The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-28 00:00:00

consequence? Why, that two years had elapsed, the Legion'
had returned, and where, he asked, were the 10,000 or 12,000
British troops ? They were annihilated.—( Cheers.) How
stood the Carlists on the day the affair of Hernani took place ?
Why, they had 35,000 men assembled, under a single
leader, and in one district of Spain, to operate against the
united forces of England and of the Queen of Spain.—
(Cheers.) He made this statement on the authority of Co-
lonel Humphreys, as able and as gallant an officer as any who
served in the Legion, and who, moreover, was himself pre-
sent in that action. This was the result of the interference of
her Majesty's Government.—(Cheers.) The Noble Lo rd
might, perhaps, say he had miscalculated—he had been ig-
norant as to the real feeling of the Spanish people—but if be
should adopt any such course why, then, he (Mr. Pemberton)
would have a right to say that there were grounds for serious
complaint against the Noble Lord for having permitted 10,000
British troops to embark for Spain without sufficient informa-
tion or knowledge of the real state of affairs in that country.—
(Cheers.) The Hon. Gentleman who spoke last said that if her
Majesty's present Government were answerable for the line of
conduct which they had adopted the Duke of Wellington was
equally so, inasmuch as he had pursued the same policy when he
was in office. Did the Hon. Gentleman consider that there was
no difference between making treaties and fairly and honouree
ably fulfilling them? Did the Hon. Gentleman suppose for
a single moment that it was the duty of a Minister—that it
was competent for him on his own individual opinion—to de-
part from the faith established by treaties, not on the part of
the Government but of the nation ?—( Cheers.) Of the effect
of the treaty of the 22d of April, 1834, all he could say was,
that he could not understand how any question could be raised
on that subject. He had heard with surprise the doctrines
advocated by some Hon. Members that night, who seemed to
justify the interference in the present case by a reference to
circumstances under which the Hessians were engages by this
country. Were not these mercenaries, he begged leave to ask,
ready to sell their swords to Protestants or Catholics, or to
people or sovereigns? Were they not content to take pay
from that party who would give them the highest reward for
their services, without any reference whatever to the case ?
( Cheer a.) It was said this country had an interest in the pa-
cification of Spain. Why this country was just as much inte-
rested in the pacification of every other country as of Spain.
—( Cheers.) But it was said that it was to support liberal
institutions in Spain that the service was rendered. Was that
any justification ? Suppose America had adopted a similar
course in the case of Canada, what would hare been thought
of it ?—(Loud cheers.) It had of late been very much the
fashion in that House to refer to the example of France, and
to quote the conduct of the French Government as an autho-
rity. But what, he asked, was the opinion as to this treaty in
France ? Did Louis Philippe do as the Government of this
country had done? Did he repeal existing laws to interfere
in a foreign contest? No, he did not.—( Cheers ) Why
could they not be content to leave the Spaniards to decide for
themselves the question as to their own Government ? That
guestion would hare been settled by the party preponderating
in numbers, weight, property, and influence, without foreign
aid. And of what consequence was it to the people of Eng-
land, he should like to know, whether the Government of
Spain was more or less liberal and enlightened than that of
tkis country ?—( Cheers.) Whether the Secretary for Foreign
Affairs was less liberal with respect to treaties than the Noble
Lord opposite, or the Home Secretary had notions concerning
Church property more strict, than those entertained by the
Noble Lord, the Member for Stroud ?—( Laughter, and cries
of " Oh, oh.") The war was to be deeply regretted, but al-
though they might smile at the ignorant simplicity of the
Basques for not grasping at a paper Constitution for the bless-
ings they enjoyed under their charters—although they might
sneer at them for not preferring modern to ancient institutions
—still he must be permitted to say that he did not deem such
things a sufficient cause for devastating towns and villages,
and trampling down the last sparks iu the only province of
Spain in which anything like liberty had existed for cen-
turies. —( Cheers. )
Mr. SHEIL considered the present motion uncalled for,
and thought it unfair of the Honourable Gentlemen opposite
to represent the interference of her Majesty's Government
rr the Quadruple Treaty of Alliance as unjustifiable.
He would ask the question whether or not it was so of the
Noble Lord opposite who had been a member of Lord Grey's
Government.
Lord STANLEY—But not of Lord Melbourne's.—(Loud
cheers from the Opposition benches.)
Mr. S HEIL—No, but who would be of the Duke of Wel.
lingtcn's Government, althc ugh he had given the Duke of
Wellington advice with respect to his foreign policy, when he
was about to send an Ambassador to St. Petersburgh.—
( Cheers from the Ministerial benches, answered by ironical
cheers and laughter from the Opposition side of the House. )
Ile adverted to the conduct of the Noble Lord because he had
interrupted him.—( Laughter.) When the Duke of Welling-
ton assumed tho seals of the Foreign Office, almost his first
step was to appoint Lord Londonderry as Ambassador to the
Court of Russia, although he had been known to declare that
Don Carlos was King of Spain, and to denounce the Quad-
ruple Treaty of Alliance of the 22d of April, 1834. What
did the Noble Lord the Member for North Lancashire
do on this ? Why, he got up in his place, and said
that the appointment of Lord Londonderry was a most
discreditable one.—( Hear, and cheers from the Ministerial
benches.) He (Mr. Sheil) had made a motion respectiag the
nrpointment of Lord Londonderry, but he must say tkat
he thought Lord Londonderry possessed a frank and manly
nature that would disdain concealing what he was, or resorting
to expedient to promote the success of a cause to which he
was only avowedly hostile. What had Lord Londonderry said
when speaking of the Auxiliary Legion ? Why, his words
were—' They are my brother-soldiers, and therefore I will
not utter one word against them.'—( Cheers.) But pass from
this topic, he would revert back to the treaty, and ask what
was meant by it if not interference ? He u ished the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman who spoke last had told them what
interference was before the 22d of April 1834—before the
Noble Lord the Member for North Lancashire left the
thimble-riggers.—( Cries of " August, not April.") He
held the document in his hand, and he relied on it. The
additional articles ho knew were entered into in August,
but the original treaty was :Treed to in April. The
original treaty recited that it was desirable to produce
peace in Spain, and maintain the cause of the Queen.
