Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-04-17


with which this attrmptto coatroui the
affairs of independent nations srcaks
| to Great Britain. France, ann all
Their nations wmnse situation exposes
them to similar interference. one would
think could hardly be mistaken OF. d's-
regarded.
CONFERENCE AT LAYBACIh
"The allied powers have removed
| the seat of their conference from irnp-
pau to Laybacl. town in Austrian
Germany, the capital of Carnlo'a,
whittier they have summoned the King
of Naples, to deliberate with them up
on the present state of affairs III his do
minions. This requisition has been
obeyed; nut however without strong
remopstrances on tile part of he Nea-
politan Parliament, who have &c iared
their determination to resist to the ut
most of theirpnwer any foreign attempt
to interfere with their internal govern.
ment. They do not affect to deny that
their new constitution may admit OF
! very desirable notifications; bui these
modifcatio whatever thy may be,
must be freely discussed and voIuntarI-
" adopted and they will run all the
risks of war even with the formidable
power of Austria, rather than introduce
on foreign dictation. any changes into
tie constitution which the concurrent
voice Of the king and of the universal
! Neapolitan nati"n has SAM toned. The
king, before he departed for La! bach,
entered into an express stipulation'
that 10 negotiations with the allied go
yereigns, he should consent 10 no ar
rangement which should be inconsis-
tent with the new constitution. 1t APP
! pears, how ever, that the sovereigns OF
Austria, Russia, and Prussia, have a.
dopted very different determination.
They have declared their resolution,
not merely to modify, but actually to
overthrow and entirely annul, the or
der of things existing not only in Ma
pies. but also in Spain ami Portugal,
which they consider as the offspring of
sedition and violence, and as not only
opposed to the principles of law and
morality, and to the true happiness of
nations. but as Incompatible with the
tranquility of Europe. They declare,
therefore, their intention OF putting an
end to it, either by mediation or by
force. But they disclaim, at the same
time, any view to conquest. or to the
violation of the independence of other
powers, or even to the obstruction OF
voluntary ameliorations in govern
ments. They cannot, however, recog-
nize any authority established by the
seditious; and it is only with kings they
can conf,r.
This extraordinary declaration has
produced, as might be expected, very
strong sensation in every part OF Eu-
rope. The pretensions contained in 1t
are so utterly at war with every prin.
ciple hitherto recognized aiming ma
tions. and so utterly subversive Of the
independence Of all weaker states; and
they constitute SO undisguised an as
sumption Of -. the right divine of kings
to govern wrong" that We cannot be
surprized at any degree of alarm and
Indignation which they may EXCITE,
Besides the Spanish Constitution, de-
fective as it most undoubtedly is, in
many important particulars, is never
theless the constitution which was for
merly recognized by the powers now
in league against it, and with which
both they and we coalesced in fighting
the battles of national independ nee a.
gainst the colossal power of Brnaparte.
1t is this same constitution which Spain,
Naples 4 Portugal have adopted, and
in the case Of the two former with the
express concurrence of their own sDve-
reigns, but which the very same pow
ers whom that constitution contributed
to save from the most abject prOstra-
ton at the feet of Bonaparte. are now
confederaied to crush, or at least TO re-
duce to their own standard, by fire ard
sword.
The only principle on which it was
ever argued to be justifabIe to wage
! war with the French revolution. was
that it compromised the independence
and menaced the safety of other states,
and thus forced them upon measures of
self defence. Now. however, the most
isolated changes, like those Of Spain &
Portngal-rhanges achieved without
blood, changes by which mOnstr,xls
systems of TYRANNY. civil and ecClesi- !