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(Inclosure E.)-Mr. Brent to Mr. Ravenga.

Madrid, 9th July, 1821. THOMAS L. L. BRENT, Chargé d'Affaires of The United States, kisses the hand of Senor Don Jose R. Ravenga, Plenipotentiary of Colombia, and will be happy to receive him at his house at 6 o'clock this evening, Don Jose R. Ravenga.

(18.)-Don Manuel Torres to the Secretary of State,-(Translation) SIR, Washington, 20th February 1821.

THE Republicks of Venezuela and New Grenada, which, after a devastating War of more than 10 Years, have victoriously achieved the Independence which they had declared since the year 1811, were united by virtue of a Fundamental Law of the Sovereign Congress of Venezuela, of the 17th December, 1819, with the glorious Title of the Republick of Colombia, under which it has taken its rank among other Independent Nations.

In consequence, I have received the order of my Government to communicate to you, Sir, this resolution worthy of Colombia, and to accompany it with the subjoined authenticated Copy of the said Fundamental Law, in order that you may be pleased to lay it before the President of The United States.

I have also the honour to present to you, Sir, the Credentials of my Publick Character, and a Drawing of the National Standard, which will henceforth distinguish Colombia among other Sovereign and Independent States.

Although the foundation of the Republick of these United States would completely justify the right of Colombia, yet, with respect to the custom which has been introduced among Nations, the causes which have rendered this measure indispensable, have been explained in the Declaration of Independence of Venezuela, of the 5th July, 1811, a Copy of which Don Telesforo de Orea, then Agent Extraordinary of that Republick, transmitted to your Predecessor, on the 6th of November, of the same Year; the other Declaration of Venezuela, of the 2d November, 1818, and the Manifesto of the President of the Sovereign Congress of Colombia, of the 26th of August last, Copies of which I sent you with my Official Letter of the 15th of last December, likewise mention them.

The conduct of Colombia being thus in all respects justified, no doubt my Government will be recognized by that of The United States, as a Free and Independent Nation, a Sister Republick, situated likewise in the same Hemisphere. It is also hoped, that to the Recognition of the Independence of Colombia on the part of The United States, Treaties of Commerce and Navigation will be added, founded upon the bases of reciprocal utility and perfect equality, as the most efficacious means of strengthening and increasing the relations of amity between the two Republicks.

As you are already acquainted with the solicitude of Colombia, permit me, Sir, to add, that it is of the greatest importance to my Government to know the determination of The United States in regard to it. I repeat, &c.

The Hon. J. Q. Adams.

MANUEL TORRES.

(19.)-Fundamental Law of the Sovereign Congress of Venezuela, for the Union of the Republicks of New Granada and Venezuela, under the title of the Republick of Colombia. Angostura, 17th December, 1819. (Translation.)

FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF THE REPUBLICK OF COLOMBIA. THE Sovereign Congress of Venezuela, to whose authority the People of New Granada, lately emancipated by the arms of the Republick, have voluntarily submitted: considering

1. That by uniting the Provinces of Venezuela and New Granada in one Republick, they will have the means of attaining the highest degree of power and prosperity;

2. That if they should remain in separate Republicks, however great the bonds that might unite them, yet, far from benefiting by so many advantages, with difficulty would they consolidate their Sovereignty, and cause it to be respected;

3. That these truths, clearly perceived by every Man of sound understanding and genuine patriotism, had excited the Governments of both Republicks to agree to their Confederation, which the vicissitudes of War have hitherto prevented:

From these considerations of necessity and reciprocal interest, and in conformity with the Report of the Select Committee of the Deputies from New Granada and Venezuela, in the name and under the auspices of the Supreme Being, has decreed, and does decree, the following Fundamental Law of the Republick of Colombia.

ART. I. The Republicks of Venezuela and New Granada shall be, from the present day, united, under the glorious Title of the Republick of Colombia.

II. Its Territory shall be those comprehended in the former Captaingeneralship of Venezuela, and the Vice-royalty of the New Kingdom of Granada, embracing an extent of 115,000 square leagues, whereof the exact Boundaries shall be fixed at a more seasonable opportunity.

III. The Debts contracted by the two Republicks, separately, are acknowledged in solidum, by this Law, as a National Debt of Colombia, for the discharge of which, the goods and property of the State are pledged, and the most productive branches of the Revenue shall be destined.

IV. The Executive Power of the Republick shall be exercised by a President, and in his absence by a Vice-President, both to be appointed pro tempore by the present Congress.

V. The Republick of Colombia shall be divided into 3 great Departments; viz. Venezuela, Quito, and Cundinamarca, which latter shall comprehend the Provinces of New Granada, whereof the name shall be henceforward suppressed. The Capitals of these Departments shall be the Cities of Caracas, Quito, and Bogota, the addition of Santa Fé being discontinued.

VI. Each Department shall have a Superior Administration, and a Chief Magistrate, to be appointed for the present by this Congress, with the title of Vice-President.

VII. A new City, bearing the name of the Liberator, Bolivar, shall be the Capital of the Republick of Colombia. The plan and site thereof shall be determined by the first General Congress, upon the principle of making it suitable to the wants and conveniences of the 3 Departments, and proportioned to the grandeur for which this rich Country is destined by Nature.

VIII. The General Congress of Colombia shall assemble on the 1st day of January, 1821, in the Town of Rosario de Cucuta, which in every respect is considered the most suitable Place. The convocation shall be made by the President of the Republick, on the 1st January, 1820, who shall also communicate the plan for the Elections, to be devised by a Select Committee, and approved by the present Congress.

