Star.
London, England, 1823-09-19 00:00:00

OTFICIA L ARTICLE.

GAZRTTE EXTRAORDINARY, CADIZ, Aucusr 5, 1823,
SPEECH OP HIS MAJESTY ON CLOSING THE SESSIONS OF

THE LEGISLATURE OF 1823.

" GENTLEMEN DEPUTIES—On this solemn day, in
which the present Cortes are closed, my heart is neces-
sarily affected by sensations of different kinds, though
still they accord with the circumstances in which the
nation is placed. On the one hand, the evils by which
she is oppressed, and, on the other, the valour of those
sons who defend her, produce in my mind the natural
effects of such opposite causes; and if the public cala-
mities and the horrid abuse of my royal name by the
enemies of the State, are to me matter of the deepest
affliction, I likewise feel the greatest satisfaction when
I contemplate the virtues by which the Spanish people
are acquiring fresh claims to glory, and the conduct by
which their worthy representatives have distinguished
themselves during the present legislature.
11 Invaded as our territory is, by the most unheard-
of treachery on the part of a perfidious enemy, who awe
their existence chiefly to this magnanimous nation, the
world beholds violated in her the rights of all countries,
and all the principles the most sacred among men. Pre-
tended defects in our political institutions—supposed
errors in our interior administration—a feigned wish to
restore tranquillity, the disturbance of which is the work
of those alone who exaggerate it—affected concern for
the dignity of a Monarch who wishes not to be one but
for the happiness of his subjects—such were the pre-
texts of an aggression which will be the scandal of pos-
terity, and the blackest spot of the nineteenth century.]
But hypocrisy, emboldened by her ephemeral progress,
soon threw off the mask, and, discovering all the horror
of her views, no longer allows even the most duped to
doubt that the only reform she aims at is to deprive the
nation of all independence, of all liberty, and of all
hope ; and that the dignity which she pretends to re-
store to my crown, consists only in dishonouring me, in
exposing my Royal person and family, and in under-
mining the foundations of my Throne, to raise herself
on its ruins.

" With very little reliance on their forces and on their
own valour, the invade' s have not been able to advance
but as cowards, by scattering corrupting gold, by recur-
ring to the vilest shifts to seduce the incautious, and by
arming in their aid treason, fanaticism, ignorance, and
all the passions and crimes. In opposition to such ene-1
mies, and in so disadvantageous a struggle, to those
who are acquainted with honourable warfare only, the
fate of arms has hitherto been adverse. The defer-
tion of a General, whom the country had loaded with
honours, annihilated an army, upset all plans, and
opened to the enemy the gates of the residence of,
Government, compelling it to remove• to this spot ; and
the combined operations being thus frustrated, and onr
means of defence sotonsiderahly diminished, misfortune
has since succeeded misfortune, and evils have accumu-
lated upon a generous people wholeast merited them.
" But in the midst of these disasters, Spain preserves
her magnanimous resolution, and the Cortes, in the
closest union with my Government, have ever main-
tained themselves such as they were in the memorable
days of the 9th and llth of January last. The serenity
and wisdom of their deliberations hitherto, amidst such
bitterness and danger, the confidence which their pa-
triotism inspires) and the hatred itself with which they
are honoured by the enemies of the country, are so Many
proofs that they have deserved well of it. Indefatigable
in promotitig all the branches of public 'prosperity,:they
have issued various decrees that contribute to it, as far as
Circumstances permit. The public credit of the nation,
her finances, her army, the interior government of the
provinces, aviculture, commerce, and other branches
of industry, the administration of justice, and the esta-;'
blithment of beneficence, have all been the object of
the teal of the Cortes, and all are indebted so thesis for'
considerable improvements which time wilt *Vince to a
greaser extent, and which I will exert myself. to further,
as far as depends upon the Executive power.. -
" Gentlemen-14 feel a real satitfaction expressing
my gratitude for these hirpoitlfit service* foe the terve-
rosity with which yurChave attended to the honour of
my Royal Family, and far the liberality with which you,
have furnished my Government alt the means in your,
power to meet the excessive expenses of the State, with
the least pressure upon the nation : the fiCisiers granted
to this effect, by the Cortes, to the proiincral deputations,
as auxiliary Juntas of the national defenoei have increased
the resources; and the patriotism of these cprporations
has hitherto made, and, I trust, will continue to make;
of such authority, a use extremely beneficial for. the *ip-
pon and increase of the defenderx of the country.
likgwise 1VA,411 thanks to the Corms fort, the un-•
limited confidence whiCh they haie reposed in rrit%).4
vernment, authorizing it, of its' oWis and-b 4
means of isiliselyal agents, in adopt. extraordinary
..ittertsetel:wbith.the pstaent.state 46 the nation induced,
me to propose as indispensable. It it really is indispen-

sable, that, in such critical times, the execu,ive cower
should be sufficiently strong to prevent any machinations,
and secure public tranquillity, my Government never
will, therefore, lose sight of the respect due to the
li-
berty of the Spaniards, but endeavour to requite a con-
fidence so gratifying, by acting, as hitherto, with the
greatest Moderation and economy.
gi The position in which the events of the war have
placed my Government, has produced an interruption
in the communications with several of the Agents of
-foreign Powers; but there is no reason whatever to think
that this momentary interruption can disturb the rela-
tions of friendship and alliance that subsist between
Spain and those Cabinets.
" Particular circumstances, which might expose the
honour of my Government, have induced me to order,
as a provisional measure, that my Charge d'.Affaiies,
should withdraw from Lisbon.

" Nevertheless, the ties subsist untouched by which
two nations are united, whose evident interest it is to.
live together in peace and harmony; and the commer-
cial intercourse has continued uninterrupted.
" In the interior, everything suffers from the fatal
effects of a desolating war, and the most beneficent laws
and measures cannot produce favourable results in the
midst of such disasters. DIVINE PROVIDENCE IS pleased
to try us in all ways ; but I trust, Gentlemen, that at
last it will grant a triumphant issue to the justice of
our cause, If the treason of some has done 1-:r the in-
vaders what they could not expect from their own et-
forts, the country has still left many heroes who remind
the French army of the Spaniards of 1813. If some Go.
verntnents, who are inimical to liberty and lii;ht, have
conspired against us—if others have forsaken us from a
near-sighted policy, all nations behold their interests
connected with ours, and are ardent in their wishes that
in this•struggle we may be victorious.
" Gentlemen Deputies—Then rest, for the present,
from your laudable labours, and reap, from the esteem
of yfaur fellow-citizens, the fruits which you so richly
deserve. Endeavour to inculcate on their minds the ne-
cessity of their all uniting around my Constitutional
Throne, and of discord and unfounded distrust disap-
pearing from amongst us. Let the Constitution be our
only motto, national independence, freedom, and ho-
nour, our only wish, and unmoved constancy be ever
opposed by us to misfortunes which we have not merited.
My Governmifqt shall cease to exist before it takes any
step contrary tcithe oaths by which it is connected with
the country, or to what is required by the honour of the
nation and the dignity of my Crown; and, if circum-
stances shall require it, it will seek, in the extraordinary
Cones, a safe harbour for the vessel of the State. In
wilt case, I will assemble them, always depending upon
their zeal and patriotism, and jointly we will travel in
the path of glory, until a peace be- obtained at once ho-
nourable and worthy of Spaniards and of myself."
ANSWER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CORTES, TO THE