quillity, and I have therefore only to propose such alterations as will gradually extinguish the discontent of some individuals, with the hope that the time may come when they will, by proper conduct, have earned a right to claim reward as faithful servants to their country.

The government, in entering on the exercise of its constitutional powers, found the treasury not only exhausted, but also loaded with a heavy foreign debt, contracted, in a great part, for the purpose of restoring the empire of the laws. The financial affairs had been conducted without system. Civil discord, which had made so many ravages in all the branches of the administration, in morals and in politics, had also occasioned the public revenues to be dissipated in a most extravagant manner. The government employ. ed itself assiduously in arranging a system which should give a proper direction, and due effect, to this most important department; economizing where possible, enforcing the collection and payment of the revenues, defining the duties and powers of the several officers of the treasury, and punctually fulfilling every obligation which it was under the necessity of contracting. I can safely assure you, that during the present state of tranquillity, if due economy be observed, there will be no need of increasing the public burthens, by additional taxes or duties.

The revenue during the financial year, beginning on the 1st of July, 1831, and ending on the last day of June, 1832, amounted to 2,327,310 dollars, 6 reals; and the calculated expenses of the present year amount to 2,171,621 dollars, 33 reals, exclusive of 346,080 dollars destined for the purchase, freight, and carriage of tobacco; because in the

statement of revenues, the product of the sale of that article only was given, without noticing the quantity remaining in the factories and warehouses, which is probably worth as much more. But even if it should prove to be less, no embarrassment will be caused to the treasury by the difference against it, between the calculated expenditure, and the statement of revenue for the last financial year: for, in the documents which will be laid before you by the secretary of the treasury, you will observe,

1. That the revenue for the five months between July and November, 1832, was much less than that for the latter five months of the financial year, ending with the 30th of June last, which arises from the prevalence of tranquillity within, from the regularity introduced by the new system, and the zeal of the officers employed; all which circumstances give a reason to hope, that the total income of this year will be greater than that of the last.

2. That in the calculation of expenditure, not only all the expenses of the administration and the army are included, but also those which might possibly be necessary for the complete security of the state, which latter may, and probably will, be less than rated.

3. That the 150,000 dollars named for contingent expenses, are not to be employed of course; for of 200,000 dollars granted under that denomination for the past year, scarcely 19,000 were expended. If we add, that some military men may be appointed to civil offices, and will thus receive but one sala. ry, that vacancies often occur which are not filled within the year, and that the southern provinces are now incorporated into the republic, it may be fairly supposed, that no augmen

tation of taxes will be necessary. This is a most fortunate circumstance; for while the people are yet labouring under the evils produced by civil discord, they would be unable to bear any addition to their burthens.

Congress should, however, revise the laws establishing duties on im. ports and exports. Custom houses are, throughout the world, intended to serve two purposes: to supply the public treasury, and to favour the national industry; both highly important to us at present. Statesmen and writers on political economy have been long discussing the question, whether restrictions and prohibitions laid on foreign commerce had any real effect, or not, in protecting national industry. The executive is strongly inclined to the opinion of experienced men, sustained, too, by the example of all nations, who conceive that restrictions should be imposed, either directly or indirectly, on foreign articles, when the same can be produced or manufactured at home; and popular opinion being likewise in favour of protecting, by this means, certain productions of our soil, as well as the manufactories which now begin to supply our interior provinces, the executive conceives that this system should be adopted, even if with no other view than that of trying its effects in our own case; and will therefore submit to you a plan for that purpose.

Opinions have also been much divided with regard to the tax on tobacco, and an opportunity seems now to be offered for examining them. I will begin by observing, that any change from our present system, made upon other than strong grounds, might render it impossible to obtain the revenue necessary for the support of government; nor

would it be easy if this were found to be the case, to restore things to their former situation. It was, in fact, a fear of this kind which induced the French legislature, in 1814, to continue the monopoly of tobacco. This duty produced during the last financial year, 488,770 dollars, of which the treasury received net 211,560 dollars. The produce and duty will this year be greater, as may be inferred from the fact, that during the last five months 206,174 dollars were received; a reduction has moreover been made in the expenses of collection, and a plan yet more simple and effectual for that purpose will be laid before you. Calculating, therefore, that the tax of ten per cent. will assist our factories, as it has already, the executive conceives. that it should be retained, and that the planting of tobacco should be extended, as far as necessary, to meet foreign demands. If this be the pleasure of the legislature, the secretary of the treasury will inform you of certain ameliorations of the system, calculated to advance the objects in view; namely, to provide for the supply of the interior, and to afford an income to the treasury for the use of the administration, and the payment of the nation1 debt.

The national debt is a subject of the deepest interest to the government. WE ARE DEBTORS, AND WE MUST PAY. The constituent convention has acknowledged that portion of the foreign debt which falls to the share of New-Grenada; and it becomes you to arrange some effectual method of gradually extinguishing it.

Whatever may be the result of the meeting of the commissioners of the three states, New-Grenada has pledged herself to pay a part of the

debt contracted by the government of Colombia. It would be most honourable to the country, and to the legislative body, that means were taken immediately to show that we are really anxious to make good our promises. Fortunately there are now in this capital representatives of our creditors, duly authorized to make propositions for having the interest of the debt secured, and for definitively arranging the whole business. I therefore intreat you to bestow the utmost attention on this delicate subject; and that you will, as soon as possible, appoint a committee to confer with the represent atives of our creditors, and regulate the affair with due regard to prudence, and to the honour of our country.

I must recommend a similar course with regard to the arrangement of the domestic debt, contracted likewise by the republic of Colombia; this, however, could not be easily effected, until after the meeting of the commissioners of the three states, on account of the difference in the origin of the several debts composing it, the difference in the rates of interest, and the fact, that among the creditors are subjects of all the three sections now independent. The honour of the nation, however, requires that we should postpone the arrangement of this debt until we have settled that of our foreign obligations.

The army has acted up to the principles proclaimed when it lent its powerful aid to the people, and thus hastened the dowfall of a government founded on a usurpation of their rights. It has done good service in restoring the integrity of our territory and whenever called upon to preserve the public peace, by its discipline and forbearance, it has merited the confidence of the go.

:

vernment, and conciliated the feelings of all. The army is aware that it forms only a part of the peo ple, and that arms are confided to it exclusively for the purpose of defence against foreign invasion, and against attempts to overthrow our constitutional laws. I recommend to your favour this branch of the public service, observing that some reform is necessary in the laws respecting its organization and discipline.

The organization of the national guard is also defective; every care should be taken to secure the preservation and efficiency of a force which offers so strong a guaranty to our political system. While the national guard is so organized as to be employed usefully when called upon, and our little navy duly fostered, the state will not only be able to dispense with a large portion of the standing force, but will have on hand a body capable of repressing all internal disturbances, and of defending the country against foreign invasion, at least until a regular army could be raised.

I have directed your attention only to those subjects which were most worthy of immediate examination: it would be impossible in one session to provide for all the wants, and to supply all deficiencies in our system. The evils consequent upon our former colonial existence cannot, at once, be remedied; we are as yet but in the infancy of political life, and time is required for every reform, either in the habits or modes of thinking of a peo. ple. It is our sacred duty to maintain the political system adopted by New-Grenada, and to improve it when an opportunity offers. The evils which the nation has already experienced have been produced almost entirely by the instability of