Star. — London, England, 1823-01-21 00:00:00

SPAIN. SITTING OF THE TORTES. A very interesting Sitting of the Cortes took place on the 11th. The following is a sketch of what passed: The PRESIPSST obSC;"Ved, that the Cortes had now to take into consideration the draught of the Message which was to he delivered to his Maiesty. Senor GALIANO stepped.into thefribUne, and read the draught of the. Mf.s%sage, which was to this effect; The Cortes Manifest to his Majesty * that they have heard with the greatest astonikhrmot the at , ertlms contained in the Kotes of the Cobiti,ts of Paris,Vienna. Berlin, and Petersburgh, because these diplomatic communications, besides being incon sistent with the esrsblished practice of civilized nations, are in sulting to the Spatii-li Nation, its Cortes, and its Government; and that they have at the same time heard with the greatest satisfaction the judicious and decorous answer made by tha Spa rish Government, which exposes thief:dm:hood ()rote imputations cast on the nation, said express^s its determination to maintain its right;. After some further observations on these points, the Message concludes by deciarin:;" to his Majegy, that the Cortes are prepared to wonintain at every risk the dignity and splendour Gr the Cons:ito.tsnal Throw", and of the King of the Spains, and the independence, the liberties, and the honour of the Spanish Nation, and to decree whatever sacrifice may be necessary - for the preservation of iiiterests so invaluable." The draught of the Message w•as, signed by Senores Canga, Alava, Arguelles, Saavedia, 'lnez de laVega, Adan, Salva, and Galiano.—The quection being put, Senor SAAVEDRA rose.—Though all the Deputies ar:proml of the draught of the Message which had I been read, and therefore nothing need be said in its suppott, yet the sub;ect was of such high importance, that it seemed to be incumbent on the Deputies to state their particular vievcs, and the motives of their glorious vote in the Sitting of the day before yester day, when they exhibited to thu whole world one of those great and magnificent examples, which prove that liberty has taken deep root in our sta. I was one of the first who then wished to obtain the honour of speaking alter the Notes of the Foregn Cabinets had beets lead : but the general emotion which prevailed in the Congress prevented every kind of discussion, for it was impossible that the warmth of the mo ment, and the patriotic feelings which animated every bosom, could admit of that calm which is ne cessary fur a clear explanation of one's ideas. But now that there is incidentally an opportunity for. the same discussion, I should wish to make known to all Europe the causes which produced the de r cision of the Cortes, and, at the same time, to reply to tLe calumnies which the Notes contain, The worthy Deputy then observed, that the Message tended to demonstrate to all Europe the intimate union which subsists between the national represen tation and the Throne, and proceeded to comment on the Notes. Those which the Austrian, Prussian, and Russian Governments, had transmitted were to be regarded rather as incendiary Proclamations than diplomatic communications. The Spaniards were complained of for using force by those who perhaps would mount to the Throne amidst the noise of arms, and by the means of crimes which shock human lute. They were very indignhnt, ton, at the reduc tion of the Revenues of the Church. It was singular enough that Schismatics and Protestants should now be so anxious to defend the wealth of the Catholic Clergy—(Great applause). The French Note was conceived in terms still more absurd. It was certainly strange that accusations should come from a Go vernment which owed its existence to the efforts of the people of Spain, and perhaps to the influence of the very Constitution it ventures to condemn.— He could not help on this occasion recollecting what had been said by a celebrated member of the French Convention on the 7th of March, I793,when making a complaint against the Siianish Government. He ea id— ,, The complaints against that Government are obvious and just. To prove them it is not necessary to refer to the vexations which French citizens suffer in Spain ; it is sufficient merely to mention the multi plied offences against the national sovereignty, the obstinacy with which the King of Spain maintains a cordon of troops on the frontiers ; the protection and succours which are given to our fanatical rcbels,which are all so many violations of .the friendship and good harmony which ought .to subsist between the two nations." It would seem that these words had been put together for the present occasion, to he used on the part of Spain against France. Senor CANGA next addressed the Cortes, and com mented at great length on the Notes. He pointed out the ignorance