ble, of their kind. Dangerous rivalries between Civil and Military Individuals have been promoted by writings, and by discussions in Congress; the Military being described, not as the Liberators of the Country, but as the destroyers of Liberty. Was this the reward due to such painful and sublime sacrifices? Was this the recompense reserved for Heroes? The scandal has even reached the height of exciting hatred and rancour among the Military of the different Provinces, in order that union and strength might no longer exist. I would fain not have noticed the indulgences which have been shewn to Military Officers during this eventful period. Every one of our Legislators is sensible of the enormity of this most blameable lenity. What Army will, in future, be worthy to defend our sacred rights; if the punishment of Criminals is to be their reward, and if glory ceases to be the attendant of fidelity, valour, and obedience?

From the Year 1821, when we commenced the reform of our System of Finance, every thing has been experimental; but the last Year has been productive of greater disappointment than either of the preceding ones. The want of vigour in the administration in all, and in each of, its branches; the general endeavour to elude the payment of the Taxes, the notorious dishonesty and neglect on the part of the Collectors, the creation of useless Functionaries, their small rate of pay, and the very Laws themselves, have contributed to destroy the Revenue. It has been thought possible, on some occasions, to overcome this phalanx of difficulties, by invoking the assistance of the Tribunals; but they, under the mask of Protectors of innocence, have acquitted the refractory Debtor and the accused Collector. In other instances the delay and consequences of their decisions have afforded an opportunity to Congress to pass new Laws which have even enervated the action of the Government. Up to this time, Congress has not regulated the Commissariats which administer the largest portion of the Revenue; nor has Congress even once, inquired into the application of the funds, of which the Government is merely the Administrator.

The delay in Europe of Mr. Hurtado, the Person to whom, in consequence of orders issued in 1823, it belongs to give an account of the millions due for the Loan contracted for, and concluded, by him in London; the expulsion of our Chargé d'Affaires from Peru, whilst he was negotiating the recovery of the value of the supplies furnished to that Republick and lastly, the consumption and misapplication of the National Property;-have forced us to incur, by large inscriptions in the Book of the National Debt, charges which might otherwise have been obviated. The Treasury of Colombia has, at length, reached the extreme crisis of being unable to redeem our National honour to those generous Foreigners, who advanced to us their money, relying upon our good faith. The Army does not receive one half of its pay; and, with the exception of the Officers of the Revenue, all are exposed to the greatest misery. Shame arrests my pen, and I have scarcely reso

lution to tell you, that the National Treasury is become bankrupt, and that the Republick is beset by a formidable host of Creditors.

In describing the chaos in which we are involved, it appears to be almost superfluous to speak to you of our relations with other States. They have been satisfactory in proportion as our military glory and the prudence of our Citizens displayed themselves; which inspired the belief that, by our civil organisation and social happiness, we should attain the high rank to which Providence had destined us. The progress of our Foreign relations must always depend upon the wisdom of the Government, and the concord of the People. No Nation has ever rendered itself respected, but from the effect of these advantages; or without union, upon which its strength is founded. Colombia is at present in a state of discord, its Laws inefficient,, and its credit destroyed! What inducements can it offer to friendly Powers? What security has it of preserving even those Friends which it possesses? Retrograding instead of advancing in its civil career, it inspires only contempt. It has already seen itself provoked and insulted by an Ally, which would not be in existence but for its magnanimity. Your decisions are about to determine whether the friendly Powers which have recognized us, repenting of their act, shall expunge our name from amongst the Nations of the World.

Legislators! Great and arduous is the duty which the National will has confided to you. Execute the difficult task which our Fellow Citizens have entrusted to you, by saving Colombia. Penetrate into the profound feelings of the hearts of your Constituents: you will learn from them the prolonged sufferings to which they have been a prey, and that they sigh for security and for repose. A firm, powerful, and just Government is the cry of the Nation. Behold the Country placed on the ruins left by despotism, pale with fear, deploring the loss of 500,000 Heroes, who have died for it, and by whose blood shed in its fields, its rights have been consecrated.

Yes, Legislators! the dead and the living, sepulchres and ruins, call upon you for Guarantees. I, who am now seated at the hearth of a simple Citizen, and mixed with the multitude, resume my voice and my right, and am the last to call for them, as the foundation of all Society; for I, who have consecrated a religious worship to the Country and to liberty, ought not to remain silent at so solemn a moment. Prepare for us a Government, under which the Law shall be obeyed, the Magistrate respected, and the People free;-a Government which shall conform to the general will and the commands of the People.

Consider Legislators, that energy in the publick force, is the safeguard of individual weakness, the power which deters the unjust, and the consolidation of Society. Consider that the corruption of a People is the immediate consequence of the incompetency of Tribunals, and the impunity of crime. Remember that without energy there is no

virtue, and that without virtue, the Republick must perish. Remember, in short, that anarchy destroys liberty, and that union preserves order.

Legislators! In the name of Colombia, I entreat with earnest prayers, that, like the Providence whom you represent, you will give us, as the Arbiters of our destinies,-for the People, for the Army, for the Judge, and for the Magistrate-Inexorable Laws!

Bogota, 29th February, 1828.

SIMON BOLIVAR.

REPORT of the Secretary of War, to the President of The United States.-26th November, 1827.

SIR,

Department of War, 26th November, 1827. I SUBMIT a Report of the administration of this Department, from the date of my last Report.

I beg leave to refer you to the accompanying Reports, made up in pursuance of my Orders, marked from A, to P. They disclose, in detail, the measures which have been carried into effect in the various branches of the Publick Service, subject to the superintendence of this Department.

