Despotic Government of Francia-Dictatorship of Rosas. 241 feelings without fear or apprehension, and the stilled and stagnant nation-heart throbbed full and free, and sent forth shouts of joy in the happy security of freedom. The system of non-intercourse with the world was abandoned. A gradual distribution of the soldiery took place; and they soon lost the feverish impulses of their military character, in the peaceful occupations of the citizen. and the more of a curse upon his coun- was declared; public and private contry. Churches were robbed to pay the fidence was restored; the people again hirelings of his nefarious will; religious gave utterance to their thoughts and sanctuaries were desecrated; the priesthood were imprisoned; and, unmarried himself, he destroyed by forbidding the matrimonial tie. Immorality stalked abroad in the rays of the noonday sun. The city of Asuncion became shrouded in gloom. The houses-with doors and windows always closed, business suspended, and no sound of domestic comfort or social hilarity to dispel the awful stillness caused by the darkness The first duties of the consuls were of despair-seemed only to contain the to declare the nation free and open to contemplated victims of the Supremo. foreigners and commerce, and to make Robertson says that, ten years before his such regulations with their neighbors of death, "the prisons were groaning with Brazil and Buenos-Ayres as would insure their inmates; commerce was paralyzed; the recognition of the independence of vessels were rotting on the river banks; their nation. This was imperatively neproduce going to decay in the ware- cessary, to secure an egress to the ocean houses; and the insolence of his sol- by way of the Paranà river, their natudiers was systematically encouraged, as ral and only commercial highway the best means of striking terror into the to the outer world. To this end they hearts of the crouching and insulted sent a commissioner to Buenos-Aires, citizens; distrust and fear pervaded every habitation; the nearest friends and relations were afraid of each other; despondency and despair were written upon every countenance you met; and the only laughter heard in the city was that of Francia's soldiers over their revels in the barracks, or their exultation over the affronts offered to unoffending citizens in the streets." At length, as full of years as of crimes, he expired at the age of eighty-two one of the few tyrants who have quietly died in their beds at a good old age, and in the plenitude of their power. He left his country impoverished of its precious metals; not a dollar in the treasury; and not a public or private paper of his administration unburned. For the reputation of the human family, Francia should be considered as insane during the latter years of his life; "for," as Mackintosh expresses it "the subtle and shifting transformations of wild passion into maniacal disease, the return of the maniac to the scarcely more healthy state of stupid anger, and the character to be given to acts done by him when near the varying frontier which separates lunacy from malignity, are matters which have defied all the experience and sagacity in the world." After the death of Francia, a popular congress elected, again two consuls to serve for two years; a general amnesty in 1842. This gentleman was also charged with an application to our government, to recognize the independence of Paraguay, and proceed thereafter with such measures as would naturally follow. This was the first request of the kind ever made by the Paraguayan government to any independent power beyond the confines of South America; and I beg your especial attention to the fact, because it is my design to point out, by and by, the danger which the neglect of our government must incur, of driving this important and rising republic into the arms of England and France, if it is by long delay compelled to despair of our friendship and sympathy. We have sufficiently shown how Dr. Francia shut up his own country, and also deprived the northern countries, Brazil and Bolivia, of all transit to the ocean. It should be recollected, moreover, that he established his power whilst the war for independence was still raging in the neighboring states; and also that Brazil may be said to have come into existence but yesterday, her declaration being made in 1823, subsequent to those of the Spanish-American countries. But Francia having died in 1840, and the government and its principles having been then changed in Paraguay, we have now to consider the reason why she has still remained virtually in the same situation, for the last eleven years. and cities are in ruins, public archives For the explanation we must look to the dictator of Buenos-Aires, the successor to the policy and to the crimes of the dictator of Paraguay, in the person of General D. Juan Manual de Rosas. The domestic struggle which has agitated the countries of the Rio de la Plata for the last twenty-five years, took its origin in that great and universal principle which has constantly agitated mankind since the first organization of society,-the struggle between the progressive and conservative elements which characterize the natures of different men; between the principles of preservation and improvement, on the right balance of which the quiet and well-being of society are suspended, often by too slender a thread. On the part of the Nomadic Gauchos of the pampas in the lower parts of South America, the principle of conservatism has taken the form of opposition to European emigration and civilization. It is the barbarism of the pampas, against the enlightenment of the cities; or, as an Argentine writer has quaintly expressed it, "the jacket against the long-tailed