[clxii. 55]

1820 June 22

Emancipation Spanish

Conclusion

Rulers gainers

They were the class of persons (and the only class of persons) who of and for themselves had been sufferers in this way or continued exposed to the being so. Why? because they were the class of persons, who during the dominion of the Cortes had shared in that power of which in proportion to the share so possessed and exercised by them the Kings advisers whoever they were had been divested. They were the only class of persons who of themselves and for themselves were thus oppressed: if of your class of you the subject many any individuals were /had been/ in any such way /been/ oppressed it was on account of your attachment, of supposed attachment to these your rulers.

They extended to you the benefit of the relief - why? because without you they could not have obtained it nor could they expect the continuance. Speaking of them individually I do not say that if they and could continue the relief to themselves excluding you from it at the same time, and continuing you in a state of subjection to it at their hands and in their favour they would do so: for individually they are not known to me. But what /All I/ say is - that considering what man is and that they are men, I can not regard it as in a preponderant degree probable that their conduct as towards you would supposing them to feel themselves at liberty be as above. In England, speaking according to the common notion Simon de Montfort being at the head of what was called a rebellion against King Henry the third, summoned the people at large to send deputies to the seat of government to take measures for raising a sum of money that was wanted for the support of the rebellious and thus gave birth to the House of Commons. But do you suppose that if he could have got the money without giving himself the trouble, he would have forborne doing so? Not he indeed.