The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-05-02
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FORElGN IN IELLfGE.Nt II.
No foreign articles particularly interesting
have been received since our last. The news
from Spain by the way of France, state tha.
Cadiz had surrendered TO the Revolu.ionisis,
this is rot improbable, as their troops by the
last authentic new, were in commanding
situation We presume however, on lis being
ascertained thai Ferdinand has yielded 10 the
wishes oihis subjects, on the important points
of the contest that peace will be restored, and
permanent laws established for the security OF
The nation, on the principles oil the CoDslIlu-
ton
Accounts from ireland, represent that Isl
and in very unhappy and alarming situation;
in many places the rioters have attacked and
Lea,cn the police MANY murders and robber-
les have been committed; aud the greatest
confusion reigos in many VI the principal
towns.
In England, the common topics are, the
conspiracy, the new King, the new Paria-
lneni and the new Queen
In France, The alarm on account OF the muir
der of The Duke de Berri. is subslding. the
people are returning TO their accustomed &C.
equations, thoughts and feelings so versatile
il the French character that impressions Of
any sort, are not deep nor lasting they FOL
low each other like the waves of the sea, sue
cessisely chasing and enacirg those gone
before.
SP.dNISH CONSTITUTION.
The Constitution Of Spain which the King
has pledged himself TO adopt and support, re-
duces bis prerogative within narrower limits,
than RESTRAIN any other sovereign of Europe
We will endea,or To present our readers with
some Of the most commanding features of this
instrument, the same which was framed by the
renowned Cortes Of 1912, and which the
King, on the return from his captivity, refused
10 acknowledge. II declares that The sove
iegniy resides essentially in the nal ion /; and
that this sovereignty shah lie represented by
The Corfes, chosen by the citizens. Every
10000 souls arc entitled 10 one deputy to the
Cories, which shall meet once year, and
continue in session at least three months, and
the whole body must be renewed every two
years, and no deputy can be elected a second
time until one election has intervened. The.
King shall mol enter the assembly with guards
and they shall not deliberate in bis presence !:
the siuiDgs shall be public. The persons OF
the deputies shall be inviolsble, aud they shall
not during the continuance Of their term &C.
eepl any ofice at the disposal OF the King,
nor solicit any for another. The Cortes have
power TO make and repeal laws; To decide
upon The succession TO The crown to approve
Of treaties before they are ratified to deter
mine on the number of forces TO be supported
and the expenses of the public administration !.
TO lay taxes to protect the freedom of ihe
press, aud TO enforce The responsibility Of
ministers Of state The King must sanction
the acts oi The Cories. or return bis reasons
within thirty days for not sanction.ng them,
IN the latter case the law shall not be brought
before the Co,les OF that year again, but il the
Cores. at three different sessions, approve the
law, il becomes binding without the Kings
assent. The King is the executive power, and
bis person is sacred, but he cannot, without
consent Of the Cor,es, marry leave the king
dom contract alliances, or enter into negotia.
tons for subsidies. lie has no arbitrary
power TO punish any man. The Judicial
power is independents, and a lawful trial is
guaranteed 10 all. The CoIes have power 10
exclude from the throne any person incapable
OF governing or who shall be unworthy Of The
crown. This constitution which the Ming on
his return from France in 1914, al first evaded
and afterwards openly refused to accept
sending its friends into captivity and exile
this constitution is now forced upon the reluc-
tant monarch, by the united will Of the peo-
pie, expressed in manner powerful aud moi
to be misunderstood. The liberty which this
instrument guarantees to the nation in the per-
sons aus property of its citizens and the free
expressions Of their opinions, is the dswning
OF another period OF illumination in Spanish
history. Aspitit is going over Europe, which
will loose the bonds of religious and political
oiso'ry, and pour upon its population the clear
sad steady light Of reason and intelligence.