South American Independence or Emancipation, the Glory and Interest of England (1807)

SOUTH AMERICAN IN D EPEN D ES CE: / t

OR, TH E

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EMANCIPATION OF

SOUTH AMERICA, TUP.

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ENGLAND.

BY WILLIAM BURKE, AUTHOR O P T H E

HI S T O R Y - O F T H E

C AM PAIG N

** OF

1805,

LONDON: P R IN TE D

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S. G oeaell, Printer* Little Queen Street·

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PREFACE. B

ein g o f opinion that opening

new, wide

and free channels to the commerce and industry o f both nations, would afford the most effectual means for removing the grounds o f contention and war, between England and France; 1 was led, towards the close o f the last dreadful and lamentable contest, to consider how and where* this might be, the most easily and fully accom­ plished.

Accordingly looking over the map

and examining the present state o f domination and settlement o f the globe, the vast, and luxu­ riant— but oppressed regions o f Spanish Am e­ rica, naturally presented; as being, all circum­ stances considered, the most just, eligible and efficient part o f the earth, for the accomplish­ ment o f the above desirable purpose.

W ith

these views, I had then turned m y thoughts to the subject; but the war. happily soon after

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■iv closing, all further ideas respecting it, necessarily closed with hostilities.

T he breaking out however o f the present war, between Great Britain and France; together w ith subsequent events, tended to impress me still more strongly, with the justice o f my for­ mer opinion ; and, also, that Spanish America, o f all other places and particularly under the existing circumstances, was the fittest object for its realization.

Under these impressions and

w ith the view o f advocating the cause o f op­ pressed America, I commenced

the following

pages.

T h e reader will perceive that some o f the events apprehended, as likely to take place on the continent, have already happened; and hence, even since the writing o f those pages, has the necessity increased, for expediting the emanci­ pation which they recommend.

Bonaparte has

declared from Berlin, that he w ill not grant peace, but on condition that the Spanish, & c. colonies be restored; and this is a further reason« w h y w e should accelerate the great w ork o f emancipation.

In this case, the French C h ief

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undoubtedly

cannot demand

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South America— free and independent, w ill no. longer be either Spanish colonies or British con-< quests j and certainly the restorer o f plundered Poland, cannot find fault with the emancipation o f oppressed America.

But Bonaparte is too enlightened not to see, that this great event w ill be o f benefit as well to France and even to Spain, as to England t and however the present unfortunate contention be­ tween Great Britain and France, may lead them to traverse each other’s v ie w s; it should be· hoped, the governments o f these two great na­ tions, are actuated by feelings o f a more d i g ­ nified policy, than to allow themselves to be sur­ prised, from any ignoble motives o f enmity or present gain, into an injurious and inglorious opposition, to the best rights and interests o f humanity.

It will be a pleasing though somewhat cu­ rious spectacle, to behold the two great rival nations engaged, in

forwarding in different

hemispheres, and in the moment o f their own contention, the sacred cause o f independence

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vi and melioration: how devoutly it were to b e , wished,'their efforts could be combined in the •ame noble cause— then indeed must it proceed w ith sure and gigantic step ; and the herculean powers o f both nations, no longer wasted in fruitless and distressing contentions against each other, would be applied to the more glorious and certainly useful purpose, o f diffusing civili­ zation and happiness over the globe.

W ith the view o f rendering the following important subject clear, and at the same time comprehensive ; we have divided it into two parts: in the first is discussed the fitness o f our emancipating Spanish America, on the grounds o f justice, law , and policy; while the second part shews the practicability o f this great mea­ sure, and also points out the means by .which we may easily achieve it.

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ADVERTISEMENT. T

he

reported re-capture o f Buenos Ayres,

i f unfortunately true, is an additional proof; that to render our operations against Spanish America, successfully efficient without great exhaustion to our own strength and resources; we should combine with our plans, the allpowerful principles o f emancipation and inde­ pendence.

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SO U TH A M ER IC A N I N D E P E N D E N C E ,

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Ought South America'toèè emancipatéd by us?

T h e consideration 6fi this most important* question necessarily ranges under three distinif heads; namely, the justice, the legality, and the policy o f the measure : and first as to its justice.

Justice is well described, in some cases, as looking two ways : how peculiarly true is this, with respect to Spain and her American posses­ sions! I f Spain complain, that the émancipa» tion o f those possessions would be committing an act o f injustice against her ; alas ! how much more numerous and extensive.— how much less merited, but more unjust and cruel, are the wrongs which those vast and favoured regions • B

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2 o f the globe, have to charge against Spain ? But surely, in the present light o f civilization, the arbitrary claim o f accidental discovery *, o f bloody and nefarious conquest, and consequent Violent and tyrannical possession, shall not be placed in opposition to the sacred and impre­ scriptible rights o f nature and ju stice; or be converted into a warrant for acting the most foul, stupid, and inhumarr oppressions against our fellow-men, that ever cursed and disgraced theearth. .1 A. q A bou t three hundred years ago, some Spa­ niards'accidentally discovered A m erica; an din right o f this, discovery,\ bached by the sanction q f the Pope vt\ Jaid claim to. it as their property ^ notwithstanding they found it .at the time in pos-^ session o f its lawful .owners !. I wiH not, there­ fore, insult the moral feelings o f m y reàders, by tracing further the injustice o f the Spanish claim' to America, founded on . the arbitrary and un*

Columbus was in searchof a nearer passage to-the Easf

Indies, than that by the way of "the Cape o f Good; Hop¿¿ when he discovered America· :! " 4 f Pope Alexander the Sixth drew a line from pole to pole, at the distance of io o miles west of the Azores ; and, ás if he were sole lord o f the globe, bestowed all the coun­ tries which were discovered, or should beaft¿fwárds disco·* vered westward o f the above line, upon-their .Catholic Majesties.

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3 qualified right o f discovery: w ith as much justice might the Chjnese or any other Asiatup people, who happened to be ignorant o f the exT istence o f such a country as Old Spaip, ^on dis­ covering her shores, land and claim it as theiy own, in defiance o f, it^ beipg possessed by the rightful owners. Syc-h ¿ proceeding powwpulfd undoubtedly and justly t^e ‘propOijncejj ta .rank robbery by the Spaniards themselves; and yej where does it differ from the claim to America, .: v :;i' o*i;; .' ' ’ i , 'u< ' / - ,T set up by Spain three hundred years ago »j L et me not here be1misunderstood---! do nof mean to say, that a civilized people, having dis­ covered an upinhabited country, or even one witli a few rude and wandering tribes upon it, ^ave not a right to occupy this newly-discovered country. This would be contrary to justice, because it would fyeip opposition to the happi­ ness o f mankind, which most undoubtedly is materially forwarded and expanded, by the set­ tlement o f new, distant, and widely-extendccj regions. N ay, I say more— that where the na­ tives, by reason o f their paucity ,pf ^umbers and incivilizatiop, are, incapable o f applying their country to the great purposes o f civilized, life j it is right apd just that ,the superabundant population o f other nations, should migrate to those neglect­ ed and ^ i^ e tf segipps, apd jOHndjgg· settleB 2 Digitized by C

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merits., enlarge the means as well as the field o f human .happiness. But . though I thus admit the right "of settlement in new and uncultivated tracts, With the view o f rendering them subser­ vient to generalTelicity, still must I assert, that •yen this settlement ought to be made and' con­ cluded op ihe principles of'strict, justice and equal right towards the natives; who, it' should,not be forgotten,' are the original· owners; arid that Ho nation, under the arbitrary and flimsy prel »(·,.·■ .· ' i .'¡i * J, ,1. · " ’< ’".·■ <,.ri text o f discovery and apostolic sanction, pas the right to make an unqualified seizu re 'o f the country o f another people,' and appropriate it exclusively to themselves. , T he act is robberjr.'

That America neither was destitute o f people nor its inhabitants in a savage state, when the Spaniards invaded them, is *abundantly proved by even the partial accounts, o f the invaders themselves. A ll the Spanish historians* agree in representing the population o f the empires both o f M exico and Peru to have been immense: and even the American islands, agreeable to these Writers, contained millions o f inhabitants.

And that the Mexicans, and particularly the Peruvians, had made considerable progress in civilizatidn,1 is placed beyond'all doubt, when we See Las Casas and other Spanish writers.

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5> review their institutions, both religious and po­ litical; their manners and industry; their know­ ledge o f arts, and their buildings, some o f which remain to this day. A s then Spain found Am e­ rica neither without numerous owners, nor those owners disqualified either by their ignorance or barbarity from having a country, on what, in the name o f Heaven, can she ground a preclu-' sive right to ‘the people’s property? Certainly but upon the right o f the sword, which in this case, most peculiarly, is the right o f robbery— of the strong over the defenceless and weak.

But the pious Cortez and the humane P izarro charged the Americans with being infi-' dels; and this crime, no doubt, was sufficient in the eyes o f those true believers, for despoiling such infidel dogs o f their country, and exter­ minating them likewise ! Alas ! how dreadfully horrible are the crimes which avarice and fana­ ticism have perpetrated in the dark ages, under the cloak o f religion and sanctity ! But no, you murderous plunderers o f the inoffensive and1 peaceable Peruvians; not their having dissented from your fanaticism, but your hellish and in­ satiate thirst for their gold, made you slaughter them. T he Americans, unfortunately, had á country, in your eyes rich j and you, like high-» »3

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6 way assassins, robbed them o f this .first,. and butchered themselves afterwards 1 T he shocking and atrocious system o f enor­ mities practised by the Spaniards on the natives, with the view o f effecting and securing the seizure o f this wretched people’s country, un­ doubtedly is not calculated to add to the justice o f the Spanish claim. Torture and massacre, extermination and slavery, m ay, it is true, suc­ ceed in accomplishing the spoliation o f a coun­ try, but can never be made to stand in the place o f justice. Y et these were the infernal means which the Spaniards generally resorted to for effecting what they called the conquest, but which was more truly the robbery o f America. Excépting Çclumbus and one or two others, the Spanish adventurers who cursed America with their pre­ sence, uniformly marked their steps w ith tor­ ture and robbery; with carnage and devasta­ tion! Cortez waded to the throne o f the unfor­ tunate Montez uma through the blood o f the un­ happy Mexicans : Pizarro also, in South Am e- . rica, shed rivers o f blood, to seize upon the empire o f Peru ; and both these ruffians ended their villainous career, by hanging the two un­ fortunate American Emperors, for ah alleged conspiracy— in their own dominions, and against the plunderers o f théir native land ! and b y

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7 burning alive or otherwise exterminating the wretched people, for loving their country, and for their dutiful and virtuous attachment to their lawful sovereigns !

On the shores o f the American continent and in the islands, the same barbarous and infernal work o f blood and torture was cruelly and in­ humanly pursued by the relentless Spaniards, against the unhappy natives.

Thirsting for gold and dominion, the avaricious and infuriate invader was hurried on to acts o f the most shocking barbarity, against all those.who either were suspected o f concealing treasure, or o f harbouring a thought o f rescuing their country from the horrible oppressions under which it groaned. T h e carnage, once commenced, raged with increased and w’anton violence; and at length, neither sex nor age were spared. H is­ paniola, w hich had contained a great number of inhabitants, was depopulated in a few years; Cuba, which had also possessed a numerous people, soon shared the same fate: and the virtuous Bartholomew de las Casas, who was forced to witness those worse than hellish depo­ pulations, says, “ that the Spaniards went out with dogs to bunt after men. The unhappy natives, almost naked and unarmed, were pur­ sued like wild beasts into dens and forests, worb

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ried by dogs, destroyed by shot, or surprised and burnt in their habitations.”

But Spain, no doubt, w ill urge* her right o f possession: and here again we traverse the ju s­ tice o f the Spanish claim. For, as a robbery loses nothing o f its original criminality by tim e; so the lapse o f tw o or three hundred years can­ not change the nature o f the Spanish claim to America. W hat was then a robbery, is so still; time cannot supply the place o f justice, though it may remove the impressions with the victims o f w rongs: and the circumstances which have taken place between Spain and America, since the first plunder o f the latter, can only, affect the mode in which this ill-treated and abused country shall be restored, but not the right and act o f restoration itself. So far for the justice o f the Spanish claim to A m erica: let us now view the other side o f the picture.

