The National Register. — London, England, 1820-06-04 00:00:00

~~J O~ '•~. _ Our Mug, Coluitituttonastri itatini• SUNDAY, JUNg 4. MO. No. lAS—VoL. XIII.] [Paws 90. THE PITT CLUBS. revolution, through the necessities perhaps, partly, at the moment, even of freedom herself, the seeds of that monied interest and influential mode of con• becomes not only a calamity but a heinous crime.— He did, to keep his own plan, put off the day at least, of justice, till it may be hardly con• sidered a boon or act of conscience—he did in short verify, what we understand from good authority his father, Lora Chatham, prophesied of him when a child—" He will be at the head of affairs one day, and he will ruin his Couny." The Metropolitan and Provincial News-papers have been lately filled with long accounts of the celebrations of the memory of the lateWactsll PITT, and we are thereby enforced to an examination of the grounds and reasons which Englishmen can pos sibly have to celebrate•bis memory We would tread lightly over this dead man's ashes, although we maintain that such a man is open to the free animadversion of posterity, and that posterity, for their own sakes, are bound not to tamper with truth in estimating such a character. It is our opinion, or at least our hope, that had Mr. Pitt lived, he would have watched the opportunity of returning peace, and have returned to those principles upon which he set out, of reform and of attachment to, and furtherance of, the popular principles of the Constitution; and that it was merely a mixture of apprehension raised by others in his mind at the opening of the French revolution, warped also by ambition and love of maintaining his political ascen dancy, which diverted him from that course of which, for the honour of human nature, we will hope he never entirely lost sight. But after this concession to charity, and which is mere opinion after all, let us look to those facts and actual circumstances upon which the Tory faction in this country celebrate his memory; not because be prudentially delayed, but because he, during the great and most important era of his political life, entirely put out of the scale of public actioa raw tenderness for popular privilege; because he sup. ported not the general interests of the people, or their voice, but because he upheld those institutions which had alone their origin in the intended gnat of the people, without listening to the people ite to any modifications in those institutions which were felt necessary to the general welfare, and which, Laving grown old by lapse of time, required in alb • opinion of the people some inspection and repair.— For we ask, is Mr. Pitt ever toasted by his admirers at Pitt Dinners, for having advocated which he did advocate in the years of youth, innocence, and feel ing, the cause of an improved representation of the people? and yet did he not pledge himself before he was first in power to forward this object ? When he got into place, he might, it is true, have found that this aid not suit the ideas of his Royal Master as to royal authority. But we ask, is it intended, when we consider the controul over the public money and the power of impeachment of Ministers vested in the House of Commons, it is intended, by the spirit of the Constitution, that a Mor.arch's single wish should be a sufficient reason for a Minister to give up what he knows to be his ditty ? Let public men be holiest enough to say to the Crown, " We can not accept place unless such and such measures be earritd," and then the Crown must feel a constitu tional necessity of complying with the wishes of the People, if those who manage the affairs of the people were true to their fellow•subjects; and thus it is stia, and truly, that the King can do no wrong, Leause nothing offensive to the people can be done without Ministers, and no one is obliged to accept the office of Minister upon terms hostile to the wishes of the people. But the truth is, that there has been sown (so true is it, that at our birth we have the seeds of our dissolution within us), at even date almost with the ducting Government, by attaching men through private interest to the conduct of power without reference to the public good ; and this influence silently taking the place of what belbse was called prerogative or absolute power, instead of being con. fined to that moderate operation which may, perhaps, at once be inevitable in, and necessery to,* free Go vernment, has increased lately to inch an enormous degree, as to make it operate so fond* en the pub lie councils as not to leave to those who represent the people, so long as human nature is imperfectly constituted, that free exercise of judgment, un touched by interested considerations, which is neces sary to identify such councils with the general feelings of the people. It is the busilesi ofpatriotic men to keep this influence in check, and to call back civil and political society continually, as far as im perfect human nature will admit of, to original principles. Had Mr. Pitt done this, and had he sternly said, " I will not be responsible for the " measures of Government unless I am permitted to " controul and narrow the unnecessary expenses " paid genially to those who already enjoy ten " times more of the good things of life than their " fellow men; I will not go to war with Prance, on " account of the infectious spilt of ill-regulated " freedom, until I have tried by fair concessions to " the people of England whether I cosset secure " their loyalty and affections without deluging the " world with blood. I will net build the gibbet " and raise the axe for the reforttsers, tin I lave left " them without any just ground to complain of " abuse or oppression. I will not curtail the libel.