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principal stipulations were, that the country within the Turkish frontier, of which the Persians had taken possession before or during the war, should be restored, with all the fortresses, towns, &c., in their existing state; that the two powers should bind themselves not to interfere in each other's affairs; that Persian pilgrims, passing through the Ottoman territory to Mecca and Medina, should be free from all taxes or duties which had not been established by antient usage; that the wives of the Per sian monarch, and of the princes and grandees of his dominions, when on pilgrimage to Mecca or Kerbelah, should receive all the honours due to their rank; and that the two powers should send, each to the Courts of the other, an ambassador every three years.

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CHAP. XV.

UNITED STATES-Laws against the Slave Trade-Opening of the Session of Congress Negotiations with England, France, and RussiaFinances of the United States-Quarrel with the Riccaree Indians→→ MEXICO-Deposition of Iturbide-Internal dissentions-Meeting of a Congress-Proposed Constitution of Mexico-Negotiations with the Spanish Commissioners-Dispute between the Town of Vera Cruz and the Castle of St. Juan de Ulloa-Consequences of that Dispute COLOMBIA-Santa Martha-Maracaibo-Porto CabelloNaval successes of the Spaniards-Capture of Moracaibo by the Colombians-Surrender of Porto Cabello Insurrections of the Indians -Insurrection at Pasto-Proceedings of the Congress of Colombia -Treaties with Chilé and Peru-PERU-San Martin resigns his Authority-Expedition against General Canterac-Victory of the Spaniards-Riva-Aguero declared President-Temporary occupa tion of Lima by Canterac-Dissentions between Riva-Aguero the Congress-Reinforcements received from Colombia and ChiléMilitary Operations-Bolivar arrives at Lima, and is placed at the head of Affairs-His preparations for carrying on the War-Riva Aguero taken Prisoner-CHILE-Discontent with the Administration of O'Higgins-O'Higgins and Rodriguez resign-A Junta appointed -General Freyre is named Director-BUENOS AYRES-Prelimi nary Convention with Spain-Misunderstanding with one of the English Naval Officers on the station-HAYTI-PORTO RICO.

TH

HE United States attested their sincerity in the abolition of the slave trade by passing a law, which made it piracy to be concerned in that traffic, and by instructing their ministers at the different courts to use their endeavours to induce all the powers of Europe to adopt the same measure. Vessels, fitted out for the trade, were to be condemned, though no slaves were actually found on board.

The first session of the eigh teenth congress of the United States was opened on the first of December. Mr. Clay was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives

by 139 votes out of 181; and, on the following day, the President's message was read to the Senate and House of Representatives. That document contains detailed statements of the foreign relations and internal situation of the country during the year: and to it therefore we refer the reader [Vide Pub lic Documents p. 183*]. The most important part of the message was that, which announced the views of the American rulers on the subject of the interference of the allied powers with the affairs of those regions, which had once been colonial de pendencies of Spain. "We owe it to candour," said the president,

"and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers, to declare, that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power, we have not interfered, and shall not interfere. But, with the governments who have declared their independence, and maintained it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration, and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power, in any other light, than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States. In the war between those new governments and Spain, we declared our neutrality at the time of their recognition; and to this we have adhered, and shall continue to adhere, provided no change shall occur, which, in the judgment of the competent authorities of this government, shall make a corresponding change on the part of the United States, indispensable to their security."

The determination of a part of the boundary between Canada and the United States, with respect to which the commissioners under the treaty of Ghent had disagreed, was the subject of amicable negotiation between the two governments: as were also the pretended claims of the citizens of the United States, inhabiting the banks of the rivers and lakes that empty themselves into the St. Laurence, to enjoy the navigation of that river to the ocean. Against France there were two subjects of complaint; one,

that the French squadron, which blockaded Cadiz, had prevented an American frigate, on board of which was the envoy to the king of Spain, from entering the harbour; the other, that the American demands for indemnity in respect of the seizure and confiscation of American property during the war, had not yet been satisfied. The several claims of Great Britain, Russia, and the United States, with respect to the Western Coast of America, were in the course of arrangement by negotiation at Petersburgh: and in that negotiation, the United States maintained as a principle, "that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they had assumed and maintained, were thenceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European power." This claim was scarcely less extravagant than that of the Russian Ukase. The northern Autocrat excluded every body but himself: the trans-atlantic republic would fain have excluded both him and every other more civilized European.

The ambition of the United States, disguised under a veil of seeming humanity, was likewise strongly marked in a proposal, which their ministers made to France, Russia, and Great Britain,

that, in all future maritime wars, the commerce both of belligerents and of neutrals should be unmolested, except when an attempt was made to break a lawful blockade.

