The National Register. — London, England, 1809-12-10 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. ~:_~. Out king, con4titution, anb 146130. SUNDAY,, DECEMBER 10, 1809. POLITICAL DISQUISITION.. K • • iremiust 'oNg ' 1 . ;"r.;• , #. .• want of it more severely felt. Whenever it ilt found deli cieut, and the deficiency has occasioned any material injur y to the state the person thus convicted should be punished with inexorable severity, as a terrific, but salutary exampl.• to improper candidates, and a powerful antidote against tl).• poison of intrigue and favouritism. Would to Heaven ! the precedent had,becn established sixteen years ago; tine thepunishment of one, two, or three obnoxious indi - Aduak might have saved the thousands of innocent lives, the tnii lions of money, and the intaluable fund of honour, which since that time, have . been squandered at Ferrol, the Hc:: der, Buenos Ayres, Cintra, and Walclieren. The sever , authors, in the field and cabinet, of these fatal mouninee of national disastei., have vaunted the purity of their zeal 1 and the rectitude of their intentions; as if they considerel: them a justification of their conduct, and an extenuatim for the immense weight of dishonour and danger tip.— bronght upon their couutry. We do not pretend, nor hi: any cartidy power a right, to examine their hearts; but have felt, and still feel the evil consequences of their deeds.. and, upon their issue exclusively,, without reference to tentions s which Heaven alone is qualified to judge, woe; found our opinion upon the urginicy and justice of punishment, or acquittal. k The impotence of their defence is flagrant; but hums,. ' ty, even patriotism might be inclined to overlook it, on tount-of the impotent* of the actors. But, when the hate: rendered iesolent undeserved . indulgence, and forg.ett that they. stand acciised,• start forth in thedonble eheraci of accusers and inquisitors ;—when they arrogate the mai. cious right of denouncing, and torturing, by means of vexatious and costly prosecution, members of that coni. nity they leave injured, for complaining of the injuQ* ; when they have the iniquity to represent these very per,.: • as enemies to their country, for attempting to vindicate 1 - honour, and resent her sufferings;-when, by the long ! • •nure of power, they seem inclined to regard it as a /*fir- • alai inheritance, and treat inquiry into their mangyi- • •etnpleying it, as an unwarrantable interference with ; 1 assumed rights, as an infringement of the laws of properl , , • 'Then, those individuals, whose inipotence claimed our p- , • and who could only seek refuge from indignation in c tempt, deserve the fullest measure of punishment ape probation, which the law, or opinion, can inflict. lA' does this assumption mean t To what extent may not arrogance, be carried ! How replete with danger ! I teeming with confusion ! The country, engaged in a di-, - ful conflict, not upon the ordinary grounds of ambition gain, such as extension of territory, or commerce, but f"* the preservation of her existence,--a contest, from wt;i4 prudeiice cannot extricate her, and concession scare' terminate ;—which, to the eze of Annuli wisdom, soistso terminable; and presents the drendful•peospe.et of W*41 ij tot an irritated, hardened; and unfo?giVing ruffian ; 1 41 . t3 boundless succession of accumultting'saerillees, , ceasing agitation. The Outitry, we say, enkagie'd it a kVA d Si ,• • 4.• 1 - x._ _- WELLMEY .ADMINISTRATION. I if That writer Must-have a wild imagination, who can con: steive &tranquil, : Prosperous; and respected people, withont 'associating an incorruptible, enlightened, and vigorous go vernment. Madness itself cannot suggest a grosser absurd . ity Allan to imaginea country happy and' secure under a - weak, of intriguing administration.' To assert that a pen ' pie can,' for any time, pretendto tepOsi, or claim an ex 'emption'from vicissitudes, whilst theiiiituirs are adminis 'tered by mere ()Features of intrigue and . routine,is a doe 'trine Of knaves, and at varience with the great tedcher,— 'Exiserience. It' may, likewise, be admitted as an Incon "trovertible principle, that, when symptoms of discontent 'ate" manifested at home, and fiequent examples of reverse 'oceur 'abroad, the cause may be traced amnit invariably, to the mis Management of the Executive. The inference is equally just; if we teve* theposition and.it may safely be concluded, thskt,arlisni tle state is' fortunate and tranquil. plc who • tile concern . * of that people are conducted by men, combine pioiq l oth vi g pur and talents. • ' • baying down terse simple and obviousriiiciOlesi'ai of judgment, we shall have an coy and certain rum* certaining, with some allowances, the inerits of ever ii)T4l of si•i ery sistry, and the wisdom of public measures., AlioWawa, but with extreme caution, may be admitted in consequence of unprecidented occurrences, such as the first events of-the French Revolution. They should he made, however, with considerable limitations; for the criterion of human genius is, that it rises almost immediately to a level with the most extraordinary human occurrences. Success, in t rarnsactions between nation and nation, when their strength is any way balanced, is the infallible criterion of the capacity of their respectiie governments. When we hear, therefore, a Pill-, nister claiming indulgence for the unfortunate, or disgrace ful issue of his measures, on the plea of unforeseen difficul ties, the honesty of his intentions, his zeal and patriotism, it ought to be instantly rejected ; for he should not have in. truded himself into a place of such importance, without a full and just conviceion of his competency to meet every event that may arise during his administration. The coun- try has nothing to do with his intentions ;—she judges him by the utility of his measures, and the wisdom of his coun sel. Were this defence admitted, responsibility would be a complete burlesque; and every creature, who may be raised to power by favour and obsequiousness, might claim upon the plea of honesty and zeal, impunity ft*lbe misfor tune and disgrace his :folly had.occasion - ed. • The first, the most essential, and without which every other is useless; quality in a public Man ie capacity. • In proportion to the ' smportance of his situation, and the magnitude of hii du• ties, this qualification becomes more indispeusible, and the . fit. C//. • - . . . " Imr• - ^r", TIMMPOP; No. 102. ; PRICE 9d. db. I 02 f. a.:' -.- ' ' s -,- , :.::: .