Coro had been in a state of insur rection fomented by Spanish agents; the district of Ocana was under the dominion of a faction; the province of Guayaquil, distur bed in the interior, was exposed to the fury of anarchy, and a maritime force fearlessly domineered over our Atlantic coast. Now, all has disappeared, and this immense territory, once in the possesion of Spain, is now under the protection of the laws and government of Colombia. Licentiousness, which generally follows in the train of war, has not stained the reputation of the defenders of the republic-the laws have spoken their voice has been more tremendous than the clash of arms, and the conquerors, in a thousand battles, have never hesitated to obey them with submission. A desperate attempt of the enemy, which his superior maritime force enabled him to make, has roused the public spirit, and recalled to the liberating army its most sacred duty-that of renewing its sacrifices for the independence of the country. Maracaibo, being occupied by the expeditionary general, the executive power conceived itself to be in the situation contemplated by Art. 128 of the constitution, and has used the extraordinary powers attributed to it in such manner and terms as will be laid before the Congress distinctly. If I have not as yet experienced the satisfaction of learning the complete destruction of the enemy, I have at least that of knowing that his intentions have been frustrated in the invasion of Merida and Truxillo, and that the departments of Venezuela and Boyaca are in a state of security, the reinforcements of the army of the Magdalena having been efficaciously disposed, and the fortresses of Puerto-Cabello and

Maracaibo being in a state of rigorous blockade. Had it not been for the unfortunate occurrence of the insurrection of a few places in Santa Martha, the government would now have announced to the Congress the freedom of the department of Zulia.

The standing army and the national militia require careful regulations and organization; without these, the government will continue to experience such difficulties and opposition as the enormous difference between the political system of a free state and the military system of an absolute monarchy necessarily produce. The fortresses which come into our possession in a ruinous state require urgent repairs the magazines and parks of artillery require stores and other warlike supplies, which render the republic respectable. I recommend to the Congress, with that ardour which it is incumbent on me to feel, the fate of the widows, and of the soldiers and officers disabled in the service of the country.

The exertions of the government have procured for the republic a sufficient maritime force to protect our coasts and the foreign trade. Without it we should be still subject to the Spanish squadron, to whose superiority, as I have already said, the enemy is exclusively indebted for the advantages he has attained. But this valuable acquisition will be of no use, if the Congress does not supply the government with the means to maintain, increase, and repair whatever the course of military events or the accidents of the elements may render necessary. The secretary of the Navy will lay before the Congress more detailed information on this head, and will present to it

the result of the glorious trials which our forces have begun to make, together with the regulations, ordinances, and other provisions which the executive has made, in virtue of the law, to procure and preserve such a maritime force as our geographical position requires.

Gentlemen-I have lived only to contribute to the fulfilment of the will of the nation: to the rigorous observance of the laws I have sacrificed projects of utility and convenience, persuaded that submission to them is never more necessary than in the commencement of the establishment of a political system, and that no one ought to bow to them with greater respect than he who is placed at the head of the government. If circumstances have obliged me to exercise the extraordinary powers which the constitution permits, it never has been my intention to avail myself of them either against the political freedom of the nation, or of the individual liberty of the citizens. Foreign enemies and internal tranquillity have been the only objects I have had in view in the exercise of such powers; and in testimony of this truth I can appeal to the whole population of

the republic. I have endeavoured to employ the authority, which the representatives of the nation deposited in my hands, to its proper purpose, and if I have not advanced, so far as my desires and my conscience led me to wish, the Congress must attribute it to the want of means, of time, and of tranquility, and not to my senti ments. From the moment when I took the reins of government, I was persuaded that I was placing myself under a load superior to my strength-that I renounced my liberty, and constituted myself a slave of Colombia; and I must frankly confess that, if I did not place my hopes in the labours and assistance of the Congress, I should not hesitate a moment in recover ing my liberty. In conclusion, gentlemen, I congratulate the re public on the installation of the first constitutional legislature, and entreat of you, with the most ardent feelings of my heart, that we may unite our exertions, our vigilance, and our sentiments, to labour for the happiness of Colom bia, and preserve entire the precious treasure of her independence and liberty.

