powers which had recognized it. But six years' experience, and the general wish, induced him to identify himself, in 1820, with the desires of the Spanish people. "It was not a military insurrection which gave rise to this new order of things in the commencement of the year 1820. The brave men who declared themselves in the island of Leon, and successively in the rest of the provinces, were only the organ of the general opinion and wish. "It was natural that this order of things should produce discontents that is an inevitable consequence of every reform which aims at a correction of abuses. Individuals are always to be found in every nation and in every state, who can never submit themselves to the empire of reason and justice. "The army of observation which the French government maintains in the Pyrenees is not calculated to quiet the disorders with which Spain is afflicted. Experience has proved, on the contrary, that this sanatory cordon, which afterwards assumed the title of army of observation, has only served to nourish the wild hopes of the deluded fanatics who raised the cry of rebellion in several of the provinces, by giving them a pretext for cherishing the idea of an approaching invasion of our territory. "As the principles, the views, or the fears which have influenced the conduct of the cabinets assembled at the Congress of Verona, cannot serve as a rule for that of Spain, the latter abstains, for the present, from replying to that part of the instructions of the Comte de Lagarde which relates to the said Congress. "The days of calm and tranquillity which the Government of his Most Christian Majesty wishes to the Spanish nation, are not less anxiously desired by herself and her government. Both being persuaded that the remedy of their misfortunes can only be the work of time and perseverance, they make, as it is their duty to do, every effort to accelerate such useful and salutary effects. "The Spanish government justly appreciates the offers made by that of his Most Christian Majesty to contribute towards its happiness as far as lies in its power; but is persuaded that the measures and precautions which the latter has adopted can produce only contrary results. "The assistance which it is now incumbent on the French government to give to that of Spain is purely negative. The disbanding its army of the Pyrenees-the restraining the factious enemies of Spain, and the refugees in France and a marked and decided animadversion on those who take. pleasure in blackening, in the most atrocious manner, the government of his catholic majesty, as well as the institutions of Spain and her Cortes, is what the law of nations, as respected by all civilized countries, requires. "For France to say that she wishes the welfare and tranquillity of Spain, while she constantly keeps lighted up the brands of discord, which give aliment to the principal evils with which she is afflicted, is to plunge into an abyss of contradictions. "Moreover, whatever may be the determination which the government of his Most Christian Majesty may deem advisable to take in this conjuncture, that of his Catholic Majesty will continue tranquil in the path pointed out by its duty, the justness of its cause, the character of constancy, and of firm attachment to constitutional principles, which eminently distinguish the nation at the head of which it is placed; and without now entering into an analysis of the hy pothetical and ambiguous expres sions of the instructions transmitted to the Count de Lagarde, it concludes by observing that the repose and prosperity of the nation, as well as every thing that may augment the elements of its prosperity, can interest no power more warmly than Spain herself. "Constant attachment to the constitution of 1812, peace with all nations, and the denial of the right of intervention in her affairs on the part of any power, form the national motto and rule of conduct as well for the present as for all future times. "Your excelleney is authorized to read this note to the minister of Foreign affairs, and to give him a copy if he request it. Your judg ment and your prudence will suggest to you the conduct, firm and worthy of Spain, which ought to be pursued on this occasion. "This I have the honour to communicate to your excellency by order of his Majesty; and I take this opportunity of renewing the assurances of my distinguished consideration, and of praying that God may preserve your life many years. "Your Excellency's attentive and constant servant kisses your hand. EVARISTO SAN MIGUEL "The Palace, Jan. 9, 1823. "To the minister of France." NOTE transmitted by the SPANISH MINISTERS to their CHARGE'S D'AFFAIRES at the Courts of VIENNA, BERLIN, and PETERSBURGH. Under this date I communicate to the chargé d'affaires of his Majesty at the court of by roy al order, the following: "The government of his Majesty has received communication of a note from to its chargé d'affaires at this court, a copy of which note is transmitted to your excellency for your information. "This document, full of perverted facts, defamatory suppositions, accusations equally unjust and slanderous, and vague requests, does not call for any categorical and formal reply on any of its points. The Spanish government, deferring to a more convenient opportunity the exhibiting to all nations, in a public and solemn manner, its, sentiments, its principles, its determinations, and the justice of the cause of the generous nation at the head of which it is placed, is for the present, content to declare "1. That the Spanish nation is governed by a constitution solemnly recognized by the Emperor of all the Russias in the year 1812. "2. That the Spaniards, friends to their country, who proclaimed, at the commencement of 1812, that constitution which was abolished by violence in 1814, were not perjured men, but had the imperishable honour of being the instruments of the general will. "3. That the Constitutional King of Spain is in the free exercise of the powers which the fundamental code has conferred upon him, and whatever may be alleged to the contrary proceeds from the enemies of Spain, for the purpose of blackening and calumniating her. 4. That the Spanish nation has never interfered with the institutions or internal government of any other state. "5. That the healing of the ills which may afflict Spain interests no nation more than herself. 