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TABLE of the FINANCES of the UNITED STATES.
The Public debt of the United States.

Dollars 17,189,852 60

The funded debt which was contracted before the year
1812, and which was unredeemed on the 1st day of
October, 1822, amounted to
And that which was contracted subsequently to the
1st of January, 1812, and was unredeemed on the
1st of October, 1822, amounted to

Making the total amount of funded debt unredeemed
on the 1st of October, 1822.....

viz.

75,852,848 58

.... 93,042,701 18

In the fourth quarter of that year there was paid the
sum of
Reimbursement of 6 per cent. deferred
stock ....

Redemption of 6 per cent. stock of

1820

2,265,673 32

265,673 32

2,000,000 00

90,777,027 86

Reducing the funded debt, on the 1st of January, 1823, to

From that day to the 1st of October last, there was

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90,778,857 12

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Making an aggregate of

During the same period there was paid, in reimbursement of the deferred 6 per cent. stock

Reducing the funded debt on the 1st of October, 1823,

to

Since that day there has been added, in Treasury note 6 per cent. stock

Making an aggregate of........

It is estimated that the reimbursement of deferred stock in the fourth quarter of the present year will

amount to

Which will reduce the funded debt, unredeemed on the 1st of January, 1824, to

327,022 88

90,451,834 24

716 75

90,452,550 99

274,588 85

....... 90,177,962. 14

The amount of Treasury notes outstanding on the 1st of October, 1823. is estimated at

And the amount of Mississippi stock unredeemed on that day at

. 26,122 00

21,258 87

PRELIMINARY CONVENTION agreed upon between the Government of BUENOS AYRES and the COMMISSIONERS of his CATHOLIC MAJESTY.

The government of BuenosAyres having recognized, and caused to be recognized, in virtue of credentials presented and legalized in competent form, Senores Don Antonio Luis Pereyra and Don Luis de la Robla, as commissioners from the government of his Catholic majesty; and it being proposed to the said Senores, by the minister for foreign affairs of the said state of Buenos-Ayres, to agree to a convention preliminary to the definitive treaty of peace and amity, which is to be concluded between the government of his Catholic majesty, and the government of the united provinces, upon the bases established in the law of the 19th of June of the present year; and they, after considering, and reciprocally discussing, whatever they held to be calculated to conduce to the better adjustment of the relations of the said states, have, in the exercise of the character with which they are invested, and of the powers conferred on them, agreed to the said preliminary convention in the terms expressed in the following

articles:

Article 1. After sixty days, reckoning from the ratification of the present convention, by the governments to which it applies, all hostilities, by sea and by land, shall cease between the said governments and the Spanish nation. 2. In consequence, the general of the forces of his Catholic majesty at present in Peru, will con

the adjacent governments may propose or accept, for the purpose of improving their respective lines of occupation during the suspension of hostilities.

3. The relations of commerce, with the sole exception of articles contraband of war, shall, during the period of the said suspension, be fully re-established between the provinces of the Spanish monarchy, those occupied by the armies of his Catholic majesty in Peru, and the states which ratify this convention.

4. In consequence, the flags of the respective states shall be reci procally respected and admitted into each other's ports.

5. The relations of maritime commerce between the Spanish nation and the states which may ratify this convention, shall be regulated by a special convention, the framing of which shall be entered upon in pursuance present convention.

of the

6. Neither the authorities administering the provinces of Peru in the name of his Catholic ma jesty, nor the adjacent states, shall impose on the trade of each other higher duties than those which may exist at the period of the con clusion of the present convention.

7. The suspension of hostilities shall subsist for the space of 18

months.

8. Within the said period the government of the state of Buenos Ayres will negociate, through the medium of a plenipotentiary of the tinue in the positions which he united provinces of the Rio de la shall occupy at the time of the Plata, and conformably to the law convention being notified to him, of the 19th of June, the conclusaving the particular stipulations, sion of a definitive treaty of peace which, for reciprocal convenience, and amity between his Catholic

majesty and the states of the American continent to which the said law refers.

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9. In case of the renewal of hostilities, such renewal shall not take place, nor shall the relations of commerce be interrupted, until four months after the intimation of hostilities.

10. The law existing in the Spanish monarchy, as well as in the state of Buenos-Ayres, respecting the inviolability of property, even though it may be an enemy's property, shall have full force, in the case of the operation of the preceding article, within the territories of the governments which may ratify this convention, and reciprocally.

11. As soon as the government of Buenos-Ayres shall be authorized by the House of Representatives to ratify this convention, it will negociate the accession thereto of the governments of Chili, Peru, and the other united provinces of the Rio de la Plata; and the commissioners of his Catholic majesty will, at the same time, take every means for giving to this accession, on the part of the authorities of his Catholic majesty, the most prompt and complete effect.

12. For the due effect and validity of this convention, the necessary copies shall be signed and sealed on the part of the commissioners of his Catholic majesty with their seal, and on the part of the government of Buenos-Ayres by the seal of the department for foreign affairs.

(Signed) ANTONIO LUIS PEREYRA, LUIS DE LA ROBLA, Commissioners of his Catholic majesty.

BERNARDIN RIVADAVIA, Minister for foreign affairs.

Buenos-Ayres, July 4.

