The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-10-08 00:00:00

THE CORTES.

A Madrid Gazette which has arrived, has brought a
report of the proceedings of the Extraordinary Cortes,
on the 7th ult.—The first proceeding was, reading a
dreuest of the answer to be returned to the King's
snrech ; and the next, that of the report of the Select
Committee appointed to draw up a reply to the memorial
which was presented the day before by the Government.
In referring to the documents which the Government had
Laid before them. the report remarks:—"These documents
exhibit the deplorable state of the nation, the detection
of some military commanders, and the reverses consequent
thereon ; fresh disasters, and the absolute want of funds;
the trulearours of the Government to obtain a suspension
of arms, and a negociation which might lead to an
honourable peace ; its hitherto fruitless efforts to engage
a great neutral potter in the mediation, and the answer of
the enemy, refusing to admit any other basis for an
armistice or treaty than the delivery of the King and the
Royal Family and the Gaditanian Island to the French
troops, with the expectation that his Majesty, being in
the enemy's power, would give, or at least would promise.
to i'ae nation those institutions which he might judge
best adapted to the habits and character of the people.
"His Majesty's Government regarding such propositions
as dishonourable and inadmissible, expresses a determine-
lion to perish rather than to acce.le to them; but at the
same time, anxious to avoid the reproach either of
faithlessness or rashness, the Ministers seek the support
of the Cortes, represent to them the misfortunes of the
country and our critical situation, and desire to learn
through the Congress the will of the nation, in order to
act consistently with it, and to obtain new means, at
present not possessed by the Government, for maintaining
the defence to the last extremity; and in case that the
nation shoul I consider any other course proper which
may not appear to lie within the competency of the Govern.
merit, the Ministers pray that the Cortes will decide
thereon, in order that, in a matter so grave and so
important, the most prudent steps may be taken.
"The Committee are of opinion, that the course which
the Cortes ought to follow in their reply. is pointed out
to them by the nature of their power and their present
situation. With respect to the dislionourable nature of the
proposal to deliver up the King and the destiny of the
nation to an invading enemy, the Committee think that
cannot be disputed. The Government has characterized
that proposal as dishonourable as well as inadmissible, in
regard to its powers ; and the powers of the Cortes being
neither greater nor different as to that point, the Committee
conceive that they are bound to concur in opinion with
his Majesty's Government, and to approve and applaud
the sentiments the Ministers have expressed."
The two first parts of the Report being approved, the
third, relative to the application of the resources necessary
for the defence of the Liaditanian Island, was submitted to
discussion. After some debates, Arguelles moved that a
Select Committee of Finance should be appointed to pro-
pose, io concert with the Government, to the Cortes the
necessary measures and resources. This motion was
agreed to.
On the last part of the report being read, Senor Albear
asked, whether, without prejudice to it, the Government
would still be authorized to continue negotiations with any
Power with which they might be commenced for the par-
of obtaining an honourable peace, capable of securing
Mica and civil liberty and the throne of his Majesty.
Senor Arguelles observed, that the making of war or
race belonged exclusively to the Government, and that the
Report ought to impose no fetters on that prerogative.
The question was declared sufficiently discussed, and this
Est part of the Report was also approved.
The particular vote of Rodriguez Paterna against the
approbation of the report as a whole, was ordered to be
emend on the journals.