A VOYAGE TO 



This hymn, I was told, had been composed by a 

 lawyer, of the name of Lopes, now a member of con- 

 gress, and that it is universally s«n§ throughout all 

 the provinces of La Plata, in the encampments of Ar- 

 tigas^ as well as in the streets of Buenos Ayres; and 

 that it is taught in schools as an essential part of the 

 education of youth. There are four or five additional 

 verses, which breathe the same strong sentiments of 

 liberty and equality, so peculiarly suited to the 

 American soil; should any attempt be made to 

 establish arbitrary power, it must be through the aid 

 of their counterfeit resemblance. It is unnecessary 

 to speak of the powerful influence of national music 

 and national songs; it may almost be said, that there 

 cannot be a nation without them; at least, when senti- 

 ments and thoughts are thus inculcated, they become 

 interwoven with all the fibres of the heart. They, at 

 the same time, furnish the best evidence of what is 

 the prevailing wish or inclination of the people; theyf 

 are proofs a thousand times more convincing than ge- 

 neral observations. A people who are enthusiastic in 

 such sentiments, can never voluntarily submit their 

 necks to the yoke of despotism; and none of theit 

 chiefs can deceive any longer than their acts conform 

 to them, especially where their power does not depend 

 on standing armies, but on these very people. Their 

 songs breathe the sublime strains of American liberty; 

 any others would be offensive; if, in addition to this, 

 they only possessed the intelligence at once to discern 

 and understand the true principles of free govern- 

 ment, they would have nothing to apprehend. The 

 principles of freedom are, indeed, few and simple; but 



