The National Register. — London, England, 1820-11-05 00:00:00

Tr 2 7 - ji,_atiettat taito II I 1 . , :,~ del of an lainf. -- Our SUM ,~ %~ No. 1,977.—V0L. XIII.] SUNDAY, NOVEMBER b, 1820 [Pawls 94(1. .~..~ Ti AHE QUEEN'S TRIAL. • We await pith an anxiety which no leaguep can describe, the issue of the present proceedings ii the Lords, It will point out to the public the do. gree of confidence it would be prudent on sbuh part to place hereafter on the deliberations of Ant Musa: The Queen's innocence is fully estelibbedi end nine-tenths of the pubite; Wettest; all the atst: tue and independence of the country, lieu perfectly satisfied with the defence she has made. They soareover consider her as a grossly injured woman, possessing qualities of mind and heart, which enti tled her to expect a life of happiness instead of suffer ing; and whose peace of mind has been sacrificed at the shrine of private caprice, or on the altar of po. litical treachery. The idea of her long and unmerited wrongs, added to the deep conviction of her innocence have not only excited in her behalf an unparalleled share of sym pathy, but have made her cause that of the nation at large. If the Bill were unfortunately to pass, it would leave an indelible impression on th 6 public mind, that innocence has no security in the present practice of the Const&tution, if it happen to give umbrage to the Crown. It would also be regarded as a deliberate insult to the great body of the people, -as a defiance - flung arthem, and a sort of manifesto, preparatory to the hostilities • Will the answered, of the oeuntry, with the vast stake they have in is, isairy-of them descended from the great men who manta the glorious scheme of English liberty, and eqnstleently counting public spirit amongst their hereditary honours—will they, we say, suffer so detestable a Bill to pew their House, and this Atom that they hare sot inherited a 14041 virtue v *A i r:7 of their .mnestoiro P Will they at the Sig tamed their fad• with that of Ministry, wise &we undertaken to manage this odious prosecution, in - opposition to their better judgment, and who have *l.ngered the monarchy to gratify the Monarch. Will they also be guilty of the base crime to make *twelves a party to the ruin of an illustrious females against whom every proof of guilt has failed, .04 .whose indiscretions, if any, are to be ' neglect of her hus band., and to the truths* , former friends.— If they will evince &ire.** of all divine and ....,, , human obligations, theyel * eot ezpress any sur prise should their depeadiedifilisplay the same inde pendence. The safety order State is evidently in their hands at this moseattiend woe so them, when they Link from the petnidnilitetkot of Noblemen and hereditary legislators, to * areeching posture of courtiers; Should they' At:grade the Queen, what security would the+ Aare for their own honours? Are they held hi a better title? and would a profligate Meitner feel more remorse in tearing off a coronet " 7 jerowu? • The forgiving -ben suggested by a sincere wish to - ' astehlisised farm of pv:S d Government; which, "Tiding the many and gross abuses that have Won uced into it of late years, we do not wish to r ern urned and which thir irt we are willing, even at of our lives, to up hold, es long as it respects:sties la As by which our persons and preperty ere' ..0 But the first and most sacred duty of a ruilleenie to see that his own rights, and those of his fhliiiinabjects, are protected from violence. His atteehteint to the Government is founded upon that principal. and no other; and to love it, after it has bewltsinvicted of an attempt to violate those securities, hnpos.sible; and, to I obey it, becomes a question ezpediency, and not 'of morals. However, lei Plash any individual, contrary to law and establiebliti practice, is a crime against the whole body et the people ; and every one is bound to resist it, as *tech as if the violence were committed on himsolt 'swot constitutes the essence of political liberty. bot the utter irnpowibi lity on the part of the Gemenment to iatlict the slightest punishment on the meanest individual without the sanction of lent If it could but once, at its own discretion, meal*, - however bligLtly, in his person or property, it would by degrees at lust make death or confiscation the penalty of hav ing provoktd its dibpltasurm illegally in any instance, it Js Iti fact despotic; and the law, when the Crown 1 the prosecuting party, is a shield for oppression, and the name and forms of liberty serve as a covet to plusier the people. The more elevated the rank of the person, thus sacri ficed to the violence of power. the more reason the ratt)lic have to be alarmed j and it must strihe the i:uliect capacity, that if the /Queen could be tie gr:tle.l on such evidence as has been produced at the bar of this Hoiise of Lords, there will be an and to 61)y:o.11 coutroul over the. Csown, and cur vaunt,d Constitot:on would be a deu,l letter, or rill::Cr a 1.111 , ..!1CC. .i 1:o 1 , . , 0i11c cnillt subunit to such an outraft, and repase quietly, altos OM violent struggWt, • under the deadly shade of tyranny. It is probable that the prosecutors of the Queen think they would, but in that case they have none of the old English spirit left; and this country, so famed for arms and policy, would soon become the sink of Europe, as infamous for its vices and poverty, as it was ON. Slowly distingaiahel for its public virtue and national wealth. Bet the authors of this detestable Bill, probably, undee.rate the energies of the natiotr; and if they do, woe