The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-05-29 00:00:00

SPANISH AMERICA.

Freeman's-court, esntilnll, May 26, 1819.
SIR—I am directed by the Committee, appointed
at a Meeting of Merchants, !Manufacturer., and
Shit► Owner., held at the George and Vulture
Tavern, on the (2241 instant, for the purpose of op-
posing the Rd I, brought into the [louse of Coin-
[none by his Msjesty's Attorney-General, called the
" Foreign E .listment Bill," to lay before you a
statement of the grounds nit which it appears to
them that this Bill is deeply interesting to the corn.
mercial interest at large, and especially to those
Merchants, Manufacturers. and Ship Owners, whose
views may have been directed towards au intercourse
with Spanish A inerica.

The 13.11 in question, although brought in under
the profession of maintaining neutrality on the part
of this country between S pain sod her Colonies,
will have the effect of restricting, by novel and ex-
traordinary legislative provisions, the intercourse
which has now, for many years, subsisted between
this country and those Colonies, to the great advan-
tage of both.
This measure, it is submitted, is quite uncalled
for by the existiiii, state of circuinstatsces : and not
only in its immediate operation, hut in its ultimate
consequences, may prove highly detrimental to that
more enlarged commercial Intercourse, which, from
past experience, way be reasonably looked for with
Spanish America, to an extent irerhaps not easy to
be calculated ; and capable, probably, of bene-
ficially occupying that large capital, now thriven by
the course of political eveuts front other chainiels.

The first consideration that appears to present
itself; is, whether the state of political relations be-
tween Great Britain and Spain imperatively calla
fur such it sacrifice on the part of this country. lei
the apprehension of the Committee no such demand
Call justly be made upon the British Government ;
and they trust to be tilde to thew to emivietioh, that
the pre►ervat►ou of the good faith 3tid integrity of
the country is perfectly compatible with the main-
tenance of the valuable interests which they con.
consider to be at stake in this question.
It is highly important, in order to obtain a right
view of the question. to trace, from the commence.
went, the hue of conduct wines Great Britain I►as
adopted towards Spanish Americo.
%Viols.' the inliabitaitts of these countries were
still subjected to the yoke of Spain, and she her.
self, under the control of France, was leagued
against England, every effort was made, under the
authority of the British Government, to foster the
discontents which prevailed, and to call forth, into
open resistance against the mother country, sill the
energies of that people. To encourage them to
attain their indepeodence, by the most vigorous
exertions, cud by the endurance of the greatest
autleritigt and privations, the Governors of the
Wert India Islands issued Proclamations, assuring
them of support and protection ; and ill the British
authorities in that quarter of the globe, whether
civil or military, openly espoused the cause of re.
bistance to Spain, as the following Proclamation,
issued by the Governor of Trinidad, and addressed
to the other Governors of the West Unlit Islands,
sill abundantly testify.

" Ry virtue of so official paper, which I, the Goversew of
this island ofTriiiidad, have received from the Right HMI.
Henry Hondas, Minister of his Britannic Majesty for Fo-
reign Affairs, dated 7th April, 1797, which I here pablish
in obedience to orders, and for the use which your Excel-
lencies may draw from its publication, iii order that you
nay communicate its (roma, which is literally as follovia:-..-
` The object which al present I desire most particularly to
recommend to your attention, is the means that might be
brat ad 'wed to liberate the people of the co iii itt mit near to
the island of Trinidad, from the oppre.sive and tyraiiiiic rye.
tern which supports, with so much rigour, the monopoly of
commerce, under the title of exclusive registers, which
their Government heel:ries demand; ski, to draw the greatest
advantages possible. and whit h the local situstiuh of the
presenta, by °prolog a direct and free communication
with the other pails of the world, without prejudice
io the commerce of the British nation. In order to fulfil
this intention with greater facility, it will be prudent fur
your Excellency to 211illlAte the ititialiitatits of Trinidad in
keeping ow the comnimiiralion which they had with those
of T. rra Firma, prrvions to the rerloctiou of Nut island;
tender the Boom:incr. 'lilt they will Mid there an eittrendt,
general mwtrazaite of every sort of goods wkale►er. (loss
roil, his BEII4IIIIIM slnjesty has determined iu (ouucil tu
grant ficrelom to the ports of Triuidad, with a direct trade
tu Grpat Bromine'

