The National Register. — London, England, 1812-12-13 00:00:00

7 70 action in the prosecution . 0f - a war like the present ; the manifestation of such a spirit must derange the best war system that can be acted upon. Measures wl;ich foreign connexions may make it expedient or absolutely necessary to adopt, may at the same time become impolitic or ruinous in such a crisis at home. So circumstanced, ability mad• be embarrassed, a war protracted for want of vigour, the confi deuce of allies shaken, and the character of a nation tar nished. Fatal experience has proved that national divisions arc destructive to national strength and national glory. Pa triotism, operating with public benevolrnce, ever seeks to conciliate that influence of party which inspires animosity and breeds rancour. It is difficult to imagine that any man Nvho has no other object in view but his country's honour and interests, would purposely and industilBinly disseminate opinions and scivi ',lents calculated to inflame the public mind, and rouse the people to acts of hostility and vengeance. It is impossible to believe that public virtue would prompt a man to become the champion, the friend and protector of political incen diaries, traitors, and libellers. To acknowledge such conclu- sions would be to ilernive virtue of its proper attributes — reason of its sanity justice of its truth—and honour of its ennobled properiieq. It would be, in fact, to change the complexion of good to bad ; to debate viitue, and erect a throne for vice. Yet, alas! 0 tempora 0 mores ! instances are to be found in the present age, in which persons with high and frequent prce..ssions, both of a political and moral nature, have n o t thought it dishonourable to become the intimate, nay bosom friend of TooKE and O'CoNt4oß, nor disgraceful to associate with DESPARD in prison, and plead his cause in the Senate ; nor opposite to public good to sanction by public declarations of approbation, the writings of every mercenary wretch, who is hardy enough to vilify the Government, and ridicule the sacred pages of Religion.* When individuals of exalted rank condescend to become the supporters of a faction, their exaniple is sure to lead with it. the ignorant and unthinking; and their sanction never fails to embolden the dissatisfied. It is on these oceasibns that the pre s s becomes licentious, and the people turbulent. Under such patronage, sedition, sculking from her dreary lurking place, at first suspicio►►sly lifts her head, and by cautious degrees insinuates herself into the minds of the pro fligate, where gaining ascendancy, on every political subject her clamorous tongue is raised anainst the Ministry, without distinction of tight or wrong, and her tnalicious pen then swells the journals of the day, divested of candour, purity, and truth. Such mischievous engines are the natural parents of all the calamities mid confusion which now dis tract the world—a licentious press and profligate people occasioned the French Revolution; the standard of liberty was planted in its first progress, but despotism► soon gained dominion over, and with an iron rod bath long been scourg ing, the sons of Francs for their fatal error. There can he little ohj . ction in the minds of well disposed and reasonable men to amly the correcting hand of the law to evils which, if not sub: l mA, have power to endanger the State. and be otherwise productive of private injury. Of all evilE there is none pregnant with greater mi , chief than a licentious . press through such an organ every depraved pasbion that pervades the mind may clandestinely be brought into action against fair pretensions and honest fame ; hr its influence the affection 3 of the subject may be alienated from the Sovereign; envy may wrest the laurel from the hero's brow; disappointed ambition, without being animated by ,e, may perplex public busi ',ual reputation, and malice . ving.persuqs. Considering DEC. I! therefore the extent of the tnischief it is capable of pro. clueing, its correction is a duty incumbent on the G overn. ment : and however severely such circumstances may be fel t by the offending party, they aflord no cause for furthe r satisfaction, on the contrary, the punishment of ofii * 1(; 1 which are ia the highest degree injurious to the intele (:f society, gives security to every good subject. Th e p r i v i! lege of fair discussion is not invaded by being confined to that proper exercise avhich, is capable of diffusing n th e a advantages that can he derived from it. The people of this country enjoy more actual f. t a l l aal than those of any other nation in the warld. The laws by which they are governed are less arbitrary, more equitable, and afford a greater security to persons and property, than can be found in any other state : the innocent arc protected ; the injured are justified, and in our punishment of the guilty: " mercy seasons justice." No man ought to have a hibcr sense than yourself of the mildness of their operation even tin der the mist aggravated circumstances. Every attention has been paid by the Constitittion to render their administration pure; and although some individuals, to whose offencti they have dispensed a justice which the benefit of the community demanded, may be disposed to avow " that they are venal," I will venture to assert, there is no honest man in the catai• fry, who experiences the least uneasiness front such consi• devotion, or who does not repose in them perfect confidence for his safety. If laws are necessary, (which who will deny?) the laws of England are most to be desired, as they embrace advantages superior to all others ; but to the wicked, every regulation that restricts offence will be disagreeable, and the more salutary its influence the greater will be their hostility the profligate only will attempt to degrade and render the laws nugatory ;• the honest will ever uphold them as their best refuge against fraud and violence. It is evident by the resistance you made on a memorable occasion, when Piccadilly became a scene of outrage, and the subsequent legal enquiries you instituted, that you were either grcy , sly ignorant of those laws which it w. , s your duty, and ought to have been your ambition, as a Legislator, to become acq uaint e d with ; or that your disposition induced you first to violate, and then to oppose their exectiti(ta fay: motives either evil or contemptible : in playing a politival game to win popularity, your intrepid spirit disibined councils of discretion. \V ith a heated imagination yon applied to the passions of the people, disputed the power of Parliament to protect itself from insult, and placed yourself in personal contention with the Law. Did it never occur to you, that violent measures are not sanctioned by the friends to social order? that reflecting men would condemn such I conduct, and r"gard your public intentions with suseicion? Tt was sail of a notorious Patriot, (G. 1.4. WA RD Lt), that " men of morals would despise him as a profligate, men of talents as a fool; and men of independence as the slave of a desperate and sinking party." The virulence of his p ultlic conduct brought a censure on him which ( as the stream t. popular prejudice subsides) by a persevera nce in the saa.e carne, common sense will apply to you. You estimate the people too lightly; you have formcd an erroneous opinion of the discernment of the public; to en• . tertain.your principles, they would become the promot:as tif their own disgrace and ruin. - The interests of Civil s"('ie l Y are never benefittea by breaking those tics upon which thry rest. The Constitution is not rendered secure by de:vtdiii,:. the Government. The credit of the nat ion is not soma); till 4 3 , casting reflections on the Cabinet, neither is its faun in• ! creased by a false expiasure of n'eaknesg• ; There is an alrectation in singularity which grea t tme se!cloin indu!ze, and in no species Of conceit is vanity inJe Loy just or .h pm! Alsinfrpose wens; j ;..- -...: 1 ,,k- ' giintlividi feetfeet , ,/". - !!''' •..li ' wig „ ...en . i.; r :i . .:. : N ‘v ~•s. - • rl 4 ....... ., ... • . c , ~ 4 *,.. I .: 1 6 4 ' ' .!' • V , *t. _ , J : tzr: : t ; 4 al:%•• THE NATIONAL PEGISTER. th th