^3X dZ._ -' -....^^.^ c: . 01 ■'«::_: ^«r:" ^ 'c "^ _ L:<^^-'«*^ : 4iC<:^ . RKPLY* FACT. Ix me Spanish Mercurio, of this city, of ihe 2od of January last, I thoDght it proper to contradict a report lately current in Mexico, of my being tlie editor, or one of the editors of the Redactor, another Spanish paper, edited here by Senores Carrion, and Granja, under the anonymous name of a Sociedad Espanola (a Spanish co-partner- ship ;) a report which implicitly attributed to me. in relation to Spain and Mexico, opinions diametrically opposite to those which I have ever profesed, and greatly injuriosas a mis anti-monarqpticas ideas, 'injurious to my republican principles.)* The above editors of the Redactor, pretending to be injured by the statement I had made, darted upon me, in their paper of the 30th of the same month, an invective, too vulgar to be spoken of here, charging me, first, with my desiring to ingratiate myself with the Mexican go- Temment, which they represented as a rQe rabble of Mexican manda- rins 'soez can all a de mandarines mexicanos :) secondlv, with my being l-notm in both irorlds for my rerdiitionary idens, and persecuted every where.' In the Mercuric of the 6ih instant, alter having expressed my inten- tion of not answering again those gadlemen, and observed, that I had, in my first communication, attacked neither their opinions^ nor their personal character. I confined myself to stating- in reply to their fiist imputation, that in my capacity of citizen of the United States. I could not be desirous of ingratiating myself with any foreign government; and much less with that of Mexico, whose present illustrious leaders had never been my enemies, but who, on the contrary- had connden- tiallj permitted me, since November of the last year, to return to Mexico (whence I had been banished in 1 826 by a ministry sold to Spain."]; As to theii second, I thanked thena for their kindness id * See doeomuit I. al the e»d of this esrpofitior!. f See doenmoit U. 6 extending somewhat more my revolutionary fame, notwithstanding my being known in both worlds for my aversion to any power not emana- ting from the sovereign will of the people.* The editors of the Redactor now became furious, and, in their next paper of the 10th instant, they wrote a polite and graceful Tapaboca (a gag) calculated only to act in their skilful hands as a cork screw, and which, free from all spurious matters, is limited to the following statements : 1st. That by my having resolved not to answer them again, I had imitated the Parthians, who fought flying: 2d. That, by saying that the Redactor, when edited by Messrs. Lerena and Bergonzio, was written with moderation, and that the opinions of its present editors were "injuriosas a mis ideas," (loyally suppressing the epithet anti-monarquicas, with which I had qualified the words mis ideas) I had supposed that their paper is not moderate, and their ideas not good, and consequently attacked both their opinions and their personal character : 3d. That my having denied the intention of ingratiating myself with the 3Iexican mandarins, shows to what degree of prostitution the latter are arrived, since their partisans are ashamed of pro- nouncing themselves openly for them : 4th. That, by their calling the Mexican government a vile rabble of Mexican mandarins, they had but given to things their proper names : 5th. That they have data to believe that I have begged the pro- tection of the said mandarins to establish a house of education in Mexico, notwithstanding my supposed quality of citizen of the United States : 6th. That my departure from Gibraltar had not been caused by the king of England ; nor that the king of Spain was commanding in Mexi- co, when I was banished from that country in a harsh manner (con cajas destempladas,) and that, consequently, I had not suffered persecutions from kings alone : 7th. That there are many refugees in republics, who boast of having been persecuted by kings, because kings never took notice of them; and that <' if kings would " meaning, perhaps, by this ellipsis, that kings could destroy such refugees, if they wo^ld, in the very centre of Washington's capital . . . . ! * See Document III. f See Document IV. Every impartial reader will no doubt agree, that my first intention of not answering again the editors of the Redactor, could not com- prehend the case in which my silence would have injured both my re- putation, and that of all the honourable class of emigrants, to which I belong. I must then take up the pen. My reply will consist of two parts : — my personal defence, — and some remarks of public interest. FIRST PART. My defence will categorically answer the Redactorial Tapahoca. On the 1st point. — One who has never fied, in ten campaigns, before ^he monarchical sword, must be permitted to avoid, without blame, the troublesome buzz of some musquitos. On the 2d. point. — To praise the moderation of one writer is by no means to attack the personal character of another. Cannot an im- moderate writer be a virtuous man ? Some difference must be allowed to exist between an imprudent temper and a corrupted heart. Neither did I attack the opinions of Senores Carrion and Granja by believing them injurious to my anti-monarchical principles. The injury which one thinks he receives from being thought of a different opinion in civil or political matters, may only arise from the nature of his political or civil duties. It certainly would not be shameful for Seiiores Carrion and Granja to be known as royalists here, since they never renounced this character ; but nothing would prove more disgraceful for a citizen of the United States, than to be looked upon as the vassal of a Icing. Consequently, the report which I did con- tradict in my first publication, was justly reputed by me as injurious to my anti-monarchical principles, without affording any room for the editors of the Redactor to believe themselves injured by it, and to be- come the first aggressors in the contest. On the 3d point. — It is not very easy to reconcile these two ideas of a man being known in loth worlds for his revolutionary ideas, and ashamed to pronounce himself openly for a revolutionary party. Moreover, I never was the partisan of inen. 1 was, and arn still, myself a partisan of the Mexican cause, against the pretensions of Spain, and I pronounced myself as such so openly, that I published in its defence, and in my own name, " Las Cuatro Primeras Discu- siones del Congreso de Panama, tales como debian ser ;" a book, 8 which procured lor mo the honour of being banished by the Spanish party then prevaihng in that country. I