The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-23
forsian Affairs.
REVOLUTIONS OF SPAIN.

nand VII to the throne of his ancestors, pre-
served for him during the six years of his cap
tivity in France by the loyalty and valor of his
subjects, took place under the armed escort Of
General Equia. He did not present himself
as the father of his people, but in the stern
aspect of conqueror. In common with the
whole family of the Bourbons, he had learned
nothing from adversely. The patriots who had
maintained the national independence were
soon to be rewarded with royal ingratitude,
while those who had meanly fled from the CON
test, or had basely served the intrusive King,
were to be promoted to offices OF emolument
and honor. The doors Of dungeons were al
ready opening for the former; the latter had
advanced to the steps Of the throne. What
have the friends of the King urged against
the Cortes They describe them as debating
TO him in somewhat the following terms: You
shall do our bidding; yon shall exercise no act
.of sovereignty until empowered by us. You
shall be King after our fashion when you re-
turn, such attendants only as are of our choos-
ing shall accompany you, and your subjects
shall have no laws but those of our enacting.
We viii allow them no time to inquire into the
merits of that code which we have framed for
their benefit. They must accept and thank us
for the boon. They have no right to deliberate
where we have decided That right was vested
in us. and we have exercised it. 1t is there
fore their duty to submit, and it is your duty TO
obey our summons to appear in the bosom Of
the Cortes. and swear to the Constitution we
have framed"
In this there is exaggeration, but there is
also truth In the strict sense of legitimacy,
Ferdinand returned to Spain with all his ances-
trail rights Of royalty unimpaired; in other
words as an absolute King. His position was
not analogous to that of William III Of Eng
land who was compelled to accept the Bill of
Rights before he received the crown. He was
to fill throne vacated by an act of abdcatiOn,
and therefore the donors of that throne were
justified in making terms with a new and
elected sovereign. But the case of Ferdinand
was very different. His throne had never been
abdicated and it was only vacant because he
was captive in an enemys country. His
royal rights had only been dormant; and then
the question is, whether the Cortes had a sound
title to change the nature of his prerogative
during his involuntary absence from his coun-
try. OF course, legitimacy answers the ques-
ton with a very decided negative but there
are some special circumstances to be consid-
cred.
In the struggle against France, much more
was involved than the dynasty of the Spanish
Bourbons; for the integrity Of Spanish indie
pendence was imperilled 1t is true that the
Cortes had defended both but the mere fact
of their having refused the restoration of Fer
dinand in the terms Of the treaty of Valencay,
clearly shows that they looked more to the ma
iional independence than to the Royal family.
They demanded guarantees not only against
the foreigner, but against those of their cOun-
trvmen who had supported the foreigner.
Hence, while they recognised the rights of the
King, whose throne they had defended, they
expected in return sufficient securities for their
own liberties, by converting an absolute into a
constitutional throne But what is " consti-
tutional throne? The very vagueness of the
term leads TO a multiplicity of interpretations.
Lafayette definition, after the expulsion OF
Charles " was an hereditary monarchy sur
rounded 10y republican institutions In Eng
land, we have another formula" the govern
ment of King, Lords, and Commons" The
Cortes went still further, both in theory and
practice. They recognised but one chamber
wholly elective, no privileges being conceded
either to coronets or mitres. But the essentia
difference between what Lafayette proposed
and England recognises. and what Spain de
sires to enforce was the investment in Cortes
of the power of proroguing or dissolving their
own body, which in hereditary monarchies is
vital element in the royal prerogative In
this respect they erred, for, even in a republic
the power of convening OF dismissing the legis
lative assembly is vested in the President.
However, Ferdinand and the Services tri
umphed. Whatever may have been the defect
of the Constitution, it undoubtedly espresso,
the wishes of the vast majority of the people
ii was not the offspring of violence, and it ha
been sOlemnly recognised by foreign Powers, b
those Powers who aided in the dethronement c
BOnaparte, which event released Ferdnan
from bondage. What is remarkable in tn
counter-revolution is that a Government. whic
only few DAYS before its downfall exercises
all the material and moral power of the PENN
sula, offered no resistance to Ferdinand, an
took no precautionary measures against tn
Vaccinations of Its enemies Posterity ma
condemn the leading Liberals for not savinj
the State by saving the King himself from tn
snares of his perfdious advisers; but assured
they viii not be branded as factious Jacobins.
Then commenced a frightful persecution q
the patriots, victims Of the Services and Afran
cesados, whom they had SO long despised
Some were confined in the dungeons of Africa
others in the prisons Of the Inquistion; som
were sent to the galleys, branded as the refns
of mankind and there had time to reAec
whether individuals were wise in sacrifcin
themselves for the benefit of an ungratefl
country. The people stood aloof, showing n
sympathy, and made no effort to break tn
chains lettering the hands of those who ha
inscribed their rights and enfranchisemer
on the tables Of the law. 1t is difficult to a
count for this supineness, unless we seek a
explanation in the memorable words addresse
by the Roman Sertorius to those brave Spar
iards who followed his banner against Pom
pey: "Spaniards,' exclaimed Sertorius,
united, and you will be invincible; but fea
you have too much individual pride to az
long together under any leader" Prophet
words which have found their realization i
the last forty years, as indeed they did in earle