However grievously America has been, and is still, oppressed by Spain; yet the justice o f her rights remains uninjured and entire. There are certain constitutional properties belonging to vast and distinct regions o f the earth, inha­ bited by large masses o f men, which no human force can destroy: they grow out o f physical circumstances, beyond the reach o f m an; and

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the right to independence o f a continent is one of these..

Though the knowledge o f gunpowder and the assistance o f the horse gave the dominion o f America to Spain, yet they could not have trans­ ferred rights, without which dominion, how­ ever acquired, is but injustice and oppression.

The rights o f the Americans, like those o f every other people, as they arise out of, so they be­ long to themselves and their country, and can­ not be separated or purloined from cither. They were given by the Great Creator to his children, for the improvement o f the countries which sub­ sist them, and for their own happiness. W ith this view has he interwoven them in the frame o f man,, and in the disposition o f the g lo b e; and their enjoyment can neither be interrupted nor suppressed, even for a moment, without committing a high crime against the immutable laws o f the Supreme Being,'and a great and la­ mentable injury o f his works. , Hence the Americans derive their rights to their country and independence, from the best pi" all titles, nature and justice; and what claims shall Spain set up against them ? Her right o f discovery-r-rof conquest— apd o f possession?

A las 1 how, much longer shall the world be ceived with false; Oamcs, and crimes ty.hjck in

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private society are punished with the w hip and* the gibbet be permitted, by assuming the autho­ rity o f state, to oppress and decimate mankind ?

But what shall become o f these claims, when the people o f America, goaded by long and galling oppressions, and panting for a release from their sufferings, shall at length unfurl the standard o f independence ? Shall the assumed and antiquated claims o f His Catholic Majestyavail against the sacred and imprescriptible rights o f a people, determined and powerful enough to assert them ? “ W e ,” say the Ame» ricans to the Spaniards, “ are men like your·* selves, and consequently have an equal right to happiness with you ; why then do you op-* press us ? America has been given to us, as Spain had been to you, for the subsistence and felicity o f its inhabitants ; w hy therefore should you claim it from them? I f you assert, and ju st, ly, a preclusive right to your own country, be* cause you inhabit and cultivate it ; surely we, w ho inhabit and cultivate Am erica, have the 6ariie right to ours. Y o u would be ready to defend, with your whole force, your right to ybur country and its independence, against every intruder, who dared to invade you 7 and you would invoke the divine aid in favour o f the justice df you* cause:, we also are now doter·*

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Ii hiincd to rescue our country, and repel from her the unjust aggressions and foreign slavery which oppress and degrade here; and in doing so, we, with equal confidence, appeal to the Supreme Being for the justice o f our cause.” — W hat shall His Catholic Majesty reply to all this ?

■ But the Americans will say more— 44 Y o u strangers/’ to the Spaniards, 44 were not con­ tent to Come and settle among us, and share with us the productions o f our country; but you must seize aH: not only our lands and houses you required, but also our labour and persons, asyour property.1For nearly three hundred years have you cruelly robbed and oppressed us— you have nearly exterminated the native inhabitants ; and some o f the finest and most extensive regions o f the earth, are deserts and useless in yourhands. Trampled to the dust in our own land, by an ignominious slavery, our country is but as a prison to u s : without security for life, freedom, or property, our exertions are necessa­ rily palsied j and the richest lands in the world consequently lie neglected and uncultivated.

44 America, in your possession, is therefore but a. dfeary range for wild beasts— a wretched theatre for a few oppressors and slaves; andconsfequerftiy but o f little benefit to its own people or to others. Your stupid oppressions have tied

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up. the hands of industry : agriculture, arts, trade, science, and cotnmerce— the inestimable sources, o f human felicity, are scarcely known, among u s ; and countries,, sufficient to contain, double or treble the population; o f all Europe, now barely equal that o f two European islands*.

In vain therefore hath Nature created America, i f her benefits are thus to be suppressed by you ; in vain hath she bestowed upon her a fine s k y , a wholesome air, and an exuberant soil; i f man l>e denied by a barbarous policy, from enjoying and using those first o f blessings. ; ■ “ O f what benefit are the extensiveness, the richness, and geographical disposition o f Ame-j jrica, to u s j enslaved as we are ? W e have n u t merous and immense regions, unoccupied but by the inhabitants o f the forest; but, you, pre-. vent man from entering ¡therq. I f we cultivate the ground, you seize the principal part o f the productions o f our labour; and by shutting up our ports, you render the finest harbours, and the most extensive rivers in the world, nugatory or useless to us. Y o u therefore would leave us no country: the rapacity yyhich first plun­ dered and oppressed us, would persecute us ,

* Tbe whple population o f Spanish America does exceed fifteen m illions!

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J3 still; and hold us in the degraded state o f abject slaves. But G od, who created America, made it for the benefit o f its people : and _has given them a right and power to possess and enjoy their country, free from' the intrusion and in­ terference o f lawless invaders.“' W ithdraw then, strangers, your unjust claims and oppressions from oiir larid— America ¿s óW country, as Spain is' yours— the right is the samé lo both r— ·' • j 1 ;t ; r.i, · j. ’ and now that we ^possess the means, we are de­ termined to assért thè, justice o f ’ our causé ; áhd free for ever from a Tóreigp, ignortíihióÜá yóké/ oiir children, our country ,yhd oufseívés.^’-^ W h át shall Spain Oppose to tliisV ' “ ·’ ’ “ f 1 T h e Âmericàps, 'however,1" are" hôf rthéf only people whom the Spaniard’s Injure, bjf the bar­ barous oppressions, ‘ aud stupid ^precluSÏohs, which they exe'rdise against that ^evoted'cdun’try : other nations and people aré necessarily affected in their interests,4 by the unjust and cruel suppression'of thé industry! the productions j and consumptipn, o f the immense regions compos­ ing South America. (T h ey who suppose this globe had not been m adefoi4general happiness; kn ow little of* thé economy o f its productions; or o f the beneficent views o f Him who created it. T h e whole earth may be compared to a large garden, divided into numerous and distinct

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?4 compartments or beds; each bed. having a dif­ ferent soil and climate, or different degrees o f heat and cold, o f dryness and moisture, from the rest. It is evident from this difference o f soil ^nd clim ate,:that there must also be a dif­ ference .in the productions o f this garden : but as these productions,, however various in ,taste, smel|j .colour,, and other qualities, are all good either’ for the nourishment, the comfort, or delight, o f jm ankindj ?nd their variety is best suited ^o please the diversity o f likings, and desir^ , vv;i)jeh characterises the inhabitants o f this, gardqnj/jt fo|loWs, that an interchange ^nd re­ ciprocal enjoyment ofmojse various praduqtipns, Ayill bc tpo^t conducive to the general fiappipqss·, and,-the more so,, as all the beds.are calculated, wbpu fully cultivated and attended, to yield a great,superabundance of.their peculiar produc­ tions, above the consumption p f their re­ spective owners ; but which surplus is absolutely, required, to satisfy the wants or desire^of others o f the. inhabitants. , .’ , / , .Undoubtedly this glphe has not bcen given for partial purposes i '^or has a right been vested yvjt.h any man or.'set o f men, ,to interdict thq Rowing o f . its benefits am ong-the great-jnass o f manfeind : that power which attempts it, is *n usurpation, and in direct hostility w ith the

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fs rights and happiness o f the human race. Spain therefore, by, as it were, hermetically sealing up her immense possessions in America from, ¿he rest o f the world, excepting her owm stupid despotism; commits an injustice against other nations, which it is both their duty and interest inimediately to destroy. W hat a cheering pro­ spect, o f ^prosperous independence, would the boundless 4nd luxuriant but now neglected sa-, vannas o f So.uth America, being- throwil,Open to migration and settlement, present ;to; ¿he eager: viewrupf thousands o f .poor European^* who are now with large families, and.ndtwitb-j Standing , Jtheir ; Utmost exertions, ptnp&jling against iwant and wretchedness, at hom®·; ; towns and Villages w'ou,ld ¡soon rise up, in tbo desert s ¿he'.trackless wilderness would shortly, becom e.¿he.habitation o f civilized men,; and its w,ild fertility be applied to the bearing o f pijoduetjofts, which when Wafted beyond the seas, would greatly alleviate the wants and distresses of other countries: while a population oxtfodr ing ovej an immense portion p f · the globev knd growing .daily as well in .-numbers as in civilisa­ tion, would .by their .increased consumption ne-> cessarity- open new and numerous markets' for the sale „of European manufactures; and would also greatly enlarge the supply o f materials upon

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Which industry might expand her useful and profitable exertions* O f these benefits however, the undoubted rights o f mankind, we shall have occasion to speak more fully, in another part o f this w o rk ; ánd .having now closed our view o f the justice o f emancipating America, as this part o f the Question bears, between Spain, America, and other nations; we shall pass to the other head o f tons ¡deration; naniely, its legality.

That what is. just, cannot be illegal, is a prin­ cipié So self-evident, that it requires only to be ex­ pressed,: to receive the universal assent o f man­ kind. -Laws whether public or private, whether applying to nations or individuals; Can have no Other foundation, than ju stic e : thiis is their Origin; and the best test, for tryirig’their purity.1 The term laws therefore, is only another name for rulés o f jü stic¿; and what does not spring from this source, is in truth not law, but an unjust assumption o f arbitrary power,— an usurps ation o f the strong, over the w eak; and which is always attended with injury and oppression. ■· T his plain principle particularly applies to the emancipation o f America. Spain, having, as we have seen, no right to the Unjust and tyran­ nical domination, w hich she assumes over that vast and abused continent; cannot in justice \

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*7 accuse the Americans o f a breach o f law , for breaking their chains: for that, as we have, seen, is not law, which has not for its foundation, ju stice; and, undoubtedly, theharbarous oppressions practised against the Americans, cannot be mistaken for the latter. N o law certainly can exist between oppressors and the oppressed, to sanction the injustice o f the former : as well might he who robs another o f his watch and other valuables, on the h igh w ay; and who after the robbery extorts by terror an admission, that the property is then become legally his, charge the rightful owner with transgressing the law ; if he afterwards endeavour to regain the articles which had been plundered from him I T h e Americans, therefore, by regaining their independence and country, only reassume pro­ perty, which had been unjustly and fôrcibly wrested from them ; and, in doing so, Spain cannot charge them with having broken a law , w hich it is evident, could never have existed be* tween them.

Hence, the emancipation o f Am erica, is as legal, on the part o f its people; as it is just.

But the same grounds o f legality, may be denied to a third and interfering power : Spain, though unable to refute the lawfulness o f the Americans, to emancipate their country ; would c Digitized by G

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ift all, probability, view tbe ioterfereitce ö f Eng­ land, for producing that effect, a s'a breach o f the law o f natrons. T his objection, however,, is good for. frothing: the same want o f justice, which-destioys the validity o f the Spanish claim to America ; also exists in the relations (so far as these concern the claim) bet wear Spain and other nations.

Public law is public ju stice; ind therefore, no nation is or can be bound, to support the aggressions, the usurpations, and oppressions o f one.people oar sppt o f theearth, over another: ?on fhe’cdntiary* humanity, .ge­ nerosity, honour, all the enhoblmg properties o f our naturet not only forbid us from becoming accomplices, by giving our assent or sanction, to the, cruel and barbarous spoliation and de­ struction o f whole masses o f'o u r fell'ow-cifea* tures; but imperiously demand it o f us. os a duty (and a sacred duty, it is) tot prevent, with our w hdlc force, such crirhes being perpe* tratedv against the peace and happiness oilm an* land i or, i f unfortunately they have hem al* ready committed, to rescue: and relieve! the suf­ ferers, as far as lies in our power. ; .