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The war which the king, Louis 18th, is preparing to make on the Spanish nation being directly and principally opposed to the principle recognized in article 1 of the law of the 10th of May, 1822, in case that aggression should be realized, the government is authorized to negociate,-after the conclusion of the definitive treaty of peace and amity with his Catholic majesty, on the bases of the law of the 19th of June, to which treaty the convention of the 4th of July current is preliminary, that there shall be voted, by the American states recognized independent, in virtue of the said definitive treaty, for maintaining the independence of Spain under the representative system, the same sum of 20 millions as that which in the month of March last was supplied for destroying it by the chambers of Paris.

RIVADAVIA.

Buenos-Ayres, July 4.

MESSAGE of the EXECUTIVE POWER of COLUMBIA, on the Opening of the first Constitutional Congress of the Republic.

Citizens of the senate and of the chamber of representatives. The solemn installation of the second congress of Colombia is one of the most happy events of my political life. Its meeting in the manner prescribed by our fundamental laws, is both an unanswerable testimony of the acquiescence of the government in the declared will of the nation, and a motive for consolation to the republic and of shame to its enemies. This most august body uniting the most enlightened understandings, the purest patriotism, and the most extensive experience, its deliberations cannot fail to be the fruits of the most ardent desire for the public prosperity. I am convinced that wise laws, salutary reforms, and measures which, by disseminating universal happiness and good will, shall consolidate the work of 12 years of sacrifices, will result from your deliberations, and be the abundant fruit which the people will receive with joy and gladness. However great were the exertions and labours of the last general congress, and however laudable the desire by which it was animated, there is a void in the republic which you are called upon to make good. The constituent congress could scarcely do more than trace out the line by which succeeding legislatures could proceed with security. The executive government will, by means of its respective organs, lay before the congress all the information and materials which time and circumstances have permitted it to collect; and you, gentlemen, selecting the best and most proper for the happiness of the nation, will find a

vast field open to your deliberations and to the fulfilment of your duties.

The government of Colombia has not omitted any steps that could bring our contest with Spain to an end, in a manner honourable to both parties, and with reciprocal advantages. The government has not been guided by any apprehension of the uncertain issue of the war, but by the desire of saving humanity from the useless sacrifice of fresh victims, and establishing peace between the two nations.

Our

The government availed itself of the first favourable moment to send a commission to Madrid, which, being assisted by the progress of our cause, and the change of principles in the political system of Spain, might obtain by reason, that which we were otherwise determined to attain by arms. agents were not heard; imputations, absolutely false, were made against them; they were despatched from the Court upon disho nourable pretences, and the manner in which we were accredited was such, that conciliation, on the principle of independence, was impossible. The government of the republic was not surprised at this result, for it never had reason to entertain the idea, that the government of his Catholic majesty was disposed to renounce the mad desire of keeping us in subjection; but it was necessary to accede to the wishes of the Spanish commissioners, and to give to the world a fresh proof that our perseverance in the present contest did not proceed from a spirit of revenge or hatred, but from the most

sacred duty of a people, aspiring to the improvement of their condition. The subsequent conduct of his Catholic majesty's government, in reinforcing the armament that assaults our territories, and that of the general of the expeditionary army, in declaring the treaty of Truxillo void, thus deprecating the rights of nations, has finally proved to us, that our enemies will henceforth tenaciously carry on their system of exterminating warfare against the independence of the Republic. The executive govern ment is firm in its determination not to listen to, nor admit of any negotiation, on the part of Spain, which has not for its basis the explicit recognition of our national sovereignty.

So well convinced was the government of Colombia of the decision of the government of Madrid to prolong the war against America, that we hastened to establish solid relations with the independent states of the New World, fixing a secure basis on which, either the continuance of the contest, or a negociation with the neutral powers and Spain, should be conducted. The government of Colombia has been the first to lay the foundation of an American confederation, which, uniting the political interests of the vast territory that has separated itself from the mother country, guaranteeing and respecting each other respectively, shall reciprocally communicate a physical and moral power, capable of arresting and annihilating all the undertakings of the government, our enemy. The treaties which have as yet been made to that effect, will be laid before the Congress, and I take the liberty of offering to it, in anticipation, my congratulations on the satisfaction

with which it will perceive the solidity and stability which we have given to the independence of the New World. Great changes have taken place in the Mexican empire since the Convention made at Cordova, between the chief of the Independents, and the Spanish general Odonoju. Don Augustin Iturbide has been placed on the Imperial Throne, instead of the family called to it by the plan of Iguala, and the treaty of Cordova, in consequence of which the Cortes of Madrid have declared the latter to be annulled. The government of Colombia is not accurately acquainted with the nature and particulars of the events which have placed the imperial Crown on the head of Iturbide, and has taken such measures to procure such information as it deems indispensable to open and cement the relations between the republic and the empire, on the principle of not inter→ fering with its internal arrangements, and to recognize the decided will of the Mexican nation, so long as it adheres to the determination of remaining independent of Spain.

The government of the United States has given a sublime example of justice, in solemnly recognizing the independence and sovereignty of the States of South America: that nation, the cradle of the liberty of the world, has perceived with satisfaction that this public act was due to policy and sound reason; and the illustrious members of its government have, by such conduct, added fresh lustre to the glory of a free people, and to its own. There is now residing in this capital a minister from that government, by whose means we are informed of the friendly sentiments by which it is animated to

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