of those who had drawn up the Notes with respect to the ancient Constitution of. Spain. There was not merely one Constitution in Spain, but as many as there were separate Governments in the Peninsula. The Castilians then possessed the right of insurrection ; and k might be seen, by the laws of the Partidas, that when the King prevented meet ings, opposed the progress of knowledge, or imposed burdens on the People, he might be deposedolthough a legitimate Sovereign. Is it forgotten that the bases of all our ancientConstiptions are liberty and equality? The Committee appointed to inquire into the affair of the 7th of July, had proofs of a Russian Agent Wiring lighted up the torch of discord on one point of the Peninsula. There would be no disturbance in Spain, if the factious were not instigated by foreign Powers. Senor FERRER, among other things, observed, that the Spaniards were not so changeable with respect to Constitutions as the French, who, far from being content with one, had adopted ren or twelve since the commencement of their Revolution. Senor ARGVELUS rose amidst great applause.— lie mude a long and eloquent speech, in which he exposed the fallacies of the foreign Notes. He was convinced that the object in view in transmitting them was to sow division and discord in the country. Ile was surprised that in a country like France, in which so much knowledge existed, that such a Note could have been agreed to. The striking inconsis tency was, that the !emote Powers, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, were those who made real comnu Thcse.Powers called themselves the allies of France; and yet it appealed that France acted only a secondary part. But France was now trying to ob tain such an influence in Spain as she had constantly endeavoured to possess since the extinction of the Austrian dynasty. The motives and the opportuni ties had been different, but the object always the same. •Eyer since the nephew of Louis XIV. ascended the throne of Spain, the Fi ench Cabinet has had its agents and creatures. in the Government of this country.— With all the regard now profe:sed for the King, did tier any Cpngress assemble for th e purpose of e straining that Monarch s when, unfortunately ill-ad- THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1828. TIIE FUNDS. STOCK EXCHANGE, HALF-PAST TWELVE. Consols opened this morning at 714 I, and, up to this hour, they remain at the above price, with a heavy market—almost 4111 of them are sellers for time. . TORZIOIf FONDS. In the early part of this morning some business was (lone in Spanish Roads, but soon after the Market became fiat. Spa6lsh opened at 47143 47 47/, Colombian 5459/. Current Prices :—Chilian 751, New Spanish 471, Old S4l, New Prussian 82, Old 85, Russian 82, Danish 871, Neapolitan 741 1, Periiiian 76, Colombian 581 59, Scrip 181. PRICES OF STOCKS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Bank Stock 245 5 / 4 3 per Cent. Reduced 79 1 ( 4 5 4 78 7 4 3 per Cent. Consols 78 5 / 8 % 3 1 / 2 per Cent. 91 3 / 4 s/ a ih —4 per 'Cu. Old; 98 97 3 A 4 per Cents. New 99 9834. Imperial 3 per Cents. 78 1 / B —lndia Bonds 456. Exchequer Bills of 4:1 1 000, 163. 13s. Consols fur Acct. 78 5 / 8 % Vis The Spanish State Papers, which will be found in another colusmi, are not only of great interest so far as relates to Spain, burare iftsportant so far as con cerns the liberties of Europe. In threatening the in dependence of Spain, the Holy Allies are only acting on that system of enmity which they bear to all Constitutional Governments, and which they would, if they dared, pursue against this country, or the United States of America, as readily as. they have done against Naples and Piedmont. Spain has nobly • placed -herself in the gap as a barrier against the encroachments of despotism, and she deserves the support of every friend to liberty in Europe. • It will be seen that Spain has done what we sug gested she would 4o—not made any formal reply to the insolent Notes of Austria ) Masi% and Piussia; tug hitt issiseCit deelaratiarr of het' prin4iples, 'attic!' , 'lliebbs'rtitsT;tiitty Serve as an answer to' Weiss 'Befbie we :Miter at all `vtillie.sttirleek a this Note, it is neeesrary td notice a.petiversiotri of it in some of the French Ultra Jotumili, which it has s .beea' grossly, '-and, we doubt note wilfully, .mistranslated —These Journals make the Spanish Government say that the Notes Of Austria, Russia, and Prus sia, are " a tissue c.f lies and cal'u'mnies" (we tissa de mensoqgcs ct de culomnies), which, by the bye, would only have been the truth; but it is not the language of the Spanish Government. The passage ought to be literally— : ".This document, full of distorted facts (hechos desflgarados); defamatory suppositions (strposi ciones denigrativas), accusations equally unjust and