JB_022_193.xml

Title: [1820 Octr. 13. Spanish liberticide measures]

Description: 1820 Octr. 13. Spanish liberticide measures *5 §. 2 Press violation Reasons

against libel law

(a)? Consider on this occasion the two famous tragedies /massacres/ of these

times: the Manchester massacre, and the Cadiz massacre.

In England, not by law but against law the press possesses and has habitually

possessed an imperfect and ever precarious liberty. In Spain, whatsoever liberty

the press may be in possession of, the habit of making use of it and turning it

to account has not been yet formed.

In the case of the Manchester massacre committed by public functionaries on a

peaceable and unarmed multitude composed of men women and children the

particulars and thence the amount of the mischief has been pretty well brought

to light: killed, | |; wounded or otherwise hurt, | | But for such liberty as

the press has not yet been bereft of, not one of these facts nor thence of the

salutary and urgent arguments grounded on them, would have been brought to

light: for by the authors, approvers and rewarders of the butchery, every thing

was done that could be done for suppressing the particulars of it.

In the case of the Cadiz massacre, no facts brought to light but what it suited

the designs of one man to bring to light: perhaps no individual or specific

facts whatsoever. How this matter stands can not on my part in any instance be

at this time be any thing more than matter of inference. If the procedure has

been secret, as in general it is under Rome-bred and thence under Spanish law,

{I regard it as matter of course that} relevant /appropriate/ facts in

multitudes can not but have been buried in darkness, some by fear of evil, some

by hope of good, some in consideration of good received, either in the shape of

bribes, or in the way of corruption in some less palpable shape. Under the veil

of secresy injustice in all these shapes may and should be regarded as matter of

course: on the part of the Judge, no vehemence of asseveration, no excellence of

character can suffice to render the opposite state of the case probable.

JB_162_208.xml

Title: [1820 July 12 Emancipation Spanish]

Description: 1820 July 12

Emancipation Spanish

' People Sufferers

As will be in Spain as in England. Ten thousand suffering beings /human sufferers/ - men women and children all unarmed meet to consider of the means of relief. Some being by the /a/ existing military force cut to pieces, the rest dispersed the necessity of addition of 10,000 veteran troops, to the 100,000 there were before, is discovered, and the 10,000 thereupon raised. This in a country where every thing is known and seen as it is /immediately/ and the supposition /opinion/ of any demand for additional armed force for suppression of unarmed meetings seems to be incapable of being entertained by any human being who was not out of their senses. Think then how long any such opinion as that of the needlessness of a military force in Spain for the keeping down discontent in Chile, Peru, or the Mauritius could continue in Spain supposing it ever to have been formed there.

JB_172_114.xml

Title: [1820. Aug. 25 Emancipation Spanish]

Description: 1820. Aug. 25

Emancipation Spanish

'. 10. Amendment impossible

2. So in any branch of the administration department. To the injury of indiciduals

in Spanish America, if government in Spanish America, or if government in Spain, a

functionary in Spanish America (suppose) has been guilty of /fallen into/

//committee// a transgression which the local authorities in the province in question

are unwilling or unable to prevent the cessation or repetition of. In four months

information, all true or all false or what is much more likely true and false

together arriving at Madrid: by the end of another month, a decision, grounded on

such evidence as hath come to hand, has been formed, and orders have been dispatched

for his removal: at the end of four other month these orders arrive at the capital of

the province. Good: but in the mean time for the continuation of teh course of his

enormities he has had nine months undisturbed: and with full assurance the existence

of this length of impunity can not but have been known to him: and all this time he has for ordering /arranging/ matters in such sort,

that when the orders arrive, giving /the giving of any/ due and adequate execution to

then to his prejudice shall be found impossible.

In regard to time, you will observe how far from being

exaggerated for the purpose of the argument the supposition is that here have been

made. If for /it be a case in which/ the application of the tthe remedy the authority

/an exercise/ of the Cortes is requisite, the Cortes is all along supposed to be

sitting. But against its being so, the chances are three to one. Out of the 12 months

in the year the Cortes are to sit but three.(Art. Here then in addition to the nine

months [...?] as above may be any further length [...?] of impunity not exceeding

nine other months During the nine other months indeed there is /sits/ a Committee of

the Cortes but to the Committee no power of legislation is given. For the occupation

of those months Spain itself especially at the outset , and for an indefinite time

afterwards will be sure to furnish more business than it will be possible for the

Cortes to dispatch, with or all, within that time. Towards