Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-04-17
MANIFESTO
of Me General and Extraordinary Cores q
SYtain.
TO THE NATION.

Stonierds !!---If the extraordinary Cortes,
convoked by your will, free and unrestrAlneo'
and installed in the is and OF Leon, nave not
addressed YOU until this moment II was
from belief that they should make themselves
known to YOU, rather by the adoption Oh me-
cessary measures and the PRONUNCIATION OF
DEGREES requisite and Just, than by premature
promises and studied periods. 10 act was
| their duty; not to speak. l aPP's, .Hei
minds with yigor and efficacy to the re'''v:-
ton of the state, in preference to wastlis 'iiSi
time in forming pompous picture OF l's e'is'
and displaying series OF ren'eales' winch
they should deem eXpedlenf for It's CURT
The congress Immediately declared ana az
l,nowledged the sovereignty OF the hatl"h----
in the name of the people again solemhiy pro-
claimed Ferdinand VII. king OF SPAN and the
Indics---sanc.ioned the division OF the thfee
branches of the governrreilt abollshihS Tor
ever the arbitrary regimen ;---restored TO
thought its primitive dignity, re-est olishing
the citizen in the exercise Of his most sacred
right, the political liberty of the press---torm-
ed a new government concentrating ITS action
giving it By this means more aGuVlt! "ho eheF
ey---turning their minds to the reformation OF
many abuses and to the administration OF JUS
tice 1.-THE congress is now engaged II seek
ing resources bv which to prosecute with ad-
vantare the glorious contest--and is about
founding the civil ediice Of the state upon the
basis of the constitutional laws, wnicA they
are preparing to forn,
Such were the urgent and meritorious du
ties the Cortes were attending; such ave hose
lhev arc now employed Ill. when the ru,AoT 81
something strange and extraordinary = ru-
NOR vague and scarcely crc1rcd IN the begin
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS lcc hy tiM>, aid per-
haps BY the intligucs Of our cnemies---and
now rcsounded not only through every rncr
Of SPAN, but even in distant places, mpegl-
ouslv demands the attention OF the national
congress; which ought rot, which cannot dis
regard 1t, so numerous are the different d.
rec,ions, from which it has come 10 their
ears.
1t is said, SpaniardS. that the tyrant of Eu-
rope, in order to reduce you, is about adding
artihce to the ulcXampled violence, VITA
which he commenced the wal against YOU;
and that observing the strength. which YOU"
resistance acquires by the LOYALTY and love,
which you profess for your beloved sovereign,
re wishes to weaken this firm prop OF your
constancy BY restoring hiln t, afiictcc Spain,
and Welding him Is it were, to her sOr ow.
But, Spaniards, do rot think that tyrant
ever confers favors, unicss with view OF des-
troyiny with more security. His sweet LOOKS,
his pieass.l., smiles arc certain death FerGi
uanti, it is true might be sent to Spain bnt
he would send him, surrounded by French
troops or by Spaniards either seduced by the
articles or inundated by the nenaccS OF bo-
naparte ;---he Inight come, either allied to the
family 0: that monster, or united with foreign
princess or perhaps, simply as the adopted
son OF Napoleon She would come, to minis
ter to the wishes of his execrable protector,
and 10 obtain, what neither the affected mild
ness of Joseph, nor the intrisues OF the trait
orous SD..lliards in his suite, nor the victories
and devastations OF the French armies, have
been able TO eXtort from your noble minds
peace in the peninsula---or in OTHER words, It's
total subsection and universal ruin.
Such are the ideas to which this ruFnor rive
rise; in which are involved, 1t once, the re-
putation and honor of your kins---Jhe indie.
pendence and sovereignty of the nat!on---ilid
! the dignity and preservation of the monarchy.
The strange request of adoption, which Is
supposed to have been made in the name OF
Ferdinand, and which has been published III
papers in the pay of Bonaparte, places 1t be-
yond doubt, that the object of this usurper
is to degrade him, to debase him In the eyes
of the Spaniards, ard 10 preserve him for
some new design, by which ne hopes to con-
summate his base attempt. That moment will
probably arrive possibly it is not far distant );
and the nation may again be in situation as
delicate and critical, as at the commencement
of her heroic, Instruction; and she will evince
the same holiness of character, the same spi-
rit, and the SINE magnanimity as or that occa-
sion.
In contemplating and considering this stu
alton, the Cortes called to their minds the ex-
allied character of the nation they represent.
the worthy and noble spectacle they are exhi-
biting to Europe * the world---and the sPlen-
did hopes, which Notwithstanding its horrors,
this dreadful contest involves. They did not
therefore hesitate one moment, in embracing
resolution, which generosity advises, justice
and necessity require, and the safety and ho-
nor of the Spanish nation absolutely prescribe.
tDfF eel