date

[clxii. 227] 1821 Jany. 6 Rid
[clxii. 227]

1821 Jany. 6

Rid Yourselves

'. Preliminary distinctions

But for these distinctions I should at every turn be asserting what to your knowledge could not be true, and what anybody could show not to be true.

'. Preliminary distinctions and explanations - State of interests with reference to this question.

So much for the past: I come now to the present and the future.

People of Spain! Under the same set of rulers union between your Ultramarian kinsmen and you would to you be the most oppressive and intolerable of all burthens: such is my opinion: rid yourselves of it as soon as possible: such is my advice.

Without reserve - without disguise - the grounds of that opinion shall now be laid before you: the judgement will be yours.

Forgive me - but at the very outset I must beg your attention to those essential distinctions in so far as any one of them remains unheeded, perceptions will remain confused, judgement erroneous and delusive. But for these distinctions, no clear result would be found obtainable: falsehood in some proportion or other, would be mixt up, and be seen to be so in every truth I could advance.

1. Distinction the first - distinction between your interests the interests of you the inhabitants of Spain - of the peninsula as you call it considered in the aggregate on the one part and the interests of the inhabitants on those countries that without being included in Spain were deputed in the person[?], exercise dominion over Spain of Ultramaria as you call those countries, taken in the aggregate on the other part of which Ultramaria that part of America called Spanish America forms by far the principal part.

2. Distinction the second - In Spain itself - in the peninsula - distinction in the first place between the universal interest, and the two particular interests of which taken in the aggregate it is confused - the distinction between the interests of the rulers and otherwise influential few on the one hand, and the interests of the subject many on the other. This distinction of course applies to Ultramaria as well as to Spain itself.
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  • Title: [[clxii. 235] 1821 Jany. 6 Rid]
    Description: [clxii. 235]

    1821 Jany. 6

    Rid Yourselves

    '. Preliminary distinctions

    So much for the distinctions themselves: now as to the application I have to make of them: the importance of it you can not but in some degree have already anticipated.

    1. Distinction between the interest of Spain and the interest of Ultramaria. Of the two interests that of Spain alone is on the present occasion the direct and ultimate object of my regard. Yes People of Spain on the present occasion it is for your sake alone that I write. Not that in equal numbers, the people of the one hemisphere either have or ought a higher place than those of the other. But in place /in the first place/ is the interest that the Ultramarians have in the business that there is scarce any risk /danger/ of its being misconceived: in the next place it is not possible for me to bring to view /shew you/ your interest in the matter, without bringing to your view their interest in it at the same time. Why not possible? For this plain reason. The more strongly and manifestly repugnant to their interest the case in question would be, the stronger will be their aversion to it: and the stronger their aversion to it, the greater will be the difficulty you would find in any endeavour of yours to surmount it, and the greater the sufferings to which you would by all such endeavours be subjected /affected/.
  • Title: [[clxii. 232] 1821 Jany. 20]
    Description: [clxii. 232]

    1821 Jany. 20

    Rid Yourselves

    '. Prelimy. distinctions

    Now as to the distinction between the appraisal and the real object in view as to this matter on the part of the framers of the Constitutional Code. Nothing could be more perplexing than the situation in which as to the matter they were placed. In reality they were pursuing at the same time two repugnant /opposite/ and incompatible objects: dominion of Spanish rulers over Ultramaria rulers and subjects together, independence of Ultramaria as against Spanish rulers. Equality of rights and advantages as between Spain and Ultramaria, inequality to the profit of Spain at the expence of Ultramaria.

    Such being the incompatible in reality, it was not possible that it should fail of being such sooner or later, in appearance.

    My friends, whether the case was not /any other than/ as here represented, the next section but one, such of you whose patience shall have carried them so far, will have to judge. /be in consideration/

    A compleat tissue of inconsistences is the whole system of their arrangements relative to Ultramaria. This you shall see: from beginning to end you shall see how wrong they have acted in relation to it. Acted wrong? But in what circumstances? In circumstances in which it was absolutely impossible to act right. To maintain dominion to any considerable extent by military despotism would you will see be in the highest degree: otherwise than by military despotism, absolutely impossible how can any such despotism be established in Ultramaria, but unless in Spain if either not the whole Constitution, or at least every thing good in it is turned into a dead letter In this result ends every view I have been able to take of the disastrous field

    My friends, it is to dissuade you from maintaining the dominion of your rulers over Spain to the same extent as under your former Kings. As soon would I think of dissuading you from crossing over to America dry-shod: it is to dissuade you from the attempt. For should you persevere in it till it terminates in success as surely will you all perish in the attempt, or should you persevere in travelling to Ultramaria on horseback you would all drown yourselves.
  • Title: [[clxii. 228] 1821 Jany. 6 Rid]
    Description: [clxii. 228]

    1821 Jany. 6

    Rid Yourselves

    '. Preliminary distinctions

    5. Distinction the fifth. On the part of Ultramaria and its several component parts distinction between momentary or temporary submission /acquiescence/ on the one hand, and ultimate and settled submission /acquiescence/ on the other.

    8. Distinction between what the framers of your Constitutional Code found it necessary to make as if they had in view as if they took for the object of their endeavour, and what they found it necessary to take in reality for the object of endeavour: in other words distinction between their apparent or professed and their real views.

    6. As the union could not be regarded as maintainable without an armed force for both elements every province of /to all parts of/ Ultramaria sent out from Spain and continually recruited from Spain, by this circumstance not to speak of others were it the only one the union between Spain and Ultramaria would as it all along has been the dominion of the rulers of Spain over Ultramaria. Hence comes

    6 distinction the sixth - Distinction between the expence of maintaining the dominion in case of submission; and the expence of regaining or attempting /endeavouring/ to regain it. This of course has its seperate application to every one of the at present refactory provinces.

    7. Distinction the seventh. In the case of each province distinction between the expence of maintaining the dominion over it on the supposition of voluntary submission, and the expence of maintaining it after resistance surmounted. This distinction too has its application to every one of the provinces. The province which is submissive today may be refactory tomorrow.