The Sun.
London, England, 1823-03-25 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

CORTES.
Lrsnow, Martell s.—ln the sitting of the Cortes of the 6th
inst. Senhor Moura, though out of the regular order, wished to
submit to the Congress certain observations connected with the
public safety. A general wish to hear him was expressed, and
he proceeded as follows :
" The intelligence lately received from England, viewed on
one side, is very favourable, particularly when we consider the
interest which that great nation manifests for the institutions
and the fate of the Peninsula. It is favourable to the extent,
that there appears no longer any reason to doubt that the Elm-
lish Government must necessarily unite with the two Peninsular
nations, in case it cannot prevent a rupture with France by
means of most active negociations. In another respect the news
is unfavourable, because we are informed, that the corrupting
gold of France begins to be scattered in handfuls in Portugal.
The emissaries who arrive from France, and the correspon-
dents which the French Ultras already have in Portugal, re-
ceive their bills of exchange, some payable here, others at Ma-
drid. Information of indisputable authenticity confirms what
I have stated. The Government has received notice of those
machinations, and is following the traces of some agents; but
its efforts will be vain. It is necessary by other and indirect
means to oppose a barrier to the influence of this dangerous
corruption. No vigilance is sufficient to guard against the
agents, anti the corruption itself must be attacked and nulli-
fied. Who is not convinced that the insurrection of Tras-os-
Alontes is a part of a planned system ?—Who does not per.
ceive that it has in part been defeated by the decided declare-
tion of the public spirit of this heroic people, by the attach.
ment to the constitutional system, and the enthusiasm ma-
nifested in its favour by the people of Oporto, by the Con.
stitutional Chambers, and, finally, by all the military corps of
Beira, Minim, and Alentejo, who have on every occasion
shown themselves determined to maintain the cause of public
liberty ?—Who, then, can doubt that corrupting gold has been
employed to instigate the defection of the three regiments of
Trasos.Montes ? However, though I think it impossible that
brave men should yield to direct corruption, I know that it is
easy for the agents of corruption to gain ground. What prompt
measure ought we then to adopt? I declare, Senhores, and I
declare it after mature reflection, that it is necessary we should
all arm ourselves, for it will then be impossible to corrupt us
all. [The Deputies, and the citizens who crowded the ri-
leries, all exclaimed simultaneously_' Agreed ! agreed P
Separate corps may be seduced and corrupted. It is there ore
necessary to form- one corps inaccessible, in consequence
of its sentiments and its magnitude, to all corruption.—( Loud
cries from every side---' Agreed ! agreed V] There must be
National Guards ! Senhores, let the National Guards be from
this moment decreed.—[The cry of Agreed ! agreed !' was
again repeated with enthusiasm.l,—By this day week I wish to
appear in this assembly dressed in the national uniform, which
is that of the constitution. The aristocrats are arming against
the public interest. They want to bring back arbitrary power
and the Inquisition ! Let us, as true patriots, raise our arms
against that base faction ; let us all arm to combat the enemies
of the constitution, and let us all here swear to die in its
defence."
Senhor Moura here stretched forth his hand to take this
oath. All the Deputies, as if by inspiration,_ immediately
rose, and enthusiastically repeated the same oath, amidst the
acclamations of the citizens in the galleries who, with 'patriotic
energy, loudly exclaimed—" The Constitution or Death !
'Death to our enemies !P—The Deputies reiterated these cries,
and the appearance of the Congress formed one of the most
impressive political scenes ever witnessed, and which could only
be produced by the overflowing of free hearts devoted to the
holy cause of liberty.
Senhor Mourn then said—" j have not yet concluded.._..
It is time to speak, Senhores, not only to the Deputies of
this Congress, but to the people in the galleries. It is time to
take advantage of the noble patriotism and the ardent enthu-
siasm of which they give the mosi brilliant proofs. We ought to
hold the Cortes in the Terreiro do Paco, in order that we might
all hear our constituents. Our present circle is too confined
for the action of so much enthusiasm. Let us, Senhores,
all swear to die in the ranks against the enemies of our coun-
try. [Here the oath was repeated with increased enthusiasm.]
I move, that the Military Committee do immediately withdraw,
and prepare a plan for the formation of National Guards ; that
the said plan be this day presented to the Cortes ; that it be de-
clared urgent; that it be immediately considered; and that on
its being adopted, it be executed without any delay ; that we
shall all, Senbores, be incorporated in this corps inaccessible to
corruption."
[Here repeated plaudits proVed that Senhor Moura was
now, as on former occasions, representing the true national
feeling.]
The Military Committee withdrew, and within an hour after
reported the plan of a decree. Its consideration was declared
urgent, and after being twice read, it was ordered to be printed.
A Royal Decree, dated the sth of March, deprives the Conde
de Amarante of all his titles, honours, and emoluments.
On the 4th the King addressed a.proclamation to " the Poi..
tuguese people," warning them against seductions, and express.
in g his indignation at his name having been employed to excite
rebellion. He observes,—" In the happiest periods of' the
Monarchy, the authority of the Kings, my predecessors, never
was absolute. There were then always Cortes, and through
them the King learned the will of the people. I have accepted
and sworn to maintain the constitution, which has re.establish...

ed those public councils improved in the manner most favour-
able to the representation of the whole nation."
A report read in the Cortes on the 7th states, that Amarante
had abandoned Chaves with the intention of entering the pro-
vince of Minh° ; but that he would be anticipated, as General
Rego had previously sent troops in that direction. Rego* had
his head quarters, on the 2d, at Lanhoso : Brigadier Correa
was expected to be in Villa Real on the 4th. From the move-
ments made by the insurgents, it would seem that they expect-
ed aid in the province of Minho ; but General Rego writes to
the Government that the troops and the people are there most
firmly attached to the Constitution.