advocated, afterward, during my residence in the United States, the cause of general Guerrero for the presidency of that republic, in a lime when his preference over other candidates in that station ought to save the national liberties. The polite word prostitution, of which Seiiores Carrion and Granja make use on this subject- would be more properly made use of for those men, who have no country, no honour, no principles, and who sell their patronage to the highest bidder. On the 4th point. — To insult nations, governments and men at thou- sands of leagues distance, is not much better than to fight fiying. To excite public contempt against a people, whose political independence has been solemnly acknowledged by the nation in whose bosom such writers have found a hospitality rather too generous, and to calum- niate, at the same time, the personal honour of the members, and the organs* of a government, with which our own entertains the most friendly relations, is to outrage most ungratefully both governments, both nations. Do Seiiores Carrion and Granja know no better means to conquer Mexico, no more decent language wherewith to plead the rights of their legitimate king ? Poor advocates, then ! — unhappy king ! On the 5th point. — To publish that one is willing to suppose (quiere suponer) himself in possession of a quality, which he had asserted positively to possess, is but to render problematic before the public both his veracity and the fact. And could Senores Carrion and Granja imagine that I would have falsely boasted of being a citizen of the United States, in the most populous city of the Union, without the certainty of being immediately convicted of falsehood ? Behold, then, two moderate writers and teachers of logic, who have neither civility nor common sense. 1 must therefore repeat to them that, yes, I have 7nost undoubtedly the honour of being a citizen of the United States of America, in the full enjoyment of all the lawful rights annexed to thi? high quality! — But the bourbonic police established in New York has * The present Minister Plenipotentiary of Mexico at Washington, Seno,. Tornel, overloaded by the Redactor with the most disgraceful insultsin his double capacity of a gentleman and of a diplomatic agent, is giving to the world an example of supernatural patience by his silence. t See Document V. 9 not correctly informed tiiem of my having hegged the protection of the government of Mexico for establishing there a house of educations What protection from th6 government could one be in want of for texercising a liberal profession in a free country ? Have I not at present a liouse of education independent of any protection? Did not Senor Carrion himself have one a yfear ago in Broadway, without any protection from the government ? Attached to the Mexicans, that IS, to a people who have had the good sense to shake ofTthe Spanish yoke, I have lately offered to their government a plan of public education adapted to their peculiar circumstances, adding that " should I ever return to Mexico, public education would be there my exclusive occupation ; this was all. Now if the quality of a royalist did not prevent Senor Carrion from educating Republican youth in New York, would mine, that of an Artwrican citizen, be in- compatible with that of an instructor in a sister American Republic? Is Commodore Porter a. rebel to his country for having instructed and commanded the Mexican navy ? Are American citizens forbid- den to establish commercial and manufacturing houses in foreign parts ? Is the establishment of a house of education less legal, or less iioble than that of stores and shbps ? On the sixth point. — I have only oiice visited Gibraltar. The downfall of the Spanish constitution obliged me to go, in October 1823, and seek in Gibraltar a passage for the United States. This Was immediately granted me by the generous Commodore Jone^^ commander of the United States frigate Constitution, to whom I had been introduced by a respectable American merchant, Mrc Horatio Sprague. But the frigate did iiot sail until April of the following year, When she was reheved by the Cyane. I remained, then, five months in a place, where no stranger is permitted to reside beyond three days ; an evident proof of the distinguished consideration I en- joyed there. The Constitution sailed at last, and I went on board of her as she was weighing anchor. I arrived in New York in May 1824, furnished with the tnost flattering letters of introduction to dis- tinguished persons in New York, Boston, Norfolk, New Orleans, and Caraccas ; another evidence of the public estimation I had merited in Gibraltar. It was afterwards, in New York, where I learned that a suit had been ordered in that place against me, as the author of an allegation in defence of the Rombado family, who had been despoiled 10 of a rich inheritance by virtue of a forged testament* ; and that the suit had no other ground but that of my having attacked in it, rather too harshly, one of the actual judges of the plea, who, in his capacity of notary 'public at the _timc of the committed forgery, was strongly suspected of having been an accomplice in the transaction. Is it as- tonishing that in a monarchical country, and in a military place under the despotic command of a governor, who, by an unexampled mon- struosity, was also the chief justice of the civil court, the defender of oppressed people might have suffered a persecution ?— And am I questioned as to what I shall say in regard to my banisJtment from Mexico ? I had discovered there all the artifices of the European holy alliance, since the first moment of its formation ; qualified reli- gious intolerance as impious 5 praised the policy of the Presidents of the United States, Monroe and Adams, towards the new Ameri- can repubUcs ; approved the conduct of Poinsett ; condemned as fa- vourable only to slavery, some pretensions of the Mexican negocia- tors in the treaty of commerce, then under consideration, between the cabinets of Washington and Mexico ; vigorously combatted the pretensions of Spain to her ancient colonies, and promised a plan for their best defence,! &c. Was this not enough, to fall a victim to the vengeance of a ministry blindly yielding to the suggestions of those very Spaniards, who have since been the cause of so many troubles among that brave and unhappy people?— As to the assertion of my having been turned away (despachado) from Mexico in a harsh man- ner (con Cajas destempladas,) I declare this to be a falsehood, which is another brilliant evidence of the moderation, good character, good ideas, of the editors of the Redactor. I departed from Mexico, not eight days, as it was ordered, hxxi fourteen days after having received the verbal order of quitting the country, without escort, having only in my coach General Guerrero, and greatly honoured by the most eminent personages, both natives and foreigners.