STATE PAPERS. 



417 



writings which, while they ought 

 to create the most ardent })atri- 

 otisin, to unite and enlighten the 

 nation, appeared inspired by the 

 enemy for the purpose of dividing 

 it ! Cease, and let the nation ap- 

 pear with all the power which it 

 possesses, and which it has display- 

 ed vigorously at different periods of 

 its grand insurrection ! The dan- 

 ger is great ; the government nei- 

 ther wishes, nor ought to conceal 

 it: let the sacrifices also be great. 

 The Regency will spare no exer- 

 tions to fulfil its duties : and even 

 though it should see itself on the 

 brink of a precipice, it will there 

 exercise its last act of vigour in 

 burying itself under the ruins of 

 the country; thus corresponding to 

 the resolutions which you all have 

 formed, and to the confidence re- 

 posed in it by the National Con- 

 gress. But, that fatal moment, 

 Spaniards ! shall not arrive. We 

 have all sworn to be free. To at- 

 tain that object, let us devote the 

 remains of our ancient opulence, 

 exhaust our resources, and prodi- 

 gally shed our blood. Of what im- 

 portance are all those, when we 

 wish to maintain the glory of our 

 contest, our precious liberty, and 

 the respect due to the Spanish 

 name? Who withanavaricioushand 

 would conceal those barren trea- 

 sures which the country demands, 

 and which the enemy contem- 

 plates with a greedy and rapacious 

 eye? Who would utter the voice 

 of dismay for the jjurpose of com- 

 ing to terms with the tyrant? Who 

 will oppose himself to the legiti- 

 mate authority which has ema- 

 nated from the Cortes, and dare to 

 disobey it, in the hope of an impu- 

 nity created by the discredit of 

 Government, and a want of con- 

 Vot. LIV. 



fidence on the part of the People ? 

 Omissions and want of obedience 

 can no longer be overlooked. The 

 Spaniards desire that the Go- 

 vernment should be consolidated; 

 and that order should be establish- 

 ed ; which can alone be the fruit of 

 a constitutional system, dictated 

 by the representatives of the na- 

 tion : they wish that there should 

 be an equality of sacrifices among 

 those who enjoy the rights of citi- 

 zens : they wish that the Govern- 

 ment, impressed with a sense of 

 its unbounded obligations, shall 

 employ all its zeal in ar.nihilating 

 the enemy's legions, and in con- 

 firming the constitution of the 

 Monarchy. As long as the Re- 

 gency exercises the authority en- 

 trusted to it, it will constantly en- 

 deavour to satisfy this anxious de- 

 sire of the public mind, founded 

 upon principles of equity and jus- 

 tice. 



Spaniards! Our danger is im- 

 minent. Our fate must either be 

 that of the most ignominious sla- 

 very, or the possession of glory 

 and independence. The Govern- 

 ment has been formed to ad- 

 vance the latter, and to open to 

 you the path of greatness. Respect 

 it; confide in your representatives 

 and in it: all of them act towards 

 the same object; all co-operate to 

 attain the ultimate triumph which 

 Providence has destined for us. 

 You, on your part, will go on pro- 

 secuting eternal war against the 

 tyrant; you will die sooner than 

 submit to wear the chains. of servi- 

 tude ; you will effectually oppose 

 those domestic enemies who en- 

 deavour to produce disunion, or 

 destroy the generous institutions 

 which you liave decreed. Thus, 

 doul)iless, will you act, and you 



2 E shall 



