zation of American Territory, it could also be declared, that none of the new Governments of this Continent shall alter by force their respective Boundaries as recognized at the time of their emancipation. Thus may be destroyed the germ of future dissensions which, springing up amongst new States, might have a fatal influence upon their Civilization and manners.

The same Minister will establish our Relations with the Republic of Mexico, which, after many fearful vicissitudes, now gives us hopes corresponding with her exalted destinies.

The Republic of Colombia at length sees its vast Territory entirely free from Enemies, and the happy state of our mutual Relations, induces us to expect shortly the Ratification of the Treaty of the 8th of March.

The Minister sent to the Republics of Chili and Peru has strengthened the bonds of our natural Amity and Alliance with them. The illustrious President of Colombia will shortly open the Campaign against the only forces of the Enemy which remain on the Continent. The number and quality of his Troops, the spirit which animates them, and the ability of the Chief who commands them, promise the happiest results.

The base Revolt of the Garrison of Callao, which has at this moment thrown a temporary gloom over our expectations, will soon be lost amid those successes, which must, ere long, put an end to the oppression of Peru. Time has more closely cemented our Alliances with the Provinces of Santa Fé, Entre Rios, and Corrientes. The remaining Provinces of the Old Union continue in a state of tranquillity; and the Government has not only cultivated Friendly Relations with them all, but its efforts for the Establishment of a National Representation promise to be crowned with success. Many of the Provinces have already elected their Representatives, whilst others are preparing to do so; and it is probable that we shall shortly see the Installation of a General Congress, and the re-union of One Common Family, too long dispersed and divided.

In the intimate persuasion that nothing will so much contribute to create a National Spirit above all individual prejudices, as the dissemination throughout every part of the Union of real advantages which till now have been unknown, this Government has hastened its preparations for a General Congress.

The Public Credit and Connections acquired by this Government have enabled it to promote the formation of powerful Companies of Capitalists ready to undertake to explore our Mines; to facilitate the inland Trade and Navigation of the great Rivers which traverse the Provinces of the Union; to introduce in others the means of Transport by Steam Vessels; and finally, to establish a National Bank, which may assist these operations, and provide for the Provinces that Capital which is necessary for the promotion and encouragement of their respective industry.

It is much to be lamented, Gentlemen, that the Court of Brazil should have refused to listen to the just remonstrances made for the restitution of the Province of Monte Video. Enough has been done to prove our moderation; for the rest, it remains with the General Government to act: it is a National Cause, and it is for the Nation to defend it.

The Government had flattered itself, that the voice of reason as well as the dictates of experience, would have led to the Ratification of the Conven

tion of the 4th of July, signed by the Commissioners of His Catholic Majesty, and the establishment of a permanent Peace; but the Policy which predominates in Madrid, since the fall of the Spanish Constitution, and the hostile measures since renewed, incline us to believe that it may, perhaps, be still necessary to complete with the Sword the Work of our Independence. Having given His Catholic Majesty an unlooked for example of generosity, we shall show Him that our original energy is increased with our means of defence.

For this purpose, those Resources are in preparation which the good state of our Domestic Affairs enables us to raise. To the New Administration is reserved the merit of making the wisest and most efficacious use of them. Some measures will in consequence be immediately submitted for your consideration, and it will be satisfactory to you to know the means which you are possessed of, for sustaining a regular Warfare, with greater energy and fewer sacrifices than heretofore. In the mean time we have sent, and continue to send, Succours to the Province of Salta, without reference to those Sums of Money which will be proposed for your Approbation.

Under these circumstances it must be very satisfactory to you to observe the Policy adopted in a manner so dignified, as well as frank, and decided, by His Majesty the King of Great Britain.

The analogy of Feelings and Principles manifested by the Cabinets of London and Washington will convince Spain that She must contend singly with the Free Nations of the New World. This Conviction will, perhaps, introduce into Her Councils that wisdom and moderation which are of so much importance to Her Existence.

We have received, honourably, a Consul-General from His Britannic Majesty, who will reside in our City, and it has been deemed expedient in return, to appoint a Consul-General to reside in London.

