date

[clxii. 14] 1820 July 28 Emancipation
[clxii. 14]

1820 July 28

Emancipation Spanish

Summary

No wonder if by a Cortes so composed the voice of the Royal Proclamation to the American subjects should be echoed. "Subjects" (they will be told) they must continue: subjects to the Monarch and to every Monarch of Spain - not forgetting his advisers - subjects who in case of disobedience are to "feel all those terrible effects, to be expected from national indignation, and a justly offended government." Echoed? Good. But will it be obeyed? No: unless in Spanish America the state of human feelings is directly opposite to what it is in Spain. If averse to submission before, will they be reconciled to it by being informed that they have done such and such things: these same things being the very things which they know they have not done? that they have chosen and commissioned as their representatives such and such men whom in that character they never heard of? If not disposed to submission already is there in any such treatment any thing that can tend to dispose them to it? Much more naturally, if before disposed to submission would a man by such means be rendered averse In England - Oh yes, in England all this would be unexceptionable: all this we have and worse. Imposture is the ground on which the Constitution and every thing belonging to it is built: in one branch fictitious choice in the two others fictitious excellence. no imposture, no folly, no wickedness Give it but age, too gross to be worshipped and defended: defended, and to the very death. Our impostures have all of them neither imposture nor age on age on their side. But this of yours? It is but of yesterday. Adverse to such wide spreading interests and feelings, it will find all eyes open to the detection of it all breasts prepared for the resisting of it.

Spaniards, in speaking of this matter think not that by any thing I have been saying of what has been done in this matter of it I have had any such meaning as that of passing condemnation upon it. I see nothing in it in which had it depended upon me I might use myself, for aught I can say, have given my concurrence. With the book of the Constitution lying open as it stands, I see not how that which has been done could have been left undone even independently of the mandate of the existing law, so far as concerns information - receipt of appropriate information no better course would the nature of the case admitt of. But to furnish information to the seat of power is one thing: to possess and exercise a share in that same power is a very different thing.
Similar Items
  • Title: [[clxvii. 134] 1820. July 28.]
    Description: [clxvii. 134]

    1820. July 28.

    Rid yourselves of Ultramaria

    '.6. Representatives no security to Creoles

    averse to submission before, will they be reconciled to it by being informed that they have done such and such things: those same things being the very things which they know they have not done? that they have chosen, and commissioned as their representatives, such and such men, whom in that character they never heard of? If not disposed to submission already, is there, in any such treatment, any thing that can tend to dispose them of it? Much more naturally, if before disposed to submission, would a man, by such means, be rendered averse. In England - oh yes, in England - all this would be unexceptionable: all this we have, and worse. Imposture is the very basis on which the Constitution, and every thing belonging to it, is built: in one branch fictitious election, in the two others factitious excellence. Give it but age, no imposture, no folly, no wickedness so gross to be worshipped and defended: defended, oh yes, to the very death. But note well this difference. Our impostures have age on their side: all of them. But this of yours?- It is but of yesterday. Adverse to such wider spreading interests and feelings, it will find all eyes open to the detection of it, all hearts prepared for the resisting of it.

    Spaniards! In thus speaking of what has been done in this matter, think no that I have had any such meaning as that of passing condemnation upon it. In truth, nothing in it do I see to which, had it depended upon me, I might not myself, for aught I can say, have given my concurrence. With the book of the Constitution laying open as it stands, I see not how that which had been done could have been left undone. Even independently of the mandate of the existing law, so far as it concerns information - receipt of appropriate information - no better course would the nature of the case admitt of. But, to furnish information to the seat of power is one thing: to possess and exercise a share in that same power is a very different thing.

    True it is that the arrangement here in question is but a temporary one: it was not intended for any thing more: that it was not is out of doubt by the articles. For On the occasion of all future Cortes, for Spanish America as for Spain, Members are to be elected by those whose representatives they are stiled: elected, and in the same mode. See articles 28 to 100. But this arrangement, temporary as it is in appearance, think what it is in effect. By this assembly, of which not a single member has been chosen by any one Province in Spanish America - by this assembly it is, that the fate of all these provinces is proposed to be decided. For the persons they elected in what capacity they to be received and all? Not merely as persons communicating wishes and furnishing information in support of those wishes. in a word not as mere Agents or informants, but as Co-Legislators.
  • Title: [[clxii. 245] 1821 Jan 7 Rid]
    Description: [clxii. 245]

    1821 Jan 7

    Rid Yourselves

    ' 2 Creoles Willing

    During this golden age for defence of these vast countries against their inhabitants by the supposition you are not in want of any thing: But I have given you no short term for it, /the term I have given you is not a short one,/ and I can not give you any longer. At the end of this term, the age of probability must commence. Before this term is at an end, beginning at the time when the happy intelligence has been compleated namely six months from the present day whatever it is your preparations for subsequent possession and retention must commence, and within the two years be compleated. Your supposition must then be - that the state of things such as that which at the time when I am now writing 7th January 1821 has place, may unless prevented by adequate preventives have place again, and must therefore at all points be provided against.

    Moreover, /Again,/ though during this golden age the country will not any part of it be to be defended against its inhabitants, yet It will every part of be to be defended against all its neighbours: not one of whom but may become its enemy: for such is the unhappy supposition upon which action has always and every where been grounded: action, of which the prudence has been but too fully demonstrated by experience.

    You have for enemies if not actual at all times but too probable, the nations savage or barbarous by which your Ultramaria in all parts is encompassed. You have the King of the Brasils, who at this time knows not any more than I do whether he is King of Portugal - but whose own weakness has hitherto preserved from restlessness. France, Netherlands, England - no one of these States not even England will I on this occasion mention as being worth taking into account against the Anglo-American Union from whose just hostility you have so long been[?] saved by their long-suffering prudence, you are at length secured by your own justice.
  • Title: [[167- 48] 1822 March 30 Rid]
    Description: [167- 48]

    1822 March 30

    Rid Yourselves

    Ult r

    Part I.

    Letter 5: Submission Impossible

    The Appendix no one need read where satisfaction is compleat without it. need afflict his sensibility or bother his memory.

    As service of profit illusory

    As d o of irritation, oral.

    Letter 5. Much more in proportion as they are averse, as under the Constitution they can not fail to be. Causes of such aversion numerando - Explanation and proof postponed. Ultramarian submission why impossible

    Spaniards

    Of the certainty of the repugnance and of the causes of it already some intimation has been given to you: and that intimation I can not but flatter myself [...?] not altogether without effect. For submission Causes of inducement absolutely none: for no submission causes abundantly adequate. At the expence of your Ultramarian kinsmen From the dominion even if maintained no pecuniary benefit in any shape: burthen in a pecuniary shape boundless.

    That your conception of the repugnance that on their part can not fail to have place on their part towards the dominion may be the more clear and correct and approach the nearer to the being compleat, I will here beg your attention in this place submitt to your view here follows a list of some of the most prominent evils which they can not but see and feel resulting from it. In this Letter the bare list of them is all I mean to trouble you with: the development of these I defer laying before you till I have brought to view the /those/ evils which bear in a more immediate way upon yourselves. Causes of the repugnance that actually has place and never can cease to have place on the part of Ultramarian Spain such as you will see in conclusion /detect hereafter/ by themselves.

    Causes of the repugnance that ought to have place on the part of Peninsula of Spain I will present /lay before/ you in my next Letter and in the immediately succeeding ones.