The National Register. — London, England, 1814-05-22 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER, SD!sr 14ing, Oenstitution, atm table. FpnLisliza AT NO. 11, NEWCASTLE-STtEET, STR4NI)? "" ..ar t ;, PRiesPd ! SUNDAY, MAY 22. 1814. No. 330. ,POLITICAL DISQUISITION. FRANCE CAPABLE OF 4 FREE GOVERNMENT. a Your bait of falsehood takes the carp of truth.'' Since our disquisition on the subject of the conduct to be pursued towards France and by hersklf at the prespnt momentous crisis, there has been « much ambiguous giv ing out" in the same quarter, more qualified, but still ini mical to the principles we then contended for. Our zeal is ,of no ordinary character—our object not France only, but the worldconfideut as we are, that if any thing short of liberal opinions, and free cstblishments take place, all that is valuable to the general community, whether of art or scieti,ce, of political improvement br moral regeneration, must retrograde to periods of coal, parative barbarism, a . i;td acknowledges slavery. The allied powers have Certainly shewn a deference to public sentiment in France, that leaves the onus of mis conduct where it should rest, and if France be not true to herself, if neglectful of the past, she shows an indiffer- Race to tbe future, mankind will only have to regret the fruitlessness of those examples that have degraded her ~ national character, and which no sense of subsequent shame can ever redeem. 01) the contrary, thoge . who r are equally interested in the presersition of her rank as'a gyration, and in her moral character as a people, must neither attempt to compromise her claims, or prevaricate in the performance of their .duties : if during the first tu r ,xnults of her gratitude she h-ss neglected to fi/i her secu l . rifles, the preliminary bases of her future rights have been .virtually acceded te, and the king is as much committed upon the .poijkts of representation and A. free press, as if he .had sworn to maintain them in the face of the whole The Icing's declining to accede to the whole of the ,bases, has ratiky onr,approbation than otherwise. The law of representation is 'laid down top imperfectly ( for practice, and a government of equivalents fould be equally Aiange,rous Ao the prepgative and ,the law. Alert indeed all the danger hinges. 'jut discussion cannot fail to mo 7 dify the extrayagance, and „the gradual ,representation ,of real p,roperty, to snpercede the anomalous ,character of the representative. As the -law is now proposed .to ,sternA, the bsriance is too much on the the goyerriment, mil the government that has the ,power cannot fail to (corrupt the creature who almost sr.holly ,dep.etids upon its Odunty. The security of the representative ,character is perhaps one of the, most admirable proyisiops An the t chiirter of Erglicl liherty„ and such is the becomr Jousy of tbe krit4h .C9.c44tetion, that ; new Jar, Vol. VII. N.,. CCCXXX. ‘. -. - . • •• .••• acted every session of Parliament, to promiite the freedom of e!ection, -and secure theiqviolable characi.er of the re presentative. ILow can France hope to be f r c e , unlesp in this respect she copy this country, and insist upon those mutual guarantees that ; : t 01 restrain the .nntlne e x ercise of power op the our, hand,. and the licentious claims of All inconsiderate democracy on the other. But we are told that there is a fashion- in all these things, and that the difference of country makes thefriir. ference of freedpm. We fear those who propagate Ais doctrine are influenced by different motives than Those they acknowledge, and are more gager to perpetuate thft ancient jealousy of the two countries, than to promote a cordial and wise union between than), or does it anis!: from a radical objection to what is free? Do they t4le,a4 the moderate principles they were the wpst forward to re l . commend so long as they furnished them the Itateft,4f 7 ample of a 4isgusting contrast ?—.There seems to be sppr 7 thing obnoxious in the French soil awl French men the moment they succeed to the Government of krant.e. France has been fluctuating for these twenty years in her choice of Governments- r —her ancient system had I,cft uo land marks- z -the most frightful chaos prevailed 7 -alternate darkness obscured the day, and thicketed the gloom, of night.—she had nothing to ',cad her on—ngtthing to go back to—those who would degrade her now had in‘e.nted her against Eingland,--with her 4941 before her cyes, it. was the only thing she was taught to sics.pite-- 7 infatuaqoil took place of reason, and looking to the agrarian of human happiness, the principles which fatally raged w a ithiai her, first sappe c cl and then destroyeit.all that va s venerable in her customs, .or estimable in be manners. These manners and these customs must, however, give way to the new order of things that have sprung up in the midst of the European.family. The new balance 'of power, it is hoped, will define 'other objects besides the limits ,of )singdops, and tie durabil4 of 'states. Ameli 7 9ration must not be adopted as the watch-word of success. It must be etierished .and promoted ,by those who ba r - fe been most instremental in britigkng_ f ab9ut the present re volution. kis r h till Ivith rrance ito . bett e the e4intile. If She h4s grred she is posy ,returnetil.baa to quiet titvs,aod sober views, and ail tird.she ; regnires are ipstikiitions ;tp• pliable to her . change and per regeneration. The pe . w constitution, h.oweyer : imperfect, ,h ,s clear i lidehnod her wishes and her. needs. rinse is not wautipg.inilt?•nees of pxofound discussion id solid ,enquiry. 'l l 4 abtempt to allurehe.r.hy.thg bla i ze of military parade mast fail with a people already aNtiated,with conquests: All Trance asks, la the 4erty of the. subject, 4114 what the ask .t A