XVI. The Minister of State, in the Department of War and Marine, is charged with the execution of this Decree.

Let this be printed, published, and circulated.

Given in the Palace of the Supreme Government in Lima, the 24th February, 1825. SIMON BOLIVAR.

By Order of His Excellency,

TOMAS DE HERES.

DECREE of the Government of Peru, prohibiting the Importation of Spanish Property.—Lima, 17th April, 1825.

(Translation.)

THE Council of Government; considering that the obstinacy of the Spanish Government, in continuing hostilities against the Republick, to sustain its pretended rights, imperiously demands the adoption of vigorous measures, in order to compel the Cabinet of Madrid to listen, at length, to the voice of justice, and of its own interest,-has resolved to decree, and has decreed:

I. That every description of Property, belonging to Subjects of Spain, which may be hereafter introduced into the Territory of the Republick, shall be confiscated for the service of the State, under whatever Flag it shall be found.

II. That, four months after the publication of this Decree, all Vessels, on board of which Spanish Property shall be found, of whatever kind, shall be declared lawful Prize by the competent Tribunals, and their Cargoes confiscated.

III. That the produce and manufactures of Spain, without exception, shall be considered as Spanish Property, and shall be seized throughout the Territory of Peru, whenever its value amounts to one hundred dollars.

IV. That in all cases in which any doubt may arise, as to the Spanish origin of any description of property, introduced either by sea or land, the Inspector of the customs of the Place, assisted by two competent Persons shall decide the question; and in case of objection to their decision, the Minister of Finance shall name two other Persons to decide, whose declaration on oath, shall be irrevocable.

V. That the Inspectors of Customs shall be personally responsible for the introduction, under false entries, of Spanish Produce, or Merchandize.

VI. The Minister of State, in the Department of Finance, is charged with the execution of this Decree.

Palace of the Supreme Government, Lima, 17th April, 1825.

HIPOLITO UNANUE.

TOMAS DE HERES.

CORRESPONDENCE, relative to the assembling of a General Confederation of the American Republics at Panama.

1.-CIRCULAR of General BOLIVAR.

MY GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND,

Lima, December 7, 1824.

AFTER fifteen years of sacrifices, consecrated to the liberty of America, in order to obtain a System of Guarantees, which, in Peace and War, may be the Shield of our new destiny; it is time that the interests and relations which reciprocally unite the Republics of America, formerly Colonies of Spain, should be founded on a fundamental basis, for the purpose of perpetuating, if possible, the duration of their Governments.

To establish such a System, and to consolidate the power of this great Political Body, the exercise of a Sublime Authority will be necessary; to direct the Policy of our Governments, to maintain, by its influence, the uniformity of our principles; and whose name alone may be sufficient to calm our agitations. So respectable an Authority, can only be found in an Assembly of Plenipotentiaries, sent by each of the Republics, and united under the auspices of the triumph gained by our arms over Spanish Power.

Deeply impressed with these ideas, as President of the Republic of Colombia, in 1822, I invited the Governments of Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Buenos Ayres, to form a Confederacy, and to assemble on the Isthmus of Panama, or at any other Place most convenient to the majority, a Meeting of Plenipotentiaries from each State, "who might serve as Counsel to us in our difficulties, as a rallying point in our common dangers, as faithful Interpreters of our Public Treaties, should doubts arise, and, in fine, as Conciliators in all our dif ferences."

The Government of Peru, concluded, on the 6th of July of that year, a Treaty of Alliance and Confederation with the Plenipotentiary of Colombia; by which both Parties were pledged to interpose their good offices with the Governments of America, formerly Spanish, to induce them all to enter into the same Compact, in order that a General Assembly of the Confederates might be formed. A Treaty to the same effect was concluded at Mexico on the 3rd of October 1823, by the Envoy Extraordinary of Colombia to that State; and there are strong grounds for hoping that the other Governments will accede to what a regard for their best interests so urgently dictates.

To delay for a longer period the General Assembly of the Plenipotentiaries of those Republics, which have already confederated together, until the accession of the remainder be obtained, would be to deprive ourselves of the advantages which that Assembly would produce from the moment of its installation. These advantages are prodigiously enhanced, if we contemplate the picture presented to us by the political world, and more particularly by the Continent of Europe.

The Meeting of the Plenipotentiaries of Mexico, Colombia, and Peru, would be indefinitely delayed, were it not proposed by One of the Contracting Parties; and were we to wait for the result of a new and special Convention, to settle the time and place for this important object. Considering the difficulties and delays resulting from the distance which separates us, and other weighty motives affecting our general interests, I have resolved to take this step, with a view to promote the immediate meeting of our Plenipotentiaries: whilst the other Governments are adjusting the Preliminaries which have already been agreed upon between us, relative to the appointment and assembling of their Representatives.

With respect to the period of the installation of the Assembly, I apprehend that no difficulty can arise to prevent its taking place within the space of six month, from the present date; and I would fain hope, that the ardent desire felt by all Americans to exalt the power of the Colombian World, will lessen the difficulties and delays, which ministerial preparations, and the distance which exists between the Capitals of each State and the central place of meeting, might otherwise occasion.

It would seem that, if the World had to select a spot for its Capital, the Isthmus of Panama would be chosen for that august purpose; placed, as it is, in the centre of the globe; looking on the one side towards Asia, and on the other towards Africa and Europe. The Isthmus of Panama has been offered by the Government of Colombia, in the existing Treaties, for the Assembly. The Isthmus is at an equal distance from the two extremities; and on this account might be provisionally selected as the Place where the first meeting of the Confederates should be held.

