The National Register.
London, England, 1816-06-02 00:00:00

POLITICIL DISQUISITION.

CONSIDERATIONS ON THE ALIEN BILL.

THE Mien Bill is now removed to the Upper House.
Notwithstanding repeated efforts to Olen its provisions,
it has Nasal through the Commons as it came from the
hands of Mini,sters, in unmitigated severity. If majori-
ties were always the test of excellence anti of popularity,
this measure ought to be considered both faultless and
generally approved ; for it was forced through all oppo-
sition by a superiority of numbers, which has not been so
constantly displayed on any other question. Much tray
certainly be uttrihuted to the late period of the session
when it was proposed, and when a full attendance of
members is with difficulty procured, even on questiens
entirely British ; but more, perhaps, to that indifference
to the private interests of foreigners, with which it is
customary to charge Englishmen abroad. From what-
ever cause, however, the Bill is proceeding triumphantly;
and although it may be delayed in its completion by the
activity of the Opposition in the Upper House, there is
no prospect of its experiencing the slightest alteration
before it is stamped into a law by the Royal Assent. '
We have already stated the arguments used by the
antagonists and the defenders of this measure. The
former oppose it, not orly on the grounds of common jus-
tice anti common right, but on principles of national
honour, and cosmopolitan generosity. Necessity is the
principal weapon of the latter : because the bill was
once found necessary, and was introduced on that ground
by men who admitted that it could be justified on no
other, as contrary to ancient British practice and policy,
they consider that the same plea will serve for its revival.
Let us then examine whether it be now equally well
founded. Under what circumstances was the measure
enacted? When Europe was in a state of convulsion;
and when our shores, though unpolluted by the, feet of
revolutionary hosts, had not as successfully repelled the
invasion of revolutionary doctrines—when a fire was
burning silently within our own island, which only
wanted the stirring of a few hands to blaze on hi!,ll, and
unmet the beacons of devastation that glared through
*very continental state,—the sacred right of self-pre-
servatien, no less inherent in nations than in individuals,
then demanded the suspension of all foreign rights, and
the exclusion of rho agents of ruin. When the scene
was changed, and the continent, wedded to the fortunes
of its conqueror, presented a firm, united, and awful mass
of hostility against us—when the powers of the Atlantic
joined their menace to the storm, and the East thook in
its fidelity—when, lookhig :AU the broad extent of the
universe, we saw but ourselves against tur embattled
world—when every duty was defence, and every post a
post of trust, we well might guard against the admission
of foreign betrayers. One treacherous land might have
defeated the noblest eflimts of the country, and by their
trinniph over us nations would have scaled their ever-
lasting. servitude. lint now do such dam-ers exist? Is
rot our only dreaded enemy a captive in our power?
Is not France our friend ? or, supposing that she cast
off the Bourbon yoke imposed upon her, is the able to
affect any thing by Ler hostility against us ? Exhausted,
both by her conquest and her defeats, chained to the
ground by the residence of foreign armies in her for-
tresses and her richest provinces, surrounded by states
restored to the plenitude of their strength, and keeping
the scale of Europe in a just equipoise, she is as imp n-
tent in arms as in intrigue. What other nation do we
dread ? They are all our allies in. council and in action.
Our gold, our talents, and our blood have fought their
battles, broken their fetters, redeemed their independence,
and re-edified their power. A stronger tie than gratitude
—interest—binds them to our cause. Do we fear any
peril at home ? Are corresponding societies revived ? Are
revolutionary doctrines so much in fashion, that a srark
will set the train on fire, and destroy our corstitntion
and our peace ?—No ; a revolution, still more complete
than that which has liberated the continent, has united
all political sects of Great Britain in a deep and firm
sentiment of loyalty and satisfaction. All now feel the re- •
mita of those measures which they :aw adopted with
variety and doubt, and long folle...wed without hope. '
They fund that they have conducted the country to un-
bounded success, and to an unprecedented height of
pnwhr and of glory ; and, exulting hi the greatness of
their native land, they sanction t:ith their gratitude and
their admiration the system from which those 171MIIITCS
have emanated. At home and abroad we have there-
fore ho cause of fear. How then arc we called upon to
ext. rt the right of sslf-preservati: n, that right which
alone con justify the eeshenshin of other rights, and n
•eoihtes of. jcrtic.• and. pro

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