The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-02 00:00:00

AFFAIRS OF SPAIN.

The following is extracted from the letter of the
Times' (second edition) Paris correspondent, dated
yesterday (Friday), 6 p.m :
Although the new Spanish Cabinet is still silent
as to its plans, tho intelligence that reaches us to-
day with respect to them, through a semi-official
channel, is of a natur9 to inspire uneasiness as to
the future tranquility of Spain. The Government,
considering that to convoke the existing Constituent
Cortes, or a new Constituent Assembly, or the or-
dinary Cortes of the kingdom, would, under present
circumstances, be productive of no good effect, but
rather of troublesome complications, will abstain
from any such convocation, and thinks of promul-
gating a constitution put together by itvlf or under
its own auspices, and which is to be of a nature to
satisfy all parties, from the upholders of monarchy
and its prerogatives to the partisans of democracy.
Such an assurance as this might make us believe that
the Goddess of Wisdom herself had descended in
the palace of Buenavista to preside at the delibera-
tions of Marshal O'Donnell and his colleagues.
, What manner of constitution can it be that is thus

immeasurably to surpass the results of the labours
of successive councils of the nation, comprising, it
is supposed, the ablest politicians in Spain ? We
may be permitted to doubt whether the master-
piece, when produced, will justify the reputation
given to it by anticipation. And its origin alone
will render it unacceptable to the people for whom
it was intended. What matters, it is asked, the
origin of a constitution, so long as it is a good one ?
The reply is, that it matters a great deal, for there
is nothing all shades of Spanish Liberals have a
greater aversion to, and are less prepared to re-
ceive favourably, than a constitution °drove, or
graciously granted, by the Government, especially
when that Government is of the character of the
present one and ruling only by the bayonet. None
will believe that the constitution will fulfil the
conditions now predicated, but will rather ex-
pect it to prove one of those mockeries of constitu-
tions of which we have examples in Europe, and
which are but flimsy veils to downright despotism.
But, supposino, the promised offspring of the
O'Donnell-Rios RosasMinistry to prove better than
is hoped, it still will satisfy no one, because all will
have in mind that what has been vouchsafed to-day
by an act of arbitrary will, may, in a similar way, be
withdrawn to-morrow. Such a constitution offers
no security or guarantee whatever, and, as a shield
to the national liberties, is the merest mockery. It
might, perhaps, be forced upon and maintained for
a while in Spain, by a man of superior mind and
iron hand, but it certainly would secure no per-
manent tranquillity, and probably its first intro-
duction would be the signal for a struggle. Other
announcements that come simultaneously with
that of this masterpiece of constitutions, plainly
indicate the means by which its framers reckon on
being obliged to sustain and enforce it. The Govern-
ment, we are told, taking into consideration the
recent conduct of the National Guard throughout
Spain, is indisposed to re-organise it, but talks of
forming, by and by, at some remote and undefined
period, a sort of rosewater National Guard, con-
sisting of persons who are qualified by paying a
certain amount of taxes—such a force as would
never dream of fighting or of giving trouble
to any Government. On the other hand, we
hear that the army anti the civil guards—the latter
a highly-paid corps, composed chiefly of old
soldiers, and generally noted for its fidelity to
the existing Government, whatever that may
be, are to be augmented. In the present state of
Spain these are dangerous announcements, well
adapted to revive the smouldering embers of re-
sistance. If it be really intended to act up to'
them, it had been better to do so without saying
anything about the projects beforehand. Perhaps
they are put forward as a feeler, but one might
almost suppose that it was the wish of the Govern-
ment to provoke further insurrections, that it
might gain strength by their energetic suppression,
and by again letting loose the troops upon the
people.