The French journals conve...
The Frenchl journals convey to us another sanguinary Decree by the King of SPAIN. In this production, His Ma- jestyspecifies a variety of new cases of high treason, in which cases the punishment of death, also, by a military commis- sion (and this is no bug-bear in Spain), is denounced against the offenders. The flrst Article comprises in the list of traitors, and subjects to death, '- all those who, ' since October, 1823, have declared or proved themselves " enemies to the legitimate tights of the throne, or parti- " sans of the self-styled Constitution of Cadiz." Now the boundary of the "' legitimate rights" of the throne being, always with us matter of dispute, it is probable that could such a decree as that en which we are speaking pass in England, it would render liable to the punishment of death all the *Yhigs, and some part, alss, of the more moderate Tories. Article the 9th would comprise all the Dissenters in this country, and render them liable. to suffer death, with confiscation of property. As a Spanish Freemason differs from one bearing the same appellation in England, it is probable that the decree would only direct an English Freemason to be hanged with his rule aud compasses about his neck, and suffer the rest of his property to descend to his heirs. This, however, is a sweeping and shocking decree; and most sincerely do we wish to see justice done on the guilty. Crimes eannot be said to prosper in Spain, for we have no doubt the chief author of them is more miserable than his victims; but still they are endured. The KING is said to have augmented his guard by three companies of horse artillery, anmounting in the whole to 270 men, with 20 pieces of cannon. These will serve to per- form, or at least help to perform, the military execution dlenounced by the dlecree against traitors. We observe that the Spanishl papers, wheni speaking of the late Kingof FnANCI and his obsequies, call him the " August Chief of the Royal House !" Why is the King of FRtANCE called chief rather than the King of SPAIN? They are both descended from Louis XIV. If the King of FaaNcE be cihief, then would Spain, as belonging to an iiiferiol person, be but an appanage of Francec.