Surely, i f a simple countryman happened to be seized in our presence by a band o f marauders ; w ho tying Up his hands and binding him fast down to the earth, began- the plunder o f his

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19 fields, it would be the bounden duty— the lire*· siitible inclination o f every honest man amongj us j to fly to the succour o f the poor distressed sufferer, and drive away the villains. And shall not the same duties, the same charities o f our nature, extend to nations ? W hat, are there Jinks o f justice and feeling existing between in·» dividuals, but none betwixt masses o f men?

The idea is monstrous! South America, un­ fortunately, is in the situation o f the country­ man ; and the injustice and illegality would be, not to rescue her.

But whatever legal restraints might have been supposed to exist in times o f peace, to prevent England from engaging in the emancipation o f America, they are now wholly removed by the state o f war. This dreadful condition o f lawless force between nations ; this awful state o f vio­ lence, which subverts or suspends the funda­ mental principles and laws o f society, which forcibly transfers property from the rightful owners to the strongest, and which .not only sanctions robbery, but also legalizes murder 1-*· under this terrible condition o f things, un­ doubtedly the liberation o f oppressed men can­ not be charged as a serious illegality. But the insidious interference o f Spain herself, in con­ junction w ith France, in the memorable dispute c a Digitized by

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26 between Great Britain and her North American colonies, and which precipitated the loss o f the latter; though it had not been entered into with the same honourable motive o f extending free­ dom and o f doing good, yet furnishes a prac­ tical and unanswerable argument in favour o f the legality o f England, to effect in her turn, the emancipation o f Spanish America. In doing so, Britain undoubtedly will have but followed the steps o f Spain and France: and as in war, reprisals are held to be lawful, the injustice and illegality o f the act ( if any injustice or illegality can be supposed to exist in doing good), can at­ tach only to those, who set the first example.

W e shall now, therefore, proceed -to the consi­ deration of the third and last part o f our first question; that is, the policy o f emancipating South America.

A s the theatre o f human affairs begins to bfc enlarged, so also, what is termed the policy o f nations, expands with it. Formerly the shut­ ting up a river, the exclusive trade to a port* or the appropriation o f a single town or . district, were sufficient to occupy the attention o f states­ men, and to plunge whole nations into all the dreadful horrors o f protracted war and misery.

N o w , on the contrary, those circumstances, Tendered insignificant by the magnitude which

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the affairs o f men begin to assume, have scarcely a place in the policy o f great nations; and the national mind keeping pace ivith the extension o f national interests, can comprehend the emancipation o f a whole continent, as being most worthy o f its views, best suited to the grandeur o f its exertions, and most likely to af­ ford a return o f the greatest permanent good.

This progress in the policy o f nations is ex­ tremely gratifying to the well-wishers o f their fellow-creatures: it both proves that the ele­ ments and constitution o f human affairs are laid w ith the view o f finally producing general ci­ vilization and happiness; and that man, so long embroiled in the labyrinths o f ignorance and petty contention, has at length discovered the h igh road, and is preparing to march on, freely and with steady step, to the goal o f his felicity.

F ew political contemplations are calculated to aflbrd so much satisfaction and delight to the mind, as the emancipation o f South America.

Heretofore, alas! policy and justice seldom went hand in hand ; but, in the liberation o f Am e­ rica, we shall serve the world, break the chains o f millions o f our fellow-men, enlarge the sphere o f human subsistence and happiness, add to the production o f the necessaries and delica­ cies o f life, and both positively arid negatively

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servo ourselves, by opening new, rich, and nu­ merous markets for the sale o f our manufactures, and by cutting o ff from our present powerful adversary the important resources which he de­ rives from. Spain possessing America. Hence justice and policy, duty and interest, all com­ bine in, recommending to Britain the glorioua work o f emancipating Southern America-^-per­ haps no other undertaking had ever sbeen entered upon by apy one nation, for the benefit p f an­ other, supported by so many brillian.t and just claims to success. England has already ac­ quired the indelible glory o f having laid, in the deserts o f North Amerjca^the foundations o f an empire, which prom ises,, at no very remote pe­ riod, to astonish the world with the stupendous magnitude o f its results : the injustice and stu­ pidity p f Spain now afford England ap oppor­ tunity o f erecting in the rich savannas o f South America another herculean and indestructible monument to her genius, her virtue, her liberty, apd hex power, M ay the illumining star o f Bri­ tish glory fight u? to a right use o f the present inestimable, opportunity ! .

Besides the greater expanse, o f pbjects w hich the policy o f nations begins tfi assurnf ; beside that these objects are rising in importance, are gnoie intimately and widely connected w ith bu-

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*3 ¡man happiness ; they are further imperiously pressed upon us by the irresistible surrounding circumstances o f the world. The events preci­ pitated by the French revolution, have more or less changed the moral and, political condition o f all the nations ,o f Europe; and consequently* materially altered the relative connexion between those nations and Great Britain. O urtcommerce no longer enjoys, as formerly, .a free transit,to all the parts o f the European continent. . The continental preponderance o f France has already succeeded in shutting us out from a great and flourishing portion o f Europe; and not a single port friendly to the British flag presents itself along the immense line o f coast, extending from the shores o f Dalmatia to the banks o f -the Ems, with the exception o f Portugal, whose friendship is neoessarily precarious* from the imminence o f her own situation : white there is danger, that fresh successes may serve to feed the gigantic schemes p f the enemy» and increase still further the exclusion whichinjures us.

Under such disabilities, w hich it is possible may accumulate, and with the dangerous foe against whom we hatve to .contend, surely we should not hpsit^e for a moment what line o f conduct, to pursue, Jf the French Emperor atjaefc pur com m erce because he knows that its c 4 Digitized by

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24 its diminution must severely injure us and weaken bur power j for the very same reasons are we imperibusly bound to protect, to cherish^ and extend that commerce: if he can forbid the consumption o f bur manufactures upon the con­ tinent o f Europe; and exclude tis from its ports, we undoubtedly are called upon by the best in­ terests o f the people and the safety o f the state, to adopt immediately and energetically the oiily adequate counter-mode o f proceeding left to us -—that o f opening new markets for the sale o f the products o f our labour and industry else­ where: and certainly in no other part o f the world can this be effected with so much ease and efficiency as throughout the immense and fertile regions o f South * America. In doing so, we «hall only have exchanged the trade o f one con­ tinent for that o f another, o f which we were forcibly deprived, and divided the benefits arising from two hemispheres between our enemy and us, but the whole o f which he endeavoured tq monopolize to himself; Unquestionably South America, o f all other parts o f the globe, offers the brightest and most solid ad vantages, for opening a new trade with.

The position and vast extent o f the South Am e* It is to be understood that under the general designa­ tion of -South America, M exico js also included in th£K 'fieuts.

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»s ricao continent, the incalculable richness and variety o f her productions, and hcr hitherto shackled and consequently infant condition, added to the general salubrity o f her climate and the amazing fertility o f her soil, together with the unprecedented facilities which the internal communications and approximations o f her great and majectic rivers would afford to an inland commerce, which by means o f these commu­ nications, aided by proper canals, might be made to extend from nearly one extremity o f the continent to the other ; bid fair, in the hands o f a free and industrious people, and under the protection and guidance o f a liberal and enlight­ ened policy, to render South America one o f the grandest and most valuable acquisitions to the commercial world ever obtained.

But here it must be repeated, that to render South America truly serviceable to herself and others; to apply this immense and favoured continent to all the great purposes for which nature has designed her; and to enable her speedily and effectually to evolve, for the be2 nefit o f her own inhabitants and those o f the rest o f the globe, the inexhaustible resources which she contains for supplying both the wants and delicacies o f lifé, all selfish and nar­ row-minded calculations o f present gain must

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be repelled far from u&j and . a system o f poli­ tical, .treatment should be . adapted towards her* at once grand, extensive, and, liberal, like, ,the leading natural features of; this luxuriant and majestic division,of the earth.; I am aware, however, that all the settlements o f Sputh America ,m ay not, at, the present mo-> menf» be capable o f themselves to receive, de­ fend, and preserve independence; and that some; o f them absolutely require the directing arm o f Britain, nerved by her force, and guided by the constitutional freedom o f her laws, to prepare them for emancipation : and I am the more in­ clined to this opinion, when I review the wretched and enfeebled state in which the stupid and barbarous oppression o f Spain has held them. Un­ doubtedly, the slaves o f nearly three centuries cannot all at once be set at full liberty with spepe&s a where a horrid fanaticism cornbined with fyi .external and. internal slavery to oppress, to tk&rade, and .tie up the minds and bodies o f men, <ah adequate, number o f the sturdy and enfig.htened assertors'pf freedom cannot be ex­ pected to be found, sufficiently capable o f rear­ ing and consolidating o f themselves the indepen­ dence. of. their country. Besides, the unhappy perversion o f interests which the nnjust and injwipan policy o f despotism and monopoly has

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*7 created in the colonies, must greatly divide their opinions and force, and retard and distress the progress o f independence.

But i f some o f the American settlements, from the paralysing effects o f a long and dreadful oppression, are rendered incapable o f their own force to raise up among them the edifice o f their independence and happiness, and consequently stand in need o f foreign aid to assist them, this is not the case with all the settlements in Spa«* nish Am erica; nor can it continue so with any o f them but for a comparatively short period.

M exico , or N ew Spain, for instance, oi> the northern continent, fast matures towards a state o f capability, both for receiving and sustaining her independence; nor would it require hut the first shock o f a friendly foreign force to shiver the Spanish dominion over this great, rich, and commercial country to pieces; and, separating her for ever from the crown o f Spain, erect hey into a free, and independent state.

N ew Grenada also, in South America, en­ lightened by the intercourse o f strangers,, and enabled from her consequent knowledge o f thf condition o f other countries to contrast her °W Q deprivations and oppressions with the blessings enjoyed by free nations, pants for the opportu* pity when some generous friend shall g iv e thf

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first blow to her chains ,' that she may herself be enabled to strike afterwards, and, breaking her fetters to atoms, commence the noble and invit gorating career o f national independence.

Peru and C h ili, it is true, and even the pro­ vince- o f Buenos A yres, or as it is sometimes called L a Plata, from their being more remote, are necessarily more cramped by ignorance and prejudices; and are consequently less fit for re­ ceiving and upholding at present a full inde­ pendence. But even these vast provinces, re­ mote and secluded from the rest o f the world, as the jealous and oppressive policy o f Spain en­ deavoured to keep them, are not without their dawn o f reason and knowledge. Already do they begin to feel the exhilarating effects o f a few scattered rays o f civil liberty, w hich, in despite o f Spanish tyranny, found their w ay among them ; and, nurtured for a few years by the protecting strength o f Britain, and stimulated by the glorious example o f her constitutional freedom and the independence o f their American sister-states, those provinces also could not fail being soon qualified for entering upon the same independent and honourable course.

Undoubtedly, a liberal frame o f policy, be­ sides according most with justice and the wel­ fare o f nations, and being more truly suited to

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-9 the grandeur and importance df the object, w ill also agree best with our own real interests, and ttfill unquestionably afford us the most good.

