The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-14
POLITICAL STATE OF SPAIN.

and may be relied on for general correctness and
| accuracy
nPotical affairs here are rising TO fever heat as
the time for the opening of the Cortes approaches
and powerful preparations making to displace the
present Cabinet You may recoleet that the actual
ministers came into Office uncaled for by any party
being selected by the Regent, with one exception,
| from the Senate much to the disappointment of the
extra exaltados and of certain active leaders In the
Cortes who had contributed to unseat their prede-
cessors in the hopes of being chosen in their stead
The consequence has been, that the actual ministry
has not hitherto had the support OF any party and al
present is the object of attack from all quarters =
The constitutional party itself has long been broken
up into divisions Of conservatives, progressyes and
| republicans with intermediate shades in favor oil
| particular men or measures while the moderados,
absoutiss, take advantage Of these feuds In The
constitutional ranks, to attack the Regency itself and
the whole scheme of the existing government
"Al these Disconnected elements have recently
been formed into formidable coalition against the
present Administration. but threatening the very ba-
sis of the public tranquility. The pretext has been
| a commission appointed by the Government to revise
the laws respecting the press and to prepare some
L
lcentiousness in which it has recently INDUCED This
| has been denounced hgh-handed attempt TO
check the freedom of opinion and annihilate the lib
ery of the press. The leo del Concrete, paper hh-
of the progressive party but recently gained
to the interests of the Infante Don Francisco, has
sounded the alarm and proposed coalition of all par
ties to resist this fragrant invasion Of their rights All
the public papers, excepting three, which are in the
employ Of Government, have responded to the call,
and kind of manifesto has been published in which
they pledge themselves, however they may differ on
minor questions, to stand by each other in defending
the sancty of the press, and resisting every infringe
ment Of the Constitution. In all this there is vast
deal of solemn farce, but it will have its effect on
the nation; while under of it thousand petty
plots and interests at work. 1t would be difficult,
and, indeed Improbable, to unravel the complicated
web of intrgues and cros'-purposes, woven over the
whole surface of public afairs in This country, and
impeding every effort for the general good few of
the principal, however, worth noticing.
"The minority of the Queen, is made fruitful
source of political agitation. The absoIutists are
anxious to abrdge it much as possible to get her
from under the guardianship and tuteage of Argu-
Giles and the other champions of constitutional gov
|
her mind should be matured her education advanced
her habits and opinions formed in consonance with
the existing institutions Of the country and until
those institutions should have had time take root
and be completed. With these views, attempts have
been made and still making in various parts Of
the country, and especially at Barcelona to set on
foot movement in favor of restoring the constitu-
ton of 1872 according to which the minority Of the
Queen would only be completed with her eighteenth
year.
"These attempts are clamorously denounced
| by the absolutists, who make no scruple of
attrbuting them to the underhand manage
ment of EspaIteIo himself in The design OF pre-
longing his regency, if not Of ultimately possessing
himself Of the sovereign power. 1t is in vain the Go
vernment have publicly and Indignantly repealed such
insnuations, and declared the determination of the
regent and the ministry to maintain the Constitution
Of 1887 and the limits Of the royal minority thereby
defined. The enemies of Espartero persist assert
ing that, whatever may be his public professions his
secret wishes such have been represented. He
has suddenly say they, been elevated from the ordi-
nary ranks Of life into the dazzling proximity of the
throne he has drunk deep Of the intoxicating draupht
of almost regal power; it is impossible that he can
look forward with complacency to descending after
two short years, from his brilliant elevation and re-
firing to the modest and monotonous obscurity Of
Longrono.
Whether Espartero is really visited by any OF
these nut erings of ambition have not had opportu
mites from personal observation, of forming an opn-
ion. Those who know him Intimately assure me
that he is sincere in his professions and honest in his
intentions little skilled in intrigue of the SOL
der than the statesman and indebted to his bravery
and good fortune rather than to artful management,
for his political elevation Prone to sink into apathy
J on ordinary occasions, to let things take Their
course and TO appear less in intellect than those about
him; but to be reused to action by questions of ext
gency danger, and then to show all the fearless
ergies of worthy to command; | rather appre
bend that at such moments of sallying energy, the
prompt soldier and then needs the warning voice
of the wary statesman, to keep him fron tfamplng in
voluntarily over the boundaries Of the Constitution.
"The marriage of the youthful Queen is another
topic of political perplexy, premaurely agi,ated and
kept in state of agitation both home and abroad
certain reverend crowned heads and grey dploma,ists
in neighborng countries, being wonderfully anxious to
provide suitable match for this child entered in
her teens The better thinking of the Spanish ma
ton would fan keep the mind of the youthful sove-
reign unagitaed by theme unsuted to her years
and they claim the right Of judging for themselves
what alliance would be best for the interests of the
nation recalling moreover what Spain has expert
enced of the fruits of powerful matrimonial alliances
in the disastrous ascendances of the houses Of Hops-
, burg and Bourbon They not suffered, however,
to rest in quiet this subject young princes
of dieren, lines being spoken of from time 2 tpe as
ana one at tins
moment being said to be on the poin, of visiting this
court ineog like prince in fairy tales
ain the mean time native candidate is started,
at home but one for various reasons equally un-