The National Register. — London, England, 1818-02-08 00:00:00

/ / 4 1-e0 /it f ‘ b ationali No. 52.1...—N0L. XII POLITICAL DISQUISITION. ON THn CONDUCT OF THE 'UNITED STATES 1 OW ARDS SOUTH AMERICA. TILE libel-a:icy, the exalted love of freedom, and the philietropide poiicy of the people of America, have so lung been the themes of praise with the " million". in tids country, that the recent conduct of their govern trout appears to them somewhat appalling. The "friends o: the human race," whom Provide= has scattered up and down amongst us, are utterly at a loss to divine what motive can have impelled the sorts of liberty in t,':e West, to become imitators of the " rotten legitima cy" of the old world, With hearts burning fir the emancipation of all mankind, they faint at beholding the cold-blooded indifference of the " only free people on the serface of the globe" towards a numerous nation panting for the same goal of glory, which they them selves attained. These worshippers of a shadow for get that in the reaintainance a national interests, na tional honour will sometimes be compromised, and, that , however it may suit the policy of a republican govern ment, to ring the note of liberty in the ears of the peo ple, its very existence will frequently depend on a prac tice, the positive reverse of that dictated by the fine spun theories of Utopian politicians. Without referring to the practice of ancient repnb lies, whose governments were doubtless the most eager of conquest, and the most impatient of rivalry of any on record; we have a skriking example of this in the present conduct of the government of the United States, towards their Southern Neighbours. The people, and when we say this, we mean the mass of the population who, either by ealleution are unfit, or by want of indi vidual iaterests, are unapt to think deeply on political events, seem, to a man, in favour of the independence of Spanish America. „Amy popular government, while gaup a f: 'ling exists on the part of the people, would be me:tired to est with extreme caution; but in the Case of the American government, mere than usual skill' is required. tor, on the one hand, it has to guard against the creation of a great neighbeuring rival rawer, and on the other, against offending the feelings of a population, notwithstanding the discordant mat erials of w it is com paved, is egresel on one point— thet of deprecating every measero which is not oclensibk , " in favour of liberty. The delicacy ot . its situation has ling kept the government of America, in a state of pi tiable indiseision, it has connived at the most fl: esrant violations of its neutrality, by the piratical cruisers sail under the patriot flag: while, on the other hand, its open acts in defence of that neutrality, have been marked by more than common severity. The impri sonment of the British officers at Philadelphia, however justiliable according to the laws of nations, was a mea sure but ill according with the laxity of its practice on other occasions. This wavering system, unworthy a great people, could not last long, indeseigion is the bane of governments as well as of individuals, and to quiet the clamour created by alternate severity aril neglect, some decisive step was to be taken. Every considera tion if national policy must have pointed out to the go- Yet% nent,!the propriety of resisting, or at least, of ab staining from encouraging the progress of the patriotic cause. It must have.scen that in proportion, as the people of South America, should advance in their inde pendence, in the same proportion would they become rivals of the United States.—Their country is rich in the same commodities, their soil more prolific, their cli mate more congencal, and if the precious metals be ti benefit, they have them in a superior degree to the rest of the world. To oppose the progress of independence, therefore, seemed a necesaary step, but to do it in a way that should roduce an immediate benefit to the stutc and Our Ulna, Con6titution anb latoci. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1818. be least revolting to the fine feelings of the children of tilierty congre i rated on the soil of America from all quar• tors of the globe, was a natural proceediag on the part of the government, for with all its boasted moderation, and with all its subjects respect for the Divine rights of man, we have had sufficient experience to know that where accession of territory can be made to their al already extended wastes, they arc as ready to found their frontier, as any of the legitimates of Europe. To this feeling we ;he late war tier Can•at'a is a tempting prize which Anierma stilt tbinkr . .sr-et contending for ; and to this spirit, coupled with tha dread of a rival power, are we to attribute the unjustifiable seizure of Amelia Island. Whether this measure will commit the United States with the Patriots of the South remains to be seen ; but whatever be the event, the world will not fail to egree with Commodore Anry, that " the only law which can be adduced in their behalf is that of force, which is always repugnant to a republican Government, and to the principles of a just and impartial nature." In these observations we are fin. from advocating the cause of the American Patriots ; we have before expressed our opinion of their revolt, and we have merely thrown out the above reflections to direct our readers to the con duct of the United States, who in this instance appear to be playing the old game of fast and locse, with conaiderable dexterity. EoVPT.