The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-02-28 00:00:00

CO.VSPIRACY.
[ranv.rni CONATITUTIoN, SUN D Y r %PER.]

The timely discovery of a t wicked deign has for-'
iiuiitcly relieved the historian frbtu the painful duty of
tranmaitting to posterity the details of taunters anal as-
sassinatious of the worst decription. A plot, a con-
spiracy, to take away the lives of the Cabinet
tors; this, indeed, is the alleged charge—this is the
t rinse of which our countrymen are accused. We did
hope, for the sake of our national character, that omen
capable of committing such atrocities had bug ceased
to exist among us. During the dark ages of the world,
~ hen ignorance, bigotry, aml implacable res 4 titment,
tortoni the Ica:ling features in the human breast-, acts of
oaring iniquity, and deeds so fetal to public tranquillity,
might have been contemplated without horror, moon-
wi:hout remorse, and commented on without
severity. But among a prup!e remarkable for inge-
tdousn.s, bravery, and generosity, that such events
should have been nte.litated, as the cold-blocmed wnrdt•r
of a number of itsdi►ihaals, however obnoxious, however

unpopular, or however much censured and despise !, is
a circunistan:e that gives rise to astunisliment and in-
credulity. Ike hostile preparations, the formidable and
terrific instruments of death, the hoar and place of meet-
ing, all indicate but too plainly the intention to perpe-
trate some bold, some violent, some outrageous deed.
Bet, however much the mere contemplation of the ale-
Ages of the conspirators tuay inspire us with surprise
and horror, we are nevertheless disposed to treat their
bulgier preparations as euntemptible. or ot small Ding-
nitwit:, when we are told that the complete stihver. •
of thepresent tiovernment was the ultimate aim ot this
handful of delinquents. Let their firs: object have -ttr-
ree.ied let their intended virtltns have been isiono:ated
to their furious wrath, at the imattsent they a ere enjov-
ilg the pleasures of the lentos •tting-table—nould this
have raised armies of aiihi•relts to second their mur-
derous pursuits? Would cohorts bate diwkeil to their
standariis, already stained and polluted by cowanlly mur-
ders? Where would have been the liosii's faithild and
long-trieil guards anal troops Conti' not their lo) airy Imre
1... en trii,ted : Could not their swords have silayed the
ferment, and exterminated this banditti ? I f nut, Then de—
li-et' is of no avail ; rebellious hearts fill the country,
and those who have shed tears 'spun the tooth of unr late
I•eloved King, have, tinder the semblance of grief, uttered
sup prayers for the extinction of the Brunswick dye ssty.
lint if .we are loyal subjects, anti nut likely to be infected
with the tresson nourished in the bosoms ot tnisprnidrd
wretches, why nut despise the miserable and tattle rt-
tempt of insensate, infuriate assassins, am! puni:lt their
deliniptencies ? They bare, indeed, borrowed the lam .1
smile of liberty to conceal their deep and vengeful
; but surely no friends of liberty stimuld mar their
owe views hy aiding @trinities, which, if cm-etc...l, ma.:
infallibly sound the efforts of tyranny and oppress
by blemishing- .lesrots with a pretext fur extinguishing
the last remaining spark, and proscribing the very MIME
of liberty.

The tools and agents of eorniption, instead of miring
with all panic,' in the universal execratiou of a dialudi-
...ll plot, have already charged the rontgitntienal op-
josers of unconstitutional on asnres as the ios:igafurs,
ImaiNliate ur remote, of this dreadful conspir..ry.—
With inconsiderate injustice, they have Brant a lisle of
demarcation to pene their art piarpo.es am.'
0 wise the frirtult of reform, of freedom, stool the Cum
stitntion. All who lift their mice against the
•• stein which has occasioned our present distres. es, ..re '
I•I them denominated traitors or dis.,lferted d. MA-
Fortes. Disaffection seldom exists, and never flour's:its,
to a State pritticutly ;governed. A reit ly al!ention to
the just complaints of the people, and tr..rr :hods
skill to remove the MAW, of them, would 'nun slide
the patty attempts of sedition, stop its runt ions pro-
pres., tied prevent the alarming evils of revolt and re
hellion sore effeetnally than restrictive measures, armed
!ream the terrors of a prison-honse, and an ill-fated
It i. indeed, painful to these, el:o, threinh the
in 1114141CP of reason; ng,thr own ion of talent, and lie force
pf argnment, would seek to convince an imprudent Ad-
ministration of the folly of their measures, to perceive
their efforts resoltooil natatory by the mail projects of
wf Hoe only object is plunder, and whose mesas
sit uutaining it