In the mean time the Public Peace has not been disturbed; and the last popular Elections, joined to the quiet circumspection with which before a Free and respectful People you have elected a new Governor for the Province, at the time, and in the mode prescribed by the Laws, all prove that good Citizens will not lose their spirit in making a peaceable use of their Freedom,

The Establishments decreed for Juvenile Education in the City, and in the Country, have been completed. These, together with the Schools for Poor Female Children, founded in the City, make a progress which cannot but serve as a stimulus to other Establishments of a similar description; they have multiplied considerably, and given us reason to look forward to the prospect of a rising generation much surpassing that which has preceded it.

The Youth of this and of the other Provinces of the Union, who are educated in our Universities, acquire fresh means of advancing in the moral and natural Sciences, and are neither likely to render fruitless the exertions of the Government, nor the zeal of their Masters.

The study of Political Economy has been commenced this year, a knowledge of which will tend to ensure us hereafter intelligent Officers.

Professorships have been established, which were requisite for the Classical Education of those Young Men who dedicate themselves to the Church.

The Schools of Surgery have been provided with an abundant and excellent collection of Instruments.

A Laboratory of Chemistry, and a most complete Physical Apparatus have been brought from Europe to serve for the Instruction of the Natural Sciences.

To the Collection of Minerals, which already exists, will shortly be added the Machinery adapted to the study of Mineralogy. The School of Practical Agriculture has commenced the introduction into our Country of Trees, of which it was much in want, and will disseminate practical Information, which will render this branch plain to the simplest understanding. The Library continues on the best footing; and has received in the present Year, valuable additions. The Charitable Society has completely fulfilled the Public expectation; to the zeal and intelligence of the Ladies who compose it, are due both the progress in the education of the Girls, and the excellent appearance which the Female Orphan School present. The Hospitals are enlarging, and their interior arrangements are improving, with a considerable reduction of Expense. The Vaccine Establishment has proved, in this year of sickness, its power to contend with, and to overcome, all the violence of the disease. Public Worship is conducted with its usual splendour; the embellishment of the Cathedral of the Province goes on with celerity; some Churches have been repaired, others are building in the Country; and the Treasurer has assisted them with Sums of Money, which will be laid before you for your approbation.

The Clergy continue to do honour to the station they hold in Society; in fine the Country may rest assured that, under every circumstance, it will preserve, without reproach, that glory which it has acquired in the cause of Liberty. Reform in the Administration of Justice is an object of primary importance to the Country; but it is, at the same time, one most difficult and dangerous to carry into effect. That Reform must be founded on the existing Codes; but it would be imprudent to apply them until their first principles are sufficiently understood by those whose duty it may hereafter become to explain and administer the Laws.

The Magistracy has succeeded in gradually diminishing the existing difficulties by an augmentation of its own moral force, and an active anxiety to prevent crimes, and to discourage litigation; and it is but just to confess that it has fulfilled its duty with a laudable zeal; that it has overcome great difficulties arising out of the Laws themselves, and that its labours have been productive of a more efficacious mode of correction of Crimes, and a more correct knowledge of Rights.

The system of the Police has been improved, with greater economy.

The execution of the Law of the 20th of December last has placed in the hands of the Citizens, that duty, purely Civil, with which the Army was formerly improperly entrusted. The moveable Property in the Country, which becomes more liable to be attacked in proportion to its increase, is better secured against robbery; and the means adopted to regulate the service in the Plains have produced the best effects. The Streets of the Town, and the Roads, have received extraordinary improvements, and a useful spirit of enterprise in constructing Bridges, and other Public Works, begins to show itself in the City. The Departments of the Architectural and Hydrau

lic Engineers have satisfactorily fulfilled the duties of their Institution; in a short time they will be provided with those instruments which are requisite for facilitating and extending their operations, especially that of the Harbour. The Standing Army preserves its moral and discipline. It has driven back the Savages who invaded our Province, recovering from them an immense booty; and it is now occupied in constructing Works on the new Frontiers. By the Decree of the 23rd of April of last Year, which has been since carried into execution, the education of those young men is sufficiently provided for, who may be expected to distinguish themselves in the Rank of Officers. But it is necessary to declare to you that the Laws appointed for the Recruiting and Filling up the Army are insufficient; the Government has made every species of sacrifice to effect this object out of the Province, and has only been successful in the Entre Rios. You will, perhaps, now be convinced that there is no other means than those laid before you in the Year 1822. The Military Treasury is in an excellent state; the result of the examination just finished of the Chests of the different Corps, has done honour to their Commanders. The Ordnance, which is now sufficiently provided for ordinary occasions, will be augmented to meet extraordinary emergencies. The Administration of the Public Finances proceeds in good order. It will continue so, provided we consider as Sacred this principle, viz., That "the just Payment of our Debts is itself a Fund of Riches." Our whole Debt is now consolidated. The system of Public Credit is becoming more intelligible even to the most prejudiced and to the least instructed, and this will best ensure its preservation. The Bank has completed the Capital assigned to it on its foundation. Its prosperity exceeds the most sanguine hopes, and its utility is felt by all Classes.