FRANCISCO DE PAULO SANTANDER. Bogota, 17th April, 1823—13th.

To all persons who may see these presents, health.

Whereas, between the republic

of Colombia and the state of Peru there was concluded and signed, in the city of the freemen of Lims, on the 6th of July, in the year of grace, 1822. by plenipotentiaries sufficiently authorized on both sides, a treaty of perpetual union, coalition, and confederation, the tenour of which is literally as fallows:

In the name of God, the Sovereign Governor of the Universe!

The government of the republic of Colombia on the one part, and that of the state of Peru on the other, being animated with a sincere wish to put an end, as early as possible, to the calamities of the present war, provoked by the government of his Catholic majesty, the king of Spain, by efficaciously co-operating to so desirable an end with all their influence, means, and sea and land forces, until they have secured for ever, to their respective countries, subjects, and citizens, the valuable enjoyments of their internal tranquillity, freedom, and national independence; and his excellency the liberator, president of Colombia, having for this purpose conferred full powers on the hon. Joaquin Mosquera, member of the senate of the said republic; and the state of Peru on colonel Don Bernardo Monteagudo, counsellor and minister of state and foreign affairs, founder and member of the great council of the order of the Sun, and secretary thereof, decorated with the medal of the liberating army, superintendant-general of the post-office, and president of the patriotic society, they have, after exchanging in good and due form their said powers, agreed upon the following articles:

Art. 1. The Republic of Colombia and the State of Peru, hereby agree to unite, bind, and confederate themselves in peace and war, from this time forward for ever, in order to sustain with their influence, and sea and land forces, as far as circumstances will allow, their independence of the Spanish nation, and of all other foreign dominion whatever; and to secure, after the same has been acknow

edged, their mutual prosperity, the best harmony and understanding, as well between their own countries, subjects, and citizens, as the other nations with whom they will have to enter relations.

2. The Republic of Colombia and the State of Peru, therefore, spontaneously promise and contract a perpetual compact of intimate alliance and firm and constant friendship for their common defence, for the security of their independence and liberty, for their reciprocal and general welfare, and their interior tranquillity; binding each other to afford mutual aid, and in common to repel all attack and invasion which may, in any manner, threaten their political existence.

3. In cases of sudden invasion, both parties may operate hostilely on the territory of each, whenever the circumstances of the moment do not allow of a special agreement being made with the government to whom belongs the sovereignty of the invaded territory. The party, however, so operating, shall observe, and cause to be observed, the statutes, regulations, and laws of the respective state, as far as circumstances will allow, and cause the government thereof to be respected and obeyed. The expenses which may be incurred in these operations shall be settled by particular conventions, and paid within one year after the conclusion of the present war.

4. In order to secure and perpetuate, in the best manner possible, good friendship and intercourse between both States, the citizens of Peru and Colombia shall enjoy the rights and prerogatives belonging to citizens born in both territories; that is to say, that Colombians shall be held

in Peru to be Peruvians, and the latter in the Republic of Colombia to be Colombians; without pre judice to the extensions or restrictions which the legislative power of either state has made, or may think fit to make, with respect to the exercise of the first magistra cies. But to enter upon the enjoyment of the other rights, active and passive, of citizens, it shall be sufficient that they have their domicile in the State to which they may choose to belong.

5. The subjects and citizens of both States shall have free entry and departure in their respective ports and territories, and shall there enjoy all the civil rights and privileges of trade and commerce, subjecting themselves only to such duties, imposts, and restrictions to which the subjects and citizens of either of the contracting parties may be subject.

6. By virtue thereof, the vessels and territorial productions of each one of the contracting parties shall pay no more duties of importation, exportation, anchorage, and tonnage, than those established, or which may be hereafter established, for national vessels in the ports of each state, according to the laws in force; that is, that the vessels and production of Colombia shall pay such duties of entry and clearance in the ports of the state of Peru, as are paid by Peruvians; and the vessels and productions of Peru, the same as Colombians in the ports of Colombia.

