Star.
London, England, 1830-05-21 00:00:00

FORGEIT.

Mr. DAVENPORT presented a pct ton from Sbaft s
apinst the punishment of death for forgery.
Sir K. PEEL was understood to state that he would Introduce a
billon the law of forgery on Monday, that he trusted wuulJ met t
with general approbation.

PRINTING PETITIONS.
Mr. E. DAVENPORT presented a petition from Mr. Clint, of
Cloud'sley-square, lalington. against branch banks, anti the system
of emigration, and for a reform of parliament. To slew the at ins
of that parish he mentioned that there were in it 2 30t1 haute, un-
inhabited. He moved that this petition he printed.
Sir IL PEEL trusted that the printing of an individual's petition
would not be enforced ; the expense of ti.e printing would be pin ativ
increased by encouraging such a practice. Where petitions were
from large bodies the practice was proper enough.
Mr. E. DAVENPORT pressed his motion.
The Gallery was cleared tor a division, but none took place, the
motion for printing having been withdrawn. On our re-adiision,
Sir IL PEEL was noticing a petition, presented play 14, Cum
lan individual named Ryan, which tended to thraw some ridicule ou
the proceedings of the house ; and the printing of that petition cyst
six guineas. They ought to take some warning from that fact.
Mr. Alderman WA ITIIMAN agreed in the Iropriety of such
remarks. The practice tended to bring petitioning into ridicule._
Members ought to exercise their discretion, and not to mote fur the
printing of useless petitions.
Sir M. W. RIDLEY spoke of this expense, and also annplained
of the printing of almost every return laid before the house. That
morning, for instance, a return had been delivered to nientbera occu-
pying 260 folio pages, respecting " Hindoo Widows," about 170
pages of which were the names of persona who had suffered. The
subject was interesting to some few particular individuals, but ought
that extensire hook therefore to have been printed ?
Sir K. !'LEI, said, by application to Mr. Spiller, their lArarian,
he would always tell any member what tamitation was be for the
house, and whether new inforiewion was required. or
printing anew returns was rucp:irttl.
Mr. 111.131 E observed that it was impossible to know what to do ;
sometimes they were not to discuss petitions; at other times th.•
petitions were not 0 be printed : if that were to be the tsar, how
were the inembets and the public to know what were the corm tits of
the petitions ? As to the II intloo widows, but for the returns that
had bean made at diffetent times to that house, did they believe tt.at
the cruel practice would have been so seriously check.tl at. it liad
been ?—(Hear.) IVhen that house squandered thousands and trim
of thousands on other matters that were really useless, or worse than
useless to the country, lie thought they ought not to grudge the few
pounds expended on petitions, even if some foolish or unnecessary
ones were printed. They were useful generally, although the lan-
guage might not always be " in good taste."
Sir 11. PEEL said, he did not object to the printing or petitions,
only to the printing of trash, such as was contained in Mr. Ryan's
petition.
Mr. O'CONNELL observed that he knew Mr. Ryan, and Imes-
him to be a sensible man, though, to be sure, there were some ex .
ceptionable passages in his petition ; but the petition was on an
important subject—the Grand Jury system of Ireland.
Mr. C. WYNN said, they ought neither to print trash, nor the
essays of individuals ; members ought to exercise more discretion
on the subject.
Mr. HUME observed, that he had presented Mr. Ryan's pcti-
don— (Much laughter.) The petition complained of the grand jury
system, and the petitioner, he understood, was a very sensible met..
He would not defend the taste of every part of the petition, but he
would read it again—(A laugh.) If the Home Secretary wombd
pay more attention to the sense titan to the nonsense of the ptti-
tions. he would much nee usefully discharge his duty towards tl•tt
public.
The conversation 114 dropped.
Mr. BARING presented a petition from Thetford, against the
clause in the Sale of Beer Bill, which world empower beer to
consumed on the pre ices where purchased.

