Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-11-22
STATE OF ArrAIRs IN SPAIN.

STATE OF AFFAIRS IN SPAIN.
From the London Chronicle, October ell
The struggle which eugrosses the attention Of the srca
European Poscrs affords Spaiu an additional s.eu,,
against foreign Interference With her constitutional
riments. E,glishneu In particular, are prepared re
gard Nth cordial sympathies and tho cstab
lshmen OF any system Of government combining freedom
| with order Notwithstanding the popular suspicion,
which prevail in tho Peninsula Leeds Manchester are
by no means jealous Of tho cmbryo manufactures Of Gas
to- nos are tho bondhoiers the oaly class Who TO-
selfish reasons would rejoice In the regeneration OF
For tho present. however, must be admitted that ther
appears little reason to anticipates satisfactory temins
Of the revolutionary crisis would perhaps DO urJus
TO blame the nation large for the OF Its Temporal
~ rulers Tho general feeling which has raised E.pate
70 to the bead OF affairs H. in degree justified by hi,
well deserved reputation for personal integrity aud Span
ish prime ministers have otcu devoted themselves to
the increase Of their private rupes that Prcrscnt
tho council who may Do relied upon tsmpor with
| tho public money is naturally regarded With unusual
respect and confidence. The distnies OF the kingdom
could not have been conuttsd to honcster hands yet
'neornpubity forms but negative qualification in those
Who undertake tho government of mankind. policy
which cannot be influenced by any considerations OF per
sons' Interest may nevertheless be Narrow id aud
pdsns II is worth rsmsrkiug that few pre-.
eminent capacity popularity cited modrs Of purity
NOT because great powers ordinarily associated with
lax mortality but because secondary virtues
parA vcy little attention when they combined
the rarer Attitudes OF wisdom aud resolution For tho
same reason great general is seldom praised for soldier
" courage. Napoleon pobsbly fearless Nurai
but his eulogs have no leisure dwell the mere hsr
dihood OF so consummate conimauiee. E.parcro, Who
Is himself remarkable Tor bravery in the field, upright
aud we'll meaning in council hitherto he has unortu-
nately given little proof OF moral courage Of foresight
The leaders of the late ought under.
stood that Alter they had attained the substantial object
there was no need Of Subsequent formal revolu
Every Interior result which is proposed TO attain
through the agency OF Cortes might have
at once When Esparero and U'DGnnei had wisely de-
ermnei to maintain tho present her throne
only remained for them take that rights Of the
nation should be protected against the fraud violence
which had been 50 ocu and successfully
All practicable securities for liberty already recog
nized IN the theory OF the existing parliamentary system
and IL had been thought necessary the
popular cement there would have bccn little difficulty in
sweeping the modification. M ,dc in the
earlier constitutions Since the death OF Fed aud the
country has had complain Of any deficiency
in the forms, guarantees for freedom Practical dspo,is
aud mlsrnle have existed only in defiance Of tho and
the Judgment Of those spanish politicians reg Ard oe
RAJ phrases the tests and siegu ireedu must be
a l but ncurabiy perverted.
IL is true that the government NAV have had cool
reasons for deterrnG he popular wishes The countrv
hiss been pundcrcd and degraded by the same ntru,r
Sho have Corrupted s!ecci the representatives OF the
people, aud honest Spsniard naturally To willing
to bear with the iud>crstions OF any Cc, winch i. in
dependent oil prohEae court ana "f itS stcltcs The
OF the Ministry 10 their revolutionary con
ccSsiou OF constituent assembly. Statesmen and gene
rails who have undertaken 10 supreme power for the
benefit Of the country, have right abiica. the
spousbity OF substituting government for th,F which
they have Orerthrowu. The question hcix cen ,lonsrb,
AID republic l. Which every nin c!aiun. to b.
political leader ought have drnitiv.ly mad, IN lis
mud The Duke Of Victoria has declared his adhe.
sion to the dynasty which he long since helped es,ab
ard would be than tn make
the crown virtually ,ecve b, asking representative as
>cmoy to co firm reject the sovereign Who this
mcnt, nominay regns. Toe Cortes ~hyh about meet
- rnone in the ntme OF the Queen who will il il
ported open its proceedings in pesOu; yet i. alresd,
known that the ultra-berals prepared ur,a the
cIpedcncy OF Recommending or compelling abdcaton
wiser min than EspaTtero met with conclusive logic
similar pretenson on tho part OF legislative holy II
thought, said member OF CroDwe!is first Parliament
that We were Tree House Of Commons" "You are So
replied the Protector, "Ls long YOU the
authority which called you together" constituent rs
semoly meeting under the provisions Of consttution
III itself anomaly. The Ministers may perhaps he ab
TO carry out their own intentions Notwithstanding the
just unpopuar'y OF the Qneen but they will tue les
have wintony thrown the monarchy into the crucbe in
the hope, at the besi, that may out
system was intended, there need OF substituting
constituent; powers Tor ordinary legislative functions for
any scheme vi that would be rather change in
III the law than a new constitution.
Happears however, that tbs President Of the Council
aud his colleagues shnx from undertaking the task OF fra
ming measure be laid before the Cortes With pc.
dantry which Is the more irritating because is probably
sincere Eparero refuses interfere with functions
which supposed 10 belong the of the
@
SPAN to be lett to volunteers and dcmagogues who
commission from their constituents but that which hey
share with the Ministers themselves The Duke of Vclo
ria has himself been returned by dozen cities districts
so that he might venture 10 assume member Of Cor
te the right which he dscams the head Of tho govern
ment. But when the leader Of a revolutionary
IS 100 modest to offer suggestions the Assembly which
be calls together would be useless show that he mis-
understands the meaning OF his miserable scru
pies Precisely the though it'll far more
excuse committed by Necker in 1889. The purest minis
Fu oil hIa
Assembly which he afraid to gui control more
daring hands Immediately seized tue helm which the steers
man had abandoned but they directed their course TO
port which had been contemplated the Quiet of
the voyage. Count de Ia Marck memoirs curious
records OF hiraoeaus indignant coaemp, mbecty
o! the vrtuous Genevese With questionable honesty per-
haps but with true instinct for great
oil the opposition was constantly endeavong, in private to
impress the friends of the with the necessity OF ID
KING the initiative IN constructing the constitutional
system The Freuch monarchy might perhaps have been
saved u MHabeau had teen in the place of Necker-
When the popua rity OF E+parcro Declines ODoune or
some DINER vigorous rival may possibly snatch from him
the rens which he fears 10 tighten. Even when the
Of the Constituent assembly done, it will still he Ques-
ton how the honesty oil the rulers the obedience
tue people, il 10 be secured; aud the decision will he in
the hands not OF the most orthodox constitution Tor
nsst but oil the most vigorous aud resoutc leader.
IL is not impossible, however that the revolution NAV
LEAD TO god results An additional paper constitution
will do little for Spain but the present movement
sentiay sound aud honest where Il il wanting in
Wisdom protest agsins; Christina aud Sartorius IL in
ise proof that the nation retains its selt.respcc-
Corruption and tyranny will henceorth be
ced by the proof which has been given they are un.
safe The indignation which has been lcd forth by tho
scandals Of the palace may serve wholesome warn
lug; aud one great advantage at least has been obta ned
in the exile Of that notorious princess oil whom il NAV
be said that deceit peculaon aud greeduess are among
her minor dement's.
THE DEFENCES OF SEBASTOPOL
From tue Journal des Debats, (Pati.) Oct. col
The site Of Sebasopo consists OF series of platforms