Harpers Ferry Free Press

DISTURBANCES IN MADRID

MADRID, AUG. 23.

During the last three days, we have been in a continual state of commotion and alarm. The events which have transpired are of such importance, that reflecting people view them as the commencement of a civil war.

On the 20th inst. at 9 in the evening, an assemblage in front of the prison, in which are confined several of the Royal Body Guards, who dispersed the populace on their offering insults to the king about a month ago, began singing the popular obnoxious Tragala Perro. As their conduct became more violent, the officer commanding the post interfered, upon which he and his men were grossly assailed, and the populace refused to depart. Some blows were now struck by the soldiers, but not in a manner to hurt any one much. The news of the affray soon reached the Club de la Fontana; from whence 400 persons proceeded to reinforce their confederates, and more daring outrages were committed. The Political Chief repaired to the spot; he was told the officer of the guard and his men had, unprovoked, commenced an attack upon the people. He endeavored to allay the ferment by blaming the soldiers, and almost flattering the authors of the tumult. General Morillo repaired, at the head of a military detachment, to the spot; he was assailed with the most unseeming invective and desperate opposition among the crowd, which endeavored to arrest his progress. As his authority was thus opposed and despised, he determined to act with the energy and promptitude which the crisis imperiously demanded, and, with his cane in his hand, forced his way through the dense and clamorous crowd, and compelled them to disperse.

From thence they proceeded in groups to the Club de la Fontana, where the most notorious orators inflamed their rage by perverted narratives of the affair, and falsely declaring that Morillo, with his drawn sabre, had grievously wounded many citizens. Cries of "Death to Morillo," "the head of Morillo," followed these inflammatory speeches.

On the following day, (the 21st) crowds assembled in the streets early in the morning, and the populace opposite the club amounted to 10,000. Cries for the head of Morillo and the ministers were re-echoed in every quarter. The Political Chief issued a notification that the Minister of War had accepted the resignation of Gen. Morillo: whose functions would be executed, in the interim, by Gen. Montemayor. This had the effect of calming the violent spirit which had been manifested by the populace.

The Minister of the Ultra-Marine Possessions set off express to the King at St. Ildefonso, to inform his Majesty of what had transpired.

On the 22d much agitation prevailed. The trial of Morillo was vehemently demanded, and much impatience manifested for the King's answer to the communication which it was known had been addressed to him by the ministers.

General Morillo issued a proclamation on the night of the 21st, in which he denounces the malignant aspersions which designing men had cast upon his reputation, by falsely representing that he had used his sabre against the assembled people. After giving an account of his efforts to restore order, he says: "My sword, which I will never use but against the enemies of our country, remained in the scabbard. I spoke with moderation to all, and only endeavored to suppress outrage, and enforce that respect which is due to the laws and the government."

The Journal de Paris adds, in a postscript, dated 10 o'clock on the evening of the 25th, "The King's answer is just arrived. His majesty will not accept the resignation of gen. Morillo, but orders that he shall be tried by a court martial. This answer is not yet known by the public. An immense populace occupy the streets. An explosion is expected."