This statement does not comprise the sums arising from the culture and sale of tobacco, which belongs ex clusively to the crown, because these sums arc adminis tered separately, and have their own peculiar bank and appropriation ; nor the receipts from hulls, the power of distributing which was first granted by the Pope to the Spanish monarch, for the benefit of his subjects, who took arms against the infidels in the holy war. Though this war has long been at an end, the bulls still con tinue to arrive from his Holiness ; and the blessings which they impart are considered too precious, and their advantage to the exchequer is too important, to allow them to be easily renounced. These hulls annually pro duce 26,000 hard dollars ; and the exclusive sale of to bacco, deducting all charges, brings in 700,000 hard dol lars a year.
The first settlements of the Spaniards in this part of Terra Firma, were completely similar, in their history, to their other settlements in America. To this, as to the other regions of the New World, they were at first impelled by their thirst for gold ; and the provinces which now compose the captain-generalship of Carac cas, as they contained no mines which could be wrought to much advantage, were long neglected by the Spanish government. Before these mines could be explored, however, it was necessary that the original inhabitants of the country should be subdued. In this conquest the Spaniards had to encounter considerable difficulties. Many of their troops were cut off by sudden and unexpected onsets of the Indians ; and they purchased, with no small loss of blood, a territory which they were soon inclined to abandon, as altogether unprofitable. In our account of the mines of this dependency, we have already mentioned the disasters to which the Spaniards were exposed from the Indians. They at length, how ever, succeeded in their total subjugation ; and the same form of government was established here which had been framed ror the other Spanish dominions in the western hemisphere.
All the Spanish provinces in America are governed by representatives of the king, some of whom, as the governors of Mexico and Peru, are named viceroys ; and others, as the governor of Caraceas, have the ap pellation of captains-general. The power of this go vernor is supreme in military affairs in the province of Venezuela, and its dependencies, Maracabo, Varinas, Guiana, Cumana, and the island of Margaretta. He is likewise president of the royal audience, and of all the tribunals, excepting those which relate to the royal treasures and to commerce. Although in the capacity
of captain-general he may form whatever regulations he pleases, without advice and without controld, he generally submits an j y case of importance to a de guerra, composed it the first military officers. IS exclusively charged w ith all political relations between the colonial government or f)r, gn powers and his par ticular district. In civil !natters, his jurisdiction is con hoed to the province of Venezuela. Maracaibo, Mar garetta, Cumana, and Guiana, have each a governor, who exercises the same civ it powers in his own pro vince that the governor of Caraccas enjoys in his. As the qualities of a. good soldier are not always combined with the knowledge and habits essential to the proper administration of justice, the governor is obliged, in all judicial affairs, to have recourse to a counsellor at law, entitled his assistant, who records and signs the sen tences. These sentences have no validity without the signature of the governor ; and if they do not meet his approbation, he can pass the documents to another per son, termed assistant ad hoc, who furnishes a new sen tence. The governor may even give a decision contrary to the advice of these legal counsellors—a power which he never employs, however, except in cases where it appears necessary, and may be readily justified. Though president of the royal audience, he has no voice in its deliberations, or any influence, even by vote, on its de cisions. That court, where lie represents the majesty of his sovereign, is the only tribunal which is permitted to investigate his actions. Great as the power of the captain-general is, he is in general prevented from abusing it, by the responsibility which he incurs, and the certainty of being called to a rigid account for every act of his administration. llis office terminates in seven years, and no sooner is his successor nominated, than a commissary is appointed to receive his resignation. This commissary immediately announces, in the most public manner, the time and place appointed for the ex amination of the transactions of the late governor; and all who have any complaints against him are invited to attend and substantiate their charges, that strict justice may be awarded. The results of these examinations are forwarded to the council of the Indies, who decide on them definitively.