The National Register.
London, England, 1815-05-14 00:00:00

THE NA.TIONAL REGISTER.

minor are declared not valid, because he was not yet
admitted to the exercise of those privileges which he
enjoys on attaining the age of reason. By declaring us
all minors, the Rev. Bishop did not perceive that he was
removing the very basis of those laws which it was his
intention to consolidate when of age : on the contrary, if a
inn contracts a debt, or pledges his faith, he is bound!- to
execute his engagement, because it was formed in the full
exercise of his right, which constitutes its legality. Let,
thenfore, the advocates for arbitrary power select a dif-
ferent ground on which to erect their monstrous fabric,
for they have hitherto built on sand and their edifice must
fall.

If individuals have no nature, and nations consequently
no social rights, what has placed, and what supports the
reigning family on the throne of these kingdoms ? They
we been called by the free choice of the people, on certain
conditions; but if "the people had no right to express its
choice or impose conditions, neither its call, nor their accep-
tance of the terms proposed, could give legitimacy to their
away. It is evident, therefore, that the piinciplc of natural
tights not only has been, but must be, recognized to sanction
and consolidate the succession to the throne, the integrity of
our constitution, and the prosperity of our country. But if
acknowledged in this instance, as it infallibly must be, a new
difficulty arises: why should it be denied when .exercised by
another nation? Surely jealousy cannot prompt us to repine
at the acquirement by others of advantages which do not im-
poverish us ! I shall not enter into the question, whether
France has made a prudent choice or not ; that is more Mime_
diately her concern than ours. But I contend that she has
only exerted a legal tight, which it has long been our plide
and our boast among nations to have done, and that conse-
quently on that ground she stands absolved from all censure,
and deserves our praise. Arbitrary Pt him and Despots,
who tremble lest the principle, once transplanted, should
thrive on the Continent, may .try to conceal the fact under a
veil of misrepresentation. They may say that the late revo-
lution in France was the work of a party, and not of the
country at large; but the same objection may be urged
against our own. It would be ridiculous to fancy that
when the Stuart's fell, they left no adherents behind. In
fact, successive ifebellions taught us but too severely the
strength and the zeal cf their ft lends. Their expulsion was
not therefore the unanimous wotk of the nation, but of a
tarty, so superior in numbers as to be considered as expres-
sing the will of the whole country. Has any tiring happen-
ed in France to make us believe that the late revolution was
effected by a puny minority in direct opposition to the
wishes of the great mass of the people. If so, how con-
temptible must be that majority which could suffer the ob-
ject of its choice to be dethroned, and that of hatred to be
recalled, without raising a single hand to support the one,
or to resist the' other.

1 remain, Mr. Editor,

AN ENGLISHMAN 047 TIIA OLD SCHOOL•

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