The National Register. — London, England, 1809-04-09 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL RWISTER. .. . . • • t • WI N.4h ' ll ur tinig, Canittitutian, anb tatn. SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 1809 PRICE a. No. 67. "t ;tt I POLITICAL DISQUISITION. AUMBER SIXTY-FIVE. -64111%. IiEFO M: "rite eott`it ptiot) of the best things gives rise to the *oisteLL-lii7 It is a lamentable truth, that governments, practically the best, and the most enlightened in principle, have gradually de generated into the vilest and most intolerable despotism. The first abuses were, in appearance. too trifling, and their 'grada tion too imperceptible, to excite alarm ; but they operated pro gressively, until crirrnption was to widely disseminated, that re medies only served to irritate the evil; aild reform became practicable. Between this period and the extinction of the last forms of freedom . , the interval was filled up with conspiracies, proscriptions, civil %Sari,, and every Crime which the maddest ambition, fury, general licentiousness, systematic eon= tempt of moral obligations, and legal i mpttnity, are capable of per petrating. The community sank, .at last, ex hausted,and mentally depraved, at the feet of the worst and Must ferbcious of Its members. Then began along and gloomy night of human mi it, ptivate punishid with Such sttidiout cruelty; that, in wading through that abtiMinable ,erind, we are doubtful which to execrate most,--the vile herd which italifferently w itnessed, or the want who perpetrated, the atrocity. Such is, briefly and literally, the history of every free people in ancient, and of some in modern, times. 'What an instructive and 'lvan! example to nations possessed Of liberal institutions ! But to this country, in particular, what a salutary caution does it fuhish ; which., from the very form of its governalent, and the nature of its pursuits; is itectiliarly ex. posed to the danger and abuse* we have described. It has suf fered all the t:troes and horrors attending the birth of freedom; wit was a long, a dreadful, and a sanguinary period. Let us beware the convulsions preceding its decease !—The charactei and spirit of the age fit mankind fur the perpetration of atroci ties, compared to which the former, tremendous as they were, -would be insignificant in duration and Violence ! These produced to healthy and vigorous (airing ; ►ehn, at he grett up, made more. than ample amends for the pangs attending the delivery. But the latter would leave behind a fCitid ctscuse, Whose efttu via Would contaminate the air, blast every generous plant, and render the soil capable of generating only rancid weeds and monsters. States, like men, have their perlod of infancy, youth, man:- hood, and define. They arc mortal like them, and receive at. their formation seeds of disorder, which occasion their final dis. solution. Some hive, likewise, a sounder constitution than others ; and, if a proper regimen and suffici•'nt exercise he eta . . iiloyed, may enjoy a protracted and vigorous existence. None are immortal ; and, however agoniring the idea is to the mind of the patriot, his country too must suhinit to the common fate of sublunary thinp,--extinction 1 To her sons, if they are high minded, this presentiment a ill rot cause much despondency; for it i= in their powt.t.r to render the life of the patent long, respecte;li and glorious. Every one. who has studied the theory of our constitution, admires its excellercy ; hut that a great and alarming relaxation h visible in the practical application of it 4 ittincipka. hs.4, %%e Ful. LXI7II. sery and degradation; during which genins, ntry tue. astd loge of etiontey, were persecuted and suppose, takver been seriously denied, for the last fifty yeari by persons most interested in maintaining it. This change is to be attributed principally to) the increased aid incretteng influence of the crown, and to the corrupt state of the representative system. if the foran'er is to he confined within the boundi Prescribed by the constittition ; the latter ninsi undergo , radical reform. Atiuses iii every branch of the adniinistratlon have murtiplied, in a proportionate ratio,. With the accumulating imperfections of the represehlation, and the monstrous patronage of government; and It is ludicrous to imagine that any solid, ois permanent, advantage; can reitult to the people, as long as Mi... niters are certain of having a Majority of the House of Com mons in favour of their nieasures, hastrever unconstitutional their principle, or ruinous their tendency; That they have had this majority, with two, or thia4 solitary exceptions, (and it is painful to remark that the fitenSures then proposed were of general titility; but crintrary to the wishes of ilti" crown) for the last thirty years; is obvious to every erne who remembers the lorneeiMings of Parliaifient during that interval. That the integrity and talents of the Inclividilnls, who composed the respective aaidlinistrations; during that period, should be so uncontaminated and conspicuous; that their condtict Would Stand the severest test of examinati3n, is; we are bold to say,,. one of ; the mist extratirtlittary phenoMena ever recorded in the • world. That even their Motives, leaving their actions out of the. question,(for a ministry thight think honestlji, kind rtrt foolishly); should have no Other oliject but the public good; wlt hoot any reference te their own exeluque advantage, or that of the crown---:-Would afford a proof Of itemaculate IllitliS tetin! purity, whith has no parallel in our otNo, or the history of a:1) other s country. if, on the contrary; their nieasdres during that (law, have been prortiinent for telfisltness, disregard of the pithlic good, of ealtuess, and infringethents on the rights of the peiqle ; it must then be acknowledged that the majority of the Corinnons, who invariably sanctioned all their proceedings; most have coni. pletely lbst sight of the principle; on which liarliaments were instituted; and have been mdre anxious to promote the partial: lar views of the EiecutiVe, than to support the rights and inter rests of the people. If the period should ever arrive when the persons, who are called the reptesentaties of the people, repre-: sent theni only in name, but nut in reality; When they are loll citoes tEI aspire to this honorable distinction for no other pur pose than to promote their own individual advantage to the Anted vantage of their constitiwnts--lit seouldthenbe the height ofextia vagance to imagine that any praCtical good would result to the community from such an institution; it would, en the contrary, he a manifest nuisance; for government, throdgh the Medium of al prostituted parliament; could, with impunity, he g,dilty of act 4 of violence., which, had it been purely despotic, it would not venture to commit; This was verified during the tinauspiciaui reigns of Henry VIII. queen Mary, and Charles 11. After a long interval of sllenee and indifference,the country, at last; begins to grow sensible of the inadequacy of the pre= sent mode of represeothtion; to meet the original principle of its institution.. This IS one Of the greatest benefits re; suiting froth Mr. N'fardle's Motion; and, we have no doubt titat•- • if the public are unanimous and perseVering, they will mately triumph over intrigue or prejudice. Nobody will dare maintain, not eves the most besotted or selfish; that any disadvantage can occur to the CroWn, Were the people more faithfully represented. Whoever advances so monstrous an opinion, must imagine that the interests of the people and the kjthe "overei;en are di•itiott and coraplewly at s'ariauce.. It tual ' ' 5 ' , eg, t ' 4 • .1 f