Morales, of bloody reputation, had taken Calabozo; and, in the
East, fate was against the independents, where the weakness of Marino had
caused the loss of Cumana. In other sections, the troops had rebelled
against the authority of Bolivar, and had begun to fight in the same
desultory way as before. All this was not sufficient to shake the constancy
and faith of Bolivar. He addressed a letter to Pueyrredon, Supreme Director
of the Provinces of the River Plata, using these lofty words:
"Venezuela is now in mourning, but tomorrow, covered with laurels, she
will have extinguished the last of the tyrants who now desecrate her
soil. Then she will invite you to a single association, so that our
motto may be 'Unity in South America.' All Americans should have one
country."
Back in Angostura, with his unflinching courage, he went on reviving his
army and reorganizing the supreme government, which had been in the hands
of the Council of State during his absence. He appointed secretaries of the
cabinet and established a weekly paper to spread the new principles of the
government. He again entrusted Marino with the command of the province of
Cumana, took the necessary steps to suppress the symptoms of indiscipline
in the army, and initiated several military operations. Again, when his
means were more limited, his thoughts covered a greater field. He seemed
unable to assure the liberty of Venezuela, yet he was thinking of giving
freedom to Nueva Granada.
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