apprehend the Spaniards, by stopping up the Bocca Grande, under the notion of rendering the place stronger by leaving the Bocca Chica alone open to navigation, have prepared the way for closing up a considerable part of the bason. The light tide of a foot to eighteen inches flows now through the bay at ebb and flood; but a strong current rushed through the Bocca Grande, which required a labour of thirty years to close it up. The residence at Cartagena was a constant entertainment, and poor Robinson appeared to derive relief from disease, by administering to our enjoyments. Much injustice has been done, and mere justice would be sufficient to render the memory of this man, who lately died at Caracas, respected by every good heart. An occasion may yet present itself to offer that tribute to this worthy man. We remained till June, and the incidents of the voyage being only such as are common, we landed at New York quarantine ground the fourth of July. APPENDIX. No. I. FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA. THE Sovereign Congress of Venezuela, whose authority has been voluntarily recognized by the people of New Grenada, liberated by the arms of the republic, considering 1. That the Provinces of Venezuela and New Grenada, united in a single republic, possess all the requisites for attaining the highest degree of power and prosperity: 2. That if formed into distinct republics, and even united by the closest ties, far from profiting by their great advantages, they could, with difficulty, give stability to, and command respect for, their sovereignty : 3. That these truths, being deeply impressed on the minds of all men of superior talents and sound patriotism, have determined the governments of the two Republics to agree upon their Union, hitherto obstructed by the vicissitudes of war: WHEREFORE, actuated by necessity and mutual interest, and conforming to the report of a Special Committee of Deputies from New Grenada and Venezuela, In the name, and under the protection of the Almighty, they have decreed, and do hereby decree, the following Fundamental Law of the Republic of Colombia: ART. 1. The Republics of Venezuela and New Grenada are henceforth united in one, under the glorious title of the Republic of Colombia: 2. Its territory shall comprehend the former Captain-Generalship of Venezuela and the Viceroyalty of New Grenada, comprehending an extent of a hundred and fifteen thousand square leagues, the precise limits whereof shall be fixed hereafter. 3. The debts contracted separately by the two Republics, are hereby consolidated as a national debt of Colombia, for the payment of which all the property of the state is pledged, and the most productive branches of the public revenue shall be appropriated. 4. The Executive power of the Republic shall be vested in a President, and, in case of vacancy, by a Vice-President, both to be provisionally appointed by the present Congress. 5. The Republic of Colombia shall be (pro tem.) divided into the three great Departments of Venezuela, Quito, and Cundinamarca, comprising the Provinces of New Grenada, which denomination is henceforth abolished; and their Capitals shall be the cities of Caracas, Quito, and Bogota, the adjunct Santa Fé being annulled. 6. Each Department shall have a Superior Administration, with a chief, to be appointed for the present by the Congress, and entitled a Vice-President. 7. A new city, to be called Bolivar, in honour of the assertor of the public liberty, shall be the Capital of the Republic of Colombia. Its plan and situation to be fixed on by the first General Congress, upon the principle of adapting it to the exigencies of the three departments, and to the future grandeur to which nature has destined this opulent country. 8. The General Congress of Colombia shall assemble, on the first day of January, 1821, in the town of Rosario de Cucuta, which, from various circumstances, is considered the most eligible situation. It shall be convened by the President of the Republic, on the first day of January, 1820, who shall communicate such regulations concerning elections as may be formed by a special committee, and approved by the present Congress. 9. The Constitution of the Republic of Colombia shall be formed by the General Congress; to which shall be submitted, in the form of a plan, the Constitution decreed by the present Congress, which, together with the laws enacted by that body, shall be provisionally carried into execution. 10. The arms and flag of Colombia shall be determined on by the General Congress, and in the mean time those of Venezuela, being most known, shall continue to be used. 11. The present Congress shall adjourn on the 15th January, 1820, after which the new elections to the General Congress of Colombia shall be made. 12. A committee of six members and a President shall replace the Congress, whose particular powers and duties shall be regulated by a decree. 13. The Republic of Colombia shall be solemnly proclaimed throughout the towns and armies, accompanied by public festivals and rejoicings, and this ceremony shall take place in the Capital on the 25th of the present month, in commemoration of the birth of the Saviour of the World, through whose especial fayour this wished-for union, regenerating the state, has been obtained. 