The National Register.
London, England, 1809-10-01 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

1113.4 N ISII PdPERS.

ROYAL DECREE.%

11EVILTOE, SEPT. I.—llls Majesty would neither foldl his
own wishes nor the hopes of his people. if, at the same time,
when he labours to free the country from the oppression of its
,yrant, he did not make every exertion to correct the vice.
which exist in the interior administration and to raise this
olaenanisnons and generous nation to the high degree of spier),
dour and power to which it is entitled by the fruitful-
ness of its soil, the benignity of its climate, the extension or
coats, stud the possession of its rich edonics, among the ob-
stacles which have constantly opposed the progress of our agrho
entotre, industry, and commerce, the first place is held by the
contributions. called Ale:di:tiles, Cientos, and Miltanes, imposts.
hich, ohstructine the interior circulation, at.d pressing equally
ou the prodoctioesopt. the land, 0,, inannt'eeture,, and in general
oa all iihj: ets of commerce, no: only hove banished from out
ountry that liberty without which there can be neither arts,
coltivation, nor commerce, not only have rendered odious the.
Fiscal Aihnioistration, and even industry itself; but, which is
more, intl:cting on it hie:treble wounds, have ever been mike,
feeble recourse for supplying the necessities of the state. On-
servatien and experielice have .hewn their prejudicial effecs ;
the people have criei out fora remedy; the 'decline of our nt-•
tin factures, aa:l the mercantile s stem, unanimously embraced by
nil the nation: in Europe. But though the Government knew
thew defects, and reformed them partially, these reforms were
a new vice which only still more embroiled the s”tem.
length the lime is arrived when good principles shall triuttapor,
over ignorance, nod the nation which has appeared great a.at.i
majestic in the c, es all Eorope by its valour and its virt. e,
7.1ia1l be so also In. the liberality of its prisiciples, and the
!less of its interior administration. The supreme Jetta of Go-
veroment of the kingdom is well conyii tied that the riches of ic-
dividuals tire the riches of the state, and that no inttieo cant be
rich witaout encouraging its aericnlture, commerce, and lodes.
try : and that industry in general does not increase but remove
the ob,taclei. w hich may obstruct both Cl'2 fiscal and civil law:.
From these considerations the Soertorie jonta entmot oinit occu-
ps,ine; itself with the great work, beeienine with the most urgct.t
r.,sorts, which is that of the contribution, and proyidirg in the
place of those abolished others upon sorh thino as can more ,
properly he required to cone•ibioe, distributing :it •In equally
among the contributor:, exactive them in the time and manner
least oifensive. and collecting them with the least e% pence pt s. •
Thus the contributions, whirl' are always an evil, abaft
not only on those who can contribote, shall be applied to I%eic
law objects aed not to the maintenance of an innumerable muinitil
tude of tax-gatherers, who are uoproducti m m
e:suers, a
lei many hands lint to industry. 1n coesequence, the refute, of
t lune principles. the King, mit. Lord, Oho Ferdinand VII. and.
in hi.: royal name, the Supreme 3 unta of the Government of the
i;:ingilont, decrees ns w•s;—
Art..l. The contributions, known by the name of Itleahaine
rientos, and Millones, shall he nbotisfied, as those which are
appoinied to supply their place snail be appropriated and esta•
Wished,
4 Art. 11. The Department of Famine w charged to prop,*