^ Were Seilores Carrion and Granja better informed, they could have quoted many other and more important persecutions endured by me in the course of my revo- lutionary life, instead of mentioning my insignificant departure from I * I preserve a printed copy of this allegation signed with my own name. t See Los Cij,atra Primeros Discusiones del Congreso de Panama, a well known work iniitnerica. : See Documents VI. & Vill. 11 Gibraltar, and my honourable banishment from Mexico.* To be per- secuted by a king, or by his agents, whatever may be the country, is it not the same ? Am 1 not at present persecuted by Seiiores Carrion and Granja in the freest country of the world ? On the seventh point. — Here Seiiores Carrion and Granja show incautiously the true object of their behaviour. Behold their own words — " ademas de que es menester saber que hay muchos individuos que se han refugiado a las republicas, y hacen alarde de ser enemigos de los reyes, porque los reyes jamas han hecho caso de alles : que si lohicieran."^ . . . By the last threatening words, " ^ue 5z Zo Aicicran," they have intended likely to recall to my memory the poetical apos- trophe *< An nescis longas regibus esse manus ?" or even the celebrated miracles of the Spanish dagger. But all this is too contemptible to dwell upon. Should there appear in America no better champions for Ferdinand the Vllth, than Senor Barradas with the sword, and Senores Carrion and Granja with the pen, charitable men must only pity les champions et la dame. — But " many individuals, say those gentlemen, have sheltered themselves in Republics, and boast of being enemies of kings, because kings have never taken notice of them." What means the expression, " Kings have nevei taken notice of them ?" Is it because kings have never listened to their solicitations for em« ployment, or because kings have paid no attention to their anti-mo- narchical deeds ? It is evident that I am not the object of either supposition, for the editors of the Redactor, who profess to speak « cara H cara ^ la gente" (face to face to people,) would have had no objection to address the above to me directly. They speak of many individuals (whom, however, they do not know, or do not dare to name,) in whose number I cannot be comprehended; 1st, because I entered the revolutionary career at so early an age, and while I was in possession of such aristocratical distinctionsj that I could have no claim to royal beneficence, nor be in want of it : 2dly, because the fact itself, as stated by Senores Carrion and Granja, of my having h^QVi persecuted every where for my revolutionary ideas, leaves no room to doubt, that kings have been so good as to take but too much notice of me. And would a king hang in effigy absent rebels, confiscate their property, except them from amnesties, keep them in perpetual * See Document VII. t See Docum. IV. % See Docum. VIL 12 jrons, or exile, &c,, were lie not apprehensive of their liberal princi- ples ? Kings take no notice of patriots, as starving foxes take no liotice of the grapes, which are beyond their reach. The only object of the above elegant passage is then, evidently, to excite public feelings pf contempt, or suspicion, against all liberal refugees in free countries, Jlere some remarks of public interest, may not be inappropriatd. SECOND PART. Since Senores Carrion and Granja became the editors of the JRe- ^ctor, that paper seems constantly to have been written under the direct dictation of the apostolics of Madrid. The apostolics appear to have three objects in view, and the editors of the Redactor probably but one. The former are, Istly. To cause the ancient and modern glories of Spaniards to be extolled to the skies, as those of a nation far superior to all others in valour, talents, genius, literature, science, language, arts, agriculture, commerce, riches, virtues, and even pa^ iriotism, in order to perpetuate their ignorance, and, of course, their slavery, by causing them to swell at the idea of having already reached the highest point of knowledge, wisdom and prosperity : 2ndly. To awake general indignation against the new American republics, and to destroy their credit in both worlds, in order to lessen the number of their friends, to multiply that of their enemies, and thus to facilitate their reconquest by king Ferdinand : 3dly, to disgrace the free refu- gees in free lands, and expose them to persecution and death in th? very bosom of freedom, generosity, and justice, in order to divert others from the idea of breaking their monarchical chains, when no |iope of a comfortable asylum is left to them,. The latter, the probable object of the editprs ol" the Redactor, is that of making a petite fortune ^i the expense of the foolish. In fact, Senores Carrion and Granja Jiave every thing to gain, and nothing to lose in this attempt. If they continue unmolested in this course, they acquire at a small expense pn extended reputation in monarchical countries for their fortunate impudence, If they experience the rigor of the laws, they acquire Sin additional claim to th? gratitude of their king, who, in his royal infallibility, wiU not fail to acknowledge their services as a luminous proof of their devotion to his cause. J will take no notici? of the above first apostoUc object. Let Spaii^ 13 and Spaniards enjoy the pleasing illusions of their own imaginationJ Time and history have constantly proved the exactness of the motto ** nemo judex in causa propria.