The National Register. — London, England, 1820-06-05 00:00:00

" • 7r+~ „ Iriji No. 1,26—V0L. XIII.] Our fling, Conatitution anti lianni. (Pima Sid. becomes not only a calamity but a heinous crime.— . . He did, to keep his own place, put off the day . at least, of justice, till it may be hardly con- sidered a boon or act of did in short • verify, what we understand front good authority his father, Lora Chatham, prophesied of him when a ehild--" He will be at the heed of he ow day. and he will ruin his Country." AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE. =me THE SPANISH TREATY. New-Yoax, APRIL 29.—The Washington Cit• Gazette of the tfith inst. says, " Information received this morning from various sources fully confirms the fact stated in relation to the rejection of the Spanish Treaty; the executive communication on this important subject to both Houses of Congress is expected to be made as early as the preparation of the documents will admit." The same paper adds—" At a party last night in this 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 Lega tion." A letter from Washington to the Editor of the Raki , . more Patriot says, " I am this moment informed, (mut 30411061 y that I can rely upon. that Gen. Vive's answer to the last note of Mr. Adams has been entirely uns.i tisfaetory. The negociation is of course at an end, and she Spanish Minister will leave Washington in a few days on his way home. Congress will receive a mes. asp on the subject to•inorrow or next day." Extract of a Leiter from Havannah, dated April 17. —" On Saturday a vessel arrived from Carenna, in 31 days, with the joyful tidings of our King having sworn to the Constitution of H 112, in all its points. The Go vernor, however, had not received any official account*, and merely had the paragraph of the paper published iu an Extraordinary Gazette, stating , that u soon as he should receive the orders Of the King, his Muter, what ever they might be, he should follow than. The po i pie, however, in conjunction with the soldiery, forced him yesterday afternoon, and are going to-day to oblige other Authorities to swear to the new Constitution.— 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 trade flourish." A Posts:ript of the 41st April says, " Some of the duties have been abolished." The following is an Extract of a letter received front Buenos Ayres, dated Feb. 29.—" We enclose you printed copy of a Translation of the Convention entered into on the 23d inst. by the Governor of this Province and the Chief of the Federal Forces, wherein they con ch re con chide their diffences by an union of the Provinces, each to elect its particular Deputies, deferring the elec tion of a CensnifOoverninein to a Meeting, sixty days from the signing of the Treaty, at San Lorenzo, of the Deputies of the Three Provinces of Buenos Ayres, Santa Fe, and Entre Rios. At the same time inviting the remainder to accede to this measure, for the purpose of fo • g one nation. " By this Convention we are restored to our former intercourse with the interior, and without being subjected to the inconvenience of a war with the Portuguese, at least fo- the present ; anti this is also left to the decision of the Deputies, who must favour the wish of their Provinces, who for the must part are desirous of pent hating into Peru. Much, however, will depend upon the future conduct of the Portuguese, who appear to become less conciliating, and even equitable, its propor tion as they succeed in advancing and establishing them selves in the country. By a %easel which arrived this morning from the Uruguay, we are inf est, that Ar tigas was socompletely defeated in the last engagement, that he had not ten men with him, at M.indisove, on the Until 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 Sallid Fe may at Ingot take part with him, still keeps up the spirits of hi> par tizans; but we apprehend they :ire too to attempt any thing of importance for some time to come." - 1 • . he Coliveolion, to wh i ch the above letter alludes, was pobltsised some time ago. We received yesterday morning Jmnaica rapers to the 15th ult. They contain no colonial in telli geuce of ally interest, being in Let filled with co pious details of the event► which 11.:k1 happenid in this country during the preceding months ; the death of the Duke of Kent, of the King, the ac. cession of his present IN/aj.mty, di: Cato ktrect cot.. spiracy, the disturbance at Glasgow, Rc The r:.