Star.
London, England, 1823-04-17 00:00:00

At. tfoctria4 irlatisi • ... _4.4 said; if firj one wenbfq ,-ere had even ettendeo this Aftifis ntadh.
- vnange of opiniore ebtae iebirnboe 10 to be derived by comnierte bt tlfede*my.l teetedirdC
,lotelsinee could auleebeemooedgfas to the Hdu. csinsiderations, if they were now to
Olattiethaas What was dieltauseiothinlewhea4he ,it WOW be saying at once to Femme wearepeopei
AM& doetrine was opetily ritaelied in that Maim to take a part in the war. -' - • :so
that these who expressed their indignation. at opines- j Sir R. WILSON said, be Would Conithe bind
Anti and foreign interference in ohe affairs of other I strictly to the question before the Wite; He eei.
nations, were responsible fbr all the evils attending '• sidered the Bill astinjust, imponat, aticrifegvaft.
wars of such crying injustice. He (Dr. L.) conceived lt was unjust, because it could never be btringht te;
that the repeal of the Foreign Enlistment Bill would ;operation withobt injury to the oppressed. ieliii
be no breach of our neutrality ; but he was bound to impolitic, because it was opposed to the independeo,
admit, that he believed it would be considered in' of other States, which independence would bestial*
France as an interference on our part. But what !guarantee of our own-.-and it was degrading, el
right would they have to complain of that which the : being a sacrifice of the principles of a free Stateia
British Parliament chose to do? If such a complaint : despotic authority (Hear, hear.) It had been observed,
were made, the Right Hon. Gentleman might and that the Government of Spain itself had origioatty
ought to answer, that they roust first shew him that called for this Bill, to facilitate the subjugation ,
such a step was a violation of • the law of nations- her colonies; but it should be recollected, chair ~
The Foreign Enlistment Bill had not only prevented' the despotic Government of Spain which called f
the purchase of ships, arms, and stores—it had not the enactment of the Bill, and it *as the Comae.
only prevented the enlistment of natives—but it bad tional Government that now hoped for its repeo
gone infinitely farther ; for it had made every Briton, (Hear, hear.) To observe a strict neutrality undo
who, for thirty years, bad served other countries, lia- the circumstances, would be as inconsistent with eta
ble to the penalties of this Statute on his return home. duty as prejudicial to Spain; while France was cep,
k therefore ought not to be allowed to exist any porting the Army of the Faith With the Swiss ex '
longer. During the last war we had the subjects of . and this was considered no breach of neutrality,
all countries in our Navy, and defended the practice ' while France called upon Austria and Russia teals.
according to the law and the example of all nations. nish their contingents, even this was considered b+l
Nor could it be considered as a breach of neutrality breach of neutrality (hear, hear.) The Hon. Memel"
to do so, for all nations had made a practice of ad- for Hertford (Mr. W. Lamb) had gone so far ad,
witting, in time of war, the subjects of neutral States state that subscriptions in favour of Spain would%
into their Armies and Navies. He knew of no reason a breach of neutrality. That Hon. Member, la dig
why the numbers who would quit this country would instance, uttered a sentiment which the Despetot
be other than a relief to the country. Besides nothing Russia had not dared to express (hear,hear) Hew
was more impolitic than this Foreign Enlistment more respect for public feeling than to to look
Bill, for it bad del)t iveo our merchants and manu- although he had declared himself hostile toil
facturers of the readiest markets for their-commodi- Greek Revolution, he had not dared to say that 4,
ties. This measure was brought about at the call of subscription entered into for the support of theca.
the Spanish Government, to assist in checkiag the of that afflicted but gallant people, was a breadsg
rising liberties of their American Colonies ; and now • neutrality. Yet the Hon. fleieber would air d
the measure fell with double severity on Spain itself. regard it as an offence which ought to be pu
He felt that he could not then satisfactorily discuss with Siberia or the knout (Ilear, hear.) He (Sr It
the Papers that had been laid before Parliament; but 'Wilson) had a further objection to the Bin, ,„,him
,at the same time he must say, that he could not arose from its being nugatory, though produotire if
agree in thinking the line of neutrality as the best great inconveniences. He meant nugatory, as to to
policy which we could pursue. He did not believe not being able to prevent officers and men faint gobs
that any one in that House, or scarcely in the court- out to the service of Foreign Powers, while it wie
try, could view the present aggression of France dered them subject to punishment on their retina
otherwise than with indignation and sorrow. If we Indeed, if it were executed, and the persons whoc.
pursued the line of neutralityrwe should be laying a (erred benefits on their country and mankind were
precedent in favour of an attack on our own liberties be punished and put under the ban of prescript.
