1820. Aug. 18

Emancipation Spanish

Letter 5. Under Code profit none

'. Deputation [...?] tax

Tobacco

But, no sooner are they seated, than having been chosen in the same manner, the

Members of reserve will, instead of remedy give continuance to this same abuse.

Chosen still in the same manner, so like ever - will all their successors. In the

eyes of an authority thus composed, the abuse will be - not the witholding their approbation from such a tax, but the composition of it.

My friends, would you wish to see a specimen, of the readiness likely to have place

in regard to this necessary approbation? Take them the

article of Tobacco. In the above list of the taxes having

place in Spanish America A o 1786, of the whole amount, namely

reals villon[?] 426,360,000, I observe 100,000,000 little less than a fourth drawn

from this source: which it being at that time already of 34 years standing, I should

expect to find still in force then, and the rate of taxation not lessened. Well then,

now that the new Constitution with its freedoms here is triumphant, let us look to

Spanish America, and see how such is tax, of the produce of it is designed to be

carried out of the country to Spain, will be " approved".

Even in Spain, In the account of the proceedings of the Cortes on the \ZS\ of July

/August/ 1820 I observe violent indignation at the idea of continuing this tax:

continuing it even in Spain, for raising money, to be expended in Spain, for

defraying the charges of maintaining government in Spain. In Spanish America, or any

part of that country should any such indignation chance to be kindled, is it likely

to be much softened by the consideration that the money, or any part of it, instead

of being employed in defraying teh expences of the province from which it is

extracted, is to be employed in paying the salaries of rulers sitting to govern

Spanish America in Spain?