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the good and pious; Father he may be, al- in hand the reins of Government upon the though a very bad one.—I am

A FRIEND TO SINCERITY. Hertford, June 1814.

conditions prescribed by the Constitution of
1812, without preparing for himself a clouded
future, and for the nation new troubles; for
that Constitution was, without contradiction,
the worst of all the political creations of our
time. It was made by men, who did not
want sense or talent; but who were with-
out experience-without knowledge of men
or of business, and who sacrificed the general
interest to their private views and passions;
so much so, that it would be injustice to
the authors of the French Constitution of
1791, however bad the idea we may entertain
of them, to compare them with their Spanish
imitators.-But how to find the means, and
the necessary strength to deliver the. Mo-
narch and the people from the shackles of
this Constitution, the Cortes having inherited
from their predecessors, the constituents, all
the branches of the public authority, keeping
them with a jealous vigilance, and, far from
wishing any change, proscribing beforehand,
as a crime of high treason, every attempt to
introduce any? The good sense of the na-
tion, the loyal dispositions of the troops, the
reprehensible conduct of the opposite party,
have assisted to resolve this problem more
happily and sooner than one could have
hoped.-The King arrived at Gerona the 24th
March, with his brother, the Infant Don An-
tonio, and set out the 28th for Valencia. His
Majesty, on his route, received a pressing
invitation from the Aragonese to honour
their province with his presence
He con-
sented; and, in the beginning of April, pro-
ceeded from Reuss to Sarragossa, where he
was received with transports of joy difficult
to describe. During the six days the King
passed in that city, the people and the troops
manifested in every possible manner the most
lively enthusiasm for his person, and the wish
to see him re-ascend the throne of his fathers,
with all the plenitude of the royal authority.

SPANISH AFFAIRS.- Another Declaration, in favour of the Spanish Monarch, has made its appearance. This, I confess, does not look well; for if the beloved Ferdinand was so happy with his people, as it is said he is, why all this anxiety to stand fair in their estimation? Or, if his Spanish Majesty has done nothing censurable in the eyes of Europe, where was the necessity of these reiterated appeals to foreign States? Besides, we have only one side of the question, and special care has been taken that the party accused should not be heard, by consigning him to a dungeon. Until, therefore, the Cortes have liberty to answer for themselves, it would be unjust to credit all, or even any part of, the accusations which Ferdinand brings against them. But there is another reason, of still greater importance to me, why we should suspend our judgment respecting the conduct of the, Cortes until they be heard, and it is this, that the Spanish Monarch has not only unequivocally declared in favour of the ancient establishments of Spain, which, it is well known, constituted an absolute sovereignty in one person, but he has actually restored these institutions, not even excepting that diabolical engine of priestly tyranny-the Inquisition. The new Declaration sets out with asserting, that the Constitution adopted by the Cortes, to which the Spanish nation had sworn ad--A deputation of the army of reserve, under herence, and which they wished Ferdinand the command of General O'Donnell, spoùto accept of, was, without contradiction, taneously renewing the oath taken to the the worst of all the political creations of King in 1808, and offering its arms and its blood to maintain his rights, gave increased our time."—I have annexed the Declara-force to the voice of the people. tion. Since I perused it, I have obtained a Copy of the Constitution which it stigmatizes so severely; and, in order that my readers may judge how far it deserves the epithets, so lavishly bestowed upon it, I shall give extracts from those parts of it which appear best calculated to elucidate the subject, and to put the matter between bis Majesty of Spain and the Cortes in its proper light.

66.

SPANISH DECLARATION. VIENNA, JUNE 13. -The Court Gazelle has published the following Article upon Spain: "It is not without inquietude that King Ferdinand has returned into Spain. This Monarch saw clearly, as also his most confiCential Counsellors, that he could not take

