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OFFICIAL PAPERS,

(D.)

Accompanying the Secretary of the Treasury's annual report. (Concluded from page 418.) Statement of receipts and payments at the treasury of the United States, from the 1st October, 1810, to the 30th September, 1811.

Cash in the treasury, subject to war

rant, Oct. 1, 1810,

Received from the pro

ceeds of the customs, 12,490,656 14]

Internal reve

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ment

58,822 34

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74,674 68

Sales of public lands,

767,061 23

Cents and half cents

Public buildings in Wash-
ington,

600

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Furniture for the presi

dent's house,

Third census,

Prize money for navy pen

1,000

106,699 66

37 70

sion fund,

7,106 25

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2,500

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11,105 24

Better accommodotion of

2,035

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250

Louisiana, 11,426 06

Repayments,

168,268 81

80,167 76

13,541,446 37

Roads within

Loan from bank United States, on

state of Ohio, 19,000

31st December, 1810,

2,750,000

Dollars, 19,750,476 09

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History

Of the Invasion of Spain by Bonaparte.

ABRIDGED FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES.
CHAPTER IX

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 417.)
Conduct of the council of Castile after the flight of
Joseph from Madrid. Answer of Palafox to
their letter. The council publishes a defence. Or
ganization of a supreme Junta. Bonaparte orders
out a new conscription and joins his brother at
Vittoria. Opening of the campaign. Position and
strength of the French and Spanish forces. Defeat
of the three Spanish armie under Blake, Belvedere
and Castanos. Madrid, by the treachery of Mor-
la and the prince of Castle Franco is surrendered to
the French.

the chiefs of the nation, had sustained their cause, and the rights of the throne. No a few individuals among them had been led, by fraud and force, far beyond the limits of Spain, and though without liberty, and exposed to the severest insults, they had proved the inflexibility of their loyalty, and the religious purity of their opinions." And then, without introducing any excuse for their own baseness, they bade the people distrust the signatures which had been circulated among them, and wait with patience for the testimonies of their conduct. A circular address in the same spirit, was sent, at the same time, to the provincial juntas. "The council," it is said, "which could not fail to be,in a great degree, involved in the consequences of the subjection of the capital availed itself of the first moments of liberty, to make its sentiments known; While Joseph was yet at Madrid, those friends of these could not but correspond with the immutable Ferdinand who had been compelled to enter into loyalty, and the indelible love of justice, which alhis service, took the earliest opportunity to effect ways constituted its character, and had gained it, their escape, and declare themselves n favour of the in all times, the confidence of the nation. This it patriots. The duke del Infantado got out of the city was which had supported them in the midst of the in the dress of a peasant, and in that disguise made greatest dangers, and added firmness to the constanhis way to Salamanca, where he joined one of the cy with which they had refused to recognize the Spanish armies. The duke del Parque who had intruder farther than circumstances justified." Afbeen appointed captain of the body guards, and fecting them to believe that the juntas which it adtravelled in the same carriage with Joseph from dressed must be convinced of this, the council proMadrid, threw off the charge which had been im. fessed its readiness to co-operate with them in any posed upon him and went to bear arms in defence plans of defence. With respect to measures of anoof his country, Cevallos (28 July) sent in his rether kind, which were necessary for the salvation of signation, having previously secured his retreat: and the country, it belonged to this supreme tribunal, the first use he made of his liberty was to lay before the said the address, merely to rouse and excite the world an account of the iniquitous transactions at national authorities, which it would assist with its Bayonne. The council of Castile who, probably more influence, its advice, and its knowledge. As it was from cowardice than corruption, had sanctioned all not possible, under the existing extraordinary cirthe measures of the French, during the usurpation, cumstances, to adopt the expedients pointed out by were now alarmed for their own safety, and address the laws and customs of Spain, the council would ed a proclamation to the people of Madrid, every not occasion any delay by ill-timed discussions, but line of which betrayed a counsciousness of their would confine itself, for the present, to the indicaown misconduct, by its flattery and its ill-disguised tion of a measure in which it would with the greatfear. (Ang. 6.) It called them a generous and wor est satisfaction concur which was that deputies thy people, virtuous Spaniards, worthy citizens, be appointed by all the different juntas, who should good men, and true patriots. It told them that what concur on this most important object, and make they had suffered was but a punishment necessary such an arrangement, that all projects and expedi for their correction; their morals having almost ents, proceeding from this common source of ac. reached the point of complete corruption: that the tion, might be as expeditious as the end in view reinnocent victims whose blood had been shed, had quired.

