Star. — London, England, 1809-03-07 00:00:00

reeers•••••••'""'"="2"'—'_—_---------- that article alone, there was a deficiencf.orebeaelr the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr..Be- thirty-two Millions of pounds, the whole suppli fmut , %e cr. eery Canning), aided bv his colleaeues, had clos- Portuguese America - and Asia not exceeding.five ea he' door afrainst conciliation with America, which lions of pounds. The whole of this deficiency arose y. e s lee now to be e xpected but-through the authority from - our Orders in Council, the French Decrees o ')arliament. He well knew that he should have never having • cansed the slightest diminution ;so at anthorities in that House against him on this - that the Berfin Decree was a kind of Castle of Otranto occasion; : one Honourable and Learned Gentleman conjured up to frighten us, a mere unreal phantom ; (1)r- S:ephens) he saw in his place, and another as our commerce had continued to flourish, till the Itiplit Honourable and Learned Gentleman (ehe Orders in Couneil had affected it. Another of their ! Master of the Rolls) he saw just entering. He was predictions was eqiially false with those he had men folly aware 'of the disadvantage under which he timed, namely, that the whole population of the should labour against such authorities, because un- great empire of Napoleon would be discontented for heppily the force on his side had been diminished.— • want of colonial produce. But had a single man re- He had to lament that he conies not avail himself of , fused to march for want of a breakfast of coffee ? eie authority of that great Civilian (Dr. Lawrence), w Had the operations against Spain undergone the - di whom he had umiormly the happiness to think ' smallest interruption in consequence ? Had Napo aed to act ; but now that Dr. Lawrence was no more, leon rescinded his Decrees? The Right Hon. Gentle he might be permitted to pay the tribute that was I men had set themselves in a situation of shame, and due to - his integrity and his talents. IThatever dis-1 as false prophets. This should teach them not to set tineuished individuals may remain, either in his par- ! themselves . up as arbiters of Europe, not to go on titular department, or in the more extended branches I blindly on 4 road in which they had been floundered, of his profession, he was convinced that it would I swamped and begrimed. All this had been predict be admitted on all hands, that in Doctor Law-led on his side of the House. He and his friends had rcr.ce that House and the country had lost a vast : told his Majesty's Ministers that France would not fond of' knowledge, an exemplary instance of pub- rise in consequence of the want of colonial produce, lie virtue, and as large a proportion of political inte- and Frence had not risen. They had assured them grity as had perhaps ever fallen to the lot of any indi- that America would be irritated, and she was irrita viduel. 1-1?,-;-, hear.) Anxiously did he wish that he i ted. They had told them, that the manufactures could have the support of that great Civilian on this' would be diminished, and the exports and imports question, or that he had left his mantle to any person I decreased, and the fact was so. It was time, therefore, to s u pply the loss of his great authority. Yet feeble ! for them to attend to the predictions of those who sat as he felt himself, and inadequate to the task as he! on his side of the House. Though the manufactures must he to the combat, he should go forth, armed had generally suffered, yet there were ind ividual ex with his scrip and his sling , and enter the lists with ! ceptions, as it was a bad wind that blew nobody those mighty Goliahs whom he had to encounter.— I good ; and in the general calamity some individuals The House was sick of recrimination, because it might make • a profit. It was no sign of flourishing never applied ; and even if it had, it would not satis- manufactures that the poor's rates had increased that in fy the country to say , th at one Administration was the last year from £24,000 to R 49,000, 1 of justified because another had done wrong. But he forty mills, about thirty-one were wholly still. They had never been .t party to the measures of either ; had not even teen aware of the extent to which the and if the Right Honourable Gentleman should meet Orders in Council would operate. There was not his arguments by quoting the Order in Council of the one-tenth of the quantity of flax-seed usually sown in 7di of January, 1807, he must observe that he had the country, and the consequence would be, that in been no party to that Order, but, on the contrary, the next year great multitudes of people in Ireland expressed his disapprobation of it last Session, though would be