[clxii. 14]

1820 July 28

Emancipation Spanish

Summary

No wonder if by a Cortes so composed the voice of the Royal Proclamation to the American subjects should be echoed. "Subjects" (they will be told) they must continue: subjects to the Monarch and to every Monarch of Spain - not forgetting his advisers - subjects who in case of disobedience are to "feel all those terrible effects, to be expected from national indignation, and a justly offended government." Echoed? Good. But will it be obeyed? No: unless in Spanish America the state of human feelings is directly opposite to what it is in Spain. If averse to submission before, will they be reconciled to it by being informed that they have done such and such things: these same things being the very things which they know they have not done? that they have chosen and commissioned as their representatives such and such men whom in that character they never heard of? If not disposed to submission already is there in any such treatment any thing that can tend to dispose them to it? Much more naturally, if before disposed to submission would a man by such means be rendered averse In England - Oh yes, in England all this would be unexceptionable: all this we have and worse. Imposture is the ground on which the Constitution and every thing belonging to it is built: in one branch fictitious choice in the two others fictitious excellence. no imposture, no folly, no wickedness Give it but age, too gross to be worshipped and defended: defended, and to the very death. Our impostures have all of them neither imposture nor age on age on their side. But this of yours? It is but of yesterday. Adverse to such wide spreading interests and feelings, it will find all eyes open to the detection of it all breasts prepared for the resisting of it.

Spaniards, in speaking of this matter think not that by any thing I have been saying of what has been done in this matter of it I have had any such meaning as that of passing condemnation upon it. I see nothing in it in which had it depended upon me I might use myself, for aught I can say, have given my concurrence. With the book of the Constitution lying open as it stands, I see not how that which has been done could have been left undone even independently of the mandate of the existing law, so far as concerns information - receipt of appropriate information no better course would the nature of the case admitt of. But to furnish information to the seat of power is one thing: to possess and exercise a share in that same power is a very different thing.