THE WEEKLY REGISTER.
Vol. I.] BALTIMORE, SATURDAY, September 14, 1811. [No. 2.
"—I wish no other herald,
" No other speaker of my living Actions,
" To keep mine honor from corruption
" But such an honest chronicler."
Shakspeare — HENRY VIII.
Printed and published by H. Niles, Water-street, near the Merchants' Coffee-House, at $5 per annum
Public Papers.
It is known to all our readers that the people of South America, generally, have taken up an idea they are capnb/e of best managing' their own con- cerns, and th.it several of the [late] Spanish pro- vinces have cast off their dependence on the mother country, and assumed to themselves a "rank and name among - the nations of the earth." Caracas, or Venezuela for that tract of country in South America, laid down in the old maps as Terra Firma, extending along- the northern coast from the Orinoco to the lake of MiWacaybn] took the lead in the great achievement; and, more fortunate than the other colonies, accomplished an almost bloodless revolution.
With uncommon pleasure we prepared to Register. the Declaration of Rights and of Independence, as issued by the delegates from the several provinces of this new Federal representative Republic, when our joy was much damped by the appearance of a decree for "regidating- the liberty of the press" in which we are sorry to observe, the finger of the priesthood; at all times, and in all countries (where established religions exist) the inveterate enemies of reason, justice and truth. We must, however, make great allowances for this new people, among whom the rights of self govern- ment cannot be considered as more than a theory not yet practically understood as in toe United States; whose inhabitants, always enjoying a re- presentative system with a great portion of civil and religious freedom, and accustomed to think and reflect on all political matters, at the first glance could discern the natural and unalienable rights of man. The situation of our brethren of South America is materially different; and we have no doubt, they will cast off all the shreds of slavery, and put on the whole garment of freedom, pure and undefined, in a short space of time.*
The papers alluded to follow — the two first were translated for the .Aurora — the last for the Whig.
A Declaration of Rights by the People of Venezuela.
The supreme congress of Venezuela, in its legislative session for the province of C racas, taking into consideration that to the neglect and disregard of the rights of man, which have hither- to prevailed, must be ascribed all those evils which this people has endured for three centtr. ies past. — and actuated by the desire of re-establishing ! sacred principles on a solid basis, has resolved, in obedience to the general will, to declare, and d now solemnly declare, in the presence of the Uni- verse these rights unalienable; to the end, that every citizen may at all times compare the acts of the go- vernment with the purposes of the social institu- tions — that the magistrate may never lose sight of the rules by which his conduct must be regulated — and that the legislator may in no case mistake the objects of the trust committed to him.
SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE.
ARTICLE THE FIRST.
The sovereignty resides in the people, and the
exercise of it in the Citizens, by the medium of the
right of suffrage and -through the agency of their
representatives legally constituted.
2. Sovereignty is by its essence and nature im-prescriptible, unalienable and indivisible.
3. A portion only of the citizens, even with the
right of suffrage, cannot exercise the sovereignty
— every individual ought to participate by hia vote
in the formation of the body which is to represent
the sovereign authority; because all have a right
to express their will with full and entire liberty. —
This prmciple alone can render the constitution of
their government legitimate and just.
4. Any individual, corporate body, or city, which
attempts to usurp the sovereignty, incurs the crime
of treason against the people.
5. The public functionaries shall hold their
offices fi >r a definite period of time, and the inves-
titure with a public function shall not attach any
other importance or influence than what they ac-
quire in the opinion of their fellow-citizens, by the
virtues they may exercise whilst occupied iii the
service of the republic.
6. Crimes Committed by the representatives and
agents of the republic shall not he passed over with
impunity — because no individual has a right to
become more inviolable than another.
7. The law shall be equal for all, to punish
crimes, and to reward virtues, without distinction
of birth or hereditary pretentions.
* The editor has had the honor frequently to converse with a distinguished gentleman of that country; a man of high consideration at Caracas, possessed of a strong mind and very correct ideas pf the great fundamental principles on which a free government should be constituted. On enquiry, some time ago, as to the part the clergy .had taken in the revolution, lie observed — they behaved better than had been expected; but, added he, we gave into some of their measures for the moment, to secure lasting advantages to ourselves; well knowing that when th- government was firmly fixed they could not shake it, though at the onset they might perplex us a great deal, it dissatisfied with our c'on- d ict, or words to this effect. The moment I read 'lie decree for "regulating the liberty of the press," the .remarks of this gentlemen occurred to me, and ! was led to hope it was fatendc4 by the l^khuuso of Caracas as a temporis. ttg arrangement to effect some great and permanent good, or, in the lan^uage- of the hardy fisherman of die eastern states, I compared it to "ikrownjr out a mackcir*? to catch ct Kud" I trwji, &r the hongr «f • C«*acas t it will
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