invent, has been set to work; even the name of England, has been used, by the votaries of tyranny and usurpation, as an instrument to wrest from a suffering people, the most sacred of rights, even those of nature. Besides the aggravated vengeance of heaven, the terror of British arms, has been denounced against the Spanish inhabitants of the western shores of the Atlantic; nor is there an artifice, which illiberality, could invent, that has been left unpractised.

§ The further we pursue this enquiry, into the origin and causes of the dissentions, which, unfortunately, exist between European and American Spain; and the more we lament the horrors by which they have been accompanied, the more manifest does it result, that they sprung from two material sources, viz. the rash, unjust, and intemperate conduct of the Cadiz government; and the want of timely interference, on the part of England. These two facts, are not only, to be traced out of the passing circumstances as they occurred, but, are, also, consonant to the opinions of those, who are practically acquainted with the events. The new governments of Spain, in entering on their functions, were responsible for the greatest trust, ever confided to the organs of a political society; this was a period of probation, in which the eyes of the whole world, were cast upon them. Then, was the moment, to have established the national character for ever; then, was Spain to have given such tone and energy to the government, which was to administer the general interests of both parts of the empire, as would have enabled it to answer the noble ends, for which it was instituted. It was, then, in the hands of the new rulers, to render Spain, as a nation,

prosperous and respectable; or, to lay the basis of her future misery and contempt. This was the moment, to have testified whether the revolution of Spain, was to prove a curse or a blessing; not only to the present race, but, also, to generations yet to come. Under the conviction of the importance of the then existing crisis, the new chiefs, in power, had it within their reach, to promote and secure those salutary results, which justice, gratitude, good faith, and honour, imperiously prescrib ed, and which ever attend on those virtues and good qualities, which enoble the acts of a nation, and endear its memory to the rest of the world. The new governments of Spain, were, however, unfortunately blotted with the reverse of all these cardinal and essential virtues; for influenced by local prejudices, they were opposed to those mutual concessions which are always necessary to general prosperity; and in many instances, that might be quoted, they were not, even, disposed, to sacrifice their own individual advantages, to the welfare of the community at large. In short, I may add, that the most essential points, relating to the well-being, nay, to the existence of Spain, have been controlled by party and local prejudices, whilst the voice of sacred justice, has, scarcely, been heard.

Had not this, unfortunately, been the case, the new rulers, would never have been so unmindful of those imperious obligations of honour and equity; nor, would they ever have misjudged the real interests of the nation so much, as to withhold their consent to a measure, on the part of the Spanish Americans, that was founded on the most respectable motives, and emanated from the conviction of circumstances, in which they had no share.

Had jealousy and local policy, not mixed too much in the public councils, of the Peninsula, we should not have seen the open and insulting violations of those most sacred obligations, which public and private contract could create; we should not have beheld the declarations of equality, founded as they were in right and justice, and even theoretically decreed by the Central Junta, opposed in practice, and only made a lure to entrap unwary sufferers. Instead of declaring an unjust war, and making manifest falsehood its basis, if the government of Spain, owing to its distance, was unable to discern between right and wrong, it ought, first, to have sent over com. missioners of integrity and abilities, exempt from the suspicions of prejudice, to treat with whatever recognized organ of public authority, was found on the other side of the Atlantic; with whom, explanations ought to have preceded, sound and liberal ultimatums, ought to have been mutually exchanged; and if her influence had diminished, she ought to have called in that ally, as mediator and umpire, who, from so many cogent reasons, was able to make justice triumphant. A spirit of rash persecution, could only irritate and tend to connect the Spanish Americans more closely together; it was, therefore, impolitic, to inflict deeper and wider wounds, afresh, before the old ones, were healed. And when the alternative of peace, had, unfortunately gone by, and when war, with all its horrors, had become the sole arbiter of the destinies of each country, its tremendous power ought, at least, to have been wielded on principles, consonant with reason, and justice, and not in a manner, so as to outrival the horrors of the most barbarous ages. If the sufferings of the Spanish Americans were, in some

instances, uttered with the angry vehemence of men, who had long borne galling and unprovoked injuries, the Spanish nation at large, ought not to have forgotten, that their grounds were just and true; and that they were only directed against illegal governments, whose degradation was manifest and public. Spain, as a nation of brethren, ought ever to have remembered, that the ultramarine provinces, uniformly, adhered to Ferdinand, early lost, but mutually lamented; and that, in no way, had they wandered from their general allegiance. She ought to have borne in mind, that the Spanish Americans, had never attempted to plunge the parricidal weapon, into the bosom of the conntry, from whence they derived their origin; and that if a detached province had changed its flag, it was not till after the most aggravated provocations, and even then, the sentiment was not general. The inhabitants of Spanish America, have ever revered the land of their forefathers, and the existence of this affection, is sufficiently proved, by the abundant and conclusive testimony, adduced in the outset of my subject.

The new governments of Spain, ought certainly to have marked out for their political conduct, a more indulgent course, instead of opening the floodgates to dis asters, so deliberate and extensive. If the Spanish Americans had rights, their fair and unbiassed discussion, ought not to have been prevented; and those, who constituted themselves their rulers, ought to have been convinced of the real policy, as well as of the moral duty, of administering impartial justice, to men, who had so long suffered; and who, for the first time, had now an opportunity of listening to the voice of truth;

who from the greater degree of light and knowledge, by which they were surrounded, were enabled to examine the real state of their late degradation; and who would not be easily induced, particularly by force, to return to a system, under which, they would have to forego, all the great objects, in which the happiness of social beings, is comprised. The new governments,' could never expect to be called paternal, unless they freely assented to the exercise of those rights, which belonged to each portion of the monarchy; and every thing was to end in anarchy and confusion, if partialities stood in the way, of what was indispensable, for the individual happiness of all. It was just for the inhabitants of Spanish America, to participate in the fruits of a revolution, in which those of the Peninsula, gloried; and they were equally entitled to enjoy the benefits of civil liberty, under a form of government, free and uncorrupted, and of sufficient tone and energy, to guard them against the return of oppression. This could only be effected, conformably to public and private prosperity, and considering the distance at which the ultramarine provinces, were placed, but by some great and radical change; nor could these advantages be procured, in any other way, than by some limited, but safe, and well guaranteed system of self-government. Some instrument, was, therefore, necessarily to be adopted, to administer this system, so as to render it competent to the great objects for which it was instituted; and was it reasonable, that this instrument should be a viceroy, possessed of such powers, as those described in the early part of this essay? Had equity and good faith, been the basis of the conduct of the new Peninsular governments, that doubt and un