This

was the first ray of hope for the King.
The army of Catalonia, it is true, was equal-
ly well disposed, but had not expressed its
sentiments in so precise a manner as General
O'Donnell. On the 16th Ferdinand made
there was not less vehement than at Sira-
The joy
his solemn entry into Valencia.
goss. His Majesty was received in the first
of those cities by General Elio, Commander
of the second army, with his Staff, and a
great number of officers and soldiers. Eye-
witnesses have described this scene as ex-
tremely affecting. The General said, among
other things to the King," The brave army
which I command, after having for years
shed its blood for the independence of the
country, is now neglected, exposed to want
and humiliation; it expects a better destiny
from the justice of your Majesty." The

officers of all rarks then took the oath of tion? General Castanos, and the Ex-Minisallegiance, and thronged round the King to ter Cevalles, appear to have leaned, at least kiss his hand. They repeated a thousand in principle, to mild measures; and their times the vow to maintain the throne and its opinion would perhaps have prevailed, had rights in their full integrity, and when they not the Cortes and their adherents at Madrid, left the place all the streets resounded with | by an ill-judged haughtiness, dispelled every shouts of Long live the King, and down with prospect of accommodation, and by their those who are of a different way of thinking." | words and actions given a signal for hostiliThe Duke of Saint Lorenzo, in the name of ties. The addresses by which they invited the the third army, and Brigadier Don Alexander King to accelerate his journey to Madrid, Ora, in the name of the army of reserve of though extremely pressing, and even accom Andalusia, took the same oath. Meanwhile panied with threats, yet retained the appearthe Cardinal de Bourbon, chief of the Re- ance of respect; but in the Sittings of the gency (cousin of the King, and brother-in- Cortes, in the journals, and pamphlets of their Jaw to the Prince of the Peace), arrived at party, all the bounds of decency and modeValencia, with Luyando, Secretary of State, |ration were exceeded. Those who would not. to communicate to the King the Decrees of receive the Constitution without reserve, and· the Cortes, and in particular that of the 2d of with a kind of veneration, were spoken of in February, purporting, that obedience should the most abusive language; at the same time not be paid him till he had sworn, in the the armies and their Commanders were not midst of the Cortes, to adhere to the Consti- spared, any more than the person of the King, tution. They inquired, the day after his or those immediately about him. He was arrival, when he intended to proceed to menaced with a criminal trial, imprisonment, Madrid, and to conform to the Decree. The and the scaffold. The Cortes, and the MeinKing replied, that he had not yet come to any bers of the Regency who were devoted to determination on the subject. From that them, were engaged in the organization of a moment, though these two members of the national guard; they were preparing a geCortes remained at Valencia, they had no neral insurrection, which would have led to a further interview with the King. This Mo- most sanguinary civil war. Had they begun narch held frequent councils with the Gran- earlier, they would probably not have wanteddecs of the Kingdom, and the Generals, who the means of defence; but their slow and had by degrees collected around him, and languid measures tended only to accelerate deliberated upon the measures to be adopted their fall. At this juncture, the King, on the in the critical situation in which he found 4th of May, came to the resolution of signing himself. The most favourable intelligence that remarkable Manifesto, by which he dewas daily received from the Provinces.clared the Constitution, and all the acts of Every doubt had long been removed, respec- the Cortes relative to it, null and void. On ting the dispositions which prevailed in the 5th he left Valencia, after having apNavarre, Biscay, Catalonia, and Arragon. pointed the Duke de San Carlos, Minister for It was then learned, that the Cortes had like-Foreign Affairs; Don Pedro de Macanaz, Miwise lost their influence in Gallicia, great nister of Justice; Gen. Freyre, Minister of part of Castile, and Andalusia, at Valladolid, | War; M.St. Lazar, Minister of the Finances; Toledo, Seville, Cordova, &c. and that the and M. Lardizabel, Minister of the Indies. wish to see the King invested with all the The first two, and the Counsellor of State, power conferred by the ancient laws was more Labrador, are his most confidential advisers. and more decisively expressed. At Madrid, The troops at Madrid were under the comand even at Cadiz, the two cities where the mand of General Villa Campa. As it was party of the Cortes was considered as the thought that he could not be relied on, the strongest and most numerous, all the milita-King gave the general command of the cary, and a considerable number of persons of pital, and the New Castile, to General Eguia; other classes were for the King. About the and the garrison of Madrid, though chosen 20th of April, a corps of 25 to 30,000 men, by the Regency itself, immediately obeyed set out from the kingdoms of Arragon and the King's orders and submitted to the new Valencia, for the capital. The King still con Governor. This circumstance decided the tinued at Valencia, whither the English Minis-success of the result. On the 10th, the ter, and the Charges d'Affaires of Austria and Portugal, also repaired, and where, on the 28th April, they received intelligence of Lord We!lington's last victory near Toulouse, and a few hours afterwards, that of the deposition of Napoleon.—All the Members of the King's Council were convinced that his Majesty could not adopt the Constitution; but they were divided in opinion on the question whether it would he safer, all circumstances considered, to reject it altogether, and thus break entirely with the Cortes, or to propose certain modifications and terms of accommoda