14. The anniversary of this political regeneration shall be perpetually celebrated with the solemnities of a national festival, at which, in imitation of the Olympia, premiums shall be adjudged to citizens distinguished by their virtues and their talents. The present fundamental law of the Republic of Colombia shall be solemnly promulgated throughout the towns and armies, inscribed on all the public records, and deposited in all the archives of societies, municipalities, and corporations, both clerical and secular. Given at the Palace of the Sovereign Congress of Venezuela, in the city of St. Thomas de Angostura, on the 11th day of December, in the year of our Lord 1819, ninth of Independence. Juan German Roscio, Luis Tomas Poraza, FRANCISCO ANTONIO Zea, President of the Congress. Antonio M. Briceño, Diego Bautista Urbaneja, Ignacio Muñoz Onofre Bazale Diego de Vallenilla, Deputy and Secretary. No. II. FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF THE UNION OF THE PEOPLE OF COLOMBIA. WE the Representatives of the People of New Granada and Venezeula, in general congress assembled, Having carefully considered the fundamental law of the Republic of Colombia, passed by the Congress of Venezuela, at the city of St Thomas of Angostu ra, on the 17th day of December, A. D. 1819, are of opinion, 1. That united in one republic, the provinces of Venezuela, and New Grana. da, possess all the means and faculties necessary to place them in the most elevated state of power and prosperity. 2. That constituted into separate republics, however closely bound by the ties of union, they would find it difficult to give stability or induce respect for their sovereignty. 3. That, deeply penetrated by these advantages, all men of superior intelligence, and distinguished patriotism, have declared, that the governments of the two republics should form an union, which the vicissitudes of war have hitherto prevented. 4. Finally, that the same considerations of reciprocal interest, and a necessity most manifest, had made it obligatory on the Congress of Venezuela, to anticipate this measure, which has been proclaimed in the most authorotative manner, by the unanimous votes of the people of both countries. In the name, and under the auspices of the Supreme being, they have decreed, and do hereby decree, the solemn ratification of the Fundamental Law of the Republic of Colombia, which has been before mentioned, in the following manner: Art. I. The people of New Granada and Venezuela, being united in one national body, founded on a compact, which determines, that the government is now, and shall for ever be, popular and representative, Art. II. uis new nation shall be known, and denominated, by the title of the REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA. Art. III. The Colombian nation is, and shall for ever be, irrevocably free and independent of the Spanish monarchy, and of every other foreign power or domination; nor shall it ever be the patrimony of any family or person. Art. IV. The supreme national power shall always be separately exercised, and divided into legislative, executive, and juridical. Art. V. The territory of the Republic of Colombia, shall comprehend all that was within the limits of the ancient Captain-generalship of Venezuela, and the Viceroyalty of New Granada; but reserving for a more suitable time their precise demarcation. Art. VI. For the more advantageous administration of the Republic, its territory shall for the present be divided into six or more departments, each bearing a particular name, with a subordinate administration dependant on the national government. Art. VII. The present Congress of Colombia, shall form the Constitution of the Republic, in conformity with the principles here expressed, upon those liberal principles which have been consecrated by the wise practice of other free nations. Art. VIII. They recognize in solidum, as the national debt of Colombia, all the debts which the two people have separately contracted; and for which they make responsible all the property of the Republic. Art. IX. The Congress shall, in the mode that may be found convenient, ap. propriate the branches most productive of the public revenue, the taxes, and shall create a special sinking fund for the redemption of the principal, and paying the interest of the public debt, duly verified and liquidated according to law. Art. X. In more favourable circumstances, there shall be erected a new city, with the name of the Libertador BOLIVAR, which shall be the Capital of the Republic of Colombia. Its plan and site shall be determined by Congress, founded on the principle of accommodation to convenience of the different parts of this vast territory, and the grandeur to which this country is destined by nature. Art. XI. Meanwhile, until Congress shall establish the distinctive insignia, and the flag of Colombia, the actual fags of New Granada and Venezuela shall be continued in use. Art. XII. The ratification of the establishment of the Colombian Republic, and the publication of the constitution, shall be celebrated in the towns and in the armies, with festivity, and public rejoicings, making known, in all places, the solemnity of the day on which the constitution is promulgated. Art. XIII. There shall be perpetually a national festival, for three days in each year, upon which shall be celebrated the Anniversary 1. Of the emancipation and independence of the people of Colombia. 2. The union in one republic, and the establishment of the Constitution. Art. XIV. This national festival shall be celebrated every year, on the 25th 26th and 27th of December, consecrating each day to the special remembrance of one of those three glorious causes, and in particular, to that of the virtues, the intelligence, and the services rendered to the country. The present fundamental law of the union of the people of Colombia, shall be solemnly promulgated in the towns, and in the armies, inscribed on the public registers, and deposited in all the archives of the cabildos and corporations, civil and ecclesiastical, and shall be communicated to the supreme executive power by a special deputation. Done in the palace of the general congress of Colombia, in the town of Rosario de Cucuta, the 12th July, A. D. 1820, twelfth year of Independence. Felix Restrepo, José Cornelius Vallacia, Gabriel Briceño, Diego B. Urbanéja, Francisco Conde, Carlos Alvarez, The Deputy and Secretary, Pedro F. Carbajal, Diego F. Gomez, Miguel Ibañez, José Antonio Yanez, Francisco José Olero, The Deputy and Secretary, FRANCISCO SOTO. This instrument was further signed by the ministers of the interior, and the Vice President, St. Ander-and so promulged-the Constitution being formed in conformity thereto. |