The state of the finances was flourishing. On the 1st of January 1823, there was a balance in the treasury of 4,237,427.55 dollars. The actual receipts during the three first quarters of the present year amounted to 16,174,035 26. Of this sum, the Customs had

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produced 15,019,392.74 dollars; public lands, exclusive of Mississippi stock, 657,505.73; dividends on stock in the Bank of the United States, 350,000; arrears of internal duties and direct tax, and incidental receipts, 102,726-15; repayment of advances made in the war department for services or supplies, prior to the 1st of July, 1816, 44,410-64. The receipts of the treasury during the fourth quarter were estimated at 4,270,000, making the total estimated receipts during the year, 20,444,035-26; and, with the balance in the treasury on the 1st of January, 1823, forming an aggregate of 24,681,492.81.

The expenditure, during the three first quarters of the year, amounted to 11,422,847-30, viz. civil, diplomatic, and miscellaneous expenses, 1,510,735-14: military service, including fortifications, ordnance, Indian department, revolutionary and military pensions, arming the militia, and arrearages prior to the 1st of January, 1817, 4,383,715. 62; naval service, including the gradual increase of the navy, 1,776, 989-37; public debt, 3,751,407 17. The expenditure during the fourth quarter was estimated at 3,894,559 74, viz. civil, diplomatic, and miscellaneous charges, 489, 704-11; military service, including fortifications, ordnance, Indian department, revolutionary and military pensions, arming the militia, and arrearages prior to the 1st of January, 817,899,449.93; naval service, including the gradual increase of the navy, 726,776-46: public debt, 1,778,629.24. Thus, the total expenditure of the year was 15,317,407-09 dollars; leaving in the treasury, on the 1st of January, 1824, an estimated balance of 9,364,055 77, from which how

ever were to be deducted certain appropriations, amounting to 2, 897,086-47 dollars.

The only interruption of tranquillity in the States of the Union occurred on their western frontier. In the month of June, a misunderstanding arose between a trading party, and the tribe of the Riccaree Indians, in consequence of which the latter attacked the traders and killed several of them. A military detachment immediately proceeded against the offending tribe and destroyed their vil lage.

In describing, in the history of last year, the discontent which the proceedings of Iturbide excited in Mexico, we mentioned that the popular dissatisfaction terminated in the deposition of the emperor. It was produced by the arming of the provinces against him; he himself ascribed it to his reluctance to plunge the country into the horrors of civil war. The congress had been assembled in Mexico: and, at an extraordinary meeting of that body, held on the 19th of March, this adventurer, who found himself without a stay, either in popular favour or military zeal, signified his willingness to resign the power which he could no longer keep.

"I accepted," said he, "the crown with great reluctance, and acquiesced only through a desire to serve my country. But from the moment I perceived that to retain it would serve as an excuse or pretext for an intestine war, I determined to abdicate. I did not conclude on this course sooner, because there was no generally recognized body to represent the nation; and I considered that any step taken by me, unless there was, would have been both useless and

injurious to the country: there now exists one, and I accordingly abdicate. My presence in this country would be always a pretext for disturbances; and projects, of which I might never have thought, might be attributed to me. In order, therefore, to remove suspicion, I will leave this country, and direct my steps to a foreign one. Ten or fifteen days will be sufficient to regulate my domestic affairs, and to take the necessary measures to conduct my family and myself away." The only request he made was, that the government would discharge certain personal debts which he had contracted towards private friends. This they readily engaged to do; as well as to replace to private individuals, the convoys of money seized by him on their way from Mexico to Vera Cruz. They likewise granted to Iturbide himself, the yearly sum of 25,000 dollars, on condition that he should reside in Italy. He was subsequently conveyed to Europe with his family, in an English vessel, at the expense of the Mexican govern

ment.

General Victoria, reputed to possess very superior talents both as a soldier and a statesman, was at the head of the government which succeeded Iturbide. His authority and that of his two associates Bravo and Negretto was merely temporary and provisional, until a regular constitution could get established. After the lapse of a few weeks, some discontent began to appear, on account of the delay of the executive authorities in the completion of that great work. On the 5th of June, Brigadier don Antonio Lopez de Santana published at San Luis Potosi, a plan for forming an army, to be VOL. LXV.

called "The Protecting Army of Mexican Liberty." The avowed objects of his scheme were, to strengthen the guarantees of popular liberty, to hasten the convocation of the congress which was to prepare the political constitution of the state, and to protect the provinces in their design of constituting confederated republics. The brigadier, stigmatizing, as enemies of liberty, all persons opposed to his scheme, had caused himself to be declared general of the army, and arrested all the officers who opposed his measures. These disturbances were soon quelled by the prudent firmness of the authorities; and the pretext for them was removed by the meeting of the congress on the 31st of October. The consideration of the plan of a constitution was referred to a committee; who, in their report, proposed the scheme which they conceived to be the best adapted to the circumstances and feelings of the country. Fifteen states, constituting the Mexican empire, were to form a federal republic, governed by a congress and president. The congress was to be composed of a senate, to which each state should nominate two senators, and a chamber of deputies, who should be distributed among the provinces according to their population. The general powers of congress were, to sustain the national independence and security, and to provide for whatever regarded foreign relations; to maintain the independence of the states among themselves: to preserve the federal union, regulate limits, and settle differences between two or more states; to support the equal distribution of duties and taxes among the states; to admit new states: to regulate annually the general expenses of the nation; to [R]

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