^' On my part, 1 v^rill be so generous as to acknowledge the pre-eminence of Seiiores Carrion and Granja, in the art of feeding their countrymen rather with suffocating smoke than with wholesome substance. Bat, as to the new American republics, should the editors of the Redactor limit themselves to represent them as incapable of self go- vernment, this would appear to be a mere opinion, erroneous no doubt, yet perhaps, innocent. They would hear in reply, that the best days of the Greek and Roman liberty, were but aa interrupted series of civil dissensions ; that the Romans, in the most flourishing period of their literature, assassinated almost every day an emperor ; that enlightened France herself has changed, in our days, six or seven constitutions in less than twenty-five years, not without shedding torrents of blood. They would hear in reply, that the ex-Spanish colonies, to conquer their independence, had no other means than despair and bravery ; while they had to overcome two obstacles almost insuperable,' — the ignorance inherited from their masters, and the pre- sence of numberless Spaniards, whom it was neither prudent nor pos- sible to expel ; that the Spaniards thus allowed to remain, corrupted the whole body of the people, and checked every advance toward na- tional freedom ; that ignorance, joined to the most Wind and stubborn fanaticism, prevented them from grounding their new social compact upon any better basis than the famous constitution, so absurd and con- tradictory in its provisions, which was first proclaimed by the Spa- niards in 1812; that the fact of those new repubhcs having drawn some of their fundamental laws fi:om the constitution of the United States, even though they have omitted to borrow others highly fa- vourable to the fi-eedom of conscience and the diffusion of knowledge, still offers a proof of their admiration of our constitution, though it may infer an ignorance of its full excellence ; that some of the said republics having afterward ordered the total expulsion of Spaniards, was another evidence of patriotic zeal, ardent, but not, perhaps, sufficiently discreet, for they ought to protect the good, to watch over the suspected, and unfailingly to punish the traitor. They would hear in reply, that those republics, notwithstanding so many and so striking disadvantages, have given to the world the most 14 shining proofs of valour, patriotism, and natural talents, in preserving their liberties, both against treachery within, and aggression from without ; and that, although certain, as they must be, of new and more desperate attempts on the part of their affectionate mother- country, they are already preparing such reforms, as will destroy their popular prejudices, their aversion from every useful innovation, their hatred to strangers, &c., and are making such improvements as ■will open the sources of true social happiness, that is, religious tole- rance, liberal education of youth, encouragement of agriculture and the arts, freedom of commerce, congruous codes, &e. Finally, they would hear in reply, that, even in the groundless hypothesis of those republics needing a king, why ought this to be a Spanish one ? The alleged rights of Ferdinand from conquest, and imparted benefits, are (if kings may ever have any right upon nations) destroyed by two other and more legitimate rights, — the reconquest made by the colonists of their own independence, and their practical trial of the most fatal effects of the Spanish administration during three unlucky centuries. The alleged uniformity of manners, usages, wor- ship, language, &c., is but a stronger reason for the ancient Spa- nish colonies to avoid, at any expense, any further intrusion of Spain into their concerns ; for the radical reformation of such manners, tisages, and religious intolerance, is precisely the only means of ob- taining at last a rank among civilized nations. As to the language, the ex-colonists have one ; — it will be the interest of strangers to speak, and to understand it. And, why ought their supposed king be rather absolute than constitutional, rather hereditary than elective, rather residing at four thousand miles distance than in their own bosom, rather a man who is vengeance itself personified, and who has so much vengeance to exercise, than one who would have in view nothing but the acquiring a happy popularity ? But, what shall I say as to the continual attacks made by Sefiores Carrion and Granja upon every free people in general, and every in- dividual not disposed to adore chains, by proclaiming openly in their papers the legitimacy of the rights of a king over a nation, and by heap- ing reproach indiscriminately upon the absent citizens of our sister republics, and upon every victim of monarchical rage sheltered on our shores, without regarding the danger to which they expose themselves in a country where defamation is liable to be rigorously punished ? 15 In a free country, some will perhaps say, where the freedom of thd press is justly reputed the corner stone of the social edifice, nothing can prevent the editors of the Redactor from going on freely in their noble undertaking. The silence, they will add, of our government on this subject is only an evidence of its strength, that of the nation a proof of her knowledge, and that of both a geometrical demonstration of the immense superiority of our popular system over absolute mo- narchies, where a single, weak, fearful, suspicious man, fulminates in- discriminately capital punishment against actions, words, thoughts, and even dreams. All this is correct. It remains only to examine whether impunity produces, in such casesj a larger sum of evil than of good. The generous hospitality, which the people of the United States have so deeply proffered and so constantly granted to the unfortunate victims of foreign despotism, will then be no longer but nominal, since those victims will in reality meet with defamation here,and consequently with a fate far worse than that of living under a sceptre ; and no one is ignorant that there is a kind of defamatory language, which is suffi- cient to annihilate the best of men in public opinion, without being sufficient to authorize a legal redress. Nor is any legal protection within the reach of a private man, especially a stranger, who is con- strained to employ all his time in procuring a honourable subsistence^ against a co-partnership of editors, who have a press at their disposal, and nothing to do but to fill, every ten days, four miserable pages with imprecations, sarcasm, and monotony in snarling at every body, mingled with some items of threadbare news copied from other jour» nals. A struggle between a sharp sword and a bare breast is soon terminated by the triumph of cowardise over heroism. And would such a barrier against emigration to America prove useful to our po-* litical and commercial interests, or vouch for our national character ? Could an American travel, without blushing, in foreign parts, where the insults so impudently cast in his country upon liberal principles and quietly endured without the possibility of redress, must sooner or later resound ? And does not the statement of the Redactor that a free people are but rebels, vile rabble, &c. cast a similar infamy upon the inhabitants of the United States ? More. Will not principles so subversive of the sovereignty of the people, so boldly uttered, and so frequently repeated amongst us 10 ■without the least censure, cause us to become at last the object oi' universal ridicule, and discredit our cause