Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-09
AFFAIRS IN SPAIN.


number Of interesting events have been taking place
10 Spain STAGE We last addressed our readers upon the
OF that violently aritated country There are TWO occur
rences OF recent date which interesting and sip
nhcant than ordinary events and which deserve psrticu
lar comment We aude to the circumstances othe great
sensation excited by the unusIi addition which
General Alende Silaztn made the customary form of
the oath taken by the ministers aud the Consequence
OF the cruel murder Of soldier 10y an officer for CRYING
out "Vird E,yarisTo"
In the first ease when the oath had been read TO Sell
Ear oy the Official appointed 'o the purpose, he made the
Ordinary sus"cr, 81 swear; but in emphatic manner
appended tie extraordinary obi aton "And swear also
to deead the rights Of the people" 1t is said that the
Queen sone"hat phlegmatic and took exception to
the oath. The iunctonares frightened out OF
heir senses a; so bold innovation Of etiquette
We can see no impropety in this addition cap. Caly I'M
der the circumstance when il made. All excited peo.
pie yet smarng from the effects Of miserable govern
nent which bad tramped upon their rights and goaded
them to DESPERATION have some claim to be appeas-
I'd by oath Of fidelity TO their interests as we'll az TO
the Interests Of the crown.
II the motive which actuled siszir were pure one.
this breach of form proves him to be man.
ght-muded minister, aud to be worthy OF the position
he occupies In the government OF Spain At the present
crisis, particularly such wanted The cause OF
liberty sacred one, and all the Western Powers must
recognise the popW antidote the poison Of
aosoutsm, which the Eastern Powers anxious TO in
fuse where they can exercise any sway.
Ia the second case 20 which have referred II
that when battalion was on parade at Sarria a village
barcelona. the soldier who cried out Viye EspaT-
ero," Immediately stabbed to the heart by his no,
tempered oommandant The act most atirocious
and be surprised the recital of the tragic re-
tribution which IL Occasioned.
The indignant soldiers fred upon their officers and
killed several besides the fool-hardy murderer Another
battalion caught the spirit Of revenge aud sought to kill
the colonel Of the regiment Tho brothers Of that
officer sIaiu but he himself escaped over the dead
body Of Of them. The effect Of the scene and the
fright drove him mad and he attempted more than once
TO commit suicide He was ultimately taken Birceona
md tph of i'm
act. Such disastrous occurrence, arising from an Off,
GERS reckless disregard Of the life Of soldier ought "a
serve az warning agliust the attempt at assuming arb
ary power and undertaking executions without legal au
tbor,y The regiment nat took this summary vengeance
up It's officers, was the CIcddofc3 Of Arapiles.
What the consequences sill DO has yet TRANSFERRED
but considering what must have been the eEasPeraie
feeling Of the odery witnessing such outrage upon
comrade, probably the irritation will be soothsd rather
than punishment attempted.
Spain, however, IL IN very unsettled state and IL Il
not improbable that there may be reigu Of terror
smaller scale than the memorable OF France. The
Queen has been Obliged 70 allow her household 10 be com
pctgly changed, although hsr Majesty offered tho most
strenuous opposition In her power She may have bit
upon the ,nh when sue declared that she no longer
sldered betse a. the regnng sovereign, but rather
prisoner IN her own palace. RspafIero seems 10 retain
the enthusiastic attachment of the people, and 10 enjoy
season OF Urbounded popularity. His Acknowledged tact
sud great lent may him In his positioua posi-
sion dangerous II Is elevated The clubs sent a
dputaon 10 HIM, demanding the suppression Of the ques
ou Of dynasty which they asserted could be discuss
ed bv the C)res. but With that demand Espauero did
not cbOg'e to comply. The msority Of the nation We
believe Ia he completely satisfied upon the important
subject Of the constituent Cortes which is revive
tbs constitution u 1887, aud which consists OF
only one chamber The Congress Of Deputies. The Cor
tee Is to meet the 9Th Of November and deputy
70 be- elected for every hiryve thousand souls Three
times the number Of required arc named by the
constituencies that elect deputies, and ont Of each three
the selects The members Of the late Senate
supposed to hsve been constituted for life but
the elections will Of course, sweep them away from
tho chamber. These changes cannot be effected without
obstinate contests The Juntas Of Malaga and LetIa
doggedly refuse to recognise the government add
With all the stiffness Of the Spanish grandess PRIDE they
insist maintaining the privileges. The state OF Cats
onia II accuse Of great anxiety and perpleIity the
government The Disturbances which distress that coun.
try take the character Of frenzied mob violence and the
horrible Of the public Secretary at Tortosa
proves hs the people prepared TO commit the savage
work which Dy characterized the frs; French revo
luIiOR,