minds these great and awful truths, the emanations of the national sentiment: there can be no peace with Tyrants; no faith in their promises; no Law but that of the bayonet; no security but in their expulsion for ever from the Country which they oppress, and which they cover with mourning and with sorrow.

Fellow-Citizens! Let us die with glory rather than live with ignominy unworthy of the name of Peruvians, of the esteem of their Countrymen, and of the protection of the Laws, are they who, careless of the conflicts of the Republick, refuse to it their support, and cruelly withhold from it the sacrifices which it has a right to demand from every one of its Children.

Soldiers! beloved Companions in arms! insuperable barriers of independence! to you I owe the reputation with which I am honoured by our Country. That consoling and beneficent divinity calls upon us, this day, to defend and avenge her. Let us run to encompass her with our arms, and, with them, to form an inpregnable rampart. Let us hasten to an easy and glorious triumph. The brave of Colombia are with us: those who have conquered in the battles for Independence and Liberty, -those who have sustained with their swords the sacred rights of the People; and who, faithful to their consciences, have never deviated from the solemn Oaths they took before God and Man. The satellites of tyranny are not Soldiers, Heroes, or Colombians.

Friends! Let us fly to a combat, which humanity has made us wish to avoid, but to which we are now compelled by the temerity of the Enemy of our Constitution and Laws. The Soldiers of the Republick bear with them the triumph of reason, and the irresistible valour which it inspires, and which controuls even fortune. Shew yourselves as worthy, as ever, to sustain the cause of justice and of honour. Yes: let us revive the sullied glory of the Republican Arms: let us prove to the Universe, and let us make our unjust Enemies sensible, that virtue is the soul of our Armies; that they are not incited by the abominable thirst of conquest which characterizes the celebrated Banditti, who, aspiring to a false and execrable heroism, sacrifice thousands of victims to their unbounded ambition.

Lima, 30th August, 1828.

JOSE DE LA MAR.

SPEECH of the President of Mexico, on the Opening of Congress.-2d January, 1828.

(Translation.)

CITIZENS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND SENATORS OF THE CONGRESS

OF THE UNION.

NATIONS whose existence is modern, have to struggle against old customs and prejudices, against the efforts of the Partizans of the

system which has been overturned, and sometimes against the enthusiasm which so easily degenerates into anarchy and confusion.

After the lapse of 2 Years, during which period the United States of Mexico had appeared to be exempt from those evils which from time to time afflict even the most prosperous People of the Globe,-after they had been regarded, by those who were the least confident of the stability of their system, as for ever safe from the attempts of hidden enemies, to undermine the edifice of their liberties,-on a sudden a conspiracy discovered itself, plotted by Spaniards, with the treacherous intention of again enchaining our infant Republick in the bonds of slavery. The Executive, at the onset, foresaw the consequences of this event, and employed all the means in its power, in conformity with the tenour and spirit of the Laws, for the discovery of the accomplices and the exemplary punishment of the guilty. The Tribunals which, from the nature of their institution, have taken cognizance of this important affair, have faithfully discharged their duty, and have answered the expectations of the Government. The complication of the Laws, which it has not hitherto been possible to methodize, retarded, however, the conclusion of the legal Proceedings, that ought to have been distinguished by the promptitude of their execution. The Executive perceived with sorrow that this circumstance, combined with others which all its zeal could not remove, contributed to create and diffuse alarm and distrust.

The subsequent events are notorious, and, when exposed to the civilized World, will induce it to acknowledge the expediency and wisdom of the measures adopted by the legitimate Representatives of the Nation. Their wishes have been complied with, so far as they were just. Something, however, is still wanting, in order to the consummation of the labours which will immortalize the sacred Constitutional Congress of the Republick: anarchy must be effectually restrained, and the inestimable right of petition regulated,—a privilege of vital necessity to the People, but one which if exercised beyond the bounds of prudence and reason, is capable of conducting them to their own destruction.

The Government, shielded by the Law, will support, at all risks, the will of those entrusted with the interests of the sovereign People. The Executive, which has hitherto given so many proofs of its moderaation and lenity, will now, Gentlemen, evince its inexorable firmness and energy, for the purpose of restoring the community to a state of tranquillity.

The disturbances commenced in Durango in August, 1826, and whilst the question of the elections for the Legislature was under discussion, they increased to such an extent that, in March last, a small portion of the armed force of the Republick openly declared itself in favour of the fulfilment of an Article of the Law which regu

lates the Elections of that State. The Decree of the 24th of the same month of March, issued by the General Congress, and the active measures taken by the Executive, re-established order in a part of the Federation, worthy, without doubt, of enjoying all the benefits of our system of Government.

The question respecting the choice of a suitable place for the residence of their seat of Government long agitated the State of Sonora and Sinaloa: at length the "Mineral" of Alamos has been fixed upon by the Legislature for that purpose.

If small portions of the Army have, unfortunately, taken part in the disturbances which have arisen in other parts of the Republick, it must be admitted that, at the call of the Government, they have returned to their duty with exemplary obedience; and this obedience indicates the continuance of that principle of submission to the Laws which so eminently characterizes and recommends the Mexican Soldier. The Government will use every effort to prevent the repetition of these slight deviations from strict discipline. The Army continues perfectly armed, cloathed, and equipped.

The Department of Engineers will now attain a state of complete organization, in consequence of the Law of the 5th of November last; the Executive will be careful to employ fit Persons in this Corps, and, such only as shall have previously undergone the strictest examination.