coat;" these two garments, in a manner similar to that in which we adopt popular political emblems, having become the distinctive representatives of two sides of the ques tion. After alternate attempts to organize the country, those parties took the names of Unitarians and Federalists. The Unitarians, or progressive party, desiring a centralized form of government; and the Federalists, the friends of barbarism, a confederation. From discussion they soon came to blows; and after many reciprocal victories and defeats, the city of Buenos Aires was taken by the Gauchos of the pampas, and Rosas, their leader, was finally installed in the government, in 1835, with dictatorial and irresponsible power. This power he has cemented by the usual means, and with the usual success; for brute force in him who commands, and servility and hypocrisy in him who obeys, travel generally with parallel strides. This man is charged with having founded clubs of licensed murderers, who assassinated and poisoned, one by one, his chief competitors, or drove them from the country. Certain it is, that the country over which Rosas has ruled so long has decreased in population; towns mutilated, and the liberty of the press but a delusive fancy; and public schools, colleges, and hospitals are all gone, robbed, annihilated. He has carried on this exterminating war without any strong or well-combined effort, but with that hard and haughty obstinacy which destroyed in men's hearts affection as well as hope. A calculator cold as the womb of a snake, he is the imitator of Francia. A Machiavelli in policy, -as the Duke of Alba said when leaving Holland, so will Rosas say in this present hour of his tribulation, "all is lost from too much lenity." It is useless to talk about the necessity of governing the Argentine people, or any other portion of the human family, in this manner; for a twelve years' knowledge of all parties among this people, and six years of personal acquaintance with Rosas and with all their prominent men, have taught me the contrary. Nor are these charges against Rosas false, or capable of extenuation, as he has so constantly said and published; for the eighteen years of his rule have brought the decimated Argentine nation, as one of themselves expresses it, almost to the condition of brutes. "They eat, sleep, keep silence, laugh if they can, and wait tranquilly, that in twenty years more their sons may walk on four feet." And it is certain that even Rosas himself has never pretended to charge similar crimes upon his enemies; and I assert, from my own knowledge and the documentary evidence in my possession, that they have never committed them. I have dwelt somewhat upon the conduct of Gen. Rosas, by way of preparation for the concluding part of my paper. I shall there show the importance of the present movement throughout eastern South America, and shall be enabled to prove to you its character, and satisfy you as to the degree of confidence which may be placed in its professions and its ultimate results.. Under a system of government such as I have described, it may well be supposed that a permanent peace could never be established. The Unitarian party, like the caged bird, has constantly exerted itself to the utmost to open its wings; and at each attempt it has only lacerated itself afresh against the iron bars of its prison. Yet, notwithstanding its sufferings, it brought Gen. Rosas, in Struggle between the Progressive and Conservative Elements. 243 1840, and again in 1845, to the brink of Candelaria, on the Paranà. It is evidestruction, on both which occasions he dent to the most superficial observer, owed his safety to England and France. that a state of things like this cannot The reception by Rosas of the Para- last for ever, and that men's minds in guayan application for recognition may those countries must be brought graduwell be imagined. The application has ally to understand their own interests. been refused, under frivolous and false But it has taken them a long time to pretexts, from that day to this; and learn that they must rely upon themParaguay itself has been blockaded by selves, and cast aside all hopes from paper edicts, against which it had no re- English intervention or French generosource. For so long as Rosas, by means sity, or American indifference. Nine of his minions, governed the provinces years have thus been lost; and hopes of Corrientes and Entre-Rios, to the have been excited and deferred, during northward of the Paranà, he controlled this time, by seven different ministers the seven hundred miles of its naviga- plenipotentiary from the English and tion, in the most absolute manner; and French governments, who have disParaguay, deprived of all resources from graced the character of those two powwithout, and incapable of creating them erful nations, and at last driven men to within, has been obliged to keep as quiet move and think for themselves. Thus as a lamb, whilst the U. S. Government, tyranny, cruelty, and insatiable ambition listening to the false representations of have again and again shown themselves Rosas, has never, to this day, answered ignorant of the laws which limit their favorably the application of Paraguay destructive power. Gen. Rosas, after for recognition. Thus Rosas, though al- having thoroughly conquered his domesways threatening to attack Paraguay. tic enemies, should then have remained has never dared to do it; but, from its quiet within his own borders, and not geographical position, he has made it have interfered with the domestic affairs pass eleven years more of isolation from of his neighbors. Whereas, he has the world. caused or upheld civil war in Bolivia, Brazil, and the Banda-Oriental; and, while constantly intriguing in Chili