The National Register.
London, England, 1820-06-04 00:00:00

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Our Mug, Coluitituttonastri itatini•

SUNDAY, JUNg 4. MO.

No. lAS—VoL. XIII.]

[Paws 90.

THE PITT CLUBS.

revolution, through the necessities perhaps, partly,
at the moment, even of freedom herself, the seeds
of that monied interest and influential mode of con•

becomes not only a calamity but a heinous crime.—
He did, to keep his own plan, put off the day
at least, of justice, till it may be hardly con•
sidered a boon or act of conscience—he did in short
verify, what we understand from good authority his
father, Lora Chatham, prophesied of him when a
child—" He will be at the head of affairs one day,
and he will ruin his Couny."

The Metropolitan and Provincial News-papers
have been lately filled with long accounts of the
celebrations of the memory of the lateWactsll PITT,
and we are thereby enforced to an examination of
the grounds and reasons which Englishmen can pos-
sibly have to celebrate•bis memory We would tread
lightly over this dead man's ashes, although we
maintain that such a man is open to the free
animadversion of posterity, and that posterity, for
their own sakes, are bound not to tamper with truth
in estimating such a character. It is our opinion,
or at least our hope, that had Mr. Pitt lived, he
would have watched the opportunity of returning
peace, and have returned to those principles upon
which he set out, of reform and of attachment to,
and furtherance of, the popular principles of the
Constitution; and that it was merely a mixture of
apprehension raised by others in his mind at the
opening of the French revolution, warped also by
ambition and love of maintaining his political ascen-
dancy, which diverted him from that course of
which, for the honour of human nature, we will
hope he never entirely lost sight.
But after this concession to charity, and which is
mere opinion after all, let us look to those facts and
actual circumstances upon which the Tory faction
in this country celebrate his memory; not because be
prudentially delayed, but because he, during the
great and most important era of his political life,
entirely put out of the scale of public actioa raw
tenderness for popular privilege; because he sup.
ported not the general interests of the people, or
their voice, but because he upheld those institutions
which had alone their origin in the intended gnat
of the people, without listening to the people ite to
any modifications in those institutions which were
felt necessary to the general welfare, and which,
Laving grown old by lapse of time, required in alb•
opinion of the people some inspection and repair.—
For we ask, is Mr. Pitt ever toasted by his admirers
at Pitt Dinners, for having advocated which he did
advocate in the years of youth, innocence, and feel-
ing, the cause of an improved representation of the
people? and yet did he not pledge himself before he
was first in power to forward this object ? When he
got into place, he might, it is true, have found that
this aid not suit the ideas of his Royal Master as to
royal authority. But we ask, is it intended, when
we consider the controul over the public money and
the power of impeachment of Ministers vested in
the House of Commons, it is intended, by the spirit
of the Constitution, that a Mor.arch's single wish
should be a sufficient reason for a Minister to give
up what he knows to be his ditty ? Let public men
be holiest enough to say to the Crown, " We can-
not accept place unless such and such measures be
earritd," and then the Crown must feel a constitu-
tional necessity of complying with the wishes of the
People, if those who manage the affairs of the people
were true to their fellow•subjects; and thus it is
stia, and truly, that the King can do no wrong,
Leause nothing offensive to the people can be done
without Ministers, and no one is obliged to accept
the office of Minister upon terms hostile to the
wishes of the people.
But the truth is, that there has been sown (so
true is it, that at our birth we have the seeds of our
dissolution within us), at even date almost with the

ducting Government, by attaching men through
private interest to the conduct of power without
reference to the public good ; and this influence
silently taking the place of what belbse was called
prerogative or absolute power, instead of being con.
fined to that moderate operation which may, perhaps,
at once be inevitable in, and necessery to,* free Go-
vernment, has increased lately to inch an enormous
degree, as to make it operate so fond* en the pub-
lie councils as not to leave to those who represent
the people, so long as human nature is imperfectly
constituted, that free exercise of judgment, un-
touched by interested considerations, which is neces-
sary to identify such councils with the general
feelings of the people. It is the busilesi ofpatriotic
men to keep this influence in check, and to call back
civil and political society continually, as far as im-
perfect human nature will admit of, to original
principles. Had Mr. Pitt done this, and had he
sternly said, " I will not be responsible for the
" measures of Government unless I am permitted to
" controul and narrow the unnecessary expenses
" paid genially to those who already enjoy ten
" times more of the good things of life than their
" fellow men; I will not go to war with Prance, on
" account of the infectious spilt of ill-regulated
" freedom, until I have tried by fair concessions to
" the people of England whether I cosset secure
" their loyalty and affections without deluging the
" world with blood. I will net build the gibbet
" and raise the axe for the reforttsers, tin I lave left
" them without any just ground to complain of
" abuse or oppression. I will not curtail the libel.-
" ties of my country till I have proved human no-
" tore to be so bad that justice and kindness of
, " Governors shall not find among even melts a suf-
.' ficient host of friends to vindicate the cause of
" their rulers."
Had Mr. Pitt said to the late King, when Mr.
Addington retired, " I will not take office without
" Mr. Fox, because I am pledged in honour and
" principle to stand by him. I will not take office
" without fulfilling the pledge which I have given
" to the Roman Catholics of Ireland, and by holding
" out whichpledge I carried the Union with so much
" less opposition." Had Mr. Pitt said, on another
occasion, to the King, " I canngt continue in office
" unless the Trim Comruutatitn Bill, which has
" been already read once in Parliament, be permitted
" to pass ; and if your Majesty thinks proper to
" dismiss me, as you threaten, I am ready to go."
Had Mr. Pitt said to the House of Commons about
the Slave Trade—" Without your support cannot
" remain in office, but I cannot continue conscien-
" tiously in office, if you will not abolish the Slave
" Trade, and if the mercantile interest chum to
" desert me because I advocate this cause of huma-
" nity. I will not remain in office unless it he
.g carried."