- pid :t:ecession of these occurrence, seem: to ha:o crowded upon our transutlantit. brethren with 4.1 ovcrw•hedtning fore. THE PITT CLUBS. The Metropolitan and Provincial News-papers have been lately filled with long accounts of the celebrations of the memory of the lateWrtuusst PITT, and we are thereby enforced to an examiration of the grounds and reasons which Englishmen can pos sibly have to celebrate his 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, fur their own sakes, are bound not to tamper with truth in estimating such it character. It is our opinion, or at least our hope, that had Mr. Pitt lived, be would have watched the opportunity of returning paw, and have returned to those principles upon which be 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 polities] amen. daney, which diverted him from that course of which, for the honour of hums. nature s we will li r he never ends* lost sight. But after this ceneessims to charity. mad which is mere opinion after all, let us look to those facts anti actual circumstanees upon which the Tory faction in this country celebrate his 'sensory; nee because he prodeldisify delayed, but because be, during the peat and most important era of his political life, entirely put out of the scale of public action any magmas for popular privilege; because be 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 good of the people, without listening to the people as to any modifications in those institutions which were felt necessary to the general welfare, and which, having grown old by lapse of time, required in the 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 did not suit the ideas of his 'loyal 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 Mc:arch's single wish should be a sufficient reason for a Minister to give up what he knows to be his duty ? Let public men be hontst enough to say to the Crown, " We can not accept place unless such and such measures be carried," and then the Crown must feel a coustitu• ties* 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 stud, and truly, that the King can do ...I) wrong. because nothing offensive to the people can be dune Without Ministers, and no one is obliged to accept tlie office of Minister upon terms hostile to the wishes of the people. But the truth is, that there has been sown (so tree is it, that at our birth we have the seeds of our dissolution within us), at even date almost with the MONDAY, JUNE 5. 1820. revolution, through the necessities perhaps, partly, at the moment, even of freedom herself, the seeds of that monied interest and influential mode of con ducing Government, by attaching men through private interest to the conduct of power without reference to the public good ; and this inflames* silently taking the place of what berets: was galled prerogative or absolute power, instead of being eon. fiord to that moderate operation which may, perhaps, at mice be inevitable in, and necessary to, a free Go vernment, has increased lately to such an enormous degree, as to make it operate so forcibly on 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 news. sary to identify such councils with the general feelings of the people It is the business of patriotic men to keep this influence in check, and to call betk evil and political society continually, as fir 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 " eentroul and narrow the unnecessary expenses " paid general)} to thew who already enjoy ten times more of the good things of life than their " fellow men; I will not go to war with France, on " account of the infectious mint of ill-regulated " freedom, until I have tried by air concessions to ," the people of England whether I cannot secure " their loyalty and affections without deluging the " world with blood I will not build the gibbet " and raise the axe for the reformers, till I have left " them without any just ground to complain of " abuse or oppression. I will not curtail the fiber " ties of my country till I have proved human nis. " ture to beta bad that justice and kindness of " Governore shall not find among even mobs a suf .' ficient hest of friends to vindicate the cause of " their rulers." Had Mr. Pitt said to the late King, when Mr. Addington retired, " I rill not take office without " Mr. Fox, becalm 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. Pict said, on another occasion, to the King, " I cannot continue in office " unless the Tythe Commutation 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 close to " desert me because I advocate this cause of hums " nity, I will not remitin in office unless it be " carried." Had Mr. Pitt acted this part in then great and eventful matters, then Mr. Pitt might, thr what he bad done, have been called and celebrated as a Patriot—but while he lived he either Letrayea, deserted, or openly opposed all these th;a , s—he • b plunged us in a war, which has so increased and rendered formidable the influence of Government u to alarm and enrage the people, and witimi ouc attempt, by fair and manly concession to avohl war, which when there is any means of avoiding it g 0 1 -w. 7/ 4 e Ar" VV , 'e l / / 1 21 / o es,c4 - 7,. 4 4 )1° atonal 3!