Allocution delivered by King Alfonso XII on 13 March 1876 at the end of the Second Carlist War with the defeat of the rebels. It was written by the Minister of Overseas France, Adelardo López de Ayala, and addressed to the government soldiers. It contained the sentence: "All these evils, although dreadful and extremely regrettable, are reduced to the space of a single generation; but, founded by your heroism the constitutional unity of Spain, the fruit and blessings of your victories will reach the remotest regions". These words caused great displeasure among the majority of Basques and prompted the Deputy General of Álava, Manuel María de Gortázar, to avoid an official visit to the King, saying: "I do not want my hand to be shaken again by the one who shook it in Somorrostro when he had already signed the proclamation". From all over Spain, with the exception of Seville, petitions were sent to the Government calling for the suppression of the Fueros, "an outdated exception, harmful to the general good of the nation and a constant source of tragic conflicts, in which thousands of Spaniards lost their lives and the country was ruined", with the provinces of Santander and Zaragoza at the head of this "conspiracy".