The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-07-27
LATE EpOM SPAIN

ihe private armed sch90net Surprise, late
~ arrived at Newport obtained at sea, q file
of Corlrnna papers, 70 May 81. They con-
tain long Decree OF Ferdinand 7th, Gssued
at Valencia, the 9Th Of May, 1919 declaring
the Cortes Or Spain, ard tie Constitution for
med under It, IT an end. The following Is a
summary translation OF this important Gccu-
ment:
The decree commences with history CT
tue proceedings OF the French government l,i-
ring the time tley occupied Spain. The
King says, that Gil the 5th Of Nav, 1903, he
issued decree calling the Cortes, which con-
tinueG their Sittings until Jan. 1910. when the
First Council CT the Regency was called, with
their powers to Sept. 1910, when the general
and Extraordinary Cortes was formed ard
installed IN the Isle of Leon and that at
their sitting the members cf the Cortcs took
an oath to preserve 10 him all his sove-
reignty. The King 1hen proceeds to give
history OF the manner IN which the Cortcs
were chosen, ard says that tie Clergy and
Mobiles were not called, although the Central
Junto ordered it done: That the FIRST act of
the Cortes, was, to depose him from his
sovereignty, attriburing it to the nation,
that they might appropriate it 10 them
selves ard that this attempt against the DTe-
negatives of the throne, was the basis Of all
their future acts That almost all the forms
OF the ancient Constitution of monarchy were
innovated upon, and that the Cortcs copied
the revolutionary and democratic. PRINCIPLES
OF the French Constitution OF 1871 THAT
toprepare the minds Of the people TO receive
those innovations, through the public prints.
they abused the liberty of the press to make
the royal power odious, giving to the rights of
Majesty the name of Dcspotisln-making sy-
nonlmous those Of King and pespot, and call
ing Kings Iyrants THAT they prosecuted
all thnCa NO cod u
and in all things initiated democracy.
Here follows the official Declaration of
Ferdinand renuuncing his acceptance of the
Constitution, annuiling the powers Of the Ge-
neral and Extraordinary Cortes, and MAKING
void all their acts and DEGREES and forbid
ding under pain Of death any Of his subjects
giving the said Cortes support or coUnte-
nance.
The Spanish papers state, that Ferdinand
9TH entered Madrid on the 18th ofNIav, and
was received with great ioy by the people.
On the same day. tie King issued decree TO
prevent the abuse Of the liberty CT the press:
and that IN future tie press should be under
tie directions OF persons, appointed 20 prevent
any publication against Religion, and against
the government, and of The persons Of those
who administer II.
Inc papers also contain an address from
the Metropolitan Church ofFalenc;a, 10 the
King. in which they request MS attention to
the church, which they say, las hcen perse-
cuted by what they call, " ktc liEio8otHers Of
ne 8ag.'' And that tl,ey wish the re-estab-
lishment of the lnquisition, which they say
" IS ne crHcible far maintaining 5,ure PeA-
Sl9n In answer to this address,, the King
says, that It IS his intention scrupulouslv TO
attend to tic preservation Of the purity of Re
ligion, but circumference the idea Of the re-
establishment Of the In1uisiton.
The dissolution of the Cortes and the Con
stitution and the restoration OF Ferdinand, had
been anrounced 20 ,hc Spanish army, and was
received with great enthusiasm.
The papers abound with addresses con
graduating Ferdinand on bis arrival, in AL OF
them the greatest attachment to his person is
ev.nced.