The National Register.
London, England, 1814-05-15 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

MAY 15.

the ammexation of Norway to Swe.ien, but even employ force to
compel Dempark to accede to it. ink was directed against the
King of Dempark alone. If we did all that rested with us to com-
pel his asnot, the obligation contracted on our part was fulfilled.
What did the treaty in question bind us to? It was merely to use
every possible exertion that Denmark should agree to the transfer of
Norway to Sweden. And now, when Denmark had not only ceded
all her claims to that emintrv, but had fulfilled tint part of the treaty
by actually joining the confederation with her tro this nio•
anent we were resorting to rainier and more obnoxiuos measures for
compelling the submission of Norway. What ‘rhere the rights of
the King of Denmark ? Were they founded upon the common ad-
vaatage and the consent of the people on which all thrones rested?
—or, were the people of Norway liable to be justly transferred
without any consent of their's, like cattle attached to the soil, from
one proprietor to another? Speaking in the nineteenth century,
speaking to a British Honse of Parliament, it was only necessary
to state such a proposition, to spew that it was absurd ! it was a
clear principle of public law, that a sovereignty could not be trans.
ferred without the consent of the people. If the King of England
had attempted to transfer the sovereignty of Ireland or Scotland,
would nut the people have resisted ? and would not their exertions
have been attended with the good wishes of every friend of freedom
and national independence ? When King John had given up the
sovereignty to the Pope's legate, the Barons had maintained the
fmrinciple that the King had no right to make the transfer. Richard
It. had transferred Gascony but the Gaseous resisted the transfer ;
and the result was, that the King revoked the grant. Here, then,
was an instance where the transfer had been resisted with success.
When Corsica was transferred to France, and the Corsicans resisted,
did any man ever think of holding out these acts ofyesistance as re-
bellion ? But there was another remarkable case of resistance in
our history. He alluded to the resistance made by Scotland, when
the crown was transferred by Betio! to Edward I. They all knew
the attempt that was made on Scotland by Edward, a case only
parrelleled by that of Spain in our own times. It was well known
to their Lordships by what fraud and violence Edward got time re-
signation of the Scottish crown from Banal ; and not only this, but
be had also got Bruce, the other competitor, on his side, yet the
Scottish nation resisted, and had history ever sanctioned the pre-
tence of rebellion ?—that the great and patriotic Wallace was a re-
bel, and that the subsequent execution of that hero as a traitor was
well merited ? Did not this transaction form a deep and Untenable
stain upon the reign of Edward, in many respects so splendid?
Bruce had at last taken the better part.
" Scots, who have with Wallace bled ;
a‘ Scots, whom Bruce as often led,
" Welcome to your gory bed,
" Or to Victory !"
Who had ever heard those divine strains without feeling.his heart
heat high at the contemplatihn of the ciorions struggle then made
for liberty and national independence t Who had ever read that
part of our history without following the steps of the heroes with
isetathless anxiety, and the most ardent wishes for their success
" Thy spirit. independence, let me share,
" Lord of the lion-heart, and eagle eye ;
g"lhy steps follow with my bosom bare,
" Nor heed the storm that howls along the sky."
There a glorious resistance had been made to this transfer or *nye-
reiguty, and that resistance had at last been successful. What was
the answer of the Scotish barons to the Pope, when he attempted ;c)
transfer their allegiance ? That no king should be imposed upon
Scotland without their consent. Such was the lain:nage of the
Scottish barons, and in this language time people of Norway now
spoke. Lo:•ii Grey next adverted to the documents. Oa those he
had something to complain of,—defective information, and rather
disengenuous treatment. He was told that in June there was on
the Continent a force of 30,000, with some cuirassieurs and the
landsturm. It was not explained whether this alluded to time total
force in Sweden and. Pomerania, or that engaged. At all events the
person who gave this return should have remembered his awn previ-
ous one, which gave but 28,000 in the following August. (Hear,
from rd Liverpool). The noble Lord (Bathurst) said he had no
reason to believe the Swedish contingent ever deficient. Now
modesty an matters of opinion might be natural and even graceful in
that noble Lord (a laugh), but really it was tether an inconvenient
virtue, when standing in the place of the actual assurance and dis-
tinct knowledge, which, not to have in nutters of the state, was an
actual crime (hear). But would the noble Lords absolutely pre.
tend to say, that the Crown Mince lead done his duty ? Would any
venture to call in misiestion the testimony of Mr. Thornton, the mi-
nister at his head-coal telt, or that of Sir Charles Stewart, in his

