date

[clxvii. 130] 1821 March 31
[clxvii. 130]

1821 March 31

Rid Yourselves

'.11. To Ultramaria, share in Spanish Cortes worthless

But in answer to their offer a very obvious observation presents itself: an observation which it does not appear to me that to any Ultramarian it should fail of presenting of itself.

So far as your Constitution is a good one, we applaud you for the making of it, and we felicitate you on the possession of it. But to enable us to possess it likewise, in any part or in the whole, it is not by any means necessary that, at our immense distance, we should submitt to be ruled by those who rule over you: be you ever so well satisfied with them, and with ever such good reason, no reason is there in that or any thing else why we should be satisfied to have them for our rulers.

This same Constitution of yours - the Portuguese, in so far as in their eyes it is a good one, have adopted for theirs. Never have you proposed to them, or perhaps thought of proposing to them, any such thing: much less of employing force for compelling them so to do. At the same time, look over in this view the list of those evils which the dominion would entail upon Ultramaria: of these evils, many may you see which the dominion of your rulers would not entail upon the Portugueze.
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  • Title: [[clxvii. 129] 1821 March 31]
    Description: [clxvii. 129]

    1821 March 31

    Rid Yourselves

    '.11 To Ultramaria share in Spanish Cortes worthless

    '.11 By no share

    Spaniards!

    Of the evils which the dominion could entreat upon Ultramaria upon every part of Ultramaria that was subject to it some conception /view/ has been presented to you: a view to a vast degree imperfect and inadequate, yet still I can not but flatter myself such a will in your eyes be sufficient for the purpose sufficient of itself to warrant the practical criticism which the title of those pages expresses.

    In imposition of these evils, for the purpose of [...?] the Ultramarians to pay willing submission /obedience/ to the dominion, what is it that they have to offer?

    Whatever it be, if it be it in the colours of good that it presents itself, those coulours: judge whether they can be other than delusive.

    The Constitution! the Constitution! this is the good this is the blessing! the matchless blessing which they will offer to Ultramarians, are more a compensation for evil not only the shape in which it has been already presented to your view, but an evil in all other shapes that can be imagined.
  • Title: [[clxvii. 131] 1821 March 31]
    Description: [clxvii. 131]

    1821 March 31

    Rid Yourselves.

    '.11. To Ultramarians, share in Spanish Cortes worthless

    But howsoever good in some of its parts, your Constitution is not good in all its parts. Many of its features which, to me, have seemed features of imperfection - many of its arrangements which, to me, have seemed more likely to substract from, than add to, the greatest happiness of the greatest number of those subject to it - already, on the present occasion, it has been necessary for me to lay before you: all these subjections to the dominion of your rulers would entail upon the Ultramarians.

    But, what is worst of all, neither to these evils, nor to any others with which, how great and numerous soever, the Constitution may be found pregnant, does it admitt of any remedy. This is what with a degree of regret which I am unable either to repress or adequately to express, to find adequate expression for, I shall presently have occasion to place beyond the reach of doubt.
  • Title: [[clxvii. 142] 1821 March 11]
    Description: [clxvii. 142]

    1821 March 11

    Rid Yourselves

    Constitution paralyses

    The taxesshall be equally divided among all Spaniards, says Article 339 in proportion to their means, without exception or privilege whatever." The mass of taxes imposed upon us is out of proportion to our means: it is too heavy cries Province A. So says Province B: and so throughout the alphabet. Here then is Appeal Appeal to an extent to which there is no limit other than that to the number of obedient provinces.

    By Art. 373. Every Spaniard has a right of memorial /making representation/ to the Cortes or the King to claim the benefits of the observance of the Constitution.

    Well then what is it you your rulers will have? What they will not have is money; what they will have is Memorials, /representation/ Well and while the Memorial /a representation/ declaring that the Constitution has been violated by the tax in question is now as then on its way, are /is/ the taxes to be levied notwithstanding? If so what is this vital business is the use and benefit of sending those Memorials? Now upon receipt of one of those Memorials, should the quota allotted /assessed upon/ Memorializing Ultramarian provinces be decreed at Madrid comparatively speaking too great, will the overflow /excessive/ supposing it received be refunded?

    Upon what theory - upon what hypothesis can the expectation of money to be drawn from Ultramaria into Spain have been grounded?

    That Ultramaria and Spain are contiguous, that Ultramaria is upon wheels, and may be driven and packed off at pleasure or that between them is stretched a rope along which letters may be passed in no time one or other of these conceptions might have been prevalent /had place/ in the minds of those by whom persuasion of retaining the dominion over under such a Code as that in question was entertained.