thank you for your efforts to establish a proper economy in the different branches of the Publick Revenue, and at the same time to enable the Government to meet the exigencies of the Country. The advantages which the Administration of the System of Finance must derive from the New Territorial Division, the vigour with which the late Decrees will enable Collectors to enforce the payment of the Contributions, the simplicity and uniformity with which the Publick Accounts will henceforward be kept, in order to satisfy the People respecting the object of the sacrifices demanded of them, all offer me hopes of great improvement in a branch of such consequence to the prosperity of the Nation, and so necessary, in order to give my Government its proper force and energy. The consolidation of the credit of a Country depends upon the combination of so many causes, that is impossible to ascertain before. hand the different degrees of its rise or decay; but there are two most important Decrees of the Cortes, which cannot but inspire both security and confidence, amongst Natives, and amongst Foreigners, preserving uncontaminated that reputation for probity and good faith, which has always been the characteristick of the Nation, and committing to the care of the Publick Creditors themselves the inspection of those Funds which are destined to pay off and extinguish the National Debt. The Cortes have ordered the Permanent Army to be recruited, and have, at my request, authorized the Government to employ, out of their respective Provinces, a certain number of Corps of National Militia. Considering this measure beneficial in every possible point of view, both politically and economically, and desiring to diminish, as much as possible, the burdens of the People, circumstances will determine the use I shall make of the power thus placed in my hands, according as necessity may render indispensable, or prudence advisable. It will be the object of my Government to exercise, with the same moderation and regard to economy, the other powers with which the Cortes have been pleased, for the present, to enlarge the sphere of its action; thus presenting a memorable example, on the one hand, of the confidence which the Deputies of the Nation have reposed in the Government, and, on the other, of the worthy use which the Government has made of this confidence, employing it only in the most prudent and moderate manner. If this be my firm intention with respect to the powers which admit of a certain latitude from the undefined nature of them, it is unnecessary to assure the Cortes, that, in the exercise of its natural powers, my Government will ever be most scrupulously careful not to exceed, in any case, the bounds prescribed by the Laws. But, determined as I am to sustain my authority, and not to allow he Laws to be violated with impunity, under any pretext whatsoever, will, at the same time, exercise to its full extent my Constitutional Power, in order to consolidate the publick tranquillity, and to secure to all Spaniards the peaceful enjoyment of their Rights. The insurrectionary flame which has spread through the Provinces which composed Ancient Catalonia, is a subject of the deepest concern to me; but, notwithstanding that the extreme poverty of some Districts, and the simplicity of the Peasantry, have made them become the instruments and victims of the most perfidious intrigues, the excellent spirit which prevails in all the principal and manufacturing Towns, the intrepid courage of the regular Army, the enthusiasm of the Militia, and the excellent measures adopted in many of the Villages, on seeing their liberties and property menaced with the same dangers, all combine to inspire me with the best hope of seeing the designs of the malevolent frustrated, the deluded People undeceived, and the stability of the Constitutional System increased by this new proof of its strength. Desiring, as we all do, to contribute our share to so important a work, I trust, Gentlemen, that, on returning to your homes, after having fulfilled the sacred objects of your late charge, you will continue to promote the welfare of the Country, by enlightening and guiding publick opinion in the Provinces, by inspiring all with sentiments of peace and concord, and by confirming, by means of your example and personal influence, that confidence which ought to subsist between the Government and the People; the effect of which is to inculcate respect for the Laws, to give vigour to the Constituted Authorities, and, under their protecting shade, to maintain the rights and privileges of the Subject. SPEECH of the King of Spain, on the Opening of the Extraordinary Cortes.-7th October, 1822. (Translation.) GENTLEMEN DEPUTIES, CIRCUMSTANCES of the highest importance have induced me to summon around me the Representatives of the Nation, so worthy, in every respect, of the confidence which it reposes in them; my own is also revived, by seeing them assembled in this sanctuary of the Laws, because the pressing wants of the Country will now be speedily relieved. The Enemies of the Constitution, employing every means which the passions, as barbarous as infatuated, can suggest, have succeeded in plunging into the career of crime a considerable number of Spaniards. The misfortunes which these excesses have produced in Catalonia, Arragon, and other Frontier Provinces, weigh heavily on my heart, and must weigh as heavily on yours. It is your duty to apply the most efficacious remedies to such a lamentable state of things. The Country requires the aid of a fresh supply of Men, in order to curb the insolence of its rebellious Sons; and the brave and loyal Soldiers, now serving in the field of honour, demand a large reinforcement, to insure a happy result to the enterprizes in which they are employed. Nations mutually respect each other, in proportion to their internal resources, and to the energy which they display under certain trying circumstances. Spain, by its position, the extent of its Territory, its productions, and the moral qualities of its Inhabitants, claims a distinguished place in the political scale of Europe. Every thing invites her to assume an imposing attitude, and to secure, by her vigour, the consideration which is due to her from other Nations; every thing teaches us the necessity of forming new relations with those States which know how to estimate our real wealth. I need not recall to your recollection the glory and the services of the Spanish Army-a model of disinterestedness and patriotism. The heroick sacrifices which it made for the Independence of the Country are well known, and all Europe must acknowledge the services which it is now rendering to the cause of Liberty and of the Country. Those Citizen Warriors call for a new Military Code, which should be consistent with the Fundamental Laws of the Land, and with the improvements which have been effected in the art of War. The Ordinary Cortes, in their preceding Session, undertook this interesting task, the continuance of which