44MERIC.4N INTELLIGENCE.
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THE SPANISH TREATY.
New-YORK, APRIL 29.—The Washington City
Gazette of the 25th inst.. Says," Information received
this morning froth various sources fully confirms the
fact stated in relation to the rejection of the Spanish
Treaty; the executive COllltaarliC3lloll on this itnportaut
subject to both Houses of Congress is expected to be
made as early as the preparation of the documents will
adniit."
The same paper adds—" At a party last night in thin
city, where many members of the foreign diplomatic
corps were present, it was distinctly observed that no
change of civilities passed between our heads of depart-
ments and the individuals composing the Spanish Legs-
lion."

A letter from Washington to the Editor of the Balti-
more Patriot says, " I am this moment informed, from
authority that I can rely upon, that Gets. Vivellansuer
to the last note of Mr. Adams has been entirely unsa-
tisfactory. The negociation is of course at an end, and
the Spanish Minister will leave Washington itt a few
days on his way home. Congress will receive awes.
neon the subject to.morrow or next day."
Extract of a Letter front Havannah, dated April 17.
—" On Saturday a vessel arrived from Covenna, in 3t
days, with the joyful tidings of stir King having sworn
to the Constitution of 1812, in all its points. The Go-
VerlloT, however, had not received any official accounts,
and .nerely had the paragraph of the paper published in
an Extraordinary Gazette' stating, that as soon, as bet
should receive the orders of the King, his Master,. what"
ever they might he, lie should follow thein."r he peo-
ple. however, in conjunction with the soldiery, forced
him yesterday afternoon, and are going to-day tooblige
other Authorities to swear to the new Constsindon.—
The greatest order prevailed, and the great body of the
people rejoice to see oppression abolished. We may ex-
pect to see ditties reduced, and tr de nourish."
A Postscript of the Yid April says, " Some of the
duties have beenfabolished."
Tile following is an Extract of a letter received from
Buenos Ayres, dated Feb. 49.--." We enclose you a
printed copy of a 'franslation of the Convention entered
into on the e3d inst. by the Governor of this Province
and the Chief of the Federal Forces, wherein they con-
eude their differences by an union of tire Proviaters,
each to elect its particular Deputies, deferring the elec..
lion of a Central Government to a Meeting. sixty days
from the signing of the Treaty, at San Lorenao, of the
Deputies of the Twee Provinces of Ricans Ayres,
Santa Fe, and Entre Rios. At the same time invititig
the retnainder to accede to this measure, for the putpose
of fanning one nation.
" By this Convention we are restored to our former
intercourse with the interior, and wituout being slily:vied
to the inconvenience of a war with the Portuguese. at
least for the present ; and this is also kft to the d-risiou
of the Deputies, who must favour the wish of the r
Provinces, who for the most part are tlezirous of pene-
trating into Peru. Much, however, will depend upon
the future conduct of the Portuguese, who appear to
become less conciliating, and even equitable, in propor-
tion as they succeed in advancing and establishing them.
selves in the country. By a vessel which arrived this
morning, from the Uruguay, we arc informed, that Ar-
tigas was so completely deluded in the last engagetneta,
that he had not ten men with him, at Mandisove, on the
enth inst. His chief reliance was on the return of the
troops sent by him against this city. This, with the
hope that Buenos Ayres and Santa Fe may at length
take part with him, still keeps up the spirits of his pat
tizans ; but we apprehend they are too much %veil:cued
to ailempt any tiring of importance far some 1101 to
come...

- The Conveniion, to which the alio% c letter a1:u1,1.,
was published some ttme ago.

Had Mr. Pitt acted this part in these great and
eventful matters, then Mr. Pitt might, for what he
had done, Lave been called and celebrated as a
Patriot—but whlle he lived he either betrayed,
deserted, or openly opposed all these things—he
plunged us in a war, which has to increased and
rendered formidable the influence of Government
as to alarm and enrage the people, and without one
attempt, by feir and manly concession to avoid war,
which when there is any means of avoiding it

We received yesterday nioriiin,; Janiaira Papr►s
to the 11th ult. They contain no coLiiiial intelli-
gence of any interest, being in fact filled with co
pious details of the events which had happened in
this country during the preceding months ; the
death of the Duke of Kent, of the King, the ac-
cession of his present Majesty, the Cato street eini.
spiracy, the disturbance at Glasgow, &c. The ra.
pid succession of these occurrences seems to h.►ve
crowded upon our transatlantic brethren with an
overwhelming !law.

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