in the opinion of our beslt friends and admirers throughout the civilized world ? Nay more. Will not the continued toleration of such decrying undermine insensibly the foundations of our social institutions, by re- presenting them to the incautious mind of youth as the work of the ambition of some, of the ignorance of bthfers, or of the madness of all ? And can the impunity, which the editors of the Redactor are so happily enjoying, be reasonably refused to hundreds or thousands of advocates of the same cause, but of greater ability ? Finally, reciprocity of esteem alone can maintain friendship betweeii nations and governments, as between men. A Spanish paper pub- lished in the United States will always be read with avidity in the eight new American republics, where the Spanish language alone is understood. Will not those republics feel indignant at the criminal falsehoods periodically, and with impunity, vomited here against them ? In the ignorance of the true causes of such impunity will not their public writers believe themselves authorized to retaliate upon the people and the government of the United States ? And will not such a perpetual war of invective and insult expose at length our travellers, our ships, our commerce, our peace, our dignity to the most unplea- sant vicissitudes ? What right could we have to complain of the pro- vocations of those writers, and of the unfriendly disposition of those people towards us, whilst we are looking indifferently at a tribunal of abuse, erected in New York against their political existence, and their individual and national honour ? The reason of my indulging in these remarks is by no means whinai- sical or exaggerated. I denounce nothing but facts, the reality of ■which quisqtie de populo may easily ascertain by casting a rapid glance over the pages hitherto edited by Senores Carrion and Granja, in this city. But what is to bs done ? An answer to this question. Certainly, when the constitution of the United States was framed, and the liberty of the press proclaimed therein, or thereby, no one could have foreseen the case, in which, while no native would ever dare to fight openly against its fundamental principles, two unknown adventurers, unrivalled patterns of ungentlemanly and ungrateful con- duct toward the most generous and harmless of nations, would have, intruded themselves into her bosom, to ridicule? although iitdirectly^ It liev revolution, iier principles, her wisdom, by loading with disgrace- ful invectives every people who had followed her example, every in- dividual, who, flying from tyrants, came to live and to die under the shade of her puWic and private virtues. In fact, since the first mo- ment in which the word colony was effaced from her political lexicon, no attempt of the kind has ever been heard of in the Union, until Se- nores Carrion and Granja became the editors of the Redactor. This crime seemed as impossible to her, as parricide to the ancient Ro- mans. But, does the extravagance of the fact destroy its reality ? Does not its importance demand the most serious attention of the egislature ? Is punishment for the abuse of the press against pri- vate persons sufficiently calculated to prevent attempts against the commonwealth ? Who are these gentlemen? Should tbeir usurped power of preach- ing amongst us the doctrine of legitimacy, of treating free nations as flocks, and popular governments as vile rabble, of dishonouring refugees in republican lands, exempt them from gi^^ng us an account of their own quality, of the motive of their having quitted their happy and blessed country to establish in New York a chair of ultra-royalisra, and a ferocious inquisition against universal philanthropy ? Who are they ? Republicans or constitutionalists, refugees in New York ? No : they are faithful vassals of the king of Spain. Refugees for other exploits ? Well ; their language would prove their desire of ingrati- ating themselves with their master and lord. Independent travellers ? They would not, in this quality, beg public bread at the expense of their own honour, and at the risk of incurring judicial prosecutions. Disinterested opinionists ? Nothing more opposite to the fact. Agents of Ferdinand VII ? Oh, no, they are not mercenary slaves ? Who are they then ? For want of satisfactory explanations, we must con- jecture that they are no other than mischievous speculators upon the Ferdinandian imbecility ; that is all. But, a nev/spaper, it w^ill be said, written in Spanish, and so writtert, that it will never have an extensive circulation amongst Americans, can produce no harm in this country. Granted. It is however circu- lated abroad ; the knowledge of the Spanish language is rapidly spreading itself even amongst the lowest class of the American peo- ple ; and we cannot, on the other hand, be true lovers of our liberties, without being extremely jealous of our political tenets, nor could any 18 thing wairant the firmness of both, if nothing prevent more able missionaries of slavery from discrediting them at home and abroad. Let Sefiores Carrion and Granja be royalists ; let their opinions be respected, and their persons protected as far as they respect our opinions, and submit to our laws ; but who would ever believe them authorized to reward the hospitality granted to them with preach ing to us slavery and fanaticism ? " Adorate le vostre catene, Chi v' invidia cotanto tesoro 1 Ma lasciate tranquilli coloro, Che ricuBan portarle nel pie." And would a salutary severity on our part prove for them a means of making their petite fortune ? So much the worse for the royal dujte. To secure our domestic peace, and our national honour against roycH trieJes, behold our duty. Sefiores Carrion and Granja will undoubtedly exhaust their pecu- liar vocabulary, and avail themselves of their free press to add in- sult to insult, sarcasm to sarcasm, slander to slander, absurdity to absurdity. To those who do not give themselves the trouble of rea- soning, and who do not hesitate to deal in sophistry, nothing is easier than to decry men, things, facts, reason, and truth. They need only words, and Sefiores Carrion and Granja have words enough in their possession. All their ambition is to remain masters of the field of battle, that is to say, to have the last word, in order to leave, if pos- sible, in the public mind, opinions favourable to themselves, and injurious to their antagonists. And who can prevent them from so doing ? Let it be so. Let them enjoy the honour of such a triumpli. But they will never succeed in imposing upon the mind of tliose who are not Spaniards, or of Spaniards " Blest with plain reason