1820. Aug. 26

Emancipation Spanish

'. 10. Amendment impossible

Tru it is that by Art. 157, 158, 159, 160,every Cortes before seperation is to chose

a permanent Committe4e. True it is that by Art 161 there may be such an Assembley as

an Extraordinary Cortes: and that for 162 this Extraordinary Cortes may be brought

into existance by any permanent Committee nominated by an ordinary Cortes.

But if the Englsih translation of the Constitution be correct and my conception of

it correct whatever written by this permanent Committee of the ordinary Cortes, nor

by the extraordinary Cortes to which it have existence can any accleration be given

to the business of the ordinary Cortes. Per Art. 157. in any interval between the

first of the tow sessions of the Cortes and the second, only at some time "previous

to separating of the Cortes can this permanent committee be chosen by it. By

separating I understand the final separation of the Cortes: i.e. it sissolution. Aor

by Art. 160 paragraph 1 st it is only to the succeeding Cortes not

to the Cortes by which it has been nominated that the matters wich it is thereby

authorized to report are to be reported by it: namely infringements on the

Constituion. and moreover by paragraph 3 d the power given to it

is "To perform the duties pointed out in the [...?] and [...?] Articles": by which

articles no reference is made to any other object that the making of the next

succeeding Cortes then about to assemble: what is to be done on the arrival of the

deputies, Art [...?]) and what is to be done on the first preparatory meeting Art 102

The result is - that, for some reason which I can not fathom it has by the framers

of the Constitution been made a point of cardinal importance, that in each year or at

any rate in the first of the two years /twelvemonths/ there should be a space /void/

of at least eight months, during which in the way of legislation, and in the way of

every other operation to which the Cortes alone are competent, nothing shall be done:

the King with his Council of State remaining in full vigour all the while.