6. That those evils are not consequences of the constitution, but proceed from the enemies who endeavour to destroy it. "7. That the Spanish nation will never acknowledge the right of any power to interfere or mix itself in its affairs. "8. That the government will never deviate from the line traced for it by its duties, by national honour, and by its unalterable attachment to the fundamental code sworn to in 1812. "Your Excellency is authorised to communicate this despatch ver bally to the minister for Foreign affairs at, giving him a copy if he ask it. "His Majesty hopes that your Excellency's prudence, zeal, and patriotism will suggest to you that conduct which is firm and worthy of the Spanish name, and which, in the present circumstances, ought to be followed. "This is what I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency by order of his Majesty, and I seize this opportunity to renew the assurances of my distinguished consideration, praying God to preserve your life many years. I kiss your hands. Your attentive and constant servant, "EVARISTO SAN MIGUEL. "The Palace, Jan. 9, 1823. "To Senor "Chargé d'Affaires at ADDRESS to the KING of SPAIN, voted by the CORTES in the Sitting of the 11th Sire, The extraordinary Cortes, in hearing the notes of the Cabinets of Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and Petersburgh, which your Majesty ordered to be communicated by your ministers to them, have unanimously resolved to direct their voice towards the august throne of your Majesty, in an expression of the feelings by which they are animated. The Cortes would fail in their first duty they would inadequate ly express the wishes of the people whom they represent-if they did not declare the surprise and indignation which they felt at the strange doctrines, the manifest falsehoods, the calumnious imputations which these documents contain, particularly the three latter, as vicious in their substance as contrary in their ment, without descending to refute assertions notoriously false, and which had they been otherwise they had no right to prefer against it, confined itself to a statement of the principles which direct itprinciples which the legislative body loudly proclaims, which all Spaniards repeat, and which they will support with the constancy of a people faithful to their promises, and which nothing can shake while they defend their honour and independence. It does not belong to the Cortes to inquire into the real motives of the conduct observed towards Spain by the Cabinets of Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and Petersburgh, any more than to anticipate the results of the answers returned by the government of your Majesty, but, whatever may be these motives or results, the road which the Legislative body must follow, is marked out for them by the constitution itself by the avowed and unanimous opinion of their constituents, and by the sentiment of national honour, which, being felt so strongly by all Spaniards, must more particularly animate the assembly of their representatives. The Cortes, in a crisis so memorable, are called upon to exert themselves, and are in fact exerting themselves, to draw closer the ties which unite them to the royal power, and to proclaim, as they do now proclaim afresh, in the face of the nation, of the world, and of posterity, their determined resolution to sustain the glory and the independence of the throne of your Majesty, and of your Constitutional authority, the sovereignty and the rights of the heroic nation which they represent, and the constitution by which they exist. SO The Cortes are bound to assure your Majesty, and they do assure your Majesty, that to attain sacred an object, they are ready to decree every species of sacrifice, certain that the Spanish people will bear them with joy-with enthusiasm; and that they will resign themselves to all possible evils, rather than enter into terms with those who would pretend to taint their honour, or to attack their liberties. Such is the declaration of the Cortes: and they hope that the national power, thus fortified by the union which exists between the throne, the Cortes, and the people, will be sufficient to impose respect on the enemies of Spanish independence and liberty-to secure, perhaps, peace, and certainly the glory of the nation-to consolidate its future welfare under the empire of the constitution which governs us, and the salutary principles of which promise to our country the most flattering destinies. PROCLAMATION. The Duke D'Angoulême, Generalin-chief of the Army of the Pyrenees, to the Spaniards. The king of France, by recalling his ambassador from Madrid, hoped that the Spanish govern ment, warned of its dangers, would return to more moderate sentiments, and would cease to be deaf to the counsels of benevolence and reason. Two months and a half have passed away, and his majesty has in vain expected the establishment in Spain of an order of things compatible with the safety of neighbouring states. a The French government has for two entire years endured, with forbearance without example, the most unmerited provocations; the revolutionary faction which has destroyed the royal authority in your country-which holds your king captive-which calls for his dethronement-which menaces his life and that of his family, has carried beyond your frontiers its guilty efforts. It has tried all means to corrupt the army of his Most Christian Majesty, and to excite troubles in France, in the same manner as it had succeeded by the contagion of its doctrines and of its example to produce the insurrection of Naples and Piedmont. De ceived in its expectations, it has invited traitors, condemned by our tribunals, to consummate, under the protection of triumphant rebellion, the plots which they had formed against their country. It is time to put a stop to the anarchy which tears Spain in pieces, which takes from it the power of settling its colonial disputes, which separates it from Europe, which has broken all its relations with the august sovereigns whom the same intentions and the same views unite with his Most Christian Majesty; and which compromises the repose and interests of France. Spaniards! France is not at war with your country. Sprung from the same blood as your kings, I can have no wish but for your independence, your happiness, your glory. I am going to cross the Pyrenees at the head of 100,000 French men; but it is in order to unite myself to the Spaniards, friends of order and of the laws, to assist them in setting free their captive king, in raising again the altar and the throne, in rescuing priests from proscriptions, men of property from spoliation, and the whole people from the domination of an ambi tious few, who, while they proclaim liberty, are preparing only the slavery and ruin of Spain. Spaniards! Every thing will be done for you and with you. The French are not, and wish not to be, any thing but your auxiliaries. Your standard alone shall float over your cities: the provinces traversed by our soldiers shall be administered in the name of Ferdinand by Spanish authorities; the severest discipline shall be observed; every thing necessary for the service of the army shall be paid for with scrupulous punctuality; we do not pretend either to impose laws on you, or to occupy your country; we wish nothing but your deliverance; as soon as we shall have obtained it, we will return to our country, happy to have preserved a generous people from the miseries produced by revolution, and which experience has taught us but too well to appreciate. LOUIS ANTOINE. |