also, has hoped at the same time to consume Paraguay by a gradual atrophy. Furthermore, Rosas has been the constant obstacle to all advancement in his own country. He has never allowed any steam-vessel to ascend the Paranà to Corrientes, nor has he ever given a favorable answer to the numerous propositions for exclusive rights to steam navigation which have been made to him, from time to time, and by individuals of different nations; for his power, founded upon those principles of barbarism which we have described, shuns the light of civilization and commercial concourse, and can only be upheld by the darkness of the tenth century. As soon as it was fully understood throughout South America that the French President, under British influence, wished to abandon the city of Monte-Video to the power of Gen. Oribe, the lieutenant of Rosas, the Brazilian Cabinet began to look about amongst her neighbors, to unite them all in one league against the aggressions of Rosas, and to secure, for all concerned, the navigation of the rivers on firm and equal Therefore the navigation of these conditions. The first treaty was made magnificent avenues which intersect in March last, with Paraguay; almost South America in all directions, has at the same time Monte-Video and the been confined to small boats and schoon- provinces of Corrientes and Entre-Rios ers, never exceeding two hundred tons, all entered into the league, and they are and generally of seventy or eighty tons bound to furnish, each and all, their burthen; the Paraguayan never de- quota of troops, and not to lay down scending, and the Argentine flag never their arms until the question of the naviascending, beyond the city of Corrientes. gation of the rivers is settled for ever. The only communication which, during It is a movement of civilization, a natumy last two years' residence in Para- ral and irresistible impulse of the human guay, we were permitted to have with race in South America, against a retrothe outer world, consisted of a monthly grade and barbarous enemy of his kind. mail, carried by an Indian scout over It is to these allied states that we look the province of Corrientes, from San for final success. The object could Borja, on the banks of the Uruguay, to have been accomplished at any time, for Rosas has never been strong against ed that there is room for great improveforeign attacks. But the difficulty has ment. Yet if we speak of the elements been to unite interests, which, though to improve upon, it would be difficult to common, were spread over such an im- imagine any part of the world where mense extent of country, which was as yet almost without any intercommunication. This combination against Gen. Rosas has at length been effected with the most perfect success, and has thus far conquered all his partizans without firing a shot. Its character is clearly on the side of progress, civilization, and above all, humanity; for, previous to this movement, lenity towards competitors, and mercy towards dreaded offenders, were undiscovered virtues. At the present moment,* Rosas is without money, allies, or troops; and a universal defection of all in whom he has placed confidence is only the natural consequence of his cruel system. The allies against him, backed by the steam navy of Brazil, are now invading his own territory; and Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Corrientes, Entre-Rios, and the BandaOriental, for the first time since their existence as states, understand the vital necessity of prompt action. The war has ceased-or, rather, never existedagainst the combined forces to the northward and eastward of the Paranà; and those who are about to invade the province of Buenos-Aires represent nearly ten millions of men; whilst the whole Argentine Republic, supposing that all parties were faithful to Rosas, cannot count more than seven or eight hundred thousand souls. The political condition, therefore, of Paraguay, Brazil, Corrientes, Entre-Rios, and Monte-Video, is one worthy of our utmost attention, sympathy, and respectful regard. They have published their intentions and determinations, which are in entire accord with the most humane principles; and their actions have been perfectly consistent with their professions. They have invited foreigners, with their capital and commerce, published decrees regulating tariffs and custom-houses, and offered special rewards and exclusive rights for the introduction of steam, and all useful machines and implements of every kind, the produce of the industry of other countries. they exist in greater or more spontaneous profusion. Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay, are the agricultural regions which must chiefly nourish the richest commerce, while the regions nearer the Atlantic Ocean yield all the productions of an enormous extent of pastoral countries. It is in the higher lands, up the rivers, where European emigration must find a home, and a field for congenial pursuits, which would not interfere with those of the native inhabitants. The knowledge which prevails among them about agriculture, is meagre in the extreme; and although in Paraguay they are principally an agricultural people, they know very little of the science. They are in the greatest want, too, of all our agricultural implements; upon each one of which, the introducer would receive a patent for ten years. PRODUCTIONS OF THE COUNTRY.Beginning with the head waters of the river Paraguay, we find the productions upon the Brazilian side to be, gold and precious stones, sugar, molasses, hides of extraordinary size, hair, tallow, wax, deer and tiger skins, with rice, corn, and the different manufactures of the mandioca root; in Bolivia, gold and precious stones, silver, coffee-considered