The National Register. — London, England, 1815-10-01 00:00:00

.. • ~ :M f- ' 1 \ THE NATIONAL REGMTEIt. air Sing, Constitution, an Laths. .9 PUBLISHED AT NO. 11, NEWCASTLE-STREET, STRAND. No. 405. The days of revolutions are not passed, for the equi poise of human passions is not restored. Monarchs have disregarded the lessons of adversity, and turned into engines of oppression the sceptres replaced in their hands ; as though Heaven had raised them from the dust, only to minister to their pride and to their revenge ! Because a misled nation expiates under the swords of confederated Europe the guilt with which it has stained its character in its wild search after liberty, they fancied that the time was come to re-edify the throne of despotism and the altars of superstition.—They forgot, that at the head of the avengers stood the British people, a living monument of that Constitutional freedom which can no longer be denied to mankind. They did not consider the influence of example, when its authority is sanctioned by the admiration and the envy of all ; but thought that the heroes who had delivered their country from foreign invasion would sink into the wil ling slaves of native tyranny. Such must have been the opinion entertained by Ferdinand VII. when he began his reign of bigotry and terror. Never was a king more in debted to the attachment and energy of his subjects, with fewer pretensions to their love and respect; and never was Royal ingratitude so ostentatiously displayed. Made captive through his own obstinate blindness; distin guished at the hour of captivity by no other virtue than a servile adoration of his oppressor ; unable to aisnitnand a single ducat or a single hand, he was still 2 all-powerful in the hearts of his countrymen. His rights found hosts of spontaneous defenders, and at the moment when Spain, regenerated and free, might have used the privilege of nations, and selected a Sovereign who should obey and protect her constitution, she sacrificed her real interests to her loyalty, and made the return of the Exile, the sole object of her protracted exertions. Could such devotion be suffered to pass unre warded-? Admiring Europe anticipated a glorious re cornpence for the triumphant patriots, and painted in glow ing hues the meeting of the recongnered monarch and his deliverers. The day at last arrived ; that day purchased with years of toils and streams of blood ! The royal bonds were loosed, and all Spain rushed to hail her kin, i'a./1. No, CCCCI `~ POLITICAL DISQUISITION. SECOND REVOLUTION IN SPAIN. ~::;\ SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1815. PRICE 9!d. invest him with constitutional power. now frail is hope, even the hope of nations ! Ferdinand appeared, and all Spain shrunk back at the aspect• of a tyrant, who only seized the sceptre to dash in pieces the con stitution, the firmest pillar of his throne. The idols of superstition replaced the banners of freedom.— The gloom of dungeons swallowed up the patriotic and the brave. The fires of the Inquisition devoured the liberal and the enlightened. The joy of the land was turned into mourning, and . desolation scarcely dared to sigh, under the pressure of the iron rod. Months passed, but hope did not revive. Arbitrary ar rests, iniquitous judgments, religious persecutions and un just condemnations, proved that tyranny was the ruling system, not the occasional error, of Ferdinand. Had Na poleon conquered Spain, and in his vengeance laid her waste, her punishment could not have been more terrible than the reward which she received for her patriotism and loyalty. Bat the hour of endurance is fled. A glorious light once more breaks upon ber sufferings, and the na tion which could smite the Invader in his strength, whilst the Continent sunk unresisting at his feet, or sent forth all its armies in his train, will no longer bear the weight and ravages of internal and intoxicated despotism. Free dom has once more taken her stand on the Peninsula. From her western mountains, she calls her hardy sons to rise, and "to break the chains of the most fatal slavery " that has ever been known." These are not wild words, used by designing intriguers to mislead and to destroy. They are spoken by a veteran in the cause of Spanish in dependence, who has sealed the truth of his professions by repeated triumphs over the enemies of his country. The oppressions of the French roused him to arms, which he often reddened with their blood, and only laid down, when the return of Ferdinand promised days of peace and of prosperity to Spain. Ile knows the evils of slavery, which he fought for so many years to remove. from the bosom of his country. Ile has contributed to punish the audacious foreigner by whom they were introduced, and he will not suffer them to be implanted on a soil Iw dewed with the blood of heroes, even Ly the hand of a Spanish King. His experience will gain him creidt, and his valour success. The gallant spirits .w.bo mourned, will now fight, for their country. The •• • .