Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State,
Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Bogota,
December 6, 1866.
In conformity to article fifth of the law of May 19, 1863, the
resignation of the high post of President of the United States of
Colombia can be accepted by the supreme court; and I now address you
with the object that you, as president of the supreme court, may
submit to the consideration of that body my formal renunciation of
that office, to which I was spontaneously called by the people while
absent from the republic.
I have made great efforts to save the country by calling the
attention of the nation to its material interests, in order to
secure its prosperity and to consolidate the public peace.
The administration of Doctor Manuel Murillo has left the country
prostrated by reason of his incapacity to improve the national
finances. I have found nothing but disorder and the disregard of all
the laws regulating the national credit.
The congress of 1865 passed an ill-considered law on supplies
furnished the belligerents in the civil war, which the supreme court
has had to obey, and to impose on the nation, against the feelings
of its members, a burden of more than four millions of dollars; and
the efforts that I have made to diminish the evil have stirred up a
commotion among the forgers of false claims and proofs in their
support.
In adjusted military claims the abuses are without number, and by
forged certificates the nation has been charged with at least a
million of dollars through the neglect of the public treasury of the
last administration.
The archbishop of Bogota and other bishops are in complete rebellion
against the institutions of the country, and have usurped, the
national authority by erecting tribunals, and the legal measures
that I have adopted serve the conservative and golgotha opposition for making attacks on the executive
branch of the government.
The circular on public order, which is nothing more than a frank
avowal of the principles which uphold the public peace in all
countries, and which are in consonance with the constitution, have
aroused the spirits of the ambitious, who wish to seize on the
governments of the states, as if the principles proclaimed were
annulable.
There is, citizen President, a purpose to disturb the public peace,
and, as I am the disturbing cause, for the conservatives as well as
the fanatics and golgothas know that I have
the means and will to suffocate revolutions, they appeal to
assassination to take me from among them; they cry out tyranny and
Cæsarism to enrage the masses. None of the members of the supreme
court are ignorant of what is passing, and the abuses of the freedom
of the press to excite the people to rebellion. That the
conspirators may have greater facilities for operating I withdraw
from command. Let the people, who have the power to save themselves
and leave me quiet in my home, even till it be assailed by terror
and anarchy, when I will be found calm and serene, lamenting the
aberrations of political parties.
The magistrate who has given so many proofs of zeal for his country
as I have done
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ought not
to serve a community in which there is no moral sanction, and where
revolutionary nullities (worthless fellows) aspire to power in order
to fatten on dissensions and changes.
Such are, among others, the grounds on which I base my
renunciation.
The President of the Supreme Court of the
Union.
[Translation.]
Decision of the federal supreme court.
In Bogota, on December 7, 1866, the court being assembled for
consultation as to the renunciation of the great general President
of the United States of Colombia of the office of President thereof,
the magistrate Señor Doctor Emiliano Restrepo E., made the following
motion:
“The supreme court does not accept the renunciation of the office of
President of the Union, made by the great general T. C. de Mosquero.
The president of the court will incorporate in his response the
reasons which influence the court in declining to accept said
renunciation.”
This proposition, after full discussion, was approved by yeas and
nays; voting affirmatively, Señors Ceron, Gutierrez, Nuñez, and
Restrepo E.; and negatively, Señor Araujo.
It was requested by the magistrates who voted in the affirmative to
set forth in the answer to be given by the president of the supreme
court to the President of the Union the following ideas: 1. The
causes on which the President of the Union bases his renunciation
show that it ought not to be accepted. 2. The assertion of the
President of the Union that he has “the means and the will” to
suffocate the revolution which it appears is feared, the court would
be morally responsible for the anarchy which would overrun the
country if the present President of the country were out of that
office, and the revolt should break out which he declares that he
“is willing and able to suffocate.”
Whereupon, this convention is ended and signed by the members of the
court in the presence of the undersigned, secretary thereof, and
which he testifies.
ANDRES CERON.
MARCELINO GUTRIERREZ A.
JOSÉ ARAUJO.
EMILIANO RESTREPO E.
AGUSTIN NUÑEZ.
Vicente Vanegas, Secretary.