calumnious (acrithinaciones an in justas como calum niosas), and vague requests (ptticiones vagas), does not call for any categorical anti formal reply on any one of its points." The Constitationnel is the only French Paper we have seen that has translated it correctly. But to the document itself. If the Holy Allies have one particle of the honour they profess, the very first clause in the Spanish Note must set them at rest. " The Spanish nation is goveined by a Constitution so lemnly recognised by the Emperor of all theltuisrAs, in the year 1812." This was in the 3d Article of the Treaty of Welikilouki, concluded with Russia in 1814. Be sides, the Emperor ALEXANDER formed a regiment of such of the Spanish prisoners who had served in the French army, as fell into his hands; CHARLES O'DONNELL was appointed to command them. The EMPEROR further gave them the name of the.lm perial ALEXANDER. After this regiment had taken the oath to the Con stitution and the Cortes, and received their colours from the hands of tl•'e EMPEROR'S mother, he sent them to Spain, %%here, retaining the title the EMPEROR gave them,.tbey have since served the Constitutional • Government. But it is not merely Russia that has acknowledged the Spanish Constitution. Ia the treaty with Prussia, concluded on the 20th January, 1814, at Basle, the KING formally recognized the Cortes, and the Con stitution they had established. Austria went further : this Power acknowledged all the changes made, or that it might be deemed necessary to make, in the Spanish Constitution. But why do we talk of these Powers now turning against the Constitution they had acknowledged, as if consistency was a State virtue. Let us see, in the case of Spain, if it has been respected by one of these Powers, Russia. In the first place, the Emperor ALEXANDER sanctioned the violation of the Spanish territory by BONAPARTE, with all its accompanying fraud and violence; and, to impart more solemnity to his sanction, he left his own States, and met the invader at Erfurth, where, in the face of astonished Europe, he signed a treaty, in which he gave his concurrence to that unparalleled act of spoliation, by which FERDINAND, for whom he now expresses so much sympathy, was not only deprived of his Crown, but even - robbed of his personal liberty In anotheryear he pronounced it an atrocious aggres sion, his opinion vee; ing again with his interest; and following the same dangerous guide, he now stigma tises, as ar. rchical, the Constitution he recognised at that time. The world, however, has not now to learn the inconsistency of the Sovereigns of Europe. - But to rettn n once more to the Spanish State Pa per, %hich is a plain, sensible, and honest document, iwhich he that runs may read, and readily comprehend every word of it. In refutation of the assertion of the Holy Alliance, it declares that di the Constitu tional King of SPAIN is in the free exercise of the powers which the fundamental Code (that Code which has been recognised by the Holy Alliance) has conferred upon him," and that to assert otherwise is to blacken and calumniate Spain. The charge irtin-: terfering with the institutions, or internal govern ment of any other State, is distinctly denied. Having thus satisfactorily refuted the false ane ca lumnious assertions of the Holy Alliance, the Spanish document distinctly declares, " that the Spanish Na-1 'ion will never acknow•ledbe the right of any POwer to interfere or mix itself is her - affairs ;" and that "the remedy for all the evils which may afflict Spain only concerns herself." This may, perhaps, be called a defiance ;'but it is an act of firmness for which every liberal mind must'applaud Spain. The answer of the Spanish Government to the Note of M. de VILLELE is more formal and more de• tailed. It is, however, equally firm and, dignified. It states what. is a severe but a just rebuke to the Holy Alliance, that " the Spanish Government was never Without the conviction that the institution's' adopted freely and spontaneously by Spain Would give rise to jealousies in many• of the Cabinets of Europe . :" -It further states, that " Spain is governed by a Consti tution promulgated; accepted, - and swots to, in 1812, and acknowledged by the Powers which . were as sembled in the Congress of . Verona"—the very Powers who nOW seek to oterturn it. " It was *na tural," says the Spanish Government, " That this order of things should produce discontents: that is an inevitable consequence of every .reform which aims at a correction: of abuses. Individuals are' al ways to be found, in every nation and in every state, who can never submit : themaelvaz to the empire of reasou .and justice." : . • • Frances reeidiceted; offered her assist- . ante to Spain, in tranquillizing her i and theSpanishdo velment points out the way in which she