The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-06 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 6, 1848.

" We cannot defend Sir H. %dem. N pen will not defend
him; we will pay no attention to your representations; for
the Ileum of Commons bas told you that you bays pleeed
the government of England in a humiliating position.
Had you approached us armed with the express authority
of that house, we must have deferred to it; but, as you have
been censured by the House of Commons, and have con-
tented to remain in office after that, it is utterly impossible
fur us to attach any weight whatever to your representa-
tions." (Hear.) Therefore, I think this second duty would
be most ineffectually discharged by affirming. hie resolution.
With respect to the third duty, of condemning the system,
and net the noble lord (Palmerston), I know not what the
noble lord's feelings might be after this vote; but as it die-
tinctly resognius him as the author of the interference,
which it says has placed this country in a humiliating posi-
tion, I think the noble lord would not be able to maintain
hie post, notwithstanding the construction put on the tenor
of the resolution by the hon. member for Bucks—that it goes
to condemn the:system, not to inflict punishment on the
individual, (Hear.) Therefore it appears to me that no
one of these three objects will be accomplished. Now,
although I cannot concur in this resolution, yet I must not
have my refusal to concur in it to imply approbation of the
course the noble lord has pursued. (Hear.) I think the
noble lord was fully entitled to give earning and advice
to the Spanish government. (Hear, hear.) I don't
object to the tring ; I do object to the manner in which it
was done. (Hear, hear.) After all our relations with
Spain, seeing the peculiar position in which Europe is placed,
seeing the tremendous events that have been and still are of
daily occurrence, I do not think it was an illegitimate or an
unfriendly act of the noble lord to say to Spain and the
Spanish government, " Beware —be cautious—watch the
mute that are passing—rlace not your reliance on armies,
however numerous or however disciplined—conciliate the
general good will of the people, on whose support alone you
can safely rely." (Hear, hear.) Ido not find fault with
that. But, adverting to the true description of the Spanish
, people and of our relations with them, which has been
given by the noble lord—remembering that they are a people
inferior to us in power—a people under deep obligations to
this country, not only fir advice tendered, but for exertions
made, for vast sums expended, for noble blood
shed in the defence and vindication of their li-
berties remembering, above all, that they are
a gallant nation, peculiarly jealous of their independence,
sensitive upon the point of honour—(hear, hear)—it is he-
eau's, 1 believe that the noble lord hus correctly described
our relations with them, has formed a just estimate of the
Spanish government, and has justly dwelt upon its pride,
its gallantry, its sensitiveness, its jealousy, if you will—that
I do think, if the noble lord wished to make an impression
upon the minds of that people, it would have been wiser to
have held different language, and to have presented it in a
different manner to what he has done. (Hear, bear.) Of
course, the object of the noble lord was that the friendly
advice tendered by him should be adopted and followed be
• cordial spirit r but I think there is an abruptness in the
original letter that was pri sented—(hear, hear)—there
is the assumption of a tone of superiority which I
think was calculated to offend the Spanish govern-
ment— there is that Iw:ordain) of past assistance
which has very much the air of erprobalio, which
I think might as well have be. n avoided towards a
people sensible, no doubt, of their obligations to us, but not
very fond perhaps of being reminded of them. (near.)
But the first letter, I think, might be excused ; it is perhaps
no: very surprising that the noble lord wrote hastily, and
I really do not Mid so much fault with the first letter as I
do with tee second. (Hear.) There is that reminiscence of
the great obligations which Spain is under to us which its cal-
culated to give offence. That personal weal to the Spanish
ministers, in which the noble lord reminds them that hut for
British assistance they might then' have been exiles from
their country was certainly not calculated to win their con-
fidence, or conciliate them into the adoption of the advice he
was tendering. (Hear, hear.) Now the noble lord the
Prime Minister vindicates the noble lord ( Palmerston)
'ay reciting • story which he had from Lord Holland,
which did not appear to me to be very germane to the met.'
ter. Lord Archibald Hamilton had the alternative in that
case of laughing at the offender or knocking him down, and
it might be very welt to do either one or the other.
Liughter.) But here the noble lord had done both. (Hear.)
If Lord A Hamilton, efter adopting the milder alternative,
had addressed the offender is the longest sentence that was
ever written in the English language—(laughter)—and had
ceded by saying, " Sir, it it had not been for me, you would
now have been a beggar in the stints." Lord Holland
would certainly not have admired him for choosing the
mildest of the two alternatives. Look at the sentence of
the noble lord (Palmerston), in which, after declaring that
he was not in the slightest degree offended, he proceeds to
adminider punishment in 29 consecutive lines—he was so im-
patient that he did not take breath till he had penned
the whole. (Laughter.) I think he is much more like
Sir Fretful Plagiary than Lord A. Hamilton ; for he
winds up with that reminiscence so painful to these dukes
and distinguished generals—" If it had not been for me and
my nicest policy, you would have been at this time exiles
from your country." That is ungracious; and I think that
is the part of the tranuelon which is most to blame.
(Hear.) At the same time, I apprehend it is very difficult
to conduct the diplomatic transactions of this country with-
out occasionally making errors, and even grave errors. The
teem in this instance in my opinion is not an error of act,
but an error in the mode in which the noble lord has exer-
cised Isis authority, which is much to be regretted. I regret
the mere because I feet that he has defeated his own end.
