Star.
London, England, 1815-02-14 00:00:00

THE PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

Mr. WHITBREAD said, that notwithstanding
the apparent resolution of the Gentlemen who repre-
sented the Administration in that House, to maintain
their dignity, to evince their discretion, or to conceal
their ignorance, by a pertinacious siletree respecting
the proceedings of Congress —notwithstanding the de-
clared purpose of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
not to answer any question upon that subject until
the return of our negociator, by whom that Right
Honourable Gentleman promised that a most satis-
factor:), explanation would be given upon all possible
topics, he still thought it his duty to call the attention
of the House to this very interesting subject. Still
he felt it expedient to trace the conduct and march of
our negociator, upon points of vital importance to
the honour and interest of this country—to the gene.
ral repose and future security of Europe. That this
negociator had, in concert with our Allies, engaged
in the unholy Congress at Vienna, departed aloge-
tiler in practice from the principles which they not
long since so loudly and so proudly professed, he had
no hesitation in asserting ; for there was already but
too much evidence before the world to justify the
,charge--A concurrence of, well-founded, information
from various parts of Europe, left, unfortunately, no
doubt of this fact. The unjust design upon Saxony
was now matter of indisputable notoriety ; and the
authenticity of Prince Repnin's Proclamation at
Dresden, transferring that coanuy to the dominion
of Prussia, could be no longer questioned. Yet, at
the time that Proclamation became known in *the
country, it woad be recollected that the well-informed
Minister of that House expressed doubts upon the
subject, although it was now ascertained that ourNeble
Negotiator had actually put his signature to a paper
authorising the transfer of S ixony to Prussia, and of
course sanctioning the Proclamation of Prince Rep-
nin. Nry, although the RiBht Honourable Gentle-
man expressed his disbelief, or even horror at the
idea, that any English Minister should assent to such'
a measure, our Negotiator was actually a party to it.'
For this peoeeeding, however, it would appear, that
either our negociator had, not the authority of his
Government, or that, in consequence of the public ,
feeling excited by the transaction, that Governarent
was impelled to change his instructions ; and accord-
ingly the Noble Lord was directed to present a protest
against the annexation of Saxony to Prussia. But
whether the Noble Lord actel without instruction:
in the first instance, or received contradictory instruc-
nom afterwards, it so happened that Saxony was stil
in the possession of Prussia. He did not presuMe tr
ask any explanation upon this subjects pop did' he ex•



