The National Register.
London, England, 1809-04-16 00:00:00

24

ticuce and complacency to the overtures of a man, whom
he should have iustruceed the ATTOMY LY-C EN Llt A 4. to pro- I
secute, had he any respect either for his own character, or
411te sanctity of his office,—afibrds an alarming proof, that
• e frequency of the example has taken away from the cri-
minality and baseness of ti action. Crimes against the
State are more heinotoi, as they are more 'extensive in their
consequences, than private misdemeanours; yet in private
life a man of common respectability would be ready to
- sink into the very earth, would almost expire with shame,
rief, and confusion, were he detected in any flagrant vio-
lation
of his engagements and duties; or convicted of tam-
pering with a sharper to defraud or injure his employers.
'Che Minister who abuses his patronage, and converts it to
the injury, rather than benefit, of the State, is guilty of the
grossest violation of trust ; tramples upon the most sacred
engagements; defrauds his employers, and debauches them
by his example ;—such a ftlinister, we have no hesitation
to say, is ten thousand times more criminal than a pick-
pocket or highwayman, more deserving of abhorrence and
punishment.—His misconduct greets millions, and is felt for
several generations.
These are maxims, which cannot be too frequently or
to forcibly inculcated in our time ; when the very re-
Verse of them seem to regulate the conduct, and bias the
principles of pubic men. The surest restraint on t °Utica'
delinquincy is severity of popular opinion ; and the highest
clemency to the community is justice to offenders. Strict,
inexorable impartiality 'on this head is equally beneficial to
the governing and the governed ;—it places men in power
on their guard; reminds them incessantly of their duty, • ac-
companies them, as a severe hut useful Monitor , teaches
them discretion, if it cannot inspire them with virtue ; is
lan infallible antidote against the poison of power, and pre-
vents those violent sanguinary convulsions, which counter-
act, and cast off, the excessive and enfeebling humours of
despotic governments anti vitiated constitutiona. This un-
relenting severity to offenders is a sacred duty the public
owe to their associates, as well as successors, in Mike ; for
it were unjustifiable, even barbarous, they should be de-
prived ot confidence they never forfeited. Too unquali-
tied a distrust, too undiscriminating a jealousy of every
ROM vested with an ostensible employment, must ulti-
mately ensue ; and the consequence is unavoidable, that
the people will look, with a jealous, hostile spirit, to every
measure of government ; and thus the great link of union
be dissolved, which can alone render the community re-
spected abroad, and tranquil ai,d prosperous at. home.
We do not remember an instance in the history of this,
or any other country, where symptoms of a more danger-
ous fermentation have manifested themselves, than arc vi-
sible ia this moment in Great Britain. The highest reach
of virtue, and a isdom, of conciliation tempered with firm-
ne4s, are indispeasible, imperiously urgent in order to restore
calm and confidence. Those who are zealous and ardent
in the detection of abuses, must be cautious that their veal
be not transported to intemperance; their love of reform,
to a passion for inno% ation. Public discontent is easily
fomented, but confined, with extreme &faculty, with-
in due bounds. if it reach and swell to a certain
height ; -the ordinary barriers cannot restrain it over-
flows and effaces every trace of the former amine:valetas.
Intemperate :11141 violent resolutions will thwart, et the
same time, every reasonable prospect of amelioration;
and sensible, as well as moderate men, will recoil ('coin an
undertaking, which, ilnot calmly and prudently managed,
may be productive of disorders, far more dangeroes to 11:e
cause of freedom, thaa the abases which now undermine
the constitution. The highest prudence and temper are,
therefore, -essentially reqesiie ;---- the wild, impracticable
reveries of the visionary, as a ell as the frenzied, disor-
ganising projects of the demagegae, must be equally avoid-
ed in every attempt towards rational reform.
efs ehieh seldom fall to the lot of humanity, are rc-
cessiry iii the in i• 4111., ho Nl'ollll bring this crisis to a
ft/ChM/AC 16S!:e ; • titeaequally 11111:011!'e to the deinandi of

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