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THE session of the congress of the United States for 1826 was opened on 6th December, of the previous year. In the President's message on the occasion, it was remarked, alluding to the recent renewal of diplomatic missions between Great Britain and the United States, that assurances had been given and received of the continuance and increase of the mutual confidence and cordiality by which the adjustment of many points of difference had been already effected, and which afforded the surest pledge for the ultimate satisfactory adjustment of those which still remained open, or might arise. It was observed, that the proposal made by the act of Congress 3d March, 1816, to all the maritime nations, to lay aside the system of retaliating restrictions and exclusions, and to place the shipping of both parties to the common trade on a footing of equality, in respect to duties, had been partially and successively adopted by Great Britain, Sweden, the Netherlands, the Hanseatic towns, Prussia, Sardinia, Oldenburgh, Russia, and lastly France. It also referred to a mass of claims of indemnity which citizens of the States had upon France, for property taken or destroyed "under circumstances

of the most aggravated and outra geous character," and the hesitation of the French government to reply to the representations made by the American minister on the subject. It further alluded to similar claims upon the Netherlands, Naples, and Denmark. The message then proceeded to notice the relations of the United States with the new American republics; and went into a lengthened detail of domestic affairs, suggesting various improvements in their social institutions. It farther stated, that a treaty of navigation and commerce had been concluded with Colombia; and that the United States had been invited to send representatives to the Congress about to be assembled at Pa-. nama, and accepted the invitation.

On 17th March, the President sent a message to the House of Representatives, requiring a provision to be made for the expense of a mission, on the part of the United States, to the Congress of Panama. It was of extreme length, and not very interesting. It laid down some principles which might admit of being questioned. For example, in reply to one objection made to the mission, that it might give offence to the Holy Alliance, the President observed, that since the United States had

never interfered in the affairs of Eu rope, the powers of Europe could not be permitted to meddle with those of America. This reasoning appears to us anything but logical. The abstinence of the United States from foreign politics may have been owing to their having no interest in them, direct or indirect, or from a sense that they could not interfere with effect, excepting to injure themselves; but such abstinence, arising wholly from selfishness, could never be regarded as creating a new rule in the law of nations which other govern ments were bound to observe. The attempts to assign geographical boundaries to the right of interference was whimsical and absurb. Abstractedly, the affairs of South America were as foreign to the United States as to any of the nations of Europe. The comparative remoteness of the latter could be of no consequence, since between nations ever so remote most

important relations may be formed and established. It is diplomacy and commerce, not propinquity of situation, that create the most interesting ties between nations, and it is out of these that the right of interference most naturally springs.

The message underwent much discussion, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The proposed mission was resisted by many of the members from the southern states, who disliked any close connexion being formed with the new republics, on account of their having abolished slavery within their respective territories; but at length, it was fully sanctioned by considerable majorities. . In both the legislative bodies a strong opposition was formed of the partizans of General Jackson, and Mr Crawford, two of the unsuccessful candidates for the presidency at the last election; and nearly the whole session was consumed in the most

violent reproaches and recriminations between them and the supporters of administration. The accusation of bribery, in particular, was bandied about from one to another in a way truly edifying to all who suppose that corruption is peculiar to monarchial governments. Owing to the dissensions which prevailed, the public business was, in a great measure, impeded, or rather neglected; and the only act of any importance that distinguished the session was authorizing the survey of a line for a canal across the isthmus of Florida, for connecting the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

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On 28th April the President, with consent of the Senate, concluded a treaty with the Creek Indians, by which the latter ceded to the United States their whole territory in Geor gia, in consideration of which the States engaged to pay them immedi ately 217,600 dollars, and a perpetual annuity of 20,000 dollars; to allot to the partisans of the Creek Chief M Intosh, a district of country west of the Mississippi, to be at the expense of transporting them thither, and sup ply them with provisions for twelve months after their arrival; and be sides, to pay to them a sum, according to their number, in the proportion of 100,000 dollars to 300,000 persons. The senators and members of the House of Representatives from Georgia, entered their protest against the above treaty.

This year the United States sustained a melancholy loss in the death; of two of their ex-presidents and founders of their republic-John Adams and Thomas Jefferson; and: it is not a little singular, that both died on the same day, and about the same hour.