is one of the objects which I now recommend to your attention. Now that we possess a Criminal Code, and that the promulgation of so necessary a work relieves those who administer justice from the fatigue of seeking it, in the innumerable Volumes in which it has hitherto been concealed, it is absolutely necessary that a Code for regulating all Judicial Proceedings, drawn up in the same spirit, should at once remove all the obstacles which oppose its prompt execution. Such are, Gentlemen, Deputies of the Nation, the weighty matters for which you have been summoned. Others of equal importance and interest will be submitted to your decision in the course of the present Extraordinary Session. Many are of a delicate nature and of difficult solution, but not superior either to your penetration, your knowledge, or your patriotism. The harmony which will prevail amongst all the Friends of Liberty, will shed a new lustre upon all those eminent qualities, which are the best pledge for Spain and for myself of your arriving at a prudent decision. All good Men will rejoice in seeing you again occupied in promoting their happiness, and Traitors will ever find in the National Congress an insurmountable obstacle to their criminal projects. PROCLAMATION of the President, to the People and CITIZENS, OUR Country was but a short time ago divided and torn by intestine factions. The traces of desolation are to be seen every where; we still behold the victims of those frightful times when crime was heaped upon crime, and when unbridled passions, overturning what might have constituted the force of the Country, prepared an easy access for Foreign Enemies, who unceasingly meditated the destruction of our National Independence. You cannot have forgotten the calamities which have afflicted you for more than 20 Years; you are not ignorant of the want of union being the sole cause of all your misfortunes. You are witnesses, that the Government, since the foundation of the Republick, has not deviated from the route marked out for the amelioration of your condition. By perseverance and good faith, by watchings and sacrifices, it has dissipated the clouds which were gathered over your heads; it has united and attached the scattered parts of the State to a common centre, and has formed out of all the Haytians only one family, rendering triumphant throughout our Island the principles of true liberty, the advantages of a wise equality. The prosperous futurity which such a change seemed to promise to the Children of Hayti, frightened its Foreign Enemies, and overwhelmed with chargin those few within it who regarded the Nation as existing only for themselves, and who were ever ready to sacrifice it to their vanity and ambition. Thus both conspired against the publick felicity, because their efforts, altogether directed to a different end, co-operated to impede our progress to prosperity. In fact, whilst I pacified the Eastern part, and that glorious Revolution proved to Europe the force of our Institutions and the shameful and fruitless attempts of France against the Presqu'ile of Samana, General Romain, a man whom, on account of his age, (and with a view to satisfy such as dreamt of our ruin, that no Individual influence could overturn the State), I had rescued from the death he merited, for having organized the conspiracy at Gonaives, in February, 1821, sent secret Emissaries to the North, fomenting troubles and augmenting the number of his partizans: with what intention? It could only be for the purpose of subjecting his Fellow-citizens, and of obtaining the supreme command, by pursuing the path pointed out to him by Christophe. He, therefore, made use of the same means as the latter did against the victorious Petion to excite doubts as to his devotion to his Country. With the exception of a few wretched Intriguers, none have become the dupes of the artifices of Romain, who, more effectually to deceive good Citizens, sent, in the names of Generals Gedeon and La[1821-22.] 3 G motteaigron, a messenger to General Magny, to excite disquietude in his bosom and to shake his devotion. For this purpose the old and ridiculous measure was resorted to, of spreading a report that the Country was sold to the French. General Magny, highly honourable, and indignant at the message which had been addressed to him, arrested James Peter Lamotte, the bearer of it, and informed me of the conspiracy that existed. In answer to General Magny, I repelled the idea that Generals Gedeon and Lamotteaigron were the authors of this infamous message, and ordered the criminal messenger to this Capital. But General Romain heard of this step the moment the news reached Leogane, and attempted to escape from that place, in which he was a prisoner. General Gedeon, who was responsible for his Person, and charged with strictly watching him, then ordered him to the guard house-he positively refused to obey, and compelled them to use an armed force, which he also resisted. It is this resistance which, to my sincere regret and contrary to my intentions, has caused the death of General Romain, who doubtless preferred thus to bury his crime than to appear before Judges whose severe justice would have quickly unveiled his abominable machinations. Such has been the end of a man, who, because he fought, as did many others, for his Country, supposed he could subject it to his will and his caprices. This circumstance, although it has opened the eyes of the Nation, and has called forth additional proofs of their unshaken disposition, has, nevertheless, induced other Intriguers, of a different class to believe, that the moment was favourable for the execution of their Projects, by becoming the compliant echoes of the seditious words of General Romain. Publick opinion has defeated the plans of these perverse Men, and the vigilance of Government will pursue them till they have fallen beneath the sword of the Law. Citizens, the Government, strong in the rectitude of its principles, will always march with a firm step, in order that you may enjoy that quiet which is annoying to your Enemies, and for which you have made such heroic sacrifices. Neither the speeches nor the arts of ambitious Men shall intimidate it; but your repose will be troubled, your families tormented, if you do not exert yourselves to stifle them, by denouncing to the Magistrates, placed as a guard over the publick tranquillity, those Persons who spread alarming reports, and whose seditious proposals have a tendency to shake your confidence. Recollect that these mischievous Characters are to be found in all Countries; that they are restless and envious, never satisfied with what may be done for them, and that they are pleased only by the adoption of such innovations as they themselves propose. Thank Heaven, their number is but small, and that your patriotism is sufficient to restrain them, and to prevent them from again uniting in order to divide you. If, I repeat, you point them out to the proper Authority, they shall no longer be the Agents |