The Sun.
London, England, 1826-06-27 00:00:00

THE LONDON JOURNALS.

DAILY EXTRACTS, FROM THE MORNING PAPERS
JUNE 27, 182 G.

[THE TIMES.]

We. publish an interesting letter from Carraccas,
•
which, amongst other subjects, alludes to the possible
mischief that might arise to Colombia from any acci-
dent befalling the precious life of its founder, the illus-
trious and patriotic President. Let it not be said by
the enemies of freedom, that there is therefore none
but a nominal advantage in democratic States over
arbitrary Governments, inasmuch as here .we have•an
example of a republic labouring under the same de-
pendence on the life of an individual, for its tranquil-
lity and safety, as the most perfect despotism could do
upon. the character of the tyrant pro tempore. All
things must have a beginning ; and, liberty among the
rest. The importance Of one eminent ruler to his sub-
jects belongs to the nature of absolute monarchy, at
all periods, and under aU the circumstances in which
it can be placed by fortune. A single will is the
mover of the whole, and a useful or destructive im-
pulse follows of necessity. But this dependence on
• the hazards of human life, forms only an exception to
the ordinary course of free representative constitutions.
It is but at the moment of her birth, that Liberty lies
thus helpless—before the eye opens, that she cannot
discern the monsters of fear, jealousy, or vengeance,
which surround her ; and before the fingers have yet
learned their use, that she cannot strangle them even
in her cradle. No unfavourable inferences, we repeat,
can be drawn, bearing fairly upon the political spirit
and genius of South America, because now, ere
morning be well awake, the eclipse of an individual
hero might replunge her into temporary twilight.
There is no free State—(alas I how few have any
taste of freedoni)—but there is no free Govern-
ment in the old world or the new, which has not it
its outset leaned for victory on • the life of a single
protector. . We do not speak of conflicts with a
foreign enemy, when the importance of one distin-
guished mind is too manifest to call for illustration ;
but in how many instances has the cohesion
.of a gal-.
hint people—their escape from. civil tempest, and
final establishment of independence and repose—
turned upon the breath of some noble Prince, or
seine pre-eminent citizen ? Where would have been
the independence of Holland in the 10th century, had
any fatal chance occurred to either of the two great
chiefs of the House of Nassau, who in succession dic-
tated her councils, assuaged her feuds, and led: her
troops to battle ? What would have become of British
liberty, had another warrior and statesman of the
same illustrious line 'received the shot that was des-
tined for him on the eve of his decisive victory over
the Popish despot from whom he providentially re-
lieved us ? Where, stein, for a dozen years or more,
would have been the thirteen stars and stripes of North
America, had Washington, at once the Wilburn and
Bolivar of his day, not survived his victories and
soothed the factions
No
which they might have been
rendered fruitless ? o; if Bolivar perishes, a short
confusion may follow ; but liberty will not perish with
him, nor will hands be wanting to reap that glorious
harvest of which he has sown the seeds : much less
can a just argument against the benefits of national.
independence be founded on any momentary results
of an event which yet, we trust, will be reserved for
even a diatant•futurity. The statements of our cor-
respondent respecting the inatutuvres of the Trithits
against foreigners, and also with regard to the pro-
spects of- a mining enterprise, are likely to be read
with interest and use.

[THE MORNING CHRONICLE.]
There are few persons in the present day sufficiently
bold to deny that England derives great advantages
from the freedom of the Press. Even the Lowthers,
who some years back headed an addreis in Cumber-
land for imposing restraints on the Press, now affect
the warmest regard for free discussion, certainly no
slight proof of the universality of the feeling in favour
of it. But the history of the Press of this country is
the history of an almost uninterrupted struggle be-
tween the Government fbr the time, backed by the
Judges, and the advocates of popular rights. The
Press owes nothing to the Judges, for, with hardly
an exception, 'they were always its most decided ene-
mies, and its liberties were acquired, not through their
favour, but in spite of their hostility. There was,
however, more excuse for the hostility of the Judges to
the Press in former times than at present, because ex-
perience had not demonstrated that the evils appre-
hended from freedom were as nothing compared to
the advantages from it. But now that the benefits of
a free Press are no longer problematical, how happens
it that the same inexorable hostility is still displayed
by Judges—that 'revyry opportunity for giving a stab
to it is anxiously laid hold of?. The Press can never
be more beneficially employed than in throwing light
on the proceedings in Courts' of Justice. The dis-
semination of accounts of these. proceedings through-
out the country, 'affords most valuable instruction to
the people in patters in the knowledge of which they
are deeply interested, and tends to sharpen and invigo-
rate their faculties. It is; we have, no doubt, to the in-
titement thus constantly afforded, that we are indebt-
td for the cleverness so conspicuous in our middle
:lasses, notwithstanding the shamefiit defectiveness of
heir education.: atlevernesS Of which we have a pretty
inequivocal proof in the fscilitY with which men able
D discharge respectably the duties of Jurors can be
mind almost every 'where in, this country, and the dif-
culty in finding 4uch men in other countries, as
prance,. for instance, where the Jury system has been
dopted. But we are' indebted to the Press for the
hief security for the upright administration of justice
self. If Judges in the present day are more impar-
al and less corrupt than they were in former times,
e owe this beneficial change to the consciousness
,er present to these elevated personages, that the eye
'the public is upon them—Shat they are not merely
presence of one or two Advocates, on whose fear
'losing the ear of the. Bench, they might count, or of
e Crier of Cotirt, and two or three servilesminded
tainers bnt that their language will be conveyed to
e farthest extremity Of the dominions. Ru-
m nature is the saine in England and Chile ; but
the latter country, the Judge, released from the fear
publicity, does not scruple, as-we learn fisom the va-
tble work of Mr. Mier's, to lend himself to the most
graceful frauds, and to further the,views of parties
all manner of collusive tricks. We may be assured
it the more light we let in on the conduct of men,
all situations oflife, the better their conduct will be.
ie Courts of Law are said to be open to the public,
.0 have aright to see and hear whatever 'takes place
therm There is no limitation with respect to ad-
*On, but the capacity of the Court. In ancient
les the whole population of the valley or district