The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-04-01 00:00:00

. •
' tor •
revered sod protected rot his patriotic conduct by his
grAieful countrymen ! Or, if some Christian Cham-
pion in eluting should shake ass adulterous Ficus rio
1140. throne by " reasoning ou righteousness, tens.
perance, and podgy/eta to come," viOuld he not dr-
serve a title of honour instead of fetters, Or a states
rather then a dungeon ? For. is it not better that
wicked and musical men shookd hear the thunder
.4 of reproof to Sat* their ;male, then the roaring otihe
0t00..14 to destroy their Ives? if a Jursnies was
now on toe beach costomlstint legal murder by au-
t 014 he State, are verbal rietraintt to ptevent his
tirsiiciagposeil, last he might be broeght to
trial? For 4isliat, terminal' dues an upright Judge of
.3iluister want, but the baffled of Justice to ',sahib
transgressors of the hats, and the Shield of Public
Virtue to repel dims of 145 enemies? Thes
armed, be would he a invulnerable as Aottit.Lts, In
Lis official rapacity ; and if he is as iireaasspect in his
pvivate sslik as in leis judicial conduct, 'then no
.cowardly Faits cars wound him in the heel. if GOD
Shea girp toasty map wisdom to enlighten his coun-
trymen, sisall tae not be permitted to hear him, be-
muse, pers.aps, be cannot write like a mass offashion,
sea 11,,guage 1111 refined that nobody can understand
him bet the Ladies? For is it more seditious or
improper to call a corrupt Minister • Knave than a
dishonest orisons a thief P Or, is the greater rogue
to escape punishment or insult, while the other is ex-
posed and hanged ? Though authors may be its ob-
scure stations send humble circumstances, are they on
that account to be accused as selfish and disloyal,
because they think the reins of Government might
be in batter hands, or that the principles of it
admit of much improvement? it often happens
that clever men would not employ their talents
in the service of their country through diffidence, if
;tot compelled by their misfortunes; but whatever
may he their motives they are entitled to respect for
their knowledge, and ought he rewarded sccordiog
to 'Heir wilily. Whether they are patriots or incen-
diaries, the influence of their writings will he ac-
cording to their merit; for we are not to suppose
that an enligisiesied nation like this can be I- d by the
now by vain and ignorant scribblers, though it will
certainly respect the judicious observations of hum-
ble and intelligent men. It is not any author's opi-
nion or abuse that will excite a seditious spirit among
the People; but the injuries thin, seller, or the psi-
tratioiss they endure. Discontent creates rebellion
and not sentiment. If, however, soy local disturb-
, once is occasioned by such publications, it would
• soon be suppressed by the civil or military power its
the neighbourhood, without the Constitution being
overturned to quill a riot, or to prevent a few distress-
ed Mechanic.s making themselves statesmen ; and few
such instances would nem, because experience would
Manifest their ahsurdity. But should there be at
• any time a great di:Rif-action in all parts of the king-
dom, owing to the ambition or imbecility of the
State, or which is imputed to them, then should not
the People have the privilege of complaining in terms
expressive of the injuries they sustain ; and he per-
mitted, as free &Veda, to demand their rights to be
restored, or their grievances redressed? Or are they to
be compelled, like slaves, to petition for justice as a
favour, or wait patiently and in silence till their
chains are taken off, or till their Representatives
send them the crumb* which MI from their table?—
. Such national hondlietion on the one side and pride on
the other, it est in time reduce the middling end lower
. orders of the People to a state of the most degrading
. dependence; or else, if they should become sensible
. of the injuries and insults they experience, and pos.
seas the spirit of as insect, it will create a revolution.
—For if tyranny and corruption become so shame-
less and incorrigible that they cannot be corrected
with the pen, Goo will purge them away with
• the sword. Hence, the verbal courage of the
, -People is necessary to keep the Government just
, and respectable; and then the lawful authority
- of Government will keep the People in loyal
subjection• Therefore to restrain the former is
Orating, and to resist the latter is treason. Yet,
however despotic or venal the State might be, I
• woJld never employ my pen to excite a rebellion to
reform it, because there is no foreseeing the dread.
ful evils it may occasion, and also, because I am per-
, goaded that wish
.6 sensible People it is unnecessery.
For it would only r..quire a liti le army like Gutzon's,
. of 300 chosen mso, with their trumpets and pitchers,
who should take their stations round the enemy's
camp, and then break their pitchers in pieces with a
rod of iron, as an emblem that tyrants and oppres.
-., 'ors shall be destroyed ; and when they saw
the light in their lamps and heard the trumpets' 10-
.. lean blast, they would flee in confusion, like the
• Midianitish host, and be scattered like grasshoppers
in a whirlwind. Such a victory as this would, its
my opinion, be full as advantageous to the country
• as the battle of Waterloo, and the warriors as wor-
thy of renown as a. IVELLINGTON or a Wset.so.
, sawou. For what is there to fear or admire in men
of rank, fortune, or learning, if they injure and
disgrace their country by their ambition or prodi-
elity, instead of improving end adorning it by
their wisdom and virtue? Or, what are orators,
who disregard the injunctions of Religion, but scor-
pions and snakes, throwing the venom of their scorn
and hatred at those who expose them to contempt
and reproach ; like that generation of vipers, who
derided the Saviour of the World, and tried to catch
Lim in hit words, in order to pet him to death, be-
cause he reproved them for their pride, covetousness,
and hypocrisy. Also, what is a Nation professini
, Christianity, yet filled with tiolence and corrup-
tion, but a kingdom' of hypocrites, crying Liberty,
Liberty! and the slaves of lust and passion.--A
People may think themselves free, when they
are enslaved, if they do not feel their chains, and
era ignorant of the principles of social liberty. The
Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, because they
• possessed no political rights, and thereby suffered
such injustice that they were obliged to work like
• staves for a subsistence. But as they had bees a
tong time in that state, and enjoyed some sensual
gratifications which their laborious servitude enabled
• them to obtain, hence Moms could not persuade
them to emancipate themselves, or relinquish their
employments, for fear of faring worse; eg that GOD
aim obliged amps' them to go, by hardening
PitAarion's heart to increase their oppressions till
they were isisopportable ; and even then they were
so timid that they would not have gone if they bad
not been driven eat. Is like manner many of our