The National Register.
London, England, 1814-10-02 00:00:00

SUNDAY-, OCTOBER 9,1514.

N(• g.1t!..1•. .

POLITICAL DIS2UISMON,

THE APPROACLIING CONGEESS...

We baveseen what must be the conduct of the three great
leading Continental Powers, if they carry into the. Congress
the spirit that has dictated their professions. What line of
po►licy will the inferior States adopt? Reasoning on the same
pr mises, it is not difficult to be traced : but, unfortunately,
every day luads us to believe that those premises arc but sandy
foundations, on which hope erects a brilliant but fragile edi-
ice. However, supposing against past experience, that strict
impartial justice will be the object of all the Sovereigns as
scrupled, we shall continue our exposition..

Kweden, who but four years ago felt' thrbugh one half of
her kingdom the evils of foreign conques+, and experienced '1
the pangs of sacrificing national rights and territories to
power, will not, if she aim at being just, insist on the re-
union of Norway to her state. Had the Norwegians given.
hor cause to believe that such an event would, increase their
happiness and gratify their wishes, and•had Dearnark.been
ciiipoed to enchange their -sovereignty for depeudenclem
tnated nearer the main part of its domininhs, then she might
]rave accepted their country as a co,mpenseion for the
Duchy of Finland, torn from her by the n overpowering
strength of Alexander when allied with Napoleon. As it is
evident, both that Denmark has been reluctantly compelled
to resign its rights over Norway, and that the hardy inha-
bitants of her mountains have seen the attempt to bring
them. tinder the Swedish yoke, with horror. As they
have taken up aims, aind though betrayed. by traitors
who rendered the effusion of their blood useless, have only
laid them down till the opinion of the Diet should sanction
the patriotism of their resistance, Sweden should not bell-
tate. She should boldly demand the restoration of Finland,
and should obtain it, for Russia is no more entitled to the
possession of that country than Buonaparte was to that of
POrtugal or of Spain. Restored to her ancient limits, she
should then become the protector, not the. oppressor of the
ftee. Tlies.cannin of her armies shou:d no longer re,ceho
through the Norwegian vales, and replaced under the scep-
tre of its lawful 'rnonarclr, Norway, once more contented and
happy, would contributeto revive the- equilibrium in the
north, instead of .completing its destruction, by the surrendr
of her independence.

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Denmark, being one of the sufferers in. the late events, can
only enter the Congrefs as alupplicant. Had she been de'
wired of Norway in consequence of the support she yielded td
!lie. faller' Despot, and of her desperate adherence to his

cause, justice would have sanctioned her punishment, and
though the fate of the Norwegian mountaineers might have
been lamented, that of Denmark would have called ft.); th no
pity. As it was the dismemberment of her kingdom
.
resolved in time of peace, by RUssia and Sweden, and
we wish we could not say, ratified by England,
which threw her into the arms -.of Napoleon, and made
her draw the sword on his side, she is entitled not
only to mercy, but to redresr. Were, at the hour of com-
plete and unsuspecting friendship, France and Spain to
declare that Ireland must be united to the latter...
Were they to bind themselves to erect that union by
force of arms •if we died not agree to it willingly, and were
LI they to obtain the sanction of America to this unjust and un-
-1 principled Measure, would it be criminal in us to farm an al-
liance with any other power to preveut the execution of their
design ! Would not justice to ourselves command US
to form. such an • alliance and to repel threatened ag-
gression by every means we 'could exert. If success
did not crown our efforts, should wei. not fall in a
just and glorious cause, honoured with the regret of every
*patriot, instead of being loaded with abuse and insult ?
Yet this has been the conduct of Denmark d,aring the late
contest, and she is represented as guilty of an heinous offence !
• The robbers were at her doors to spoil her of half her wealth,
I and because she called in assistance and bravely defended
her own, she is considered as atraitor to Europe, and puniAs-
cd as the enemy .of her assttilants ! As she has only justice,
not strength, on her sit she mast condescend to supplicate
:She must urge political prudence which requires that she
.should not be left an insignificant Power, to ba cre;becl at
.will by either of her aggrandized neighbours—Prusia 9:
Sweden. Where. right fails to convince, interest generally
I does.

Saatemy stands in a nearly similar situation• The conduct
, of her Sovereign is not, however, so free from blame as that
of thei)anish Monarch. tie did not fight merely to defetld
the integrity of his states; for had be consented to abandutt
Napoleon, his dominions would have been augmented in-
-stead of cuitailed. Isa,:btad for his Crown sod the Ctrasi