pitt say: But dig Elise was before the *sentry and
Europe, which mad decide upon its merits, and
ppon the principles of those with whom it origiciated
p—upon whose conduct in fact it was impossible to
reflect without astonishment and indignation. For
they who had been for so many years appealing to
the opinion of mankind against the abuse of power ;
they who had been so loudly invoking the aid of hu-
manity and justice, and every sacred principle against
the Emperor of France ; they who had been so ac-
tively exciting all hearts and *ll hands against that
power which was now no more, were in their present
unhallowed proceedings, only to be found imitating,
or even eclipsing the worst acts of that power. Who
then could review such infamous conduct without
shame, remorse, and regret ? The cause of proceed-
ing designed and pursued with respect to Italy, under
the sanction of Congress, was but too well known to
those who had any opportunity of information, as
well as to those who are suffering. In that country,
after a pompous promise, but a short time since of
establishing Italian independence, such scenes were
acting as must revolt the feelings of every man who
had any regard for humanity, justice, and truth.—
Yes, Italian independence was exhibited on the stan-
dards, and promulgated in the proclamations of our
commander upon his first entrance into that country.
By such means Lord William Bentinck endeavoured
to excite the Italian people to co-operate against the
late Governor of France. Here the Hen. Gentle-
man read to the House the proclamation of Lord
William Bentinek, dated March 14, 1814, and issued
upon his landing in Tuscany. This proclamation
invited the Italians to arms, and strongly exhorted.
the Italian army to co-operate for the recovery of
their rights by shaking off a foreign yoke, and for the
re-establishment of their national independence, which
alone our Commander professed to have in view, and
to which he pledged the good faith of Great Britain,
referring for the support of that faith to the ezameles
of our conduct towards Portugal, Spain, Sicily, and
Holland. But how was this pompous profession acted
upon ? How was the word of promise kept to the Ita-
lians? The Hon. Member then adverted to a Procla-
mation issued by Lord W. Bentinck, when he took
possession of Genoa in April 1814, in which, among
other things, the Genoese were promised that their an-
cient Constitution should be restored to them. If ever
there was a declaration issued by one cowry, which
pledged it to the maintenance of the independence of
another, it was that which he bad now alluded m.
but what were the facts as they had actually occurred?
The sth of January, 1815, was the day fixed for re-
storing the Genoese to all those Constitutional rights
and privileges of which they had so long been de-
prived ; but, a few days previously to that date, they
were informed by a special messenger, who was sent
from Congress with the black and inhuman declare.
Lion, that they were not to be independent, that all
the declarations made by the Allied Powers at Paris
were hollow and superficial, and that they acre to
be the first victims at that shrine of spoliation and
dismemberment, which those Powers had erected.'
On the 2a3th of December General Dalrymple)
wtio commanded at Genoa, announced the same
melancholy fact. No pretence, not even the shadow
of one, WAS offered for these proceedings. Un-
like, in that, the conduct of revolutionary France,
whose principles the Allied Sovereigns seemed to be
emulous of imitating. France, when she seized upon
any State, at lease endeavoured to palliate or justify
her conduct, by telling the people she invaded, that
their Government was corrupt, that they groaned
beneath the yoke of tyranny, and-that she came, in
the spirit of fraternity, to liberate them from their
thraldom. There was certainly no fraternity in the
conduct of the Allied Powers towards Genoa, but he
supposed it might be thought not inconsistent with
fraternity. In the Proclamation which General Dal-
rymple put forth, he did nut attempt to tell the
Genoese that their Government was a bad one, or
that they were unhappy under it. No; on the con-
trary, he dwelt upon its excellence, and commended
the regular and correct behaviour of the inhabitants;
and yet, coupled with that admission, they were told
that they had been consigned over to the Crown of
Sardinia. Was there ever any conduct so disgrace-
ful and unfeeling ? And under what authority did
General Dalrymple act ? By the orders of his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent. He wished to see the
detestable mandate Oat thus empowered General
Dalrymple ; he wished to know in what words it
was couched; he wished to know by whom the
Prince Regent had been advised to issue an order
for overthrowing the independence of an ancient
and a free State ; and by whom it was signed ?-
-After the disclosure of facts like those, Ministers
might, if they pleased, continue in their threatened
silence; they might still wait till the return of Lord
Castlereagh, and- the House might be forced to wait
for the same event, before it could know whether
there was such a document in the Foreign Office, but
would venture to affirm, that not all the Powers on
earth assembled in Congress had the legitimate right
to place Genoa under the dominion of Sardinia; and
lie hoped the people of the world would assert their
rights against combination of usurping Powers, air
they had lately successfully dope against a single
Power which aimed at universal dominion. He was
astonished how the word guarantee could have found
its way into such a Proclamation as General Dal-
rymple's, when k was, in itself, the grossest violation
of a guarantee that had ever occurred. Now, were
those things which he had stated, true br false ?
Would the Ministers deny them? Would they :hew the
order that had been sent out; or would they shelter
themselves in silence, and not presume to off, r a de.
fence of a transaction, which, on the face of it, 1 )niced
so odious, so abominable, and so disgusting ? I .e t Lhem
do so if they chose. Theirs would be the aha, te; and
perhaps it was less shameless not to attempt a deence;
silence would be their only palliative. But what was
likely to be the effect of that conduct in Italy ?
the Genoese received the intelligence of their degra-
dation in that way which most strongly marked
their feelings, according to those who best under-
, stand the Italian character. No exclamations, no me-
naces, no indignation escaped them; they heard their
fate in silence—a silence which proved that they only
waited for the opportunity of avenging themselves,
and he sincerely hoped they would be able to do so.—
[he conduct of Austria in Italy had been most ex
traordinary. She took possession of that country
conditionally, in consequence of a s:irulation entered
into with the late Viceroy ; a person now spoken of
with enthusiasm by all classes of Italians) as one

