Essays on Liberty
The Essays on Liberty (Alexandrian: Ensayos de Libertad) is a book written by philosophers and politicians Matias Gustierrez, Emilio Acaran, and Francesco Patrallez in 1690 AN. The book is the compilation of their collective works of 75 articles and essays in defence of the Proclamation of Punta Santiago. The first 69 of them were originally called Essays on the Liberty, Democracy, and Welfare of the People of the New Federation of Wechua-Alduria published between 1685 AN and 1686 AN in The Aldurian Sun. The last six papers were published in 1690 AN before they were collected and bundled into two volumes.
The Essays played an important role in the dissertation of the Proclamation to the people of Alduria-Wechua and also inspired the Federal Constituent Assembly in their amendments of the Proclamation in 1692 AN. The authors intended the Essays as a means to promote the ratification of the Proclamation by the voters. This was made clear in Essay #1:
- "The purpose of our labours lie not with instilling into you the idea that the Proclamation is the only possible solution to the coming of our new Federation and union between Alduria and Wechua, but to profess our belief that within it lie the best future for our collective people in a spirit of Liberty, Democracy, and Security. Therein lies our answers to the struggle of what we may perceive as just government, guided by the will of the people, in political institutions and ideals that we may to the best of our abilities use to create the shared welfare for the betterment of all.
The Essays were known for their support of Federalism and Constitutional Monarchy. Several Essays were dedicated to King Manco Cápac, especially those in defence of him and against a Presidential System. According to historians, the essays were an important exhibition of the need for the Proclamation, and an extensive dissertation of its themes and background.
History
Origins
The unification of the Federation of Alduria and Wechua Nation began in earnest in 1680 AN. The Committee for Alduro-Wechu Integration that was created in 1685 AN was the first body that talked to create a document to unite the two peoples. The Alvarez-Campos Summit that met shortly before had created a compromise with a Constitutional Monarchy under a Parliamentary System, led by the King of Wechua Nation. The Proclamation of Punta Santiago that was being written got a lot of critics under pseudonym writers 'Bolero' and 'de Valencia'. Gustierrez, who was part of the negotiations on the side of Wechua, decided to promote the Proclamation to the people and launched a dedicated effort in the defense and explanation of it. He first published Essay #1 in 1685 AN, explaining that the series would 'Endevaour to explain all the objections to the Proclamation, insofar that they shall be deemed worthy and substantial for your attention'.
Gustierrez soon went out to seek collaborators for his work. He first contacted Patrallez, who was an accomplished diplomat. Patrallez wrote the first 5 Essays that came after, but due to his advanced age, could not contribute more and died only two months into the project. Essay #57, written by him, was published posthumously. Patrallez did however recruit Acaran, a philosopher and long-time deputy for Alduria. He became Gustierrez's primary collaborator. Other lesser known philosophers, as well as Vicaquirao Alvarez, contributed some parts to the Essays.
A concurrent female writer, Ana Belen Giménez, also wrote multiple essays which Gustierrez added to the book as #76-80, but were actually published independently by The Cárdenas Press in 1689 AN.
Authorship
The three men wrote the Essays under the pseudonym 'Defensor'. They choose this name because they stood in opposition to the critics of the Proclamation. The eventual book was however published under their real names, with each essay attributed to the perceived authorship. They did this because Gustierrez and Acaran were both present at the negotiations in Punta Santiago and did not want to influence the debates there. After the book was published, Gustierrez and Acaran published the list of authorship of the Essays, also including contributors who were not mentioned during their writing process. These include Francesco's son Miguel, who worked off his fathers notes about latter articles.
