ARGUELLES, AUGUSTIN, a prominent Spanish politician of the modern liberal school. On the breaking out of the war of independence in 1808, he went to Cadiz, where he agitated for the. organization of a regency along with a free constitution, as the best method of strengthening and consolidating the powers and resources of the nation. Iu 1812, he was sent as representative of his native province to the cortes, where he was appointed one of the members of the committee to whom were intrusted the drawing up of the plan of a new constitution. His splendid talents as a public speaker soon won him the admiration of the liberal party, who used to term him the Spanish Cicero. But on the return of Ferdinand VII., A. fell a victim to the reactionary spirit which ensued. On the 10th of May, 1814, he was arrested and imprisoned; but at his trial he displayed such dexterity that it was found impossible to convict him. Different judges were nominated five successive times, but they could not agree in their decision. At last the monarch himself passed sentence, which was that A. should be confined for ten years in the prison at Ceuta. He was not, however, alone in his misfortunes. Fourteen persons were condemned along with him, amongst whom was his friend Juan Alvarez Guerra. In their confinement they experienced such barbarous treatment, that in four years three died, two became mad, and the rest received greivous injuries. The revolution of 1820
restored them to freedom. A. became minister of the interior, but soon resigned, in consequence of the king complaining of the weakness of the executive. Although pro voked beyond measure by the narrow bigotry of the court, he did not rush into extremes, but continued a constitutional liberal to the end of his life. In the tortes held at Seville in 1823, he voted for the suspension of the royal power; but after the violation of the constitution he tied to England, where he remained till the amnesty of 1832. On his return to Spain, being nominated to the cortes, he was repeatedly made president and vice-president of the chamber of deputies, and always showed himself a moderate but unwavering reformer. In July, 1841, on the discussion of the law regarding the sale of church property, he delivered himself strongly against all concordats with the pope. Next to Espartero, he was the most popular man iu the kingdom with the enlightened party. During the regency, he was appointed guardian to the young queen Isabella, but a. soon after, on the 23d of March, 1844, at Madrid. In his old age, he still exhibited the fiery eloquence that marked his youth.