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

lhdlty coulu not De proved, 1t was imagined.
No judgment could be obtained, for there were
no proofs; but the accused were tortured by
delays; and sentences, that could not be pro-
nounced without leading to an acquittal, were
deferred. The King himself became weary of
the prolonged prosecutions, and insisted on
some termination to these horrors but his
commands were constantly eluded. Such was
the innocence of the patriots, that though three
commissions were successfully appointed, and
composed of their sworn enemies none dared
to take on themselves the responsibility of con-
domination to death, which was the object de-
sired. But fear Of the future alone restrained
them; and the result was, that the last commits
sion persuaded the Government, without any
judgment being recorded, without any evidence
being submitted, arbitrarily to award the fol-
lowing punishments.
All who had escaped by flight were sentenced
to death. The most illustriOus of this class
were Count Torreno, Florez Estrada, and Nina.
In the next class, the great orator, Augustin
Argueles, was sentenced to eight years incar-
ceration at Ceuta, and Canga Arguelles, the
financier, to a similar imprisonment at Penis
cola such also was the fate of the poet Marti-
nez de la Rosa, at Ell Penon; and of Caatra-
va, at Mellila; Villaneuva, Munos, Torrero,
Oliveros and Cepero, liberal ecclesiastics, were
deprived of their benefces, and sentenced to
eight years close confinement in converts. 1t
would be easy to extend the list, for the cata-
logue is long; but our object is rather to paint
the spirit of the counter-revolution, than to
dwell on details. At length, the celebrated
Cevalhos, then Minister and who had accom-
panied Ferdinand to Bayonne when Bonaparte
was plotting the abduction of the Royal family,
presented to the King a memorial, in which he
boldly sketched out the consequences of this
cruel system. He advised the cessation of all
prosecutions for political opinion, and recon-
mended his Majesty to open the gates of the
prisons, overcrowded with victims. The King
accepted this prudent and humane policy but
his intimate counsellOrs dissuaded him from Its
adoption. Such was the restoration of the
Spanish Bourbons.
From 1915 to 1919, distrusts, suspicious,
c0nspraces, and instructions, distracted the
ileged orders, and the mass of the people
under the sway of the priests. On the other
were the members of the dissolved Cortes, their
adherents, and all who desired popular govern
ment. Ferdinand had solemnly promised to
convene Cortes under the old national and le-
gal forms, and that promise he violated. If the
Cortes wished to 90 too far, he would not 90
far enough, and there was no middle party to
hold the balance. The King favored the AGan-
ceSados, as those were called who had Joined
the French party, and served King Joseph Ma
poleon, during the captivity of the Royal fam-
ly. This naturally excited the liveest indgna-
ton among the patriots, and those who had lost
relatives and friends during the war; it is true
the King published an amnesty on the Both of
May, 1914, from the benefit of which he ex-
Guided some of the most obnoxious, who had
borne arms in the French service against Spain;
but he allowed the rest, with triAng restrictions
to return home. Such proceedings Disguised
the constitutional party, who felt that time and
opportunity were alone wanting to bring back
their most cruel and detested enemies Nina
of September, 1914, he entered the fortress of
Pampeluna; but, not having confidence in the
garrison, withdrew to France. This movement
served as pretext for not converting the Cortes.
On the 18th of September 1915, Porlier sue
ceeded in gaining over the garrison of Corunna,
and arrested the local authorities He after
wards took possession of Ferrol, and issued
proclamation, declaring that the King was badly
advised, and that the CorteS ought to be assem-
bled. In four days he was abandoned by his
troops, seized, and put to death. Lacy, Vidal,
and others, made similar attempts, and shared
similar fate. Various attempts at insurrection
failed during the four following years, and other
victims persisted. Power was exasperated, and
Liberalism, though checked, was not discourag-
ed but awaited the hour of vengeance. That
hour came in 1919. In December of that year,
a large force was assembled in Lower Andalu-
STA, destined to reduce the American colonies
to submission, but neither the officers nor pri-
Yates liked the service. The opponents of the
Government availed themselves of this growing
disaifection, and general plan of mutiny was
organized in the Expedtionary Army, which
broke out on the LIST of January, 1920, when
the Constitution of 1912 was proclaimed. The
troops in Galcia Immediately fraternized with
those in Andalusia. Nina hoisted the stand
ard of the Cortes and the Constitution in Ma
varre. Agar, the late Regent, successfully agi
tated Aragon and Catalonia. Madrid Joined
the movement, and, when it was too late, Fer
on the 9th of May. This revolution is known
as the mutiny of La Isla. Many plans were
proposed for a pacifcation. Eio, Captain
General of Valencia, requested permission of
the King to proceed to Andalusia, and, in con-
junction with General Freyre, endeavor to re-
call the soldiers to their allegiance. The In
| fante Don Carlos also offered his services; but
Ferdinand refused these overtures by the adj
wise of his Minister, the Duke del Infantado.
The revolution, however. halted in its course,
and was stationary for few weeks, and per-
haps by timely vigor it might have been stopped.
At the outset Cadiz adhered to Royalty. Eva
riste San Miguel, the historian of the period,
alluding to the resistance of Cadiz, says:
:" The hopes of gaining this important city
gradually vanished. By force it was considered
impossible to do anything; and negotiations,
intrigues, and cOnspiracies, no longer produced
effect. Our situation was truly extraordinary
and the revolution, stationary for twenty five
days, without losing or gaining an inch OF
ground, presented one of the most singular
phenomena in politics. Riego's attempt al
Malaga had failed, and his appearance only
produced astonishment among the people,"
However, military movement at Corunna