The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-25 00:00:00

SPAIN.

Every day makes it increasingly doubtful whe-
ther Spain has really obtained a more liberal, or
rather less arbitrary government by the last change
of Ministry. After promising free discussion the
itoecali government has seized newspapers every
week since its appointment, and maintains the exile
of Narvaez, and now the more completely to stifle
the expression of public opinion, it has resolved to
break down by force the electoral committee, which
promised to interfere with its electioneering success.
The following royal order has just been issued :

MINISTRY Or ?RR NOMI DIPARTMINT.
Her Majesty the Guess (whom God preserve) being in-
formed t►at an association established in this capital, with
the name of Electoral Cosomittei, has put itself in combine-
tion and correspondence with others analogous out of the

court. is order to treat of political sublimate, aid to intornoe
is the affairs of the state :

Considering that this junta is an assembly of coalesced
persons of different parties, which may mislead public opi-
nion, introducing distrust in men's minds, by the announce-
ment of false dangers and of imaginary calamities;
Considering that this association not only seeks to coerce
the free tierces of the public authority, and to lower its
prestige and consideration, eetablishing committees prying
into its acts, officiously charged to seek pretexts, is order to
promote accusations and processes, which may give aliment
to bad passions, under colour of maintaining uninjured the
political liberties, but which also, as if on equality with the
government, issues orders and circulars, sad adopts mea-
sures proper to the public authority;
Considering that if it be lawful to every citizen to address
himself individually to the electors by word or by writing,
in order to ask them for their votes, and to make known to
them his of thinking respecting the policy of the
government, it is not so that • junta formed without tke
competent authoriostion should address itself collectively to
the electoral body, wl sidresses and circulars profusely
distributed, in which the lassatiott is attributed to the pub-
lic functionaries to commit abuses, illegalities, and vie-
lenses, and in which the laws in vigour respecting the press
are infringed in other respects ;
Considering that, although up to this time meetings have
been tolerated which had no other object apparently than
to influence the minds of the electors, they ought not to be
allowed from the moonset in which the. have changed their
character, placing themselves in comminication with others
established in the provinces ;
Considering that according to the 211th article of the
penal code, every association of more than twenty persons
which meets daily, or on particular days, to treat of reli-
gious, literary, or political subjects, or it any other class,
is unlawful if not formed with the consent of the public

authority ;
Considering that what is disposed it this article of the
code is also applicable to routings of more than twenty
persons, which, to elude the law, divide themselves into
sections of less number, or do not meet oa particular days,
her Majesty the Queen (whom God preserve) bee thought
ilt to command=

let. That in fulfilment of the laws of the kingdom you
prevent that there continue established or be established a
novo, emaciation. or juntas of more than twenty persons,
which meet daily, or on particular days, without previous
or express permission of the authority, although such juntas
divide themselves and meet by sections of less than twenty
persons, and do not hold sitting all the days designated,
wh the member. that compose it exceed the said
I number.
. . _ . .

2od. That you seise and cause to be denounced by the
fiscal of the press, every printed or lithographed writing
which the said j owns should gi•e to light, whate•er may be
the number of persons who sign it, lib there is com-
mitted in them aoy of the offences defined in the law in
•igour respecting the prem.
3rd. That though you nay authorise political meetings,
which may be held on days determined on for consulting
the will of the electors, and their coming to an accord as to
the candidates for whom they are to •ote, whene•er ne
danger may result from it to public order, you ought not
to authorise or tolerate any association of permanent or tem-
poral character, eompoeed of determined persons, which
may ha•e for object to treat of political matters, and m►y
offer any of the incon•eniences manifested in the conride-
rands of this royal order.
By order of her Majesty, I communicate this to you for
your understanding and fulfilment.
God preser•e, &c.
(Signed) BIINLVIDIMI.
Madrid, January 17, 1853.
To the Go•ernor of the Pro•ince of —.
M. Martinez de la Rosa is reinstated in his post of
Vice-President or the Royal CounciL