The National Register.
London, England, 1814-05-29 00:00:00

TIM NATIONAL REGISTER.

M V 29.

army and navy, and ail other establishments Which, from time im-
memorial, !nisi been called royal, being stripped of that name, and
national sobsiituted, which they ilatterel the people ; who, however,
in spite of these parverve arts retairved, by their natural loyalty.- the.
good feelings winch always formed [Kir character. Wall this, since
1 lave happily entered the kingdom, I have been acquiring faithful
information and knowledge, partly from my own observations,l
and partly from the p papas, in -wind!, up to this very day,!
representations of my arrival and my character are impudentiy
circulated, so grass and infamoas in thouselves, that even with re-
gard to any other iudividnal they would constitute very heavy of-
ences worth) of severe notice and punishment. Circumstances so
unexpected have filled my helrt with bitterness., which could only
he alleviated by the drmonstiationv of affections from all those who
hoped fur my at rtival, in order that by my presence tia end might
ii put to t;,e.e calamities, and to the oppression in which those
t. e, ttihu retained in their minds the remem!aance of my person,
and riled for the true happiness ot their country. I sweN. and
promise to you, true and loyal Spaniards, at the time that. I syni-.
pathise with the et ill which you have suffered, yon shall not be
(bsAppointed of your noble expectations. Your Sovereign willies to
be sn fin your afTonnr, and in this he plaeekhis glory, that he is.
the Sovereign or heroic nation, who by their immortal deeds
lia•.-A gained the admit Minn of the world, and preserved their liberty
RIO abhor and detest devpotism : rwither the intelligence
and cultivation of the nations of Europe could now endure it; nor

in Spain %lc e rt. lig king.: ever delints.

S4sitlit.r its good lima, nor

etnisitttition, autism i.ed despoti;ut ; although,• unfortunately, 'from I
time to time, as happens every where else, 'and in .every thing ha-
Its in, *there may have been abuses of power which 110 possible Con- ,
ailation ran wholly guard against ; nor were they the faults of the.
Constitntion which the nation had, but of individuals, and the el=
tarts of unpleasant but very rare circumstances, which gave occa-',
situ to them. However, in order to avert them, as effectually as'
human
.loreAght will allow, namely, by preserving the honour of
the royal dignity, and its rights, since those appertaining to amid
to the people are equally inviolable, I will treat with the procurators
of Spain and of the ladies : and order being restored, together with .
the good usages owlet'. which the nation ha4-41ved, and which the
Kings My predecessors estabiished with' its consent, every thing that ,
'elates teethe good of my kingdoms shall be solidly and legitimately
enacted, in Cortes legitimately assembled, as soon as it may be posy
11
siblet ,o do io, in order that my subject* • may live prosperous
and happy. in one religion, and under mei government, stritstly
smiled by-indissoluble ties. , In this, and tin this alone, -consios thef
tempottsl felicity of a-King and a kingdom, which ,enjoy -Ole title
of Catholic, by way of eminence ; and immediately 'preparations
shall be made for what may appear best towards the assembling o'.
such Cortes; in which, I trust, the bases of the prosperity of my
subjects, in both hemispheres, may be confirmed. The liberty audit
security of persons and property Altai! be firmly secured-by means.
of taws, which guaranteeing public liberty and order, shall leas'e to,
all that salutary fibril, whose undisturbed enjoyment distinguishes,
:.moderate from an arilitrary and despotic government, and ill.
‘Nliielr the citizens subject to •the former ought to live. This. just
liberty all likewise shall enjoy, in order to communicate through,
the press tlit it ideas and thoughts, within those limits, however,:
which sound reason imperiously prescribes to all, that It may not.
degenerate into licentiousness ;• fur the respect which is due to re.
'iglu!) and the government, and that which men annually owe to-
vvards each other, can under no civilised government be reasonably
perinitte4 to be violated and trampled upon with ittemnity.
Ail suspicion, likewise, of any dissipation of the revenues of the
State Alan cease; tfune who are •assigned for the expeocea. required
by the honour of my loyal person and family, and that of the nation
I‘ll9lll I have the glory to govern, being separated float the revenues
which by the consent of the kingdom, may be imposed and assigned
for the maintenance of the State in all branches of the administration.
The laws, which shall in future %etre as a rule t.f avtion to my' sub
jects, shall also be enacted in concert with the Cortes, iIIa4RILICII as
thee bases may %erse as an anthentic declaration of my royal inten-
tion's in the Government with winch lam about to be vested; and
will represent to all neither a despot nor a tyrant, but a King, and
a father of his subjects; having in like.manoer heard Irma the
UllitliilTlMlS declarations of persons respectable for •their teal and
knowledge, and from representations made to mefroasvirions parts
of the kingdom, in whiciratre expressed the repugnance and disgust
with which both the Coastituttoo formed by Wet:titer-al 'and Extra-,
ordina? y Corte v, as wed as. the other . political establi-lamento;
recently introduced,; are regarded in the,Province' ; considering
also the thiseltieta w hid' have spi uug there-from, and Would increasei
should I assent to and swear to the said Constitation.; acting in cons

