The National Register.
London, England, 1820-03-06 00:00:00

.. _ '-r

.- ~... _.a~


Tim NATIONAL REGISTER.

1814. over which we would wish to draw a thick veil, capable of
concealing thorn from the view of posterity. The troops, in
general, followed the cause of the King, but, in adopting that
course, they only adhered to the maxim that the armed force is
bound to obey, and should not deliberate on the Government of
the State. The army followed the King, it is true, but many
towns and deputies of the Congress also followed him. But that
VMS a ntotnent of errs and delirium. We repeat, we would wish
to erase those events from the page of history.
It were useless to give new touches to the picture, already well
painted, of the situation in which the country has since that period
been placed. Ilespotisin and anarchy have advanced with equal
steps: bile' is the singular but constant spectacle presented by
the Government of Spain during six years. The Monarch, sur-
rounded with wicked counsellors, only abandoned one error foe
another ; every thing has been subject to change--men. plans.
syrtems ; but arbitrary poser and corruption were permanent:
they always remained the same ; for it is in vain to expect good
from men in power, unless certain institutions dictate to theta
the mode whereby it L to be produced.
Under these circumstances 110 country exists. There is a soil
in Spain, and men live upon it, but disunited, without any social
tie to connect them. Thus, though all felt the evil, the remedy
seemed impossible; for from what body could it proceed ? Ac•
cortiingly, thou),' all chases of tile state were not only discon-
ezntral bet exasperuted, they sufkrreel, and were silent, and ap-
peared incapable of bettering their condition, if they even
ventures! to hope for its improvement. But the time arrived
when ill wire bound to exert themselves; when every means
*hi :11 had the salvation of the country for its object became
lawful.
Can it then occasion much surprise, that the army destined for
the expedition should be the first to raise the standard against
despotism? It will be eFked, what does the army represent to
give it such a tight Nothing, we confess, in a state
golly
constituted ; but in the situation in which Spain is placed, every
citizen has the right. woo possesses the power, of saving his
country. On this right Thrissybulus acted, in deliveArg tbials
from use yoke of the thirty tyrants; and i bl. tiv,iled
himself of it, in the beginning of that revolution, which, after-
wards legalized by the Parliament, gave freedom and hr.ppiners
vs Great Britain. 'roe tinily has used this right, certain that,
after the sanction of the Cortes, that of the King himself, in the
midst of the National Congress, will leeitiniate its operations.
The troops do not attempt to decide en the destiny of the nation ;
they only wish to give it the opportunity of expressing its will ;
theu object is to re-assemble tee -..cp.esentatives of the people.
When that long-wished for niee•ing shall take place, it will be
dvided who have acted most legally—the oppressors or the deli-
verers of the nation.
Meanwhile, until tle.t moment arrive, the good will of the
towns in which we ate (warmed prove. that they do not number
as among the former. No peasant or soldier has sifted a hand
against any individual of the national army, notwithstanding all
the instigations of the satellites of despotism; and though the
general terror hes hitherto prevented the forces destined against
us from joining us, we can perceive that they respect us, and
that they are waiting for another opportunity like the taking
of Camera, to shrew that their wish is the same as that of all true
Spaniards.
Yes, fellow-countrymen, the cause of this artily is your own,
and so you feel it to be. Accident has procured for the army the
glory of being the first to declare itself. You will follow the
example, for you not only consider its movement legal, but
heroic. You will give it a title : the only one it desires. as the
reward of its noble intrepidity and its labours, that obeaTsfa
Alma' Or Tax DILIVERF.RS OT TUE COltliTar.