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Historically important, lengthy LS in Spanish, signed as president of Gran Colombia, “Bolivar,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 7 x 9.5, September 4, 1829. Addressed from Guayaquil, a letter to Jose A. Alamo, in full (translated): “My dear friend, I have just received your appreciable letter dated the 28th of June. I greatly celebrate the peace and good harmony that you assure me reigns in all aspects, and the end of the fighting and the individuals who were the sparks, with all the rest that you tell me, about the virtuous deputies, fine projects, etc. I thank you for such great news, whose reward you will have already received with the news that I also sent you in my previous letters. We will look at those projects that you are working on with General Paez in order to improve the fate of Venezuela and its militia. May God grant you both the skill for such a worthy cause!
I acknowledge being informed about what you tell me, regarding that Court of Justice. You also tell me that there is news that the orders of payment against the Mining Society are paid, but that you still do not know for certain. How do we understand that? If you, the person who is immediately in charge of these payments, are not certain, then who can possibly know better? I am desperate for the execution of the payments, as I have repeatedly told you, in order to fulfill all the objectives for which I have designated them; and I beg you again to finish carrying out the so-tiresome credit letters.
I thank you for the efficiency with which you tell me that you are cooperating for the completion of the lawsuit and the extra steps, because for this, one must proceed with money and clever steps. Always have I counted on the cooperation of my friend Alamo, in all the matters that pertain to me. I will keep the Priest of Furmezo in mind when the need arises.
I am going to give you an assignment, which is that you influence General Paez and with Brizeno, so that the Godismo (pro-Spanish activities) and perversity of the Castillos is printed in the public newspapers, making it known that they have been in agreement with the Spaniards: that they have been very Godos (pro-Spanish) and evil; and that lately they have deserted to those flags. In other words, that they are discredited in as many ways as possible because this, in addition to being just, is convenient.
Pray tell me, what is of General Paez? Or where is he? Because I have not received a letter from him in some time. I fear that some letters from him have been intercepted, as you nor anyone over there tells me that he is ill or absent, nor do I find a motive for which he could deny me his correspondence. If you happen to be with him when you receive this, do me the favor of telling him this.
I remain perfectly well in my camp, a mile away from the city, convalescing a great deal and waiting for the Commissioner from Peru for the treaties, and the frigates to secure them, because these Peruvians will not comply unless they are afraid. Fortunately with only one good frigate we will have enough to restrain them in my shoe, and be able to return leaving this secure. So then, let at least that vessel come quickly. The Peruvian Congress will have been established the 28th of last month. As this is what they were waiting for there in order to send the Commissioner, we imagine that he is probably already sailing toward here; and during all the present month, the Peace Treaty will be celebrated. Greetings to all my true friends, of which I am one to you.” In fine condition, with minor paper loss to the bottom edge, affecting none of the text.
In this letter, Bolivar refers to a copper mine that he owned, which he used to finance his revolutionary campaigns, and to General Jose Antonio Paez, his friend and ally, at the time of this letter had begun a new agitation for Venezuela's separation from Gran Colombia. Betraying Bolivar's ideals and trust, Paez served later as President of Venezuela three times. More broadly, he discusses the end of his final military campaign, celebrating the negotiation of the war-ending Treaty of Guayaquil.
In 1829 Peru claimed sovereignty over the city of Guayaquil and declared war on Colombia, forcing Bolivar to lead an expedition into Peru, the mission referred to in our letter. ‘In his eagerness to shed Peruvian blood, Bolivar planned a forced march to Guayaquil in the rainy season,’ a move that his allies warned would be disastrous. Nevertheless, ‘Bolivar launched his campaign to retake Guayaquil. Because it had been impossible to equip the troops adequately, many men lacked tents, and a shockingly large number were lost to disease.’ In the end, Peruvians loyal to Bolivar marched into the rebel-held area forcing an armistice that returned Guayaquil to Colombia in a peace treaty signed at Guayaquil on September 22, 1829, less than four weeks after this letter was written. ‘As a result, Bolivar and his ill and exhausted army entered Guayaquil without firing a shot. All of the suffering and losses of life during the march had been needless.’ It was during this campaign that Bolivar became ill, quite possibly with the tuberculosis that eventually killed him. Several times in early 1830, Bolivar tried to resign his post, finally leaving office in April of that year.
Increasingly weak from tuberculosis, his spirit broken by endless bloodshed and anarchy, he finally accepted an offer from Joaquin de Mier, a Spaniard and former royalist, to stay at the latter's country home of San Pedro de Alejandrino, near Santa Marta (Colombia), where he arrived on December 6th. In a proclamation to the people of Colombia on December 10th, he declared, ‘My last wishes are for the happiness of our native land. If my death will help to end party strife and to promote national unity, I shall go to my grave in peace.’ Anarchy and power struggles continued after Bolivar's death on December 17, 1830, and it was only many decades later that he came to be revered as South America's Libertador.
The most extensive and important Bolivar letter that RR has ever offered.
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