History of the Peninsular War, Volume 2 (of 6)Southey, Robert
History
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 2 (of 6)
Southey, Robert
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
A message from Buonaparte accompanied these reports, when they were
laid before the Senate. He mentioned his firm alliance with Russia,
and said, that he had no doubts of the peace of the continent, but
that he ought not to rely upon the false calculations and errors of
other courts; and since his neighbours increased their armies, it was
a duty incumbent upon him to increase his: he therefore imposed fresh
sacrifices upon his people, which were necessary to secure them from
heavier, and to lead them to the grand result of a general peace. “I am
determined,” said he, “to carry on the war with Spain with the utmost
activity, and to destroy the armies which England has disembarked in
that country. The future security of my subjects, a maritime peace,
and the security of commerce, equally depend upon these important
operations. Frenchmen, my projects have but one object in view ... your
happiness, and the permanent well-being of your children; and if I
know you right, you will hasten to comply with this new call, which is
rendered necessary by the interests of the country.”
♦THE SENATE APPROVE HIS MEASURES.♦
In the first of Buonaparte’s three constitutions for France, the
affectation of Roman titles, and the false taste with which they were
applied to offices essentially different, were equally to be remarked.
The name of Senate, however, was well retained under his imperial
government, just such a Senate having existed during those disgraceful
ages of the Roman empire, when a despotism, similar to that which he
had established in France, was degrading their country, and preparing
the way for the universal barbarism and misery which ensued. The
baseness of those wretches who sanctioned the iniquities and cruelties
of Tiberius and Caligula was equalled by the obsequious senators of
Buonaparte. On the day after his message had been presented, they
voted an address, echoing the gross and palpable falsehoods of his
assertions, applauding his measures, and appropriating to themselves,
and, as far as the crimes of a government can be imputed to the people,
to the French nation also, the guilt of his conduct towards Spain.
“Your Majesty,” said they, “desires to defend solemn and voluntarily
concluded treaties; to maintain a constitution freely discussed,
adopted, and sworn to by a national junta; to suppress a barbarous
anarchy, which now covers Spain with blood and mourning, and threatens
our frontier; to rescue the true Spaniards from a shameful yoke, by
which they are oppressed; to assure to them the happiness of being
governed by a brother of your Majesty; to annihilate the English
troops, who unite their arms with the daggers of the banditti; to
avenge the French blood, so basely shed; to put out of all doubt the
security of France, and the peace of our posterity; to restore and
complete the work of Louis XIV.; to accomplish the wish of the most
illustrious of your predecessors, and particularly of him who was by
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