The National Register.
London, England, 1809-12-10 00:00:00

SUNDAY,, DECEMBER 10, 1809.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION..

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want of it more severely felt. Whenever it ilt found deli
cieut, and the deficiency has occasioned any material injury
to the state the person thus convicted should be punished
with inexorable severity, as a terrific, but salutary exampl.•
to improper candidates, and a powerful antidote against tl).•
poison of intrigue and favouritism. Would to Heaven !
the precedent had,becn established sixteen years ago; tine
thepunishment of one, two, or three obnoxious indi-Aduak
might have saved the thousands of innocent lives, the tnii
lions of money, and the intaluable fund of honour, which
since that time, have.been squandered at Ferrol, the Hc::
der, Buenos Ayres, Cintra, and Walclieren. The sever,
authors, in the field and cabinet, of these fatal mouninee
of national disastei., have vaunted the purity of their zeal 1
and the rectitude of their intentions; as if they considerel:
them a justification of their conduct, and an extenuatim
for the immense weight of dishonour and danger tip.—
bronght upon their couutry. We do not pretend, nor hi:
any cartidy power a right, to examine their hearts; but
have felt, and still feel the evil consequences of their deeds..
and, upon their issue exclusively,, without reference to
tentionss which Heaven alone is qualified to judge, woe;
found our opinion upon the urginicy and justice of
punishment, or acquittal.
k The impotence of their defence is flagrant; but hums,.
' ty, even patriotism might be inclined to overlook it, on
tount-of the impotent* of the actors. But, when the hate:
rendered iesolent undeserved. indulgence, and forg.ett
that they. stand acciised,• start forth in thedonble eheraci-
of accusers and inquisitors ;—when they arrogate the mai.
cious right of denouncing, and torturing, by means of
vexatious and costly prosecution, members of that coni.
nity they leave injured, for complaining of the injuQ* ;
when they have the iniquity to represent these very per,.: •
as enemies to their country, for attempting to vindicate 1-
honour, and resent her sufferings;-when, by the long ! •
•nure of power, they seem inclined to regard it as a /*fir- •
alai inheritance, and treat inquiry into their mangyi- •
•etnpleying it, as an unwarrantable interference with ;1
assumed rights, as an infringement of the laws of properl,, •
'Then, those individuals, whose inipotence claimed our p-, •
and who could only seek refuge from indignation in c
tempt, deserve the fullest measure of punishment ape
probation, which the law, or opinion, can inflict. lA'
does this assumption mean t To what extent may not
arrogance, be carried ! How replete with danger ! I
teeming with confusion ! The country, engaged in a di-,
- ful conflict, not upon the ordinary grounds of ambition
gain, such as extension of territory, or commerce, but f"*
the preservation of her existence,--a contest, from wt;i4
prudeiice cannot extricate her, and concession scare'
terminate ;—which, to the eze of Annuli wisdom, soistso
terminable; and presents the drendful•peospe.et of W*41ij
tot an irritated, hardened; and unfo?giVing ruffian ;141.t3
boundless succession of accumultting'saerillees,
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ceasing agitation. The Outitry, we say, enkagie'd it a kVA
d Si
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