1811: Bolívar delivered his first political speech before the Patriotic Society

This first known political speech by Bolívar expresses the need for union to become independent from Spain. As a pressure group, the Patriotic Society had come to be known as the second Congress, but Bolívar advocates respect for the Legislative Branch and the need for Congress to declare Independence.

On July 4, a delegation appeared before Congress and they called for Independence, which was declared the following July 5, according to information from Venezolana de Televisión.

Simón Bolívar in this speech states:

“It's not that there are two congresses. How will those who know the most about the need for union promote the schism? What we want is for that union to be effective and to encourage us to the glorious enterprise of our freedom; to unite to rest, and to sleep in the arms of apathy, yesterday it was a waning, today it is a betrayal. What should be decided is being discussed in the National Congress.

And what do they say? That we must start with a confederation, as if we were all not confederated against foreign tyranny. That we must attend to the results of Spain's politics. What does it matter to us that Spain sells its slaves to Bonaparte or that it keeps them, if we are determined to be free? These doubts are the sad effects of the old chains. That big projects must be prepared calmly! 300 years of calm, isn't that enough? The Patriotic Junta respects, as it should, the Congress of the Nation, but the Congress must hear the Patriotic Junta, the center of light of all revolutionary interests.

Let us fearlessly lay the foundation stone of South American freedom, to hesitate is to lose ourselves.

I propose that a commission within this body bring these sentiments to the Sovereign Congress.”

Mazo News Team