When the still pending deliberations respecting the General Staff, the Recruiting Service, Deserters, the Tribunal of War and Marine, the Adjutants of Cavalry, the Regulation of the Active Militia, Widows' Pensions, Repairs of Fortresses, Military College, the Judge Advocates of the "Commanderies," and various other points which are of the highest importance to the perfect regulation of the several different branches of the Army, and which require definitive Laws, shall have been finally concluded, the Government feels that it will have attained its proper dignity and splendour.

Our Naval Squadron has continued for 8 months cruizing along the Coasts of the Island of Cuba, in sight of the superior Forces of the Enemy, and occasioning considerable injury to its Commerce. With a view to the complete regulation of, and the adoption of a uniform system in, this branch of the Service,-a most important branch so long as the War lasts with stubborn Spain,-it is of urgent importance, that the Report of the Committee, which the Government, for that purpose, has laid before the Chambers, should meet with imme

diate attention.

The regulation of the Prize Courts demands also the enactment of such Laws as the General Congress may think fit to decree, for the purpose of legally substantiating the condemnation of such Prizes as may be captured by our Ships of War and Privateers. The Executive will present to the Congress, during the present Session, the Project

of a suitable Law for the establishment of a very strict system of Police, and the punctual dispatch of business, in the legally constituted Ports.

The extraordinary Expences attending our continued War with Spain, require that the Receipts of the Treasury be augmented beyond the usual Estimates. I, therefore, recommend the Chambers to give their particular attention to a matter of such paramount importance, identified, as it is, with the maintenance of good order, and the defence of the Institutions we have sworn to support. The regulation of the Receiver-Generalships, and of the important branches of the General Treasury and Maritime Custom-houses, with regard to which your labours are already advanced, will facilitate the desired result. The Congress will not forget that the prosperity of the Finance Department is the standard by which publick prosperity is estimated. The resources of the Mexican Nation are immense. You, Gentlemen, by introducing a proper system for the management of the Revenue, and adopting every possible economy, will free the Nation from the engagements which, under different circumstances, it was found indispensable to contract.

The power of granting instructions for arranging Concordats with the Apostolick See, of approving and ratifying them, and of regulating the Presentations to Ecclesiastical Benefices, having been reserved to the General Congress, the successive Congresses and Governments which have been established, since the Independence of our Country was proclaimed, have been occupied with this important subject; all of them displaying, by their assiduous labours, the greatest proof of the esteem with which they regard the Mexican Church. The Instructions for our Envoy to Rome, and the Regulation of Church Preferment, justly deserved the first consideration; and the Senate, in the Extraordinary Session which has just terminated, after a free and general discussion, have, by approving the Instructions which the Chamber of Deputies had formerly sanctioned, expedited this difficult business. The Government, always much interested in the quick dispatch of Ecclesiastical Affairs, have taken, and will continue to take, all the necessary measures for the attainment of the object in view.

The Mexican Church, so worthy of the consideration of the Executive and of the Chambers, claims, in so far as it depends upon Congress, the protection which the Constitution provides for it, and which the Secretary for that Department will explain in his Report, and by other Communications.

The Executive, in the Project of a Law presented on the 20th of April, had in view the perfection of the Tribunals of the United Mexican States: in it were afforded the explanations which appeared necessary to the Law of the 20th of May, 1826, comprehending all the

points which experience has offered to their observation, from the period that the Government was first zealously and industriously employed in establishing those Tribunals.

The increase of the salaries of several of the Judges and AttorniesGeneral, which the Government has considered just and equitable, ought to be considered, with reference to the nature and extent of their labours, the privations and sacrifices to which they are exposed, from the unhealthiness of the climate and the poverty of the Country in which they reside: some such compensation is due to those Citizens, whose well-being is secured to them, without the necessity of their exposing themselves to such troubles and inconveniences.

The Mission to Europe of the Plenipotentiary of the Republick, Citizen Sebastian Camacho, has produced the most important results.

The Treaties of Amity, Navigation, and Commerce with His Majesty the King of England, and His Majesty the King of The Netherlands, are concluded as happily as the sincere well-wishers of our national prosperity could desire. Both have received the approbation of Congress, to which will be communicated the results of the Negotiations of the same Minister with the Governments of France, Prussia, Denmark, Hanover, and the Hanseatick Cities, so soon as the Government shall have completed its examination of them.

Our relations with England have become more intimate and cordial, notwithstanding the great loss which the Cause of the liberty of America has suffered, by the lamented death of the Right Honourable Mr. George Canning.

The Government of France has commissioned, in due form, a Consul for Xalapa and Vera Cruz, and has provisionally appointed him as Consul-General at this Capital. He has been recognized in this double capacity, and is in the full exercise of his functions, as are also the subordinate Commercial Agents whom he has nominated at certain Points in the Republick. Our Commercial Agents in France, whe ther chief or subordinate, continue in the full exercise of their duties. That Government has also taken measures for the encouragement of a direct intercourse between the two Governments, by the establishment of monthly Packets, for the convenience of individuals interested in Commerce. I expect information from our Agent, respecting the terms upon which this Arrangement has been concluded.

The Government of the Netherlands has also nominated a ConsulGeneral, and other subordinate Agents, whose Commissions have been duly dispatched. The Government of that enlightened and philanthropick Nation proposes to recognize in form the Chargé d'Affaires of the United Mexican States, so soon as the intelligence of the Ratification of the Treaty shall arrive, and does acknowledge him, in the mean time, as Confidential Agent.

The Hanseatick Towns of Hamburgh and Bremen have comm is