JB_167_257.xml

Title: [[clxvii. 257] 1821 March 20]

Description: [clxvii. 257]

1821 March 20

Rid Yourselves

Part I

To Ultramarians share in

Spanish Cortes worthless

Lett Representation no security

Five if in a Preface. In regard to matters of fact the nature of my situation can not but have led me into error to an amount more or less considerable. Your evidence will make such allowance as shall be found due.

'. Representation no security. By no share that is or can be given to them in the composition of a body of representatives of the people sitting in Spain, can the Ultramarians be brought to a willing and permanent submission to the dominion.

Spaniards!

By the Constitution, as it stands, an effectual security is given to the Ultramarians against the being taxed for money to be sent to Spain to contribute to the opulence or force of the peninsular, or to bestow it upon Spaniards sent from thence. This, I flatter myself I have rendered sufficiently manifest to you: an effectual security, namely that under the Constitution, unless the latent despotism has to be deduced from it, be considered as a part of it, no pecuniary contribution can be received from them without their own free consent: This /which/ consent, no adequate inducement being before them, they will not continue, any of them, if ever they begin, to give.

But having already in their hands this security, and this so effectual one, against all taxation, no security which by a share in the composition of the Spanish Cortes is, or could be given to them, would be of any value in the eye of an uninterested observer, still less would it be in their eyes.

JB_167_261.xml

Title: [[clxvii. 261] 1821 March 20]

Description: [clxvii. 261]

1821 March 20

Rid Yourselves

' Representation no security

But say the advocates for the dominion, /under the Constitutional Code/ though they the Ultramarians have not a majrity, they have a very considerable chance for it: and, ere long the probability is that they will have it, per Article \ZS\. For, as between Province and Province the number of deputies is to be in proportion to the number of inhabitants: and in Ultramaria this number being probably known already greater than in Spain, the encrease will continue, and by reason /means/ of the improvement given by the new Constitution to the condition of the government, with accelerated force.

To any such observation, Spaniards I have three answers. 1. That if such were the proportion, and the Ultramarian Deputies, in a number sufficient to deprive them of this supposed majority induced by means of the matter of corruption to sacrifice the real interest of their Constituents to yours, it would be so much the worse for you - so much for supposition: but in fact in the actual result, the universal interest of the subject many in both countries. Your interests as well as theirs would alike be sacrificed to the particular interests of those in whose hands is the disposal of the sweets of government - the matter of corruptive influence.

167_062.xml

Title: [[clxvii. 62] 1821 March 21]

Description: [clxvii. 62]

1821 March 21

Rid Yourselves

'.6. Anti Constitutional Evil

1. Foreigners in Cortes

'. By the share given to Ultramarians in the representation real injury is done to the really Spanish people Ultramarian representation hurts Spain.

Spaniards!

You have seen how real and how heavy is the injury done by this claim to the people of Ultramaria: how heavy, and thence and therefore how intolerable to them: how intolerable to them, and thence and therefore how ruinous to you if you suffer your Representatives to persist in so hopeless an enterprise as that of forcing their submission to it how ruinous to yourselves. You have seen that, /A moment's patience, and you shall see,/ against this injury to them, no real security is afforded by the share given to them in the Representation - in the composition of the Cortes, by which in conjunction with the King, the Kings Ministers, and the Council of State, your affairs are managed.

But while to them that share in the composition of your supreme legislative assembly affords no security no advantage in any shape, to you it can not fail to work the most serious injury. Applied to your case it is a violation of the first /fundamental/ principle of the Constitution:- a weakening of the principal security provided/ /afforded/ by it: that of not being taxed or in other respects legislated upon but by Representatives /Agents/ chosen by yourselves.