implored forgiveness for them; the God of battles A seperate letter was addressed to Palafox (Aug. 4) had heard their intercession, and was appeased; in which, after the same apologetical protestations, and all their victories were owing to God and our they exhorted him to contribute, with all his powlady the virgin. Would they then add to the cala er, to the safety of the capital. This letter was mities of their country? would they commit new written at the time when the war was raging with insurrections and excesses? They who were cry-most violence in the heart of Zaragoza; and when ing out for justice, and were eager, under the pre- this modern CID, to whom it was addressed had leitext of exercising it for themselves, to pillage, and zure to reply to it, it is not to be wondered at, if the burn, and destroy, were not inhabitants of Madrid, sight of the ruins and slaughter around him occaor its vicinity, but vagabonds, who having fled sioned in him some feelings of not unreasonable infrom their own magistrates, took shelter in the me- dignation. The integrity with which the council tropolis."Judge no one," it said, " for that renders of Castile, he said, had conducted itself in other you liable to sacrifice many innocent.-If there times, had rendered it respectable, even in foreign have been among us any traitors, the supreme tri-countries; but, in these mournful circumstances, bunal will avenge their crimes, and, if they merit in which Spain had been assailed by perfidy the, it, cast them away, as unworthy of the name of most enormous that the history of the world pre Spaniards. God grant that there he no occasion to sents, this tribunal has not fulfilled its duty. Many draw the sword of justice! Let it be employed of the individuals who compose it have established against the enemies of our nation, against the op- satisfactory proofs of their own justification; but pressors of our liberty." In another part of this others, suffering themselves to be seduced at such address, the council ventured even to pronounce la time by France, or perhaps promped by the detheir own eulogy." The government and the faith-pravity of their own hearts, have not been content ful provinces," they said, "would be filled with to remain neuter; they have even sided with the joy, when the council should have exhibited before most cruel enemies of their country. "I myself,” them, and all Europe, the constant firmness with said Palafox, "to my bitter sorrow, have seen some which the first nobility, the superior tribunals, and] of them direct the operations of the enemy, and

After

appear with them before Zaragoza, where they to a resolution that all the provinces should be cal wrote treasonable papers, and circulated addresses ied upon to raise forces in proportion to their popuwhich are a disgrace to the Spanish nation. I know lation: the number of the whole, according to well that the council was not at liberty, and their estimate, might amount to 300,000. that after the outrages of the French in Madrid, it much consultation, however, with the infante Don was reduced to the necessity of being the mere Antonio, and with persons who came with confi. executor of the pleasure of that most execiable dential instructions from Ferdinand and Cevallos, government; but had it only once expressed the that resolution had been abandoned, as tending to general wish of the nation, it would, by such an endanger the king's person, and prematurely to put act, have given more importance to what was trans to hazard the safety and independence of the kingacting in the provinces, it would have united itseli dom. Don Antonio, nevertheless, engaged to to them, and would at least have prevented its appa transmit instructions privately to the captains-generent sanction of those detestable, treacherous, and ral of the provinces, to take every measure consis false proclamations. To this there seems to me no tent with prudence for increasing their military insuperable obstacle, and even if there had, the good force. And when the junta of the government of the whole, and the welfare of the nation, ought ordered the council to send a circular notice to all to have been preferred to the personal interest o ine provincial tribunals, enjoining them to see that any individual." the most cordial reception was given to the French troops, they transmitted a memorial in reply, expatiating on the dangers which might result from any attempt to repress the high spirit of loyalty and affection towards Ferdinand, with which the peo

The council next published an elaborate justifica tion of their proceedings, from the time of the affair of the Escurial; referring to the firmness with which they had then protected the prince and his friends, as the first proof of their good conduct, ple were animated. in the most delicate circumstances wherein the tri- The day after the dreadful massacre of Madrid, bunal had ever been placed. When the French a memorial had been laid before them from the captroops entered the kingdom various objects had tain-general of Catalonia, stating the means to been surmised the protection of Ferdinand, the which he had recourse for the relief of the poor of occupation of Portugal, the defence of the coast, Barcelona, and requesting their sanction. Conthe conquest of a part of Africa, were talked of;vinced that this was only a pretext on his part to obbut, at length, suspicion was excited, even in the tain the funds necessary for procuring arms, they most unwary. The council observed, that even in immediately sanctioned his proceeding, without times of great security, the confidence with which those previous inquiries which the usual forms rethese troops were received would have been most quired. They had received a decree from Murat, imprudent, both on account of their number and directing the formation of a junta of police, having of the position which they took; above all, that it two Frenchmen for its commissaries: they had rewas contrary to the constant maxim of not receiv- used to obey, quoting the law, which excludes all ing the forces of an ally superior in number to our foreigners from any share in the public administraown; and that it was an act of unexampled weak tion of justice: thus was the door shut against the ness to let them take possession of the fortresses. favorites of the grand duke; thus were those misBut, having no constitutional controul over affairs chiefs obviated which must have come upon the of this nature, it had been compelled to dissemble state, had they been appointed; and Madrid thus its inquietude, especially because it would have continued under her own magistrates. When they been dangerous to manifest any apprehension while were called upon to acknowledge Joseph Bonaparte a probability remained that the object of the French as their king, in consequence of the renunciation might be generous, and that they intended to sup- of Ferdinand and his parents, they argued, that port the interests of Ferdinand. such a renunciation was altogether nugatory, and