and with common sense." To further attacks upon foreign or national republicanism, on the part of Sefiores Carrion and Granja, it will be no longer my business to reply, after having once presented to the public the above remarks on the subject, unless the publication of a few exracts from the papers edited hitherto by them, become indispensable. As to personal in- sults, their nature will determine my conduct. O. DE A. SANTANGELO. iVew York, February 24th, 1830. V0^ DOCUxMEiNT I. Exlracl from the MePoCurio, of the 23d January, 1830. Se ha hecho correr la voz en Mejico que yo soy el editor, 6 uno de los editores del Redactor, perioJico espanol que se publica en Nueva York por una sociedad Espahola. Manifiesto pues a lo3 Mejicanos y a ambas Amdricas, que nunca he tenido que hacer en dicho papel; que ni do vista tengo el honor de conocer a EUs editores actuates ; y que mis opiniones polilicas, con respecto a. Mf^jico y Es- paiia, son y siempre ban side diametralmente opuestas a las de ellos A princi- pios de 1823, sierido ediiorea del Redactor los seiiores Lerena y Bergonzio, es verdad que propuse desde Nueva York a varioa amigos mios en Mejicn la sus- cripcion a dicho periodico, porque entonces eslaba escrito con moderacion ; porqu6 uo se hablaba todavia de espedicioaes espariolas contra M(5jico ; por que era el unico periodico espanol que se publicaba en cste pais, y debiau los Meji- canos conocer lo bueno y lo male que se decia aqui de ellos. Mas jure (y desa- fio el universe entero a probar lo contrario) que desde el instanle en que, desler- rado de Mejico por amigo de sus libertades, llegue a los p]studo3 Unidos, no he publicado mas que un articulo en el JVew York Statesman del 10 de Octubre de 1827 abogando la causa del general Guerrero para la preaidencia de aquella republica, otro en el Pi.edactor de los senores Jjcrena y Bergonzio del 10 de marzo de 1828, abogando la misma causa ; otro en el mismo R,edactor del 20 de junio de 1818, dando una biografia de Don Lorenzo de Zavala ; y otro en el Mercurio de Nueva York del 11 de abril de 182^ con otra biografia del gen, Santa Anna. Estos articuloa, y unas comunicaciones que hice a los Editores del Evening Post, del Daily adoerliser, y del Nevj York Enquirer, haciendoles conocer el ver- dadero estado de los negooios en Mejico en tiempo de la subrepticia eleccion de Pedraza, y lo filso de cuanto olros pcriodicos divulgaban de buena 6 mala fe contra el honor de la nacion M<5jicana y de sus mejores caudillos ; he aqui todo lo que ha salido de mi pluma en venganza de mi destierro; y este es quiza el crimen por el cual mi destierro no ha sido forrnnlinenle revocado hasta el dia. No hubiera hecho semejante manifestacion si no rae encontrara en la necesi- dad de desmentir una impostura demasiado injuriosa a mis ideas anlimonarqui- cas, despues de haber sido por el espacio de cuarenta arios amigo de la libertad. Ruego, en consecuencia, encarecida y respetuosamente a todos los Senores Edi- tores de periodicoa en la federacion Mejicana, que sesirvan publican lo espuesto en 8U3 paginas, y daran con esto al mundo una prueba de su niantropicaimpar- cialidad. — O. de A. Santangelo. DOCUMENT II. Extract from the R.ei)Actor of the 30//t Januan/, 1830. Hemes visto en el Mercurio de Nueva York del 23del presente un comunicado firmado por O. de A. Santangelo,en que pretende liasta con juraniento desmentir la voz que dice que ha corrido en Mejico de ser el editor de este nueslro perio- dico, de lo que parece nianife3tar?e rnui sentido y agraviado, y ruega i todos loj editores de la iederacion Mejicapa publiqiien en sus pagiuas sii exposicion. No- sotros, aunque ni hemos sido, ni somos, ni seremos editores de la federacion Me- iicana, tambien queremos contribuir por nuestra parte a que logre e! Sr. Sari- tangelo sus deseos de congraciarse con la soez canalla de mandarines mejicanosj per lo cual dedaramos por de cabeza redonda a todos aquellos que hayan sido eapaces de sospechar que elestilo de el Redactor pudiera ser el mismo que usa el Sr. Santangelo que es italiano y precisanaente debe tener su lenguage resabios estranjeros. Ademas hacemos saber para descargo de nuestra conciencia que nosotros somos Espafioles rancios por todos cvatro costados, de los que hablan a. la gente cara a cnra, porque no nos gusta andar por detras, y asi es que hemos dado el publico nuestros nombres : en vista de lo cual hacemos esta sencilla y espresa decl^racion. OTROSI : declaiamosque el mayor agravioque se nospuedahacer es creernos r.apaces de emplear al Sr. Santangelo para escribir en nuestro periodico, siendo un sujeto tan conocido en ambos mundos por sus ideas revolucionarias, por lo cual 7ia sido perseguido en toclas partes, siendo de advertir que la epoca en que fue desterrado de Mejico puede contarse como el Iris de su independencia, por ser el tinico intervalo en que habia al frente de aquel gobierno los hombres mas razon- ables : y para que nadie alegue ignorancia, y se guarden bien todos en adelante de marcar a I^l Redactor con tan negra nota, lo lirmamos fecha ut supra. — Lm? fonsabidos Edilores, DOCUMENT II!. Exlractfrom the Mercurio of the Gih February, 1830. Seiiores Editores del Mercurio : Si la consideracion de ser yo uno de sus sn?, criptores y la necesidad de valerme esclusivamente de un periodico Espanol para contestar a los Sres. Editores del Redactor, que se publica en el mismo idi,- oma, pueden veneer la repugnancia de vms. a admitir comunicados relatives a personalidades, suplico a vms. se sirvan insertar en su primer niimero el que dirijo a vms,, bajo la prolesta que esta sera la primera y ultima respuesta a dichos Sres. Dije en su periodico del 23 de enero ultimo, no haber nunca tenido que hacer en el Redactor de Nueva York; y lo dije unicamente para desmentir una Toz que atribuyendome ser uno de los editores del Redactor, me atribuia im- plicitameate opiniones opuestas a las mias con respecto a Esparta y Mejico. No ataqu^ por esto ni las opiniones ni el caracter personal de sus verdaderos edito- res. Sin embargo estos seiiores han querido lanzarme en su papel del 30 del ipismo mes una invectiva, la que purgada de todo lo impertinente como lo de cabeza redonda, de rancio, de cuatro costados, de resabios, de mayor agravio, de negra nota Szc. se reduce 1°, a imputarme deseos de congraciarme con la que icrbanamente llaman soes canalla de mandarines mejicanos; 2°. a celebrarme como conocido en ambos mundos por mis ideas revolucionarias (es decir anti-monarqui- cas), y perseguido en todas partes (es decir por un Monarca). A la primera asercion he de contestar que mi calidad de ciudadano de los E. XJ. no puede inspirarme deseos