may do it « The assistance which it is now incumbent cm the Trench Government to give to that of Spain (say; the Stare Paper) is purely negative. The disbanding its army of the Pyrenees—the restraining the factious enemies of Spain and the refugees in France—and a marked and decided animadvetAitta on' fTnise Olio" take pleasure in blackening, in the Most atrocious manner; the Government of his Catholic Majesty as well as the institutions of Spain and her Cortes, is what the law of nations, as respected by all civilized' countries, requires." We have no rodm for further remarks at present, but we shall wait wi►h some anxiety to see how the Jesuitical minions of the Iloly Alliance will ansastr these plain truths which Spain promulgates. The proceedings of the Cortex, contained in the Spanish Papers, which have been received by express to the 13th instant, will be read with interest. The Universal of the 9th contain.; a Decree by the Cortes on the subject of the reclamation made I y England for losses to her subjects by piracies and captures for 'violation of blockade in the West Indies. Spain admits the claims genet ally, leaving.their-par ticular. amount to be determined by future arrange. ments ; and a sum of 40,000,000 of reals (1:400,000) is inscribed in the Great Book, to answer them when adjusted. The union of all parties in the Cortes, which tie menaces _of the Holy Alliance has occasioned, and the spirited manner in which those menaces have been resented, have excited a corresponding enthu. siasm throughout the Spanish capital: The Spanish Papers contain the Notes of the Foreign Powers, ail the proceedings of the Cortes; they are in the bands of every per son in Madrid, and it is observed that the menaces of the Holy Alliance alter irately excite indignation and derision. 'The Universal, in noticing the proceedings of the Cortes and the popular enthu siasm, has the following observations : 4. Never was any sitting of the Cortes so crowded as this. Neither in the Chamber nor in the galleries could a vacant corner be found. And the curious, who arrived a little too late, could only get as far as to obtain a-distant view of the gate of the building.—. Every one wished to hear the speakers defend the cause of liberty and national honour ; and those who were unable to obtain this satisfaction, contented themselves with repeating in the open air the ap plauses which reached them. • 4 , When the Cortes had adjourned, the multitude bestowed on. some of the Members the most flattering and expressive marks of gratitude. An excellent band of music celebrated the triumph of reason and of jus tice, and Senores Arguelles and Galiano were carried on the shoulders of the peciple, amidst the most-six. care and enthusiastic plaudits. " The coach of the President, which had to pia through the multitude, gave these illustrious patriots an opportunity of escaping from the painful situation in which their sensibility had already plaCed them, for they were unable to reply to so much kindness in any ether manner than by their tears. The mul• titude followed the coach of the President to his house, shouting repeated huzzas for the fathers of the cove - try, the national sovereignty, the union, and the . worthy Deputies Arguelles and Gaiiano. " Bands of music are still playing about the shied of the . Capital, and stopping at the houses of the Se cretaries of State, the President of the Cortes, a,nl several of the Deputies. It is now eleven o'clock, and we continue to bear vicar and cries of joy re sounding on all sides. The 'Plaza de la Constituciou is illtiminated, as are also several public buildings and piivate house s. " What causes this madness? What occasion is there for so much rejoicing ? It is because the infra. bitants of this city have &zad all the Representative of the Nation worthy of its confiderree, and base eis , Woad a palpable proof; tßat among all spaniarde there is but one opinion, when, the*ety of the cosi.. try lain qitestion. This day *Madrid bas celebrated theiriunsph of the trnion, the - oar thug • •.. as the . tiiumph of Liberty." The Holy Alliance has been very carefel net W suffer its views, in regard to the affairs of the Turks and Greeks, to transpire. What are the feelings CI the Sovereigns of Austria, Russia, and Prussia es the subject we leirned from the' sort of Round-rObia they issued from Verona, Ia which the revolt of the Greeks Was called a criminal enterprise. An article from Nuremberg, dated the 10th hut, whieb - appears in the Dutch Papers, assures us, that at the Congress "'it was really proposed to obtain fut the Greeks, if possible, in several parts of theieat , cknt country, namely, in the Morea and the Islancies . a kind of independence, without, however, withdraw ing their territory from the supremacy of the Port% or too much affecting