The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-14


when they were fourteen years old, TO recognise
their sovereign, and solemnly declare them
duly qualified personally to exercise supreme
authority. Another object of these assemblies
was to receive from the guardians and regents
the formal surrender Of the powers which had
been confded to them.p Such, according to
the learned historian Of the Cortes, was their
most national function, sauctioniug the delega-
ton of authority and consecrating the choice of
| q master.
The plan proposed and stated now compels
us to take a wide and sudden leap, from the
earlier epochs of Spanish history, down to the
invasion of the French and the usurpation Of
the throne by Bonaparte, who nominated bis
brother Joseph, King. The nation sprang to
arms to avenge this most atrooious insult, with
the exception of less than one hundred miscre-
anti, afterwards called the AFRANcEsADos,
who signed the Bayonne Constitution, dated
the 9Th May, 1908, by which Charles Nv
transferred his sceptre TO Napoleon. That in
famous document was signed by ninety-one
Spaniards of the highest distinction expressly
convened to stamp eternal ignominy on their
names among them were Dukes, Marqnises,
Counts, and many heads of the religious or
dcrs. Then Joseph BOnsparte was proclaimed
King of Spain. When he reached Madrid a
deputation of grandees, Offering their cOngas-
ulations, addressed him thus: uSire the
grandees of Spain have of all times been cele-
brated for their loyalty TO their sovereigns and
in them your Majesty will find the same f1el-
ity and adhesion The Council of CASTLE,
rivalling the grandees in baseness, assured him
"that he was the principal branch Of a family
destined by Heaven to reign"
Prince Ferdinand, afterwards King Ferd-
nand VII, was also kidnapped at Bayonne with
his father, Charles w. Bonaparte insolently
told him that he must surrender his future
claims 10 the throne Of Spain, and take in ex-
change the very minor kingdom of Tuscany
which the Prince peremptorily refused He did
more. He sent several DEGREES TO Spain, most
OF which were intercepted, but two safely
reached Madrid, bearing his signature One was
addressed to the SUPREME JUNTA, directing its
members to remove to a secure place, and ex-
ercise the functions of sovereignty; adding.
that war was to commence the moment he was
sent into the interior of France The other
was directed to the Royal Council or, ia de-
feet thereof to any chanoery or high court,
commanding, through either medium, the as-
sembling of the Cortes in any place deemed
most expsdient. Similar instructions had in
deed been left before his departure from Mad
rid on his treaoherOus and fatal journey and
in both instances, slluding to the convocation
of the COrtes, they were instructed to organize
a Government, and obtain means for the de-
fence Of tho kingdom. At this date, however,
the Junta had been dissolved, and its members
dispersed.
After Duponts defeat by Castanos in conse-
quence of which King Joseph vas compelled to
retire beyond the Ebro it was determined 10
convene Cortes, and deputies were elected by
the provincial juntas, 10 meet ut Madrid. A
difference of opinion arose as to the manner Of
procedure. SOme were disposed b follow the
ancient practice of CASTLE, while the deputies
from ArSgon claimed the revival of their
ancient fllsrOs. Ultimately they met at Aran-
jueZ and exhibited their powers, which were
limited to the appointment Of a central board
to act in concert with the Provinces but the
thirty-fonr assembled deputies felt that in the
critical circumstances in which they were
placed they required unfettered action ac-
cordIngly, they declared themselves central
Junts, and at once assumed the supreme gov
eminent in the name of Ferdinand VII elected
Count Florida Blanca President and took poe
session u tho royal apartments. This central
junta declared itself supreme, and assumed the
title of Majesty, while each of the provincial
juntas insisted on retaining its local authority.
Hence arose species of federal legislation and
a want of unity in action. Against this system
the Council of CASTLE twice demonstrated, but
their remonstrances were di5regsrded.
On the approach of Napoleon to Madrid the
central junta quilted AraDjaez, proceeded to-
wards Estremadura, eventually assembling at
Truxillo. After some debates in that town
they resolved On making Seville their head
quarters. 1t was then that the central junta
and tho junta of Seville were amalgamated
The projects preached at Araniuez we're re-
duced into practice, the press was set to work
aud democratic principles were propagated.
This assembly sought to constitute itself the
Government and monopolize all power, by
weakening the provincial juntas, which Gre
sted jealousies and divisions; and to heal these,
decree was promulgated on the 9th Of May,
1909, to convoke the Cortes The preamble to
the decree stated "that it was but Just that the
Spanish people should terminate the present
contest, with the certainty of leaving TO their
pos.erity an Inheritance of happiness and glory
worthy Of their efforts, an object Of which the
Supreme Junta had never lost sight" IL then
expressed its regret that all tho disasters to
which the nation had been exposed were solely
attributable to the disuse of those salutary inst
tutions which in happier days had secured the
welfare and strength Of the State;D adding
"that the time had now arrived for taking this
great work in hand, and devising the reforms
which ought to be made in the administration,
by re establishing the fundamental laws of the
monarchy" 1t concluded by announcing that
" the legal and known representation Of the
monarchy 10 ancient Cortcs should be estab-
lished by their conyocation in the next year, or
sooner if circumstances would allow; that the
junta, in the interval, would occupy itself with
ascertaining the number and qualifications Of
deputies and the mode of assembling them, for
which purposes a committee was to be named
to prepare the requisite documents and, fu=-
Their, that they would consider the part which
South America was to have In the meeting OF
the Corteso
The loss of the battle of Ocana, and the tri-
umphent advance Of the French, interrupted
these plans. On the 18th January, 1910, the
junts gave notice that they proposed to re-
move to the Isla de Leon, and there establish
themselves on the ensuing first of February,
leaving, nevertheless, in Seville sufficient num-
Der of deputies for the despatch of business
They quilted Seville ON the 23d of January,
and proceeded to the lsla de Leon, and on the
29ih issued decree, acknowledging that the
local change of the Government, and Of the
meeting of the Cortes, could not be any longer
delayed without imminent danger to the eoun-
try" They afterwards ordained that a regen-
cy of 1--WE persons named by themselves, should
be appointed, lone of the regents to represent
America to whom all the authority possessed
by the Supreme Junta should be transferred,
without any limitation; adding, that the new
regents should convene the C0rtes. Each of
the five was alternately to act as President. A
new electoral law was to be frsped, every dep
uty to have a constituency Of $4,000 electors.
For the present, the South American Provinces
were to have substitutes chosen for them till
delegates could be duly elected. The Cortes
opened on the cath of September, 1910, consist
ing only Of popular deputies, (the mobiles aad
clergy being excluded, snd declared itsclf
oonstitusnt assembly The Recencv was than