thrown tut of employment. But the'Right sapproVed much more of the Orders of the 11th Honourable Gentleman looked forward to what was of November, ISO 7. He begged leave to state that to be expected from the Brazils. Many years must it was not his intention to propose to the House any elapse befnie that source would be available, and theoretic or speculative propositions, but to call its how was that to avert the immediate calamity. The attention to the tone assumed by his Majesty's Minis- Right Honourable Gentlemen seemed to be unwarn ters in their conduct to America, which was fraught ed by the experience of their errors, unapalled by the with equal arrogance and imbecility. His object was horrors that surrounded them. Elated by the momen to remove the obstacles to reconciliation with Ame- tart' success of the Spaniards, they had insolently re rica ; because, so far from supposing the confederacy jetted the proposition of America. The Americans against this country as " frittered and broken into had various causes of complaint against this country, fratonents, harmless and contemptible," he consider- the impressment of their seamen, the depredations ed it as more intense, extended, and continued at this committed on their commerciel property, and the moment, than at any former time. The snake has violation of their territory.by the boats of ships of been " scotched, not killed," and she is now more war, as well as by the burning of enemies' ships dilated, extended, and continued than ever, with an escaping from the French West India Islands within accumulation of fury in her crest, and tenfold venom their waters. These complaints had at last been in her sting. He would conciliate America, there- aggravated by the insolent, illegal, unauthorized and fore, in order that she should not be added to our unjustifiable attack by the Leopard upon the Chem enemies; and here he must remind the House of the peake, by order of Admiral Berkeley.- The Right predictions of the Right Honourable Gentleman op- Honourable Secretary had conducted himself rightly pesite last Session. The Right Honourable Secretary by acquainting the American Minister, that if this (Mr. Canning), undoubtedly, had not addressed the case was as represented, it would be disavowed by 1-louse upon the subject as often as his colleagues, Government. In the demand for reparations, ano and had not made any prediction, but the Right Ho- ther demand was coupled with it which could not be nourahle Gentleman next him (the Chancellor of the conceded. Upon this the Right Honourable Gentle- Exchemter) had confidently predicted that the people man determined tb send out a special Minister to of America would not submit to the Embargo. An- I make the offer of reparation to the American Go. other Right Honourable Gentleman (the King's Ad- vernrrient, and here the propriety of the Right Ho yocate) wham lee did not then see in his place, had nourable Gentleman's conduct terminated. From the predicted that a perseverance in the Orders in Coun- moment Mr. Rose went out to America, it was ob cil \vould lead to a peace ; whilst another Right Ho- vious that there was no friendly disposition in the nouriMe Gentleman (Mr. Rose) had predicted, that British Government. That Gentleman was directed Great nritien would be made an emporium for the , to refuse to enter into negociation, unless the Presi tilde a.)I the world, at the same time that he said, I dent's Proclamation was revoked ; and had refused th at t!!...• neutrality of America was of no use to us. , to allow the revocation of the Proclamation and the Tatet isieht Honourable Gentleman le I also predict-I Act of Reparation to proceed Jiari liana, and to be t.!tiett our manufactures would flourish ; whilst i dated on the same day. Then the act of Admiral • (;Keens as ere extravagant enough to prophecy advan- I Berkeley had been disavowed ; but had that Officer tage, from making the raw material subject to a been reprimanded ? On the contrary, Lad he not transit duty in this country. Others again had pre- been sent out on another delicate command. The dicted that the operation of the Orders in Council Right Honourable Gentleman wished to keep the won! force Bonaparte to rescind his decrees.