7. Both contracting parties bind themselves to furnish every aid in their power to the vessels of war and merchantmen arriving in the ports belonging to either, in cases of distress, or through any other motive; and accordingly, they shall be allowed to heave down,

refit, take in provisions, arm, increase their armament and crews, so as to be able to continue their voyages or cruises at the expense of the state or individuals to whom they belong.

8. In order to avoid the scandalous abuses which may be caused on the high seas by privateers, armed on account of the individuals, in detriment to national and neutral commerce, the contracting parties agree to extend the juris diction of their maritime courts to the privateers navigating under the flag of either, and the prizes thereof indistinctly, whenever they cannot easily proceed to the ports to which they belong, or there is any suspicion of their having committed excesses against the trade of neutral nations, with whom both states ought to cultivate the best harmony and good understanding.

9. The demarcation of the precise limits which are to divide the territories of the Republic of Colombia and the state of Peru, shall be stipulated by a particular convention, after the next constituent congress of Peru shall have empowered the executive government of the said state to settle that point: and the differences which may arise on this subject shall be adjusted by those conciliatory and specific means which become two fraternal and confederate nations

10. If, unfortunately, internal tranquillity should be interrupted in any part of the aforesaid states by turbulent and seditious persons, or enemies of those governments legally constituted by the will of the inhabitants, freely, quietly, and peaceably expressed by virtue of the laws, both parties hind themselves solemnly and formally to make common cause against

them, by mutually aiding each other by every measure in their power, until order and the empire of the laws shall have been reestablished.

11. If any person, guilty or accused of treason, sedition, or any other grievous crime, should fly from justice, and should be found in the territory of either of the aforesaid states, he shall be delivered up and sent back to the disposal of the government that has taken cognizance of his crime, and under whose jurisdiction he is liable to be tried, as soon as the offended party has made the demand in due form. Deserters from the armies and national navy of both the contracting parties are also comprehended in this article.

12. This treaty or convention of union, and firm and perpetual friendship, shall be ratified by the government of the state of Peru within the period of ten days, without prejudice to the approbation which it has still to receive from the constituent congress; and by the government of the republic of Colombia, as soon as the same shall have received the approbation of the senate, by virtue of the law passed by congress, on the 13th of October, 1821; and in case, through any accident, the senate cannot meet, the same shall be ratified by the ensuing congress, conformably to the provisions of this constitution of the republic, made in articles 55, section 18. The ratifications shall be exchanged without delay, and within such period as the distance which separates the two states will allow.

In faith whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the present, and sealed the same with the respective seals of the states they represent.

Done in the city of the freemen of Lima, on the 6th of July, in the year of grace, and the 12th of the independence of Colombia, and the 3rd of that of Peru. (Signed)

BERNARDO MONTEAGUDO, JOAQUIN MOSQUERA. above treaty of perpetual union, Having seen and examined the coalition, and confederation, in anapprobation of the congress of the ticipation of the consent and republic, conformable to article 55, section 18, of the constitution, I have exercised the power conferred on me by article 120, in these presents I do ratify and hold ratifying the said treaty; and by it to be valid and binding in all its articles and clauses, with the exception of the words "and for their interior tranquillity" of the second article; all that is expressed in the tenth article; and what follows of the eleventh article, viz.—“ If any person, guilty or accused of treason, sedition or any other grievous crime, should fly from justice, and should be found in the territory of either of the aforesaid states, he shall be delivered up and sent back to the disposal of the government that has taken cognizance of his crime, and under whose jurisdiction he is liable to be tried, as soon as the offended party has made the demand in due form."

And for the execution and punctual observance of the same on our part, I engage and solemnly pledge the national honour.

In faith whereof, &c. FRANCISCO DE P. SANTANDER. (Countersigned) PEDRO GUAL. Bogota, July 12, 1823.

FRANCISCO DE PAULA SANTANDER, &c. &c.

Whereas, between the Republic of