New Decree Of Ferdinand.
The Times, 1824-01-14T00:00:00

-- Ve need scarcely recommend to- general attention tbe followin1g extraordinary decree of King Ferdinand, extiacted from the Etoile of Sunday iight. That he shonld coin- mand the monks whoin he restores to their convents to shouit a Te Deum for such a profitable calamity is per- fectly natural, though somewhat unnecessary-that he shoull formally abolish a " constitution" whlich hat been previously destroyed, may give violenice the ap- earance of law, though it nmust seem to ordinary observers like " alay.ng the slain ;" but- that he should enact regula- tions, and make appointments respecting "his dbuiinions in America," appearn to manifest a degree ot' madness, as great as that which his uncle of Naples would displavy in making ordinances for his *' Kingdoimi of Jerusalem." A King of the Indies resitillg in 'Spain, must lidedforth be an aioaomaly similar to a Bishop in Partibas. (From the Etoil4, dated Monday, Jan. 12.) AIADRID, JAN. 2. The King our Sovereign bas issued the following.decree:_ "The violence with which several corps of my armnis, tuTning againstny Royal person the zrms which I had put into their hands, compelled me to recognize and swear to, on the 7th of Xlarch, 1820, the politicat Constrtutrizo of the Spanish illbfniarchy, could not fail to attract the attention of all the Sovereigns of Europe. Their thrones were endanjgered by the horrible crime which had been committed against mine. "lasters of the govemment, tne conspirators and tbeir accom- pIices did not fail soon to throw aside the wask, underwhich tey had disguised the true object of their mysterious designs. 'Blinded by their triumph, they did not dissemble that the Constitution of Cadiz was not the final object of their, desires, nor Spain the only theatre where the spirit of rebellion was to disp`ay its dreadful fury. "The maxims of sedition and anarchy spread among the people- the spoliation and humiliation of the ele'ated classes-the gross in- sults,-both in words and deeds, directed aAinst the IlMajesty of my person and al! the Royal Family-the usutiation, sometimnes sur- reptitious, sometimes violent, of my -cgitimata authority and lastly, the scandalous degradation of the holy religiot of Jesus Christ, bar- barously insulted and persecuted in the persontof its Ministers, left no doubt, even to the least clear-sighted, that in the dark machina- tions of the secret sodeties. Spain was irrevocably- condemned to cease to be a monarchy. "The revolutions of Naples, Turin, and Lisbon, contrived one after the other, by the same means, and-on the same principles, com- pleted the conviction of the Sovereigns, that no throne could be in safety witbout cutting off at once aU the beads of the Hydra which threatened to devour the universe. Such was the object, equally noble and important, of their frequent neetings. Certainly, but for the resolutious, wlhieh for the salvation of the human race prevailed in the Congresses of Laybach and Verona, a great part of civilized Europe, deluged in its blood, would now be the prey of ignorant and presumptuous reformers. " A single effortof the powerful Emiperor of Austria sufficed to put an end in a few days to the troubles of Naples and Piedmont. A siuilar efrort of the Most Christian King sufliced, in like-man- ner, to make the edifice of the constitution througbout the Peniri- sula fail to ruin on its authors. - Emboldened by the presence of my well-beloved cousin the Duke of Angouleme and bis valiant army, the immense majority of my subjects hastened to overthrow the trophies which stupidity had erected to revolt, and to re-establish the ancient institutions which had made the happiness of their fathers. Conducted by victory, the son of France flies to the banks of the Guadeletc-hc attacks-he carries the Trocadero: he fills my oppressors with terror, and at length I and my family are free. Glory be to God! " In the midst of the griefs with which myheart is afllicted, at the sight of the condition to which three years of suffering hare reduced my kingdbms, I have seen with satisfaction that my Supreme Coun- cit of the Indies, moved by its constant zeal for the good of rny ser- vice, was eager to propose to me by its deliberation of the 30th of October, the measures which appeared to it the most proper to'al- leviate the evils caused by the revolution of the Peninsula, in that part of my possessions. Adopting the opinion of the said council, I ordain as folows:- "l. In all rny dominions in America, a solemn Te7 Deam shaU be celebrated, in gratitude to the Almighty for the blessing which in his infinite mercy hie has granted to the whole nation, in preserv- ing roe and' all nay Royal family safe and unharmed amidst such great and continual dangers. " 2. The political Constitutiol of thc Sparisle Mronarchy is for ever abolished in my aitd donuinions in America. Their governments are re-established conformably to the laws and ordinances existing be- fore the 7th of March, 1820. - "3. The-Political- Chiefs, the.Provimmcial Deputations,.thn eon- stitutional iIlunicipalitdes, tlheir Secretaries, Officers, and depend- ents, shall immediately cease their functions. " 4. The newly established Courts of Justice shall also cease their tunctions. "5. The AMlilitia created by the Cortes, under the name of ANa- tional, shaU be immediately dissolved. The individuals comprising it shall give up their anns and equipments before they return to their homes. " 6. 'nhe suppressed communities shaU return to their convents, and be reinstated in all their possessions, comprehending those which have been alienated in any manner whatsoever. " 7. 1 confirm the favours and employments which may have been granted during the Constitutional Government, in my possessions in America; provided, however, that they are not derived from the Constitution that they are not of new creation; and that those who have obtained them have not rendered themselves unworthy of them by theirconduct. " 8. W'ith the exception of whst is determined- by the preceding article, any office whiclh may have become vacant by the discharge or unjust removal of him who held it, shall he restored to him if he desires it, with the exception of biry who shaU have been put in his place. In consequence, I order my Viceroys, Courts of Justice, Captains-General, Governors, and Intendants; and I charge the tmost reverend Archbishops and Bishops, Deans and Chapters of the Netropolitan eburches and cathedrals of-my kingdom ofthe Indies, of the adjacent islands, and of the Philippines, to fulfil and cause to be executed, each as far as he is concerned, my Royal will, such as it is here above expressed. " Done at the Palace, the - of December, 1823." The Kring, our miaster, desiring to recomEpense the services and the fidelity of the Minister dc capa y espdda don Lopez d' Alcaraz, and the initendants of the army, Don Ant. Gongora, and Don Jon- chini de Peralta y Sanz, has, by a decree signed by his hand, no- minated them Directors-General of the Revenues of the Kingdom. k'Father Cordon, Provincialof the Jesuit in Spain, has commanded aUlthe priests of the order to celebrate masses in gratitude for the happy deliverance of the Kingof Spain, and all those of the society swho re not priests to offer up prayers. The 29th of May and the lst of November are for ever happy days in the annals of the society. EVW bBECREE OF .ERDIVANX':