When the court were preparing to emigrate, and incompatible with the laws of the constitution: it had ordered the troops from Madrid to escort them, was monstrous to suppose that the royal family the council trembled for the safety of the prince, could give away the sovereignty of the nation, or and endeavored to impede or retard, as much as that any one act which they had performed could be possible, the departure of the soldiery, that they considered binding, on account of the time, the might at least be able to facilitate his escape, for situation, and the circumstances in which they which they were assured that secret measures had were placed. Once, however, they observed, that al eady been taken. They therefore presented a supposing the treaties of abdication and cession report to the king in which they endeavored to were valid, and that the throne devolved to a branch make him abandon his design, and to lessen his of the imperial family, it was their opinion that the confidence in his favorite; and urged him, if any king of Naples, Joseph Bonaparte, appeared the extraordinary measures were necessary, that he fittest for it. This fact indeed was too notorious to would consult with a competent number of well be denied or dissembled, and it invalidates the informed subjects, devoted to their sovereign and whole apology.

to their country; adding, that if they were thought When they were called upon to publish the decrea worthy of being advised with, they would deliver for convoking the assembly at Bayonne, they sustheir opinion briefly, sincerely, and faithfully, hav-pended its publication, and sent in a memorial te ing in view nothing but their duty to God, the the grand duke, Murat, observing that their body king, and the people. The subsequent events, till never had taken, nor could, according to the laws, the departure of Ferdinand for Bayonne, were but take upon itself the national represensation, that too well known. On the 20th of April, a printer these were consequently, and by the same laws, informed them that some Frenchman had request-excluded from the election of their sovereign,—that ed him to strike off copies of a proclamation, signi- whatever change took place in the succession was fying, that the royal parents were about to re-as- entirely the concern of the nation; and that when cend the throne: in consequence of this informa- a succession took place, without the proper forms, tion, two Frenchmen, who stated that they were it was to be deemed, according to the actual constiIn the service of general Groutchy, were arrested, tution of the monarchy, null and void. This spirited and put in confinement. The counch then came answer, they affirmed, drew upon them much

indignation, and they were even threatened with ala situation to talk of this? Long live our king and process for sedition,-but they admitted, that, at indisputable sovereign, Ferdinand VII. and long length, confessing themselves influenced by the live his august brothers, heirs of the crown after his reasons assigned by the president of the assembly at attested disease! Why anticipate enquiries which Bayonne, and likewise by the request of Joseph could only be necessary in default of them? It was Bonaparte, they ordered the documents to be print- both absurd and dangerous to dispute about the suc. ed. From that time, they had perhaps greater cession in cases evidently remote; and the provin difficulties to struggle with," they added, than ces ought to confine themselves to avowing the gethe nation was aware of. They were threatened neral principle of hereditary succession, according with the loss of their authority; but they determin- to the fundamental laws of the monarchy. ed to yield it up altogether, rather than retain it The second question which agitated the people when polluted. Persecution, banishment and death was of a different nature:-Was there a necessity became familiar to their ears; but the consciousness for creating a supreme government which should of their integrity supported them amidst all their unite the sovereign authority of all the provinces, trials. Such was the state of affairs, when they till the restitution of Ferdinand to his throne? The had the unexpected happiness of witnessing the sud-junta of Seville declared, that, from the beginning, den departure of the French. The Omnipotent Ruler they had been persuaded such a supreme governof human events, by a supreme act of his Divine ment was by all means necessary, and that without Providence, delivered the council from the imminent it the country was in danger. Many juntas and danger which hung over it, thus rewarding the many military commanders had expressed their purity of its intention, and the unshaken loyalty, conviction of this truth as a conviction arising which it had preserved, amidst all its troubles and from the indispensable necessity in every nation all its difficulties. Joseph Bonaparte departed with of a civil government, whose duty it is to attend his army, and the council had never taken the oaths to the happiness of the kingdom, and to which to him, never been introduced, nor on any occasion the military may be subordinate.The con paid him even those honors which they had always been in the habit of performing as inaks of respect, to foreign princes."

