The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-03 00:00:00

SPEECH OF THE REGENT OF
SPAIN.
E.Au express from Madrid has brought us the speech
Eepartero on the opening of the Cortes on Sunday,
the 26th of December.
On the arrival of the procession at the Palace of the
Senate her Majesty, the Regent, and her Royal Highness
the Infanta were received by the deputations of the two
Chambers. Her Majesty took her seat on the throne,
with her august sister on her left and the Regent upon
her right, but one step lower than the throne.
• The Ministers and the officers of the Palace sur-
rounded the throne, The Minister for Foreign Affairs,
President of the Council, delivered the following speech to
her Majesty who
placed it in the hands of the Regent; and
the latter read it in a very audible manner :
" SENATORS AND DEPUTIES—It is with a sentiment of
lively satisfaction that I present myself for the second
time in the midst of you
with an adored Queen, in the
august name and during the minority of whom I have
the high honour of exercising the Royal authority, con-
fided to me by the nation Your patriotism and loyalty
inspire 'Me with the confidence that the constitutional
Throne will become strengthened and fixed on solid and
indestructable bases, and that the prosperity and pros.
pests of Our country will be the object of your meditation
and wisdom. •
" I Can acquaint you, with the utmost pleasure, that
our relations with friendly Powers continue to gather
strength by the bonds of strict harmony and good intelli-
gence, which are tightened by sincere friendship. The
other nations that have recognised an exalted Queen,
preserve those sentiments of justice which dictated that
recognition. The Governments which have not taken
that step contemplate us without hostility, make con-
trued inquiries respecting our political situation, and as
1 becomes more stable, the day is not distant, in my opi-
°inn, when reason shall triumph, and the national cause
complete its victory.
"It is satisfactory to me to announce to you that the
nri."LtY of peace, amity, and recognition with the republic
to- be Eq iator has been concluded on bases honourable
. °th G .tverinents.and useful to their interests, as you
"1•11 observe by the paper that will be laid before you.
nr agents have proceeded to represent her Majesty's
uOvernment at Quito, and to preserve our relations with
that State.
"Similar treaties have been else concluded with the
rePublies of Uruguay and Chili. When the ratifications
are verified, you will be able to judge of the zeal and
Patriotism which presided over the negotiations. With
the ether republic, not yet recognised, the same conduct
be•pursued, in order to produce the same happy re-
" al becomes nations which have a common origin.
renother treaty is in course of negotiation with Portugal
Pettings, the navigation. of the Tagus.
"Negotiations are pending with different States to ex-
pedite and render more free the correspondence so often
ebstructed to the prejudice of our interests.
" 'England has given satisfaction for the disagreeable -
occurrence of Carthagena last May, and the French Go- - trnment has seen with pain the violation of the territoty,
of the Aldudes. The Government of her Majesty, de-
siring to remove the causes which haVe always led to
these deplorable conflicts, is negotiating a treaty with
the King of the French, who has presented a project, met
(111 cur part by another on a different basis. The defini-
tive settlement of this will be made known at the proper I
time.