— aff a ir of the Chesapeake separate from other ques- Tite Right Honourable Gentleman (the Chancellor tions, and yet he seemed to complain that Mr. Pink of the Exchequer) too, to crown the whole system, ney had not adverted to it in his letter. But it was went forth like a viittious, pious, and humane Legis- only from a Member of the British Government that lator, with a worthy pinnacle for such a pyramid, his any mention of that transaction could come. Next Baek Bil!, to compel the enemy to concede to his came the famous Orders in Council, which were said police. That Right Honourable Gentleman had also i to have had their foundation in the principle of the stated in June last, when he must have been better Order of the 7th of January : but whose offspring informed, that these Orders in Council would create they were did not appear. The measure was a no irritation in Ameeica. In February, Mr. Pinkney chance child ; and it was suppo:.ed that a Learned had complained of their injustice. The same state- Gentleman opposite (Stephens) had been playing the reent had been repeated in July, when the Right rogue on the occasion, till he disowned the connexicn. Ii .neurable Gentleman must have been much better He had stated last session, and he contended that the inc'errel. when he !_new a flame had been kindled in fact had now been notoriously proved, that the know eel! ee s e, „inch, instead of using means to extin- ledge of these Orders in Council had led to the ember euisl-., he had added fuel to aggravate. The papers i go in America. The Orders in Council of the 1 lth On the table were full of instances of the irritation ex- of November, 1807, were said to be founded on the e , cal be' these orders in America. But from one learni Order of the 7th January preceding, but thefounda en. In a letter from Mr. Madison, to Mr. Pinkney, tion and the superstructure was widely different. The timed March '22, 1 SOS, that Gentleman says that Mr. Berlin Decree preceded the Order of the 7th January; l'inket:y had, in his remonstrances to the British Go- but it was now proved to be false, that the Americans vererntel', enticipated the answer of the American I had acquiesced in the French Decrees, as stated in I ,v , and that the Orders in Council were a , the preamble to the Orders of the llth November. via lasi. n of neutral rights, and a stab at the indepen- ' It was also an act of insolence on the part of the Bri tish Government, that they had suffered Mr. Rose L i e ece of tile United States. T his was the me a sure, es hied: the Secretary of State represented as not likely and Mr. Monroe to depart for America on die day to excite :any irritation inAmerica,and which the other of the date of these Orders, or, the next, without r;ght 11,,,,urable Gentleman (the Chancellor of the charging either with a copy, to have been officially Excheence) asserted, would not have made any im- communicated to the American Government. In roe seaa in America, it it had not been for the point of fact, the President had communicated their seetelies of homers in that House. But would contents in a Message to the Senate on the 20th of the alas iiokotirable Gentleman now make the same January, 1808, and it was not until the 23d of Fe ? Would he catch at such a broken reed ? bruary following that Mr.• Erskine was ordered to D,a he rot ',:nosy- that ail irritation had been excited communicate them officially to the American Go iin 111:_ ion ? And if he was still of the same opinion, vcrnment. The feelings of America, at the time of v.inild not tee certainty of dates and distances con- the Right Honourable Gentleman's taunts and threats, Jewel him i ia. fact, if :uch observations were to pre- were actually favourable to this country, and that ap vcnt. from giving their opinions sincerely, geared from M. Champagny formally complaining • :neasures, lest it should be said that they of the partiality. Both parties complained of partia suppled ereurneets or reasons to other nations, it lity, and that was the clearest proof of American im would put end to the freedom of deb tae. Another partiality, as in the time of the immortal Washing- pec dictien eeietive to the increase of our imports or ton. So early as February, the American Govern oeporeo had al.;o completely failed. lie did not ment complained of the injury and insult offered them r n::,tn to enter into a detail of Custom-house accounts, by the Orders of Corned ; and, if the application b ut , tram the papers on the table, it appeared, that made by that Government to the British Government,, t h e arn qunt at imports and exports had diminished had been accepted, America would at this moment' Many m ini o ns ; according to his estimate, eleven have been embarked with us in the war with France. m Heels. A n other prediction relative to the supply The .Hon. Gentleman contended, that the deCrees against our commerce,et c otton wool had likewise failed. In the import Of of France had proved nugatory • tad Victheen intended purely asalurerto entrap . thi s . country ir i t ito . som T e i e me a r i u fi re ce s o h f a .r d eta s l u iata cc 'on d w ed h . leh an w d on i l l! " be vas.afraid, from the efFect upon , our manufactures, that we should have a whole nation calling for bread. If the offer of America