Instead of conciliating the Spanish government, and esta-
blishing the legitimate influence of England, by making
them feel that we were a friendly power, amidst all
these storms and convulsions, animated by a sin-
, cere desire for Spanish welfare, the noble lord
has alienated the Spanish government and a part
of the Spanish nation entirely by the mode in which good
, advice has been tendered to them. On that account I
deeply regret it. (Hear.) Ido net think the terra, of this
, motion well chosen. Oa the very second letter that was
t presented it appears the Duke of Sotomayor invited Sir H.
Bulwer to an interview, when Sir H. Bulwer gave his advice
, very cordially, and it was well received ; and even Nunez
himself admitted the justice of Sir Henry's views, and was
ready to conform to them as far as he could. It seems that
, when advice was presented to him in • proper form, he went
' so far as to say that he would abandon office, and let the pro.
gresistav come into power, with the provision, I think, that
they should adopt metered° opinions. (Great laughter.)
Siff: it is quite clear that Sir 11. Bulwer had the opportunity
of offering advice to the Spanish government, end
that it was taken in a kindly spirit, when offered in
the manner that true wisdom and policy dictated,—as
a friend speaking confidentially on affairs of state.
' Sir, I object to this resolution, because Ido not think it con-
sistent with justice. If there has been an error in the mode of
conducting this transaction, I do not think it would be just
to visit in so heavy a manner, with the censure of the House
ef Commons, the minister by whom these transactions have
been conducted under such difficult circumstances. I Mao
object to it, because the question is still pending as to the
reason of the dismissal of Sir llenry Bulwer in a manner
which. judging from these [epees, appears to me to be wholly
unjustified. (Hear, beer.) The passing of this resolution
would tend to weaken the authority of the government; it
would make us appear as partisans of the Spanish govern-
ment, and assailants of our own : and it would prejudice the
chance of a perfectly amicable and satisfactory settlement by
showing, at an eventful time that there was a material differ.
ence of opinion between the ministers of the crown and
the House of Comnenue (Hear, hear.) Sir, I will
not nut upon r, cord that my country is in •
humiliating position. (Hear, hear.) I will not take the first
part of a trinsactinn, and visit the conduct of those who have
been and are still engaged in it with censure. The period
at which the resolution is proposed is altogether premature.
(Hear, hear.) If the house is to express an opinion on this
matter, it would have been muck better to wait for the
whole of the reports and transactions, than to select the first
act of a complicated and unperformed drama, and take one
particular scene in that act, and visit it with censure, un•
mindful of the effect it may have upon the denouement of
the drama. (Hear, hear.) Upon these various grounds—
because I thick the motion premature—because 1 think the
conduct of the noble lord, the act of giving advice, as distin-
guished from the tone and manner of certain despatches, was
justifiable—(hear, bear)—because I think the penalty would
lie far too severe for the offence, for the heaviest penalty that
can be inflicted on a minister is the censure of the
House of Commons—because I think it unwise for this
house to pl ice upon record that the country is in a
humiliating position—(hear, hear)—because I believe that
such a record of our opinion would paralyse the executive
government, lead the Spanish government to entertain false
expectation., and place us in the situation of partisans of
that government, insead of impartial arbiters, with a na-
tural leaning in favour of our own,—licceuse I think that
the public interest will be affected by our affirming this re
solution, I shall, instead of staying away from the house
,which would perhaps have been justifiable, as I have hardly
read the second delivery of papers presented this day), give
that vote which certainly will not imply entire approbation
of the manner in which this core spundence has been con.
ducted,—l shall vote for passing to the committee of supply,
instead of affirming the resolution of the bun. and learned
member for Dorsetahire. (Cheers.)
Viscount PALMERSTON—Sir, I certainly commie in what
appears to me to be shams the general opinion, even in the
view of the hon. and learned member who has made this
motion, that the motion itself is premature and inexpedient.
(Hear, hear.) For while the hon. and learned member ex-
pressed a wish to vindicate the honour of the country, if it
should turn out to require vindication, he begins by propos-
ing to us to affirm that the country is in a state of humilia-
tion. That certainly is not the mode in which his object can
best be accomplished. If he finds fault with the tint part of
the transaction—the despatch which I wrote, and which was
communicated by Sir H. Bulwer to the Duke of Sotomayor
—to that his motion ought to have been directed, and upon
that ground I should have been prepared to defend myself,
as I now am. First of all, I will answer the question he put,
as to who was reeponsihle for the approval of Sir Henry's
conduct. Sir, I have no hesitation in us tuff that I and I alone
am responsible forevery aetof that kind, for the signification of
approval communicated from that department over which
preside ; and if the house be of opinion that that approba-
tion was improperly conveyed, and that Sir H. Batwer's
conduct ought to be censured, it is upon me, and me alone,
that that censure ought to fall. (Cheers.) Sir, I think no
censure is due for that approval ; because, in my opinioo,
Sir H. Bulwer acted according to the best of hi' judgment,
and exercised a proper discretion ; and I thick I was borne
out in giving him the approval which that despatch con-
veyed. (Hear, hear.) But I must add, that that despatch of
mine of the 16th of March was not for the purpose of being
communicated in writing to the Spanish government. Any
man who reads it will see that it was not so intended.
(Hear, hear.) First of all, the form is not that of the
draft of a note to be prevented to the Spanish go-
vernment ; had it been so there would have been
a greater development of views, and it would have
been written in a very different manner. (Hear,
hear.) However Livonian the sentences may appear to the