- " ties of my country till I have proved human no " tore to be so bad that justice and kindness of , " Governors shall not find among even melts a suf .' ficient host of friends to vindicate the cause of " their rulers." Had Mr. Pitt said to the late King, when Mr. Addington retired, " I will not take office without " Mr. Fox, because I am pledged in honour and " principle to stand by him. I will not take office " without fulfilling the pledge which I have given " to the Roman Catholics of Ireland, and by holding " out whichpledge I carried the Union with so much " less opposition." Had Mr. Pitt said, on another occasion, to the King, " I canngt continue in o ffi ce " unless the Trim Comruutatitn Bill, which has " been already read once in Parliament, be permitted " to pass ; and if your Majesty thinks proper to " dismiss me, as you threaten, I am ready to go." Had Mr. Pitt said to the House of Commons about the Slave Trade—" Without your support cannot " remain in office, but I cannot continue conscien " tiously in office, if you will not abolish the Slave " Trade, and if the mercantile interest chum to " desert me because I advocate this cause of huma " nity. I will not remain in office unless it he .g carried." 44MERIC.4N INTELLIGENCE. • THE SPANISH TREATY. New-YORK, APRIL 29.—The Washington City Gazette of the 25th inst.. Says," Information received this morning froth various sources fully confirms the fact stated in relation to the rejection of the Spanish Treaty; the executive COllltaarliC3lloll on this itnportaut subject to both Houses of Congress is expected to be made as early as the preparation of the documents will adniit." The same paper adds—" At a party last night in thin city, where many members of the foreign diplomatic corps were present, it was distinctly observed that no change of civilities passed between our heads of depart ments and the individuals composing the Spanish Legs- lion." A letter from Washington to the Editor of the Balti more Patriot says, " I am this moment informed, from authority that I can rely upon, that Gets. Vivellansuer to the last note of Mr. Adams has been entirely unsa tisfactory. The negociation is of course at an end, and the Spanish Minister will leave Washington itt a few days on his way home. Congress will receive awes. neon the subject to.morrow or next day." Extract of a Letter front Havannah, dated April 17. —" On Saturday a vessel arrived from Covenna, in 3t days, with the joyful tidings of stir King having sworn to the Constitution of 1812, in all its points. The Go- VerlloT, however, had not received any official accounts, and .nerely had the paragraph of the paper published in an Extraordinary Gazette ' stating, that as soon, as bet should receive the orders of the King, his Master,. what" ever they might he, lie should follow thein."r he peo ple. however, in conjunction with the soldiery, forced him yesterday afternoon, and are going to-day tooblige other Authorities to swear to the new Constsindon.— The greatest order prevailed, and the great body of the people rejoice to see oppression abolished. We may ex pect to see ditties reduced, and tr de nourish." A Postscript of the Yid April says, " Some of the duties have beenfabolished." Tile following is an Extract of a letter received from Buenos Ayres, dated Feb. 49.--." We enclose you a printed copy of a 'franslation of the Convention entered into on the e3d inst. by the Governor of this Province and the Chief of the Federal Forces, wherein they con eude their differences by an union of tire Proviaters, each to elect its particular Deputies, deferring the elec.. lion of a Central Government to a Meeting. sixty days from the signing of the Treaty, at San Lorenao, of the Deputies of the Twee Provinces of Ricans Ayres, Santa Fe, and Entre Rios. At the same time invititig the retnainder to accede to this measure, for the putpose of fanning one nation. " By this Convention we are restored to our former intercourse with the interior, and wituout being slily:vied to the inconvenience of a war with the Portuguese. at least for the present ; and this is also kft to the d-risiou of the Deputies, who must favour the wish of the r Provinces, who for the most part are tlezirous of pene trating into Peru. Much, however, will depend upon the future conduct of the Portuguese, who appear to become less conciliating, and even equitable, in propor tion as they succeed in advancing and establishing them. selves in the country. By a vessel which arrived this morning, from the Uruguay, we arc informed, that Ar tigas was so completely deluded in the last engagetneta, that he had not ten men with him, at Mandisove, on the enth inst. His chief reliance was on the return of the troops sent by him against this city. This, with the hope that Buenos Ayres and Santa Fe may at length take part with him, still keeps up the spirits of his pat tizans ; but we apprehend they are too much %veil:cued to ailempt any tiring of importance far some 1101 to come... - The Conveniion, to which the alio% c letter a1:u1,1., was published some ttme ago. Had Mr. Pitt acted this part in these great and eventful matters, then Mr. Pitt might, for what he had done, Lave been called and celebrated as a Patriot—but whlle he lived he either betrayed, deserted, or openly opposed all these things—he plunged us in a war, which has to increased and rendered formidable the influence of Government as to alarm and enrage the people, and without one attempt, by feir and manly concession to avoid war, which when there is any means of avoiding it We received yesterday nioriiin,; Janiaira Papr►s to the 11th ult. They contain no coLiiiial intelli gence of any interest, being in fact filled with co pious details of the events which had happened in this country during the preceding months ; the death of the Duke of Kent, of the King, the ac cession of his present Majesty, the Cato street eini. spiracy, the disturbance at Glasgow, &c. The ra. pid succession of these occurrences seems to h.►ve crowded upon our transatlantic brethren with an overwhelming !law. mom Of IP, Lk tie II 4' - a'tsttrattiftr. .4;7;0, 74‘,. • r • . ...,..-