B y entering South America, to emancipate her, the people will crowd to the standard o f their deliverers,, and with a comparatively trifling force and little expense, we shall succeed in a short time, and with only a few efforts, in sepa­ rating for ever from the aid o f our rival and enemy, the resources o f a great, rich, and inrw portant continent, which we shall at the same time liberate, and throw open to a general trade, and consequently to an interchange o f benefits s while a contrary policy might hazard these re­ sults, and lead to less happy consequences. * For even should our invasion o f South Ame­ rica, w ith the view o f continuing their subju­ gation, succeed in the* first instance, without great loss or expense ; and notwithstanding the colonists must feel an immense melioration in their condition, by passing from Spanish op­ pression to British dominion, still must the charges for supporting the forces, which in that case it w ill be necessary to keep up, both for defending the conquered provinces from foreign invasion, and to keep down and overawe the co­ lonists and natives, substract considerably from the profits gained by the seizure and posses-

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3° sion, ând render them much less than might be·' obtained by an open trade with the South American states, free and independent ; and which, as these states grew up and flourished, must necessarily expand and become more lucrative* This truth is well and happily illustrated in the case o f the North American United States, whose rapid in i crease o f trade, since the era o f their indepen­ dence, affords toBritain several times the amount o f the annual gain derived from them, while We held them as colonies. So true is it in po­ litical morality, that the just and lawful opulence o f one nation adds to the prosperity o f others* •A further important good which w ill arisfc $rom preferring emancipation to the subjection o f the South American colonics, is, that in the forther case only a small force Will be sufficient to give impulse and military form to the w illing American population, which, being thué led and instructed, will afterwards, principally o f itself, be able to effect the remainder. W hilst, ishould we pursue the more seductive, but cer­ tainly less profitable object o f conquest, · it w ill require, in the first instance, - a large army to be sent out ; and also considerable and frequent drafts o f men to be made afterwards, to supply the Waste occasioned by illness and the sword o f the enemy. This, undoubtedly, in thé present

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3» and new relative situation o f Great Britain and France, is a consideration o f no small import­ ance, W e have seen the latter nation within a few years augment most alarmingly her popu­ lation, already double our own : we behold at the present moment her extraordinary and power­ ful chief, meditating fresh conquests and fresh additions o f people and strength on the contitent, w ith the view , principally, o f being en­ abled to overwhelm us by the magnitude o f his force; and the crisis, perhaps, fast approaches, when in a dreadful collision with the immense power o f France, England must, single-handed and o f her own force, depend on the efforts o f her population for salvation from humiliation and ruin. W ith this possible prospect' befom ns, and circumscribed to our present numbers, as we necessarily are, by reason o f our insular situation j added to the many inconvemencids which commerce must suffer, from drawing· too large a proportion- o f the people from* agricuh tiirc and manufactures, it ’ becomes o f the highest import to husband the first element o€ our defence, and not waste even a ' single man, where, by a wise policy, he m ight have been dispensed with,-and in the hour o f danger be living, and on British-ground, to -repel, the*de­ sperate invaders o f his qouftriy^

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32 'There is another consideration also, in favdun o f emancipation before conquest: it is a melan­ choly, but no less true reflection, that even £nglish history presents pages, recording the disasters and ruin abroad, and the vexations and deprivations at home, occasioned by the baneful exertion o f an excessive ministerial influence; happily, but little can be apprehended on this· score, from the liberal and upright members composing our present able and enlightened Administration; but as men are mortal, and' the present Ministers, either by death or illness, m ight, in the course o f time, be succeeded b y others less honest and disinterested than thdmpelves, it becomes a matter o f necessary pm» dence to guard against the worst that can happen.

East! India patronage has already increased pro·* digiously the influence o f the British Minister t dais patronage, added to what must necessarily accrue from the conquest ^nd retention o f the dxtensive and rich settlements o f South Ame-e rica, might, in the hands o f a corrupt, weak, k ick ed , or ambitious man, be o f dangerous con­ sequence to the liberties and repose o f English­ men. Thus, what, in this case, is good for America, is also best for ourselves.

Finally, by emancipating instead o f conquer­ ing and retaining the Spanish-American possea-

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33 sions, we shall derive all the benefits which we can desire, and which can be o f real use to us* from a consequent free trade with them ; with­ out, at a peace, having to restore or make equi­ valents to the enemy. Emancipation here, as in the case o f our former North American colo­ nies, will destroy at once the claim on the part o f Spain, o f property in her American posses­ sions; and with the claim must necessarily be removed every pretence for demanding from us, at the conclusion o f the war, any compensation for her losses. This consideration is o f itself o f great interest ; because, on the policy which we shall adopt towards South America, must greatly depend the duration o f the present war.

For, undoubtedly, so long as we shall continue to hold in our possession any principal part o f theSpanish American colonies, the Court o f M a­ drid, aided and spurred on by France, will sus­ tain the contest, with the view o f keeping open the chances o f recovering her conquered pro­ vinces ; and at its close, we shall in all probabi­ lity feel ourselves compelled, for the purpose o f retaining some portions, to give up others; which event will afford Bonaparte a valuable op­ portunity during the subsequent peace o f con­ veying troops into South America, and seizing upon some o f the provinces for himself.

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34 Emancipation, on the contrary, tvill remove both the grounds o f restoration and compensa­ tion from Britain to Spain, and also the oppor­ tunity to French ambition o f acquiring a footing in South America beyond Cayenne. W e shall now say a few words on the superior fitness o f Britain, to effect the emancipation o f the im­ mense South American continent.

A s it requires certain degrees o f force, pene­ tration, and intelligence in individuals, to enable them to achieve any great and extraordinary un­ dertaking ; so there are results in the course o f political affairs, which nations only, that have arrived at a particular degree o f power, know­ ledge, and opulence, are capable o f effecting. It w ill appear plain on the slightest reflection, that Britain, o f all the nations o f Europe, is the fittest; and perhaps, in the present circumstances, the only fit nation for achieving the independence o f Southern Am erica: her power, her re­ sources, her knowledge, her liberty, her laws, and her trade, all claim for her the preclusive glory o f accomplishing the great work o f South Am e­ rican freedom; and, added to which, her pre­ sent interests and security, and her welfare and strength, also join, and pressingly, in urging the above honourable claim.

The United States o f North America, it is

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3S true, pursuing with unparalleled wisdom and success the real and permanent objects o f na­ tional good, w ill in due time, and as Britain has done, by cherishing liberty and commerce,, arrive at sufficient strength to emancipate M ex ­ ico and the southern continent; and as it must then be her undoubted and best interest so to do, and that she cannot fail o f possessing the means in an eminent degree, this desirable and im ­ portant event, i f not now anticipated by us, must be expected to take place, as a circum­ stance irresistible in its nature, and consequently a matter o f course.

I repeat it, i f this great result be not now achieved by us, the'opportunity may be lost for ever. The possession o f America by Spain is o f great importance to France: the latter na­ tion, therefore, w ill employ every device and effort to preserve it to the Spanish crown, or annex it to her own dominions ; and if by force, accident, or collusion, she should succeed in getting a considerable force into America, the time may be found to have passed by for our making any considerable progress toward its liberation or conquest, without great and serious exertions and loss.

Besides, the present moment is rendered pe~ culiarly favourable to the success o f the underd a Digitized by v ^ o o Q l e

36 taking, by the present condition o f the conti­ nent o f Europe : a fourth coalition now diverts (lie impetus o f the French armies, to the north o f Germany; and consequently no very great ma­ ritime expedition can be projected and dispatched

by France for some time to come. W e therefore shall haveumpleopportunity and leisure to carry on undisturbed in America the great work o f eman­ cipation and independence: but we must not forget that these moments are precious; that the fourth might be the last coalition to oppose irance upon the continent; and that, having subdued his continental opponents, Bonaparte will be at full liberty to apply much o f his im ­ mense power to maritime and colonial enter­ prises. ‘ Having now concluded our discussion o f the first important question o f South American emancipatibn, under its three great heads, v iz. o f justice, legality, and policy; and having,' we trust, to the satisfaction o f all our unbiassed readers, decided in the affirmative in each o f the above three branches o f the main question; we shall now pass on to the consideration o f the second question, v iz. Can South America be emancipated by Great B ritain; and, what are the means ?

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P A R T

II.

Can South America fie emancipated ¿y Great Britain ? and voha't are the Means ? \

A s in the decision of; the former question, we approved and recommended the emancipation o f the Spanish American colonies, by Gréât Britain 4 it will be in order here, to examine the practicably lity o f the measure; and also, to review the principal means; for its execution ; and first, as to its practicability.

Undoubtedly, i f formerly a mere handful o f adventurous Spanish marauders, led solely by the thirst o f gold, and often quarrelling among themselves and destroying each other, had been able to conquer the extensive and powerful em-; pire o f M exico on the northern continent, toge­ ther with the great and populous Peruvian erp* pire, and other vast regions in South America, besides all the large American islands ; nothing has since occurred to prevent Britain now, frorq executing a like successful invasion. Her mean$ areas proportionably superior t.o the present con-? dition o f the Spanish American colonies, as. those of Spain had been to uninstructed a,nd as·^ » 3 Digitized by

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38 tonished America, at the time o f its discovery and conquest, three hundred years ago.

T h is state o f weakness o f the Spanish colo­ nies, and which renders them an easy prey to the first powerful invader, is the direct and in­ evitable consequence o f the stupid and oppres­ sive policy, pursued by Spain towards thse co , lonies. Fanatic and grievously enslaved her­ self, Spain was incapable o f even contemplating the measures and means, which were necessary to give a healthy and robust form to her trans­ atlantic possessions : instead o f transfusing knowledge, · and freedom, and industry, the true sources o f prosperity, into her foreign esta­ blishments ; her first care was, to render igno­ rance and bigotry sacred ; to enchain the operations both o f mind and body ; and to cause all efforts to be absorbed, in the extraction o f gold and silver from the mines.

Hence Spanish America, in point o f national Strength and prosperity, continues to this day in a state o f absolute and helpless infancy : her agriculture is neglected ; manufactures are scarcely known ; the various arts and sciences, which embellish and fortify the power o f Euro­ pean nations, are strangers to the Spanish colo­ nies ; and in fine, America,— vast, fertile, and hixuriant America, which possesses in abun­

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39 dance all the resources necessary for the creation and sustenance o f some o f the greatest empires in die world, is still kept by Spanish despotism in the nudity o f nature ; and consequently, com · parativejy weak and defenceless, against the at· tacks o f o more enlightened and better appointed people.

Perhaps no other system o f treatment could have so certainly operated, in due time, the loss, o f her American colonies to Spain, as that adopted by,her towards them. Had she a thou­ sand times over, planned schemes for being ulti-' mately deprived o f her possessions abroad ; she could not have devised one o f more certainty o f effect— npr one which at once comprised morefully all the elements« for producing such an event. The! Spanish government, by studiously keeping the colonial mind oppressed, ignorant, and bigot ted, wholly precluded all mental exer-: tjon; without which a new country must con­ tinue to languish to eternity : and this imbecile' condition was further aggravated, by the state of insecurity in which both person and property were placed, under the oppressive avarice and double.tyranny o f the subaltern rulers, who. were Successively sent out by the Court o f M a­ drid, to oppress and to plunder. Add to this, the unjust and barbarous, system o f personal d

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slavery, exercised at first unconditionally, but latterly with some relaxation, towards the un­ fortunate natives; and which by preventing or indisposing the Indian population, from enter-1 ing into a Community o f industry and (interests, with the Spaniards, necessarily retarded in a con­ siderable degree, the growth, the strength and the prosperity o f the Spanish American colonies.

W hile to complete the measure o f political folly; and-lest the stupid ignorance and gross and monstrous abuses o f the colonies, should be even partially corrected and meliorated, byjthe know­ ledge; Which might have been derived, from atv intercourse^with other, nations; strangefS w ere forbidden, Under the penalty, o f deaths to approach thecoast ; all trade with plaoes-'abrOad, ex­ cept to Old Spain, was-Strictly prohibited; and' not even a native Spaniard dare io enter the co­ lonies without a license, first obtained'from theCouncil of the Indies, at M adrid; and even then, he was permitted to remain, generally only for· a few years.

Under such oppressive means, studiously and indefatigably pursued-by Spain f no wonder her colonies were prevented front arriving at strength and m aturity: the moment however, now rapidly approaches, when the in­ justice and absurdity o f her ruinous and wretched policy, to the fair but abused regions o f America,

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■ are about to re-act with just but awful retaliation upon her own head; when she shall be forced to call, but in vain, upon the colonies for the exer­ tion in her favour, of that strength, which, had it been allowed them in time, might now be suf­ ficient to enable them to resist with success; but which her jealousy and despotism had denied them to receive, even surreptitiously: and when she shall be compelled to witness continents torn from her, through her own besotted ignorance and oppression; without even causing in then* inhabitants a sigh at parting, an expression o f regret at separation; but on the contrary, jo y and gladness, in proportion to the change they w ill have made, from tyranny to civil liberty $ from bigotted ignorance,' to useful knowledge % from’ privations o f various kinds, to the rational enjoyment o f life; ahd>-from -the abjectednessand sloth' o f slaves, 1ccp the active energy and dignity o f mind o f freemen. ' - How futile, often are the supposed wisest calculations o f despotism and m onopoly!

