DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE AND FOREIGN RELATIONS. 



ptrt* bU determination in force there will be no 

 other authority than the Cortes, and all patriot* and 

 all (oral general* commanding troops Till come 

 hero for order*. Where It the army that Seiior 

 Finer** fears I [A deputy: 'In Vitorial'J Would 

 to God tliat in Vitoria we had a lam army, becauM 

 under the ordera of ita commander (Morionea) it 

 would be a guarantee of liberty. Since, then, there 

 U no danger, there la no occasion for a permanent 

 aeaaion. The King itill reign* under the constitu- 

 tion, ministers are atill at their poti performing 

 their duties, and the oonatitution afford* the mean* 

 of nettling all oonfliot* tliat mar arine. Why, then, 

 precipitate event* f Where, then, i* the difficulty 

 we are unable to aolve I Where are the ambition*, 

 the tumult*, the disorders, the hopei, the fear* i I 

 pray you to believe, gentlemen, that whatever may 

 happen can be met by the general and energetic co- 

 operation of thoae or u* who are reaolved to save 

 liberty. If any one doubt* me let him aay so. If 

 I have your confidence, then I pray you to believe 

 that ipeeche*. and vote*, and propositions to-day 

 may bring unhappy consequences to-morrow. I ap- 

 peal to the patriotism of all. Do not foment dis- 

 sensions. Withdraw thU proposition. Avoid ev- 

 ery thing not legal and constitutional in its origin. 

 From our constitution will come the remedy for all 

 our difficulties. Even if chaos come* and a new 

 creation U necessary, let it appear with law ; let it 

 come from this Chamber if it is not so born. If 

 our institutions are found in the streets and barri- 

 cades, liberty is lost. If they come from our hands 

 auctioned by law, we may be cure their birth will 

 be auspicious, and they will save the country and 

 liberty." [Great and long-continued applause.] 



Figueras made a brief response, saying If he could 

 earse the divine word that make* man the most 

 worthy of creation, he would denounce the voice of 

 Senor Martos, who had jut administered to the ma- 

 jority an opiate to put them to sleep in order that 

 they might awake on the morrow humiliated, be- 

 holding their lost liberties. " My distinguished 

 friend," he said, " ha* given compliments to some, 

 hope* for others, and a mixture or both for all, but 

 not an argument for anyone. I find, gentlemen, in 

 hi* words the most powerful reasons in favor of my 

 proposition. He tell* us the determination of tlie 

 Kin;r is irrevocable, and that the question rests with 

 us n >w It Is impossible for the King to recede. 

 This being to, no reason can be given why we 

 should not remain in permanent session. In such a 

 moment if any one wishes to sleep let him sleep. 

 A* for u* Republicans, when liberty i* in danger we 

 know not repose. The God of battle*, who sends 

 a* these moments of trials, will give us the *trength 

 to support the immense responsibility it ha* pleased 

 Him to impose upon u*. Let us, then, wait here, 

 with our worthy president in his place, the secreta- 

 ries in their places, and let us not be moved by 

 those whom we suspect in there moments to be de- 

 vising plan* for the destruction of liberty and the 

 dissolution of this Chamber." [Sensation.] 



Cantelar then spoke. lie asked the Cortes not to 

 expect a speech from him In these grave and solemn 

 momenta, when hi* heart and his conscience 

 prompted only grave and patriotic actt. One could 

 not apeak at a time when every panning moment 

 might carry with it a danger to liberty fatal to the 

 fortune* of this generation and of generations to 

 come. To-day a display of eloquence would *eem 

 like the levity of Nero strumming the lyre while 

 bis capital was in flames. "Never in my'life have 

 I so much admired eloquence, the grandeur of hu- 

 man word*, as when listening to-day to the minis- 

 ter of state pronouncing one of the most brilliant 

 peeohe* that ever came from hi* lips. He ha* in- 

 voked my patriotism, my good sense, my calmness. 

 He well know* how unnecessary was this appeal. 

