The Sun.
London, England, 1819-05-14 00:00:00

without authority from the British. Government.
It is evident that this measure relates to the
presetit unhappy -disputes between Spain and
her revolted Colonies. it was so obviously the
duty of this Country not to, interfere in
favour of the Revolters that we were astonished
to find our Government silently tolerating,warlike
preparations, and the recruiting of troops, in;
s►►pport of their Cause, in this Country. We I.
think it necessary, however, to that we
consider Spain as acting most absurdly in any at-
temp►s to recover those Colonies, as they must
uhimatcly succeed in establishing their indepen-
dence ; and we see no reason why they should
be prevented by the interposition of a neutral
Stare. We sincerely rejoice, as may he inferred
by the toebearaoce of Great Britain, that she
had not entered into any Treaty, binding herself
to support Spain on the occasion; as we may fairly
conclude from that forbearance.—We have often
said that the best plan which Spain could adopt
would he to acknowledge the independence which
it is impossible to prevent, and immediately to
secure to herself all the advantage that could arise
from commercial atnity.—She would then have
peculiar advantages in similarity'of language, and
in a great degree similarity of sentiments and ha-
bits, with her revolted Chilifren.—The reason
why Great Britain did not adopt the prohibitory
measure in question before was stated by Lord,
CASTLERRAGH, last night, to have been the
existence of Negociations on this subject among
the Gteat Powers of Europe, and that as those
negociations were now at an end, the measure
was thought necessary. However, with all our.
confidence in the wisdom and patriotic virtue of our
Rulers, we conceive that the subject was one
,of
domestic policy, and that it ought to have been
adopted without any consultation with other
Powers, it we were not absolutely bound to assist
the cause of the Parent State.

A considerable degree of surprise is felt by the
Public, that the NAmes of the Members who
voted, in each division, on the Catholic Question,
have not been announced ! Each Party arc known
to have. correct Lists ; and why, on a subject of
such vital importance, the People are not to
know how their Representatives voted, is more
easily conjectured than. can be defended. We
thick there should not he any backwardness, on
the occasion, to disclose the real state of this
question, and to appeal to AN INDIVIDUAL, whose
zealous exertions in the support of the Protestant
Interests are universally acknowledged and ap.
proved, to afford us an opportunity of gratifying
our Readers, by submitting to them THli NAMES
of the Alsascans who voted on each side of this
Question. •

That -the question cannot long remain in its
present state appears to be admitted in almost every
grade of society ; and as far as we can correctly
collect the SENSE OF THE COUNTRY, there appears
a decided feeling to give every degree of support
to The Polar Star of the Constitution of the
Country, namely, "The Maintenance and Perpc-
" tuity of the Protestant Ascendancy." In every
possible point of view, religious, political, and mo-
ral, THIS GREAT AXIOM must be watched, guarded,
and adhered to. On its maintenance the inte-
grity and the independence of the MAARCH.Y
depend, as well as the Civil and Religious Liber-
ties of the People. To give up this great sheet
anchor of the State, or to render its influence and
perpetuity doubtful, will be the consequence of
admitting the Papists to Seats in the Legislature,
and to high official and judicial situations. To
lead the Public Mind to reflect on the present
State of Parties, and of the UNION between the
Old Aristocracy and the Papists, and on tlie•evils
which must result if the Catholic Question h
carried in their favour, it is only necessary
for us to refer our Readers to the state of
the Division on Friday last; on a Bill to
reform the mode of Elections in English Bo-
roughs, as contrasted with the Division on the
preceding night, in favour of Scotch Boroughs.
Amongst the latter the Old Aristocracy have not
any influence; but in the English Representation
of the Close Boroughs they have a large propor-
tion—a decided majority—and as these families
are the principal Supporters of the present Oppo-
sition, it is not surprising, notwithstanding their
pnfessions in favour of Parliamentary Reform,
that on the Debate we have mentioned, many
of them voted against the Bill, whilst others of
their party absented themselves front the House.
The reason is obvious, and is now beginning to
be felt by the People at large, and we have no
doubt but by the spirited exertions of the Coun-
try Gentlemen, during the epuing Recess, we
shall have at no distant period such a public ma-
nifestation of Old English 'Principles, as will
confirm to• the Crown and to the Country that
high tone of sentiment and feeling which, in
all times, give stability to the Constitwed