date

1822 April 30 Rid Yourselves
1822 April 30

Rid Yourselves

Part II

Letter 3 Appeals unendurable

As it is with the inhabitants in Ultramaria, so is it with the

government in Europe: against the governor in Ultramaria - the Governor who if there

be any limitation to his power might as well have none, both are equally powerless

destitute of all effectual remedy: unsuppressed, unrestrained, by any local

legislature, every Governor so situated is either a cypher or a tyrant: distance,

even without the help of Articles from 314 to 337, would suffice to reduce him to

this alternative, the fault would be his, if of the written documents capable of

testifying against him any remained [...?] and undestroyed; of witnesses any that

reached Europe; any that were not either destroyed in a dungeon, deterred in a

dungeon, or rendered such as favourable to him by corruptive influence

While the pen is moving a paragraph in the Morning Chronicle lies

before me: date of the paper 30 April 1822: date of the latest intelligence from the

army of Bolivar at Rosario de Cucuta in New Granada, 18 October 1821. On that same

day Suppose oppression at that same Rosario de Cucuta by what time were New Granada

still loyal - by what time, through Secretario del despacho para Ultramaria, and

Gobernacion and Gobierno and King and Cortes and King and Council of State and

Gobernacion again and Gobierno again and Secretario del despacho again and Secretario

del despacho de Marina, and captain of the Government vessel if there be any such

thing that is far for some, when shall relief attach upon it?

Think of evil in all its forms - think of evil in all its sources - physical and

political: earthquakes, inundations, fire, hostility within, hostility from without:

hostility from neighbouring Colonies, hostility from distant Mother Countries: evil

from inaptitude in the legislative system: evil from the non-existence of a local

legislative authority, evil from inaptitude in the administrative departments, evil

from inaptitude in the judicial department think of the slowest pace of evil in all

these shapes, from all these sources; think if it is from Spain they are to come -

think of the quickest pace of relief or remedy. If death is to come to me, from Spain

may it come to me prayed somebody to whom Death would not it seems have been a

welcome visitor: O yes: and Death being the looked for

visitor, not without reason. But had it been Relief from

Spain of all countries from Spain would it have been waited for
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  • Title: [1822. April 30th Rid yourselves]
    Description: 1822. April 30th

    Rid yourselves

    Part II. Lett. 2. Appeals unendurable

    effectual remedy: unsupported, unrestrained, by any local legislature, every Governor

    so situated is either a cypher or a tyrant: distance, even without the help of

    Articles from 314 to 337, would suffice to reduce him to this alternative: the fault

    would be his if of the written documents capable of testifying against him, any

    remained unarrested and undestroyed: of witnesses any that reached Europe: any that

    were not either destroyed in a dungeon, detained in a dungeon, or rendered meek or

    favourable to him by corruptive influence.

    While the pen is moving, a paragraph in the Morning Chronicle lies before me: date

    of the paper 30th. April 1822: date of the latest intelligence from the army of

    Bolivar at Rosario de Cucuta in New Granada 18th October 1821. On that same day,

    suppose oppression at that same Rosario de Cucuta, by what time were New Granada

    still loyal - by what time through Secretario del dispatcho para Ultramar and

    Gobernacion and Gobierno and King and Cortes and King and Council of State and

    Gobernacion again and Gobierno again, and Secretario de dispatcho again, and

    secretario del despatcho de Marine, and Captain of the Government vessel, if there be

    any such that is fit for use, when shall relief attach upon it?

