The National Register. — London, England, 1820-11-20 00:00:00

*44 , gAirgigl4lt, 4 , 11 " 4-1-4 • • ..ur Sing, Consititution, an IER 20, 11 No I,2BI—VoL. XI ON TOE ISSUE OF TM! ...Mlllr. the House of Commons had increased, was WHLN we first entered the Majesty, we did it with the perfect co uvitaon that on the issue of her trial would depend whether we were to remain, or cease to be, a fie* people. The more we reflected on the subject. the more we felt persuaded that our first impression was correct ; and it is our opinion at this moment—an opinion which nothing can *her ) that if the Bill had rased, the nation could never have been induced, but by down right violence, to submit to its enactments. Un utterable calamities must have arisen out of the conflict, that would have been thus raised between the government and a very large majority of the nation. There is every reason to suppose that it would have been a deadly one, and that one party would Lave lidless, mortally wounded,in the struggle. The people would have not yielded, and the govern ment could not, for, aaer carrying so odious a measure, it must have supported it by a succes sion of violent acts, one exceeding the other in its emconnitutional and coercive character. The Bill was founded on that sort of policy, which admits of no compromise with the party attacked, and leaves only the alternative of complete triumph or total defeat. It is, therefore, difficult to say 'Whether the govern diminished." The ma don had no other effect than to record the fact ; and the rapidity with which the nation recovered from the difficulties occasioned by the American war, counteracted the effects intended to be producel by that motion. The crown continued to receive an seeession of strength and at the period wises the Queen returned, it had reached a height 'that was pruMbly never contemplated by the statesmen of the last century. One ill-advised and intemperate measure has been the means of restoring the ancient powers of the constitution ; and the crown has lost, in the course of a few months, what it had been requiring in the space of half a century. It is nominally the same, and to a superficial observer as imposing as ever; but it is in reality as weak, and perhaps weaker, ' than it was at de - beginning of the last reign. It has shewn, by its abodoning the proceedings against the Queen, that it is not aide to oontend with the power of public opinion ; and as it has betrayed the secret of its weakness, it will be pursued without respite, till it be driven batik is its old ground. The people, where they are the assailants, act with far more impetuosity than their rulers ; and as they have in general injuries to resent, as well as prin ciples to support, they always make the moat of every advantage they acquire. - Vilma they hart enacted Me arieessigsy is. ' only a 1061 * intim ingeo matithat;' anti alsoilostiwg tits party that' yielaa, strengthens that which mends. When once a government, long accustomed togive the law, is compelled to receive it, it is very rarely able to 'grime it; and it is our firm belief, that the crown, having filed in this great trial nf strength, will be obliged to act for the future on the &kaolin, instead of pursuing, as heretofore, a sys tem of aggression. Such are often the consequences ofa single error in politics, and such is likely to be she memorable result of the proceedings against her ment or the people have most reason to congratulate themselves on its rejection. The former could not gall that an advantage, which would deprive # for ever of the attachment and confidenee , oftise &We; and when it would have to seam its parliamentary triumph by the entire destruction of the reemining rights and liberties of the country. It is well known how insecure any system .of rule is, though fenced round by all the mighty and terrific means, at the disposal of a tyranny, if once the people Teemed k with implacable distrust and aversion. We therefore advise ministers to bear their defeat with fortitude, and to topsider it even a fortunate civeumstance that they bare gat, as they have done, out of se perilous a dilemasa. But as the result of success on their part would have been the curtailment of the people's rights; the penalty of having miscarried will be the reduction of their own induence, and perhaps their dismissal. In politics. as in war, the party who engages in a desperate enterprise, and fails, usually loses ell the ground it had previously gaisted: the general, who collects all his 'Noumea, in order to fight a pitched battle, and is defeated, is generally driven back to the position be occupied at the commencement of hostilities. A government, also, which has been waging war for a long time with its free.borq sub jects, is always forced back to the ground it held at the beginning of the struggle, as soon us it is beaten upon a question of great and decisive mo ment. It is surprising, therefore, how ministers could entertain and persevere in a measure that was sure to cull forth every energy of the natiott, and to make the cause of the Queen that of every one, who would not see Might triumph over Right, and the crown set aside at pleasure all the safeguards of con stitutional liberty. This was one of the greatest blunders ever committed by the servants of the crown in this country; for, in the first place, they tore oil at once the veil with which they had pre viously endeavoured to conceal their encroachments upon the constitution; and, in the nekt, they risked the fruits of fitriy years• MlCCrssful efforts on ono at tack. It is now about forty year. since Mr. Dutinitaz Majesty. We confess the more we examine the state of public feeling, as excited by that ill-fated question, the less we feel ourselves competent to fix the limits at which the desire, so strongly evinced by the na tion for redress, may confine itself. The public, indignant as they are at the attempt to force upon them the Bill of Paine and Penalties, will probably require far greater securities for their liberty than they would have otherwise deemed necessary. They have now