Símon Bolívar, the Liberator | Page 9

Salias who asked
him to return to the council, declaring that the public welfare so
required. Emparan saw that the troops were not ready to support him
and, willingly or not, went back to the hall, where he yielded to
everything that was proposed to him. Emparan was deposed and the
first locally chosen government of Spanish America was established.
The principle that the provinces of America possessed the right of
self-government, since no general government existed, was proclaimed.

CHAPTER III
_The Declaration of Independence, July 5, 1811. Miranda's Failure_
(1811-1812)
The first acts of the Junta were acts of moderation and wisdom.
Emparan and other Spanish authorities were expelled from the country.
The Spaniards were assured that they would be treated as brothers, with
the same consideration as all Americans. The Junta sent notice of this
movement to the other countries of the continent in the following lofty
words:
"Venezuela has placed herself in the number of free nations, and
hastens to give advice of this event to her neighbors so that, if the
aspirations of the new world are in accord with hers, they might give
her help in the great and very difficult career she has undertaken.
'Virtue and moderation' have been our motto. 'Fraternity, union and
generosity' should be yours, so that these great principles combined
may accomplish the great work of raising America to the political
dignity which so rightly belongs to her."
The tributes formerly paid by the Indians were abolished. The alcabala,
an excessive tax on sales, was also suppressed. The introduction of
slaves was forbidden. Different branches of the government were

organized.
One of the first works of the Junta was to send emissaries to the several
provinces of the old captaincy general to invite them to unite with
Caracas in the movement. It was the first government of Spanish
America to initiate diplomatic missions abroad. Among her envoys we
find Simón Bolívar representing Venezuela at London.
Most of the provinces followed the example given by Caracas, but
some of them did not take that action, and among these were Coro and
Maracaibo, which exercised powerful influence against the movement
for liberty. The emissaries who went to Maracaibo were even sent to
Porto Rico to be tried there as rebels and were sentenced to prison in
that colony.
Among the diplomatic representatives, some were well received and
some were ignored. Bolívar was very highly praised by the London
authorities, although he could obtain no substantial assistance because
of a treaty of alliance then existing between England and Spain. Bolívar
worked not only as a diplomat, but he also wrote and published articles
of propaganda to acquire friends for the cause he represented, and from
the first his influence was felt all over the continent, especially when he
was able to give substantial help to the representatives from Buenos
Aires, who went to London to secure the alliance and friendship of
England.
The attitude of Venezuela was not only generous and conciliatory, but
it was even inspired by a great regard for Spain. The junta declared
itself ready to send help to Spain in her fight against the intruder, and
also offered the Venezuelan soil as a refuge for those who might
despair of the salvation and freedom of the mother country. The
Council of Regency which had been established in Spain, instead of
thanking Venezuela for her offer, declared the Venezuelans insurgents,
rebels and traitors, and submitted the province of Caracas to a strict
blockade. This decision on the part of the Council served to arouse the
Venezuelans and to change the ends of the movement. The sea became
infested with privateers and pirates and, within the country, royalist
agencies promoted war and insurrection. Towns which had declared

themselves in favor of the Junta were destroyed by the royalists, and
everywhere the situation was very difficult for all who had expressed
any sympathy with the new régime. Nevertheless, the new authorities
persevered in their purpose to show loyalty to Fernando VII, and tried
by all means to avoid bloodshed. Even with regard to the governors of
Coro and Maracaibo, Caracas tried persuasion rather than force. The
uncompromising attitude of the Regency, however, indicated clearly
that the Venezuelans could not expect to effect any agreement with
Spain. Bolívar, thinking that he could be more useful in his own
country than in London, decided to return to Venezuela, but he did not
go back alone. We have mentioned before that General Miranda was
then living in London. Bolívar invited him to return to Venezuela to
help the cause of freedom, for he deemed him the ablest man to lead the
movement. He gave him the hospitality of his own home and praised
him generously, increasing his popularity.
Miranda was very well received, and the Junta