had been accepted, the com merce of this country *would -be-- in- a. better situation than if the demands of our Government had been complied with. We should then have the monopoly of the'whole trade of America ; whereas, if the Ber lin Decree had been rescinded, and our Orders in Council revoked in consequence,. France would share with us that trade. The Honourable Gentleman then adverted to the practices which had• taken place against the oppressed Danes last year, in . detaining their ships in British ports until the declaration of war should make prizes of them, and besought the Right Honourable Gentleman to make a note of that case in his mind. If we had accepted the offers of America, there was no reason why we should not have the ports of America now open to us—why not. have the wheat from her stores, and the cotton from our manufactures—no reason why we should not have that country for our ally in the present war ? The tone of the Right Honourable Gentleman had been elevated by the delusion of the temporary suc cess of the Spaniards. But the Right Honourable Gentleman's eloquence was of a stormy description— full of bursts of genius and corruscations of talent ; but it had the other ingredients of a storm—vapour, cloud, and wind ! The Honourable Gentleman then commented on the acute feeling of the Right Honourable Gentleman, in observing upon the high' tone of Mr. Pinkney ; but as a joker does not like a good joke played upon himself, so perhaps the Right Honourable Gentleman, accustomed to assume a high tone, was then more alive to. it when applied to him. He then ridiculed the idea of the Right Ho ' nourable Gentleman, in wishing the American Go vernment to interpose effectually to procure that the Berlin Decree should be rescinded ; because if the confederacy was broken into fragments, it was unne cessary to apply for the rescinding of that decree. — The Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Canning ) , had in his note thrown out a most sarcastic observa tion against the American Government, at a time that all Europe was leagued against us. He had said, " that the American Government was no' doubt too wise and too enlightened to seek the destruction of Britain, but that some way or other the American embargo was laid on precisely at a time to co-operate with the European blockade." A most unjustifiable sarcasm ! This was not the tone to use in private life to those with whom we wished to be friends, nor was it the conciliating and dignified manner in which great nations should discuss their differences. It appeared to him, that in the true language and tone of a statesman, Mr. Madison bore. away the palm entirely from the Right Honourable , Gentleman. It was an extraordinary way of retalia ting on an enemy to trample on a neutral. If the French Government had injured us by decrees, our vengeance and retaliation ought to be directed against the French Government. It was not even retaliation to deprive the sick soldiers of that country of meth. tine : we ought to do something which the French Government should feel ; but it was most evident that our retaliation has been only on ourselves, and that Bonaparte is not at all less powerful, or less able, to effect the object he has in view, by the cyeration of our Orders in Council. In point of fact, we dare not carry our own Orders in Council into execution, but we were obliged to evade them by cooniving at smuggling, and by granting licences. Mr. Pinkney well observed, in his answer to the note of the Right Honourable Secretary, " that if it were true that the blockade decreed by the French •vas raised as soon as it was formed," then it was evident that there was no occasion for attacking the commerce of neutral na tions as a measure of retaliation.' But the Right Honourable Secretary had said, that the Orders in Council would not be repealed as long as there way. the smallest link of this confederacy unbroken. Did the Right Honourable Secretary really mean to per severe in opposition to. the dictates of common sense. • and the representations of the Americans, until Hol land, Venice, and all the countries which France now dictates to, should have thrown off their dependence i He had heard since he came to the Hnuse, a very prevalent report that the Right Honourable Secretary had to communicate some conciliatory proposition tz , the American Government. He hoped sincerely that it was so. If he thought so, he would be most ready to withdraw his motion, and burn as a bon• tire of rejoicing all the books and papers on which he grounded it. He knew that the American Go. vcrnment had taker. some strong measures to support their embargo, and that these measures had caused some popular commotions ; but could we seriously expect that. the American people could force their Government to force Napoleon Bonaparte to aban don his decrees? If, therefore, we chose to make, this impossibility a sine qua non, it was impossible for us ever to be reconciled to .America. We had heard lately of American vessels which had found their way to the country in spite of the embargo.