The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-15 00:00:00

THE STN, LONDON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 1.5, 1884.

owing, not to the want of desire on the part of the GJvern-
ment, but the want of means.
" Senor Moscoso ( Secretary for the Interior) observed, that
one of the greatest benefits conferred by her Majesty on the
nation had been the appointment of a Minister of the Interior,
whose necessity was acknowledged, among all nations. The
office her Majesty had created was denominated the Fomento
General del Reino,' and would be gifted with powers calcu-
lated to carry into effect measures which might essentially
benefit the interior of the country. On the subject of the
delay of the public works, alluded to by Senor Caballero, he
( Senor Moscoso) regretted it as much as any that works of
utility should be paralyzed for want of means to carry them
on. In due time he would take care to call the attention of
the Cortes to this subject.
" After some further discussion the paragraph was agreed
to as amended by the Committee.
" Paragraph 7 was agreed to after a short debate.
_ _

'After

which, -
" Senor Zavir del Valle ( Minister of War) rose and said,
that he broke silence for the first time within that august as-
sembly, in order to join in the just eulogium pronounced by
the nation on the army, which had established so many titles
to honour and glory. The whole world adrbirell the unshaken
loyalty of the troops, who, from one end of the Peninsula to
the other, in spite of much inconvenience, and in the face of
innumerable dangers, had succeeded in destroying their ene-
mies wherever they' found them. Not a place, not a spot, had
failed in the fidelity which the army swore to preserve and had
maintained, and the cunning schemes employed to corrupt its
virtue had served no purpose.
" Senor Lopez said that the committee, in drawing up the
next paragraph, had kept in view the condition of the people
and the charges which pressed upon them, and' had thought fit
to advise a declaration, that measures of economy should be
enforced, for the purpose, if possible, of relieving their lot.
" The paragraph was agreed to, as proposed by the com-
mittee.
" Senor Lopez, after some brief observations on the pro-
priety of the committee making the reference in the proposed
address to the liberty of the press, moved that there was ground
for putting the paragraph on that subject to the vote.
" Senor Martinez de la Rosa observed, that the Procura-
dores doubtless considered this question one of the most im-
portant that could come before them, but it was also the most
delicate.; since, whatever might be the advantages of the ab-
solute liberty of the press, it was the last of the rights which
a nation could acquire when her institutions have acquired the
necessary degree of perfection. Without attempting to decide
whether the nation has reached a sufficient degree of matu-
rity, or to determine the degree of liberty which may be fit to
be introduced, he should merely say that it was not necessary
to enter on the question until the Government should exercise
its initiative on the subject, or the Procuradores should think
fit to exercise their right of petitioning that it be conceded by
the Estatuto Real. At present, more latitude than ever has
been given to the press. A further extent ought not to be
asked, unless it could be shown that there exist impediments to
the exposition of administrative plans and political ideas. When
had works of utility been presented of which the government
had disapproved ? The nation had already been the victim
of this very liberty of the press, the unbridled state of which
in France was causing incalculable evils to true liberty all
over Europe. Our country is as yet too far behind in political
education to receive this last of institutions. He thought,
therefore, that the Procuradores could not venture to declare
that the nation was now in a fit state for it, seeing that though
during the present Ministry the greatest latitude had been
allowed to the public journals, yet those that discuss political
questions always controvert the principles and censure the acts
of authority. It appears improper that the committee should
have brought forward this question. He abstained from saying
more, as the subject ought not to be touched upon until it had
been duly and maturely studied.
" Senor Lopez, in replying to the Secretary of State, ob-
served that as to the alleged evil of the liberty of the press,
every one must know that abuses may be committed in all
things. The man who leaves his house, and walks into the
street with the view of transacting his lawful and regular busi-
ness, may be guilty of some excess, but he is not on that ac-
count to be prevented from performing acts which are proper
and necessary. It will be wise in the Estate to enter with
some anticipation on this subject, in order that it may after-
wards be considered with the deliberation which its importance
requires, and the means of guarding against the evils of the li-
berty of the press discovered.
" Senor Caballeros reminded the Ministers that they were
not asked to present the plan of a law on the liberty of the
press to-morrow. The only thing proposed, as the Committee
had well said, was that the Procuradores should manifest their
wish with respect to a political right. As to the abuse on
which the secretary dwelt so much, every gift of liberty may
be abused. He might abuse the right of speaking in that
assembly; but the Cortes had adopted regulations for pre-
serving order. Besides, did not publications afford the most
certain means for the punishment of their offences? It is
difficult to prove words spoken, but as the proverb says,
What is written remains.' All Spaniards are convinced of
the good qualities of the present Ministers, but they may not
have the same confidence in their successors with respect to
the tolerance now granted to the press. He therefore in-
sisted that the paragraph should be adopted in the terms pro-
posed by the Committee.