In this State then o f infant weakness o f the colonies, the effect o f the cruel and unnaturaltreatment which they had received; and in the present declension o f Spanish power; nothing, certainly, could prevent Britain, strong in her liberty and her means; and possessing as she

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does* the 'uncontrolled dominion o f the seas» from effecting the conquest, did she chopse it, o f all the principal possessions o f Spain, in the western hemisphere.

But with hpw m uch more facility, must.she succeed; when, for rea*: sons already expressed, she shall prefer emanctpation to conquest? W hen instead o f continuing the subjection o f the Spanish colonies, she shah enter them, as a generous friend, offering inde­ pendence from one hand, and aid to assert it front the other. . W e have already seen in the recent and im-i portant capture o f Buenos A yres, the inability o f the Spanish colonies to resist; and the cer·« tainand successful· impression» which anener­ getic and ^ell-appointed British force cannot feil to make. A nd if, as in this brilliant iiH stance, a handful o f British troops not exceeding fifteen hundred men embarked in the under-, taking, and led on solely b y the enterprising, courage and skill o f one or two intelligent officers, unaided by the prior powerful prepara­ tions and dispositions, either military or politi­ cal, o f Government; i f this small force, greatly to the honour o f the British arms, and highly auspicious to the success o f future enterprise, succeeded without having to strike a blow, and almost by the effect;of its appearance» in, seizing

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43 the rich and important capital o f one o f the mostextensive provinces belonging to Spain in South Am erica; the seat o f the Viceroy; and contain­ ing a population o f more than fifty thousand in * habitants ; and defended by a numerous garrison: what shall not a British army effect o f a few; thousand men, well organized, with abundant' military supplies, and powerfully aided by a friendly and generous policy towards the colo­ nists and natives? Undoubtedly it must accom­ plish with ease and in a short time, the emanci­ pation o f all the Spanish American colonies.

M any and important circumstances in the co** lonies themselves, rapidly tend to favour this’ happy and momentous event: these however, w ill· appear best in their regular order, in our. re­ view o f the means to be used for emancipating Spanish America.

A m ong -the means to be employed for ac­ complishing American emancipation, some are; foreign or external to the colonies; whilst they possess others, w hich are internal or within themselves; and these again are either positive or’ negative: with the due combination o f all' their forces, success cannot, for a moment, be’ uncertain. W e shall commence with the last.

Throughout the negative means, which are favourable to emancipation in Spanish America,

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44.

'Weakness,' arising from, the torpor: and igno­ rance/ ever inseparable from a state o f slavery:;, isr the great and universal feature.. It .pervades every department o f .state; paralyse? every pub-, lie effort, and reduces the executive, to # paltry. poWer-, scarcely capable o f sustaining ps -muni­ cipal tyranny, against the oppressed colonist ancf the- uninstructed, enslaved, and unhappy, Indian, '.· ,> -rThe military force, if it deserve· this .name,, and on/which the defence and preservation o f the colonies to-Spain/ must - immediately, and} solely depend; -necessarily partakes,; and in ?n eminent degree, o f the' general^weakness,-andi Unfitness to execute that, for which itf h&d.beeni originally designed. This miserably incapadityr o f the military force to defend the Spanish £0^ Ionies against an invader, singularly.'betrayed', itself ip the Capture o f Buenos, Ayres ; when above three thousand of. their soldiers, with the> Spanish Viceroy at their head,| fledprecipitately; front less than half their number o f firitifo troops ; leaving behind them fo their panic, their; capital, treasure; stpresy records, every thing tet, th$ mercy o f the conqueror ^ and not eyen dar-: ing to face about and(,repel nine British light dragqons, wlio closely pursued the fugitives to a distance o f eighty or ninety mUe«v into foe in·,

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- 45 tcrior; when· those brave fellows ultimately sue* ceeded in seizing a considerable quantity o f dol­ lars, which the affrighted Viceroy had en­ deavoured to carry off with him.

■ But the cowardice and shameful flight o f the garrison o f Buenos Ayres, cannot surprise, whet) we know the elements o f which the Spanish colonial force is chiefly composed. It comprise* comparatively, but few Spaniards, and is prin­ cipally made up o f Creoles and Indians; who are thought sufficient to keep off the incursions o f the independent natives, and to maintain the authority o f the government in the provinces; This object in the absence o f invasion,"such O' force, it is true, may be adequate to perform; but to resist successfully the attacks o f a well-disci­ plined British army, bringing to the people, a release from their galling oppressions, is totally out o f the question; and the more so, from their bad appointment and their miserable State o f discipline.

A German mineralogist*, who in the year 1789, went to Peru, on a metallurgic commission from the K ing o f Spain; in speaking o f a Spanish* post situated about 250 miles from · Buenos A yres, on the road by Cordova, to Lima, uses the following w ords; “ In this fortification * See Helms’s Travels.

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46 there should be a guard o f a captain and thirtymen j but in the daytime we did not find a single sentinel. These soldiers are badly armed j some with firelocks, others with pistols, and others only with sabres or spears.” A nd M r.

Davie, an English gentleman, who visited Buenos A yres in 1797, observing in his Letters from Paraguay, on the danger o f an attack on 4hat town by the French, in flat-bottomed boats, says, “ And then I fear neither the fort, the go­ vernor, nor his half-clothed, ragged regiments o f long-haired Indians, and whiskered Spaniards — w ho are without exception the dirtiest, sloven­ liest set o f soldiers I ever set my eyes upon — would be able to accomplish much in de­ fence o f the tow n .”

T h e justness o f M r. Davie’s observation, on the weakness o f Buenos Ayres, has happily been fully illustrated in the recent success o f the Bri­ tish arms against that important place: and from the causes which produced that success, being general throughout Spanish America, a like fortunate and brilliant issue must infallibly crown our efforts in every other part o f these colonies.

The thinness o f the population also, in the Spanish American possessions, must greatly narrow the sources whence to recruit their m ili-

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47 tary forte, and supply the losses it must sustain in the field, and from sickness and desertion.

A ll Spainish America extending a length o f above five thousand geographical miles, contains, as we have before observed, only about fifteen millions o f inhabitants: p f these the whole o f South America, in the possession o f Spain, divides about nine m illions; o f which only two millions are Spaniards, Creoles, and persons o f mixed races. O f these two millions again, not one half are Spaniards; and o f this small num­ ber, it is computed, that one fifth arc ecclesias­ tics, monks, and nuns; now after deducting the latter, there will remain a Spanish popu­ lation, and on which alone any reliance can be placed by the Crown o f Spain, o f only about seven or eight hundred thousand persons o f both sexes and o f all ages j and as, agreeable to mo­ dern calculation, not more than one fourth o f . this number, is fit for military service; there w ill be but about 200,000 men throughout the whole o f the vast continent o f South America, capable o f taking up arms in its defence. A nd enervated, indolent, and ignorant as the Spa­ niards in their American possessions are known to b e ; what dependence can be placed, even on this part o f the colonial population, spread, as it is, over an immense continent, for supplying the

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4* losses o f the military force, and enabling it at any one point, to withstand the attack o f a com­ pact body o f British troops, o f only from five to ten thousand men ? certainly but little, or none.

The almost total want o f manufactures, and the stupid ignorance o f the colonists, o f arts and sciences; must also greatly narrow their ability and means, for sustaining resistance and pro­ tracting war.

The immense distance o f the Spainish co­ lonies in America from each other, and their* separation either by impenetrable forests; eter­ nally snow-covered mountains, reaching above the clouds; or unexplored and vast regions, in' habited only by wild beasts or savage tribes o f Indians, must likewise enfeeble their resistance, by preventing them from uniting, and aiding one the other, as necessity may require.

Add to this, the interior o f the country being wholly without fortresses, which might impede fhe advance o f a victorious invader; and what perhaps is o f no small consequence in the opera­ tions o f nations, in these enlightened times; South America being virtually without a press, which would collect, express, and consolidate the public opinion; and excite and direct hosti­ lity with concentrated force, against an in­ vader.

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49 • And lastly, the, remoteness o f situation o f Spanish America; and which, by affording England the opportunity o f preventing» through, the superiority o f her navy, any supplies being sent from Europe; must necessarily isolate the defence o f the colonies, and confine these to a dependence upon their own resources; which in their present cramped and stunted condition, can admit but o f a very temporary stand being made, against British power and British freedom.

Having now rapidly glanced at those circum­ stances in the present state o f the Spanish co­ lonies, which w ill afford a sort o f negative fa­ cility to their emancipation j we shall next pro­ ceed to examine the means which these colonies possess within themselves j and which, i f pro­ perly combined and applied, cannot fail to fur­ nish positive and powerful aids, in favour o f the accomplishment of that great and beneficial event. And first o f the effects, which a long, grievous, and stupid tyranny has produced, on the public, colonial mind.

Oppression must necessarily, at all times and in all countries, indispose the people, who are the victims to it, from supporting its continuance longer, than they are compelled so to d o : th e . moment , they receive succour from abroad, or when they feel strength sufficient at home; the B

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SO mass o f the nation, because ever most oppressed, w ill instinctively rise; and, throwing o ff the odious load, trample it, together with their miseries, in the dust. Either this result, or total extermination and desolation, have been the Consequence o f long and grinding oppres­ sions, in all ages. They are rendered inevitable from the immutable nature o f man, and from the fixed intrinsic character of slavery : the heart o f man irresistibly and universally points·to hap­ piness ; this is the cqnstitutional law o f his frame, interwoven by the hand .of nature with its very elements; and consequently the la w and w ill o f God· who made him. Oppression, the treason against this law and w ill o f G od, agaiqst nature and against man, would reverse· totally' this beneficent economy: it would sub­ stitute general wretchedness, for universal hap­ piness ; strip s and: chains, for free-will, and the soft ties o f affection and interest; poverty, for national prosperity ; ignorance and fanati­ cism , for knowledge and* liberality·; and iit finea state o f' barbarity, weakness, and suffering, for the improved, dignifiedj and congenial: con­ dition, o f prosperous, enlightened' and· happy humanity.

Hence, whiter man retains his present nature, xnd slavery its known properties, the latter must*

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Si ever be execrated b y him j because it essentially and necessarily consists in destroying, and de­ priving him o f that in life, which makes the latter o f any value. For this reason, all nations and individuals who unfortunately groan undef the weight o f oppression, are ready when an op-1 portunity offers, to cast it to (he ground: this has' been universally the case, since history began, with every people, whose mind had not beeu‘ wholly darkened by too long and calamitous a night o f tyranny, and in which evert the pre-' distinguishing characters o f human intellect and excellence, had not been entirely obliterated: and the same disposition will invariably exist, so lortg as slavery shall continue to curse the earth.

Spanish America, it cannot be supposed, of­ fers an exception to the general la\Vs and results o f our nature in this case: on the Contrary, the people o f those extensive and abused region's·, following the uniform affections- and dictates o f the human heart, feel deeply their w rongs; and Have atready in numerous instances sufficiently proved their invincible hostility against the tyrants wfio oppress them; arid their determined and eager disposition, to seize the" first favourable . opportunity , for breaking their chains, and put-

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5* ting an end to the cruel sufferings which they are forced to endure.

Most certainly the same unconquerable spirit that at first roused the native Americans, to op­ pose the noble resistance which they did, to the plunderers o f their country and in the just de­ fence o f their liberty, and homes, animates them s till; and with aggravated force, from the pain­ ful sense which they feel o f the accumulated in­ juries and cruelties, which three centuries o f slavery and blood have heaped upon their former wrongs. This determined spirit o f the Indians against their unfeeling oppressors, has manifested itself with dreadful effect, upon some recent memorable occasions. It is well known, that in the middle o f the last century the Indians o f the presidencies o f Paraguay, flew to arms against the injustice and tyranny o f the Spanish government; nor were they subdued without great bloodshed and loss; and not until much time had been spent, and repeated efforts made, to force them back into subjection.