It remains to carry into effect a Coinage suited to our wants, and which may at once be substituted for that which Spain issued to us, after the model of her own. For this object plans and measures are prepared for the Establishment of a Mint on the most perfect and economical footing. The Public Revenue has sufficed, not only for the ordinary, but also for the great extraordinary expences of the Year. It is, however, to be regretted that experience shows us the necessity of a recourse to more efficacious measures, to obtain from the Citizens those moderate direct Contributions which have been decreed as indispensably necessary for the preservation of Public Order; since it appears that the conviction of duty, and the stimulus of honour, upon which they are founded, are totally insufficient.

Industry in the Country increases rapidly, and the amount of Capital employed in Agricultural pursuits becomes every day greater. The necessary means have been taken for the encouragement of an increase of Agriculturists; and it is to be hoped that in a short time, the industrious families who are to people the rich plains of the South will begin to arrive. In proportion as the value of Land increases, the necessity is felt of adopting some decided measures for cutting short those Litigations as to the Boundaries of Property which impoverish families and desolate the Country. The Government has adopted such as it could, and has others in preparation, as well as a general basis for the distribution of Public Lands, which by encouraging industry will become a principal source of Public Revenue.Commerce, assisted by institutions which legalize, and encourage it, has

preserved its prosperity, notwithstanding Political circumstances which limit the sphere of its operations. The dangers of the Navigation of the River up to this City have been diminished, by placing Buoys on the inner Banks; and it is determined to form an Establishment of safe and economical Vessels, which will be stationed on all the Shoals from the Isle of Lobos, and which will be furnished with Signals for the guidance of Navigators, both by Day and Night.

The Accounts of last Year, and the Sums required for the Ordinary Service of the next, are presented, on this occasion, by the Minister of Finance, for your opinion and deliberation.

Finally, Gentlemen, it is impossible that you can contemplate the actual state of the affairs of this Province, without directing your attention to a comparison with that in which they appeared three Years ago, when a feeling of Public Virtue brought us together, to lay the foundation of those wholesome Institutions which have restored to us Order, Liberty, and a Prospect of Peace, then lost to us. The new Administration will have to preserve those Institutions from the errors and false zeal of the well-disposed, which the disorganizing activity of bad Citizens, and the artful hypocrisy of Foreign Tyrants, may turn to their own account. Your cordial and zealous co-operation will not be less necessary to the Government to preserve, than it was to create, these Institutions. You will not, therefore, disapprove, that it concludes by repeating to you the words which the venerable President of the great Republic of our Continent has made use of to its Representatives in his last Message:

"There never was a Period, since the establishment of our Revolution, when, regarding the condition of the Civilized World, and its bearing on us, there was greater necessity for devotion in the Public Servants, to their respective duties, or for Virtue, Patriotism, and Union, in our Constituents."

BERNARDINO RIVADAVIA.

MANUEL J. GARCIA,

MESSAGE of the Vice-President of Colombia, charged with the Government, on the Opening of Congress.

(Translation.)

Bogota, April 6, 1824. CITIZENS of the Senate, and of the Chamber of Representatives. The present Congress meets under more favourable auspices than the former one. Last Year the Enemy still occupied some important points of the Republic, from whence, spreading alarm in the neighbouring Depart ments, he redoubled the efforts of his power to obtain some fortunate success, towards which the artifices of the disaffected, whom we generously tolerated in our Territory, were to have contributed. Fortunately their efforts have been frustrated, and their projects have only served to consolidate public opinion, and to give fresh lustre to the glory of Colombia. You are assem bled to deliberate for the good of our Constituents, in the more tranquil period which Providence has granted us through the unceasing sacrifices of the Colombian Army and People. However uncertain the continuation of the present state of calm may be, the Executive Power feels itself animated by the most lively pleasure in presenting to you the faithful picture of the