IX. The Constitution of the Republick of Colombia shall be formed by the General Congress, to whom shall be presented a Project of one already decreed; which, together with the Laws enacted by this Congress, shall be immediately carried into execution, by way of experiment.

X. The Arms and Flag for Colombia shall be decreed by the General Congress. In the mean time, those of Venezuela shall be employed, as being best known.

XI. The present Congress shall be dissolved on the 15th January, 1820, in order that the new Elections may take place for the General Congress of Colombia.

XII. A Commission of 6 Members, with a President, invested with special powers, to be decreed, shall exercise the functions of Congress during the recess.

XIII. The Republick of Colombia shall be solemnly proclaimed in the Towns and to the Armies, with publick feasts and rejoicings, to take place in this Capital, on the 25th December, instant, to commemorate the nativity of the Saviour of Mankind, under Whose protection the State has been regenerated by this re-union.

XIV. The Anniversary of this political regeneration shall be perpetually celebrated by a National Feast, where virtue and talents, as formerly at Olympia, shall be distinguished and rewarded.

The present Fundamental Law of the Republick of Colombia shall be promulgated in the Towns and to the Armies, inserted in the

Publick Journals, and deposited in the Archives of the Cabildos, Municipalities, and Corporations, whether Ecclesiastical or Secular.

Given at the Palace of the Sovereign Congress of Venezuela, in the City of St. Thomas of Angostura, on the 17th day of December, A.D. 1819, and in the 9th Year of our Independence.

FRANCISCO ANTONIO ZEA, President of Congress.

JUAN GERMAN ROSCIO,

MANUEL SEDeno,

JUAN MARTINEZ,
JOSE ESPANA,

LUIS THOMAS PERAZA,

ANTONIO M. BRICENO,

EUSEBIO AFANADOS,

FRANCISCO Conde,

DIEGO BAUTISTA URBANEJA,

JUAN VINCENTE Cardoso,

IGNACIO MUNOZ,

ONOFRE BASALO,

DOMINGO ALzuru,

JOSE THOMAS MACHADO,
RAMON GARCIA CADIZ.

DIEGO DE VALLENILLA, Deputy Secretary.

Palace of the Sovereign Congress of Venezuela, at Angostura, the 17th December, 1819-9th.

THE Sovereign Congress decrees, that the present Fundamental Law of the Republick of Colombia, shall be communicated to the Supreme Executive Power, by a Deputation, for its publication and execution.

FRANCISCO ANTONIO ZEA, President of Congress. Diego de VallENILLA, Deputy Secretary.

Palace of the Government, at Angostura, the 17th Dec. 1819-9th. ORDERED to be printed, proclaimed, executed, and sealed with the Seal of the State. SIMON BOLIVAR.

By his Excellency, the President of the Republick,

DIEGO B. URBANEJA, Minister of the Interior and of Justice.

(20.)-Credentials of M. Torres as Colombian Agent and Chargé d'Affaires.-(Translation.)

Angostura, 15th May, 1820. JUAN GERMAN Roscio, Vice-President of the Department of Venezuela, and charged with the Government of the Republick, on account of the absence of the President on the Campaign, and of the VicePresident on Commission.

Whereas, it is important to the prosperity of Colombia, and to the dignity of that station to which it has been elevated, to establish diplomatick intercourse with other Nations, and to make Treaties which may confirm its friendship with them, regulate its commerce, and protect mutual interests: and this Government being desirous of drawing more close the relations and bonds of union and good correspondence

which already happily exist with that of The United States; therefore, I have nominated, and, by these presents, do appoint and authorize Manuel Torres, Esq. that, in the rank and with the character of Agent and Chargé d'Affaires of the Republick of Colombia, he present himself and treat with the said United States, and, conformably to the Instructions which have been given him, to promote the interests and advantage of Colombia, by reconciling them with those of the said States, upon the principle of the most intimate, frank, and sincere friendship.

Given at the Palace of Government at Angostura; signed by my hand, sealed with the Provisional Seal of the Republick, and countersigned by the Secretary of State and Foreign Relations, the 15th of May, 1820. JUAN G. ROSCIO.

By his Excellency the Vice-President of Venezuela, charged with the government of Colombia. JOSEPH R. RAvenga, The Minister of State and Foreign Relations.

(21.)—Don Manuel Torres to the Secretary of State.—(Translation.) SIR, Philadelphia, 30th November, 1821.

SINCE I had the honour of addressing to you my Official Note of the 20th of February last, requesting of the President of The United States the formal acknowledgment of the Independence of the Republick of Colombia, as a free, sovereign, and Independent State, new successes have taken place, which, at the same time that they remove any well-founded obstacle which might at that time have been in the way of the Government of The United States to prevent their acceding to the wish of that Republick, render now the said measure more urgent, and I might say indispensable, in consequence of the recent events in Peru and New Spain, and the conduct of the Spanish Government towards America, always unjust and always capricious.

In compliance with the Orders which I have received from the Minister of Foreign Relations, of date the 3d of August, in Cucuta, I hasten to communicate to you, Sir, what has occurred in Colombia since the recommencement of hostilities with Spain, and to inform you of the real actual state of the Republick, that you may be pleased to lay it before the President of The United States.

In conformity with the Fundamental Law of the 17th of December, 1819, the solemn Act of the Installation of the General Congress of the Republick of Colombia, composed of Representatives named by the People of the 19 Free Provinces of New Granada and Venezuela, took place on the 6th of May last, in the City of Rosario of Cuenta, as is shewn by the Official Document, No. 1, which I have the honour to inclose to you.

The General Congress being installed, one of the first measures which engaged the attention of the Legislative Body, was the great ques

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