Synopsis
Excerpt from Important Documents in Relation to the Present Situation of Venezuela: And the Attempt of General Jose Tadeo Monagas to Establish a Despotic Government in That Country; With a Few Introductory Remarks
But notwithstanding these serious difficulties, some. Of the South American States have made great advances in the career of liberty and good government, in the comparatively short period of their political existence. Among these states the Republic of Venezuela stood, pre-eminent. In the year 1830, shortly after the dissolution of Colombia, of which Venezuela was a component part, she esta, blished a written Constitution under the auspices and guidance of that distinguished patriot General José Antonio Paez, one of the founders of South American Independence. That instrument, which is modelled on the Constitution of the United States, secures every advantage of rational freedom to the citizen. The legisla tive power consists of a House of Representatives and of the Senate, both elected by the people. The Executive power is ad ministered by a President, also elected by the people for a period of four years; and the Judiciary consists of the courts of law estab lished under the Constitution. Under this Constitution, voluntarily adopted by the people through their delegates, Venezuela com menced a career' of prosperity and progress unparalleled in the other South American Republics. It had scarcely been adopted and received the warm support of General Paez, when in 1831 a military insurrection, headed by general jose T. Monagas, broke out against the government. On the 15th of January a declara tion was drawn up'and signed in the city of Aragua hy'the con spirators, and its tenor plainly indicates the character and political principles of the leaders. They refused by this instrument to acknowledge the existing government and assigned as a reason that there was no security for any person, as the clergy and the worthy officers of the army were oppressed and exiled that the Constitution attacked religion and subjected the clergy to the, pay~ ment of taxes, and deprived them and the military of their Special privileges. In order that a correct idea may be formed of the justice of these complaints it is proper to remark that the Consti tutien of Venezuela did not establish any religion of State, and placed all citizens upon a just footing-in relation to the payment of taxes without regard to special privileges or immunities. This written declaration concluded by proclaiming the integrity of Co lombia and appointing general jose tadeo monagas 'civil and military chief. General 1?a was called upon to suppress this military insurrection and to establish the supremacy of law. He succeeded in this patriotic mission, and on the 24th of June granted a pardon to Gen. Monagas and his adherents.
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