its design. Let us forget the past, preserving only the memory of our sad experience. Let us voluntarily form that union which will render us unconquerable and happy. You should possess the generosity to present a friendly hand to a people of which nature herself has made you a part, who look upon your happiness as the completion of theirs, and who will not spare any fatigue nor sacrifice until they obtain it; who will not omit doing any thing for you, and who wish for nothing but the glory of having sustained your sentiments and concurred in your liberty.

For this purpose I prepare to proceed in a few days to your coasts, with an irresistible expedition. I shall be accompanied by the military of your own country; who, on account of their American sentiments, sought an asylum in this country, which they justly had a claim to consider as their own country. All of them were instantly incorporated in our army, and have been promoted to a grade higher than that which they enjoyed in the Spanish service. Also those countrymen of yours who were forcibly taken from their homes to fight against their brothers in Peru, shall go with me. The news of the memorable victory of Ayacucho having reached the ears of their leaders, they were abandoned and left to perish in the island of Juan Fernandez, where I sent a vessel with the design only to bring them leaving them at full liberty to return to their country, or to choose the occupation or business of their own liking, all of whom have voluntarily entered the ranks of our army to go and contribute to the establishment of the liberty of their country, and avenge it against their oppressors.

Fear nothing. If success did not correspond to the sacrifices and efforts which Chili made on different occasions to liberate you, now the power, force and measures to which the very experience of the former fruitless attempts, has urged her to render the success and triumph of this expedition indubitable and sure. Yes—your fellow citizens, the Chilians, would have the glory to redeem you from the humiliating debasement and outrage with which the tyrants make you the instrument of their pride; to raise you to the rank and dignity of freemen; to put you in the enjoyment of the immense blessings which the independent people possess, who are governed by natives of their choice; to place you in the path of civilization and opulence, in which those who shook off that tyranny founded upon our ignorance and misery, already march. Such are the generous sentiments of all the Chilians towards their brothers and fellow citizens, the men of Chiloe, and are very particularly so of the Director of the Republic, General of the liberating expedition

(Signed)
RAMON FREIRE.