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King's decree was published at Madrid.— Troops were sent to occupy the halls of the Cortes and the Regency, and these two bodies were declared to be dissolved. About forty members or principal agents of the Cortes, were imprisoned; the Ministers of Justice and of the Interior shared the same fate, and othe:- were merely dismissed. The Seeretary of State, Luyaudo, was obliged to repair to Carthagena, as wel as Ciscar, one of the Members of the Regency; but his colleague, Agar, was exiled to San Jago, in Gallicia. The Cardinal, the Presideat of the

Regency, who had particularly incurred the displeasure of the Court, was sent provisionally to Toledo, there to await the ulterior decision of his fate.-Seldom has a political revolution terminated so speedily, and in so decisive a manner as this. Not one stouc

has been left upon the other of the edifice upon which the republican party had for a year been incessantly engaged-the work, the principal workmen, the assistants, vanished in a moment, and without any resistauce; not an arm was raised, or a mouth opened, in behalf of those who, some days before, surrounded with all the pomp of the sovereignty of the people, which they had usurped, and even invested with the title of Majesty, had prescribed the most rigid laws to the king and the Nation. His Majesty's Decree was received at Madrid as a decision

THE POLITICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE
SPANISH MONARCHY. PROMULGATED
IN CADIZ, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF
MARCH, 1812.

The General and Extraordinary Cortes of the Spanish Nation, well convinced, after the most minute examination and mature deliberation, that the ancient fundamental laws of this Monarchy, aided by every precaution and authority, which can enable and insure their being permanently established and thoroughly carried into effect, are perfectly calculated to fulfil the grand object of promoting the glory, prosperity, and welfare of the Spanish Nation;, decree the following Political Constitution for the well governing and right administra

tion of the State.

hemispheres.-2. The Spanish nation is
free and independent, and neither is nor
can be the property of any family or per-
son. 3. Sovereignty belongs to the nation,
consequently it exclusively possesses the
right of establishing its fundamental laws.---
4. The nation is obliged, by wise and just
laws, to protect the liberty, property, and
all other legitimate rights, of
every indivi-

of Heaven, and executed with demonstra tions of the most sincere and general joy. All the streets rung with shouts of 66 Down Chap. I. Of the Spanish Nation and with the Liberal!" for that is the appellation Spaniards.-Art. 1. The Spanish nation assumed by the partisans of the Constitution. is the re-union of all the Spaniards of both Thus it is that those deceive themselves, who, impelled by ambition or fanaticism, consider the people as their natural ally, whilst they are vehemently attacking the established principles of social order. Those who feel interested in the lot of the Spaniards, who are desirous that the unshaken fortitude with which they have maintained a glorious struggle, and the numerous sacrifices they have made to preserve their liberty under paternal laws, should receive their reward, must sincerely rejoice to see their destiny decided in this manner. In truth, the Monarchical Government could not subsist in any manner with the Constitution of 1812; but to attempt to force a country like Spain to accept such a Constitution, was an extraordinary error-and it may be asserted, without being too severe, an error which deserved punishment. Either that Constitution would soon have completely destroyed the Royal authority-or, if it had not accomplished this object, it would at least have produced internal commotions, anarchy, and ages of debility. It cannot be denied that the future prospects are wholly free from apprehension; that nothing is yet decided or secured; that there will yet be great difficulties to surmount, and even violent storms to undergo. Eut if, as we are justified in believing, the present re-action perfectly harmonises with the sentiments and wishes of the people; if, on the other hand, the promises contained in the King's Manifesto are punctually fulfilled, Spain may thereby recover her tranquillity and prosperity more certainly and speedily than by any other means, and regain her rank among the powers of Europe. Nothing, moreover, but such an event as this, could effect a reconciliation between the mother country and the colonies, as far as this is still possible. Without this termination, things might have turned out as they might, America would have been lost to Spain."

dual which composes it.---5. Of those who are Spaniards, and lawfully considered as such 1st, All free-men, born and bred up in the Spanish dominions, and their tained letters of naturalization from the sons; 2dly, Foreigners who may have obCortes; 3dly, Those who, without it, have resided ten years in any village in Spain, and acquired thereby a right of vicinity: 4thly, The slaves who receive their freedom in the Spanish dominions.---6. The and honest, are the first and absolute duties love of their country, as well as to be just of every Spaniard.---7. Every Spaniard is obliged to be faithful to the Constitution, to obey the laws, and to respect the established authorities.---8. It is also the duty of every Spaniard, without exception, to bear arms in defence of the country, when called on by the laws.---9. Also, every Spaniard, without exception, is obliged to contribute, in proportion to his means, to the finances of the State.

