each capital, who shall propose the persons in turns, who may be suited to fill each vacancy, &c.

Observation. This certainly would have greatly contributed to establish order and justice, in this particular, but there were too many hungry mouths to fill, for it to be carried into effect. And as the case now stands, it is less likely the Creoles can be satisfied in this their just demand, for they must, necessarily, expect to be over-run with a number of chiefs and dignitaries, who will there seek a compensation, for what they have lost in the Peninsula, unless king Ferdinand enters into a sense of the hardships of the transatlantic provinces, and acts with more liberality, than the governments which have represented him during his absence.

Proposition XI. Considering it essential to the progress of civilization, and the instruction of the Indians, the order of the Jesuits shall be restored.

Observation. This proposition was not admitted to discussion. It principally related to the advantage of Peru, where the Jesuits in former times, had certainly brought the Indians out of their barbarous habits, into those of civilization; and if it proves no more, it at least evinces, the liberality and enlightened zeal, with which the American deputies in the Cortes, sought to promote the interests and welfare of their country.

Such were the economical points agitated by the American deputies, up to the month of February, 1811, and such were the terms and context of the redress they sought for their constituents. Having thus presented the facts as they occurred, and also in the most official form, I leave my reader to judge of the justice of these démands, and to conclude, whether a war carried on

with their refusal, as a basis, can be just in the eyes of God or man; and whether England, with these proofs before her, ought to be ashamed of the inhabitants of a continent, to whom she has so often given assurances of regard and esteem. The objects of the above eleven propositions, together with a new governing system, consisting of provincial Juntas or assemblies, representing the general government at home, as a check on the viceroys and judges, was all the people of Spanish America, asked through their deputies in the Cortes; and it is to their refusal, that a continuation of the greatest horrors, that ever marked ancient or modern annals, is owing; horrors of such a nature, that the scenes of the primitive conquest, are thereby renewed. The new Cortes of Spain, as before explained, had it in their power, to place two nations, sprung from the same origin, alike in manners and in language, and formed to be connected by the bonds of reciprocal fellowship and mutual interest, in the situation of sincere friends; by only securing to one, a practical equality conformable to reason and law, and by thus removing the causes of present, as well as of future dissentions. For them was it reserved, to avert the continuance of civil storms, which already threatened to disunite those, whom a just cause and the abhorrence of a treacherous enemy, had united; and by fixing the firm basis of general good, they were then enabled to restore peace and harmony amongst their fellow-brethren.

These great and desirable ends, might have, undoubtedly, been answered, if that spirit of prudence and moderation, so essential to the management of discordant interests, had been displayed within the walls of the Cortes;

T

and if personal considerations, had not been mingled with the general acts of government. It was on the preservation of unanimity, and on the careful continuance in health and vigour, of that fraternity and fellowship, which had hitherto prevailed; that the happiness and security of the country, depended; and it was by this means only, both at home and abroad, that the legitimate executive powers, could be left unimpaired. It was not the Spanish Americans alone, who were sensible of the degraded system under which they were governed. The intendant D". Gonsalez Montoya, by order of the Cortes and Regency, drew up a plan, suited to conciliate the interests of European and American Spain, and as a basis of a constitution, for the latter. Speaking from experience, he ingenuously confesses, "that the European chiefs, exercise there, a pure despotism and a continued tyranny, always committing extravagant acts; that if they do any good, it is, because, the Creoles teach them, who, alone, understand their own welfare, and laws and customs. For this reason, Spain ought to give up to them, all their own economical government, for, since, they do not send over officers to us, he adds, there is no reason, why we ought to send such over to them."*

Impressed alike from reason, observation, and feeling, as ought to have been the members of the new Cortes, with the necessity imposed on the nation, of making every sacrifice to put an end to evils, whose symptoms daily became more menacing, the national government was still remiss and wavering; memorials,

*This sketch was printed in Cadiz, 1811.

petitions, and remonstrances of the most urgent nature, were treated with neglect and disdain; and even though to have kept entire the united revenue of Spanish America, for the pressing wants of the Peninsula, would have been a great point gained in the general concerns of the nation, yet, neither the calls of policy, nor the dictates of justice, could rouse the new legislature to energy and exertion. At the end of July, the substitute deputies for Santa Fé, presented to the Cortes, the new constitution made by that province, acknowledging Ferdinand VII, though independent of the government of Spain. Arguelles, then rose and exclaimed, " that since one province after the other, continued to separate, they were now bound to hear the American deputies;" who, on the 1st of August, 1811, were consequently, encouraged to lay before the house, an energetic remonstrance, signed by thirty-three deputies,

General allusion, has already been made to this do cument,* and its contents, certainly constitute a clear and official demonstration of the causes and origin of the existing dissentions, and an enumeration of the points of controversy. The causes and origin, are stated to have been a dread of being delivered over to the French; and their immediate explosion, was occasioned by insults, ill-treatment, and reproaches. The general and primordial basis of discontent, is, however, proved to have been, the state of servility and oppression, in which the ultramarine provinces had been kept, by the despotism of the old government, which the new ones, neglected

This memoir was reprinted in London, 1812, and is also found inserted in El Espanol, for the 30th of March, 1812.

to remove. As men, the deputies argue, equal with the Spaniards in rights, their constituents are entitled to an equal representation, in the present, as well as in the future Cortes. As fellow-citizens, they plead, that they ought to have the working of their quicksilver mines, the cultivation of their lands, the fisheries of their own seas, and manufactures for their own cloathing, free and unrestrained. The deputies remind the Cortes, that, although, these points had been, in some measure, granted by the house, no orders for their accomplishment, had been issued by the executive; and they again insist, on the abolition of monopolies, which remained 'untouched. As social beings, they reason, that the Spanish Americans ought to be remunerated, equally, and according to their respective merits, by the distribution of offices; that they ought to be allowed a free trade with nations at peace; and be freed from the despotism of European mandatories, by means of provincial assemblies, to hold them in check.

Without these points being granted, the deputies add, "it will not suffice for Spain to destroy the present population, and send over new settlers, for their children cannot fail to love the land on which they are born, and consequently, they will not be more disposed to live under the trammels of oppression. It is this alone, which the present inhabitants, seek to remedy. If they do not acknowledge the existing government, it is because they believe it illegitimate; in this, they may be actuated by a political error, but it is not a rebellion, since they acknowledge the head of the monarchy; and they have even organized their Juntas, without withholding their representative concurrence, in the Cortes,