From official statements, it appear ed, that the United States had made very considerable progress in manu

factures. Their yearly importation of wool had increased to nearly eleven millions of dollars in value; the capital engaged in manufactures of all kinds exceeded forty millions, which gave employment to 600,000 individuals, and produced goods amount ing to about thirty millions in value, per annum.

The receipts of the national treasury for 1825, amounted to 28,787,455 dol. lars, 15 cents, and the expenditure to 23,585,804d. 72c., the excess of the former over the latter being thus 5,201,650d. 43c. The expenditure consisted of 2,748,544d. 89c., for the civil list; 5,692,831 d. 19c., for the military service; 3,049,083d. 86c. for the navy; and 12,095,344d. 78c. for the interest and redemption of the national debt. The treasury receipts for the three first quarters of 1826, amounted to 19,585,983d. 50c., and the expenditure to 18,714,226d. 66c. The receipts for the whole of that year were estimated by the secretary of the treasury at 25,885,932d. 52c. and including the surplus of 1825, at 31,087,582d. 93c., and the expenditure at 24,662,043d. 96c. The amount of the national debt on 1st October, 1826, was 75,923,151d. 47c.

The Congress of Panama, which had been so impatiently expected, opened its sittings on 22d June. Had the stability and power of the new states which it represented been at all commensurate with the extent of their territories, or had their governments and people possessed a dignity of moral character, corresponding in any degree with the nominal freedom of their institutions, this Congress would have been the most august and imposing that ever assembled. As it was, it too faithfully reflected that indecision of purpose, and that vague and imperfect knowledge, combined with a much larger proportion of surviving

ignorance and prejudice, which are the characteristics of their constituents. The Congress consisted of deputies from only four of the new states, Mexico, Guatimala, Peru, and Colombia, and was attended by a commissioner for Great Britain, Mr Dawkins, and two commissioners for the United States. The opening speech of its President, Don Manuel Vidaurre, deputy for Peru, and a great lawyer, treated, de omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis, excepting such things as were any way pertinent to the objects for which the Congress was convened. It became the sub ject of universal ridicule, and threw an air of burlesque over the whole proceedings of the Congress. The effects of the climate produced a spee dy dispersion of this body. Mr Anderson, one of the commissioners for the United States, and two secretaries of the British plenipotentiary fell victims to it. The Congress speedily closed its sittings, after having, on 15th July, signed a treaty of union and perpetual confederation, between the powers represented at it, to which the other American powers were invited to accede; and a convention, which fixed the contingent to which each state was liable for the common defence. It was resolved, that the Congress should resume its sittings at Tacubaya, in the neighbourhood of the city of Mexico, but no time for its doing so was determined on; from which we infer, that its members were sufficiently tired of each other.

On 24 January, the Mexican Congress opened its sittings. From a report of the minister of finance, it appeared that the coinage in the na tional mints had, in the first eight months of 1825, risen to 7,889,044 dollars, and was upon the increase; that the whole receipts for the treasury of 1825, amounted to 17,658,942,

and its expenditure, comprehending the interest of foreign loans, to 16,666,463 dollars.

A committee of the senate report ed, that the Mexican nation ought to resist the extravagant pretensions of the court of Rome; and that while it acknowledged the Catholic religion to be that of the state, the Congress should have the nomination to all va cant bishoprics, but pay to the Holy See, for this assumption of the right of patronage, a yearly voluntary oblation of 100,000 pesos. This proposal was afterwards adopted as a law, with considerable modifications. The session of Congress closed on the 23d May, after it had passed four resolutions; the first, that the republic would listen to no proposition to be made by Spain, or by any other power, which had not for its basis a recognition of the republic's complete independence; second, that it would never accede to any demand made by Spain, or any other power on its be half, for indemnity or tribute, as a compensation for the loss by Spain of its former supremacy; third, that any Mexican who should, by writing, or viva voce, publicly or privately, with in the Mexican territory, or out of it, make any proposal repugnant to the first of these resolutions, should be held guilty of high treason, and pu nished with death; fourth, that any Mexican who should, in like manner, propose anything in opposition to the: second resolution, should be punish ed with imprisonment for eight years..