military and diplumat:e capacity ? He (Lord Grey) wished he
could examine at their Lordships bar that gallant veteran who had
co.ntributed so nobly and so largely to the glories of the day. He
a. dhe could examine Marsha: Blncher, and ask his opinion on
the services of the Crown Pi ince of Sweden. (Hear.) On the 6th
of June it was stated, that the whole SwediAi power woull ht avail,
able. The battle of Leipsic was gained by the gallantry and devatel-
ress of tilt ';;lies; hut did that battle conclude all ? Was not Eu-
rope still danger ? Was not the balance still trembling ? Was
not the tranquility of the world still almost hopeless? Rut for the
madness of that one man, would not peace ha% e been made, and on
terms, with a disproportionate allotmeat of enlpire, which would
have only ;sista' him the means for new and more prepared attacks
on the continent ? (Hear, hear.) And during this eventful period,
whoever helid of the Crown Prince ? Was not the strJngsst dis-
content excited by his inactivity ? And when he did move, where
did he move ? Did he pi ess upon the enemy ? Did he throw his
sword into the scale ? Did lig pour down to augment the mighty
stream of popular feeling and national valour that was rushing on
aganit the great disturber ? No--he turned off for Norway ? (hear.)
On the 16th of January he concluded the treaty with Denmark ; on
the 28th of March he WAS at Liege (hear). A curious article-had
appeared in the Liege Gazette of that time. It was worth notice.
The Crown Prince, a man bred up in the school of Napoleon, was
possibly not the most ardent admirer of the liberty of the press.
At all events, it was not improbable that articles, judging of his
conduct, could scarcely find their way into that Gazette, without
his supervision. It looked perfectly like a demi-official article. Its
substance was, that many people were surprised to see the Crown
Prince, while the Allies were plunging, into the heart of France, re-
maining at Lice?, awl attending balls and public aninsements. The
surprise might, however, cease when it was known that the Mince
had expected and expressed his expectation of being called on to
send a plenipotentiary to Chatillon, which plenipotentiary was never
required ; and next, that the Houseatic Legion, which bad been
raised and disciplined partly by the exertions of the Prince, had
been withdrawn from his command, and placed under Bnlow ; that
to ail his remonstrances no sufficient answer had been given ; and
that in consequence, he had determined to take uo active part till it
was given. Here, was a full and fair acknoWedgement bust he had
not done his ditty as stipulated to this country. Take the question
in another way. Try it round. Look from right to policy. Who
could doubt that policy was against the cession of Norway to Swe.
den ! IVho evir doubted that Sweden naturally looked to France
to balance tier against Russia ; and that the Russians was of all
others the most natural, noble, and usefid alliance fur England. In
France the dynasty was changed, and theme was undoubtedly the
happiest hope of a long and lasting peace with France ;
,but lie must
be 4 sanguine politician who did not look to a possible future differ.
ence of prospPet. We are at this moment exulting in our efforts
.tor the deliverance of Spain. (hear.) Ferdinand VII. had ceded his
Hulas to Buonaparte. If The Danish King had a right to cede the
Norwegians, Ferdinand had a right to give up his Spaniards. But
Ferdinand ceded on compulsion. Did the Danith King yield by les
own consent? (hear.) lie cowhidesl by moving an athites‘, en-
treating that the blockade of Norway by a British force should be
raised.

The Earl of HARROWnY contended that the Swedish treaty was
bindimr. -Tke terms %vete plain and clear; but the noble Lord said
rucsia guranteed, and we did rut. True, for a simple 'reason ;
Russia might ao as she pleased, and guarantee perpe:itaily ; but it
had i,een the wise policy of this country to avoid that descr.ption of
guarantee. It had been said in Lord Chatham's time, that America
was to be conquered in Gertnary ; so now Norway was gained iu
Holstein. Had cot a Sovereign a right in an extreme ease to cede
part of his dominions for his own safety and the general g,od ? Ac-
cording to the doctrine stated, nothing would be sufficient but the
complete conquest of ir State ; this would militate against any
peaceable possession of a ceilcd province : it would prevent the yes,
sion of any place most convenient,' and fit to be taken. There was
dissimilarity of mind bet Ween him and the noble Lord, lei-
pectin:; the comparison of the cases of Norway and Spain. Was
there any likeness between the Swedish treaty, aml the colichict of
France towards Spain Compulsion in both it was said : hot io all
cessions of territory there was compulsion. It was a
dititreot m .t-
-ter when a sovereign had nut will of his own : bat way in a sow
confinement. The decided will of the united Spitrillo
people
declared against the fraudulent transfer of the nation to a !PAIL
foreign power. As to the services of Sweden, it wks
him to know their iit litv in the north of Germany, and the spi
excited there by the conduct of Prince Royal. lint for this
vantage, and the certainty that the Allies had s stroug force to

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