The Sun.
London, England, 1819-02-05 00:00:00

PRIVATE AND AUTHENTIC CORRESPONDENCE.

Nan, FEB. I.—Will it be believed, that the
French Ministry has proposed a law to enforce the
principle of its own responsibility ! This is pro-
posing to dance in fetter's when they can be free.
We fear the Nation, witnessing such unasked ge-
nerosity, will be tempted to exclaim, in the hack-
nied phrase, Timeo Danaos et Ilona ferentes.—We
know that the Charter expressly says, Art. 13,
that the Ministers are responsible,• and Art. 55,
that the Chamber of Deputies has the right to im-
peach them :,—to be sure, the Art. 56 adds, that
they can only be accused on account of treason and
peculation. We do not know, therefore, why a
new law was necessary, further than as a rider to
Art. 56, which says—Particular laws shall specify
the nature of these offences, and determine how
they shall be prosecuted.—We will ask, was the
law thus expressed by ..the Charter sufficient to
try the late Duke de FELTRE for an unconstitu-
Monal employmentof upwards of 30 millions ? If
it was, why. was he not tried ; if it waa not, why
have two years elapsed before a new law is
framed ? Was it necessary to wait fbr the Duke's
death, lest inconvenient revelations might be
made by him in his justification ? Be it as it may,
a new law is proposed, which we shall examine :
but first, let us see what is the opinion of the
Keeper of the Seals himself, who proposes the
new law. It is not intended, says be, to specify
the nature of the offences for which Ministers may
be impeached, though the Charter, Art. 56, de-
clares it shall be so.—Ergo, the law now pro-
posed is not that intended by the Charter, but
another. Is this, we will ask, fulfilling the Char-
ter, on which so much fuss is made.? But to re-
turn to the new law it will not specify the
offences," because " to comprehend all cases
would be an enterprize as vain as laborious."
This is mot saying much for the high and chival-
rous honour of which the French boast, since
even the Ministers, selected by the KING for their
talents and probity, are supposed capable of as-
suming so many Protean forms to elude justice,
as to render all hope of previously defining the
cases impossible. It is not for a foreigner to
doubt the authority of the Keeper of the Seals on
such a point ; but what then is to 'be done ?
Why, says. he, ‘c the Government thinks it best
to leave the matter to the equity and arbitrary
power of the Judges," that is, the Deputies.—
This is, indeed, being liberal. It says, Gentle-
men, we put ourselves in your hands—we want no
laws but your opiaion—,if you .think that our
coughing in your presence is a crime worthy of
death, ne willingly submit, and lay down our
heals with pleasure on the block. But: what if
there should be found here an anguis itt herba—
what, if instead of delivering up the Ministers
bound hand and foot, this very principle were
contrived to he a back door by which a wicked
Minister coulti always escape, be the' charges
against him what they might ; if he can only pro-
cure a majority in the House, it is no matter
what crime he may have committed, all the laws
of the State are abrogated in his case ; and if he
can get one vote more . than three-eighths, or 31
out of SO Members, who will say, not that he is
innocent, but that the crime, even High Treason
itself, proved by overt acts, by positive evidence
at the Bar of the. House, is not Treason, he es-
capes, laughs at his enemies, and •the
offended
laws of his country. We really want words to
express our horror of an innovation which abro-
gates all laws, divine and human, in favour of one
class or set of Men ; so that if 31 out of 80 can
be corrupted by all the' powerful means which
Ministers have at their disposal, we do not know
any thing which they may not do with impunity.
The Nobles and Priests wish for the re-establishment
of privileges which confer on them all the honours
the State can bestow, with the exemption from all.
the burthens it imposes. We have often exposed,
with due'abhorrence, their machinations to obtain
these points ; but the Miniiters go far beyond
them ; all laws, nay the Chartel• itself, shall be
annulled as it respects them, and an action shall
be criminal or virtuous only as it. shall he de-
termined by persons over whom they exert a
direct influence. We leave them to conciliate
this principle with the following articles of the
Charter :

Art. I. All Fret:; men are equal before ae
a.v, whatever may tic their titles or rank.

Att. 4. No person can be prosecuted or arrest-
exceptiug in tic cases fin-eseen by the law,
and in the form that it prescribeb.