Chap. II. Of the Spanish Territory, Religion, Government, and Rights of Citizenship.-Art. 12. The religion of the Spanish nation is, and ever shall be, the Catholic Apostolic Roman and only true faith; the State shall, by wise and just laws, protect it, and prevent the exercise

those expressed in Art. 29, shall be sent one deputy to the Cortes.---34. For the election of deputies to the Cortes, juntas shall be held in the parishes, cities, and provinces.---35. The parish electoral juntas shall be composed of all the citizens, re sidents within the bounds of the respective parishes, among whom shall be included the secular clergy.---36. These juntas shall

of any other.-13. The object of Govern- | sentation is the same in both hemispheres.ments is the welfare of nations; as is the 29. This basis is, the people composed of happiness of the individuals who compose those inhabitants who, by both lines, are them, that of all political societies.-14. natives of the Spanish dominions; of those The Government of the Spanish nation is who have letters of citizenship from the a moderate, hereditary monarchy.-15. Cortes; as also those who are compreThe power of making laws is in the Cortes, hended in Art. 21.-31. For every seventy with the King.-16. The power of execut-thousand souls of population, consisting of ing the laws is in the King.-17. The power of applying the laws, in civil and criminal causes, exists in the tribunals established by law.-18. Those who, by both lines, are of Spanish parents, of either hemisphere, and have resided ten years in some village in the Spanish dominions.---19. Also any foreigner, who, according to the form prescribed, has become a Spaniard, may be made a citizen, by special letter of citizen-meet, in the Peninsula, islands, and pos ship from the Cortes.---21. The legitimate sessions adjacent, the first Sunday in the children of foreigners settled in the Spanish month of October, the year preceding that dominions, who are born in them, and have in which the Cortes is to meet.---37. In never gone to other countries without per- the provinces beyond the seas, the first mission of the Government, are citizens; Sunday of December, fifteen months preprovided they are 21 years of age, resi- ceding the meeting of the Cortes, in order dents in some village in the dominions, and to insure time sufficient for both to send are of some profession, office, or useful their returns previously.---38. In the parish trade.---23. Only those who are citizens juntas, for every two hundred resident can obtain municipal employments; and citizens or electors, shall be chosen one elect for them, in the cases pointed out by parochial elector.----45. To be named a law.-24. The right of Spanish citizenship parochial elector, it is necessary it should is forfeited for ever: 1st, By naturaliza-be a citizen of above twenty-one years of tion in another country; 2dly, By accept- age, a vecino, and resident in the parish.-.ing an employment or situation from ano-55. No citizen shall be excused this duty, ther Government; 3dly, By being sentenced to receive a corporeal or infamous punishment (unless it be remitted); 4thly, By residing abroad five years successively, without commission or leave from the Government.---25. The exercise of the same right is suspended: 1st, In consequence of judicial interdiction for physical or moral incapacity; 2dly, By becoming a bankrupt in any trade, or debtor to the public treasury; 3dly, By being in the situation of a domestic servant; 4thly, For holding no office, or having no employ, nor known means of living; 5thly, By being under trial for a criminal offence; 6thly, From the year 1830, those who enter on the exercise of the rights of citizenship, must have learned to read and write.---26. Only for the causes expressed in the two preceding Articles, and none others, can the rights of a citizen be lost or suspended.

