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This article contains letters translated from Spanish written by Diego Portales, an important figure in the road to Chilean independence from Spain, along with a brief context overview for each one.

Letter from Diego Portales to Jose M. Cea (March 1822)

This letter was sent from Lima on March 1822 to Jose Manuel Cea, one of his dear friends and business partner. This letter is cited in many historical papers because in it, Diego Portales expresses his political standpoint and his thoughts about the actions taken by the United States in a time when Latin American colonies were declaring independence from European Monarchies.

Mr. Jose M. Cea.

My Dear Cea: The newspapers bring pleasant news for the march of the revolution of all America. It seems somewhat confirmed that the United States recognizes American Independence. Although I have not talked to anyone about this, I am going to give you my opinion. The President of the United States, Mr. Monroe, said: "we recognize that The Americas belongs to these". Beware of leaving one domination to fall into another! We must be wary of those gentlemen who very well approve the work of our liberation champions without having helped us at all: this is the cause of my fear. Why this desire of the United States to accredit Ministers, delegates and to recognize the independence of America, without bothering them in anything? What a curious system, my friend! I believe that all this obeys a combined plan beforehand; and that would be like this: to make the conquest of America, not by weapons, but by the influence in every sphere. This will happen, maybe not today; but tomorrow. It is not convenient to be flattered by these sweets that children would eat without foreseeing poisoning. The political aspect of things does not interest me, but as a good citizen I feel free to express my opinions and even censor the acts of the Government. Democracy, which is so loudly proclaimed by the deluded is absurd in the countries of the Americas, flooded with vices and where citizens lack all virtue, necessary to establish a true Republic. The Monarchy is not the American ideal either; we leave one terrible to return to another, and what have we gained? The Republic is the system that must be adopted; But do you know how I see it for these countries? A strong government, centralizing, whose men are true models of virtue and patriotism, and thus straighten the citizens on the path of order and virtues. When they have become moralized, come the liberal governments, free and full of ideals, where all the citizen have part. This is what I think and what every man of medium criteria would think as well.

What about the merchandise you told me about in your last letter? I believe that it is convenient to buy them, because constant orders are being requested here. I am attaching a letter for my father, that he will send in the first ship to Valparaiso.

Truly yours,

Diego Portales

Newman is sick, but getting better.

Letter from Diego Portales to Antonio Garfias (December 6, 1834)

This letter was sent from Valparaiso on December 6, 1824 to Antonio Garfias Patiño, a congressman of the Chilean government for the period 1831-1834. In his letter, Diego Portales describes his frustration from the way the government has handled and persecuted people that conspire against the government. He talks about the opposite standpoint of Mariano Egaña and claims that the constitution has tied the governments hands and it must be violated in extreme times like this.

Valparaiso, December 6, 1834

My Don Antonio:

I want to address a query I made to Don Mariano in regards of an amendment to the constitution that would allow the government to imprison individuals without a warrant of arrest from a judge. In which may fall the strong motives that conspire against the government, as in a case that I follow with great interest and prudence in this port. The good Don Mariano has replied not with a letter with a report, not with a report but with a treaty, about the government not having the power to arrest suspects due to their political movement. He replied with a long story, with so many quotes that I've become confused, and as if the stack of papers he sent was not enough, he also sent me a copy of the book Habeas Corpus. In short, to follow the criteria of Egaña, in the face of the thread of an individual to overthrow the authority, the government must sit idly by, while as he says, does not catch the crime red-handed.

With the men of law one can not reach consensus. What is the damn purpose of the constitutions and laws, if they are incapable of remedying an evil that is known to exist, which will be arise and can not be prevented, if they can not allow for the necessary measures to stop it. Well it is precise that the crime is caught red-handed.

In Chile the law is not good for anything else other than to create anarchy, the absence of sanctions, libertinism, eternal litigation, fraternity and friendship.

If I, for instance, sentence an individual that is conspiring, I violate the law. Then damn law if it doesn't let the government's arm proceed freely at the right time.

Then, in the case of a crime caught red-handed, evidence gets lost, witnesses are taken in, who many times don't know what they are going to declare, then case becomes complicated and the judge is perplexed.

This respect for the offender, or alleged offender, will bring the country to an end in a short time. The government seems willing to perpetuate an orientation of this kind, teaching consideration to the law seems simply unworthy.

Young people learn that the offender deserves more consideration than an honest man, which is why the lawyers I've met are heads willing to succumb to compassion to a degree that makes them ridiculous. I know this to tell you that with law or without it, that the constitution must be violated in extreme circumstances. And how important is that it should be! When in a year it has been useless so many times.

Speak with Tocornal, because he is already in light of what I intend to do. As to Egaña,tell him that his philosophies do not suit the case. Poor devil!

Until tomorrow. Yours,

D. Portales

External Links

Carta de Diego Portales a Jose M. Cea (marzo de 1822)

Carta de Diego Portales a Antonio Garfias (6 de diciembre de 1834)

Antonio Garfias Patiño