" With retool to the hope. you entertain of raising the
apiritsof those persona with whom you are in currrepondence„
lower& cu.ou.atiuE the inhabintias to resist the uppresiove
authority of their Government, I have little more to say, than
that they may he eel amt, that whenever they pre iu that dis-
posiihm, they may ri ceive at your hands all the vorcoura
to he ellyeetP4l from his Br tannic Mtije Ay, he it with forces
or with arms and ainmoniiiini, to any e%tenl; with the as-
sonant?, that the vu as of his Diatomic Majesty go nu fur.
they than to a. roil. 110 them thew ludo-prudence, without
preteurliug to any ‘lowerviruty over kith' ceautry, nor teen
to inierfrre in thr privltt at,. of the people, nor is their po-
litical, civil, or religious netts.
Timm AS PICTON, he. etc.
" Puerto de Espana, 4dili June, 1.707."
Nur slid the revolutions in Old Suain cause a
change its a poliq to emigrantl to the feelings of
the British ptilihc, and so ...ienefieial to the interests
of u grelt tomanrcial uutiou. It does out appee.,

that, up to tht ytair 1814, the Prier:tutAtom.. tir!ord
were revoked by n:ly tilithwity
noting truth :he British (:overtime, it, ur ihr !vo.
161'sei of support previously mud hol-ri.dt• ni lc.
publicly mitt legitimately retracti-d,

UDOOI life restorglion or Ferdinand In jli thrnO.
of Sprit .■ Treaty was made with that k ;
and by Ole ad4lliuual Artirle, burin: d.ce h
Angrn.t, 1814, it ern% .reintlaited *s
His Britannic Majesty lei4g •nciuns ills* the troubles
mad disturbances whir:. unfortunately prevail in flue ituni-
nionsof Majesty, its America, should enutely
cease, an 4 the subjects of dainie Priiviiscer alinui.l seinen i,ll
their obedience it, tlwir lawful Sovereign, PIIZ 14,4 to 1,49
the most effectual measures for prey-fsung his .uh;.•11. front
furnishing arms, sonsninnit ur any uther w.uhlcc *rude,
to the resti:Urd in Awing."

Now tir such a Treaty was reconcile:Ode in the
previous esigagrtnents r,f Greet liritito Unv,rrlr 11..•
South A m erica n Colo ,ies; how fir it wot
Isle with Knoll faith to abandon the rause of a
pie encouraged in resistance and Lost tlit:,• It) 6,1t.51i
promises; how far a repetitioss of the colonial ex-
CIU*I4III, c-rtaiii to arise from the reitittittment ui
Spanish &million in South America, could accord
with the cammerciai interetts of Great liri!aiii. it
it not fdr the C‘numittee to decide ; more iiiirticu-
lady, as it duet not appear that this •fre.tv bus ever
yet been discussed in Parttumeni, or reword its
sanction and approbation. . . _

It serum that it was laid nn the table of the
Home of Commons ou the 16th or Match. 1815.
hot that no motion for taking it tutu ~,,
was ever made, nor any limier taken ..r it Visiol it*
provivions were accidentally alluded to on the 19th
of March, 1817; and from that tilde to the pre-
sent no trace can he discovered of any 411*C11111011
upon it iii either House of Parliament.
Nlost certain it iv. that sin new leeislative mea.
saes nave been enacted u► consequence of that
Treaty, though nearly five years have elapsed since
its ratification.