tidence of the nation, the public funds, and the capitals of individuals must have a civil government For their support. Without it the military power The council of Castile so far succeeded in its ap- would inevitably be compelled to employ violence, peal to the compassion of the people, that its weak with the view of acquiring that confidence which it members were pitied, and the guilty ones remain never could attain, and getting a command of those ed unpunished. Shocked at the atrocities of the capitals which it would be equally impossible for it French revolutionists, the Spanish patriots have er-to bring within its grasp; for thus it would ultimatred on the side of clemency: They should have ly destroy that public prosperity and happiness censured this council as soon as a provisional go-which ought to be the sole object of every governvernment was formed, and have displaced all its ment. Spain had derived a lesson of wisdom from members, as men who, by their own admission, the history of past ages, and had never thought of had failed in their duty, and lent their aid to the de-appointing a military dictator. Her generals, and gradation and subjugation of Spain. Meantime, the the fact was most honorable to the Spanish name, necessity of a central government was felt by all the had been the first to embrace with the utmost corprovinces, various projects were talked of, and the diality, a system of things as ancient in Spain as the different juntas seemed to expect the decision of monarchy itself. The experience of these times. that of Seville, which, not less from the wisdom of the confidence of the people in the supreme juntas, its measures than from its favorable situation, had the facility and abundance with which pecuniary re hitherto, in some degree, been regarded as the lead-sources had been placed at their disposal, the heroic ing authority. That junta published, upon this oc- loyalty with which the generals and the armies had cason, a paper of great importance. Hitherto, they acknowledged and obeyed them, and the happy issaid, the cause of the Spaniards had been prosper-sue, thus far, of their civil administration, and of ous, and nothing could impair or frustrate their the military enterprizes which they had directed, hopes of eventual and complete success, except a placed in the most conspicuous light, and establish want of union among themselves. Their enemies ed, beyond all doubt, this fundamental truth, and But who was to were anxious to foment divisions. Human passions, most essential political principle. personal interests ill understood, the ignorance, the create this supreme civil government? Who were weakness, the blindness of men, might perhaps as- to compose it? Where should be its place of resisist these evil designs, destroy a beginning so gloridence? What the extent of its authority? How ous, and facilitate and consummate the ruin of might it be established, without interrupting the Spain. This they were endeavoring to guard against, public tranquillity, and producing disunion among protesting, before God and man, whose aid they in the different provinces? How was the public opini voked with all fervency, that they would write no- on to be so regulated, as that this tranquillity could thing but what was dictated by the love of their coun- be obtained without opposing it, and all risk of distry, for the preservation of their king and of their turbances obviated? These were the important rights, not mingling with it any thing that appeared questions to be examined. It had been said that to partake of passion, of interest, or of any other per- the cortes should assemble, that the council of Cassonal motive; but being always ready to hear the tile should convoke them, and the whole proceedopinions of the other provinces, and to amend their ings be executed under the authority of that tribuBut the council of Castile never possessed own errors, whenever it had been shown that they had nal.

committed any. The chief care should be to avoid the right of convoking the Cortes-why then should whatever was not absolutely necessary, and might they give it that authority? Was it because it had serve to sow the seeds of disunion; of this nature lent the whole weight of its influence to the usurwere all discussions concerning the royal house, and pation? Because it had acted in opposition to those the order of succession in the different families fundamental laws which it was established to prewhich derived a right from it. The laws upon this serve and defend? Because it had afforded every fa. point were well known; but are we, said they, in cility to the enemy to usurp the soveregnty of Spain.