de congraciarme con gobiernos estranjeros, y mucho menos con los ilustres gobernantes actuates de Mejico, que nunca fueron mis enemigos. Tengo, por lo contrario, desde septiembre del ano ultimo, su permiso confidencial para regresar a Mejico (como lo veran uds. por las cartas que acompaiio, y las que se serviran devolverme)! y el no haberlo hecho hasta el dia no prueba la veracidad de la asercion Redaclorial. La segunc|a interesa mi gratitud. Efectivamente mis %deas fu6ron, desde mi niiiez, y siempre seran revolucionarias contra, todo poder, que no.emane de la soberana voluntad de los pueblos; y a pesar de ser conocido por revolucionario en. ambos mundos,\os Seiiores Carrion y Granja han tenido la generosidad de es- tender algo mas mi fama, de la que altamente me glorio. Solo me peiroitire 21 GDsevvarles, que entre en la carrera revolucionaria teniendo mucho que perder, y nada que gaaar, excepto el placer inefable de hacer guerra al sistema monar- tjuico. A lo demas de su noble invecliva contestara el tiempo. Manden uds. a. su respetuoso amigo y servidor. O, de ji. Santanselo, I)OCUME>T IV. Extract from the PiEDactor o/tfie lOih of February, 1830. Tapaboca. Xis digno a la verdad de observaciou que cuantos adversarios ban aHomado la eabeza provocaado controversias con nosolros sepan todus '-'^ bien la tactica de los anttguos Partes, que peleaban huytndo Ya el Sen: '- Santan^elo no3 amenaza en el Mercurio del 6 del corriente con no darnos mas respueda^ resen- tido de la oficiosidad que tnanifestamos en nueslro numero anterior decoutribuir a sus miras, haciendo patente la ninguna parte que ha tenido en la redaccion de este nuestro periodico ; pero al mismo tiempo que hace esta retirada no ha dejado de darnos motivo para una replica. Dice el Seiior Santangelo que en su primer comunicado inserto en el Mercu- ric del 23 de Enero no ataco ni las opiniones niel caracter personal nuestro. Al •yer una asercioa como esta no podemos meaos de notar que, 6 al Sr. Santangelo le flaquca mucho la memoria, 6 no sabe lo que escribe ; porque tratando de desmentir la toz que dice ha corrido en Mejico de tener el parte en la ediciou de El Redactor, dice que solamente cuando este periodico era dirijido por los Sres. Lerena y Bergonzio le propuso a varios amigos suyos de Mejico. •' porque entonees estaba escrito con modcrucion,''' y mas abajo dice ; " no hubiera hecho se- niejante manifestacion si no me encontrara en la necesidad de desmentir una impos- tura demasiado injuriosa a mis ideas. Ahora bien, 6 nosotros ignoramos absolu- tamente lo que es sana lojica., 6 de estas dos preposiciones se infiere que nuestro periodico no esta escrito con moderacion y que son malas las ideas que en el de- fenJemos; pues es bien sabido que nadie se cree iujuriado cuando le atribuyen cooperacion en una obra que sea buena : por consiguiente cualquiera imparcial juzgara que se equivoca mucho el Sr. Santangelo cuando dice que no ataco ni las opiniones ai el caracter personal nuestro, cuyo punto es mui esencial para hacer ver al mundo que de ningum mode hemos sido los agresores en esta contienda. Establecido este principio, creemos haber tenido raznn para decir que sus miras en hacer su manifestacion, aiacando nuestras opiniones, han sido las de congraciarse con los mandarines mejicanos. lo que el Sr. Santangelo no quiere admit ir, sin duda porque no ouede enieramente reconeiliar ia conciencia con tales procedimientos, y esto prueba el grado de prostitucton a que han Uegado aquel- los, cuando sus parlidarios se averguenzan de deciararse abiertamente por ellos, pero nosotros lenemos datos para creer que el Sr. Santangelo ha mendigado la proteccion de aquellos para eslablecer en ^lejico una casa de educacion. para cuya solicitud parece que no ha sido obslaculo el ser ciudad ano de eslos Estados como quiere suporier, Parece tambien que el Sr. Santangelo no encuentra urbanidad en la fraseque nosotros usamos cuando decimos soez conalla de mandarines mejicanos como si hubiera algo de malo en llamar a las cosas por su nombre. A esto sm duda, y a que ponemos de manifiesto los deiordenes cometidos por aquellos, es a lo que atribuye la fait a de moderacion ; pero quisieramos saber que epitetos se deben dar a los traidores y rebeldes a un Gobierno lejitimo, a los ladrones, a los asesi- nos, a los que han devastado aquellos hermosos paises. a los perjures que han despedazado mil veces el pacto social y pisoteado otras tantas las leyes y las constituciones ; y en fin, no sabemos que clase de respetos quiere el Sr. Santan- gelo que se guarden a los que ninguao han tenido a la hamanidad entera, a 1* juiticia y a la razon. He aqui el decantado liberalismo : jquiere acaso el Sr. Santangelo que bese- inos la mauo parricida que hiimea con la sangre del iuocente ? Bella presun- cion por cierto ; a los Espanoles nos roban, nos destierran, nos insultan y iios asesinan, y todavia se exijen de nosotros los miramientos mas serviles para con los monstruos causadores de lodos nuestros males! ! ; y los que no quieren per- mitirnos este desahogo ^ no son aun mas opresores e itijustos que aquellos ? Pun- to es este ciertamente que pudiera ocupar muchas columnas ; pero por ahora liemos dicho hastanle. Hace tambien mucha ostentacion el Sr. Santangelo de ser enemigo de los Reyes, J de solamente haher sufrido persecucion por dlos a lo cual baste decir que su salida de Gibraltar no la causo el Rei de Inglaterra, y que en MeJKo no man- daba al Rei de Espana cuaiido In (Jespari.aron con cajas destempladas ; adcmas de que es mene.ana ue Rusia. Los consejos qne did a Murat para las campaiias He lS14y 1815, en Italia, hubieran salvado la Italia y la Francia, si Mufat hubiese sido tan politico comoguerrero. Desde 1815, retirado del servicio militar, sirvio gratis a la humanidad de abogado de pobresen las causas criminales, civiles y comei- ciales. Estallada en julio de 1820 la revolucion constitucional, fue el unico de que temblaban los conspiradores que tramaban la contra revolncion, y tentaron dos Teces asesinarlo ; predico la inevitabilidad de la guerra, y de la derrota si no adoptaban sns planes. No fue escuchado, y la Santa Ligd triunfo. Refugiado en 1821 en Espana, hizo lo mismo, no se le escucho y todo fu6 perdido. Refugi- ado en Gibraltar; tuvo noticia de su ejecucion capital en e&tatua en Napoles, y paso a la America. En suma, diez campaiias, dos heridas, cinco prisiones, cuatro emigraciones, dos sentencias capitales, ptrdtda voluntaria de titulos de nobleza, y ricas rentas, cruces caballerescas ganadas sobre el campo de batalla, menciones honorables liechas de el en los boletines oficiales de varies ejercitos, producciones literarias y politicas del mayor interes, desempeno de encargos de la mayor dificultad, empresas atrevidas y gloriosas, agregacion de su nombre a v&rias sociedades ci- cntificas, conocido, querido, y respetado de toda Italia, he aqui un ligero bosquejo &c.