—An article from Constantinople gives the following particulars of the conduct of the Pacha of Egypt :—" According to the latest accounts, Egypt is in a flourishing condition ;. but the Pacha does nut ap pear to conceal his pretensions to itulepeticurc. lle hat raised his army to 80,090 men, without r,-ekoning Arabs and Arnauts. These last, who are very touch attached to him, form his guard. All his li)rres are estimated at 100,000 men, but it is probable that this is very much exaggernteil, thr how could the revenue support this ntunber of troops ? It is certain that En, ropeans of every rank flock to the Paella, and that he gives them the most flattering reception. French Of firers obtain the preference, and all his artinery it com manded by them ; they exercise it every day in the European manner. The Puha has purchased two fri gates at Calcutta, to serve fin. the protecting the cow incroe of the Red Sea. Hi: has built one at Alexandria, and he is trying. to purealse Cl;3in Sweden. To sup port his expenses, he has endeavoured to concentrate all t:IC COMIIICINC of the country in his own hoods; he forces the inhabitants to deTiver up to bite the produce of their fields and of their industry, at a very low price, whieli he again sells to the merclumts at double value. be has established commercial houses in the principal cities in Europe; bat this system of etnntnerce is too dittalvantagcons to foreign incr.:lnuits to :hays! it last long. The Pacha still seeks to attract European ma nntlictnrers, principally Swiss: snd he hos sent some young men into Europe to be brought up in the Eu ropean manner 3, and instructed in the arts and science:. lie is now causing money to be coined with his own likeness. The subscription at New York, for the relief of the sufferers by the late fire at St John's, Newfoundland, amounted, on the 9th ult to about 3,000 dollars. An application had been made to Mr. Bagot, the British Minister, for permission to load an American vessel at that port with provisincs, for the distressed.at the above place, and there was no doubt of its success. The Lords of the Admiralty have appointed F. G. Hampton, Esq. Receiver-General of the Droit Ad miralty, in the room of the late Sir C. C. De Crespigny, Bart. Admiral Sir George Hope retires, it is said, from the Admiralty Board through ill health, and, it is added, will be succeeded by Admiral Sir George Cock burn. The Crown has instituted two new ProP•ssorships in the University of Glasgow—Chemistry and Botany.— To the former chair Dr. Thcs. Thomson has been pre sented, and Dr. Robert Graham to the latter. An elegant munument has recently been erected in Ickworth Park, Sullblk, to the late Earl of Bristol. Bishop of Derry. On one of the pannels of the pedes tal is an srprorriatu inscription in brouro letters. .~.~ tittr. Paicz 94 FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. FRANC}:. Pants, Fen. 1.--. The Monittiir contains a Royal ordinance, elevating the Count de CIZI'm tilt• dignity of a Peer of Ill,: realm, as 4 reward "fur th.. g and loyal vvrvices which ht• has eittlered,anticoutinues tu,endcr to the King's person, and the Slate." The Doke of Wellinvon iytd on Saturday at nine o'clock. Ilia Grace" hod in hi:. carriage the I)nclicss of Wet iiiigtoii, his sister-iii.lois, and Cu!. Harvey, Ilk first Aid•Oc- Camp : iu anothcr carriage %vete Col. Frcensantle anti lAA 41 Arthur 1144. AAIRRECA. • ti t . . • SURREN DER OP WAN' - ') ."‘1;1. 1 By the Commodore Potter, we learn, that the United State* corvette John Adams, Commodore Henley; brigs Muterprise and Saranac, and schooner Lynx, with one 1:1111410ili, arrived off Amelia Island Ull the 18th nil. On thu 22(1 Comm odore Rory vsas s ttttt moiled, iu the name of the United Safes, to surrender the island to the United States force ordered there for that purpole, which 8111111110113 was complied with on the 23J, wheu 2:30 Diiited States' troops from Point Prtrc took possession of the island. A messenger to N ash ington, patched by Commodore Anry, argieed in the Commodore Porter, and furnishes a copy of the document : The Ailavtor of Oeneral Amy to a letter from the American officers, ilemaniling tire surrender of F,•,11411.1111•1. Bead - quarter!, Fernandina, Dec. i 2. 