to destroy the hereditary succession of the crown,, would be the duty of those deputies to observe them, and the dynasty legally in possession? Because it and to represent and support the claims of their had recognized and seated on the throne a foreign provinces, as far as was consistent with the public er destitute even of the shadow of a title to it; for weal. If there were one of the royal family capable it was incontrovertibly manifest, that the renunci- of presiding in the supreme government, he and ation of Charles IV. could give him no such claim?no other, ought to be appointed to that office; but What confidence could the Spanish nation place in if there were no person of the blood-royal, then it a government convoked by an authority, incompe- must elect a person from its own body; and, to obtent, illegal and guilty of acts which might justly viate all danger the presidency should be only for be ranked with the most atrocious crimes against such a limitted time as might seem best. The juntas their country? But the council of Castile being would appoint a place for the seat of government, thas excluded from all consideration, who was to which the government might afterwards change, convoke the eoites? It was the peculiar and ex-by a majority of votes. It ought to be at a distance clusive prerogative of the king to summon them;-from all the dangers of war, and should possess the provinces would not submit to any other autho other local advantages. Seville possessed all those rity; they would not unite: thus, therefore, there advantages, but had no anxiety to be elected, and would be no cortes, or if a few deputies should as-most cordially sacrificed all her claims. The junta semble, that very circumstance would occasion di-of that city would, however, frankly state, that, in visions in Spain, the very evil which all were anxi their opinion, La Mancha was most convenient for ous to avoid. Besides, some of the cities which the seat of government, and, especially, either the have votes in the cortes, had neither undertaken city of Ciudad Real or Almagro. the defence of the kingdom, nor even their own The system thus recommended by the junta of defence, nor had they made any effort to defend it Seville was adopted; yet their advice was unfortuin their corporate capacities. With due respect for nate, if not unwise, and the reasons upon which them and their rights, still it was necessary that the they grounded it were inconclusive; for, to the truth should plainly be spoken; and certainly, in question, who should convoke the cortes, if it not referring to these forms they had acted prudent could be deemed necessary to observe all the forms ly, and with a due observance of law. The king of government, in a country whose government dom found itself suddenly without a king and with had been suddenly destroyed, there was a ready out a government--a situatio, unknown to its his answer. Ferdinand had expressed his will that it tory, and to its laws. The people legally resumed should be convoked, in a decree addressed to the the power of appointing a government-this truth royal council in the first instance, and, in case they had been avowed by various supreme juntas. They could not put it into effect, to any chancery or created these juntas without any regard to the cities audience. What farther formality could be requir which had votes in the cortes. The legitimate ed? Assuredly also, the people were qualified to power was therefore lodged in these juntas; in vir elect a cortes by the same right in virtue of which tue of that power they had governed, and were still they had elected the juntas,-the right of self pregoverning, with real authority, and had been, and servation; the right of appointing a government still were, universally acknowledged and obeyed when they were without one; the right which is Their situation had not changed; the danger still inherent in every people to recover, maintain and existed no new authority had been supervened; establish their freedom. The name and the nominal the lawful authority, therefore, resided entire in the authority of Ferdinand served, indeed, as a rallying juntas which the people had created, and to which point for the Spaniards, and prevented the possi they had confided it. It was therefore incontestability of dissensions. A circumstance sufficiently ble that the sole and exclusive right of electing those similar to be emembered as a precedent, had oc who were to compose the supreme government was curred in the history of the Portugueze, who, in vested in the supreme juntas. And whom should their struggle against the first usurpation of the they elect? Most certainly individuals of their own Castillians, fought in the name of an infante who body; for they alone derived their power from the was then a prisoner in Castile. By the fiction of people; and in them the nation had reposed ent re supposing Ferdinand to be their king, they postconndence. Should any other persons be chosen, poned the difficult and dangerous task of forming a they would possess neither the consent nor the new government; but it was no more than a fiction, confidence of the people. Hence, if there were any and the difficulty was only postponed by it, sure province in which the military power subsisted to recur at last. For the most sanguine friends alone, it was absolutely necessary that a supreme of that prince could scarcely think it possible that junta should be constituted there, by which the people might act; this being indispensable in order to concentrate the legitimate power of the people; for, under the present circumstances, the supreme government could not be legitimate, unless it origi

na ed in their free consent.

either he or any of his family could ever return from the place of their imprisonment. There were, therefore, persons who, when they considered the miserable mis government by which Spain and Portugal had been weakened and degraded, during so many generations, wished that both nations The junta of Seville was therefore of opinion that had taken their stand upon loftier ground, that they all the supreme juntas meeting on the same day, had given up the weak and unworthy dynasties of should elect each from its own members, two which they had so unexpectedly been rid-dynasdeputies, to form the supreme government; and ties equally weak, unworthy and contemptible in the persons so elected should, from that moment, their remotest branches-and united themselves in a be acknowledged and obeyed as the governors-ge federal commonwealth. This form of government neral of the kingdom. The supreme juntas ought is peculiarly adapted to Spain, because of its prenevertheless to be continued until the termination vious division into different kingdoms, with differof the present state of things, being invested with fent laws, and it would remove all objections to a the internal management of their respective pro- union between the two countries. Had they provinces, but under due subordination to the general claimed a revolution upon these principles, it is goverament. They ought to give instructions to possible that the English government might, for a their deputies constituting that government, and it time, have withheld its assistance from them; but

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