under any pretext or motive whatsoever.-56. No citizen shall appear armed at the parochial junta.---57. Immediately on the conclusion of the election, the junta shall dissolve any other business, which it may attempt to transact, shall be null, void, and illegal.---59. The electoral juntas of hundreds shall be composed of the parochial electors, who shall unite, in the principal town of the hundred, to nominate the elector or electors; who are to resort to the capital of the province, to elect the deputies to the Cortes.---78. The electoral juntas of provinces shall be composed of all the electors de partido (of hundreds) within it, who shall assemble in the capital, to elect the proportion of deputies who are to assist at the Cortes, as representatives of the nation.---91. The following are the qualifications requisite for a deputy of the. Cortes: He must be a citizen, of above Chap. III. Of the Cortes.-Art. 27. twenty-five years of age, in the full exerThe Cortes is the junction of all the de-cise of his rights; either a layman or seputies who represent the nation, named by the citizens in the manner hereafter to be explained.-28. The basis of national repre

cular priest, a native of the province, or one at least who possesses property, and has resided in it above seven years, but

place from the King, or even advancement, unless it be in the due course of service, in their respective situations.---131. In the same manner, during their deputation, and one year after the last act of their official

he may belong to the junta or not.---92. To tribunal of the Cortes, in the manner and be a member of the Cortes, it is also ne-form directed by the laws for its interior cessary to possess a sufficient real and per- government.---129. During the sessions of sonal property.-95. The secretaries of the Cortes, and one month after, no deputy State, counsellors, and officers of the royal can be arrested by the civil power, nor his household, cannot be elected deputies of property be subject to execution for debt.--the Cortes.---96. No foreigner, although 130. During the period of their deputahe may have obtained from the Cortes a tion, commencing on the day, in this reletter of citizenship, can be elected a de-spect, of their nomination being made puty.---97. No person in a public oflice known to the permanent deputation, the can be elected a deputy of the Cortes, for deputies cannot accept themselves, or sothe province in which he is employed, iflicit for others, any lucrative employ or he be appointed by the Government. 106. The sessions of the Cortes shall be of three months continuance, each year, beginning on the 1st of March, and continuing the three months succeeding.--107. On two occasions, alone, the Cortes may pro-functions, they cannot accept themselves, rogue their meeting for one month: first, or solicit for others, any pension, honour, on petition from the King; secondly, if it place, or order, which is in the gift of the should appear requisite to themselves; by King.--131. The powers and duties of the a majority of two-thirds of the deputies. Cortes are: 1st, To propose and decree the 108. An entire new deputation shall be laws, and interpret and repeal them, when chosen every two years.---121. The King it shall be necessary; 2dly, To administer shall assist at the opening of the Cortes; the oath to the King, and Prince of Asand, should any impediment occur, the turias, and to the Regency, according to president shall open it himself, on the day the forms directed in their proper places; appointed, without any circumstance what- 3dly, To resolve any doubt which may ever being allowed to defer it to another occur as to the act or right of succession to period. The same forms shall be observed the Crown; 4thly, To elect a Regency, or in closing the sessions.---122. The King Regent, in the cases pointed out by the Conshall enter the hall of the Cortes without stitution, and prescribe the restrictions with a guard, and accompanied only by the which the Regency or Regent are to exer-persons appointed for receiving and accom-cise the royal authority; 5thly, Publicly to panying him on his return, by the rules formed for the interior government of the Cortes.---123. The King shall publicly address the Cortes, proposing such things as shall appear to him necessary; to which the president shall answer in general terms, If the King does not attend, he shall send his speech to the president, that it may be read.---124. The Cortes cannot deliberate in the presence of the King-125. When the secretaries of State may have to make propositions to the Cortes, on behalf of the King, they shall assist at the discussion, at the time and in the manner the Cortes may determine; and deliver their sentiments; but they shall not be present at the division. ---126. The sessions of the Cortes shall be public; and only under circumstances which particularly require it, shall a secret sitting be held.---128. The deputies shall be inviolable for their opinions; and in no time, circumstance, nor by any authority, made responsible for the same. In any criminal causes, which may be formed against them, they shall be judged by the

acknowledge the Prince of Asturias; 6thly, To appoint a tutor to a minor King, when it may be directed by the Constitution; 7thly, To approve, before their ratification, the treaties of offence, alliance, subsidy, and particularly those of commerce; 8thly, To grant or deny the admission of foreign troops into the kingdom; 9thly, To decree the creation or suppression of places in the tribunals established by the Constitution; and also the creation or suppression of public offices; 10thly, To fix, by proposals from the King, the proportion of sea and land forces for the year; determining the standing force in time of peace, and augmentation in war; 11th, To issue codes of established instructions to the army, navy, and national militia, for their direction, under all circumstances; 12th, To fix the expences of the public service; 13th, To establish the annual contributions and imposts; 14th, To borrow money, in cases of emergency, on the credit of the nation; 15th, To approve the division of the proportion of contributions to be levied on

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