Watts expressed his
firm conviction that Bolivar would not act as dictator but in conformity
with the constitution, stating also the fact that Bolivar had refused the
Bolivian and Peruvian dictatorships. In his communication of March 2, 1827
(No. 26), Watts denies the rumors of the monarchial ambitions of Bolivar,
and says that he has nothing but the greatest magnanimity. On March 15,
Watts himself asked Bolivar to assume power.
All these stories of disinterestedness seem to be contradicted in the
correspondence of Harrison and Van Buren. In his note of May 27, 1829 (No.
13), Harrison speaks of monarchical plots, expressing his belief that
Bolivar is behind them, founding his assertions only on the opposition of
Bolivar to foreign princes. He is very free in speaking of _plans_, but he
gives no precise data about them. In his note of July 28, 1829 (No. 18),
Harrison states that the monarchists are determined to put Bolivar on the
throne, and adds that he saw a letter of "_a man in high position_ who
has enjoyed the entire confidence of Bolivar, but who is now in complete
opposition to all his schemes of personal aggrandizement." Bolivar,
according to this letter, intended to become the monarch of Colombia, Peru
and Bolivia. Then Harrison mentions the printing of a paper on the evils of
free government, and states that that paper, of which he had seen a single
copy, had the purpose of making propaganda in favor of Bolivar, but had
been suppressed for fear that it would injure Bolivar's cause.
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