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meeting * is to be noticed . The chief character evidently in it was the Emperor of Russia , the most despotical of all the powers , and his influence , which at the former treaty at this place was not equal to that of some of the annulled republics , was now preponderant . From him no danger was to be apprehended for the
liberty of the subjects , for in his vast dominions he is employed in ameliorating their condition . The introduction , however , of this northern power into European policy , cannot but produce hereafter very striking effects . Spain , which , two hundred years ago , was the paramount authority , is now sunk to the ground ;
France , which succeeded to that pre-eminence , is in a very doubtful situation ; Germany is too divided to act to any purpose ; and the day may come , when even England may lament that it joined in oyerthrowing the petty republics , and in contributing to give so decided a superiority to a power more Asiatic than European .
A dispute between two powers in Germany , Baden and Bavaria , is supposed to have occupied some part of the deliberations of this royal congress . In the cutting out , dividing , dismembering , arranging , annihilating states at the former congress of . Vienna , where parties put in their claims for compensations , and pieces of land here
and there were chopped and changed about to answer them , Bavaria it seems was to have been rewarded with something' in Baden , which the latter power was not well inclined to give up . Force at one time seemed likely to be called in to settle the
dispute , but it is now said to be arranged by tbe arbitration of the higher powers . This is a better mode of settling the difference , for these petty princes could not have gone to loggerheads , without involving in a short time the rest of Europe in their quarrels .
One circumstance must give unmixed satisfaction to the lovers of liberty in all parts of the world . In this high and mighty congress , Spain was not of the least importance . Her disputes with her colonies were not permitted to form a part of the discussion . She is not to receive any aid from Europe in her contest . If she can
reduce her colonies to their ancient slavery and re-establish her Inquisition , it must be by her own efforts j and in her present paralyzed state this , happily for mankind , seems to l > e a hopeless task . An event , that occurred c ^ t Madrid at tbe openi ng of the
congress , was not favourable to the Spanish application . Ferdinand in an instant turned oft" his ministry , and in a way which is a good specimen of the misery of arbitrary governments . The monarch send * some
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guards- to the houses of his ministers af the dead of night , seizes their persons , and conveys them to > a great distance from the capital , regardless of-the confusion thus created in their famili « s > or of any inconvenience or distress to themselves . At all times such a mode of proceeding creates disgust , but at a time like this it could not
but be injurious to his own affairs : for his new ministry could be but little acquainted with previous proceedings , and it was not so easy to prepare his ambassadors at the congress to overthrow the suspicions , which must necessarily be entertained , of the weakness of a government which could resort to such measures .
But all tbe proceedings in Spam tend only to the disgrace of th «* parties concerned in them . The late Cortez bad given the country some idea of liberty ; and the noble stand they made against the invaders of
their country , rendered them worthy of a better fate . They cannot , however , rise till the loss of America is succeeded by such a degree of public spirit as shall introduce freedom of inquiry , and an end will then be put to these arbitrary
measures . The accounts from Spanish America now concur in sanctioning the hope , that the tyranny of . the mother country is for ever overthrown in the greater part of its colonies . On what is called the Spanish
Main , the triumph of the insurgents is nearly complete , and all the levies of Spain would be unavailing to restore its dominion even in that quarte r * How much less will they be able then "to overpower the growing strength on the banks of La Plata , in Chili and Peru !
The king of the Netherlands has opened his parliament with a speech from the throne , full of good views of the present , and anticipations of the future welfare of the country . There , as in other places , they are employed in the instruction of the rising generation , and an enlightened representation will aid in promoting the efforts of a good government .
If peace should last , ( and how much is contained in this term !) if peace should last , much will be done in every country for the good of mankind . For the preservation of it , then , every good man will pray , and that the minds of both sovereigns and people may be enlightened to understand their real interests . Enousrb of blood has
been shed . Let them turn their views to the improvement instead of the destruction of each other , and they will find that the energies of war , giaud as they appear in the eyes of the barbarian , ar « nothing " compared with those which the pursuits of human happiness may produce .
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662 State of Public Affairs *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1818, page 662, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2481/page/62/
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