1822 March 30

Rid Yourselves

5. Ult.

Gold and diamonds to ruler in belief that the one has least need of them will be

most hard to [...?] and those who have to [...?] themselves rich and reputed this had

such of useful knowledge yet [...?] sufficient will have least of them. But in

England a persuasion thus convenient finds its causes in inveterate habits and

acknowledged principles, and in your Ultramaria neither in existing nor in future

probable circumstances are any such convenient causes to be found. We in England have

no Constitutional Code at all. You in Spain have a Constitutional Code such as it is:

and in the 8th and 339 Article of it as mentioned /observed/ in my last letter stands

a /the/ declaration of equal rights. Take from us they will say to his Excellency and

his Intendantship take from us as many millions worth of reals as you please and send

it to your Peninsula: but at the same time give us articles to the same value from

thence: otherwise not a maravedi shall you have from us.

In my former letter I spoke of Article 8 in which equal rights are spoken of only in

general terms only. But now looking at Article 339 I find a particular application

made to the subject of contributions: and there I see that contributions

(contributions of all kinds) are to be distributed among all Spaniards in proportion

to their means without any exception or privilege. Upon this and all such provisions,

Your Rulers will put one construction, your Ultramarian kinsmen, another; but in the

meantime, there where it is the money stays: and neither you nor your rulers are the

better for it.

Yes: if in every Ultramarian Province there were an Emperor or King it were better a

King with a Crown a sceptre and a throne and a palace for example without bounds for

the preservation of the splendour the lustre and the dignity of all their several

implications, but upon a single King /functionary/ resident in Spain the power of

supplying the matter of corruption and delusion all the power that could be collected

from both Spains has been expended. In peninsula Spain as in England the living idol

is visible audible and tangible: in no part of Ultramaria is there any thing of it

but a name.
Similar Items
  • Title: [1822 March 24 Rid Yourselves]
    Description: 1822 March 24

    Rid Yourselves

    Letter 3 Ultramaria Submissive

    They are to contribute a mark a day. In what is your benefit?

    Submission has place in Ultramaria has place [...?] in every Province

    and in every part of every Province. Such is the supposition, to the admission of

    which I stand bound.

    But, submission - for what length of time? to no length of time do I

    stand bound. I say [...?] for the first moment, but no longer. For, granting that

    they had never /the matter had never been/ looked at before, the second moment I have

    a right to suppose them looking into the Constitutional Code: that Code which

    according to the framers of it, as stated in the very first Article belongs as much

    to them the Ultramarians as to you the Peninsula Spaniards. Looking forwards in the

    Code, they have not to look any further than Article 8, before they find these words

    /stands obliged every/ Spaniard without any distinction whatsoever, obliged without

    any distinction to contribute in proportion to his possession, to the expences of the

    State. Well then under this Article, in each Ultramarian Province, each Spaniard -

    each inhabitant suppose - contributes to the expences of that portion of the State,

    in exact proportion to his possessions. To this, under the Article in question, no

    reasonable objection can be made. But when a contribution to this amount has been

    made by him, no further contribution consistently with this Article can your rulers

    call upon him for. For, in an Ultramarian Province suppose the Article in so far

    fulfilled that towards the incumbrances of Government in that Province - or if you

    please say towards the incumbrances of government in all Ultramarian Provinces taken

    together every man has been contributed in proportion to his means: in addition to

    this will he be called upon to send any money or moneys worth to Spain for your use?

    If so, then is this Article violated. Unless an equal sum is sent to Ultramaria from

    the Peninsula: and in this case there is no gain from the receipt: on the contrary,

    there is loss by the expence and trouble of importation and exportation: so much real

    loss.

    In vain would any one say - in addition to the expence of government in Ultramaria,

    a sum will under this Article be requisite, as the quota of the Ultramarian Province

    for the common defence of the two Spains. To prove that under this Article any such

    contribution is required, one thing necessary would be necessary to be proved and

    proved to their satisfaction is - that the common defence of both be more effectually

    and advantageously provided for by their sending money from Ultramarian Spain to

    Peninsula Spain than it would be either by sending money from Peninsula Spain to

    Ultramarian Spain or by leaving to be employed in Ultramarian Spain the money

    necessary to the defence of Ultramarian Spain and in Peninsula Spain the money

    necessary to the defence of Peninsula Spain of this argument. But if the money is to

    stay in Ultramarian Spain till this proof has been made, the arrival of any such

    money among you in Peninsula Spain does not promise to be a very speedy one
  • Title: [1820. Dec r. 23 d. Rid Yourselves]
    Description: 1820. Dec r. 23 d.

    Rid Yourselves

    Part I.

    Lett. 3 Ultramaria Submissive

    But if, at the expence of Ultramaria money or money's worth in amount

    of the burthen in the Peninsula - and this paid voluntarily and with full

    satisfaction on the part of those by whom it is paid, let us see from what sources in

    particular it must come.

    1. Supposable source the first. Taxation at large.

    Upon the first mention, it can scarcely fail to be acknowledged, that,

    in the shape, for any such a purpose as that in question, any such contribution as a

    voluntary one - voluntary one - voluntary in any such degree as that in which it is

    and will be voluntary in Spain - could not, in any part of Ultramaria, be reasonably

    be expected to have continuance. In the Constitutional Code, not only in the Article

    just mentioned, but from beginning to end, the principle professed is that of equal rights, equal to all citizens of the state, as well on

    the one side of the sea as on the other. But, in the way of taxation, not a maravedi

    could any where be levied in Ultramaria or Spain for the use of Peninsula Spain - for

    the relief of the inhabitants of Peninsula Spain - without a proportionable violation

    of that principle. A circumstance that can never be out of view in any part of

    Ultramarian Spain is - that it was by the determination not to submitt to any such

    imposition, that the yoke of England was cast off by the Anglo-American United

    States.

    2. Supposable resource the second: Mine-rents or Mine

    taxes: Payment of money to Spain, by te occupiers of mines in Spanish America,

    submitting to this whether under the name of taxes or under

    the name of rents would be considered as submission to

    taxation: if levied at all, the contributions, thus levied upon the fruits of the

    land and labour of the people in Spanish America, ought to be applied (they would

    think) in easement of the taxes borne by the people of the province or state in which

    the mines are situated, and not to the enrichment of strangers, at so vast a

    distance. (a)
  • 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.