" Senor Gonzales ( Don Antonio—lt had been said that
this was not the proper time to establish the liberty of the
press, but he knew not how there could be any better time
than that in which a nation was constituting itself. Her Ma-
jesty had laid the foundation, and desired them to raise the
edifice. It was proper, then, that they should give her Ma-
jesty a specimen of the building materials which they thought
necessary for the solidity and harmony of the structure. France
and England had been referred to with arguments by Count
Toreno which, by proving too much, proved nothing. It is said
the present is an inconvenient time for speaking of the liberty
of the press, or declaring what we want. If so, then it is an
inconvenient time for assembling in Cortes. We arc told that
Spain is not sufficiently advanced for the liberty of the press, but
when is the time to arrive when we shall be fit for it ? Accord-
ing to the argument, never ; for as it is contended that it pro-
duces so much mischief in France and in England, of course it
ought not to exist even in those countries.
" Senor Vasquez said, that while so much desire was ex-
pressed for the liberty of the press, it would be well to think
of teachir't the people to read. He could testify that in the
provinces he represented there were places, the Alcaldes of
which could neither read nor write, and who got the priests
to read the official bulletin to them, in order to know whether
it contained anything which they must attend to. Our busi-
ness, Senores, I think, is to look after the taxes, to establish
schools, to bestow on the people practical, and not chimerical
benefits. What is the use of the liberty of the press to those
who cannot read ?
" The Secretary of the Chamber argued for the liberty of
the press, not only as a right, but because he considered it
necessary as the guarantee of all other liberties. Whatever
evils the liberty of the press might occasion, it certainly
could not be said that it had produced the present state of
Spain. It had not caused the insurrection of the Biscayan
provinces against the Queen, nor any of the other disorders
with which the country continued to be afflicted. Consider-
ing it the duty of the Government to grant the liberty of the
press as an indispensable guarantee, he must insist on the
approbation of the paragraph in the terms proposed by the
committee.
" The topic was declared to be sufficiently discussed, and it
was agreed that the question should be put on the parts of the
paragraph separately.
" The first part, beginning Estatuto Real,' 8.e., and ending
the object of society will be defeated,' was agreed to • the re-
maining part, beginning the liberty of the press, that advanced
I post,' &c., being set aside.
" A short debate then arose on the admissibility of a propo-
sition moved by Flores Estrada, and also signed by Senor
Gonzales, to the effect,—' that it is desirable the liberty of
the press should soon be established amongst us, exempt from
impediments.'
The Secretary of State for the Interior referred to the
regulations, and showed that the motion formed merely an ad-
dition, which might be referred to the committee which was
to make the alterations to be adopted or not. Applying the
present question to the second part of the paragraph, it might
also be referred back to the committee to be drawn up anew.
" The question whether the second part of the paragraph
should be referred to the committee, as proposed, was then put
and carried in the affirmative by 44 to 36.
" The President intimated that the debate on the remain-
ing part of the address would commence to-morrow."
SITTING OF WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6.
" After the usual formalities of opening the Sitting, the
new paragraph on the liberty of the press, as drawn up by the
committee, was read. Martinez de la Rosa, Lopez, and Gon-
zales, were the principal speakers, but it was finally agreed to
modify and adopt it in the form wished by the Government, so
that the liberty of the press remains for the present in abeyance
and the censorship will be continued.
" The paragraph respecting the Urban Militia was adopted.
" Senor Chacon proposed to change the name of the corps
to National Militia.'
" Count Toreno objected. He quoted the decree in which
the Queen had given it the name of Urban Militia, which he
thought a sufficient reason for continuing that title.
" The amendment of Senor Chacun was rejected.
The paragraph in which mention is made of equality of
rights before the law of personal security and inviolability of
property, received some modifications on the suggestion of the
Ministers.
" On the paragraph relating to the jury a long and animated
discussion arose.
" Senor Martinez de la Rosa and Count Toreno opposed it

vehemently, and contended that the present was by no means a
fit time t2,think of the establishment of such a system. It was
finally posed that the paragraph should be referred back to
the committee, but this proposition was negatived, and it was
agreed to with considerable modifications.
g, The President announced that the Chamber woald meet
to-morrow to receive the amended draught for the address ;
and that afterwards the Finance Minister would pr.:sent his
plan on the foreign and home debt."

" MADRID, Auc. 6-
" The following are the heads of the Bill, or projelto de leg,
to be submitted to-morrow by the Conde de Toreno, as Mi-
nister of Finance, to the Chamber of Deputies
Art. 1. All the foreign debt contracted at d ffercnt Pe-
riods, including. that arising from loans, anterior as wall as pos-
terior to 1823, is to be regarded as national debt.
" .2. The liquidation is to be proceeded with imme liately,
and during that period the payment of the interest it to be
suspended.
3. The t reign debt is to be divided into debt active and
debt passive. The conversion of all the debt active an 1 pas-
sive is to take place in the proportion of one-half. Th t inte-
rest of the old loans is to be paid with bowls of the pusiv debt.
4, The active debt is to be represented by new bonds