In a message addressed to the Colombian Congress, upon the 2d of January, a vague allusion was made to a project which had been enter tained by the government, in concert with that of Mexico, for the invasion of Cuba, but which certain circumstances had induced them to aban don.

VOL. XIX. PART I,

A variety of reports were soon afterwards submitted to Congress, by the different ministers of state. The one by the minister of the Interior, in noticing the progress of cultivation, stated, that two societies for the encou ragement of colonization from Europe, having a capital of six millions and a half of piastres, had lately re ceived a grant of, and exposed to sale, 600,000 fanegas of land; and the minister demanded that another mil lion should be added to the three millions which government was already authorized by law to dispose of to European emigrants. He also suggested the propriety of having all the great roads repaired; the encouragement of the manufactures of woollens and cottons, which had gone into decay; the introduction of machinery and steam-vessels; the extension of the Lancasterian system of education; the suppression of all convents which had not more than eight priests; a reform of the law regarding religious bequests; and a prohibition against either man or woman taking religious vows before the age of twenty years. Most of these suggestions were adopted as laws by the Congress.

The report of the finance minister was melancholy in the extreme. It appeared from it that the army alone. more than devoured the whole revenue of the country. The total expen-> diture for 1826 was estimated at 15,487,719 dollars; and the wholereceipts that could be calculated upon amounted to only 6,196,725 dollars!

On the 14th of May, the constitu tional term for the election of a president and a vice-president having arrived, Bolivar was re-elected to the former office by 583 votes out of 608, and Santander was unanimously reelected to the latter office. Both had expressed anxiety to be allowed to retire into private life, but events

occurred which gave a disastrous turn to the political position and affairs of the republic, and rendered their experience and the authority of their names indispensable to its salvation.

General Paez, military commander of Venezuela, had executed with extraordinary rigour in that province, where it was very unpopular, the militia law of 31st August, 1824; and it was particularly objected to him, that of his own authority, and not in concert with the civil power, he had employed the soldiery to arrest such individuals as were subject to the law, but had failed, after three repeated sum monses, to enrol themselves; and that in discharging such duty, the soldiers indulged in gratuitous cruelties, at the expense of the reluctant conscripts. This conduct of Paez was denounced to the Congress by the intendant general, Escalona, and municipality of Caraceas; and, notwithstanding the weighty influence possessed by Paez in the army, on account of his exploits, his great wealth, and, above all, his connexion with the Mulattoes, the House of Representatives, on 6th March, had the courage, by a great majority, to decree his impeachment. On the 30th, the Senate admitted the impeachment, suspended the general from his functions, and directed him to be replaced by General Es

calona.

There were two parties in the republic, one who desired the entire rights of sovereignty to be vested in the central government; another who conceived that a federal system, such as that which obtained in the United States and in Mexico, was the only one of a democratical character that was adapted to a republic of such amazing extent as that of Colombia, and consisting of so many different provinces. In fixing the constitution of 1821, the former party prevailed, only a clause was introduced into it,

which subjected it to a revision in 1831, and to such changes as might then be found necessary; but expe rience of the many inconveniences and evils resulting from the system which was adopted-of governing by delegated authority provinces situate at an immense distance from the centre of power, had added greatly to the strength of the federal party, particularly in Venezuela. With this party Paez thought proper to coalesce; and, instead of repairing to Bogota, as he had been directed, to answer the articles of impeachment, he placed himself at the head of it.

Paez

On 5th May, the city of Valencia revolted against the government; and both the municipality and citizens, after having placed Escalona and his officers under arrest, implored Paez to resume the command of the troops, and bestow upon Venezuela a separate administration. at first hesitated, and made many protestations of his fidelity to the constitution. In the meantime, the seditious spirit of Valencia had communicated itself even to the city of Caraccas, from which the accusations against the general had emanated; and the citizens, having been convoked by their magistracy, resolved to accede to the measures pursued by the people of Valencia; to dispatch a mission to Bolivar, then in Peru, imploring him to return to his native soil, and exert his great influence with the whole provinces, in order to have a grand national assembly convoked for the immediate revision of the constitution; and to nominate Paez civil and military chief of Venezuela, with full authority to raise troops for the protection of the territory and peace of the province, until the arrival of the Liberator.

In a few days the cities upon the coast, such as La Guayra and Porto Cabello, and also the plains of Apure,