by good judges to be equal to Mocha-and Peruvian bark, Though, undoubtedly, we could draw from these two countries many other productions of tropical America, yet it is in Paraguay that we find the greatest wealth of all these valleys. Of this country and its commercial resources I can speak with the greatest certainty, from my own personal knowledge. Almost divided by the Tropic of Capricorn, its surface is like a chessboard, checkered here and there with beautiful pastures and magnificent forests. Unlike all other lands with which I am acquainted, it seems destined especially for the habitation of man. Here, in the eastern portion of our own land, the first settlers found the whole country covered with woods; west of the Mississippi the other extreme exists, in the vast extent of prairie destitute of timber. On the north of Brazil, in a similar manner are unbroken forests; in its southern parts, and throughout the Banda-Oriental, Entre-Rios, Corrientes, and the Argen Vegetable Kingdom-Fertility of the River Valleys. tine Republic, we find continuous pampas, like our prairies, in many instances, without bearing the necessary fuel even for household purposes. Not so in Paraguay, where, added to a sufficiency for building fleets of a thousand steamers, its forests teem with every description of ornamental and useful woods. The vegetable kingdom of Paraguay presents the richest attractions, not merely to the professional botanist, but to that important class which is devoted to mercantile enterprise. The medicinal herbs which abound in the greatest profusion are rhubarb, sarsaparilla, jalap, bryonia indica, sassafras, holywood, dragons' blood, balsam of copaiba, nux vomica, liquorice, and ginger. Of dyestuffs, too, there is an immense variety. The cochineal, which is indeed an insect, but requiring for its food a species of the cactus plant; two distinct kinds of indigo; vegetable vermilion; saffron; golden rod; with other plants, producing all the tints of dark red, black, and green. Many of the forest trees yield valuable gums, not yet familiar to commerce or medicine; and they comprise some of the most delicious perfumes and incense that can be imagined. Others again are like amber, hard, brittle, and insoluble in water. Some cedars yield a gum equal to gum Arabic; others, a natural glue, which, when once dried, is unaffected by wet or dampness. The seringa, or rubber tree, the product of which is now almost a monopoly in Para, and also the palo santo, which produces the gum guiacum, crowd the forests, ready to give up their riches to the first comer; and the sweet-flavored vanilla modestly flourishes, as if inviting the hand of man. Upon the hills, the celebrated yerba matté, which is the exclusive beverage of one-half of South America, has only to be gathered. Its preparation is in an exceedingly crude state, and could be beneficially improved by employing some of our corn-mills; and probably its use could be introduced into this country with advantage. 245 bones, tallow, &c., are lost for want of transportation. If we go to the forests, we find two or three kinds of hemp, vast quantities of wax, the Nux saponica, or soap-nut, the cocoa, and vegetable oils in abundance, with two kinds of wild cotton, admirably adapted for the manufacture of paper. But it is with the forest trees of Paraguay that I love most to dwell. Giants! there they are, vast and noble in their aspect, and able, as it were, to utter for themselves the sublime music. of the wilderness. Sixty varieties, already known, furnish timber of all kinds, and colors and degrees of durability, elas ticity, and buoyancy. I have seen timbers of the Lapacho that have supported the roofs of houses in Buenos Aires for more than two hundred years. They are now as sound as ever, and, to all appear ance, capable of performing the same service to the end of the world. A doorsill of the same wood, half-imbedded in the ground, and marked "1632," belonged to the front door of the house which I in habited in the city of Asuncion. Upon the closest inspection, it was in a state of perfect preservation. Several other woods of this same variety are so heavy as to sink in water, and all, while difficult to burn in houses, form, under the force of a strong draught, a fire almost equal to stone-coal in intensity. Another tree, the Seibo, when green, is spongy and soft as cork, and can be cut like an apple; but when dry, it is so hard as almost to defy the action of steel. Again, we have the Palo de vivora, or snake-tree, whose leaves are an infallible cure for the poisonous bites of serpents. The Pato de leche, or milk-tree, may be called a vege table cow; and the Palo de borracho, or drunken-tree, a vegetable distillery. The içica resin is found at the roots of trees under ground, and is a natural pitch, ready prepared to pay the seams of vessels. But I have probably said enough on this part of my subject. My object has been to exhibit a slight sketch of the great wealth of Paraguay; a country to which the prophetic eye of the great founder of the Jesuits was turned, only nine years after the issue of the Papal bull which established the order, and where his followers enjoyed, for one hundred and eighty-six years, the greatest power and wealth which it has ever been their portion to possess at any time, or in any part of the world. To this end I have 4 Upon the fertile alluvial banks of so many large streams, sugar-cane, cotton, tobacco, of a superior quality, rice, mandioca, Indian corn, and a thousand other productions, vegetate with profusion; whilst seven varieties of the bamboo line the river banks and dot the frequent lakes, with islets of touching beauty. On the plains, quantities of hides, hair, horns, VOL. XIV. |