    Think of evil in all its forms - think of evil in all its sources, physical and

    political: eathquakes, inundations, fires; hostility within, hostility from without:

    hostility from neighbouring colonies: hostility from distant mother countries: evil

    from inaptitude in the legislative system: evil from the non-existence of a local

    legislative authority: evil from inaptitude in the administrative department: evil

    from inaptitude in the judicial department, think of the slowest pace of evil in all

    these shapes from all these sources: think if it is from Spain they are to come - think of the quickest pace of relief or remedy. If

    death is to come to me from Spain

    may it come to me: (prayed somebody to whom Death would not, it seems, have been a

    welcome visitor). O yes: and Death being the looked for

    visitor, not without reason. But had it been Relief - from

    Spain of all countries - from Spain would it have been called for?
  • Title: [1822 April 30 th Rid yourselves]
    Description: 1822 April 30 th

    Rid yourselves

    Part II Lett. 3. Appeals unendurable

    In this case - nay in almost all cases - distance suffices

    of itself to render anything better than despotism and misrule impossible.

    Suppose in any province, a functionary sent by your rulers to act in the character

    of Governor: supposing him capable of maintaining himself in that character and

    maintaining himself accordingly be he who he may, abuse in the opposite shape can not

    fail to be abundant: abuse, to the injury of the inhabitants; and abuse to the injury

    of your government: to the injury of its dominion - of the pretended expectation of

    profit from it, to you in the shape of pecuniary

    contributions: to the injury of its dominion, always supposing the existence of it.

    Here then is injury. Well then. Against depredation or oppression in any other shape,

    shall complaint be made? complaint produces irritation; irritation, vengeance, fresh

    cause of complaint, and so on without end. Contrary to all probability, at the end of

    half a year, a whole year, or two years, at the hands of the Gobierno through the

    medium of the Cortes and the Monarch, suppose an order for redress issued and

    received. An individual had been thrown into prison: an order has arrived for his

    relaease. For his release? but when? some few months after the day on which Death

    without waiting for signature and counter-signature had effected it. Meantime fresh

    oppressions have been exercised: oppressions destined or not destined to be followed

    by orders for relief. Unfortunately, between the pace of oppression and that of

    relief the difference is considerable. Oppression follows oppression at the distance

    of a day. Relief follows oppression at the distance of 365 days: oppression is a

    dromedary: Relief a tortoise.

    As it is with the inhabitants of Ultramaria, so is it with the Government in Europe:

    against the Governor in Ultramaria - the Governor who, if there be any limitation to

    his power might as well have none, both are equally powerless: destitute of all

    effectual

    {Note in pencil}

    JB. to W.E L. These two supplemental pages are sent without having been confronted

    with the four original pages the contents of which were not remembered when these

    were written. Should there be any repetition or inconsistency I must trust to you for

    the correction of it.
  • Title: [1822 April 16 + Revised and copied 30 April]
    Description: 1822 April 16 + Revised and copied 30 April 1822

    Rid Yourselves

    Part II Lett 3 Appeals unendurable

    In this case - maybe in almost all cases - distance suffices of itself to render anything better that despotism and

    misrule impossible.

    Suppose, in any province, a functionary sent by your rulers to act in the character

    of governor: suppose him capable of maintaining himself in that character and

    maintaining himself accordingly,- be he who he may, abuse in two opposite shapes can

    not fail to be abundant: abuse, to the injury of the inhabitants; and abuse to the

    injury of your government: to the injury of its dominion of all practical expectation

    of profit from it to you in the shape of pecuniary

    contributions to the injury of all dominion always supposing the existence of it.

    Here then is injury. Well then - Against depredation or oppression in any other

    shapes shall complaint be made? complaint produces irritation; irritation vengeance.

    Contrary to the probability, at the end of [..?] a year a whole year or two years, at

    the hands of the gobierno through the medium of the Cortes, and the Monarch. Suppose

    an order for redress issued and received. Individuals /An/ had been thrown into

    prison: the order has arrived for their /his/ release. For his release? but [...?]

    some [...?] months after the day on which order without waiting for signature it sent

    contiguation had effected it. Since then fresh oppressions have been exercised;

    oppressions destined not not destined to be followed by orders for relief

    unfortunately between the pace of oppression and that of relief the difference is

    considerable. Oppression follows oppression at the distance of a day Relief follows

    oppression at the distance of 365 days: oppression is a dromedary: Relief a

    tortoise.