Espartero opened the Spanish Cortes on the 26th of December.
The Queen was seated on the throne in the Chamber of the Senate ; her sister on her left, and Espartero on her right, but a step lower than the Queen. The President of the Council delivered the speech to the Queen, and she handed it to Espartero. It was couched in the name of the Regent. He read it in a very audible voice. After a complimentary address to the Cortes, he enters upon foreign affairs— 'I can acquaint you, with the utmost pleasure, that our relations with friendly powers continue to gather strength by the bonds of strict harmony and good intelligence, which are tightened by sincere friendship. The other nations that have recognized an exalted Queen, preserve those sentiments of justice which dictated that recognition. The Governments which have not taken that step contemplate us without hostility ; make continued inquiries respecting our political situation ; and as it becomes more stable the day s not
distant, in my opinion, when reason shall triumph, and the nation i al cause complete its victory.
The Regent reports the conclusion of treaties with the Smith American States of Equador, Uruguay, and Chili. A treaty with Portugal on the navigation of the Tagus is in course of negotiation
" England has given satisfaction for the disagreeable occurrence of Carthagena last May, and the French Government has seen with pain the violation of the territory of the Aldudes. The Government of her Majesty, desiring to remove the causes which have always led to these deplorable conflicts, is negotiating a treaty with the King of the French, who has presented a project, met on our part by another on a different basis. The definitive settlement of this will be made known at the proper time."
He turns to the state of Spain
" The revolt which broke ont in the month of last October disturbed the public tranquillity, and obliged the Government to proceed with activity and energy to crush it in its origin. The constitution, as well as the precious lives of our innocent Queen and her august sister, were menaced by an armed conspiracy. But Providence enabled loyal Spaniards to save those dear objects of our hopes. All the means at our disposal were employed to repress this horrible attempt, and the hand of justice chastised the principal delinquents ; their criminal attempt failed against the firm attitude of the nation and the energy of the Government. The public vengeance once satisfied, the Government deemed that it might exercise clemency, and spare the lives of some of the rebels.
The events of Barcelona, which sprang from an abuse of confidence, obliged the Government to declare that rich and populous city in a state of siege. This measure, which had for its object to avoid the effusion of blood, produced neither violence nor punishments ; so that these punishments might be executed according to the ordinary laws, when the legal situation of these was reestablished. The tribunals are busy with the causes to be tried, as actively as the administration of justice requires.
"Since these events, peace has been restored throughout the whole monarchy by the triumph of the laws, and every cause of new disturbances has disappeared."
He promises a shoal of new measures. Roads and bridges are to be constructed ; Government will proceed with the encouragement of agricultural banks ; normal schools for the education of teachers have been established in several of the provinces; and education has already been extended to several parishes. Military matters are next touched upon, with a compliment to the" valiant army." The army still retains its organization. Of 50,000 men whom the Cortes authorized to be levied, more than 30,000 had been procured. New codes of justice are announced. The measures taken by Government had pat a stop to Papal aggressions. The augmentation of the public funds and the arrangements of Ministers had enabled them to fulfil their obligations to the public creditor with more punctuality than in former years. The sale of national property, consisting of the property of extinct ecclesiastical establishments, continues with activity. The necessary funds have been provided to pay the interest of the capitalization at home and abroad.
"The navy, which formerly was the glory and honour of the Spanish nation, was reduced to the lowest ebb. Government, convinced that this force gives life and health to states, had paid it regularly, and has put some ships in repair to cruise upon the coast. Other vessels of various classes have been put in a state to render important service. Others are put in commission, to repair to our colonies, should it be necessary. The commercial navy occupies the attention of Government as the basis of a military navy, and as the surest means of promoting industrial and commercial prosperity. Since the restoration of peace the mercantile movement is reviving. To it the confidence of tranquillity is necessary."
The Government, "sincerely attached to the representative system," is anxious to augment the guarantees calculated to secure stability and permanency to the constitution
" With this view, there will be presented to you a project of Ministerial responsibility, designed to act as a check on men invested with power, and to secure the political principles of the Spanish nation. The necessity for ameliorating the public administration, and for harmonizing with the constitution of the state the organic law which is legitimately derived from it, induces the Government to submit to the Cortes projects of laws on the organization and functions of the municipalities, the provincial deputations, and the political chiefs. There will also be presented to you a project of law on the liberty of the press, tending to suppress the abuses and check the licence under which defamation is pursued upon system, calumny promulgated on calculation, and conspiracy against the constitution instigated by sordid interest. Desirous to establish uniformity to the administration of all the provinces, in a manner equally conformable to the welfare of the nation and to the public faith, the Government has thought it a duty to present a project of law to modify the Faeroe, of the Basque Provinces. The good order of the administration requires a new division of territory, that shall remedy the defects pointed out by experience in the present one : for this purpose, a project of law will be submitted to you, for which the public advantage loudly calls. There will likewise be laid before you a project of law for the organization of the tribunals and of the magistracy, and another on the permanency and responsibility of the magistrates and judges."
The Budget will be submitted to the consideration of the Cortes. A project of law will be produced to modify existing arraugements with respect to retiring pensions, and another to restrain ruinous speculations on the Bourse. Espartero concludes by calling on the Cortes to join with him to consolidate a strong and a just government.
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