the principles laid down by tAki Congress of Vienna, respecting the integrity of Turkish Empite.'s • " ,1! The Emperor .or ituesra (Goo forgsve lriosj , as Glared that, ik.tbe,affairs of the Greeks, 'he h 4 do views of aggrandizement. Such a declaration , Was, necessary, if, as is stated in the same article, instructions of the Duke of *ELLINGTON were itiget • neral not to oppose ant plans that might be proposed' for the emancipation Oldie Greeks, prOvided it coed be ker r omplished without acs 4freese of PrArrie, cite; 'in to -01)&1n andYsiatii i Purkey!' Aye, ;beret _ the rub ; and if th e Emperor of Rusvo is mare, wbf Nop vised, he was proceeding in the career of despotism ?, —( Loud applause, both in the C'hant6er and in the tralieries ii—To him, the Notes of the'folvign Powers woulg have appeared less, indecorous; 'trail they ex pli citrf-stated- what they wanted, instead r&endeavour ing-tos conceal the views of these Governments under vague .. int anibiguons expressions. It was said in these notes - that his Majesty had last his liberty: this was false. Tire King of Spain was-free—nay, abso lute for doinx - goltd; .he. was merely restricted from the evil which, as a man, he mtght . do, and which, unfortunately, in consequence counsels, hehad done. When the Notes spoke nf persons with whom they wished the King to be surrounded, those techni cally called the Cantarilla were meant— ( Cheering). The question was then put, whether the subject was sufficiently discussed ? Senor ISEturnart DK Lis rose, and said—. Since the commencement of the discussion of this subject, the usual order of debate has been, in consequence of the extraordinary nature of the occasion, departed from. I am of opinion that all the Deputies ought to have an opportunity for expressing their opinions, and that the debate should he continued until there remained no one who wished to speak. I wish to state my sen timents, and I do not think it fair that the Represen tatives of the Spanish Nation should be deprived of the right of vindicating it against the insults and Ca lumnies set . forth in these foreign Notes." The PItESIDENT stated, that it was for the Cortes to determine whether the debate ought to continue or, not. He must them efore put that question. The I'Bk:sinew'. then put the question, whether the subject was sufficiently discussed or not ?—This ques tion was carried in the affirmative, and also that the vote on the draught of the Message was unanimous. . Senor MUNARRIZ.—Though I proposed to . speak before, it was not for the purpose of entering intothe subject of the question; but merely to call the atten tion of the Cortes to an expression in the draught of the Message. It contains the words his people, which must not be allowed to pass, since, according to the Constitution, the Spanish nation never can be the pa trimony of any person or family. This observation was followed by great applause from the galleries. Senor GALIANO.—The remark made by the De puty who has just spoken is highly proper. The Diplomatic Committee, to whom the draught was referred, discovered the error which had been fallen into from the wish to avoid the phrase his subjects, but the Committee for the correction of style, in re vising the Message, can substitute other words, for which purpose the Diplomatic Committee - has au- 1 thorised it. Senor ZULUZTA said, that notwithstanding the unanimity of the Congress in approVing the draught of the Message, he thought that the voting should take place by calling over the names of the Deputies. He then made a motion to that effect, which was car ried with great applause. The names were then called over, and the Message was approved by 145 Members, being all that re mained present at this period of the Sitting. The list of the voters, which is given in the Spanish Papers, contains the names of the most distinguished men of all parties. Senor GOMEZ BECERRA wished that the Cortes would order the proceedings of that day to be printed as speedily as possible, and transmitted to all the Ayuntamientos and other Authorities of the king dom.—Carried unanimously. A deputation, consisting of twenty-four Members, was then appointed to, present the Message of the Cortes to his Majesty : Riego, Arguelles, and Ga. liano, were among the number. The Secretary GaAsza stated, that the Secretaries would . take care to inform the Members of the depu tation, of the day on which they would have to con vey the Message to his Majesty. The PRESIDENT informed the Cartel, that to-mor row they would proceed to the consideration of the questions which stood in the Order of the Day. At half-past three the Sitting was adjourned, amidst the acclamations of the spectators, who shouted vivas in honour of the Spanish nation, the Constitution, the Government, and the hero of Las Cabezas. tl fc tl