The Express.
London, England, 1856-09-19 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The telegraphic despatch from Madrid of the 16th
announces that the Gazette publishes a royal decree
which re-establishes the Constitution of 1846. An
additional article explains what offences of the press
are to be brought before the jury. The minimum of
the duration of the session of the Cortes will be four
months. The existence of the Council of State is
ratified, and the authorisation of the Cortes will be
required for the marriage of the sovereign or tha
helm of the crown, for the sale of royal patrimony,
and for general amnesties.

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The Madrid correspoutienos of the Journal du
Debate gives a sketch by anticipation of the provisions
of the ate additions*, above referred to. In conformity
with the constitution of 1846 the new senators will
be nominated by the Queen for life, and their number
is to be unlimited. To prevent the abuse of
creating batches of suitors at once, the
act* additiorinel contains a provision that senators
shall not be created except during the session of the
Cortes, sines it is to be hoped that the presence of the
Chambers would impose some restraint upon any
ministers who might be tempted to do wrong to the
spirit of the constitution by multiplying the creations
of senators beyood measure. At the outset the new
senate is to consist of not more then 140 members.
They will be chosen from amongst the higher digni-
taries of the clergy, the commanders of the army, and
the statesmen who are moat distinguished in the
royalist constitutional party, without excluding the
moderate progressists. It is desired that every NO.
tioa of both parties shall be represented in the senate,
so that it may combine, as far SO possible, all the
persons of political distinction, as well as those of
military, diplomatic, judicial, or administrative ex-
prisms,. By soother provision the Cortes are to
assemble every year, and the duration of their session
is to be at least four months—always without preju-
dice to the royal preroga ive, by which they may at
any time be prorogued or dissolved, saving that they
must be convened in such a manner se to complete
the period of four months prescribed for their
smoke in each year. The future organisation of the
municipalities and provincial councils, a subject of
great public interest io Spain, is settled by the acts
eddiffosisel. The constitution of 1837 had invested
these local bodies with privileges and powers which
anarchical factions very often abused. On the other
hand, the constitution of 1846,distrusting them over-
much, quite despoiled the communal and provincial re.
presentative' of their independence by subj ecting them
to the control of the government. M. Rios Rosas has
aimed at taking a medium coon between the comer.
I vetiver and the moderate progersists, and in order to
loonciliste them both, he has hit upon the expedient
11 of introducing a clause by which the government is
Ito appoint the mayors, selecting them from the lists
of candidates which an to be prepared by the com-
munal electors. It is expected that this method will
satisfy the partisans of the principle of authority, as
well se the partisans of the elective system. The
aete additionnsl also includes Acme general provisions
respecting the press and the conduct of electors; but
the details are to be prescribed by special laws.
It is affirmed that M. Rios Rossi, having
profoundly studied the subject, has come to the
conclusion that all the laws effecting the press which
have been pried sines 1837 are faulty in one way
or the other—some of them being excessively
rigorous, and others too favourable to license. He
has, however, found, in this mass of legislation,
several regulations worth adopting. His aim has
been to devise the means of securing to the public
writer his dignity and his independence, whilst at
the same time protecting the inviolable prerogative
of the Crown and the legitimate authority of the
government from any abase of the freedom of die.
cussion and criticism. M. Rios Rosas will not enter
Into a reactionary course, but will consult the moral
and intellectual wants of present age; yet besets
the necessity of arming the government with MOW
for the protection of society.
At the great fair in Biscay, there was a large supply
of wheat, and prices fell. The vintage on the whole,
in all the kingdom, is represented to be favourable.
The works of the railway between Barcelona and
Mertorell were nearly concluded.

(110 X ♦ SPZCIAL

In the absence of power to discuss political qua-
does, the joarnale canvass the motives for the real of
the Spanish ambareador charged with the settlement
of the differences with Mexico. The arraogement
accepted by M. Alvarez concedes to Mexico the right
of revising the debt,. bide Ira ! It is known that a
great number of the so-called Spanish debts are tinged
with freed. They have passed through ono; hands,and
have beta the occasion of shameless jobbing. It is th
holders of the title to them debts who raise the
greatest clamour against M.Alvarez, and cause him to
be smiled in the journals. The respectable part of
the press We not allow itself to be caught by the
floe phew of "offended national dignity," and so
on, and assert that Mexico ought ooly to be called
upon to discharge her bona fide obligations.

Financial, questions also engage a good deal of
attention. The insolent language of the coup d etaC
journal hu awakened the Castilian pride which
slumbered in the hearts of Spaniards. &mistiest
purely Spanish will now find support on all
hands if they resolutely enter into competition with
the speculators on the other side of the Pyrenees.
Every one hers is astounded at the strange
indifference of English capitalists. Every man of
business unders'ands that while the construction of
railways and the development of agricultural and
general Industry in Spain would render a signal
service to that country, they would also yield a
rich harvest to those who promoted them.
Political influence generally cornea in the wake
of commercial influence; why then does English
snterpriee,which in almost every part of the world is
creating interests important enough to justify diplo-
matists in assuming a high tone, why does it neglect
the Peninsula, where British influence is at this
moment less powerful, than that of the pettiest
Morava or Grand Duke of Germany ?
There is no intelligence from the provinces except
that of highway robberies, incendiary fleet, and
other calamities to which the country is exposed by
the general disarmament of the militia. In certain
localities, indeed, the disorder is such, that the in-
habitants have intimated to the governors that, in the
absence of official protection, they are about to
organise) themselves to hunt the brigands in all direr}
tions, and to protect themselves against violence.

NAPLES.

An official paper at Vienna, the Corresponclanes
Lilhoyraphije, announces that Baron Hubner had an
audience of the King of Naples on the 12th inst.

AMERICA.

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