Star.
London, England, 1831-01-17 00:00:00

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a nessaber of the family of Louchtenberg. As for us, who
speak and think as if we had been made a Belgian envoy ;
we consider that the ministry of Louis Philippe have vio-
lated the laws of non-intervention; we say that we can not
()Deceive why there is that fear of the imperial family.
Statesmen of France—now become Ministers of the
Citizen Sing—keep aII your promises statesmen of
France; keep pace with the men who fought for liberty
on the days of July, and then you need have no fear to see
placed upon the throne of Belgium ma. ally of the ez-imperial
Family.—La Tributes.

" For the space of 50 years, the turbulent spirit of the
Belgians has menaced Europe with wars, in which the
greatest part of the Powers have bad to take a share. To
well examine the facto, we must return to the year 1714,
the epoch of the Treaty of Utrecht. Article 14 carries :--
" That the cities and fortresses of the Spanish Low Coun-
tries should never pass to the Crown of France, nor to any
Prince or Princess of the House or line of France." Eng-
land and her Allies had obtained this success over the arms
of Louis XIV. That stipulation was a principle of life for
England. It formed the basis of her politics. Bonaparte
himself said to the author of the present article—" In Ant-
werp, I hold a loaded pistol upon the heart of England."
And still, be announced to France that he wished for peace,
and that it was refused to him ! In 1741 and 1746, the
Low-countries were conquered by France, and restored in
1748. In 1756,L0uis XV. promised to respect their neutrality.
He would then have given it to the Prince of Parma.
The cession not taking place, Belgium remained to Austria,
In 1787, after the agitations in Holland stirred up by
France, the Low-Countries revolted. The projects of re-
form of Joseph H. having excited, these inconsequences
strengthened it. This prince violated his stipulations !
The nation resented it ; she declared independence ; bat dis-
onion soon took place amongst the inhabitants. In 1790,
it named a Congress and claimed a triple alliance. She
was summoned to submit. The Belgians offered the sove-
reignty to the Arch-Duke Charles. Beat in two battles,
they submitted to General Bender, and the Convention of
the Hague ruled their fate. Belgium remained under the
Austrian Government. In 1791, new troubles burst out.
In 1792, France made the conquest of Belgium. She
classed it in departments, which were only separated from her
by the reverses, which the blind ambition of Bonaparte drew
upon France. Belgium was then united to Holland. The faults
which the King of the Low Countries committed, and espe-
cially the fanaticism of the Catholic Clergy, caused a new
insurrection. Europe was then again generally
called to settle the government of which included
nearly four millions of inhabitants. The Powers signed
the Treaties of 1814 and 1815, demanding that the system
which had created the kingdoms of the Low Countries
should subsist. France, preferring to avoid a long and
bloody war, and reconciled to England, consented. The
independence of Belgium was assured at this price. The
principle of armed non-intervention was here respected.
The Belgians, a people who submitted to France, then re-
united to Holland, have become an independent nation ;
it is for them to organise and fulfil their European duties,
' that is to say, to associate to the ideas of order, the labour
and intelligence which distinguish that part of the world.
&reps has a right to expect from the Belgians that the
troubles smiled by them are finished, and that they will
return in order. The Congress is on the eve of ex-
' setting, by precise stipulations, the accomplishment
1 eff the public liberty to which the nation aspires, there only
remains the question of the general form of government and
the choice of a chief, alter having ordered that the form of
a moderate monarchy shall be preserved. Have the powers
then the right to require that the Congress hasten and ter-
minate that deliberation ? There eon be little doubt in that
respect. The finest character of the European association
is the union of peace and order, the principle of equilibrium
between the great powers. It acts to preserve it. In the
present circumstances, intervention is a right, and at several
epochs of the history of the low countries it has taken place.
It was to the intervention of the powers that the Dutch under
Philippe, held their independence. It was to that the Bel-
gians held the preservation of their privileges under Joseph
U. Neither the one nor the other can have forgotten this.
That which has then been done may be done again' it is for the
general interest. The wisdom of the Ring of the French and
that of his ministers has made them renounce their consent to
the reunion with Belgium, at the price of a ionic war which
would destroy the elements of the well-being, which must not
be left to languish much longer. Belgium organised in the
am social system, leagued with France by intends of indus-
try and eommerce,placed near her as an allyand frined,offers to
France the same, and even more real advantages, than if she
were materially united. That which France has a right to
claim is, that the line of frontier detached in 1815 against the
most express stipulations of 1814, should be restored to her.
France will not consent to see much longer in the bands of
foreigners that which, in 1814, had been assured to her as the
compact between her and the great alliance of nations against
Bonaparte. This point agreed on, civil and religious liberty
will be assured to Belgium. The conference of London,which
=the delegated will of 250 millions of people, who
lite in pence, should not be troubled by some reveries
which have traversed the heads of young men escaped from
college, or ambitious men of arms, who raise their voice and
place the Belgians against the choice of such and such a
chief, be it for life or hereditary, or compel the powers by
force of anise, to Insist on a complete submiraion, which
would lead to the division of their territory I One finds
that there is something silly in the adoption, and in the
general application of the monarchical principle over all na-
tions. A confederation, such as that of Switzerland, would
suit Greece better, and it is thought would be equally appli-
cable to Belgium. Her grand cities, so beautiful, so popu-
lous, so industrious, so necessary for the countries which
encircle them, formed into Cantons ; a central government
existing at Brussels, and this country, would be more sus-
ceptible than any other of enjoying the principle of being neu-
tral in the quarrels which might arise between the rival
dowers of Europe. This country has been the field of battle
by the struggle established between France and Spain, be-
tween France and Austria ; what are now the interests
to be fought for, upon these fields so rich in cultivation ?
Between France and Holland, between Prussia and France.
with the first France has nothing to quarrel about ; with
Prussia, in the centre of Germany and beyond the Rhine,
the French army would be encamped after victory, the very
day on which war would be declared. If, finally, that form
of Government, which according to our advice is the most
suitable for Belgium, should not be preferred by them ; the
choice of a Prince, with the Chambers well constituted,
and a responsible ministry, like that of the King of &g-
-lint, tinder a may, would be without inconvenience.
They speak of a prince, sea of the King of Bavaria, be-
lag serried to &princess of Frame ; there is even a Prince
of Bavaria awned to a sister of the King, who carries
Se blood in his veins, since his mother was a princess
II( Animism. As for the Duke of Iteicbstadt, or the
Duke of Leschtenberg, it is time to speak swam of that
illmily ; let them enjoy their riches and triable the world
no UM. A penes placed very high by his rank, by the
IleihmeMi of Ids character, by the employ which occupies
NA whose sew is set wiliest Meese, in Belgium.
to us, the Awe snide, 11,114114 " Belgium
Europe "—Editor of Le Tempe.
elivaisited

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