* * * * « No ha muchos dias murio en Megico el general Garcia Conde hermano del general D. Juan, cuya esposa es Luisa de Attellis sobrina carnal del Sr. Santangelo &c. Mexico y julio 6 de 1826 — Andres Pignatelli Cerckiara, ex-teniente general ■^l servicio de Napoles bajo las ordenes del rey Murat, y ciudadano Mcgicano. DOCUMENT VIII. A lUeral tmnslalion of ike official letter of Mr. Mayorga, minister plenipolen- tiaryfrom the government of Central America at Mexico, to his own govern- ment, in Guatemala, and whose original in Spanish is in the poiver of Mr. Santangelo. To citizen Juan Francisco Sosa, minister of state and of department of relations of the government of the federal republic of Centro-America — Legation of Mexico 10th July 18.26 — The fate of Mr. Santangelo, bearer of the present, in- terests in a lively manner all those elevated and feeling souls, who desire with ar- dour the liberty of the people, and must affect all those beings, whose hearts are disposed to receive the sacred impressions of the love of humanity. This cele- brated patriot has devoted the grandest and most flourishing epoch of his life to the cause of liberty in Europe, where he has offered on the altars of this divi- nity the most bloody sacrifices. A conduct so heroic has drawn upon him, as anight be expected, the most horrid persecutions in the lands of tyrants, who have declared their cruel indignation against him, and have subjected him to the jnost friglitful proscriptions. There remained therefore no other resource to this victim of royal ferocity than emigration ; and in the choice of his retreat he did not hesitate. America is at the present day the object of the wishes of all those, who love the liberty of the human race, for it is the only part of the world, ■where all nations, with the exception of Brazil, find themselves happily settled under a free administration, which is the desired and cherished object of Mr. Santangelo. But the titles which he has to distinguished recommendations are not confined to his constant and firm decision for liberty : he is besides that, well known for his superior talents, and for his exquisite knowledge, above all in that whici) concerns the diplomacy of the European cabinets. He has intended to rendt an important service to the new republics of America by publishing a littie work on the discussions of the congress of Panama, in which he has developed tho politios, the plans, the captious designs of the league, and has attempted 27 (,0 offer the most saiatary advice to put us on our guard against their deep iaid artifices. The majority of the public opinion of this capital has pronounced in favour of this work; but the minister of relations (foreign affairs) has judged differently, and has ordered Mr. Santangelo to quit the whole territory of thia republic. An event so unexpected has determined Mr. Santangelo to direct his course towards our country, which, amon2;st other glorious titles, for which it has ac- quired the esteem ;)f the civilized world, may reckon the good reception and frank hospitality, which it affords without distinction to ail such men as adopt it for their country. I have confirmed Mr Santangelo in the honourable opinion, which our republic justly enjoys, and I have assured him that he will be well received there, for if our government receives with open arms every individual tvho comes to Central America, though without those powerful motives, which speak in favour of Mr. Santangelo, I flatter myself that the latter will find there that estimation, to which his views, and the noble cause of which he is the victim^ entitle him. The extraordinary services, which he has rendered to this cause in Europe, and his multiplied sacrifices, merit the consideration and gratitude of Americans, although not in the same degree as the services rendered on this soil. For, who is ignorant that the attacks against European tyranny, and the progress of liberty in the old world, powerfully contribute to consolidate that of the new ? Who does not know, that as long as there are despotic thrones in Eu- rope, the free institutions of America will be menaced, and that the establish- ment and consolidation of these continually undermine the ancient and gothic edifice, on which absolute power has elevated its throne ? It is evident that the impulse, which liberty receives in every part of the globe whatsoever, dilates and augments its force and power. But, in order that the success may not be doubtful, and that the victory may be complete, it is essential that men of all countries, of all climates, should join themselves together, and make conamon cause to abolish tyranny. The present revolution of the world is only a war between the people and the kings ; the former exclaim against the scandalous usurpations of their rights exacted by absolute power ; the latter wish to sus- tain them effectually by force, that is to say. by the same means which they have employed to perform them, and to preserve their fruits. The danger, of which the tyrants have been aware, has suggested to them the measure of being united among themselves ; and shall not the public acknowledge the urgency of doing so likewise ^ If they do not, this liberty, which the world begins so hap- pily to enjoy, will find itself in danger of Deing stifled, or at least of suffering great reverses, for the kings ivill not cease to be indefatigobly engaged tn their design of plunging mankind again in that dreadful darkness, in which it has groaned during so many ages, and from which it has gradually emerged through the noble efforts of geniuses like that of Mr. Santangelo. What I have already informed you of is then more than sufficient to obtaia for him amongst us the most obliging reception, and I only add my particular entreaties, and interpose all the favours, which our government imparts to mCo Deign, sir, to bring all this to the knowedge of the citizen president of our re- public, and to accept the assurances of the distinguished consideration, with which I am — Your very affectionate and obedient servant, — Juan de Dios Mai/f f^rga. This Pamphlet, the publication of tvhich has heen detained independent of the Author, is to he had at his residence, No. 302 Broadnmy. f ^^_ ^.., ^i=«r C3<-'«l3c:cacx!>^c_::^acr' cc CiC ex: cc cc . ex cc; c c: . <:cc: ccc: <:3rc; ""^j-^csiic^i^aca «|.«£SS^@^2iS -r' «:: mi! c:«3tii^c»::'