The National Register.
London, England, 1818-02-08 00:00:00

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ationali

No. 52.1...—N0L. XII

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

ON THn CONDUCT OF THE 'UNITED STATES

1 OW ARDS SOUTH AMERICA.

TILE libel-a:icy, the exalted love of freedom, and the
philietropide poiicy of the people of America, have so
lung been the themes of praise with the " million". in
tids country, that the recent conduct of their govern-
trout appears to them somewhat appalling. The "friends
o: the human race," whom Provide= has scattered up
and down amongst us, are utterly at a loss to divine
what motive can have impelled the sorts of liberty in
t,':e West, to become imitators of the " rotten legitima-
cy" of the old world, With hearts burning fir the
emancipation of all mankind, they faint at beholding
the cold-blooded indifference of the " only free people
on the serface of the globe" towards a numerous nation
panting for the same goal of glory, which they them-
selves attained. These worshippers of a shadow for-
get that in the reaintainance a national interests, na-
tional honour will sometimes be compromised, and, that,
however it may suit the policy of a republican govern-
ment, to ring the note of liberty in the ears of the peo-
ple, its very existence will frequently depend on a prac-
tice, the positive reverse of that dictated by the fine-
spun theories of Utopian politicians.
Without referring to the practice of ancient repnb-
lies, whose governments were doubtless the most eager
of conquest, and the most impatient of rivalry of any
on record; we have a skriking example of this in the
present conduct of the government of the United States,
towards their Southern Neighbours. The people, and
when we say this, we mean the mass of the population
who, either by ealleution are unfit, or by want of indi-
vidual iaterests, are unapt to think deeply on political
events, seem, to a man, in favour of the independence
of Spanish America. „Amy popular government, while
gaup a f: 'ling exists on the part of the people, would
be me:tired to est with extreme caution; but in the
Case of the American government, mere than usual
skill' is required. tor, on the one hand, it has to
guard against the creation of a great neighbeuring rival
rawer, and on the other, against offending the feelings
of a population, notwithstanding the discordant
mat erials of w it is com paved, is egresel on one point—
thet of deprecating every measero which is not oclensibk,"
in favour of liberty. The delicacy ot. its situation has
ling kept the government of America, in a state of pi-
tiable indiseision, it has connived at the most fl: esrant
violations of its neutrality, by the piratical cruisers sail-
under the patriot flag: while, on the other hand,
its open acts in defence of that neutrality, have been
marked by more than common severity. The impri-
sonment of the British officers at Philadelphia, however
justiliable according to the laws of nations, was a mea-
sure but ill according with the laxity of its practice on
other occasions. This wavering system, unworthy a
great people, could not last long, indeseigion is the bane
of governments as well as of individuals, and to quiet
the clamour created by alternate severity aril neglect,
some decisive step was to be taken. Every considera-
tion if national policy must have pointed out to the go-
Yet% nent,!the propriety of resisting, or at least, of ab-
staining from encouraging the progress of the patriotic
cause. It must have.scen that in proportion, as the
people of South America, should advance in their inde-
pendence, in the same proportion would they become
rivals of the United States.—Their country is rich in
the same commodities, their soil more prolific, their cli-
mate more congencal, and if the precious metals be
ti benefit, they have them in a superior degree to the
rest of the world.

To oppose the progress of independence, therefore,
seemed a necesaary step, but to do it in a way that
should roduce an immediate benefit to the stutc and

Our Ulna, Con6titution anb latoci.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1818.

be least revolting to the fine feelings of the children of
tilierty congreirated on the soil of America from all quar•
tors of the globe, was a natural proceediag on the part
of the government, for with all its boasted moderation,
and with all its subjects respect for the Divine rights
of man, we have had sufficient experience to know that
where accession of territory can be made to their al-
already extended wastes, they arc as ready to found
their frontier, as any of the legitimates of Europe. To
this feeling we ;he late war tier Can•at'a is
a tempting prize which Anierma stilt tbinkr. .sr-et
contending for ; and to this spirit, coupled with
tha dread of a rival power, are we to attribute
the unjustifiable seizure of Amelia Island. Whether
this measure will commit the United States with the
Patriots of the South remains to be seen ; but whatever
be the event, the world will not fail to egree with
Commodore Anry, that " the only law which can be
adduced in their behalf is that of force, which is always
repugnant to a republican Government, and to the
principles of a just and impartial nature." In these
observations we are fin. from advocating the cause of
the American Patriots ; we have before expressed our
opinion of their revolt, and we have merely thrown out
the above reflections to direct our readers to the con-
duct of the United States, who in this instance appear
to be playing the old game of fast and locse, with
conaiderable dexterity.

EoVPT.—An article from Constantinople gives the
following particulars of the conduct of the Pacha of
Egypt :—" According to the latest accounts, Egypt is
in a flourishing condition ;. but the Pacha does nut ap-
pear to conceal his pretensions to itulepeticurc. lle
hat raised his army to 80,090 men, without r,-ekoning
Arabs and Arnauts. These last, who are very touch
attached to him, form his guard. All his li)rres are
estimated at 100,000 men, but it is probable that this
is very much exaggernteil, thr how could the revenue
support this ntunber of troops ? It is certain that En,
ropeans of every rank flock to the Paella, and that he
gives them the most flattering reception. French Of-
firers obtain the preference, and all his artinery it com-
manded by them ; they exercise it every day in the
European manner. The Puha has purchased two fri-
gates at Calcutta, to serve fin. the protecting the cow-
incroe of the Red Sea. Hi: has built one at Alexandria,
and he is trying. to purealse Cl;3in Sweden. To sup-
port his expenses, he has endeavoured to concentrate all
t:IC COMIIICINC of the country in his own hoods; he
forces the inhabitants to deTiver up to bite the produce
of their fields and of their industry, at a very low price,
whieli he again sells to the merclumts at double value.
be has established commercial houses in the principal
cities in Europe; bat this system of etnntnerce is too
dittalvantagcons to foreign incr.:lnuits to :hays! it last
long. The Pacha still seeks to attract European ma-
nntlictnrers, principally Swiss: snd he hos sent some
young men into Europe to be brought up in the Eu-
ropean manner 3, and instructed in the arts and science:.
lie is now causing money to be coined with his own
likeness.

The subscription at New York, for the relief of the
sufferers by the late fire at St John's, Newfoundland,
amounted, on the 9th ult to about 3,000 dollars. An
application had been made to Mr. Bagot, the British
Minister, for permission to load an American vessel at
that port with provisincs, for the distressed.at the above
place, and there was no doubt of its success.
The Lords of the Admiralty have appointed F. G.
Hampton, Esq. Receiver-General of the Droit Ad-
miralty, in the room of the late Sir C. C. De Crespigny,
Bart.

Admiral Sir George Hope retires, it is said, from
the Admiralty Board through ill health, and, it is
added, will be succeeded by Admiral Sir George Cock-
burn.

The Crown has instituted two new ProP•ssorships in
the University of Glasgow—Chemistry and Botany.—
To the former chair Dr. Thcs. Thomson has been pre-
sented, and Dr. Robert Graham to the latter.
An elegant munument has recently been erected in
Ickworth Park, Sullblk, to the late Earl of Bristol.
Bishop of Derry. On one of the pannels of the pedes-
tal is an srprorriatu inscription in brouro letters.