It seems, therefore, somewhat ettraorditisty, that
at this late period the [louse of Consomme' el a lts
he called upon to pass fresh laws. which in their
operation cannot hut he restrictive of the iiitescourse
which has siow for five ytars subsisted between
Great Britain will S.,utll Americo, without tun-
!citation or isnpeacinuent by British atithotitc, It
would appear ilecessa•ily to follow, from ips demand
for additional power having been made for so tools
a time, that the laws in existence were fully adew
quote in enable his Majesty's Governritent to fitl.
oil their engagements with his Most Catholic Maw
jesty, and that the Treaty gave the Spanish Gower II •
anent nu title to claim an etcleg‘tois or the British
laws for its exclusive benefit. The truth is, that
his Majesty's Goyertituent neither did nor conliol
stipulate with the Sp mish Crown for sit 11:ierilii,111
of British laws ; that by a (41r intetpretatitio of chart
'Freely, all the Briti•lt iyernuisilt ca.. Lie called
upon to do is, to enforce Cie laws at that tiros ex-
isting, and to preserve by law, ess/4r as they are
enabled to du, strict neutrality. It will hardly he
maintained, that the laws of England ,re deficient
in arming their Government with sufficient power*
for the lawful enforcement of every Treaty; for it
will be found that, front the earliest periods of Bri-
tish history, the law has prescribed a punishment
for all who shall he found gushy of an infraction of
Treaties; that this-law has colitioued without di-
minution or additiou fur centuries pasts and it is
now, for the first time, that a
has been called upon to adopt more ligneous Into-
sures ; measurer too, of which at least tt may ho
said, that they are not on the side of r.tioinil
ty, but in direct furtherance of that oppressive
and tyranilic system, which supports, with so much
rigour, the monopoly of commerce."
It will be very diffirult to conctive what engeot
reasons can be adduced to reconcile it to the
of Commoner that this is a lit occasion fur such au
innovation,

It will be proper here to advert to one of the
principal reasomi assigned for the introduction of
this Bill. It has been said that the two Statute*
passed in the nine of George the Second, are not
applicable to South America, as in terms they arc
confined to reetlmived Governments wily, and that
it is but just to put 0111 Spain owl hor Colonic* nit
the same footilig. But first it may reasusiably
asked, are the supporters of this Bill willing os
place the contendiog parties on the same basis of
equality in all respects? will they stfard to theta is
they have done to the Spanish Goverisinein. coo-
voys for the protection of their Were 'dell*, slid
:Ile use of ships of war fur the cooveyance of their
treasure ? will they allow the Solidi (,:447
'mimeos to participate to the advantsge* iiieldeut
to recognised Governments ? If they are do
then other measure-a are necessary fur en the pie-.
Lent state of things they ale precluded from moo.
taming the rights belonging to Sushi;
and have been refused w our Cosine Ulr leliflleyma
appertaining to them ; if these air ar-
med them, with what justice can they mine :I::irrirrtl
of all the advantages. mud y. t Seljel:tra to all time
disadvantages ittetidaist own. recognised Gower's.:
tnetits ?

l'he injustice of such inoceediogs must be
elitsirest.

But et little further exstr.inatinn will 'thew !w,
unfounded this pieta-at fnr legit titans 'S'lu't :
in question were paired for at p,arittoi,ar
under peculiar citetilitislitlices—diid wan a iet)
ferent intention.
The first Statute w.ii enacted (twang the Rebel •
lion in 17.46, and the second n. 175 ti, for Slur stir.
pose of proteCtii.g the country iitoriNst the iirojoetion
and treason of its own 11111.a/II:aott, thilw
were conflicting artists to Ilse ; but it*
p.
plication to a tta,e of thus elorcli;ftion wro. sieve(
the coniteniplittun of the Leap,latatre woich .41.1,-
tioned it.
pretence is thare then. it assay be eSki-ift
to Call no the Ifoii%e of Common.. to Wron 1, asol.
(lien Original introit Statuits Made vitfro-t.,
'rudely disonnilar, or h. l revert tltetr pret:i.a.,, a
is state of thiuga In) totally said entirely thi4-1, ~t
S4iittiter taor which it is believed halo fenwiteit