— We were not, however, to rely upon a constant sup ply from these embargo-breakers. From those ves sels which did come, we got a little cotton wool, which was not wanting, considering that cur manu factories are not halt employed ; but they did not bring us flax-seed, turpentine, and many other arti cles of prime necessity to our manufactures, which America used to s-apply us with. If the embargo was raised to-morrow in America, this coaiitry would be but little the better for it, while our Or ders in Council exist; for it never could be supposed that a single American would submit to pay a - tax to this country. He believed there was only one example of an American vessel paying that odious transit duty, and the cargo of that vessel was burned by the American populace. The American people would rather prefer going• to wai with us than submit to be taxed by this country. — They all remember that it was on that very principle they founded their national independence. He be lieved, however, that the American Government would now stand as firmly to their Embargo and Non-intercourse Bills, as the American Government did, in the time of Washington, to the treaty with England, which was by no means popular in that country. • He feared there were many people in this country who would hear, not only without regret, ) but even with pleasure, of a war with America.— That.country is not popular in England ; the cha racter of the people is lot liked ; her Government is . (No, do, Peg: therrearurt/ was, at least, a strong proof of some ;Mite feeling when the health of the Pnisideat was refused to be drank, and some very vations were made on the condnet of tit. Ce; who proposed the toast. It had been re :Lie:, ow American possessions would gain by a the United States. He doubted, howevi much, whether we could retain those posee that case ; he feared we would lose them, h ips with them sgme of our West India Isla; had lately indeed - sent a force, collected pri from that part of the world., on an expeditio7 Martinigae, or rather as a reconnoitring fore. manner, during the last war, the Right I-I.; Gentleman opposite (Sir James Pulteney), tred Ferrol wich 12,000 men, and found th; ivalls about it and castles, and that it coil taken, and therefore he came away French, however, have lately found that Fel be taken, and have captured a consid there. We were now excluded from Cadiz had no reason to expect that a single sh: i ) es; be brought away from Spain. In su.ei when we had enemies all over the word;, wee to have the French navy, the Spanish Dutch navy, and all the naval populati;.!; mark and the countries on the us, he thought it would he most imp. war with America also. The House , til. the situation of their merchants, the were due to them from America, the u of their exports and- imports, and ; &s.resses of their manuftcturers. Tie r.e Meet, that we are a people of factit;( ness ; he meant by this, that ave could not a people, or hold the same rank, withaft France can exist and be powerful without c America can be great, without comma:; England should be .thrown back upon it sources, how could its navy be supparte , could its people be fed ? Those persons wi lowly of the American character, shoal, that neither Great Britain nor France, anti dery times, had scarcely produced a man be compared with the illustrious \Vashin: philosophers could rank so high as Benja; En. He could not avoid addressing the ; that House, in the same language that trious Washington addressed to his coup', quitted the Presidency, " Observe, above good faith and justice to all nations. Cull and harmony with every country. R, sound policy alike eUctate this conduct ; suing it you may set a noble example to He was convinced, that by purAling conduct towards America, we would our side in the great struggle in which a , gaged ; and he deprecated the forcing h( ate herself with the enemy. He concluded That an humble Address be presented to his Humbly to represent to his Majesty, that in certain Decrees made by his Majesty's enemies, c: usages of war and to the rights of Neutral Natio: consequ.mce of the alkdged acquirscence of Neutral sad Decrees, his Majesty was ...Wised to issue in Council respecting the trade of. Neutrals, to ports and countries of his Majesty's enemies; an Orders were further enforced by certain Acts pa: * Session of Parliament. L'ut that both in the said Orders and in the Ac; on, a power was reserved to his Majesty of annt whenever such revocation should appear expedient That the Coniess of the United States of Am, at the dangers to which neutral commerce was practical operation of the said Decrees, and lay katiarn to be in the contemplation of his Majesty and actually carried into effect by the said orde; for laying immediate Embargo on all American SI and that by the operation of such Laws, all trad; the s aid States into this kingdom or its depend; prohibiee.l, and the coon:) . tie! Interceerse of hi jerts with the said States has Leq3l in other et s.:ec: peeled. 