The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08
WASHINGTON, d. c..
foreign Affairs.
REVOLUTIONS OF sPAIH-No. s.

sion OF the French Chambers was opened, and
the King delivered the following memorable
speech, in which he announced the immediate
invasion of the peninsula "Divine justice
permits" said Louis XVIII, that after hav-
ing for long time made other nations suffer
the terrible effects of our disorders, we should
ourselves be exposed to dangers brought about
by similar calamities among a neighboring
people. i have made every effort to guaranty
the security Of my people, and to preserve
Spain herself from the extremity Of misfortune.
The infatuation with which the representations
made at Madrid have been rejected, leaves lit
tie hope of preserving peace. / have ordered
the recall of my minister One hundred thou
sand Frenchmen, commanded by Prince OF
my family-by him whom my heart delights to
call nv son-are ready to march, invoking the
God Of St. Louis, for the sake Of preserving the
throne of Spain 10 descendant of Henry ",
Of saving that fine kingdom from ruin, and OF
reconcihng it with Europe. Our stations are
about to be reinforced in those places whore
our maritime commerce has need of that pro-
lection. Cruisers shall be- established at all
annoyed. IL war is inevitable, will use all my
endeavors to confne its circle, to limit its dura-
ton. II viii be undertaken only to conquer
peace, which the state of Spain would render
impossible. Let Ferdinand VII be free to givs
to his people institutions which they cannot
hold but from him, and which, by securing
their tranquility, would dissipato the just in
II Il
from that moment. / make, gentlemen, be-
fore you, a solemn engagement on this point.
was bound to lay before you the state of our
foreign affairs. Ii was for me to deliberate.
have done il nlatureiy. / have consulted the
dignity of nv crown-the honor and security
Of France. Gentlemen, We are Frenchmen !;
we shall always be agreed to defend such inter
ests"
This speech breathed the spirit of the Holy
Alliance; for, by insisting that the Spanish ma
ton was only entitled to such institutions as
Ferdinand pleased to establish the divine right
of Kings was consecrated. BY an armed in
PREVENTION it proclaimed as principle, that
the States of Europe were not to govern
themselves as each thought fit, but according
10 the dictation of the military monarchies as
sembled at Congress. Were such doctrine
tenable, there would be an end of all separate
nstionalities. 1t would revive in a political
sense what the Bishops of Rome have always
attempted to enforce in a spiritual sense-a
complete European uniformity. A Congress
might announce, for instance, that the liberty
OF the press should cease and, if any nation
refused obedience to such a mandate, a casus
DELI would be established. Europe, indeed,
would return to that state of barbarism, in
which what has been called "the law Of the
strongest" would prevail.
The French Government had a purchased
msjority in the Chamber of Deputies the lib
eral opposition was utterly powerless on d.
vision. The war party, confident in their num-
bers, went to the length of asserting that the
invasion of Spain had been too long DELAYED.
This was blow at NJ. de Villele, who openly
avowed that, so far from having shown any
sympathy with the Spanish liberals, everything
had been done by him " to stir up instruction
- Spain, whenever and wherever il was posi-
bls." This was omitted in the Moniter, but
1t was reported in some of the opposition jour
mails, against which proceedings were instituted
Tor breach of privilege-the remarks Of N. de
Willie having been uttered in the Chamber of
Peers, not in the Chamber of Deputies He
afterwards endeavored to explain by stating
that 1t was necessary TO attack the South in
order to escape the North a humiHating
confession, for IT implied that if France would
not put down the Spanish Constitution, Russia
would. Was France then so afraid of Russia,
that she consented to become the tool Of the
Northern Autocrat? Or, when she carried her
complaints TO the Congress of Verona, was she
hypocrite, falsely pretending that Spain was
fomenting secret Instructions in France, while
in fact France, by the confession of NJ. de Viii
lele, was stirring up Instruction in Spain,
whenever and wherever it was possible?" Sure
ly an intrigue SO base as this reflects little
honor on the principle of monarchical Govern
ments.
But among the statesmen of France there
was one, and he the most eminent of all, who
opposed this war. 1t was the veteran Talley-
rand. " 1t is now" said that wary politician,
lust sixteen years ago, commanded by him
who at that time ruled the world to deliver my
opinion on the projected attack on Spain, had
the misfortune to displease that ruler by un-
yelling the future, and pointing out the multi
tuds of dangers that would arise out of an ag-
gression equally rash and unjust. Disgrace
was the reward Of my sincerity. And after so
long an interval, find myself by singular
destiny, under the necessity Of renewing the
same warnings and the Same counsels." His
speech made profound impression, and even
alarmed NJ. de Villele; but it was too late tc
retract.
On receiving copies of the speech of the
King of France, the Madrid Government, early
in February, claimed the right of removing
Ferdinand from the capital. He objected; the
Ministers persisted; and on the 10th of tina
month the Cortes passed vote authorizing
them to change the seat of Government, bu
leaving to the King the choice of place. Or
the 18th the session closed, and in the evening
the King announced his intention to dismiss
the Ministry. This led to tumult, and Ferdi
nand yislded to the pressure Of circumstances
On the 10th March he was removed to Seville
accompanied by the Government and the
Cortss.
The French army, nominally under the com
mand of the Duke of Angoulene, but reall,
under that Of the Marshals Oudinot, Molitor
and Money, crossed the Bidassoa on the I'll
April, 1929, eighty thousand strong. Witt
them it was arranged that the Army of thu
~