Yielding, therefore, to these considerations, I feel strongly inclined to send the Deputies from this Republic to Panama, the moment I have the honour to receive the desired answer to this Circular, Nothing, certainly, will contribute so much to gratify the ardent wish of my heart, as the co-operation which I look forward to, from the Confederated Governments, in carrying into effect this august act of America.

Should your Excellency not be disposed to concur in this step, I anticipate serious delay and inconvenience, at a time when the movements of the World accelerate all things, and may accelerate them perhaps to our disadvantage.

In the first Conferences between the Plenipotentiaries, the residence of the Assembly, as well as its functions, may be settled in a formal manner by the majority; and then all will soon be accomplished.

The day on which our Plenipotentiaries exchange their Full Powers, will form a memorable æra in the diplomatic history of America. When, an hundred Ages hence, posterity shall seek the rigin of our Political Institutions, and look back to the Compacts

which consolidated our destiny, it will consult, with veneration, the Protocols of the Isthmus. In them it will discover the basis of our first Alliances, which are to regulate the progress of our Relations with the Universe. What will the Isthmus of Corinth then be, compared with that of Panama ?

God preserve your Excellency, &c.,

BOLIVAR.

The Governments of the American Republics.

2.-The Vice-President of Colombia to General Bolivar. Palace of Government, Bogotá, February 6, 1825.

MY GREAT AND Good Friend and faithful ALLY,

I HAVE read, with the greatest pleasure, your very esteemed Communication, dated from the City of Lima, the 7th of December last, in which you express your ardent desire that the Assembly from the Confederated States of America, formerly Spanish, should meet, if possible, within six months.

I feel great satisfaction in assuring you, that, being actuated by the same feelings as yourself, I have already taken every step calculated to accelerate the carrying into effect an object so essential to our security and future happiness. The wants of the new American States, their position with reference to Europe, and the obstinacy of the King of Spain, in refusing to recognize them as independent Nations, render it now, more than ever, imperative on us and our dear Allies, to adopt a system of political combination, which may stifle in its birth any attempt to involve us in fresh calamities. The dangerous principle of interference, which some Cabinets of the Old World have adopted, and eagerly put in practice, calls for our serious consideration, as well on account of its tendency to keep alive the expiring hopes of our obstinate Enemies, as to avert the fatal consequences which the introduction of a maxim, so subversive of the Sovereign Rights of the People, would produce in America.

But, however great our desire may be, at least to lay the foundation of this, the most stupendous Work that has ever been conceived since the fall of the Roman Empire, it appears to me, that it is for our mutual interest, that the Assembly of Plenipotentiaries agreed upon, should take place on the Isthmus of Panama, with the concurrence of all, or of the greater part, of the American Governments, as well Belligerents as Neutrals; all being equally interested in resisting this pretended right of inteference, to which some of the Powers of the South of Europe have already fallen victims.

For the purpose of obtaining this concurrence, Instructions were given, under date of the 15th of July last, to our Chargé d'Affaires at Buenos Ayres, to endeavour to convince the Government there, of the propriety of sending Plenipotentiaries to the Assembly of Panama, notwithstanding the ill success of the Negotiation which was

opened for this laudable purpose, between the two Parties, in 1822. The Ratification of our Treaty of Alliance and perpetual Confederation with the State of Chile, of which, as yet, we have had no intelligence, is also expected with the greatest anxiety. And, probably, the Session of the present Legislature will not terminate without our having concluded a similar Treaty with the Provinces of Guatemala, a Minister from which State is now in this Capital, and whose recognition had been delayed from considerations towards our faithful Ally, the Republic of Mexico.

I entertain hopes, therefore, that the American Assembly will be composed of the Plenipotentiaries of the Republic of Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru, and even of those of Chile and Buenos Ayres, as it is probable that the policy of the latter Country will be more conformable to our wishes, after the Installation of the Congress of The United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata.

With respect to The United States, I have deemed it expedient to invite them to become a Party to the August Assembly at Panama, in the firm conviction that our intimate Allies will not fail to see, with pleasure, that Friends so enlightened and sincere, take a part in the deliberations for our common interest. The Instructions which, with this view, have been sent to our Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Washington, of which I inclose a Copy, will fully explain to you the motives which have induced me to come to this resolution.

In the mean time, the Government of Colombia will, with pleasure, send its two Plenipotentiaries, to the Isthmus of Panama, within four months from the present time, in order that, united with those of Peru, they may immediately enter into discussions preparatory to the Installation of the General Assembly, which, perhaps, may be able to commence its important labours by the 1st of October of the present year. For the purpose, therefore, of facilitating these objects, I venture to submit to you the following Propositions:

First, That the Governments of Colombia and Peru do authorize their Plenipotentiaries, after having commenced their Preparatory Conferences in the Isthmus of Panama, to enter into a direct Correspondence with the Ministers of State and of Foreign Affairs, of Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, and Buenos Ayres; representing to them the importance of sending the Plenipotentiaries of those Republics to the General Assembly, without loss of time.

Secondly, That the Plenipotentiaries of Colombia and Peru have full liberty to select, in the Isthmus of Panama, any spot, which, by reason of its salubrity, they may conceive to be the most advantageous to establish their Preparatory Conferences.

Thirdly, That as soon as the Plenipotentiaries of Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala, or, at least, those of three of the said Republics,