1817. " Gentlemen,—l have feceivcd par official letter of this day, by ' it. in th name of the tAiverninent of the Culled States, yo u su. r. .. mat us to evacuate this place with the troops under my comma n d. as -non as it will be convenient, as passemiion mereof is to be taken by the to-ces under your command, under certain conditions speciti t d ip your said letter. . . •• Neidt2r Pit:: republic, that of Mexico, nor any other of Fou'h America. being :it war with the !Tinted States. obliges me to shut ta you, that the contents of your l e ttor greatly surprised this Goveta men. and the people of thu State. You have, nevertheleas, intimated. that in case of our neptieseene.. in your &num!, we shall be per mitted to evacuate this island, which neither is, nor (merlins been, a part of the Coked States. '• Allow me to °Name to you, gentlemen, that from the tnomer we t , :ulr.Ferniunlina. *the force ai our arms, we entered into the full 14.01-Nion of all the rights twpettaining to our enemy, and to thi4 day we have :uppurted these rigate, at the rick of our lives alai fortunes. " Tise bmintiaries between the Floridz and di , . Caned Stat.: haring been fairly settled on the e7th 041.1795: we ate at a lass Imw to ascertain your :autunite to interfere in our iniental =cern. " Chic surprise Mei...uses when we reflect, that your cuinatiunica tam cdmes authorised by the Gosernment e a people who, i n tp; s [eve, t, liory in the right:: or nations, witetber Ei. it ur a ....I who, doubt, sympattii;-e K ith their southern be, thorn in the striae gle tua hot rty and independence iu wfiLli they are engaged, us n. r: the Stat.:l.l4(lyear> iigu. •• On the other haunt, )on promise to hold sacred such of our pro perty as umptestentably belongs w unr citi7ens. Who is to b.: tits judge in that cue? The l:nited Stat:s ? They can by no men/ claim any kind ofjuristlietion, from the source of the riv:r St. Star 'e down to the °swan, on title side the centre of the channeL We enter. lain ton inm:h venerarion to believe for a single mosn-nt that yc a (supposed already in laza-,ion of this isLind, which has never in: euneesitil by the King of Spaim'or by its inhabitaats,fto the Una. rd Atktesl can bring with you a competent tribunal to decide upon 0.'4 .icAitin. The only law you can adthice in your beialf ii t h at i t torn-, w!tich alwayi is minim:int to a republican Government, a ; 1 to the principle: of a just and impartial nwure. The same id, er- Vanua may be appliud to your interference for die Itmperty of Om inhabitants, wincia we lhive always respeeted.and considered as fib. " You order us, also, as if we were subjects of your fluvernm.tt„ to leave behind. when Fernantlina is evacuated. ad the public pro petty that W 4.% bound at its surrender. This demand is directly con tatty to el.: putaie rights, by w!liel puldie property captured froia the enemy ',avowedly that of thee:goon, alien not wfurwiste Ripe r laved. Are you acting in the name of the King of Spain or of his AIM*: ? As we consider the people of the United S;ates to he un questionably the only tree people on the surtiwe of the globe, we cannot admit 1.11;U you have already arrived to itt.th a point of degra dation. Otherwise your demand as inadmisseble and unjustitia*Lle ill the eyes of the world ; and if we must submit to it, all Me blame rats with you. " Penult, me therefore. gentlemen, to request you to lay b e f or e the President of the United States these rentark . ., in order that matter of so serious a tendency may be duly considered. We have read his Excellency's Message ut the opening of rungreis with the itemost concern, and have concluded that the political situation d this Republic has been greatly misreirresented 1d the ('piled States, through theinteigiws our eiamtics. We lisvc certainly a right to be heard; for wired) purpose I shall have the honour of t'orwar,liaA to your Ooverrunent the neem , nry documents. If you are not di,- posed to let the thing 'remain i!. pro, until the l'resident's further detennimition he known, l Kin antitorLod tionsmare youtlist we respect and tsteem too highly the people tithe Unit,.d Stan s, It carry matters to extremities. " I have the honour to remain, with the highest ronahler:fition,, Gentlemen, yours, &c. (Si o 'miee.) Aukr." " S. L. flames, Secretary." The &Hedged indecent and mercenary conduct of some persons attached to St. Geurge's Chapel, at Wind. sir, on the ceremony of the funeral of the late lament. ed Princess Charlotte, has drawn upon thcm the ca. ger of the Prince Regent Not only, it is said, were immense sums di:l:landed for admission to the body of the chapel, but the Prince Regent's Pares, and other Members of the Ruial Household, wee.: excluded, to make room for this pcolit,ible traffic. This subject has brought about a new arcanizcinent.—By order of the Prince livaent, the Canons tire removed from the Stalls which they have occupied for many years, anal ace now to sit behind the poor Ihnights. .• • t 4 :pc • • - J r 1 4 •A ; - ' t .- X --' r • .