 I am patriotic, 1 am measured, I am prudent by con- 

 viction and temperament alwavs, and above all In 

 these supreme moments in which a single impru- 



dence, a tingle indiscretion from any one, might 

 bringdown the pillars of the capital. Genti. 

 we need now a feeling that disregards inert- 

 and procedure, well enough for court*, but ueleee 

 to this Assembly : we must go to the bottom of the 

 question, the reality of thing*. No apeech, however 

 eloquent it may be; no minister, not even tin 

 fore us who have aerved liberty so well, can revive 

 that which has cvaacd to exist, nor avert from ua 

 the reality that imposes itself upon us, tlmt domi- 

 nates us witli iti. incontestable presence. Thm 



ity, gentlemen, ia that, without provocation IV 



any one, without the fault of any one, t !. 

 the Government, the Cortes or any public autii 

 without a cloud in the sky, the Kin^. the actual 

 King, the elected King, the dvnastic King, has an- 

 nounced publicly and solemnly that he hurl- I'mm 

 hi* head to the pavement the crown of Spain." 



A pause followed, in which the President of the 

 Council, the Minister of State, and several nth 

 the cabinet, were in consultation in their seats. It 

 was evident a difference of opinion existed between 

 Senor Zorrilla and SeAor Martos. Sefior Martos waa 

 about to quit the blue bench : his colleagues earnestly 

 dissuading him, secreted his hat under the ln-neli. and 

 he resumed his seat with much apparent reluctance. 

 Sefior Zorrilla then rose to leave, and, repelling the 

 effort* to detain him, he retired from the Chamber. 

 Whereupon 



Senor Martos said : " I have not perhaps clearly 

 understood Sefior Figueras. The circumstances are 

 grave, and, according to my latest information, 

 graver than we could have thought. I beg, there- 

 fore, that Senor Figucraa will explain his p, 

 The Government desires, if it con do so consi M 

 with the requirements which its dignity in 

 on this most unhappy occasion, to be among the 

 first in averting the evils foreshadowed by 81 

 Figueras, and which may not unreasonably be ap- 

 prehended. Wishing thus to avoid every motive lor 

 dissension, and trusting there may be no occasion 

 for a vote, I pause for Senor Figueras's explana- 

 tion." 



Figucras : " I have already said that we shall wait 

 here, organized, but without deliberating, until the 

 Government decides upon its course; Unit \ve shall 

 discuss nothing, remaining, however, in our places, 

 regarding ourselves as in permanent session." 



Martos: "Sefior Figueras desires that, without 

 action, we remain assembled here prepared for any 

 contingency, the flag flyiiiL' over the palace as tlio 

 sign that the Chamber is in session. Is this the 

 proposition ? [Cries of ' Yes, yes ! '] Well, then, 

 would to God that with the same facility wo mi/nt. 

 settle the difficulties of to-day and those that may 

 come to-morrow ! " 



The President of the Chamber : " Congress orders 

 a permanent session without deliberation, and as the 

 presiding officers will remain hcre t I desire that a 

 committee bo named to remain with us." [Many 

 deputies: "Let the President name the commit- 

 tee."! 



The secretary then read the names of the commit- 

 tee appointed by the President, and the session was, 

 pro/orma, suspended at nine o'clock at night, after 

 a sitting of six hours. 



During those proceedings in the Chamber the. 

 crowd outside had increased to thousands. Tho 

 usual entrance for deputies was besieged by an in- 

 quisitive throng whose curiosity was from time to 

 time gratified by the appearance of a prominent 

 deputy, assuring' them or a prompt and peaceful re- 

 publican solution. The Republican deputies had 

 Issued a printed address, which was posted thrmiL'h 

 the street* of Madrid, advising their supporters to 

 abstain from all violent demonstrations. The K< - 

 publican dircctorv, comprising C'astclar, Fipuerns, 

 .IIH! Pi y Margal), communicated assuring intelli- 

 '.'tlicir Iriends in the province". Mini.-tcrs 

 had likewise announced to provincial governors and 

 captains-general the probable abdication of the King, 



