[clxvii. 257]

1821 March 20

Rid Yourselves

Part I

To Ultramarians share in

Spanish Cortes worthless

Lett Representation no security

Five if in a Preface. In regard to matters of fact the nature of my situation can not but have led me into error to an amount more or less considerable. Your evidence will make such allowance as shall be found due.

'. Representation no security. By no share that is or can be given to them in the composition of a body of representatives of the people sitting in Spain, can the Ultramarians be brought to a willing and permanent submission to the dominion.

Spaniards!

By the Constitution, as it stands, an effectual security is given to the Ultramarians against the being taxed for money to be sent to Spain to contribute to the opulence or force of the peninsular, or to bestow it upon Spaniards sent from thence. This, I flatter myself I have rendered sufficiently manifest to you: an effectual security, namely that under the Constitution, unless the latent despotism has to be deduced from it, be considered as a part of it, no pecuniary contribution can be received from them without their own free consent: This /which/ consent, no adequate inducement being before them, they will not continue, any of them, if ever they begin, to give.

But having already in their hands this security, and this so effectual one, against all taxation, no security which by a share in the composition of the Spanish Cortes is, or could be given to them, would be of any value in the eye of an uninterested observer, still less would it be in their eyes.