These were paramount objects of that treaty, and England
was to give the assistance of a naval force, and France con-
tracted to afford other aid.—( Cries of " No, no," and " read,
read.") The Hon. and Learned Gentleman read a pas-
sage from the treaty, and said that, should he have fallen into
any error on the subject, he would leave the Noble Lord to
set him right, for, if he were guilty of omission, he could only
a,sure them that it was not intentional. Now who was the
First Lord of the Admiralty at that time ?—(Cheers.) They
knew perfectly well who was Secretary for the Coloeies. It
could not ho forgotten that the First 'Lord of the Admiralty
had been charged by the Tories of that day with having sanc-
tioned Admiral Napier in going out to Portugal. Without
averting further to the interference of 1834 and 1838. he
would ask what the Duke of Wellington had done when be was
in office? Why he had sent out hostile arms and ammunition
to Spain, and yet the Duke of Wellington was praised vile
others were blamed. He charged the Whigs of 1834 with
being parties to the treaty ; but he should pass on the speech
of the Noble Lord, a skilful and benevolent diplomatist, to
whom this delicate notice was intrusted. He begged to
apologise for having interrupted the Noble Lord e. but he did
so merely in his eagerness to ascertain how the Noble Lord
came by the letter he read from a Carlist officer, and
its date ? Did the Noble Lord receive it direct from Estella
lie was still curious to know this, inasmuch as the Noble
Lord had declared that he conceived the Durango Decree had
been violated. This was an important admission, because it
went to show that those of their fellow-citizens, who had been
to death under it, had been barbarously murdered. From the
beginning to the end of these discussions, not a word had been
uttered which showed that the Hon. Gentlemen opposite
wished to see liberal institutions established in the Peninsula.
This was a fact, and they ought honestly to confess it. He
had heard the Noble Lord blamed for not resisting the
wrongs of Russia. Where was the diplomatist who took such
a warm interest in the affairs of Cracow ? But even then the
Noble Lord was accused, where he had no blame. The wrongs
done by Russia occured in 1828, when the Duke of Welling-
ton was at the head of affairs, Russia fell upon Turkey. Did
the Duke of Wellington interfere? No, he surrendered our
ancient ally to Russia. In 1828, when Varna was relieved,
much might have been done, before Russia could have brought
her force to any head. Poland was in arms—a diversion
might have been effected then. But, no—nothing was done,
Spain,_op of
Spain,o hH Powers
er saN
o:Enneahnart
rg:eroycalehhar
en.
wsdo)doaf
us t
twnhhhp arehdoosacßfptnot
Fiir amrr
thenaec
ndans
ot
eeepwals
pnf
:cod: interfered--suppose ehe
MartinezdWda stoH Would
Henry
nu
would
and the Czar was triumphant. Suppose that, in the case of
(
oyPnldost
the
then
despotismtehae Fifthbecome pre-
claimedb Alliedeestablished over Spain, over France—every part of Europe ?
Tdeheisaeßoorsiaginal
articles were drawn up with a view to establish the Queen of
be-
came Prime Minister. They must now follow the progress
of events. The moment the treaty was signed Carlos, who
was in Portugal, advanced into Spain, and proclaimed himself
and the Inquisition together.—(Cheers.) Well, additional
articles were executed. Was there nothing to call for them ?
What was to be done? Was the treaty to be a dead letter,
or to be carried into substantial operation ? The additional
articles was on the eve of being signed when our late
Gracious Sovereign, conceiving that the then Adminis-
tration should be in-nrned, sent for the Duke of Wellington.
But he was not the man to Carry the treaty into effect, so he
delegated it to the opposer of the Reform Bill—the corrector
of all proved abuses. He carried it into effect by doing that
prevent,
should it was the object of the present motion to
should he again come into office. Then came the Eliot Con-
vention—a noble one on the score of humanity, but England,
when she interfered for humanity, owed also sonic interference-
for liberty. Most people discussed the subject as if only
auxiliaries
sending
Duke
treated
ofe
i hna
dbe a ngsplendid
to
com-
pared ni-
p
English auxiliaries were sent to Spain, but there were French
auxiliaries also ; and he would boldly assert, that if the honour
of England was
starnished'most rigorously
Wellington. by t
nt e
The
re
Spain, France had incurred a community of degradation. His
Gallantar
ed to the Duke
Pr i e n dwa
of
army, equipped at a vast expence—its equipment formed a
very large item in the National Debt.—( Hear, bear, hear.)
This army was set up as a standard, and his Gallant Friend
was tried by this severe test. Why, a parcel of documents
had been sent to him, to prove that the Duke cf Wellington's
army had sustained sickness and reverses ; but he threw them
away, beeause his was not the small hand that would at-
tempt to snatch a feather from the plume with which Fame
h..:a decked the hero's casque ; or his the breath to tarnish
the lustre of the shield on which she had embossed impe-
rishable renown.—(Cheers.) His Gallant Friend, perhaps,
bad had recourse to harsh measures ; but what was he to do ?
They should mak* some allowance forrthe peculiar circum-
stances in which he was placed. They had also spoken of