position of such Slaves as you may capture, so far modified, that you will deliver them on Smith's Island, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, to such Agent as may be appointed by the President to receive them there.

MANIFESTO of the General in Chief of the Liberating Army of Chili, on the failure of the Negotiations for Peace with the Spanish Vice-Roy of Peru.-Pisco, 12th October, (Translation.)

1820.

WHEN War is undertaken by ambition, and continued by caprice, force is the only argument to convince the People, and silence the opinions of the World; then it is that policy assumes a mysterious character, and, to conceal the perversity of its plans, explains them by enigmas, in order to execute them afterwards by artifice. But when necessity places arms in the hands of those who aspire only to the public good, frankness is the grand secret of all their measures, and force is only employed, as a last resource, to compel those whom reason has not been able to persuade.

Previous to my arrival, and since I fixed my Head-Quarters at this Place, I announced to the People of Peru that my object had been, and always would be, to secure the independence of America and the Peace of the Continent. Both are incompatible with the existing Government of this Vice-Royalty; and 10 years' experience proves that the Government of Lima has been the origin of the War which has kept the neighbouring States in darkness; and has been the cause of shedding torrents of Peruvian blood, to suppress the spirit of independence which was every where manifested.

A few days after my arrival, I received an invitation from the Vice-Roy of Lima to enter into Negotiations, which should embrace the general felicity, and put an end to the calamities of War. I willingly suspended my operations, being anxious to prove that I did not seek the field of battle, except when compelled by necessity to pass through it to gain the Temple of Peace.

The language of the Vice-Roy of Lima led me to hope that the late Revolution of the Peninsula would have entirely changed the ideas of the Spanish Government respecting the Americas, and that the new policy would be compatible with our great interests. He informed me that its Commissioners would be sent to Head-Quarters, who, before my arrival, were about to depart for Chili. I wished to prove the sincerity of my intentions, and, in anticipation, sent mine to hear their propositions, in order in proper time to make ours.

On the 19th ultimo, my Deputies, Colonel Don Tomas Guido, my

first Aid de Camp, and Don Juan Garcia del Rio, Secretary of the Government, proceeded to Lima. Their official conduct, agreeably to the Instructions I ordered to be prepared for them, will shew to those interested in our fate, that if justice upholds our Claims, the interest and policy of Europe are equally conformable to them.

The establishment of a Government, and its conformity with the Constitutional System established throughout the civilized World, have been the basis of the opening I have made on this occasion.

My inclination for Peace, my wish to triumph by reason, exaggerated in my sight the probability of success. I had hoped that the ViceRoy would participate in my sentiments, and would not allow to escape this brilliant opportunity of putting an end to the Revolution, perhaps of re-establishing a good understanding between Spain and America, by means of friendly relations which would raise an eternal barrier against the mania of dominion. I protest that, in the course of my public life, I have never taken a step more analogous to the interests of both Worlds, nor of greater influence on the present and future times; but I forgot that 3 ages of dominion had closed the channels by which America might be united to Spain, and had left open only that of subjection, under modifications which necessity occasionally suggested, but which policy provided the means of evading.

The first proposal made to my Deputies, by those of the Vice-Roy of Lima, was " that, in the name of the Chilian State, its Chiefs, and Inhabitants, they should adopt and swear to the Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy, sending their Deputies to the Sovereign Congress, and entering into all the rights and privileges granted by the Cortes." My Deputies replied, positively, that they were not authorised to commence any negotiation on that basis, and that they could admit none inconsistent with the principles which the free Governments of America had established as the invariable rule of their conduct.

If the above proposal did not bring to our recollection the policy observed by the Cortes in Cadiz, even at the period of their greatest struggle, and when the liberality of their opinions bordered almost on a democratic enthusiasm-if it did not resemble the language adopted by the King in his Proclamation to the Transatlantic Inhabitants, in which, after some magnificent promises, made without guarantee, and lavished in the transport of his forced repentance, he concluded by threatening us with the national indignation, if we refused to submit to the Constitution ;-it might have been believed that it was but a ministerial manœuvre, whose only object was to get our refusal, in order to propose without violence new measures; but there is a concurrence of circumstances that leaves no doubt that such is the true spirit of the King, and the point of contact between the Liberals of the Year 1812, -the Slaves who banished them in 1814, and the Constitutionalists

of the present day; in a word, between all the Parties which patrio tism or the passions may have formed in the Peninsula.

The Deputies of the Vice-Roy finding that their first proposal was declined, brought forward several others, of which the principal one was, that the Army under my command should evacuate the Territory, and retire toChili, under the express condition of sending to His Catholic Majesty, Deputies with ample power to solicit what they might desire. This new proposal convinced my Deputies that nothing could now be expected by negotiating with the Government of Lima, and that the moment was arrived for terminating the Conference at Miraflores, either by making a last attempt to ascertain the probability of War, or the extent of the obstacles that prevented Peace. Under this idea they proposed to the Vice-Roy's Commissioners, that the Troops under my command should evacuate the Territory of Pisco, and take post on the right bank of the Desaguedero River; the Territory of Chili as marked out in 1810, being also evacuated by the Troops of His Catholic Majesty; that the State of Chili should remain in its present political situation, and should send to Madrid, Commissioners fully authorized to negotiate with His Catholic Majesty ;-that hostilities by Land and Sea should be suspended until 3 months after the result of the Negotiation might be known, in case it should not have terminated the differences existing between America and Spain;-and lastly, that the Stipulations should be guaranteed by the Senior Officers, in these seas, of the Naval Forces of His Britannic Majesty and of The United States.