m•iff

dead letter up to the present period. cod which. if
they bear unfairly upon either party in this matter,
may be expunged from the Statute Book ; the state
of things to which they were intended to apply
having lung since whnlly ceased to exist.
If then it should appear that past experience has
proved that the laws are not deficient in maintain-
ing relations of peace and amity between England
sad other States (and surely, if defect there were,
it must have become conspicuous in the lapse of so
many centurie.).. the further inquiry may he put as
to what peculiar claims tl►e Crown of Spain has
upon this country, to demand. for her particular
advantage, the enact►ne►►t of new measures, which
mope of our ancient Allies have ever ventured to

acquire.
It is, indeed, difficult to understand on what
grounds, either of obligation, policy, or interest,
such a requisition can be maiutained. It cannot be
in return for previous obligations conferred ; for
/Spain is still the debtor to Great Britain for the
=oat liberal expenditure of her resources in rescu-
ing that kingdom from •all the horrors of French
oppression. It cannot he in return for great com-
mercial advantages ; for no coinstry maintains a
more rigid monopoly ; in no European nation is
the commerce of Great Minnie less favoint.d—nor
indeed has that Power shewn more regard io the
other mu<t important interests of Great Britain ;
for scarcely is the sigtiature yet dry to that Tres.
ty, which has ceded to nor great commercial raval the
inestimable Provinces of the Floridas. The riKla of
Spain so to deal with her tereriorie-, it is not pre.-
sowed to dispute; but surely at the moment when
in the disposal of her poisessions she has strewn her-
self so reckless of British piustresity, new armour'r
on her part come with a very ill glace. Nor is this
all ; the deinolid has nut been made stroll Spain
has liberally armled herself of those very resources
of *lnch she seeks entirely to de prise the South
Americo,' Colocier. dt this err!, hour she fits is
her purls nut less that 36 sail of Briiirh rersels,
lithen up fur the es pees purpose of transporting her
troops to South America.
It so therefore submitted, that of all the 'rations
in amity with Great lien sin. Sp.itu is the least en-
tided to advance milicti
It will he proper now to advert to the policy of
adopting measures which will necessarily :Jot-nate
from Great Beitam the stfeceions and good wishes
Ut. the St.iitli Amei 'cane, and tenet to impede and
abridge that beneficial traffic which his hitheetu
beds I',l;'l{l.\l on between the two countries.
That these closeqiiences will he imvitable,
no
one acquainted with their relatite conditions cull
deny.*
Those atone who hive had inercanti!e experience,
can judge of the great facilsiy to trade which cor-
dial ty of feeling always produces. constaffily ce-
menting the hoods of 'minis, and opening fresh
avenues to more extended mercantile speculation.
Tier traffic at present carried COI a lib Spanish
America is far front incomnileratole, and it is daily
ibcreaisi!,g ; and unless checked by impolitic restsic-
lions fllll,l continue to incieame. The commercial
world home long cherished the liar, that the
toeirty-four millions of people stlilch inhabit those
extties've :old fertile regions, will, as they become
f‘ Leveel from the oppressive dominion of Spain,
expeuil a large part of their inexhaustible re-
sows,* its procuring from Great Britain those very
arterl-s of maclostadist which have long formed
the .taple manufacture of this country, and ..tford
in return a most ample supply of the pretious tue-
'ls, and other productions the most valuables
It is to bt h^pod that the British I...gislature will
not be easily induced to check a traffic so desirable,
our to extinguish holies which offer a fair prospect
of alfaelin4 the best and suiest relief to the com-
mercial thstrees of the country. I low urgent that
shstress is, it is tartness here to point out ; it is uu-
fmtinsittly too app irent both at home awl abroad;
nor less ru is the fact (swell known to the metcantele
world) that the British nie'cleant scarcely knows at
this 'eminent to what quarter of the world to direct
Isienstif, ill seeking profitable employment for
.his