- Matias Gustierrez: 1, 6-10, 12-14, 18-24, 30-45, 58-60, 71-74
- Enilio Acaran: 11, 15-17, 25-29, 46-56, 61-69, 75
- Francesco Patrallez: 2-5, 57 (posthumously)
- Ana Belen Giménez: 76-80
- Jose Manuel Corredor: parts of 2-4
- Vicaquirao Alvarez: parts of 12, 17, and 22
- Alejandro Campos: parts of 46-49
- Miguel Patrallez: parts of 65-69
- Guillaume Val: parts of 71-74
- Diego Costa: part of 75
Publication
The Essays articles appeared in The Aldurian Sun, as well as The Times of Alduria-Wechua. Although they were presented in the editorial section and its actual author was unknown, they were widely read and well received by the public and politicians alike. The essays were written at haste: most did not exceed more than 2,500 words, and they appeared almost weekly, with at the top of its speed three or four per week. The essays were written in Punta Santiago, which is why most of them start with the same salutation: 'To the people and leaders of Alduria'. The high demand led to the Aldurian Sun to publish the first bundle of the Essays, containing the first 43, as a bound volume in 1685 AN. The essays continued to be published after that: #69 was the last to appear in that form. The second bound volume, containing the latter 26 published and the last 6 unpublished ones, was published in 1687 AN. The last 6 ones were then republished in 1690 AN. In that same year, the complete edition of the the two volumes removed the relative anonymity of the writers by using their real names and attributing each essay to the presumed author. The book was dedicated to Patrallez.
Influence on the Proclamation debates
The Essays were written in support of the Proclamation, especially in Punta Santiago where the debate was being held. Historians question whether they had a big influence on the actual ratification of the Proclamation. Because they were mostly read in Punta Santiago, their impact on the wider Alduria-Wechua Federation is unclear. Moreover, by the time the series was first bundled in 1685 AN, the Proclamation was already being finished. The latter of the 45 essays were all published after it had been ratified. Lastly, historians believe the essays were more influential in getting the support of the people of the new Federation, especially for the new King, than to persuade the new Federal Constituent Assembly. It is however known that the Cabildo de Cárdenas, who revised and reissued the Proclamation, utilized several ideas of the Essays in their amendments. The collected book published in 1690 AN has since then become more of a sourcebook for the Constitutional Affairs of Nouvelle Alexandrie rather than a work in support of the Proclamation. Gustierrez and Ancaran were both known later as members of the Federal Humanist Party, and they supported the New Prosperity Plan. Gustierrez wrote two more essays on this later, which some consider part of the series, but was not included in the book.
Structure and content
In Essay #1, Gustierrez listed seven topics to be covered in the subsequent articles:
- "The influence of foreign powers and diplomatic operations on the Proclamation" - covered in #2 through to #10
- "The need for a Federal Government under a Constitutional Monarch" - covered in #11 through to #26
- "The unification of our two Economies and the impact of a Maritime Empire" - covered in #27 through to #43
- "The importance of Civil, Human, and Social Rights to the Welfare of our Collective People" - covered in #44 through to #54
- "The proper layout of our Apparatus of Government and the checks and balances between branches of government" - covered in #55 through to #69
- "A Case for the Judiciary Branch" - covered in #70 through to #73
- "Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Proclamation Considered and Answered" - covered in #74
Two more topics were listed in the first essay ("The Analogy of the Proclamation to predecessor Constitutional Law"; and "The Additional Benefits of the Proclamation in Relation to the security and prosperity of the New Federation"), but did not make it into the work until Essay #75, the closing remarks. The Essays written by Gimenéz were all called "A Case for Women's Rights and the Need for Women in Political Society".
Judicial Use
Federal judges still use the Essays when interpreting the Proclamation, but mostly as a contemporary account of the intentions of its writers and ratifiers. They do not hold any legal power, as they were written as independent articles for popular reading. Gustierrez, before his death in 1705 AN, wrote to the then Chief Judge Samuel Hoyo, in response to the extensive citation of the Essays by federal courts:
- "The legitimate authority of the Essays must only be derived from the text itself; not from the opinions or intentions of its writers or from the consensus and opinions of those who planned and wrote the Proclamation; and from the ideas the people attached to it in their respective reading, for that is from where their authority derives."