It appeared reasonable to expect, on the part of the Vice-Roy's Commissioners, a full acquiescence in the only proposals that I could admit, considering my military dispositions, the state of public opinion, and the insufficiency of the means employed to resist them ;-but their Government determined on supporting a plan, the consequences of which cannot be doubtful: their Commissioners persisted in refusing the principal points contained in our proposals, viz. ;-the evacuation of the 4 Provinces of Potosi, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, and La Paz; and the guarantee of the Senior Officers of His Britannic Majesty's and The United States' Naval Forces in these seas, in the name of their respective Governments, for the fulfilment of the Articles that should be agreed upon.

It is true, they acceded to other general Articles, which in such cases serve to connect the secret instructions with the ostensible views of a Negotiator; but they stated that, in the present moment and circumstances, it was too great a sacrifice to accept Peace on the terms proposed by my Deputies.

It became then necessary that they should return, in order to acquaint me with the result of the Negotiation. As soon as I was informed

of it, I resolved upon renewing hostilities, with the previous notification of the rupture, conformably to the 3d Article of the Armistice concluded on the 26th ult., which expired the 4th instant, and with advising the Vice-Roy of Lima of my resolution. I was regardless of my own

feelings, and attended only to the imperious call of my duty.

I have opened the campaign, and, since my expectations of Peace have been disappointed, will show them at least that War may be carried on with energy as well as humanity.

The Vice-Roy of Lima, in his last Letter, signifies his wish to give Peace to the American People, but that having to consult a will superior to his own, and being bound by the duties of his public character, he cannot offer other terms, to make even a diversion in the current of misfortunes.

I do justice to his personal feelings; I have no hesitation in believing that his sincerity reaches that point where his official duties commence. He also adds in his Note, that, if the Correspondence, such as it has been, should be published, he submits to the decision of an impartial World, that it may decide on whom humanity shall lay the blame of future calamities. A little before, he states, as if to lay the foundation of the consequence he anticipates, that he had proposed to disarm his Forces, if I would disarm mine.

In the course of the Negotiation at Miraflores, no mention was made to my Deputies of any plan for disarming our Forces, but only that there should not be any augmentation of force, in the event of a Convention being agreed upon, on the basis proposed by either Party. Neither in the 6 Propositions made by the Deputies of the Vice-Roy, on the 27th ultimo, nor in the 14 comprehended in his Note of the 30th, is there the slightest hint of the proposition to which he alludes. I am sorry to be compelled to make this observation, but it is necessary in order to remove any doubt which might be inferred from my silence.

To be brief, the Proposals made by the Vice-Roy of Lima were either inadmissible, unfounded, or without guarantee. To swear to the Constitution of Spain would be a violation of the Oath we have so often taken before God and the Country. The evacuation of the Territory occupied by my Army, and its return to Chili, under the conditions of indemnifying, reciprocally, the expenses incurred, and the injuries sustained, would only prolong the anxiety of the People, and add the uncertainty of fresh danger. A Truce till the result of the Negotiations to be carried on in Madrid by the Chilian Commissioners, has not, nor can have, a perfect guarantee, the proposal of my Deputies for the latter object having been refused. Between a Government accustomed to dominion, and a People wearied out by experience of the instability of promises, it is necessary that the guarantees be drawn from a source free from the suspicions, which repeated vio

Jations create. To this may be added, that, doing every justice to the Vice-Roy of Lima, the confidence in his word could only exist while he should continue in power.

Under such circumstances, I have been obliged to issue to my Army, Orders which it is accustomed to obey. I have opened the campaign without fear, but with great regret: hitherto the fortune of arms has not been adverse; but the evils of War have always weighed heavily on my heart. I do not seek victory to gratify personal views, but to establish the Independence of my Country, and fulfil the duties which fate and nature have imposed upon me. The moment is arrived when I ought to manifest the means in my power, and which circumstances have placed under my controul. The Troops who accompany me have been educated in the school of triumph. The Cavalry under my orders is commanded by a General whose bravery is almost unexampled in the history of War. The Artillery of the Expedition abounds in materials not only for the campaign I have undertaken, but for any other, even a longer and a more difficult one. The Inhabitants of the Country destined to be the theatre of this decisive Contest, are divided between those who ask for peace from fear of war, and those who have long sighed for liberty and justice. In a word,-force, opinion, reason, necessity, experience of the past, anticipations of the future, and the very measures which the Government of Lima is obliged to take for its defence, are additional resources to me, on which I rely for the successful termination of the campaign of the year 1820.

People of Peru! I have paid the tribute which, as a public man, I owe to the opinions of others. I have explained what is my object and my mission amongst you. I come to fulfil the expectations of those who wish to belong to the soil where they were born, and to be governed by their own Laws.

The day that Peru pronounces freely her wishes, respecting the form of the Institutions which are to govern her, be they what they may, my employment ceases; and I shall have the glory of announcing to the Government of Chili, on which I am dependent, that her heroic exertions have at length received as a recompense the pleasure of having given liberty to Peru, and security to the neighbouring States. My Army will then greet a large part of the American Continent, whose rights have been established at the price of its blood; and I shall have the satisfaction of having participated in their toils and ardent hopes for the Independence of the New World.

Head-Quarters of the Liberating Army, in Pisco, 12th October, JOSE SAN MARTIN.

1820.