capital.
Is this then the time, it may be confidently and
solemnly asked, when the commercial, manufactur-
ing, and shipping interests are contending with aug-
menting difficulties, and when the complaints of
the agricultural classes are beard on every side, to
excite the enmity of a great and enterprising peo-
ple, to hares and impede a profitable and increas-
ing branch of trade, arid destroy all expectation of
ultimately finding the most permanent and exteios
sive mart for British commodities, and employment
, for British shipping ? is this the time too, when
every vest. seems to increase the powerful means of
Great Britain's most formidable viral, to incur the
tisk of adding to her influence the alliance of a peo-
ple who may have reason to conclude, if the pro.
posed measure should be carried, that it is in Ame-
rica alone they can expect to find a just recognition
of their rights t
The Committee have thus endeavoured to set
forth the extreme impolicy of risking the good
uu-
dtrstuudiug at present 'ululating with South Ante-
Ilea, and the injuries which consequently threaten
the meictittile and shipping interests.
• But it is nut on this ground alone that the sub-
ject claims the attention of all classes.
It is a new sight to behold in a coute.t between
the oppriAisor and the oppressed, Great Blown
Like the lead of the nations of Europe, in rangi.ig
herself on the side of despotism. For centuries
has the Colonial Government of Spain been a
&lauding libel on civilised Europe and every
Englishman remembers with pride the conduct his
ancestor. pursued in aiding the United Provinces
to throw Of her insupportable yoke. Can any
reason he found why the councils of Great Britain
should now be guided by other poinciples„ or why
the cause of Spain should now lie espoused
the feelings, itichuatious, and interests of the %hole
empire ?
If in the time of James the First, and under
circurnstatices exactly similar, the application of
the Couit of. Spain for an thactment against the
Untied Provinces, similar to the one uow proposed,
was rejected by that arbitrary monarch, can any
cause be .tasigurd for the British Government now
pelshrig to such a regnisition ?
For the result of the coolest, there is room in-
deed to feel but little anxiety; the spirit of ra-
tional freedom will ultimately triumph timer all its
enemies; but who can witness without horror the
prolongation of a warfare sanguinary beyond de-
acriptsou, producing only an ostlers effusion of

blood, slid wasting the resources which Eight other.
wise be applied in cultivating the arts of peace. and
promoting • widely extended commerce to the
boundless improvement of the most fertile costa-
tries in the universe, and the greet and permanent
advantage of-all the civilised nations of the world ?
Groot Britain now stands .first in the affections of
South America. To her, from inclination and from
her capabilities, would fall the largest share of bene-
fit. By obeying she dictates of Ipain she may be
deprived of the good-will of South America, and all
these fair prospects of advantage be lost ; but
Spain will never more re-establish her sway over her
.oppressed and long-injured Colonists. The chain
which bound South America, stretched too forcibly
by the hand of tyranny, has given way, sad no
earthly power can again unite the links.
These several considerations, which are not in-
deed the whole that might be urged on this interest-
ing question, the Committee present to their com-
mercial brethren throughout the kingdom. as the
grounds of their opposition to the proposed law.
If they shall seem to you deserving of your sup-
port, they request the favour of your co-operation
in this opposition, by•your signing the Petition now
preparing to the House of Commons, against the
measure ; and by your employing your influence
with the Members of that lion. House, in support
of the prayer of it.
I have only to add, that the second reading of the
Bill is fixed for the 3d of June ; and that the Coin-
mitre will be happy to afford any information in
their power on this subject.
I am, Sir, your most obedient Servant,
J. I). POW LES,
Secretary to the Committee.