The National Register. — 1815-08-27 (London, England)

AUG. 21.  " The army is submissive to your Majesty, but it still exists. We ought to explain ourselves •on this subject without any reserve. What remains of the army is now only attached to peace and the public tranquillity. Its state of re-union, far from. being an evil, prevents the evil from extending. • The return of the soldiers into the bosom of the people will be attended with no danger when the conclusion of the war shall allow the people the means of resuming their occupations and their habits, but before that time, and so long as the fermentation is not extinguished nor obedience established, the.mingling the soldiers with the citizens, would he only throwing new inflammable matter into the flames. " It is grievous to think, that this state of things originates in the ertor of:Sotne Cabinets, in the judgements f:rtned by thein on the situation of Fiance. The fulfilment of all their desires depends on themselves alone. There are no sacrifices to which an enlightened people will nut readily submit when they see the object for which they are exacted, and finding them the means of avoiding greater calathities. Such is the disposition, such the wish of every Frenchman. " But if they, on the other hand, wish to obtain preparatory measures for unknown plans, they demand a thing impossible. There is no such thing. as blind obedience in Prince. The Powers have not yet published any of their designs ; no one knows what idea he ought to entertain of the Government, of the authority of your Majesty, or of the future.  " Anxiety and suspicion are at their height, and every thing appears a subject of terror in the midst of this obscurity. But a single word would change every disposition; there would no longer be an obstacle to any measures, if they made a part of a general plan which should altogether afford some conciliation to obedience.  " Let the Sovereigns then deign to explain themselves.. Why will they persist in refusing this act of justice? Let them deign to bring forward all their demands as so many conditions of the repose of tge nations, and let our concession to their views make part of a reciprocal treaty, and there will no longer he any difficulties. " The Sovereigns do not, perhaps, auLdcientlY reMark. tbd circle of embarrassments and obstacles in which they place both us and themselves. We require good order to second, them, and their explanation to re-establish good order. Are they desirous of sacrifices which require reparations and prompt obedience ? It is only requisite for this purpose, that the 'authority of your Majesty should be full and entire; nothing is possible, nothing can be executed, if peace does not exist in reality, at least provisionally, .and far from being in a state of peace, we experience all the calamities-of war. " Let the sovereigns bestow at least some attention to their own interests. When every thing shall be ruined and devasta(Cd around their armies, how will they fiud means of subsistence? .h there no danger in dispersing, .the troops All arms will not be taken away, and arms of all sorts are. murderous in the hands of despair. With respect to warl;ke contributions, what new sacrifice. can be demanded whet e every:thing has already been destroyed by the soldier i With respect armed force, when once discipline is relaxed, it'is not ea!ily re•established. Germany is far from expecting, after a glorious campaign, to receive back her soldiers, corrupted by a spirit of licentiousness, rapine, and pillage.  " This war ought to have been in every respect, distinguished from others, instead of imitating and surpassing in •Fonce the excesses against which the-Sovereigns tool( up arms—rW ill their glory even be satisfied t Qu olir part wo. have done whatever they desired ; and on their part every thins which had been announced to the world is (tailed*