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341

fonnity to such general and decided demonstrations of the wishes of
my people, mid also because they are just and well founded; I
declare, that my royal intention is, not only not to swear uor accede
to the said .constitution, nor to any decree of the General and
Extraordinary Cortes, and of the Ordinary -at present sitting, those,
to-wit which derogate from the rights and prerogatives of my tiove-
itignty, established by the constitution aud the laWs under which
the nation has lived in times past, but to proneunce that constitution
anJ such decrees null and of no effect, now, or at any other time,
as if such acts had never passed, and that they are entirely abrogated,
and without any obligation on my people ante subjects, of whatever
class and condition, to fulfil or observe them. And as he who
should attempt to support them, and shall thus contradict my royal
proclamation, adopted with the above agreement aud assent, will
attack the prerogatives of my sovereignty, and the happinesi of the
nation, and will muse discontent and disturbance in my kingdoms,
declare, who shall dare to attempt the same will be guilt; of high
treason, and as such subject to capital punishment, whether he
perform the same by deed, by writing, or by words, moving and
exciting, or in any other way exhorting and persuading that the
said • Constitation and Duras be kept and observed,
Mid in order that, until public order be restored, together with
the system observed in the kingdom prior to the introduction of
these novelties, fur the attainment of which suitable measures shall
be taken without delay, the administration of justice may not be
interrupted, it is ray will that in the mean time the ordinary Magis-
tracies of towns shall.be continued as now eStiblißhOil, the Courts of
Law where. there are such, and the atuliencias. iuteudants, and other
judicial tribunals ; and in the political and administrative branches,
the common councilß-of towns, according to their present constitu-
tion, until the Cortes, who shall be summoned, being •heard, the
stable order of this part of the Govefnment of the kingdom be
assente4 to. And .from the day on which this my decree shall be
Published and communicated "to the President for the time being of
the Cortes at present met, the said Corte* shall cease their sittings ;
and their acts with those of the prwceding Cortes, together with
whatever documents or ditpatclies shall he in their :thee of archives
and secretaryhip, or iu tht possession of any other individual what-
ever, be collected by the person charged. with the execution of
this my Royal Decree ; and shall be deposited.for the present in the
Guildhall of thekity of Ike room in which they Me placed
being locked_and sealed up : the, books of their library shall be con-
.veytd to the royal library.; and whosoever shall endeavour to ob.
.strimstAlie execution of thin pact et my Koval Deeteel in any way
_whatever, I also declare .him guilty of Hl6l-I TREASON, and that
as such the penishinent of death shall be inflicted upon him. And
from this day shall cease in every tribhnal of the kingdom all pro-
ceedings in any cause, nosy pending for. any infraction of the Con-
sliiution, and those who, for such causes, have been imprisoned or
arrested, shall beinsmediately set at liberty. Such then is my will,
because the wolfing and happiness of the nation require it.
' Given at Vulencta, the 4th of May, 1814.
• . 1, Tlll7. KING.
Pedro de Macanaz, Secretary of Decrees.
As Captain GenetiCtif New Cast lie, Political and Military Go-
verner of the whole Province; and by order of his Majesty Dom Fel -
dinand VII. whom God preserve, I cause it to be published.
• FRANCISCO.RAINIUN DE EGUIA Y LETGNA.
Madrid, May 11, 1614. .
•