124] ANNUAL REGISTER, 179% 
often been employed to shew, or 
attempting to shew, by a flotrish- 
ing antithesis, that we possess all 
the advantages of a ite goveru- 
ment, and those of 4 despotic 
monarchy, by possessing the wis- 
doin which arises from a fice dis-. 
cussion of the representatives of 
the people, and the promptitude 
and dispatch of an unlimited mo- 
narchy. Such an anfithesis may 
answer the purpose of an ingeni+ 
ous orator, and aid him in the 
course of a florid declamation ; 
but it can avail but little to any 
man who wishes for the *afety of 
our.constitution, [am of opinion, 
that our constitution, in its true spi- 
rit, cannot mix with any thing des- 
potic. Have recourse to experi- 
ence, the only unerring guide ; read 
the history of this country, and then 
shew me, out of what page it is that 
you have discoverd hew, and when 
it was, that the maxims of a free 
government have been united with 
the principles of despotism. [ 
know it cannot be done: [ know, 
also, that if you attend to history, 
and take it as a lesson, you will re- 
turn to your ancient distrust and 
jealousy, of ministers, whoever they 
may be, and that you will examine 
minutely into their conduct : re- 
flect on the consequences of tbe 
contrary practice, you see now be- 
fore you the effect of it. Confi- 
dence in the first instance renders 
eonfidence necessary in the second, 
Confidence, in ministers, induces 
them to take measures which they 
cannot continue without. farther 
confidence ; they are obliged to 
call for it'in their own defence: 
in that career you may proceed 
until you have confided away the 
whole spirit of our constitution. 
{ am afraid you have advanced in 
that career much too fat already. 
In niy opinion, the spirit of the 
constitution has been almostentirely 
set at rest, for a time, by the mea- 
sures of the Jast parliament: let 
it be the practice; fo: it is the duty, 
of the present to revive it. 
We. are told, that the military 
force, which is now proposed to be 
raised, is only to act in case of 
emergency ; what is that to be? 
what are the circumstances in which 
it may be supposed to exist ? when. 
the French shall Jand upon our 
coast? no such thing: I know 
that such a restr ction cannot and 
ought not to be imposed on exe 
ecutive government ; because, you 
should repel the danger when you 
are threatened by it. The case of 
emergency, then, will amount to 
this, that, whenever ministers shall 
think fit to allege there is danger, 
the whole of this military power, to 
be intrusted to them for the inter- 
nal defence of this country, will - 
be subjected to military law, and 
intirely at their disposal. What 
security have we, that no abuse will 
take place, respecting the applica= 
tion of this enormous force? I do 
not know what ministers may have 
respecting the intention of the 
French to attempt an invasion of 
thiscougiry. I believethe French 
have no such intention, for they’ 
“have a government whieh is likely 
to be much better informed of the 
disposition of the people, and the 
situation of this country, than to’ — 
be led to any hopes of success in, 
such an attempt; therefore, I bes 
lieve, they will not be guilty of the 
weakness tomakeit. If they should 
harbour such desperate intentions, 
T have no doubt of the issue. My 
hopes and confidence on that sub 
ject are a5 sanguine as those of any 
other 