to them, should they persevere.. However, they would have to blame themselves for all the consequences, and let them reflect, that as they have wantonly cast the first flaming torch into the bosom of the country, they would be alone answerable, should a general couflagrtion ensue. It is still in their power to prevent it ; and are they so infatuated as to hesitate; or have they the wild presumption to think, that having • once set full to the inflummtble materials with which this country abounds, they could extinguish it ut plea.. sure. The people are not so very thriving in their circumstances, and so contented, with the mode of administering the national all:lira, that they may be irritated, and again soothei at the will of their rulers. On the contrary they feel sore, almost desperate, in consequence of the general and rapid *say of trade, as well as from a strong and growing 11111 i viction that the loss they have sustained in their private afrtirs, proceeds entirely from the mismanage ment of the public affairs. Would it be wise or safe to play with such feelings ? And would it not be et unexampled instance of political levity, or rather brutality to invade the most sacred rights of the people,after having incredibly straitened their means of subsistence and pinioned their industry ? The de.. padation of the Queen, upon such proofs, or rather want dell proof, as have marked her trial, would to as daring en assumption of illegal power as was ever attempted in this country, and would leave the people only the alternative of submitting to an un. qualified tyranny, or following the example of their brave ancestors. We implore the authors of the Bill not to try the hazardous experiment ofcompelling so high-spirited a people to chums between the duty they owe to themselves, as freemen, and their habitual respect for their governors. If they carry it in the teeth of public opinion, they will fix a deep stain upon the national character; unnerve what was before vi. goroua, and male those cowardly and croschiegb who row di play the qualities of a noble indepen. dente. Only a fiend would derive gratification from such a change, and the loverty that would follow in the train of despotis:u would be the penalty imposed upon the epprtssots and the oppresstd. But to this state of degradation the country can never be made to submit; and the at. ttmpt would call forth the national energies,so pow. erful and irresistiLle,lhat the lightning of beir.en would not be more quick in its action, nor the fall of a greet 'avalanche more destructive in its progress. Those two extremes may be avoided by throwing out the Bill ; and will the aristocracy of the - try, whose unnalest distinction it once - consislercil the guardians of the Censtii the ctmservaturs of public liberty, lend t: the horrible design of orisrtssing innocent., the highest ronk, rad consigvirg them: their fellow-suyccts to a tuili:ess tyranny; or, will they the u civil war. . 'Re Pew. Suttecl ( 4 11 y Cenville eta ritErit Wtd- :it' vary IrA. . itl4ll d, by the Mr , tte atml FeLt.w. of t hat &tidy, to the Rectrry of Denver. in Nat oli, vacant by the death of the 14v. C. it. Dig& I / , t, I , • • . 1 1 ". 1 of the coon- c wits to • rlt itiltion, , • 0 1/ . 14 ,ta., i ,6 ,Iletmvive y_ . ..._, • ....,41L aCe, ICV kll Icr i i -474 1., ninlv-s -k o.Zpho ZeLirti i . 1 .. .. , 4N ...„, ;..r. cum . "' ‘... 4 _ \le i ta li Ll, A. Ft-Pew „_. which it is proposed to wage against the maiming rights and libertiesof the people, Such is the light is whirl the .publie would view the passing of the Bill. Are Ministers pre pared to carry this detestable and impolitic act under such circumstances ? We cannot believe it ; for it would not only prove them to be the most desperate and unprincipled politicians, that ever governed this or any other country ; but it would convict them of treachery towards their royal master, and of a con spiracy to throw on parliament as much of the odium as possible. Ministers have no higher powers of per ception than other men—they cannot pretend to see guilt, where it is hidden from the eyes of thousands, as moral, as enlightened, and infinitely more disin terested than themselves. They have laid all the charges they could collect, and all the evidence which by dint of money and influence they could procure, before the country. The public say, the charges are false, because the depositions against her Majesty are not only grossly defective, but have a taint of subornation and perjury throughout.— If the accusers pronounce a different opinion; if they attach Ira, where others see clear proofs of innocence, they will infallibly incur the suspicion of endeavouring 'to sacrifice a human being—ihat being too their Queen, to their inordinate tunbi don. But if they actually condemn her Maje:.ly, upon such testimony as has been brought' forwatd. they plainly say 'that the first principles of law anal justice form no cheek upon their conduct, and that the constitution is a geed thing in theory, but utterly worthless in practice. Thy will also de clare to the people:—“ We will do this unexampled act of injustice and tyranny in spite of all your murmurs; and it' you O'er to raist, we will shew the means we have of cacrcing your refractory spirit, and punishing your insolence." This would be the.clitnax of this unpreccOented act of state • expediency, as the stipi rters of the Lill tall it, or of state-tyranly, as it is tern- by the lovers of • justice. However, it would soon Lrirg inattt.s betwcen the governiug and the gt,verntil to an issue, ---...- -.•.._ i i ::: 4