MEXICO AND SPAIX.
Mr. HUSKIS§ON rose to present a petition from merchants i
Liverpool engaged in trade with Mexico. It was similar ro pet ition
thathad already been presented from Glasgow and 51anclicster, and
it was one of the greatest importance to the mercantile interest
The petitioners prayed for the adoption of flier:sures to protect the
trade—to prevent the harrauing attacks oh the Fart of Spain on
Mexico from Cuba, and to urge upon Spain the recognition of the
independence of Mexico. He thought this country would be justified
in compelling the suspension of the hostile attacks from Cuba ; but
he doubted how far the ministers would be justified in calling en
Spain to recognise the independence of Mexico. But as to the first
point, however, he had no doubt that they would be justified by
what this country had already done in compelling the suspension,
the interruption of those hostile attacks on Alexico.—(hear, hear.)
The history of many of the transactions were well known to many
hon. members; they had already been mentioned in that house. At
one time (1825) Cubs was threatened by Mexico, and successfully,
according to Mr. Clay and the American authorities; and but for
America and this country, he believed that Cuba would would not
have been preserved to the Spanish monarchy. The character of the
expedition formed at Mexico against Cuba was no secret, nor
the object of it ; but its progress sae interrupted by England
and America, on the ground that it would prejudicially disturb
Cuba, and on the understanding that it tot be trance were
strewn, It would place this country in a better situation to urge
reconciliation between Spain and her ancient colonies. There
was no minute of the transaction preserved in Mr. Canning's
office of the promises made to Mexico, if forbearance were shewn—
' but he was persuaded such was the result, and the cause of the
transactions of that period. Ile lamented here to have to notice a
I rumour, or belief, that was very extended, that England was ashamed
lof het new connections--but he would not believe that it had any
foundation in truth ; he felt that this country, which had been so
I instrumental in calling the new states into existence, still felt anxiety
foe the welfare of those states. But he was rather digressing front
ithe subject. The Mexicans abandoned any attack upon Cuba, in
consequence of our interference ; and they In return now only
I sought a fair reciprocity of good feeling. During the last four
years Spain was doing all she could to attack her former col°.
aces, and in the month of August last an expedition was fitted
out from Cuba against Mexico, and he wished to ask if our go.
vernment was aware of the object of that expedition ? lie was quite
sure, under every circumstance which had conic to his knowledge,
that we had not acted with a strict and undeviating neutrality be-
tween the belligerent parties. The expedition, however, sailed and
landed, and ultimately were obliged to abandon Mexico, under
such terms as the Mexicans thought proper to admit. It must be
the wish of all maritime countries, and of England in particular,
that Cuba should not be made the point of attack upon Mexico
or Colombia. la order to be impartial, we should place Spain
as we formerly placed Mexico. and issue the same interdict
now against Spain, which in l8'2( we had issued as against die
Mexicans and Colombians. In the course of renewed hostilities
between there powers, the tables might be turned, and in such att
event England might be at fault. This he wished to avoid, and
whether they looked to the interests of Spain, of Mexico, of hu-
manity, or our commerce, aggression should be avoided against
Cuba. The law of nations, founded upon common sense, should
require of Spain the cessation of hostilities. For the last seven
years Spain had not a single toot-hold in Mexico or Colombia ;
seven years was the average duration of war ; but for twenty-one
years had the war continued between the new States and Spain.
Seven years ago, even Monsieur de Polignac, together with the
Government, declared the war to behopeless; and the Laws of
Nations also declared that a hopeless war should pot be eon.
tinued to gratify the spite of say individual, even if the Com.
merce of Nations did not require it should be put an end to.
In the case of Greece we had properly interfered to prevent a coml.
nuance of war . • treaties were signed to prevent it ; and was it to be
endured that Spain should carry on an interminable war against the
new Republics? If false pride or a mistaken dignity induced Spain
Ito continue the war, the period had at least elapsed when a seven
years' neutrality should not be further continued. It was our duty
to take care that the Mexicans and the Colombians should be enabled
to maintain their independence ; and further, we At uld not allow
the United States to have possession of an eaten of sea coast
which would give her a greater degue of prepord .ranee that,
she already enjoyed. She was almost in possession of the Gulf
of Mexics, and it was notorious that she already cast an tee
upon the ports of Mexico in the Pacific, and New California.
These were not mere visionary speculations. He believed there
was a friendly Zisposition between the United States and this court-
try ; he firmly believed there was a great degree of confidence he.
tae b these two great powers • but still it was our duty to look at
die contingencies which might arrive in the course of events. We
acted upon this policy with regime to the states of the old world,
and less caution should not be olutered with regard to the new. in
1783 the United States were first ialysgnised ; in 1790 a war took
niece as to the Noetka Saud; and they claimed from Spain the
free navigation of all her seas. The gable member here re.
(erred to a letter from ?Jr. &Arson, August the 9d, 1790,
to their minister at Madrid; and of tl.Btb of the same month, to
theft Ambassador at Paris, to the ere .t .ttut the Cession of the Flo.
das would be eecemary for the ban& Americh. Howes, Oreat
Britain and Spain soon rraxmiled their diffheences 1 the ermietiettary