[clxvii. 142]

1821 March 11

Rid Yourselves

Constitution paralyses

The taxesshall be equally divided among all Spaniards, says Article 339 in proportion to their means, without exception or privilege whatever." The mass of taxes imposed upon us is out of proportion to our means: it is too heavy cries Province A. So says Province B: and so throughout the alphabet. Here then is Appeal Appeal to an extent to which there is no limit other than that to the number of obedient provinces.

By Art. 373. Every Spaniard has a right of memorial /making representation/ to the Cortes or the King to claim the benefits of the observance of the Constitution.

Well then what is it you your rulers will have? What they will not have is money; what they will have is Memorials, /representation/ Well and while the Memorial /a representation/ declaring that the Constitution has been violated by the tax in question is now as then on its way, are /is/ the taxes to be levied notwithstanding? If so what is this vital business is the use and benefit of sending those Memorials? Now upon receipt of one of those Memorials, should the quota allotted /assessed upon/ Memorializing Ultramarian provinces be decreed at Madrid comparatively speaking too great, will the overflow /excessive/ supposing it received be refunded?

Upon what theory - upon what hypothesis can the expectation of money to be drawn from Ultramaria into Spain have been grounded?

That Ultramaria and Spain are contiguous, that Ultramaria is upon wheels, and may be driven and packed off at pleasure or that between them is stretched a rope along which letters may be passed in no time one or other of these conceptions might have been prevalent /had place/ in the minds of those by whom persuasion of retaining the dominion over under such a Code as that in question was entertained.