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DISCONTENT OF ARTIGAS.

brig got aground; became useless, was taken, and he himself, and his crew made prisoners. Fortunately, he possessed in vessels and in captives of rank, ample means for an exchange; and, accordingly, after some negociation, he and his men were rescued from their dilemma, by his giving up two vessels, and some of the principal Spaniards whom he had taken. He remained for some time on the coast, and ultimately returned to Buenos Ayres.

The discontent of Artigas, arising from the interference by Buenos Ayres in the affairs of the Banda Oriental, though suffocated for a season, was by no means extinguished. Indeed his success and popularity in the provinces were so decided, that at length, on acceding to a treaty proposed by the Director Balcarce, he found himself in a position to dictate his own terms to the Porteños.

The Gaucho chief insisted, in the first place, that the Buenos Ayres troops, quartered in the Rosario, should fall back on San Nicolas, both towns being on the west bank of the Paraná, but only the latter within the province of Buenos Ayres. This preliminary condition being readily complied with, matters were "made up" between

GENERAL BALCARCE DISPLACED.

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the belligerents; the capital, as the weaker of the two parties, conceding everything to Artigas. Thus Buenos Ayres began to fall before the united wishes and influence of the provinces, which she had unsuccessfully tried to bring under her own subjection and control.

On the 11th of July, General Antonio Gonzalez Balcarce was displaced by an unworthy intrigue from his temporary directorship; and we notice this instance of the fickleness of the South American Athens to record the probity, patriotism, and ability of the man who was denounced as incapable of holding his situation as first magistrate of the province. The integrity of his character soon redeemed him from momentary unmerited disgrace; and when he died at an early stage of the revolution, his name was with justice consecrated in the hearts of the people, as a disinterested lover of his country. But it seems to be an inherent sin in the constitution of democracy, that no public man's character is safe for a week together. A republican is enamoured of abstract justice and theoretical equality; but he is often woefully at issue with himself when his opinions are brought to a practical test.

256

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

On the 9th of July, the great National Congress, assembled at Tucuman, made a formal declaration of independence; and as the document, without being long, is important, we shall here transcribe it entire.

"DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED PROVINCES OF THE RIO DE LA PLATA.

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In the worthy and loyal city of San Miguel del Tucuman, on the 9th of July, 1816, the ordinary sitting having terminated, the Congress of the United Provinces continued its former discussion on the great and august object of the independence of the countries which form them: constant and decided was the cry of the whole land for its solemn emancipation from the despotic power of the kings of Spain; but the representatives, nevertheless, consecrated to so great a matter all the strength of their talents, the rectitude of their intentions, and the deep interest involved in the act of sealing their own fate, that of the country represented, and of posterity. They were each in turn asked if they desired that the provinces of the union should be a nation, free and independent of the

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

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kings of Spain and his metropolis? Fired with an ardent love of justice, they first acclaimed the proposition; and then singly reiterated their unanimous, spontaneous, and decided vote for the independence of the country; recording, in consequence, the following resolution: We, the representatives of the united provinces in South America, in general Congress assembled, invoking the Everlasting, who presides over the universe, in the name, and by the authority of the population which we represent, protesting before Heaven, the nations at large, and every people of this globe, the justice which regulates our votes; do solemnly declare before the face of the world that it is the unanimous and indubitable will of these provinces to break the oppressive ties which have linked them to the kings of Spain, to recover the rights of which they were robbed, and to invest themselves with the high character of a nation, free and independent of Ferdinand the Seventh, his successors, and metropolis. The provinces, therefore, remain by might and by right with full and ample power to adopt those forms which justice may demand, or their actual circumstances require. All and every one of the provinces so publish, declare, and ratify the

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PUEYRREDON SUPREME DIRECTOR.

act, binding themselves through as, to the fulfilment and upholding of this their will, under the security and guarantee of their lives, property, and fame. In publishing this decree, let a manifesto be drawn up and published, in token of respect for the nations at large, setting forth the grave causes which have impelled us to this declaration.""

Many respectable names were appended to this document; those, indeed, of every one of the representatives. The mask of holding the country for Ferdinand was in this manner laid aside by the representatives of the people; and the event has shown that they ran no risk in so doing.

The Congress next proceeded to the election of a Supreme Director of the State, and the choice, as already stated, fell on Colonel Juan Martin de Pueyrredon, who has already been honourably mentioned in his military capacity. In his magisterial one, we fear, we shall have to speak of him in less laudatory terms.

The first despatch addressed to Pueyrredon, as Supreme Director, is a curious one. It is from the Commander-in-chief of the Peruvian army, General Belgrano, who commences thus :

"I send to your Excellency a design of the