Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-10-28

| N.o"" fhe Gi0!ut9oT I3Tonfctc or ing. 81.
CADIz, August 10.
| The following is the substance of such parts
OF the project of the constitution as were yes
terday laid before the cortes -
Spain belongs to the Spanards and not to
any particular family. The nation alone can
| Apostolic and Roman religion, to the eXclr-
sion of every other, is the one that the natl
on docs aud will profess-The form of her
government IS that of an hereditary moBar-
chy.--lhe cortes Will enact the laws, and
| the king cause them to be executed. They
enJoy the rights OF citizens who have been
born OF Spanish parents, as also foreigners
who have. married Spaniards, or are come
with capital 10 get themselves naturalized.
| or to trade in the country, or to teach some
useful art Citizens alone can be preferred
| TO municipal offces.--The rights of citizens
are forfeited by long absence from the king
dom, and by undergoing affective and dis
grace III punishments. The kings person is
innosabie and sacred; he has the power of
| sancti ming the laws enacted by the cortes :;
can declare war and make peace is to APP
point all civil and military officers out of a
list OF individuals proposed by the council of
state; conducts diplomatic affairs; watch
es over the application of the public funds,
&c.
Restraints on the regal hover.
The king cannot oppose the meeting of the
cortes at the periods or under the circum-
| stances pointed oue6y TIE constitution, nor
restrain the freedom Of their deliberations
when met. nor suspend them, &C. and such
as shall advise him to do so shall be held
| and treated as traitors.-He cannot under
take a journey, marry, ALLEVIATE any thing,
| abdicate the crown, lay on taxes, nor eSI-
! change any town. city, &c. without the pre-
vous Consent of the cortes. Ferdinand VII
is acknowledged by the cortes king of Spain !;
and, upon his demise, his legitimate descen-
dants, (the settling of the succession the cor
ties appear to have reserved to themselves
| The King is a minor until he have completed
his 18th year. The kings eldest son is styl-
ed prince of Asturias, and, rs such, will,
| when Ia years old, swear before the cortes,
| that he will observe the Constitutional laws
| and be Faithful to the king-During the lat
| ter's minority regency shall be established,
1 which will take care that he be brought up
IL conformity to the plan adopted by the cor
| tes.--The regency win be presided by the
queen-mother, il alive and composed of the
| two oldest deputies of the permanent deputa-
4 ton from the cortes--which deputation will
continue the whole year in function-and OF
two councillors of state according to their Sc
| nority. The cortes will grant yearly sum
! sufficient for the maintenance Of the king and
his family, and+also country seats for his "a
musement, &c. The kings sons may be ap-
pointed to all Offices, except those of Judges
! or deputies to the cortes; they cannot leave
| the kingdom without the consent of the latter
| There viii be eight secretaries of state, two
of whom for North and South America they
| shall be responsible for the transactions in
| their respective departments, and the cortes
| viii determine what appointments they are
i to receive. a council of state will be esta-
blshed, composed of 40 members, four OF
whom to be grandees of known merit and
virtue fourto belong to the clergy, out OF
whom two bishops; ID Americans, and the
others to be taken from among the deserving
OF the other professions. The councillors OF
state are to be appointed by the king out OF
list of candidates proposed by the cores
The latter to be convened every year on the
lst OF March, and to continue sitting three
! months, unless the session should be prolong-
ed upon the kings demand, or for some very
urgent reason, but in no case, for longer
term than one month. AS to the election of
the deputies to the cortes, it is to be mana
ged as directed by the constitution, 1.-THE dis
positions relative thereto being very much
detailed and framed with great judgment and
laudable foresight.) There will be one de-
putty for every 10000 souls--The king will
open the cortes, or, in his name, the presi-
dent of the deputation, which must be per
mancnt to enforce the execution Of the con-
stitutional laws OF the Spanish monarchy
Redacfor Gensrak