Helms also speaks o f another dreadful insurrection w h ich took place a few years afterwards, among the Christian Indians o f L a Plata and Peru; when the greater part o f the Spaniards throughout these extensive kingdoms were put to death j and most o f their towns plundered

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Ü3 and destroyed by the infuriate insurgents. A nd M r . D avie, so lately as the y e a r i 798, was pre­ sent at the presidency o f Rioja .Major, on the banks o f the Uraguay, in the viceroyaity o f Buenos Ayres, when the town Indians o f that settlement, assisted by the independent tribes o f the Charuas, and headed by tw o Spanish mis­ sionaries, rose against the military ; .and exter­ minating their opponents, overthrew the au­ thority o f their overbearing rulers, and declared themselves in a state o f independence.

Undoubtedly these efforts at resistance, how ­ ever terrible and deplorable in their effects, are the necessary results o f a tyranny, the most com­ plicated and cruel that ever tore to pieces the heart o f man. T h e native American cannot for­ get the murder o f his fathers. The massacres w hich depopulated his country, are handed down in melancholy tradition from father to son : ho beholds the fields which once were the patri­ m ony and scene o f happiness o f his ancestors, now torn from him ; and stained with their in­ nocent blood. He feels him self a slâve and out­ cast in his own country: without property or security; and considered b y the plunderers o f the land of his fathers, merely as a 'beast'of bur­ den, fornied only to labour for his oppressors— and to perish. The injured American carries his '

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.wrongs into the prospect o f his posterity; he joins the future miseries o f his children, with the afflictions o f his forefathers; and see§ him­ self the medial link o f wretchedness between them. Gracious Heaven! can it then be supr posed, that the native American, oppressed w ith such a lengthened chain o f misery as he is forced to bear, can forget the cruel sufferings o f three hundred years o f massacre, plunder, sla­ very and blood; and become quietly reconciled to his tyrants ? N o— it is not agreeable to the nature o f man— and they who suppose it to be so, know little o f the workings o f the human heart.

T h e Spaniards from first entering America, have done all in their power to prevent such a reconcilement, by continuing studiously ever since, to oppress and degrade the wretched natives, whom their avarice and cruelty had not barbarously exterminated.

After plundering their property, those relentless invaders seized the persons o f the unfortunate Americans, and ~ forced them, with the most inhuman stripes, tot perform a grinding and wasting slavery ; they are the wretched persons dragged from their homes in the various presidencies, who have erected all the state buildings and other public Works; while for their laborious services, these

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55 poor slaves were scarcely allowed what was dccessaiy to sustain nature, and fell in crowd—-sum· happy victims to want and excessive slavery* In soothe111 Pcru> *’ company o f Spanish mer­ chants, taking the hint, fqo doubts from their negro-dealing brethren in other countries, and to the eternal disgrace, o f trade, which should have for its object the good o f mankind, established themselves for the purpose o f making slaves o f the Indians and selling them. These monsters with their ruffian associates and followers, fcn-e tered the Indian territory with arms in. theirhands, “ and,** as Muratori says, “ Chased the natives for above a hundred miles, as hunters do their prey i and i f the spoil w hich they made on the lands o f their enemies were not equal to their wishes, they suddenly fell upon the neigh­ bouring hordes with whom they were at peace, put them without mercy to the sword, or burned alive in their cabins all who attempted to resist them, while the rest were taken as slaves.’ * These villains, like the man-stealers in A frica , to give a colour of, justice to their infernal at­ tacks upon the persons and sacred rights o f their fellow-creatures, always pretended to have re­ ceived some injury. The unfortunate captives were dragged in chains to Peru, where they were sold into a barbarous slavery for life ; and e

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the band o f' infamous merchants pocketed thé profit o f their own crimes aHd o f the' iniserieS o f their fellow-men. - ’ - · ' - A t first this slaveryi ó f the «Indians was uni­ versal and unqualified /'and their consequent de­ struction and wretchedness, necessarily equally wide and great. In time, however, even’ Spa­ nish tyranny found it had outstepped the bounds Of its interest ; and to prevéní the total extinction o f the Indian race in the .different presidencies, and Which thé exterminations and devastating oppressions Of the Spaniards Were fast effecting, it was judged necessary even to import negroes from A fric a ,'to supply the waste o f the native population ; and'it was also thought politic to lessen .the destruction Of the Indians, bÿ making some regulations iin their’favour. , , But Of what avail wéré edicts published at Madrid, against the Oppressions o f the poor Indians in Spanish América ? Those to whom these edicts are addressed, and who should see them executed in favour o f the Indians, are the very persons who are most interested in continu-' ing the oppressions o f these unfortunate people.

Consequently, nothing but the most shameful abuse and open violation o f sll regulations in favour o f the unhappy Indian, are to be met with ; and this is a necessary and direct consequence o f

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57 the infamous system o f slavery which oppresse* him. For the'Indian being, by the most un­ just and inhuman o f all policies, cdnsidered thé property o f the state, and the K ing having it in his power always to draw a fresh supply o f slaves front the various presidencies; i f an In­ dian die, his loss creates not the smallest inion-’ venience to his oppressors, who immediately; replace him with a new sufferer. And as every officer who enters the colonies from Old Spain,' is, by right o f his office or post, allowed a cerw tain number o f these state slaves ; and he is at full liberty to work those unfortunate people1 in the manner, the place, or at, and for whaf length o f time, it may best suit either his ca­ price, his avarice, his cruelty, or revenge ; and. further, ‘he has only to ask for, when he w ill receive, a fresh batch o f these wretched sufferers to replace the victims who have perished ; and for which purpose several thousands o f the natives are ' dragged annually from the inland ' presidencies to the Spanish towns, it were truly id le to expect that those licensed oppressors o f ' th e Indians, would feel for the pitiable and un­ ju stifiab le state o f suffering o f their slaves, or e n fo rc e the laws o f forbearance and punishment, a g a in s t themselves.

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5.8 A ^ ! thc cwiinu-y is known notoriously to be the. cpse t; and all.itrayejlersj, who have pene­ trated .the oppressed, regjqns o f Spanish America, bear.amply <e«in)pny o f the truth o f these mela&r ^ H o jy to s...,,,-. ;. .. , , i . £t. present the ppcy1 enslaved Indians, beside« tJ»C private labours;which they arq compelled to p eifp flR r& r the masters to w h p m .tb e y are assisted, .are also applied to the erection 'and re­ pair o f the public buildings and other works* their chief and most fetal servitude consists in (the working o f- the numerous, mines, which abound in the various presidencies of; Spanish America. In these laboratories o f death— these antechambers o f the tomb, are thousands o f the poor Indians constantly employed, in extracting. tl>e ofe* ip calcining and refining, and in operate ing the /¿different other metalhirgic processes necessary to produce and mould the pure gold, and, sjlyer— rthose darling objects o f the cupidity, o f the avaricious, idle Spaniards—«and the curse, and destructipn of, the unhappy Indian, and his, devoted country. These wretched people being esteemed the most laborious and diligent o f all. tbe other classes, are preferred by the Spaniards: throughout Am erica, for working their mine?; and notwithstanding they appear t p : he^r. the daily alternations o f heat and cold, to w hich the

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S9 mountainous, mining countries are constantly subject, better than the negroes and Europeans, who are observed soon to sicken and sink under their b u r d e n y e t these poor Indians, also endure but for a short space o f tim e; when they perish in hundreds— the untalked of, uncommiserated victims o f an unfeeling, blood-stained avarice.

T h is destructive mortality which sweeps pre­ maturely into the grave, such numbers o f Indians in the m ining countries t and which not with­ out sufficient reason, makes an Indian dread the discovery o f a mine in his vicinity, as he .would the approach o f a pestilence; is further aggra­ vated in some mines by the barbarous and mur­ derous practice o f plunging whole crowds o f these wretched people, together and entirely naked into tho^e deep, unwholesome, and chilling caverns, lest any portion o f the favourite metals should be purloined by them under cover o f their clothes. The dreadful effects o f this inhuman custom , owing to the sudden and violent change o f temperature which these unfortunate sufferers necessarily endure, are spasms, colic, and other formidable acute diseases, which generally ter­ minate in no great length o f time, in death: and thus are barbarously and constantly sacrificed to the jealoius avarice o f the Spaniards, thousand! o f their hapless, unoffending fellow-creatures, 4 Digitized by L - o o Q

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- B ut death Is not thé worst alternative, which 'thé poor enslaved Indians are forced to 'endure, from the relentless oppressors Of thëir native land: (hey who èscape* early destruction, live only -to drag* oti( a fe w years more o f hardship ‘and suffering ¿ and to exhibit in their persons; the melancholy marks o f an unfeeling and grind ing 6 m e iy . These' wretches attract the eye every ‘t^hefë 'in the different Spanish presidencies, by Iheir remarkably miserable and squalid appear­ ance ¿'m any Of them áre lame and 'mutilated,' from their excessive toils ; with séâircely a cover­ in g to'their bodies, or a hut to defend them from thé inclemency o f the weather. They áre fed with every sort o f refuse : and may sicken' and die, without exciting the smallest attention ,or compassion. T hey are the property o f the state, -— no one suffers by their loss : and when one dies, another is supplied by thé King in his place ! 1 Can it be surprising then, that the heavily* . oppressed Indians hate, mortally hate their cruel tàsk-masters ? Undoubtedly not. NO— the In­ dians'bear, and justly, an invincible, hereditary hatred against the Spaniards— a hatred "grow q’ strong w ith time, and cemented with the blood ahd* tears Of successive generations o f their ancestory;· "Who have been cruelly tort tired out o f 4» Digitized by

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life, by Spanish oppression. Y es— the Indians to a man,, look upon their subjection to a Spaniard, as the most horrible o f all evils; they recoil with dread from the very sound o f his voice; and fer-. v^ntly pray for that period, w hich, by putting an end to their miserable existence, shall give them a release for ever, from thei^, injuries and the« woes.

■ I . < ' The horrid oppressions cruelly practised on the enslaved Indians in the towns and pre­ sidencies, necessarily have their due effect upon, the minds o f the remote, and still independent tribes, in the interior and in C hili. The ma­ jority o f the inhabitants o f the latter extensive country, have, never yet been subjected to .the Spanish yo k e; and now the Chilesians, natural­ ly an active and brave people, rendered power­ ful by the acquisition o f the horse and tlicit knowledge o f fire-arms, not only defy Spanish pow er; but keep the settlements o f the Spa­ niards, which are contiguous to them, in a con­ tinual state o f apprehension and alarm. W hile the intermediate natives, exasperated by the re­ ports which they receive of the suffering o f their countrymen in. the towns, through the medium, o f some Indian refugees, who have been so for-, tunate as to escape from their slavery in the, Spanish settlements, hold not the smallest interI Digitized by

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6t course with the invaders and oppressors o f their country ; but on the contrary, bear them the most deadly hate, and pant for the opportunity, 'when they can assist m freeing their native land, from the murderous grasp o f these relent­ less tyrants. ' ·' · What an irresistible and inexhaustible re­ source, then, shall not emancipation derive from this fixed, irreconcilable disposition d f the na­ tive Americanos mind; against the system and persons, who oppress and degrade him? T h e Indians, ih ‘ Spanish America, are supposed to amount to about twelve millions, and are nearly in the proportion o f six to One o f the Spaniards, who consequently do not exceed about two millions in number. Here thefa is an immense mass, o f native population, possessing within it the disposition and means, for over­ turning the slavery o f the American continent * and only requiring the aid o f Superior knowledge and experience, to give its efforts direction, arid'' to conduct it safely to the attainment o f the de­ sired object. ' Y es, it cannot for a moment be doubted that1 the native Americans Would repair in crowds to' the standards o f their deliverers, Who brought them a release from their cruel’ sufferings, and assured them o f security , against their oppressor*

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¿3 in future. * And how effectually might not this devotion o f the Indian population, to the libera­ tion and independence o f their country, be aug­ mented and regulated, b y promising to bestow upon each individual, whose deserts should merit reward, a certain number o f acres o f ground, as his property ; and which politic and retributive liberality, the vast and' neglected regions o f Spanish America, can o f all other countries, best afford.