when the opportunity should offer. If we entered they might suffer imprisonment, but they could
into this war, it would be ba principles of sound po- be disgraced: they were guilty of no crime, ad
licy, justice, and expediency. Whether France would without crime there could be no ground of shalooli,
be successful or not, he must be a bold man to ex- (Ifeardsear).—For his own part, he was fre
press an opinion, in a contest like this; but so far as applied to for his opinioreby persons anxious en
he could form an opinion, he thought we should go out to Spain, and he uniformly stated that
to war with greater advantage while the force of give them no advice; but he could only inform their
Spain was unbroken, as well as the spirit of her people. what, in such a case, he would be prepared to di
Portugal might be forced to go to war from a con- himself, He could say, • that if he believed that '
viction, that if Spain fell her fate would not be long either his services or his etatnple he could benefit
protracted; and then we were bound by treaty to cause of Spain, he would willingly subject him
make common cause with her. France would not to all the inconveniences of the Bin, and every roil
hesitate one instant in violating the neutrality of Por. who loved liberty would be prepared to say theinua
fugal, and making a conquest of her, if she saw it Those who did undertake that cause, would Ina
convenient for her own power and aggrandisement. the satisfaction of knowing that the day was asti
Eklievingin his conscience that we were in a situation distant, when England itself would give dates*
to ondertake a war, he thought-we ought to embolic her powerful assistance. It was impossiblethe yr*
in-it for the preservation of the peace of Europe. of England could long continue in a state of timid
Dr. PHILLIAIORE observed, that the law of 1819 and inglorious neutrality—(Hear, hear). Who
was in perfect unison with the acknowledged ancient the advocates of that neutrality ?-The awoke
law of the land, nor could we now repeal; it without liberty, who weteready to engage the country has
incurring a charge of gross partiality, if not a breach war for the subjUgation of Italy—(Cheers); thee*
of our neutrality. Lle differed with his Learned Inks of. Reform, who never gave a vote for the . •
Friend- as to the proper policy of this country, which There was another class who advocated newt • '
he (Dr. Phillimore) conceived ought to be a strict they were those who were known by theappel
' and baaafide neutrality. of economists; bet such men, with all their ing •
Mr. MARRYAT could not consent to repeal this of argument, saw darkly into futurity. ThteW,
Act, because it would be giying Spain a vast sups- but a dim vision of the events that were to brio"
riority over France; still he bnsidered this Bill as a they did not see that' we should be obliged at WO
violation of the liberty of the subject. If there were to engage in war with increased difficulties acrdlk
'no contest in Europe, he would be the first to wish creased expeaseotta account of our present maid.
this Act repealed, when it could give no offence to Such men Battered the people, when they toldthell
any other Power. He could not see what business .at a time when a dreadful policy was about Olio
'we had to mix ourselves in a contest to our own ruin tate-Fotuope, that. they could eat the bread of
and destruction. Could they forget that this very but he trusted the .people cif this country won , (
Cortes had endeavoured to ruin our trade, by im- submit to eat in peace the bread of humif
posing such heavy duties as nearly to amount to a shameo-( Near)—by remaining the passivend: ea
prohibition of oar produce and manufactures ? He rious spectators of the violation of the rightsof • '
was also somewhat surprised that this cry for war Mr. IF. GURNEY thought it would now be
arose in a quarter of the House which had formerly of the highest imprudence to repmd the Act, at •
called alond for peace, grudged the supplies for car- would be n g BARING would be the last man to vote ,
tion of taxation—alarr, hear). the repeal of thi law, if he thought that repeal .10'
Lord J. RUSSELL could not take the advice of involve the country in fear. Our Allies mast •
his Hon: Friend (Mr. Lamb) to trustin the discretion touchy indeed, if we could not ratan to the
and superior information of Ministers; for if he did. state of things. It would seem thin netwitkateasi
Its must. consider them as having acted., towards the law, several hundred seamen had left the Mgt*
Spain with singular bad faith, instead of being duped and thati fart 'hewed the law to •he inopentih* • A
by France, as be believed them to have been. In-. numbee of British Officers and seamen served isde
stead of having that confidence of the superior know- Russian Beets in the time of Catherine, bet ehetits..
ledge of the views of the French Government, he bee
,rupture was apprehended with Russia, they wend!
sieved that Government was endeavouring- to perr celled hoot* by Proclabation. The service IC.
Made the Spanish nation, that it they would abolish reign Powers was a good school for oar
the Cows, France and England•would assist them in ,time of peace at home. He was most antrum
recovering their American provinces: Instead of the eoostr7 should have the benefit of peso%
.enacting a law to prevent her subjects from assisting country was not to be told that the alteterithiff
foreign States, Queen Elizabeth allowed her people degradation or war. Whoever looked at the Pito
to gel in aid of the Protestant States of the Nether- on the table could discern *white!' earnesmeluas!
lands; and she defended that policy in a particular solution. He hod never read Papers with mello/8".
_.„,.
State Paper. She admitted that she herself had as- nor which cempmeided more the stational 110,1
. a
tasted them with grants of money to enable them to and honour. • - e6rr_t
resist their Sovereign, the King of Spain, though she Mr. C. WYNN denied all the eifittral,P
was at that time on terms of amity with him. She 'peal would be to place us in the same ' 4
defended this on the ground of the danger to herself which we had been before 1819. He
and States should be succeed in again establishing by the common law, it was a misdenseanniellit .
his power in the Netherlands, as he had recently done into the service of a foreign Power; but .
in Naples and Sicily. Let this Bill continue as long had not been acted
'upon For a century, a• d
as it might, the King of England could not repress ment had become necessary. Much Matey-
the generous feelings of his people from being ex- and danger would result to the internal e 1444
presied in behalf of a gallant and oppressed nation. country from the repeal of the Act. Had ' •
Let them then repeal the Bill, which he was con- ports, during the late wet with America, be*" I
winced was a step that could in no way compromise with privateers to cruise against our • • 1
' our neutrality: would not the walli of that Home bare ,
Mr. T. COURTENAY said, that the- assistance with complaints of her treacbery? Yet that
given, by the connivance of Queen Elizabeth, to the conduct which this country was sailed epees
le of the Netherlands, was very soon followed with regard to France. Oh this principled
y tenni war between her and Spain. We, however, lity, he cduld not conceive; how two. ' ' •
were not intending to go- to war, and. therefore the Englishmen' could pointy their Isyeseu stole v
repeal of this Bill would be a viotation of the strict breast,. Such'men, on their return sothsir po”
neutrality which we professed to maintain ; especially 'country, would be fit instruments foraay • •
'When it was known that the effect of the reseal °fob speaking upon this subject, he Iwo ii 1' oal
the Bill would be to benefit Spain alone. We, as ' minded of a charicter introduced by " The i
cite, t e Ily rg
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