little or no confidence in the justice and moderation of the government; and as they imagine that they have been threatened with a military rule, they wi.l probably be guided by that apprehension in their future precautions. They will endeavour so t 3 restrict the influence of the crown, as to render such an attempt fur ever impracticable. An unqua lified jealousy of the executive will be the rule of their conduct, and it will require great temper and great management in the leaders of the people, to prevent this feeling from running into any danger ous excess. Royalty never stood so naked in the eyes of mankind as it does at present; it is not sur rounded by any of those illusions which used to fascinate the many, and without which it can exist but with difficulty. We deplore this change, for there are some things, and those of the highest uti• lity, which cannot exist without the aid of splendid pitjudiuts; and royalty is one, which, in our ori. f Palcz 9iii. nion, is absolutely necessary to every scheme of liberty in a highly cultivated stnte of society. This spews how careful statesmen ought to be in pro. serving the regal dignity from the slightest degra dation. Much as we love liberty, we could not easily reconcile ourselves to the rude familiarity of modern republican manners. Royalty takes of the rough edge of freedom, and renders it more titusbk, by its tendency to check its luxuriance. We there. fore deplore the injury it has received front the accursed Bill of Pains end Penalties; and, to rietify this misfortune, we confide more in the good sense of the public, than in the steal of its intemperate supporters. :8067 II AMERICA. The following is an extract of a letter AM die son of Mr. O'Connell, who accompanisil D'Erereux to South America. We bailees it *Om most authentic account that ha reatild from this quarter. " Head-quarters, Monday, Aug. " My dear Father—Mr. Burke, a most particular friend. of the 131entrars, having told one that he will have am ripe purtunity uf sending Idlers to-morrow to Jamaica, I em. brace the opportunity to genii you a few lines. g Lau; an account of our viiyage and arrival here. After i few weeks tedious passage irons Jansen-a, we anchored in the Bay of Savenells, and noire but the General ryas allowed in laud, act ompauied by two Aides.de-Camp ; your lims. We servant was one of those, brit the General nut bring able to procure horses enough f r us, I ear left behind. " As soon as the General saw Adnoirel arise, lie soli cited perinisNion fur ail of us to land, which the Admiral granted, and sent down a large beep, or boat, for us to come up from Savenelle to Barranqutilia, 22 miles distant —the berme mune down, bat the c:aw eerier ineutioned a word of Use message; therloaded her from ;t e em ! y es . &d u i 'Au k dijoisat. rrtielet t went up Ilia river, WO we ne.ir knee she weak for us end! she web *one. The pens sego up the river always weepier from 31 to 30 bodes for large beats, la eenaelemsee of doe strength et' t h e current rupoiteg deem ;as soon a* the Geeernasew we were not . cow, impairer Jorge boat was de.patcheil, and after lying at SavelseU4 for near a week, we came up here after 24 hours passage. On our arrival here, the (Ayers and sol diers ware billeted on the inhabitants, and supplied with excellent redoes of beef, Sib. each—or bread, a geed loaf, sad rice, candles, &e. I being ors the General's Staff stop It the same house witit him. The Admiral believes very well to the General, and indeed we are ail treated here with the greatest respect. " It seems tisil Montilla has recesed to give ap the com mand of Ike army to the General; in coessequesice of which the General has despodied Hall and Bennett to the Presideet, to lay the matter before him. The General regrets greatly my not bele; sip her. iu time, else be would have sent me to the President instead of hennett. Bolivar is at present withiu less days journey of this. " I rode yesterday, with Mr. Burke, to Seledad s about seven miles of, elide 409 Creoles are stat;uned. I was presented to Admiral Brain and to Madam a set perauirated old Duchess. You will be surprised to hear, and au doubt rejoiced, dud I have got Thinly O'Sellivau as advert!, who came out with Palmer, of the Latbeers.— My dear father, lii write again to you before I leave this. " MOBOAN &WIC\ ELL. " The messenger who goes with this is just going istr, so I mut tiniAh abruptly. Mr. O'Alwilen, Maurice ()Ur. nen, cirs.. 6:c. use all wall. We are to attack St. Martha in a fee . days." The same gentleman writes from Kinston, Ja maica, under date July 17, stating that the Viceroy of Carthagena had arrived there, accompanied by six officers and four friars; that General D'Evereux took with him about i6O Irish troops and 100 Creoles, whirls, aJded to 150 on board Brion's fleet, and 300 at Angnutura, will constitute a torte of GOO Irish and 1(10 Creoles; that the army under the President's special command is 12,000 'strong, which is intended for an attack on Caraccas, in con junction with the divisions of' General Pees and Urdunetn. Extract of a letter from East Florida of' a late date :—" We are at length derivir e anticipated from the change which the Cortes has given us. gen, who is most respected by the ed as a portion of the river °minim St. Mary's, where preparations are siderable business. This new port St. Joseph. One French ship from I arrived, and others are expected daily. and port charges are quite light, - for a bra trade, in which the United States arc expected to largely. •' 1 • . . MIMMINE=I.•=I• .11.3 •Si ' ' '6' .. 1140,1 DAY, NOVEMI us r e qua . 4 i, bib ne)teti: oteCgastian in the raw ad teown the power he lists in &sow d kis lamming, and ought to be dimi _ ___o___ ______L—i.... .t...• sing the udv.intage e of Government Governor Gppin. fccO • people, _ has grant- ( Z., • mute the town or •' • re making fur con- j ack ort is tu he called Pm Havre is already i daily. The diu• • • and wa Are Kati , Ape e merchants iet ) participant very 4 ^►t--~--~zvv~:- t . I A I . I i r j I ^ r 1 ; . 4 I 1 1 • i A 1 , , , y . L • ir, 4 r 0 4 ' i : 1 , ! IP 11