have been impaired, by the acknowledgment made of the Central Junta, by the viceroys and captain-generals ; since it was done without the consent and concurrence of the people, and, in many places, the acquiescence of the cabildos or municipalitios, was obtained by threats. Even some of the audiencias in America, in whom a respect for legal forms, predominated over Peninsular prejudices, and who have always been the strongest instruments in the subjection of the ultramarine provinces, were opposed to the absolute control of European Juntas; not, so much, from this dependence being in contradiction to the principles of liberty, since proclaimed at home, but in consequence of its militating against the ancient and less liberal character of the Spanish legislation. In fact, according to the known laws of the Spanish monarchy, the pretended absolute sovereignty of the Central Junta, over the ultramarine provinces, was not only unjustifiable and inconsistent; but, even the manper, in which its anthority was, in a temporary manner, acknowledged by the colonial chiefs, as a means of prolonging their respective commands, and on which the government of Spain, now grounds a charge of ingratitude, and rebellion, when every circumstance is duly considered, turns out to be, the greatest chimera, by which the patience and discernment of a people, were ever insulted. To render this allegation more clear and înțelligible, I will carry back my reader to a contemplation of the manner in which the Central Junta was first formed, as well as of its character, and leading conduct; as this, will be the most effectual means of enabling him to draw his own conclusions, and of establishing, whether or not, a legal committee thereof, was afterwards, authorized to become the despots of Spanish America.

The editor of the El Español, who from being an eyewitness, and well acquainted with the early occurrences of the Peninsula, is deserving of full credit, after sketching the spontaneous energy, with which the Spanish people rushed to arms, observes, " that the first persons who offered themselves to the people, then in a tumultuous state, were chosen to govern the provinces. In Seville, a popular leader proposed the creation of a Junta, and, for this purpose, the curate and superiors of the convents, were assembled. Tilly and his party, having formed a list of the persons who were to constitute this Junta, he and his emissaries entered the town house, and proposing each other in a loud voice, they were elected as members, without waiting for any body's answer. these were afterwards added, other persons, who, from their credit or dignity, were possessed of the confidence of the people." Such is the picture of the formation of the Junta of Seville, which afterwards denominated itself Supreme and Central; and, as drawn by an eye-witness of undoubted credit. I omit any further details, which might serve, more fully, to explain the irregular character of the principal persons, who contributed to the formation of this Junta; as they would only tend to make its origin more degrading, when my object, is, principally, to insist on its injustice.

To

In such a government as this, it was, that the Spanish people, blindly, placed their confidence; unaware, what powers they had, thus, assented to, in these their new representatives. This government it was, according to the above author, " that began its career, by consecrating error, and perpetuating ignorance; and to

* Vide El Espanol, No. I.

it, the losses of Sir John Moore, are to be attributed." The Central Junta, after tasting the sweets of power, was resolved to retain it, and delayed the assembling of the Cortes, on which the hopes of the nation were founded. The name of Ferdinand VII. which its members placed at the head of all their official papers; and the term of Majesty, with which they clothed themselves, appeared as sufficient authority to exercise a political despotism, even unknown to the real monarchs; and to render this farce the more complete, they decreed to themselves, titles, uniforms, ribbons, guards, &c. at once, creating themselves into Eastern bashaws. Without ever reflecting on the nature or limits of their power, they instituted in themselves the sovereign command; amused the people and the British, by false and delusive statements; demanded and received copious supplies of funds, from the Euro pean and American provinces, which they squandered away, without rendering in any account. In short, they insulted the noblest cause that ever animated the bosoms of a people; till at last, they were driven from their den, by the advance of the French; and the people of the Peninsula, opening their eyes, were astonished at their Fong forbearance.

And, if such was the picture of the very government, which, at that time, exercised its power and authority over Spain and the Indies; if such, it is universally ac knowledged, to have been, both by Spaniards, and other eye witnesses; and if, moreover, its general injustice is deduced from its own recorded acts, could it be judged orinimal in the Spanish Americans, under so many pecuHar circumstances as those already explained, and after 90 millions of their dollars had been received by the Central Junta, almost without thanks, and squandered

away without even the compliment of a public account; could it be judged criminal in them, I repeat, to refuse any longer confiding their own security, and the administration of their local affairs, to men, who came amongst them, by the choice, and vested with the authority of this same body of self-created despots? Or, I may add, in the eyes of the impartial world, could that, war be pronounced just or politic, which was declared by a committee of such a government, against one half of the monarchy, to whom, even a hearing had not been granted? To answer in the affirmative, would be to com→ mit the greatest possible insult, both to the rights, feelings, and understandings, of mankind at large; and would at once, establish, the most flagrant and extensive principle of injustice, that the annals of history or le gislation, ever recorded. Are laws and rights, then, nothing in the scale of Spanish policy; and does a declaration of war, unjust in itself, and fraught with the most fatal consequences, amount to nothing, in the great considerations of expediency, which ought to guide the conduct of her ally? If the first is, really, the case, what is the character of that nation, and of that government, whose alliance we yet boast; and if this want of faith, equity, and of even humanity, results on the part of Spain, even to her children and descendants, those who are united to her by the ties of blood and of interest, what is it, we are, eventually, to expect, who are scarcely linked, by the common tie of gratitude? If the second position be, likewise, true, and if the Spanish monarchy is thus dismembered, and its resources frittered away, by impolitic, and unjust domestic wars, from which result distrust, impoverishment, and, in short, a general dis union of every effective element of the state, what

grounded hopes have we, of crowning our united cause with success; and how can we fulfill to the outraged Ferdinand, our guarantee, of the integrity of his crown?

In what light, soever, we consider the inhabitants of the new world, whether we view them with the eye of philosophy, or found ourselves on the ancient legislation of Spain; we shall find them in social rank, and in political rights, equal with those of the provinces of the Peninsula; consequently, the claims of absolute sovereignty, over the sections of America, arrogated to them-' selves by the irregular governments of the former, are equally as absurd, as if the provisional governments of the latter, had attempted to exercise despotic control, over the Central Junta, the Regency, or the succeeding Cortes. Supposing, for a moment, that these were legal and constitutional forms of government for the Peninsula, (and even with regard to the Cortes, in this particular, my reader shall, hereafter, be enabled to judge for him-self) they could not be so, for Spanish America; unless constituted in a regular and correct manner, with the concurrence of the latter, in compliance with the general principles and laws of the realm, and in strict accord with equality, equity, and justice. There is a just and moral principle, which, equally, belongs to every indivi-" dual member, as well as to every individual province, of ap extended empire. This principle was, then, equally, the birthright of American Spaniards; and to divest them of it, by the acts of an illegal government, and then to persist in the support of that same injustice; is not, only, opening the road to discontent, oppression, and consequent civil war, but it is, also, authorizing them to seek justice by the extreme means of hostility, as the only alternative, left within their reach. The laws and