493
PAPERS OF M:mABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
remained stationary in such a stirring epoch, so pregnant with impor, tant events which were continually provoking reflection and exciting to action. The times were favorable to the acquisition of political knowledge; and it was manifest to the Spaniards themselves, that the chain which ignorance and superstition had thrown around the heart and the understanding of the Creoles, were rapidly dissolving, in the sunshine of intelligence.- · Nothing, perhaps, contributed so much to sink the mother country in the eyes of the Creoles, and to inspire confidence in themselves, as the rapid progress of the french arms. 'l'he invaders were everywhere triumphant during the year 1809.- 'l'he direction of affairs in the Peninsula at this time was confided to what was styled the "Central Junta" composed of delegates from the Provincial Juntas, and was in• stalled in Sevil, 25th Sepember 1808. It was generally recognized and obeyed as the Supreme authority of the nation. It proved, how- ever, incompetent to its high functions; and after permitting the French to overrun nearly the whole kingdom, was finally put to flight itself. It was clrivep from Seville to Cadiz. Previous to leaving Seville, however; it issued a proclamation, dated 5th June 1809, con- voking a National Congress to assemble on the 1st of }\farch 1810; and on reaching Cadiz-its last refuge it resigned its powers after having first appointing a Regency to administer the government until the meeting of the proposed Congress. This gave the finishing blow to the moral force by which Spain had always controled her Colonies. Her prestige was now lost forever; her invincibility was gone, and her boasted superiority vanished into thin air. The mighty monarchy which the Creoles had been taught to believe was the most powerful . and enlightened on the globe, had, in their estimation, dwindled to a mere french dependency ; and in proportion to the once exalted idea which they had entertained of her grandure and grateness, was their present depreciation and contempt.- This state of affairs continued until the beginning of 1810. By this time the Creoles had arrived to a pretty clear conception of their rights, as well as of a conciousness of their strength; which they were daily becoming more disposed to exert. It was impossible for Spain to close her eyes any longer to the true state of things. The increasing aliena- tion of the Creoles to the mother country, and their disposition to re- volt, began to be well understood in the Peninsula; and it was obvious to all, that without some change in the conduct of the government towards them, they would soon be in open rebellion. At that partic- ular crisis, when the banners of the french were triumphantly waving over the strong places of the country, the reduction of the Colonies by physical force, to their former dependence and obedience, could hardly be hoped for; and it only. remained for the Government of Spain to lure them back to tiieir ancient allegiance and affection, by the adoption of a more extended, just, and liberal policy towards them. An attempt was accordingly made; but it proved a total failure, for the want of sin- cerity and good faith on the part of the mother country.- 'l'he first step towards allaying the revolutionary spirit of the Col- onies was taken by the Central Junta in the agonies of its dissolution. In making the convocation, (which we have just mentioned) of a National Cortes, that Junta announced to the Provinces of Ultramar,
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