504 
people.at.large, will illustrate the state 
of those countries :— 
Columbians !—This' day'sthe Congress 
terminates the august duties with which it 
was charged, and the members, your re- 
presentatives, retire to their respective 
homies, confident that they have accom- 
plished the object of your wishes. You 
are now possessed of: such a Constitution 
as appeared best adapted to the condition 
of the country, and most calculated to in- 
sure to you your liberty and: prosperity. 
The Republic bas also been consolidated, 
by the integral and legitimate union of the 
territories of which it is now composed, 
The duties of the rulers have moreover 
been defined and circumscribed; your 
rights are now placed under the most so- 
lemn guarantees for their, security. 
The territory is divided into. depart. 
ments, and these haye received the neces- 
sary organization in all the branches of 
government. Courts of justice have beeu 
established to settle your personal dif- 
ferences and to punish delinquents; and 
with a view to the commen benetit and 
protection of the citizens, tribunals have 
been established in every province, for 
causes of lesser importance. The admi- 
nistration of -justice influences, in a great 
measure, the safety of the citizen; it has 
therefore deserved the particular consi- 
deration of Congress, 
Ignorance was the basis on which the 
government of Spain built its power, as 
being the only condition that could uphold 
slavery; but a Republic like ours can 
alone be maintained by the united virtues 
aud knowledge of its citizens. In order, 
therefore, to advance this great object, 
Congress has determined to establish 
schools, houses of education, colleges and 
universities, and has further appropriated 
the revenues of suppressed religious estab- 
lishments to its accomplishment. 
Nor has the condition of that unhappy 
portion of men who bore the mark of 
slavery among you been overlooked. In 
decreeing, however, the abolition of sla- 
very, in proscribing for ever this barba- 
rots custom, Congress has not acted an- 
justly to innocent proprietors; it has paid 
the homage due to reason, without being 
deaf to the claims of property sanctioned 
by. good faith... 
The public revenue, greatly decreased 
by the calamities: of a disastrons, war, is 
re-established by economical and salutary 
laws, regulations having been adopted, 
which, whilst they increase the revenue, 
will at the same time diminish the burdens 
that oppress the people. No longer shall 
you pay.the duties of alcabala on the ali- 
mentary produce of your industry; the 
import duties have been lessened as much 
as possible, and those on exports have 
also been considerably reduced, 
The distilling of spirituous liquors is 
Political, Affairs in June. 
[July 4, 
free, andythis exemption, which removes 
such -heavy  vexations. from the public, 
must hereafter prove a: fruitful source of 
yiches,and prosperity. |) By the, revenue 
laws, now. in force, you!will be enabled to 
contribute to the wants of; the) State onja 
small, and equal, scale, whilst. at the|same 
time you gain). your.own livelihood with 
ease, As, however, the Governmenty is 
still compelled to incur increased and un- 
avoidable expences, Congress has decreed 
a direct contribution, proportioned to the 
means of the, contributors, equally opay- 
able by all, and which shail be:collected 
without-any additional expence, > ; 
Such have been the labours of your-Re- 
presentatives. ‘bey trust they have ful- 
filled your intentions ; on you, ‘therefore, 
depends what is. still, wanting: to: conso- 
lidate Columbia, and raise her to the high 
rank of strength and, prosperity to, which 
she is destined. Live in intimate and 
brotherly union, befriend eacli other, and 
admit not into your hearts either jealousy 
or rivalship. ‘Dhese: are the) fatabi arms 
your enemies have’ unceasingly wielded, 
in order to: spread discord among: you: 
Union will make: you: stvong, and )put an 
end to a crrel war of eleven yéars? duras 
tion. Dissention will deprive youof® ree 
pose, and. of: the genuine benefits*to be 
derived from society. United you‘are ine 
vincible—disunion is the only enenly you 
have to fear. 
Obey, therefore, those laws) you yours 
selves have framed, for they were dictated 
by your representatives, and duly respect 
those magistrates elected) by) your ‘own 
suffrages. Think of the glory that will bé 
rendered to Columbia, if your haj)piness 
and welfare are secured, . Rememiber, ‘that 
nothing, at its commencement, ‘is' perfeet, 
and that the influence of timé and expe- 
rielice is powerful. Law is the boundary 
of freedom, and this disappears when the 
laws become nerveless. - A free’ press, 
that precious gift inseparable from justice 
and civil liberty, is the proper’ medinm 
for fixing the opinions ahd expressing the 
sentiments. of a free people. Use it with 
that moderation which is preseribed*by thé 
laws, and thus will you preserve your own 
rights, unimpaired... ‘You will restrain 
your rulers within the’ limits of their au- 
thority, and you will acquire the ap- 
provements suggested by-experience aud 
necessity, 
Your representatives will acquaint you 
with the motives by which they have been 
influenced in what they have done; they 
will explain what-you do not understand; 
and make known to you the causes of 
their decisions, They will act.so.as. to 
merit your confidence; and their candour 
and good faith will tranquillize you. 
Disregard; then, the clamours of ignos 
rance and fanaticism.—These weapons 
aim at your disunion; they would bring 
: you 