Büt the great body o f Indians, as they are not the sole classes oppressed ; so are they not the only persons who bear an irreconcilable hatred, even to the Spanish name. The Mestizos, a race sprung from the native Americans and the lowest o f the Spaniards ; and who are alike tyrannized' over, with the Indians, partake with the latter in their abhorrence o f the system which binds then) to poverty and’ tramples them to the dust ; and are necessarily eqjually disposed, to contri­ bute their exertions, to the libération o f them­ selves and their country.

A n d even the Creole, the too often indolent, overbearing Creole, who is him self descended from American Spaniards, is not exempt, from, the feelings o f general" hostility towards the Spa­ niard: on the contrary, he regards, him with an especially mistrustful and inimical eye; which

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¿4 circumstance, no doubt, might be made, produc­ tive o f considerable advantages, in the separating, America from Spain.

Lastly, the great body o f colonists, whether.

Spaniards, or Creoles; . whether merchants, planters, or others, not directly dependent upon the government o f Spain, are fast inclining, w ith that irresistible and infallible guide— the direction o f their interests; to wish a'change,, w hich would relieve them from the heavy bur-, dens, the jealous incapacities, and the insulting thraldom imposed upon them by the Crown o f Spain : and which change, by destroying co­ lonial despotism, would enable the Americans o f the South, to pursue, in the channels o f agri­ culture, industry, and commerce, the happiness o f themselves and their country ; with the same freedom and effect, as do their more fortunate brethren, on the northern continent.

T he colonists are neither so secluded from the rest o f the world, as not to know their own great inferiority, compared with a free people: nor so prejudiced, that they w ill not believe slavery to be a heavy calamity to them. On the contrary, every colonist must and does feel, and severely, the indignities, disabilities and oppressions prac­ tised against himself and his country: the culti­ vator cannot help feeling the injustice w hich

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robs him without his own consent, o f a principal share o f the profits o f his industry; and which he would naturally prefer to lay up in store for his old age, or expend in the support and ad* vancement o f his children; rather than see it squandered upon some avaricious, dissolute minion o f the Crow n. The same with the trades* man and merchant: they also are plundered and impoverished, contrary to their w ill, and agree­ able to no rule, save that o f the caprice o f their despotic rulers; while the latter is further in« jured in not being permitted to interchange freely the productions o f his country, for those o f other nations; and which, would be o f incalculable ad­ vantage to all.

Thank heaven and the efforts o f some good men, the night o f ignorance w hich hoodwinked the mind, and with it the dreadful reign o f op­ pression, which disfigured the earth, is passing fast away from most nations; and Spanish A m e­ rica-oppressed, degraded Spanish Am erica, after a galling servitude o f three hundred years, begins to feel the invigorating warmth o f free­ dom ; and has already even reflected some o f her heart-cheering rays. General Miranda, a native,· o f the C aracas, a province subject to the domi­ nation o f Spain on the Spanish m ain, is a proud. stnd iflurttious proof, that Southern Columbia F Digitized by

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66 faisons» who can and do estimate the blessings «if liberty; like other men ; and who are equally w ady, when; an opportunity offers, to make the same efforts and sacrifices, in the cause o f their long-injured country ; a s , rendered glorious, the m o k fiimed patriots o f other nations and ages.

• That great numbers o f the colonists, and par­ ticularly these who have a knowledge o f other nationsjbewbiil the oppressed condition o f themskIvbs and their country ; and would readily assist ihi effecting her emancipation, cannot be ddubiech Ifctb e conviction o f this truth, Gene^ ral Mitanda, w ho knowshis native country well', add. hisbrahre followers, bavé undertaken their great and heroic enterprise: and o f which, ther« dannqt be.a doubt o f sucCefesyif the British’ go* vierriment w ill adsist him sufficiently in time, with à reinforcement o f only) a few thousand* troops;' : , : ■ : , · I; r , =· ' vj i t is certain the Spanish: andCreole.coloniali mind, has suffered a considerable fchange within: these few years; . T h e American and Freçoh re*volutions have ffoshed lights atiound themy w h ich ’ have ¡enabled even the most iemote ,attd secluded slaves;, to see the injustice o f their oppressions, and the defocmity o f the fetters, in which^they · were bound. South America, and rpore parti-· cularly M exico, on the northern continent, from-

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’ their cdntigüity and'interccoírse with the free United States, could not possibly avoid"importing w ith other things, the knowledge and principles o f liberty ; and which, as is natural (oi the' mind to do, being compared with their own oppres­ sions, necessarily have the effect o f indisposing them towards the tyranny under which they groan ; and o f leading them to embrace opinionsand harbour political sentiments, calculated one day to overturn and crush it for ever; ánd further this progress o f thinking has lately Been greatly accelerated by the close junction o f the French and Spanish nations, and the cbnsequent unusual intercourse o f their respective people; ' . ' / T his melioration In the colonial mind, happily Becomes every dày more evident. T h e heretical English, as they had been generally called b y w ay o f reproach, by the bigotted American Spa­ niards; are less abused than formerly : the rising youth in Spanish America, are perceived to sur­ pass greatly their fathers, in the liberality o f their ideas and expressions: the proud and insulting arrogance assumed by hereditary rank, begins to give way, to the proper estimation o f the mer­ chant and industrious citizen : and even the clergy are observed to relax considerably in their superstitions ; and to approximate' nearer to F % Digitized by t - o o Q

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reason and the civilized world, than they for­ merly did.

T h u s, whatever division o f the Spanish American population we review j whether In­ dians, M estizes, Creoles, or American Spa­ niards, we behold a disposition, arising from the general sense o f oppression, and propor­ tioned to the degree in which the latter is felt; to shake o ff the heavy and odious load ; and to assist in replacing it, with a system o f justice and la w ; which shall establish upon secure foundations, their own civil rights and the in­ dependence o f their Country; and also possess them w ith the means o f promoting her prospe­ rity, and o f elevating and enabling her, one day to rank with other great and happy empires in the world. W e shall now pass on to the it· view o f the secondary, or inanimate resources, which Spanish America possesses for aiding her emancipation.

In the inimical disposition o f the native American and colonial mind, we have pointed out the grand, irresistible, and inexhaustible strength w hich emancipation could not fail to receive in its judicious progress through the op­ pressed and abused regions o f Spanish Am erica; this, no doubt, should be considered and wisely acted upon, as the great and primary resource;

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as it rèally is : there are others hottever, eon· fained within this vast and valuable country, which under the direction o f scientific and p ro · perly skilled persons, m ight be drawn forth, and applied with the most successful effect, in, accomplishing her liberation. These resources; are, first, provisions ; next, clothing j thirdyl, money to pay the troops, and for other expensesj fourthly, horses for mounting the cavalry j fifthly, the elements for composing gunpowder; sixthly, the materials for ship and boat build· ing ; seventhly, those for the erection o f forts, barracks, and other military works ; and in fine, mostly all the dements essential for carrying on and sustaining successful war.

In C h ili, on the Pacific Ocean, such is the. amazing fertility o f soil, o f this delightful and luxuriant kingdom, that the celebrated but un· fortunate Peyrouse, w ho touched at. the town o f Conception, in his voyage o f discovery, ob­ serves ; “ That were the productions o f C h ili alone, increased to their maximum, they would be sufficient to supply all Europe 1'* . T h e innumerable herds o f wild oxen, which inhabit the Pampas o f the viceroyalty o f Buenos A yres, and roam in droves o f from thirty to forty thousand,-along these rich plains every where covered with a high grass and extending » 3 Digitized by v ^ o o Q l e

7*>n from nfcarthetow n o f r B u ^ o i Ayres, for the immense distance offifteén' hundred miles' sduthward, in the dir^ttórt-^óf Patagonia. ofler an inexhaustible store o f subsistence for ah army o f altnost any amount; and might also, with the assistance o f the Salt, which is found in great abundance upon the; sur face o f the ground, in various parts o f Spanish'America, be applied, as a preserved and portable stock, for supplying the want? o f garrisons and other detached«* distant places, as occasion may demand. A t present these oxen, which may be purchased for about half a crown each, are killed'by the hunters* principally* fbrthes^keof their hides, tongues, and tallow ; an d1 o f the former, about' 100,000 annually1-have been exported from the port o f Buenos A yres alonen i "■ · , ·.

■ ·.:· - 1In the different other parts o f Spanish Am e­ rica, all the necessaries for subsistence, *and many o f the delicacies Of life ,’ ate in propor­ tionate abundance and cheapness; and' only re­ quire die protecting and fostering hand o f free­ dom and security; to Aittltiply them* still more.

W ines; also·, 'and excfelleht bratftly, are made in many parts o f this extensive arid luxuriant country; and the Indiahs prepare ¿'beverage from maize-flour and <Xvater^ which they call C h ica ; and· which is a light,* Wholesome, 'and

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agreeable liquor, somewhat resembling cheer; and having the power o f moderately eftffil4rahng the spirits.,, ·, . ... ; c In 'to T he excellent wool procured fr<fcm.<hij iamui merable herds o f Qhilesian and ’ Otbcr'fcbtepir manufactured by .the. industrious and 'ingCmou* Indians, would affbrdjnany oecessary.articles «£ clothing.; which might be rendered· ¿till moed complete, b y meansi o f *ihe cotter?, iWhtch-.itf produced in abundance, in , several part o f · this vast continent.. il; ■ ,v ,( ,j-v> . :i ¿a A portion o f the royal treasjure,i»ihifihrrWfiiMidr necessarily, then beepmethe property o f jlhoinio tion; aided by the voluntary cpnfribufkfosu which an emancipated people Would most readily bestow upon their deliverers, as the·cheap: pries o f their independence,, could nut’ certainly ifatk being amply sufficient to defray all the.Cxptensea o f the undertaking; and also, for, rewarding

the officers and men, who by their services,, had,· gained the oppressed Americans, sq valuable! and noble an acquisition, as the,liberation, of' themselves and their country. ...·,, i.ij • The innumerable herds, of wild becses,.which graze at large upon t^ie<vast pampas of' plainsftf Buenos’'Ayrds/ offer\ la·' principal;<.facility..£<& forming, perhapd one p£ thehe$tiar?4 «W&'nUK merous bodies, of cavalry in the world. Thee© v 4 Digitized by

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horses are easily

taken and tamed : they are re­ markable for their courage, fleetness, steadiness o f step, and gentleness : and they are also ex­ tremely hardy, requiring no provision being made for them either o f hay or straw, through* Out thé year ; during w hich time they con­ stantly graze in the open fields. W hile sadlery* harness, and other m ilitary1apparatus o f the leather kind, might be furnished in abundance, and upon the spot, from the hides w hich abound in this country, through the medium o f Indiana tradesmen, improved by the instructive direction e f a few English tanners, sadlers, harness-: makers, dec. . ; G unpow der; this essential article in de-' Structive war, might be-made in sufficient quan­ tity in South America ; as its elements are to be found there in several places. Saltpetre in a pative state, is to be gathered in many o f the presidencies ; the hot springs, in the neighbour­ hood o f Potosí and other parts, abound with brimstone ; and charcoal m ight be prepared in the woody countries, on the hanks o f the Uru­ guay and other rivers, and sent by water to Buenos A yres, or such places as m ight be thought most conveniently situated for the esta­ blishment o f laboratories, for the making o f the above article.. T h is process m ight be easily and

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71 w ithout great expense, carried on by Indians,' under the direction o f a few properly instructedpersons from England. ’ . , A lthough wood, sufficient for naval architect turc, is not produced in-all parts o f South Am e­ rica; as for instance, on the vast plains o f Buenos A yrek,: where fdr nearly two thousand miles, a single shrub is not to be met w ith ; yet, this valuable article might be procured in suffi­ cient supply, from those places where it flourishes in the greatest luxuriance; oh the islands o f the P la ta ; at each side o f the Parana; and all along both banks o f the Uraguay, wave the most ma­ jestic w oods; abounding w ith every sort o f treeandshrub, to be met w ith on the American con­ tinent. Here might all the timber necessary for ahipand boat building; and also for every other purpose, in which it could be requisite, be felled merfely for the price o f cutting it; and afterwards floated down the rivers in rafts, to the towns where it may be wanted. Thus, w ith the assistance o f the Indians, under the direction o f a feW ship-builders from this country, m ight gUn-boats and other vessels be shortly constructed, which would bp o f the greatest use in the course o f military and naval operations.