." The revolt which broke out in the month of last Oc-
I?ober disturbed the public tranquillity, and obliged the
!Ji yernment to proceed with activity and energy to crush
lives its origin. The constitution, as well as the precious
of our innocent Queen and her august sister, were
ruweedmlcoeyd by an armed conspiracy. But Providence ena-
li al Spaniards to save those dear objects of our
°Pes• All the means at our disposal were employed to
repress this horrible attempt, and the hand of justice
Chastised the principal delinquents ; their criminal at-
tempt failed against the firm attitude of the nation, and
the energy of the Government. The public vengeance
once satisfied, the Government deemed that it might
exercise clemency,'and spare the lives of some of the
rebels.
The events of Barcelona, which sprang from an abuse
of confidence, obliged the Government to declare that
rich arid populous city in a state of siege. This mea-
sure, which had for its object to avoid the effusion of
°°d, produced neither violence nor punishments, so that
these punishments might be executed according to the
ordinary laws, when the legal situation of these was re-
established. The tribunals are busy with the causes to
be tried, as actively as the administration of justice re-
quires.
"Since these events peace has been restored through-
out the whole monarchy by the triumph of the laws, and
every cause of new disturbances has disappeared.
" The valiant army and resolute national militia de-
fended the Constitution and the laws with loyalty, and
the country is grateful for their services.
" The roads under the care of Government were in a
bad state, in consequence of their being necessarily neg-
lected (luring the civil war, which concluded with so
much glory. But the persevering efforts of Government
have produced satisfactory results. New roads have
been constructed in great part, repairs have been
effected, and materials have been collected for more than
GOO leagues of road. Those from 'Valencia and Corunna
may be begun next spring. Some bridges have also
been commenced, and other works requisite for the in-
ternal traffic of the country. The remarkable develop-
inent.of mining industry claims especial attention. Ef-
forts on this point have produced new works and enter-
prises. The sad state of the 'public stores; in conse-
quence of calamities which have afflicted the country for
half a century, has induced the Government► to encou-
rage the establishment of agricultural banks, of which
the result is highly beneficial to the agricultural classes.
The.s Government persists in the intention of realising
Lin measure, and it hopes by this means to augment the
public wealth.
A`ci_P_ushlic instruction has received great amelioration.
werr...l4,erable number of parishes; or communes, which
"'Tout the first elements of education, enjoy at
presents,,... his indispensable element of civilisation. In
114."Ttetprnovoifnces normal schools have been opened, in
te.
at
the
villages of the Peninsula. By the aid of pro-
ether ob. neial
ta municipal Corporations the Government has
Pulse toleets in preparation, which will give a great im-
obstruct Plh,lic education, and remove the errors which
class of ei'Lleto.order to improve; the secondary and higher
its,ilasth!easrstilioatt"' a law is necessary, that the Cortes, in
T
°A the most n, had not time to discuss or adopt.
Y and provincial militia have been organised
tbheerspe, theaoreilitere. freetive terms ; the diminution of its num-
duced suPpression of the Royal Guard, have pro-
the which must lighten the burdens of
tefoenretuna.tely, circumstances have not per-
wished the laetle this economy as far as could be
regiments
to rt ellion having required the provincial
defend the cou'uct in concert with the regular forces to
The vialiant arrYrn.
days to the natio y, which has given so many glorious
last August. prrserves the organisation given to it
It is re ul
vernment bestows un gn iarly provisioned, and merits.lts morale and discipline_t the preference that it
and patriotism
t,
..uara are excellent, and its fidelity
obstacles in the-uintal
" The levy oq • tee obedience to the Government.
in such operatic of 50,000 men took place without
pr3vinces, although with the delay usual
tered the More than 30,000 have already en-
tered
the regiments have begun to fill up
their deficiencies.
ameliorated ameliorated The law voted by the Cortes has
ar that Passive (non-fighting) portion of the
my, and the executors of thislaw willconsole those
who have spent their best years in the service of their
country.
promptitude
is administered with such regularity and
8 ptitude as our present Legislation permits, but
will
soon be reformed by codes now in preparation,
to be presented to the Cortes.
hi `:.The law permitting to cut off entails begins to
.gaLen landed property of its burdens, and these advan-
tages extend to all those interests in which nature and
e
..1v 9, obligations have conferred the right of claiming
their legitimate dues. The chaplaincies in the gift of
individuals avid lay benefices are given by the law to the
owner of the property.
" The advantages of this law may be appreciated by
the considerable value which it puts in circulation.
" The decree of the 29th of June, by which divers mea-
sures were adopted, and the manifesto published in reply
to the impolitic allocation of the Pope, have put a stop ,
to the aggressions which menaced the nation and the I
Government.
•

" Different means have been adopted for the accom-
plishment of the law of worship, and the management of
the clergy, and Government will 'exert all its power to
fulfil its religious obligations for the benefit of the nation
and Church, and important data have been obtained to
bring this new and necessary work to a conclusion.
" The especial tribunals of the Royal Household and
Patrimony have been abolished, as incompatible with
the Constitution. Thc, shiatiou of colonial functionaries
has been ameliorated by the establishment of rules wildh correct the clauses introduced by time. "The Government exerts itself with zeal to introduce
and is firmly resolved to punish frauds. The augmentation
off. the Public funds, and the decree of centralization,
ave enabled us to fulfil our obligations with more punc-
tuality than in former years. The tariff law, voted No-
t7nnaber Ist, offers no certain basis to calculate its advan-
e
's but as it has been extended to all the provinces,
without excepting the Basque, I hope for many results.
a evoe ,
g
eneral director of customs, tariffs, and public
Qnse ues, has been created without augmentation and
in place of the old Junta and Administration.
417. taws centralising the bills of last year's contracts
Lae,„_ln course of execution, and the salt and stamp duty
oblie enabled us to procure funds to meet privileged
op„gatt.i°lls• A strong impulse has been given to tho
pz:steoinnts preliminary to the sale of ecclesiastical pro-
v,rilY_ by measures tending to obviate fraud, and the Go-
hopes that the law will soon become perfect.
sia.stiea,es of national property proceeding from eccle-
T4seal establishments extinct, continue with activity.
P1\441441" continue to augment the mass of private
%ISteol- and to diminish our public debt. The wise
I)rodne Pursued by the Government in all its acts has
114,ent oVit,he happiest results. I-hope that, after the pay-
r Luc transatlantic debt, we may henceforth meet
tetvi egelarity the different expenses of the
"kN, et'• Credit •
441, merits a special attention, and the ne-
t„ ypublic
f(1,.. pituiL"s
.have been prepared to pay the interests of
f. • ation at home and abroad. The national and
creditor'4lth;,,, will thus learn how religiously we keep
"Til'ttur for which Spain has ever been renowned.
oGfetvhert:a4v.Y' which formerly was the glory and honour
rtiehnisli nation, was reduced to the lowest ebb.
health to convinced that this force. gives life and
aome ships fates, had paid it regularly, and has put
ve •
vessels of P.s
I ill repair to cruise upon the coast. Other
i.i'
r lous classes- Wave been put in a state to ren-
t() portent service. Others are pu in commission,
core,:l'er"....t? our eoloilie, should it bete ecessary. The
as the Leas navy occupies the attention of- Government
of a military navy, and as the surest means