General Sickles to Mr. Fish
Sir: On Wednesday, the 16th instant, the Córtes elected the Duke of Aosta King of Spain. Three hundred and eleven members were present and voted. The whole number of deputies is 344, so that 33 constituencies were not represented. The election was by ballot, each member inscribing thereon his own name and that of the person for whom he voted. The choice was made on the first balloting, the official candidate receiving 191 votes, being a majority of 18 in a full house, and a majority of 71 of the members present. Of the minority, besides the 33 who did not vote, 19—of whom 12 were Carlists—voted blank, 63 voted for a republic, 27 for the Duke of Montpensier, and the rest scattering. It may be remarked that Article 33 of the constitution, establishing a monarchy as the form of government, was approved last year by 214 votes. The regency of Marshal Serrano, duke de la Torre, obtained 194 votes, but it should be observed that only one monarchist deputy opposed the election of the regent. It appears, therefore, that of the 229 votes cast for the several candidates for the throne, the Italian prince received 84 per cent., and of the 214 votes given in favor of the monarchical form of government he received 89 per cent. Of the 191 members voting for General Prim’s nominee, 65 hold places under his administration; and rumor says that lucrative public employment will soon be given to others of the majority. The majority embraces “progressists,” “democratic monarchists,” and a portion of the “union liberals;” that is to say, it represents the monarchical elements of the several parties that combined to effect the revolution of September, 1868. Although great efforts were made to increase the conservative vote in favor of the government candidate, the most influential of that class of deputies either abstained altogether or voted with the opposition. From the foregoing analysis of the ballot it appears that an emphatic majority of the constituent assembly—clothed with powers somewhat greater than those usually given in our system to a constitutional convention, inasmuch as this body not only framed the Spanish constitution but put it into operation—has ratified the choice made by General Prim to fill the Spanish throne. The incidents of the session are not regarded as promising a tranquil reign, nor even a peaceful accession to the throne.
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I am, &c.,