PROCLAMATION.,
Addressed by Deputies in the Cortes for the Province of

Tray Oi Monies to their Constituents.
" Transmontanian Citizens, who still remain faithful to
your sacred oaths, who have not wished to descend from the
noble dignity of Freemen to the vile condition of slaves, it is to
you alone that we now address ourselves ; for we never will be
the Representatives of those who raise the standard of revolt,
and stain the political regeneration of the Monarchy, by in.
suiting the King, betraying the country, and perhaps obeying
the orders of the Holy Alliance, by furnishing them with pre-
texts they had not before, to invade us, to declare war against
us, and at the same time to divide our forces in order to con-
quer us,

" Who, beloved countrymen and ourconstituents, could have
thought that the constantly loyal province of Tras Os Montes,
which has so much reason to pride itself on having been, in
1808, the first that shook alit foreign yoke, and the second that
in 1820 broke the chains of despotism, should have nourished
in its bosom so vile a monster as the leader of the rebels ? He
has, however, appeared—he has already vomited forth the
most terrible venom against his country, It is, therefore, our
duty to put you on your guard, and to rend the veil that covers
a horrid futurity. Know, countrymen, that no doubt any
longer exists of there being a Regency. in France, composed of
degenerate Portuguese, in the pay of ,the Holy Alliance, of
whom the leagued tyrants intend to avail themselves, by sub-
stituting them in the place of our adored King. They seek,
through the medium of so vile an instrument, again to rivet our
chains we so gloriously broke asunder, shut our ports against
British trade, by re-establishing the Continental system. of
Napoleon, to revenge themselves of England—a free country
like ours ; they wish to erase us from the listof nations, deprive
us of our troops, spill the blood of the representatives of your
sovereignty, as they did with Naples, and divide our lands, as
they did with Poland. As, however, they know what Portu-
guese valour is, as they have already seen our bayonets pass the
Pyrenees, and as they know that an united nation is invincible,
they endeavour to excite distrust in the constituted authorities ;
they intrigue and calumniate, by availing themselves of hired
agents. In the waters there ately was a vessel that came with
the money intended to purchase your blood and ours, and the
French coin already begins to appear on the Exchange. Re-
fict, dear countrymen, on the sudden appearance in this Capi-
tal of a nuniber of incendiary papers soon after that of a
French General, sent here by Louis XVIII. Observe, that
they all spoke the same language, and that they increased in
proportion, as did the army intended to invade Spain. They
insulted the Cortes and the Government, the men most con-
spicuous—those who have laboured most for you—these were
the victims they had,in view, whilst the wicked, who ought
to have been driven from their country; were eulogized.—.
Our enemies and their agents, like the nightly assassin, se-
crete the dagger with which they seek to stab our hearts.
Refined hypocrites—they feign to be religious, after just is..
suing from the clubs in which the butchery has been planned,
that is to takti place 'as soon as they have deluded you. They
have their eyes intent on your degradation, and your riches
of which they intend to strip you, whilst at the same time they
whisper to you that those men have no religion in them, who
have so much laboured to sustain it, and who only seek to at.
tack abuses.

" Beware of seduction. Listen not to the infamous Procla-
mation of that ungrateful Ex-Count. So badly written is it,
that any other man than a traitor would' be ashamed of it.
And on what is it founded ? Does it not insult your Repre-
sentatives; does it not insult you who chose them ? Can the
situation of a magnanimous King be said to be compulsory,
who came a distance of 2000 leagues to throw himself into
our arms, and who so readily and spontaneously swore to our
social compact? Remember that he, out of goodness and love
to us, did all this, and that he now requires our united efforts
to sustain his Crown, which is destined by the Arbiters of
Europe for the head of another, God knows whom ; for our
Monarch is not a Bourbon."

GERMAN PAPERS.
German Papers arrived this morning.—The
following are extracts :--

44 WEiHAR, MARCH 11.--His Royal Highness
on the 9th opened the new Session of the States
in the great hall of the Palate in this capital.--
His Majesty the King of Naples and his Majesty
the King of Bavaria are expected at Dresden in
the beginning of April.
44 FRANKFORT, MA UCH the Universal
Gazette of Augsburg, of the 15th, we have the
following statement According to accounts
from Constantinople of the 10th February, the
piece which Lord Strangford 'has 'caused to be
translated into Greek, to have it circulated
through Greece, is the Circular Note from Ve-
rona of the 14th December.'

66 Accounts from Constantinople, of the 10th
February, mention, that the war with Persia con-
tinues to bpcome very alarming for the Porte.
However, it is satisfactory that there is no war
to be feared from Russia, the assurances of Lord
Strnngford leaving nothing to be desired.,,_
(Allgemeine Zeitung, March 15.)