The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-24
Spanish Intrigucs.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON NEW

SR,-Blcssed with an unfettered press, that surest
guarantee of national and individual liberty, Eng
slmen can hardly realize the slavery of the pen in
continental countries Whilst the autocrat of France
drives journalists into exile, exports them to Ca
yennc, pursuing them with his power, and stopping
their publications even in Belgium, the rulers OF
Spain, following ut humble distance, content them
selves with occasional fine and imprisonment, and
with daily wholesale seizures. However astounding
it may be to it longer exctes surprise-scarcely
does it elicit remark-at the Puerta del SOL when
half dozen papers seized in one morning.
Daunted and disheartened by such persecution, the
Madrid press has degenerated into receptacle Of the
baldest commonplace and most trivial gossip But
for the correspondents of the London papers, and
passes in Spain would be profound The effects
might ultimately be visible, but the causes would be
eternally shrouded. Owing to the virtual prohibi-
ton of comment and conjecture, the Spanish news
papers have supplied with no reasons for two re-
cent incidents, which nevertheless of sufficient
Importance to attract attention, and invite investi-
cation. One of these is the journey to Paris of the
Duke of Rianzares, husband of the Dowager Queen
assigned cause. Of the Captain-Goneral of Cuba,
General Concha, and his two able seconds in
command, Generals Lemerich and Manzano.
Communications from well informed, trust
the duke and the disgrace of the generals The
same willy hand which on 30 many occasions since
ls43 has made its llegtimate action felt in Spanish
affairs has here pulled the strings and worked the
is as Unsuitable as her notorious greed She, who
fawned upon the citizen-king when his star was in
the ascendant, sautes the rising sun of the en-
pire. Her Majesty, as You are of course aware has
livery numerous family by NJ. Munoz, and her elder
daughters are fully marriageable, she having been
more or less married to her second lord within few
weeks of the decease of her first. To get eligible
husbands for the Misses Munoz is of Queen Chris
tnas great objects in life and she loses no chance
Of advancing it. Hence Rianzares' visit to Paris
How far Louis Napoleon is likely to take the bait
whether he will consider the queerness of the con-
nection compensated by the amount Of the dowry-
is matter for conjecture Doubtless the richest wo-
man in Europe-such is Christna-is prepared to
open her Golfers handsomely; but the temptation
would have been greater in the early days of the
presidentship, when creditors pressed and the court
nues Of France, like everything else in the coun-
Try, arc ut the mercy OF an arbitrary decree.
The mention of dowry, leads me to the
matter of Concha's dismissal-by a transition fa
more natural than may at first be evident to the
initiated in the ways Of Spain. In Spain, more
emphatically than in any other country, cash con-
stitutes the sinews of warin politics in the field.
Venality is rampant there, riding roughshod over
honor and morality. None more thoroughly than
Christina are impressed with the importance of a
garnished purse. To obtain the means Of carry
ing out her plans and forwarding her intrgues she
sometimes surmounts scruples by which the punctil
GUS might be deferred Her views of the slave trade
arc by no means such as would meet the approval of
Sir Thomas POWELL Buxton. On the other hand,
General Concha-one of the most honest and able
Spanish military commanders of the day-aidcd by
his lieutcnants Lemerch, distinguished Officer and
Manzano, who was very active in supprcssng the last
Carlist instruction in Catalopia-has shown great
zealand vgor, not only in beating off Yankee buca-
neers but also in suppressng the infamous traffic in
human flesh, which is VIGOROUSLY still carried on
between Cuba and the African coast traffic
which many previous Captains Gennral have
fagrantly connived at and proited by receiving
head-money for every negro imported into the
island. Concha has been only too Jealous and
vigorous too honest and determined in the
cause of legality and humanity; and his
subordnates have only too ably seconded
him, Cargoes of ebony in whose safe arrival u
strong interest was felt in high quarters, have been
interrupted and coniiscatcd. Hinc Wp iac'uWnG
Hence the sudden hauling down of Concha flag,
and the hosting of the Miranores' banner which
has ever waved obedent to the breath of Fcrdi-
nond's astuto widow.
write facts Here few persons, in Spain thou
sands, could endorse and confirm my statements.
But III Spain the press is gagged, and few here heed
tie matter. Let British cruisers and anti-slavcry
societies look to il. am, Sc. ARGUS.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE QUEEN MOTHER.
hen Bravo Murillo. the present Spanish Prime
Minister OF Finance was under Naryaez no agreed
with Christina, the Queen Mother to have the 81 per
cent debt cXtinguished. Sho accordingly set her
hrolers IN London and Paris nj work to buy IN That
debt, which was then only worth Is or 80 ner cont
and with such sucocss that she soon became the
o6aCi 6 Gur N,las Of tAe entire loan Meanwhile