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1821 April 1 Rid Yourselves
1821 April 1

Rid Yourselves

Ultramarian deputat n none

The description of an Elector of the lowest rank is not yet compleated. In Article mention is made of one mode of becoming an Elector namely the having obtained from the Cortes letters of Citizenship. But the Cortes have they the power of conferring this right on who they please? Not they indeed. Certain qualifications must he /a foreigner/ have to enable him to acquire even at the hands of the sovereign body of the State this honourable right. By Article 20 one or other it is necesary he should be in possession of /possess/ the following qualifications.

1. The having carried on or established in one or other of the Spains some invention or valuable branch of industry.

2. The having acquired landed property (bienes raices) of the sort of those which pay a direct contribution

3. The having established himself a trade with a /one/ capital of his own such as in the judgment of the Cortes shall at the time have been a considerable one.

4. The having rendered signal services for the good and in the defence of the nation.

Not that to any one /man/ who was in possession of any one, or any greater number of all these qualifications would I ensure the great possession of this honourable right, unless he had added to it that of being married or at any rate having been married to a Spanish female. To the first of them this supplemental one must unquestionably have been added: whether to the others respectively let an answer be given by any one who in his own opinion is warranted in giving it /one/.
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  • Title: [[clxvii. 177] 1821 April 1.]
    Description: [clxvii. 177]

    1821 April 1.

    Rid

    '. Ultramarian Deputat n none

    This sure honourable right, supposing him to have obtained it of the Cortes, as testified by letters of citizenship duly agreed accordingly will any body guarantee to him the possession of it? Not I, at any rate for one. Yes, if besides the supplemental qualification - the matrimonial - he be in possession of the third. For in that case decision or the question of fact is expressly committed to the Cortes whose decree thereupon is made conclusive which it is not in any of those other cases.

    So much for positive qualifications of the positive expert. But, to those must be added a negative one: a negative and that a very complex one: namely the not having at the time in question incurred any one /item/ in a list, and that a short, or in any of its points a very clear one of disqualifications: for which list is given in and by two contiguous Articles, Articles 24 th and 25.

    Of the shown quantity of the four months working time of the Cortes the demand for which would be created by the claim of dominion in proportion to its success mention has been /is a topic brought/ in the section /chapter/ allotted to that subject. Suppose the value of the right such as to pay for the expence of suing for it, at the hazard of not obtaining it, think what a demand would by this comparatively small and trifling branch of business alone be created for a correspondent portion of that invaluable and unaugmentable length /portion/ of time! Petitions of this class would suffice for filling up this space of time were no other business to present itself.
  • Title: [1821 April Rid Yourselves]
    Description: 1821 April

    Rid Yourselves

    '.11 Ultramarian deputat n none.

    1. In the first place then, according to all appearances, according to /under/ the Code, no assemblage of Deputations - no system of national representatives can they have in Ultramaria can they have from Ultramarians.

    To some /many/ of you at least this position may appear somewhat supprizing /be matter of surprize/. It is deduced from Articles \ZS\ are those from which it is deduced.

    1. In the first place, look at Article 28. By it, "The basis of the national representation is the same in both hemispheres", viz. Spanish and Spanish Ultramarians.

    Look at Article 31. By it, "For every 70,000 souls, of the population, composed as stated in Article 29 there shall be one deputy to the Cortes.  Note here the implied /[...?]/ disqualifications included for which refer to '.\ZS\

    and the grounds of Appeal in Election causes, for which see '.4 Appeals.

    Look then at Article 29. By it "The basis" (the basis spoken of, as above in the last preceding Article Art. 28) is the population composed of those natives (naturales) who by both laws are indigenous (originarios) of the Spanish dominions, and of those who have obtained of the Cortes an instrument conferring /Letters of/ Citizenship (Cartas de cuidan) as those also comprized in Article 21.

    Look now at /then at this 21 st/ Article 21. By it, "In like manner are Citizens the legitimate sons of those foreigners domiciliated en las Españas in the Spains meaning it is supposed the two Spains Peninsula and Ultramarian, who having been born in the Spanish Dominions, have at no time departed thence without licence from the Government ( del Gobierno) and being of the compleat age of twenty one years, have been settled in a district (Pueblo) of those same dominions, exercising /carrying/ on therein some profession, office, or branch of useful industry.
  • Title: [1821 April 1 Rid Yourselves]
    Description: 1821 April 1

    Rid Yourselves

    Ultramarian Deputn none

    Think too of the expence at which a ticket in this lottery would have to be purchased. To any one of the four thousand Frenchmen (the number I have seen mentioned at present as settled in Madrid the price might not perhaps be excessive. But the less the expence the greater would be the demand for /upon/ the available time, that demand which consistently with the unaccountability establishing Article (Art. \ZS\) it would be impossible to stop, while a moment of time remained during which it might be presented.

    As to the expence in Ultramaria on the head of a foreigner settled at the time in Chile Peru or New mexico, suppose the ambition of acquiring the distinction to spring up.- Think of the expence that would /might/ be necessitated by the proof of presenting evidence - appropriate and adequate evidence of the matters of fact of which [...?] alledged qualification were composed.

    The Petition, from whatsoever quarter of the world presented the facts alledged in such Petition, in what manner /which of two ways/ would the Cortes pronounnce its decision? with evidence in support of the several alledged matters of fact, or without any such evidence? If without evidence, the effect intended from all the complex system of qualifications positive and negative would fall to the ground: of all its effects the most important would be the system of falshood and habit of falshood /insincerity/ to which it would give birth, the allegation would be - as the pleasure is - never matter of force: that is /in other words/ the privilege /distinction/ would be given /granted/ to every one who would utter a string of lies for the practice of it.

    But if not without adequate evidence - especially if like the claim to Senateship the claim in Spain to Citizenship were exposed to litiscontestation, think once more my friends of the demand presented from the same action to your rulers for their official time.