The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-11-20
Guro.e
From Belts Weekiy Messenger,
.Selren,bey, 9.


September, 9.
The election of Bernado,te to the King
dom of Sweden is no less extraordinary in
its causes, than eventually il will become in
its consequences In its causes, il contains
memorable lesson to other sovereirns-
In its conseq ,ences, it may lead to effects
winch viii not only perpetuate The power
OF Bonaparte, but give il a new force and
character The best ground Of hope, in the
actual condition OF affairs, was hat ,h,
power of France would necessarily fail rs
pieces; that it was attached to the perso,,
OF Bonaparte, and moreover, and pe,han,
chieny, that 1t was of nature and kind
which could not reach this country. ANY
thing tina, takes away this ground of hope
ana III any way diminishes it, adds to the
gloom OF the future prospect. IL is a SER.
Gus addition to our calamity, when we see
it striking root. and providing for it's own
permanence and augmentation. Louis the
l4,h thought he had effected much, and
Europe was justly alarmed, when he forced
MS nephew, Frenchman, on the yacapd
throne OF the Spaniards. What are we now
70 think OF the Emperor Napo con. who has
hlled almost every throne in Europe with
ms brothers or servants? Such was the
policy OF the feudal system 1t united eve
ry one in the same interest Of mutual assis
lance towards their common defence. 'rhe
assault OF the principal, is the attack of the
whole. Every one defends the whole system
as 1t 1t were his own fef Faith and friend
SNIP may certainly be sufficient securities
Tor confederacy but interest is Infinite "
better.
With respect to the causes of this reyo,u.;
on, they may be found in the former and IRE
sent state OF Sweden and the Swedish peo
pie.
sweden, like all other northern powers
possessed constitution of comparative II
perry the die was free, and the king on
MS coronation, was sworn to maintain the
rights OF the people. and their liberties. as
established By the laws
sweden, however, being in the neighbor
hood OF Russia, who before the reyolutio
was perhaps the most AMBITIOUS and resi-
les power in the world was continually a
g'tated by Russian party and i, thus re
CURED great abilities, and was work f IN
',mts oilhculty, to keep her in her due 30.
sttion, and not to have her forced into the
adoption Of whatever Russia wished
as counterbalance to this Russian now
er, the former kings of Sweden had recourse
TO France. who willingly received her adj
vances under the: notion that Sweden wa.
the natural and most suitable check 20 Rms
STA ana her advancing power towards tht.
Worth OF Europe q Ss eden, therefore had
TWO parties; French party and a Russia
party, who mutually opposed each Other
and II they had been well managed NIGH,
have been so directed as to work out me
pubic good between them. ,:,te
Inc King. however deemed himsplF to
nave no kingdom and no crown whilst he
mao any difficulty in governing whilst he
was Obliged TO CONSUL, the existing parties
1sIn nal txy L..
der the cover of the rights OF the people and
OF the diet The king of Sweden bo,ysver.
saw nothing around him but absolute mo
narchies He did not see the king of Den
Mark' or the empress Catharine perplex d
oy me opposition of their people or mobiles
Inc King OF Sweden, therefore, resolved 20
get rid OF this Constitution, and render hi.
crown and Kingdom what he saw were the
crowns and Kingdoms of his neehbors He
mad no sooner adopted this resolu,i, n. III, n
ne went TO France to consult wiri the French
ministry and government, he means of eff
fectng 1t The French Ministers very ma
'uialiy concurred IN a measure, which. by
eHahcipatIng Sweden from all Russian in
'ereS.s ana connexions, rendered her more
eqnal opponent to that ambitious power:
ana thereby, more efficient member of The
balance of the North.
On his return from Paris, the king hav
ing previously arranged every thing called
a meeting OF the diet, as if on some most
Important business. Upon the meeting
winch from the expectation excited from the
extraordinary summons, was very full. the
chancellor, IN order to take up a necessary
interval OF time. entered into long account
OF the state of the kingdom The king
himself entered as he concluded AID brief
~ told the diet, that in such state of the
kingdom 1T was necessary TO alter or rather
do away entirely the existing consti ution
that the popular liberties only fomented &
cherished parties, which rendered The so
vereIgDty burthen to him that he was
resolved, therefore, not to be less a k,pp
than his neighbors, and had brought with
MIN the scheme OF new Constitution and
deed OF remuneration of all their popular
rights, which he required them to sign be
fore he left the hall of the assembly ne
added, that in order to prevent any riots.
he had ordered the hall of the diet TO be
surrounded by cannon with lighted matches
and none of the members of the diet would
be allowed to leave the hall, or to pass he
guard, till they had signed and sworn their
acceptance and remuneration.
What were men to do in this situation p
1t is unnecessary to add, that the kings
wishes were accomplished, and the liberties
OF a brave people thus forced from them at
the mouth Of the cannon.
To the long disgrace of the people of Swe
den, the king was permitted to reign two
or three years after this atrocious fe
lony on the rights of his people. He at
length, however, met his deserts, and di
ed under the blow Of one of his subjects
The late king of Sweden succeeded o the