The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-23

welfare of Spain. Russia, under the date OF
the I'd May, denounced in severe terms the oe-
currences at La Isla Its answer to the circular
contains the following passages:
Since the general pacifcation, Russia has,
in concert with her allies, given more than one
proof of the interest she takes in Spanish at
fairs. The correspondence which took place
among the various Courts of Europe attests the
wish which the Emperor has always formed,
that the authority of the King should be con-
solidated through the medium of pure and gen.
erous principles, as well as by the support of
vigorous institutions, rendered so by the regu-
lar mode of their establishment. Institutions
emanating from thrones are conservative; but
when they spring up amidst troubles, they only
engender new chaos. In declaring his con-
viction on this point, the Emperor only SPEAKS
according to the lessons of experience. 1t we
look back to the past, great examples present
themselves for the meditation of nations, as well
as of sovereigns. His Majesty persists in his
opinion; his wishes are not changed, and OF
that he here gives the most formal assurance
1t now belongs to the Government of the Pen
insula to Judge whether institutions imposed by
one of those violent acts, the fatal patrimony
against which Spain has struggled with so
much honor, can realize the benefits expected
from the wisdom of his Catholic Majesty and
the patriotism of his counsels. The path by
which Spain shall choose to seek this impor-
tant object and the measures by which she en-
deavors to destroy the impression produced in
Europe by the events of the month of March,
must determine the nature of the relations
which his Imperial Majesty will preserve with
the Spanish Government, and the confidence
which he would always testify towards it."
France, Austria, and Prussia, participated in
the views of Russia, and each of them, with
more or less Reproduction, denounced every ap-
proach to democratic institutions. However,
the Progressistas were undismayed by foreign
cenSures, and on the 9th July the Cortes met,
with the usual solemnities. 1t is remarkable
that one of the earliest measures of the new
Assembly was to disband the very army that
had raised the standard of revolution at La Isla.
1t was indeed daring experiment Many of
the dismissed officers demonstrated, and for
moment the COrtes paused. AS some conces-
sion to this military resentment, the War Min
lister was dismissed; Riego was invited to Mad
rid, but shortly afterwards exiled to Oviedo.
Several others were banished, on the plea that
they meditated republic. Tumults arose,
which were put down by the sword.
The Cortes proceeded earnestly with their
labors. The sixty-nine Deputies
who signed the address presented to the King
at Valencia, in April, 1914, and known as the
" Persians," were disqualified for the exercise
of any office, civil or military, at the same
time that the AfranceSados, formerly persecu-
ted, were restored to their civic rights. Among
the new measures was a decree awarding the
penalty of Punishment for eight years against
any one endeavoring to dissuade the people
from the observance of the Constitution, and
Imprisonment for the same period if an ecclesi-
astic. The law Of entail was altered, which
gave great offence to the nobility. The finances
were so deranged that a foreign loan was ne
cessity, as the country was too impoverished to
sustain a pressure of taxation adequate to its
emergencies; and plan was submitted for the
of church property. By decree
passed on the lst October the monasteries, ex-
cepting certain number, were suppressed, and
also several of the military orders, the revenues
of which, it was agreed, should be set apart for
the payment of the national debt. Hitherto,
the King had sanctioned the proceedings of the
COrtes, though with reluctance but he hesita-
ted to interfere with the church, and month
elapsed before he affixed his signature to the
secularization of monastic property. In regard
to this subject we must enter into some de-
tails.
By certain articles decreed by the Council of
Trent, a power was reserved to the Crown of
Spain to suppress any convent, if the monks did
not amount to twelve. During the reign of
Ferdinand VII, it was ascertained that out of
eighteen hundred converts that existed in the
Kingdom, nine hundred, or one half, fell under
that category, and accordingly were suppressed
by a simple ordinance. Jonellanos reckoned
the whole number of the clerical body of all
classes at 100000. "The oldest conventual
foundations" says Capt Widdrington, "appear
to be the very curious group in Galicia and the
Asturias, to which kingdoms they seem to have
been confined. There were no less than 400 of
these small establishments, the greater part
being dnpliceS,' or containing both sexes. In
fact, they were private endowments, and much
more secular than ecclesiastical in their nature
nor do | suppose the inmates protested any
degree of chastity, or possibly even celibacy.
A portion of these foundations were STYLED
herederos,' meaning that they were proprietary,
and belonged, of hereditary right, to the fami-
lies who had originally endowed them. The
dates of the greater number are in the tenth.
eleventh, and twelfth, centuries" In the time
of Charles III, the enormous property locked
up by being in possession of the regular clergy
had been regularly brought under the notice Of
the Government and the sale of that property.
and the conversion of the produce into the pub.
lie funds and securities, for their benefit, was
seriously proposed by no less body than the
Council of CASTLE. The groundwork of this
proposition was the fatal injury to agriculture
inflicted by the system, for the husbandry on
these lands was very defective; an immense
area was literally depopulated. "Where are
the forty towns of Toledo" asks Capt Widd
rington, that have disappeared since the time
of Philip II? Ask the priesthood, for they are
the real authors of such destruction. Where
are the industrious people who teemed in Anda
lusia, the very name of whose locations is lost
although they once filled the country along the
Guadalquiver, making it one vast garden and
continued line Of villages and towns2 Ask the
advisers and directory of the Catholic Kings
who are now held out as subjects for admira
ton. Who have caused the reduction of Estre
madura, nearly the most beautiful region in
Europe, to a vast despoblado? The same
authorities. Let the traveller go from Burgo
to Valladolid, and from thence to Leon, return
ing to Benevante, or shaping his course as h,