The National Register.
London, England, 1822-10-21 00:00:00

N

The Session of the Spanish Cortes Extraordinary
Wirs formady npc•ned on the 7th inst. The King
attended to deliver his FiICUVII in person; toad it is
worthy of remark, that the (;tureen, of whose bad
state of health so ii.ucli has lately been said, ►vas also
present. Iler Majesty was aectiniranhd by the In-
fanta Donna Maria Francisca d.! Asis and the Prin-
cess of Beira. After the preliminary ceremonies
were gone through, the King, having token his place
on the throne, read the following speech
SElMUF.l.—Circumstances truly important have induced
me to draw around me the repress mauves of the nation, who
posses; so ninny chums to its confidence. .sly own is revived on
beholding them thus assembled in this sinetuury of tie laws.
where they are about to apply en immediate tautly to the
urgent necessities of the country.
•• The enemies of the constitution, employing every means
velich can be suggested `iy a passion its barearous as imam/Loaf,
Ima•r succeeded in cocking into the careers. f crime a considorable
number of Spaniards. The misfortunes which the disorders have
produced in Catalonia. Airagon, and other frontier provinces,
weieli heavy on my heart and on yours: it is for you to apply
an effivecious remedy to such lamentable disasters. The country
demands the assistance of nunit rousand vigoiousarms to restrain
at rim the atithicity of her Jebel sons; and iLe brave and loyal
soldiers who are serving her in the field of honour call for vigorous
and effectual measures to misfire the happy success of the enter-
plows in which they are employes!.
•• Na-ions mutuahy entertain a respect for each other in
proportion to their power, ontl to the energy they are capable of
itisplaying under peculiar circumstances. Spain, from her situ-
ation. the advantages of her coasts, her productions, a! el the
'virtues of her inhabitants, merits a distinguished place in the
political fabric of Europe. Every thing conspires to secure to
her east imposing and vigorous attitude which must obtain for
her from other countries the consideration to which sits is justly
ehtitled. Every thing combines to point out the necessity of
forming nay relations with those stain which know how to
estimate our true riches and resources."
•• I need not call to your attention the glories and the merits
of the Spanish army, the model of disinterestedness and patriot-
isni. The heroic sacrifices it has made fir national independence
are well known ; all Europe is acquainted with the services it
leas rendered in the anise of liberty and the country. Those
eiti42n warrins call for the establishment of military onlinanem
eneregulatiens in harmony with the faidemental code, and the
improvements of the an of war. Ti.e ordinary Cortes were
occupied during their late meeting w.th this interesting subject,
nail its constitution is one ot• the übjects to which your attention
nmst in the present session be directed.
'• As we are already in possession of a criminal code, and as
the promulgation of so necessary a work relieves those who have
to administer justice from the immense fatigue of looking for it
in the innumerable volumes by s lit was formerly obscured,
it becomes absolutely necessary on code of legal procedure,
modtlied in :de same spirit, should complete the removal of the
obstacles whirl are will opposed to its prompt dispensation.
•• These, Senores, are the important subjects to the considera-
tion of which you ono:ailed. Others of no less weight will be
iiißred to your deiiberation during the coutse of this extraordinary i
session. But though these objects are all of an arduous and
difficult nature, none are superior to your decision, your penetra-
tion, and your patriotism. The extension of the bonds of union
among all the fi tends of'liberty will shed an additional lustre on
those eminent qualiiie/, which to Spain and myself are the surest
• pledges of your prudence. All good men will rejoice to behold
you once more occupied in providing far their happiness. and the
evil disposed will find in the National Congress a barrier impe-
netrable to their criminal projects."
As smith as his Majesty had concluded his speech,
the President of the Cortes rose, and spoke as fol-
lows:
" Saxon,—The present extraordinary Cortes, called to pro-
♦ide for the urgencies of the State, to rid the nation o: the bands
of factious wWch tweet the various points of her territory, to
make arrangenen•s anti foreign Powers, and to place the mili-
tary laws and the criminal code in harmony with the institutions
by which we are governed, will seize the opportunity of matu-
res/tin* their seal in favour of these important objects.
**The principle on which depends the security and even the
preservation of any political society is. that it must be defended
by an assembled force against any public in•ule or violence; and
lance we are in a situation to repel the attacks made on the tran-
quil enjoyment cf the ►ib_rty which we have sanctioned in cur
social compact, it is just and necessary that we should place the
nation in the requisite state of power and activity, for repelling
aggressors, putting down rebels, supporting, our rights, mid
rendering respectable the public voice, and the fundamental law
which that voice has restored. Fortunately, the heroic virtues
or patriotism and valour form the character of our warriors, and
render them conspicuous wherever they are employed for the
safety of the country. The augmentation of those warriors, and
the acquisition of resources, will finally raise us to that powerful
&quanta). which, by rendering victory tiniloubted, will obviate
both the necessity of attack and the precaution of defence.
•• The Cortes, guided by the s•abitine and benevolent ideas of
producing the common advantage of mankind, and impelled by
the political principle that to place in full force the spirit of
international right and commerce, and of mutual and reciprocal
assistance, is labouring for the welfare of the nation, will concur
in making arrangenients with those states in which are to be
found the guaranies utour national dignity, and of the bonds of
social bodies.
•• The Cortes, in their late ordinary seAion, devoted a portion
rf their labours to the regulation of the army, being convinced
that the maitaly law should be finite to correspond with the
fundamental law. This conviction, seconded by the just claims
of the armed citizens, will speedily put a period to these pending
lakoars.
•• Judicial power. though it be that which most firmly secures
aubordination, legal °bee:Ponce, and even loyalty itself, may at
the saint time, by perversion, become the most terrible of all
*Lungs, particularly when it declass on the honour, the liberty,
and the life of the citizen ; and since this power is constituted in
guarantee of their rights, it will necessarily follow that the
reform of the legislation in all its parts, regulated in the spunk of
fundamental principles, must concur to complete the work of our
Peppy restoration. With this view the Cones will consider
attentively the code of cnniinal procedure in order to the better
end more speedy administration rut justice in that department.
•• The Cortes, Senor, rejoice to recsive trout your Majesty the
testimony of your confidence • and relying on the energy of the
Governmi tit, and on the intimate anu harmonious union of all
losers of liberty, they concur with air Majesty in predicting the
terinination of the misfortunes under a Melt the country is
labouring. particularly as the to-nth/writs which your Ma,e►ty has
just save:wed sic indicative of that ea tue anu firmness which
are, no less in illonerclis titan in political bushes. the only sure
guaramee of the public pit/spotty and liappiaeis."
In tine sittiog of tile Btti, an application was made
by the S. cretary of State for dila Writ* Delrirtnltlit,
for an utigintitation of the arniy, in consequence of
the present 6late of the country. According to his
communication, the present force of the army is
31,0ti0 infantry and 8.!.00 cavalry, to which the

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