The Document A, is a Report of Major General Brown, on the state of the Army. I renew, with pleasure, an expression of my entire satisfaction at the condition of the Army, both as to its moral and military character. As far as I am officially advised, its Officers are now essentially exempt from the degrading vice of intemperance. The few examples which have been made, (though necessary, yet reluctantly,) to cleanse the Army from this blot, united with a declared, unalterable determination, never to pardon when a Sentence of guilt for this offence, on satisfactory evidence, was pronounced by a Court Martial, it is hoped will restrain the very few, if any, who are disposed to forget, in this indulgence, what is due to their characters as Officers of the American Army. To its good discipline, generally, the most ample testimony is borne, and particularly by Major General Brown, who, during the present year, made a tour of inspection through 3 of the great Sections of the Union. The two schools of practice, Fortress Monroe and Jefferson Barracks, will be great auxiliaries in promoting its perfection. For the benefit of the former, I again renew a recommendation for the purchase of horses, contained in former Reports, and for the reasons therein presented. The Fiscal Administration of the Army continues to be entitled to the highest commendation, both as to its economy and punctuality. In the spirit of the former, a retrenchment has been made in the article of Officers' transportation, by which

no inconsiderable expense will, in future, be avoided; and it will be seen, with satisfaction, that, in the articles of clothing and subsistence of the Army, there will be a considerable saving in the ensuing Year, compared with the Present; and, notwithstanding the increased pay and allowance, so justly given at the last Session to Company Officers, and for which no appropriation was made, and also the additional costs incurred in suppressing the threatened hostilities of the Indians, the total amount asked, to meet the various demands on this Department for the Year 1828, is less by near 1,000,000 of dollars than for the Year 1827; principally, however, resulting from surpluses in former Appropriations. And, in relation to its punctuality, no ascertained delinquency whatever has occurred, in any one of its various Departments

I beg leave, also, to recommend to the favourable consideration of Congress, the alteration proposed by the Commissary General of Subsistence, in the organization of that Department, presuming that the mode of supplying the Army by contract, whose advantages have been so satisfactorily manifested, will be continued by a new Act of Legislation, the former Law being about to expire. In confirmation of this suggestion, as to the advantage of supplying the Army by this system, I beg leave to state that the price of rations, although of a much superior quality to those formerly issued, has been reduced to 11 6-10 cents at our most expensive Posts, while at those least so, we procure them at 6 8-10 cents.

I recommend to the consideration of Congress the erection of buildings in or near the City of New York, and in the City of New Orleans, as proposed by the Quarter Master General.

I presume to suggest for the consideration of Congress, the propriety of founding an Army Asylum. Such establishments, it is believed, enter into the policy of every other Nation, and even here have obtained already in the Naval branch of the service. Uniformity of system alone, in the two arms of the national defence, therefore, would seem to require it. The condition of some of the Defenders of their Country during the Revolutionary War, excited so far the sympathy of Congress as to experience its bounty. It is highly probable, in our future History, that many, both Privates and Officers, may be in circumstances no less distressing. Indeed cases are now of frequent occurrence, where the Department is applied to for relief. An honourable Asylum from such a condition, seems to be dictated alike by policy and gratitude. A small monthly deduction from the pay of the Officers and Privates, will constitute the fund for its support. It would manifest the beneficence of the Nation, if means were furnished at once from the Publick Treasury for the erection of the necessary buildings.

The Military Academy at West Point, from the Report of the late Visiters, is progressing with its accustomed success, and loses nothing

in a comparison, according to the testimony of those whose opportu nities enable them to decide, with any Establishment of the kind in the World.

In making selections from the thousands of Candidates, I have redeemed my pledge, made in a former Report, of appointing one Cadet at least from each Congressional District.

In selecting Visiters of Inspection, I have deemed it but an act of justice to invite them from every quarter of the Union; and when it suited the convenience of the immediate Representatives of the People to attend, (as it is a service without reward,) I have given them the preference, that they might, from their own observation, be the better able to decide on its value, and suggest and promote whatever was calculated to increase its usefulness.

The 2 Corps of Engineers have been actively engaged during the Year; some in field duties, others in superintending fortifications. The former have returned to this place, for the purpose of reporting upon their labours. I have had occasion, in former Reports, to suggest the utter inadequacy of the existing organization of these useful Officers, to the demand on their Services.

The various objects upon which Congress directed a reconnoisance to be made, were promptly attended to.

In selecting among the objects presented for reconnoissance by the State Authorities, and respectable Associations of private Citizens, I have to be governed by their relative importance, and a due regard to the fair claims of all parts of the Union. The result of the surveys has, in some instances, reduced the scale of the proposed objects, so as to deprive them of the character of national importance; but, even in these cases, the labours of the Corps have not been lost. By their superior science and experience, they have given valuable information to those concerned, which, from their limited resources, they would have been unable otherwise to have procured. Having finished the survey of the proposed National Road from this place to New Orleans, and made their Report which I had the honour of submitting to the 19th Congress, no further step can be taken by the Department till the pleasure of Congress is signified by Legislative Enactment. Among the many important objects to which the attention of the Department has been directed during the past season, may be particularly enumerated; the great Western National Road; the proposed Ohio and Chesapeake Canal; the Rail Road from Baltimore to the waters of the Ohio; a communication between the waters of James River and the Western waters; the improvement of the navigation in the Teanessee River; and the Canal through Florida. Although the Rail Road is proposed to be effected by individual enterprise alone, it is certainly of great national importance, and justified the Department in applying its means to ascertain its practicability. Reports on all these