From the same source, and in a-similar man» ner also, might other timber necessary for the.

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t4 building o f forts, barracks, and dutfeq· rhiiiliary w orks, fo r the i^feneebfr the protfincidofBucha* Ayres, be also procured,, and jhiany>Quantity.

W hile stone, useful for.those, building?,m ay .be bad in^ abundance fr d m a plaib cpntiguous to the town o f Buenos Ayres ; asalsoibiicks from die' neighbourhood. These raaterialyiaflfo abound in other parts o f the Americancoritini^rt^Goppiery tin, and lead, are also.tbbe; fouhd iri ^aek proK fusion in Spanish Amecioa^ .ftnd it, iSTpiobabio that useful metal, iron, w ill ibecdrUe ma^e plenr tjfu lth an it i s ; wheti thb attention of· the; oak)-i nists shall be less/ absorbed *hdn it) present;, in the pursuit o f goldi and silver ;-ahd consequently w h en there w ill b e move, exertions! tnade^toadis« caver ferruginous.bfe. ij r if i T h u s we have sketched thb edsouxdesv hprfE positive and negative* w hich: Spanish America; possesses within herself ; for: aiding [her reman*? cipation: we shall : now therefore, .proceed ' t©> examine those means/; whichrardifawign or ex-: teraal to the colonies ; but which are requisite' to give farce, direction* and successful effect to» the former ones. n ·However abundantly an oppressed countryr may possess the means o f freeing itself; yet> .without the assistance o f a friendly foreign force ; to give the people time and method,, for callings

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Is forth and arranging these means, ao as to appl£ them w ith , effect ; it must, continue enslaved» while the tyranny over it shall endure ;, or until t^e people themselves become sufficiently en­ lightened, and able to overturn it by their ow n force; and w hich, under certain circumstances» cannot happen before a long, melancholy, and injurious interval has prepared the event. .

This is peculiarly the case with Spanish America at the present moment. In our review o f means, we have beheld that Herculean conti­ nent possessed in abundance o f all the resources requisite for accomplishing a liberation from her sufferings: and. :in time, no doubt, these re­ sources' would force their own w ay, and even* tually operate emancipation. But froth the pe<* culiar circumstances .of the Spanish colonies» from their, remoteness’ ahdr the jealous seclusion w ith \yhidh they have been kept from the rest o f the world,: from the heavy and paralysing fetters both civil add religions iti ‘which they hpvcbeeq mentally-and corporeally bound,, from their con* sequent-watto o f sufficient useful Infornftati&n» and front their general weakness, increased still more b y the perversion and- oppositions o f in­ terests, and consequently o f the opinions and wishes o f the different races and classes, o f w hich their population is composed; the period 4 Digitized by

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for consummating American liberty, it is to be apprehended, would, i f left to its own progress»* be proportionately slow in arriving; and m ight be greatly and most beneficially anticipated by the friendly co-operation o f an external. forte; w hich would consolidate, organize, and give dnison, to tbe various forces, affections, interests and views o f the different classes, composing thema&s o f American people.

In the present, new but improved state o f hu­ man affairs, this Co-operation w ill not long be wanting from one quarter or another: on the contrary* as we have before observed, when Speaking* upon the policy o f emancipating Spa-, nish America; there is a necessity pressing close upon us from the irresistible force o f surroundingcircumstances, to enter immediately and fully, upon the emancipation o f those countries, as a na­ tional object and for a national good. A n d , as w e have also before said, if weletthe opportunity now pass by ; unquestionably the United American ' States*, whose interest it will then be to act dif­ ferently* w ifl in no great distance o f time, have the glory as well as the benefit o f having carried independence and happiness to the oppressed Spanish Americans.

But w e w ill not believe that such an unparalleled prospect o f national advantage, shall be lost to Britain, through the want o f a sufficient comprcDigitized by

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77 hensivcness o f view s, and particularly in her pre­ sent most arduous situation; or that any miscal­ culating illusions o f conquest and present gain, or illiberal and narrow-minded notions o f policy, shall be permitted to contract, mar, and invali­ date all the chief, and most profitable results, w hich would otherwise accrue to us, from hav­ ing adopted a more generous, enlarged, and per­ manently serviceable course o f proceeding. In this belief, in which we are confirmed by our Confidence in the known ability and liberaJity o f the present Administration, we will now pass on to our last consideration; namely, the external means, which Spanish America stands . in need of, far enabling her to effect emancipa­ tion.

W e have seen in our review o f colonial re­ sources, that Spanish America wants neither men, disposition, nor several other essential requisites for forcing her liberation fronr/ the despotism o f Spain: she wants however, a small foreign aid, to drive away for a moment her oppressors' and. to enable her to rise and collect her strength.

L ike a man lying prostrate upon the ground, and w ho is forcibly held down in that situation, by another o f less strength; the Spanish colonies’ are oppressed by a power infinitely inferior to* their own; hjad they but the knowledge and op-

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portunity, t6 call forth and combine it : afford them .brut these,, and: Spanish America w ill soon put forth.exertions; which must inevitably, and as it were, in an instant, crush ahd overwhelm for ever, the wretched, puny power that now dares to insult and tyrannize over her.

- W ith this view, therefore, and under the above circumstances, the Americans would require the assistance o f only a comparatively drifting foreign aid, andifor a short tim e: twenty .thousand Bri­ tish troops, assisted by our: powerful navy, and supported and accelerated in'their operatiohs by* scientific'and civil commissioners,Jwould be>fully sufficient to emancipate'All· Spanish ¡America inf a very few years.' This force ' may* bfe · divided into four principal corps, to be directed against* the four grand divisions, into w hich the Spanish possessions in America are separatedi each corps may also be denominated from the territorial’ division, it marched against. T h e first corpsy or that now in the possession o f Buenos Ayres, should be augmented to four thousand men; w h ich force, when we recollect, that only fifteen hun­ dred troops, were sufficient without the necessity o f m aking scarcely an effort, to capture that im­ portant place, must be fully adequate to possess themselves o f Paraguay Proper, and the noble streams o f the Parana and Uraguayj while west-

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ward*“1irf thd direction of * the great toad,* feacf. ingfrom'BaeAos-Ayres·, across the Continent, by Cordova, - and 'Potosí, 1 t o Peru* they ' might easily subdue the country, for a distance of above five hundred irtiles, to the foot of the mountains branching eastwards, from the Cordilleras of the Andes* ' : ■"·' T h e second Corps consisting o f five thousand meti, should be sent immediately in’ support o f General M iranda ; and would, no doubt, be per­ fectly sufficient, to enable that patriotic general, in a very short time and w ith but few efforts, to overturn the Spanish domination in N ew G ra­ nada } and to erect that immense country into a free a n d 1independent em pire; which would serve as* a>centre and main support to the opera· tidns,· %&bo-rarried on against the other Spanish g<werawtfj[f«i7 · T h e thirtK eOrps; amounting to six thousand men,-wo'flId fee sufficiently strong to effect the emanCipatforPof-Mexico,. on the northern· contirtefntj w tiildthe fouYth corps o f five thousand men* may-fefc'6t2nt·, with every certainty o f suc­ cess, round.-by Cape H orn; against Peru and' .

C h ili,“OivYhc-South Pacific Ocean. T h is division oP the artpy Would soon possess itself o f all" th e countryvfrom the shores o f the Pacific Ocean, to the Andfes'j and would also be enabled' to’

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open communications, on its right and Centre*

by Cordova and Potosi, w ith the army o f Buerios Ayres j and On its left with M iranda’s army in N ew Granada.

Each o f these corps should be well provided w ith arms and military stores, for rendering ef-: fectual the assistance o f the Americans, w ho would join them: and above all, a certain num­ ber o f civil commissioners should also accom­ pany each division o f the British army ; for the important purposes o f enlightening and concilia­ ting, the public mind; and o f taking immediate measures, for commencing the noble work o f melioration and independence.

T hu s constituted «md proceeding upon the glorious principles o f South American liberty; the British army must be irresistible— its strength would increase with time, and in proportion as it advanced into the country; and viewed, as it necessarily must be, by the oppressed A m ericans,; as an army o f emancipation— o f deliverers, it, could not fail having fu lly With it, in all i t s : operations, the hearts and hands o f a people, tom w ith long sufferings, and eager and determined to . be free; together with all the other resources o f that vast continent, and which being properly arranged and directed by the scientific persons and artisans, w ho ought likewise to compose a part o f the -

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British auxiliary force, might be applied with the most successful effect in this great and bene­ ficial undertaking.

Hence, by proceeding on the atl-poWerful prin­ ciples o f emancipation, the Britisharmy need only to appear, to possess themselves o f all the principal places, together with the resources o f Spanish America. , The people, the moment they could place confidence in the views o f their invading friends, and they saw in their strength a cer­ tainty o f security against their oppressors, and a rational hope o f ultimate success, would gladly forsake their tyrants and crowd to the ban­ ners o f their deliverers almost to a m an : and thus, the chief occupations o f the army now, would be to perfect a system o f national defence, by disciplining the American people, superin­ tending the erection o f forts and other works for the protection o f the great rivers and harbours * and by instructing the Americans in the know­ ledge and art o f producing and forming their own warlike implements and stores j and also to assist the civil commissioners, in rearing the glorious edifices o f Southern Columbia’s liberty and happiness.

W hile the British army were thus nobly em­ ployed upon the American continent, in the great work o f unbinding from their chains, whole naG '

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tions o f their oppressed fellow men ; the British navy would also render the most important bene­ fits to the same cause, by contributing their ser­ vices upon the. ocean. Commanding the seas, &y its immense superiority, the navy o f E n g­ land m ight execute the grandest plans ; it is able at once, to blockade the ports o f Spàin and her allies^ to sweep the whole Western and Pacific Oceans; and to guard the entrances of the principal rivers and harbours o f all Spanish Ame­ rica. Thus it could effectually prevent any con­ siderable reinforcement being sent to the support o f the Spanish colonies ; would be enabled in great probability to intercept and destroy such fugitive expeditions, as had been able in the darkness o f the night, or during a fog or storm, to slip out o f port and elude our blockading squadrons ; .and it would also by cutting out or destroying the enemy’s vessels, effectually clear the Am e­ rican coast, and sustain the communications be­ tween the divisions o f the arm y; which might now in the fullest security pursue its illustrious . career; wl»i|e the British navy, in enabling it so to do, w ill have achieved one o f the most .really pseful and glorious services, next to defending O ld England, in which perhaps it had ever be­ fore been engaged.

THE S.

G

osh e l l ,

END.

Primcrj ünle Queen Stt«cU

Written by the same Author> and published by J. R

id g w a y

.

The H I S T O R Y o f the C A M P A IG N of 1805, in G E R .

M A N Y , I T A L Y , the T Y R O L , 8tc* Price Seven Shil· lings in Boards.

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T h is interesting H istory o f the above extraordinary C a m ·

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respecting the causes o f

failure o f the third co a litio n ; and further affords n ew ligh t, fop en ablin g us to trace the sources o f the present disasters o f the continent, and to ju d g e o f its future probable condition.'*

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