Complete List
| # | Chapter | Title | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | General Introduction | Gustierrez |
| 2 | 1 | Concerning Influence from Foreign Powers on the Proclamation | Patrallez |
| 2a | Raspur Pact and the Proclamation | Corredor | |
| 3 | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Influence from Foreign Powers on the Proclamation | Patrallez | |
| 3a | A Case for International Law in the Proclamation | Corredor | |
| 4 | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Influence from Foreign Powers on the Proclamation | Patrallez | |
| 4a | The Case for Maritime Law in the Proclamation | Corredor | |
| 5 | Concerning Diplomatic Operations under the New Federation | Patrallez | |
| 6 | The Consequences of Hostilities between Nations | Gustierrez | |
| 7 | The Same Subject Continued: The Consequences of Hostilities between Nations | ||
| 8 | The Powers of the Federation as a Safeguard against Civil Violence and Insurrection | ||
| 9 | The Powers of the Federation in International Waters | ||
| 10 | Advantage of the Union in Commercial Relationships | ||
| 11 | 2 | The need for a Federal Government under a Constitutional Monarch | Alcaran |
| 12 | Advantages of a Federal Government | Gustierrez | |
| 12a | Influence of Wechua Political History on the Proclamation | Alvarez | |
| 13 | Designs of a Federal Government with Powers to Preserve the Welfare of the People | Gustierrez | |
| 14 | The Same Subject Continued: Designs of a Federal Government with Powers to Preserve the Welfare of the People | ||
| 15 | Concerning the General Affairs of Taxation | Alcaran | |
| 16 | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Affairs of Taxation | ||
| 17 | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Affairs of Taxation | ||
| 17a | Concerning the Taxation of International Businesses | Alvarez | |
| 18 | Concerning the Defence of the Nation | Gustierrez | |
| 19 | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Defence of the Nation | ||
| 20 | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Defence of the Nation | ||
| 21 | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Defence of the Nation | ||
| 22 | Concerning the Defence of the Nuclear Capabilities of the Nation | ||
| 22a | Concerning the Relationships with other Nuclear Powers of the World | Alvarez | |
| 23 | In the Defense of King Manco Cápac | Gustierrez | |
| 24 | Advantages of the Constitutional Monarchy under a Parliamentary System | ||
| 25 | The Same Subject Continued: Advantages of the Constitutional Monarchy under a Parliamentary System | Alcaran | |
| 26 | The Same Subject Continued: Advantages of the Constitutional Monarchy under a Parliamentary System | ||
| 27 | 3 | The unification of our two Economies and the impact of a Maritime Empire | |
| 28 | Concerning Farmers and Agriculture | ||
| 29 | Concerning the Mining Industry | ||
| 30 | Concerning the Construction Industry | Gustierrez | |
| 31 | The Federal Government as a Safeguard for Labour and Wages | ||
| 32 | The Same Subject Continued: The Federal Government as a Safeguard for Labour and Wages | ||
| 33 | Concerning Fisheries and the Maritime Industry | ||
| 34 | The Case for the Railways | ||
| 35 | The Same Subject Continued: The Case for the Railways | ||
| 36 | Concerning Coastal Communities | ||
| 37 | The Case for our Energy Safety and Supply | ||
| 38 | The Same Subject Continued: The Case for our Energy Safety and Supply | ||
| 39 | Concerning Heavy Industry | ||
| 40 | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Heavy Industry | ||
| 41 | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Heavy Industry | ||
| 42 | Concerning Services and Hospitality Industries | ||
| 43 | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Services and Hospitality Industries | ||
| 44 | 4 | The importance of Civil, Human, and Social Rights to the Welfare of our Collective People | |
| 45 | The Same Subject Continued: The importance of Civil, Human, and Social Rights to the Welfare of our Collective People | ||
