The Sun.
London, England, 1820-09-16 00:00:00

OPORTO PAPERS.

At a late hour last night we received Oporto
Papers to the 30th ult.—They contain no intelli-
gence from Lisbon. We gve the following extract
from the Diario Nacional :
OPORTO, Ana. 29.—1 n the preceding number of our
Diary we said that some ill-informed persons feared great
disasters to Portugal, because, say they, our Allier cannot Le_
pleased that we make such an extraordinany reform, 67Gr
political institutions.—Who?—The liberal English?—the
nation in the world which Best knows, by theory and expe,
rience. how much its greatness is the fruit of its liberty',
should take amiss in us an heroic resolution, a transcendent
virtue, which it so highly values and loves in itself? Has it
opposed the progress of the emancipation of South America ?
Has it employed its army or navy to trouble our neighbours
Have we heard in the speeches of its Representatives iu Par-
liament a word of disapprobation, or of alienation from Spain
on account of the restoration of its Cortes ?. We have seen
nothing of this. We know, on the contrary, that the enligh-
tened Lord Liverpool answered Lord Holland, " That the ,
Government of his hßritatinic Majesty will never interfere
with the affairs of Spain relative to its Constitution ; for na-
tions are independent of each other; each, is at liberty to
adopt the form of Government, and to make the laws (most
analogous and suitable to its circumstances, amid that the
highest interest of a civilized power is to be just to all.",
When a• power has the good fortune to have at the head ,
of its Government, men like Lord Liverpool, actuated by such
just and liberal principles, it is impossible that ,it should in-
terfere without more reason than it ,is pretended the En-
glish have to invade us. Let us make ourselves easy. Expe-
rience will shortly prove that we, are not deceiveds in.our
prognostication.
" The Supreme Provisional Junta continues to give no-
doubted proofs of its wisdom. We may be excused making
any reflections on this head, when we present to our readers
the following documents ;—The first is an Order to the Co-
lonel and Commanders of corps of the troops of the line, to
include in their recommendations for military promotion those
Serjeants whose character and military conduct merit this ho-
nourable distinction. The second, document is a General
Pardon to all Prkvates and Subalterns who have been guilty
of no other crimes than desertion, on condition. of Vick re-
turning to their corps within 70 days from the elate of (he
Proclamation (25th August.) Thanks to Heaven that valour
and merit will nut find the doors closed to encouraging re-
wards What matters it that the soldier was not from the son
of a Nobleman if he has that genuine Nobility which is not
intended, which is not to be bought with gold, but which is
gained by virtue, by honourable wohnds, and by blood shed
in the service of the country?.. If public utility is the supreme
law, why should the brave serjeant be excluded from the rank
of officer, when he has so often distinguished himself by the
side of his Chiefs in the field of battle ?
" be first wants of man are food and raiment. The sol-
dier who serves his country must be clothed and fed by the
country. If he is in want of food, who can wonder that his
• courage fails ? And if those who command let him fall into
the opprobium of beggary and want, how can they require
that the wretch accustomed to ask alms shall resist the temp-
tation of deserting his banners? Let it not be imagined that
we approve or excuse desertion ; it is a
,crinse ; but we mean to
say that in this crime there are various degrees of guilt, and
that the least of all is when an unjust Government 4glects
ter pay what it owes to the meritorious defender's . their
country.
"The accounts which we receive from all quatters are
highly satisfactory relative to the good cause of our liberty."