[clxvii. 170]

1820. Aug. 31

Emancipation Spanish

'.2. Creoles unwilling

The new lights [...?] the despotism

Every Spaniard (says Art 373) has a right of memorial to the Cortes, or the King, to claim the benefits of the observance of the Constitution." I have no such rights. /Spaniards, I confess no such right is mine/ I have not the honour to be a Spaniard. I have the dishonour to be an Englishman: subject of that kingdom for I might be punished if I said Citizen - subject of that kingdom in whihc, knowing that there is no such a thing as a Constitution /has existence/ any worse than a the kingdom of Laputa, every man on every occasion appeals to the Constitution meaning always by the Constitution this sort of thing which too has been imaginary at the moment for the purpose of the enjoyment of the moment, a Constitution which for its sole bases has a system of importance, and of which, except by decrying its existnce no man without a tie in his mouth can nor say any thing, a system under which Herod reigns points are openly rewarded for endorsing unoffending and defenceless men women and children to be slaughtered

I have not the honour to be a Spaniard by the Constitution. But this my honest tribute of respect and affection to the Spanish nation not only every such Spaniard but every American, who for the [...?] of impracticable purpose of drawing money from him without an equivalent is thus included under the name of Spaniard has a right to made such a memorial, and his memorial to the Cortes or the King and by it "he claims the benefit of the observance of the constitution: of whatsoever /every/ part of the constitution which is not founded in injustice.
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  • Title: [[clxvii. 123] Removed 6 Aug. 1821]
    Description: [clxvii. 123]

    Removed 6 Aug. 1821

    Part 11 Lett. 1

    1820. Aug 18.

    Rid yourselves of Ultramaria

    Letter 11. Ultramarian aversion.

    New lights exclude blend submission.

    Thus much as to every sort of arrangement, by which, in any determinate shape, supposing it submitted to, any promise of advantage to Spain, could, as above, be afforded. But, to all such promise of affording arrangements, would be added - unavoidably added - a multitude of others, by no one of which, even for a moment, any such promise could be afforded: arrangements, covering in their totality, immense and continually encreasing expanse in the field of legislation.

    For conveying a sufficiently correct and extensive conception of these causes of unmixt evil, a single sample will suffice, and, in the case of Appeals, this sample will presently meet your eye.

    All this (it may be said) was submitted to before the change: why then (it may be asked) should it not continue to be submitted to after the change: all this was submitted to at the hands of as bad a government as ever existed: why then should it not be submited to at the hands of a so much better one? all this was submitted to under a government in which the people in question had no share: why then should it not be submitted to under a government in which they have so large a share?

    The argument is not unplausible, and the endeavour has been to give to it the most advantageous shape of which it is susceptible. The argument is not unplausible: still, its own refutation, I can not help thinking, can scarce fail of having been suggested by it. The union being so highly detrimental to the interest of the people in the two countries, the more popular and in every respect better the new government, the more certain it is that an arangement so detrimental to them in both countries will not continue: and as it is on the people of the now dependant country that the evil will press with the greatest force, it is with them that the resistance will be seen to commence; a resistance for which such unexampled facility is (it will be seen) afforded by the very excellence of the new government. in addition to that which is afforded by its distance from the seat of supreme command. /authority/

    While it kept all hands in shackles, the former government kept a gag in every mouth, a bandage over all eyes. By the present Constitution, these same instruments of tyranny shackles, gag, and bandage - are all cast forth: not less compleatly in the one hemisphere than in the other. By the terms of Article 371, "All Spaniards have liberty to write, print, and publish their political ideas, without any necessity for a license, examination or approbation, previous to publication, subject to the rstriction and responsibility established by law". By the terms of Article 373, "Every Spaniard has a right of Memorial to the Cortes, or the King, to claim the benefits of the observance of the Constitution." Under the former Government all Spanish America was kept hermetically sealed against all foreignors: thence, "against all such instruction as might be derived from them. Under the existing Constitution on payment of certain duties, the ports are, or are about to be, open to all foreignors."

    +See Sittings of the Cortes Aug. 1820.
  • 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.
  • Title: [[clxvii. 111] 1821 March 30]
    Description: [clxvii. 111]

    1821 March 30

    Rid Yourselves

    Anti Constitutional evil

    4 Consumption of Cortes time

    Now in all the instances of this or that Code presented by an Ultramarian District (Pueblo) suppose the Provincial Deputation dissatisfied with it, and accordingly instead of forwarding it keeping it back. Whatsoever were the considerations by which the framing of it /that produced/ /caused it to be framed and submitted/ and submitting it to the Provincial deputation was produced, by these same considerations it will not infrequently happen that on the part of the Ayuntamiento a determination shall be produced to appeal to the Cortes against this negative against the one thus /so/ made by the superior local authority of the [...?] entrusted with /to/ them. The Ayuntamiento have their advocates at Madrid in and out of the Cortes: the Provincial Deputation theirs. Here then comes another demand upon the Sovereign Assembly for a share of the scanty portion of time and existence that it has been thought fit to be allowed to /entrusted with/ it.

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