| 46 | Restrictions on the Authority of the Government | Alcaran | |
| 46a | The Case for a Decentralized Government | Campos | |
| 47 | General View of the Rights conferred by the Proclamation | Alcaran | |
| 47a | The Case for Enumeration of Certain Rights not in the Proclamation | Campos | |
| 48 | The Influence of the Government on Citizens Further Considered | Alcaran | |
| 48a | The Same Subject Continued: The Case for Enumeration of Certain Rights not in the Proclamation | Campos | |
| 49 | The Conformity of the Proclamation to Human Rights | Alcaran | |
| 49a | The Case for an Universal Declaration of Civil and Human Rights | Campos | |
| 50 | The Dangers of a Powerful Central State against Civil and Human Rights | Alcaran | |
| 51 | The Rights conferred by the Proclamation Further Considered | ||
| 52 | The Powers of the Proclamation to create the Equality of All before the Law | ||
| 53 | The Powers of the Proclamation to declare Illegal Practices Unwanted | ||
| 54 | Method of Guarding against the Encroachment of Government of any Right conferred by the Proclamation | ||
| 55 | 5 | The proper layout of our Apparatus of Government and the checks and balances between branches of government | |
| 56 | The Same Subject Continued: The proper layout of our Apparatus of Government and the checks and balances between branches of government | ||
| 57 | The House of Peers | Patrallez (Posthumous) | |
| 58 | The House of Peers Continued | Gustierrez | |
| 59 | The Powers of the House of Peers | ||
| 60 | The Powers of the House of Peers Continued | ||
| 61 | The Federal Assembly | ||
| 62 | The Federal Assembly Continued | ||
| 63 | The Powers of the Federal Assembly | ||
| 64 | The Powers of the Federal Assembly Continued | ||
| 65 | The Executive Department | ||
| 65a | The Mode of Electing the President of the Government | M. Patrallez | |
| 66 | The Executive Department Further Considered | Gustierrez | |
| 66a | The Real Character of the Executive | M. Patrallez | |
| 66b | The Command of the Military and Naval Forces | ||
| 67 | The Duration in Office of the Executive | Gustierrez | |
| 67a | Re-Eligibility of the Executive Considered | M. Patrallez | |
| 68 | The Method of Electing the Members of Congress | Gustierrez | |
| 68a | The Total Number of the Federal Assembly | M. Patrallez | |
| 69 | The Provision for the Support of the Executive | Gustierrez | |
| 69a | The Appointing Power of the Executive | M. Patrallez | |
| 69b | Other Powers of the Executive Considered | ||
| 70 | 6 | A Case for the Judiciary Branch | Gustierrez |
| 71 | The Judiciary Continued | ||
| 71a | The Distribution of Judicial Authority | Val | |
| 72 | The Powers of the Judiciary | Gustierrez | |
| 72a | The Case for the High Court of Justice | Val | |
| 73 | The Judiciary Continued in Relation to Trial by Jury | Gustierrez | |
| 73a | The Case for Presumption of Innocence and Defense against Double Jeopardy | Val | |
| 74 | Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Proclamation Considered and Answered | Gustierrez | |
| 74a | The Same Subject Continued: Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Proclamation Considered and Answered | Val | |
| 75 | Concluding Remarks | Gustierrez | |
| 75a | Concluding Remarks Continued | Costa | |
| 76 | 7 | A Case for Women's Rights and the Need for Women in Political Society | Giménez |
| 77 | The Same Subject Continued: A Case for Women's Rights and the Need for Women in Political Society | ||
| 78 | The Same Subject Continued: A Case for Women's Rights and the Need for Women in Political Society | ||
| 79 | The Same Subject Continued: A Case for Women's Rights and the Need for Women in Political Society | ||
| 80 | The Future of Women in the New Federation |
In popular culture
The Essays is the name of a major Cárdenas Metro station. The original essays bundle is visible in the Legislative Palace where it was placed in 1693 AN, signed by the original authors and President Alvarez.
