Phenix Gazette

From the London Times, Sept. 13.

A compact of great importance has been acceded to by some of the leading Powers of Europe with regard to the politics of Portugal & Spain. England enforces her pledge of protecting the Constitutional Government of the former kingdom, and has obtained the positive assent of France to its unmolested continuance, on the condition—required by the Court of the Tuilleries, and recognized by that of St. James—that no attempt shall be made from the side of Portugal, or on the part of the British Government, to accelerate, by active means, the downfall of the throne which Ferdinand now disgraces. The effect of an arrangement like this, whatever may be its motive, will be, that Portuguese freedom cannot lose, nor Spanish despotism gain, very sensibly by a juxta-position which no foreign Power interferes with; at the same time, there is in the bargain an apparent concession by Mr. Canning to a principle which he cannot, and we presume is not inclined to, countenance. Russia is said to be at the bottom of the negotiation. pleading the mortal peril in which legitimacy is placed by the prospect of a constitution being forced vi et armis upon Ferdinand, and holding forth the possibility of relaxations from the rigour of autocracy even in Russia. If Nicholas be, as represented, a Prince of spirit and discernment. we can believe him to be honest in these professions; but our first feeling is, we confess, distrust of all professions made by persons who will not acknowledge the sacred right of the people to legislate for their own interests. There is nothing (God knows) in the nature of despotism which can exclusively qualify it to be the best judge of the institutions most calculated to promote the happiness and welfare of a nation.