Page:An address to the thinking independent part of the community.djvu/22

( 22 ) distinct, independent legislatures, watchful over their separate interests, and by guarding against encroachments on either side, excluding every ground of jealousy. In such a union, these countries might not merely acquiesce from necessity. It would be their strength and their boast, and the hope and guardian of Europe. It is not became we have a British sovereign, but because we have not our constitutional protection, our independent, national, legislature, that discontent prevails: And it is only the mischievous policy of those who would represent the continuance of abuse, as essential to the continuance of the connection, which exposes that connection to danger. They are not its enemies who would detach from it every: needless incumbrance, and fix it on the foundation of its real substantial utility,—but they who would expose it to reproach without occasion, they who would convert the bend of union into a yoke of slavery, oppressive and disgraceful to this country.

Another charge connected with the last, and urged with as little justice against the advocates of reform, is that of wishing to subvert the monarchy, and introduce a republican government. I think there is much reason to retort this charge also, and accuse the uniform opposers of reform, of entertaining such a with. The exiting circumstances may, perhaps, reasonably create an alarm for the safety of the monarchy.