whom character for honour and fidelity was not to be
swayed by
external circumstances. They believed
that he would not falsify his promises, though the
Powers with whom be negoeiated had falsified their!
General Bellegarde took possession of Italy under
.that stipulation, in the name of the Allies, not in the
name of Austria. But what had been the domineer-
ing conduct of Austria ? She had seized upon the
fortresses of that country, aid demanded to march
an army into Turin. This demand, Sardinia, to
whom we had en.rusted the protection of Genoa, was
so weak that she could not resist it. By the Treaty
of Paris; Austria was to be put in possession only of
such territories as had belonged to her before that
.convulsion which shook the whole of Europe. But she
had seized on Venice, on Lucca, and on the Milanese.
before the proper time ; and let it be remember
that we were paying our contingent by suppo: t.t .
75.000 troops on the Continent, fir the protection •
defence of States, not for their dation and dismen
berment. Austria had taken possession of those cour.
tries which never did nor never could rightfully belorg
to her. And what was her conduct in them ? They
were harassed by exactions, by imposts, and arrests.
These were the first practical results of those fine
fords which the Allied Sovereigns had put forth at
Paris: this was the fruit of that tree of salvation
which was to replace the tree of liberty. Austti.
vtai detested throughout the whole of Italy ; she had
always been disliked; she was now hated, because
she was now more severe, arbitrary, and oppressive.
I •
the had arrested persons whom she had no power or
unthority to bring to trial; and exercised a degree
of jealous vigilance more odious than the Inquisition
itself., Such had been the conduct of Austria in
Italy ; and he hoped, against tech conduct, every
power in Europe, where liberty of opinion existed, as
thank God, it still did here,- would protest. It was
a most wicked and a most disgraceful policy ; and
notwithstanding what bad happened to Saxony, and
to Genoa, he trusted there was still enough of Brt.
tisb feeling in the Cabinet of this country, even con-
stituted as it wet, to interpose in the behalf of these
unhappy persons, a duty which he earnestly implored
them to perform. There were ocher subjects also, coa.
owed with the proceedings of C,lngress to which he
wished to allude, Before the recess, he had asked some
questions respecting Belgium. Ministers now knew the
state of the fortresses and defences of that country.—
Were we to be at the expence of putting them inw
repair ; as well as of completing another absurd plan
he had heard of, that of erecting entrenched camps
in the intermediate spaces ? In ht.; opinion, the better
way to secure Belgium, would be to give the people
something like a Constitution and a Government to
fight for, and there would then be no occasion for
those fortresses and camps. In all times, those de-
voted countries had been the arena in
Powers of the Continent hard content
was the moment, if they were to _
Dutch, to make them strong by giving
stitutional liberty. which would sect
than art.ficial defences, and without n,
in a few years, become the scene of
knew not whether what he had said
any reply from the Ministers ; he dn,
that it would ; but if what he had asserted,
uncontradicted, he should continue to
formation carrect, and in the eyes of
themselves, would be considered as

(Hear, hear,frota the Ministerial Beaches.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXC.;
4s Sir, I hope this House will excuse
mean to pursue, when it reflects for
the propriety or justice,of preferring
a Member in his absence.—(Loud
from the Members around him.)
home
doubt most probably now on his way home
doubt not, be ready to meet every
be urged against him. The Hon. Gentleman
Whitbread) will not be disappointed
him no answer. The course he had
unparliamentary ; and, were it only
cannot feel disposed to encourage it.'
Mr. PONSONBY.—" Mr. Speaker-
understand by this declaration on
Right Hon. Gentleman who has y
Since he does not choose to contradict
stated by my Honourable Friend,
rissd to conclude that it is impossible
fend it ? Was the transfer of Genc
false ? Nothing is replied. Mr. 3peal
you would yourself cast your eyes ov
which the Right Hon. Gentlemat
fairly what you think of the present
and his colleagues ? I wish you wool
Cher you feel most inclined to pity or
(Cries of Hear, and Laughs.) Will
Gentleman deny the proclamation
rymple, or the proceedings of Lord
uncle ? These things, however, are
are not even repelled ; and I, therefore,
the Right Hon. Gentleman does not
because he cannot justify them. Mr.:
nothing more to say—(A laag4)-1
beggar all description ; and I am
a. man in the kingdom that ever expo
name of England so disgraced."
Mr. WHITBREAD, in reply
of the Exchequer, said that he had
Castlereagh as a Member of the Got
hear.) —And the Government who
rections to him ought to be arraigned
bunal of the world. He arraigned '
out contradictory instructions to Lord
as being a party to the spoliation
party to the dismemberment of hal
The Honourable Member was pt
upon some other topics, when he war
and the Speaker reminded him that
only into an explanation.
Lord PROBY rose to request
upon a subject which had come to
He bad been informed that there vs(
still serving in the Spanish armies;
aiding by their situation, in the pros
measures of the Spanish Government
so generally reprobated. fie was
whether the fact was so, and whether
ceiving British pay under any denor
The CHANCELLOR of the
said there would be no objection to
formation acquired by the Noble Ltir,
move for it. He believed there were
Miters still serving in the Spanish
A Lord rROISY sht.irtly atter mot