'faint in the month of August last, the Mi:dst States, resident at this Court, etude to his Majes: •an authorized and explicit offer of re-establisiti: course ; proposing, that if his Majesty's Orders i: be repealed, as far as regarded the United See imp sed in the said States•should be removed, a: his Majesty's dominions; and adding, that if hi hies should not rescind their Di cress, the said El cmeinued as with respect to them. That this offer on the part of the U: ited Stat just iu principle, and in its tendency Fghly adva best interests of this coteary : just, ilia:much as :,retence of the acquits:came of tl:e United State Decrees; which acquiescence was the only erote right could accrue to his Majesty to interrupt tl 'tierce of a Neutral Power : end advantageous inasmuch as, though it should not have pro; of the French Decrees (the avowed purptise Orders), it would have secured to this Country ti arce ef America, and her aliiance ageh:st a Po , thus have been the common enemy of both. That we believe and hope that it is still opm Goveroment to renew, on the basis of :ids pest mercial iß tercotirsa bete ten this Countre and t! c rery interruption of which we c as rni t i the iu:crest oz . !nelt commies, :net calcelate: signs of our enernins, aril to we )1:, n u ;I - n rcr I ha we th,refore Inuit lituh:y hi; without delay, such measur , s L.:ld ree obit-dem:et of the commercial intercourse jesty's Domitdoes and the Utlited States of 56" g, by telneeeee and conciliatory ttegociatice to a jut and aide able conclusion, assuring hi firm and invariable seepert in Traintaining g; aggression, and every n vel claim, the antic: a t ritime riehts of his h taj, sty's Crown. Mr. sTEvENs said, while he agrt the sentiments expressed by the Right man, he. differed completely frcm him of facts. Ht coincided with his whole opinions which towards the conclusha Gentlem (We speech, he had borrow. , respectable source. He paid unfeig. motives of the Hon. Gentleman. 11, and manly character ; and he really there w is not in the Ilouse, or in the t. more truly of Di itish texture, than Gentleman. When he contemplated Hon. Gentleman, and of the Noble introduced this suhject in another pl.“ but re.,4Tet tlh it he had the misfortune I in opinion to :hem. Ile felt that he by this difference of sentiment to weigl merit. He had &ate so, and he wot betty of communicating to the House deliberation. Tile fion. Gentleman gine, that there were people in this cot regard a war with America with corn eeuld not believe that such were to.' himself, he was as averse to such an Honourable- Gentlem in. He deprec; America, not because he thought Oa :1 • i i I ~~ ) "1 of cow the pect and war I. 'er, fam . I had ani his wet:, ~;;; e s,T5 Tinc , p;tl, i por )n .t con noe reccr, star liat it Id m.t ' res] sot i of I ()let e., . bet of( I II , . lay . rry fat .e 1 1 the L.; ..1 r 1 L... fu , :-S cr • ;.: t St' ant.- 11 • :ZL corn la rce ; 1) al t, • - la ( .v h. .11:1 .1 ct 1.1 c , b . Hent or n, - its who c..•!'.1 to', or imin ti 111:)::111,t, .t the . try V, . all O.:, Iliiat and by p 1 the w g a hav:: we v:cie : ler to ass:: .1 by Intrvill o .Majt.sty, consequer cc ; contrary to : Ails, and +!'' .1 d Natio:is it; • certain (it','," ) and 1 . 1 . 3 'A ist Ad that tin' i issed to the I. t cts passe; 0 .; - lulling the • :nt. ,rnerica, alarrt •• -1 I y 1 • expo• • • the s ; • . , • • ; y's •.... ens, pa; :. 1 . 1 ;kips ur.a X: ; le of ix; • h.••• : i.-• • .. • itf•l• or the ! ,ty'i . ng the .-11.1 Cotc;cll 1:14, the l'lnd) 7: I as f.tr as re•:::r • tis Niaj;:sty's - :mbargo tees appears t• t.) . • as• it 14 mov“- • nes in the Fr, end ou .; :lie inao, - et t : - to Gr.- oduc,d t!•-• ci i i :•1.:„. • • the L).clu4v , . z over which • m to Li.; Mal roi • i.',• • , j.:ri ed to ze.si,t the • s. • •• i to tl e e between in. •\ • America; and . 14 )n, all ottAr us Majesty of u• • ;aiast eve! y U:'.l.. • and e ss,n:r.:t reed in many ( t Gen ll '- in I:is s heart (f i'rom :t ie xt.as a C ✓ t' ,•,:tultry, •0, that 01 t:IC I the ab . :l;:v . e. Erns u':;() lee, lu c ~ Cl,ll'. • to be so oppc" was ca 11,'1 ;11 wel:Auld to 4 ; tl:2 • e the re).•i: 4... 5 ; cat• ed a way' hat th.: