Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-29
EOREIGN.
PORTUGAL.


portant intelligence that the Infant Don Miguel
made oath 10 the Constitutional charter on the Alb
OF Oct. The Emperor of Austria. In conference
hadwith that Prince in the presence OF the Grand
Duke of Tuscany, gave him counsel to comply
with the sovereign will OF the king, his august
brother.
The oath simple and pure, written entirely with
the hand of the infant, has been delivered 10 the
Portuguese Minister, the Baron de Villa Secs, and
at the same time to the viscount de Rezende, Mir
mister of the Emperor of Brazil.
Immediately after. his Royal Highness, az well
~ the Minister of Portugal, as representative OF
Queen Mary H., applied to his holiness to obtain
the dispensations necessary In consequence OF the
relationship Of the parties.
The session Of the Cortes was opened yesterday
at the Palace Of Ajnda.
The Infanta Regent delivered a speech. which
was addressed 10 the'worthy Peers OF the King
DOM and to the deputies of the Portuguese Ma
tion.
A room was prepared for that purpose in the Pa
lace of Ajuda.
An arm CHAIR on the right Of the Throne, ard
at the top of,he uppermost step, was occupied by
the Duke Of Cadaval, President OF the Chamber OF
Peers. Near him seated the Vice President,
the Cardinal Patriarch.
The Peers seated in two lines.
The Deputies took their places on the lett, on
benches covered with green cloth.
u The President appointed deputation OF twelve
Peers and twelve Deputies TO receive the infsn'a
Regent.
Her Royal Hshness having taken her seat in
the arm chair prepared for her in front OF the
Throne, delivered the following speech
" Worthy Peers Of the Kingdom, and Lords
Deputies Of the Portuguese Walton.
Upon seeing you assembled on this memora-
bic day around the Throne of my august brother
the King, Lord Don Pedro w., rejoice with you
and the whole Nation that it has pleased Divine
ID anil tir
and solemn those wise institutions which, at dill
ferent epochs, have formed the happiness OF a
great number of nations. and which will shortly be
that of our beloved country.
- You know that tn. country which is now
called Portugal never knew. in the most remote
ages, any other government than the representative
monarchy. The prela,es and the grandees OF the
Kingdom alone founded this representation. Tie
people had voice therein, and took no part In
this regime approaching to feudal. The Kings of
Portugal, shortly after the origin OF the monarchy,
conferred on the third estate the rights and dignity
that the barbarous ages had refused IT.
.s Portugal then fourished beneath the shadow
OF government completely representatives.
Nevertheless, az there existed no laws which fixed
in an invariabie manner the Institutions adopted by
u-ase and transmitted by ancestors, they ere hong,
fell into desuetude, and the Cortes we'e forgotten
by the nation.
" Ii was reserved for our days to renew them by
the means OF wise and stable establishments. Such
was the project conceived by the royal mind OF
my august father, whose memory will ever be
dear TO the Portuguese, and such is that which my
august brother executes with immortal glory, in
favourng this nation ~ 18th constitutional charter.
+" We are called to The highest Jes;inies, to
create, in a word, the felicity of the county
This !ea should lead US in the PATHS Of hope, and
diminish the difficulties OF TIE road, the end OF
which is honour and glory.
The OD;niOa OF the number oil indlv iuu =
ale OF which nation is formed. can never be per-
tectly uniform with regard TO the principles upon
which the art OF governing state is formed, any
more than upon the choice Of the means to lead 10
their happiness This is more particularly remark
ed in the successive political revolutions effect ed
in nation. Yet, the Portuguese nation being ma
turay mild and moderate, and possessed OF great
love for its legitimate kings, this disunion oil SEN
fiments cannot necessarily su5sst, and stall less
produce pernicioDs results.
his true, there have arisen among us perverse
and raitorous men, degenera,ed from themselves
and from their ancient vslour and loyalty; but
scarcely have they succeeded in misleading few
weak OF imprudent individuals from the path OF
honour and duty, by disseminating among them
gross errors and criminal imrosinres. Happily
the number OF neither the one nor the other has In
creased and the grea. majority OF the Portuguese
remain steady in obedience due TO tie Legitimate
monarchy.
II can but fore,el the happiest effec, from The
dispositions OF foreign nations with respect 10 us;
and time will not falsfy these favourable pIedic-
tons Bound by the faith Of treaties, and the
most striking proofs OF frerdship to one OF the
great European Powers, and peace with all, rec
kon upon the decisive support OF the former; as
do upon the friendship and iraterual reciprocity OF
the others.
50 I will allow, from experience, that the actual
Representative Government OF Portugal, is just
aad moderate; and moreover that 1t does not take
npon itself to disquet any other State on account
OF diversity of institutions, and, III short, that u
confines Itself TO defend its own with energy and
consistency.
Already facts have demonstrated moe than
words the prudence and good faith OF the. Govern
ment They have frs, diminished in great part
the apprehension of a neig hboring nation. It's CO.
yernment is already convinced that the difference
OF political institutions ought not 10 alter the
friendship and mutual confidence that the mos, So
Tenn treaIes and the ties OF blood, as well as con-
iiguity, have so long consolidated.
What was there to wish for afterwards TO
found the hope of future felicity! But iew
hours have elapsed since received, from Vienna,
the news that my beloved and esteemed brother,
the most Serene Lord the infant Don Miguel. took
bis pure and simple oath to the Constitutional
Charter, on the 18th inst. Immediately alter this
act. he app.ied TO his Holiness to obtain the dis
pensations necessary, in order 10 effect his mari
age with my august Niece and Sovereign Queen
Donna Maria TX.
Legislative acts will concur eminently TO
maintain the public tranquility of the State, and
will consolidate tie political sys,em established by
the Constitutional Charter They will establish
the empire Of justice upon the solid basis Of Civil
flri,,,ir al C,des yyiil regulate hIu-