~.

a
a
le

. .
fubjects also, coa- tl
greys to which he (
le had asked some
ters now knew the si
rf that country.—
string them into 1
other absurd plan c
ntrenched camps
pinion, the better t:
o give the people 11
wi
V
s Government to 1.
eno occasion for i '..
times, those de- 2:
n c Web the great ) c
ended ; but now re.
0
be permanently ; r
ving them a eon- t
cure them better
%trial they would, I t
of invasion. lie a
would call forth k I
did not anticipate
awned, remained I,
f •
to believe his in- 1
(the world, they, rl 1
as adopting it.— c
thee.) r
EXCHEQUER. .1. e.
cuss the course 4 '".
r one moment on .c
g a charge against "
f. r
ud cries or fifer,
My Noble Friend 2
S t C
Imme ; and will, I ij
ry charge that can ' t
Gentleman (Mr. a
ed in my giving ;
ad taken is quite ; t
y on that score, I i
t.e, l
iker, what am Ito
n the part of the I
just sat down ?—,
dict what has been ,
, am I not authir
We for him to de.
10.1 true, or was it t
ieaker, I wish that • 1
over the bench Oa
1
In sits, and tell us i
it situation of him 1 t
nild say, Sir, whe-
or condemn them. 1
11 the Right Hon. i
of General Daly 1
ird William Ben-
: not denied—they t
ore, conclude, that
of please to speak,
Li. Speaker, I have . I
—the transactions l' ;
I sure there is not ,
expected to see the . 1
1
to the Chancellor ~.;
lad charged Lord
GOVernMeat (hear, 1
) sent out such di. 1
rcietdhein before
as
sendingthet ir i -
rord Castlereagh—,
iof Saxony--as a A, '
sly.
froceeding to touch
ras called to order ;
hut he could enter
1
some information
to his knowledge. , 1
acre Britishofficers .
s ; and, be feared, • f i
tosecution of those Jr
eat which had been • ,
s anxious to know
:ther they were re- •
tomination I ,
r EXCHEQUER 4
to granting the in. . I
Lord, of he wonld
were a few British
Ii armies. I
loved tor a RCM= I

bf the names of any British Officers nov strvinA io
spanish army, together with an account of the
the
pay and appointments received by theta from this
country, so far as the same could be made out.
.After a few words from Mr. BAUM/J. Ilse question
was then carried, and the Committee postponed till
Wednesday.
mr. TIERNEY wished to know whether it was
the intention of Ministers to lay the Treaty of Chau-
mont upon the tablet The substance of that treaty
had already been communicated to the House, but
is was ^t so much importance to know the precise
wording of the articles, that he hoped they would not
be 0 ;t:l„ew. On a former occasion, an objection to,
producing the Treaty was stated to exist in its ratifi-
cation not having been exchanged..
''he CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, there was not the slighest wish on the part of the
(;ONTAMCIII to withhold the treaty in question ; but
be believed all, the necessary documents had not
)ec an ived in t4.caawitry.
.
Mr. BENNET rude some inquiries respecting the
Treaty or Tread's entered into by this country with
skill, and.hoped there would be no objection to the
production of thim?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, they were already hairs the House.
The bank Loao Ast !sal committed, whet). offer
a few words from .thithancellor of the Exchequer
and Sir John Newport. the. House mesumeds ,And,
leave was given to 'bring in a Bill to uaend thA 0,4,
Sir SAhIUEL ROMILLY presented a Natio%
from the inbabitaats of the Borough-4E44=44
against the Property Tax.
'Fhe other Orders of the Danrinitassi,
of, when the House Adj0urne4,....,,,.