Star.
London, England, 1819-05-14 00:00:00

tics. Whatever tb warfare migtt be eall6d, he tan:
IW-el:tit the commencement of hostilities against the
peeple.of -South America, froth whogia:. this country
: -might ix peer nui mi ye. the greatest bettefits.— Hear).
;It was a measure which the British -people, in con-
tradistinction to the Government, would not only
view with the deepest regret, but totally disatipw,
and treat with every mark of honest indignation.
!Hecoulf not sit in a state of criminal silence. And,

suffer such an infringement of the•libertics of South
America without entering his protect. Under the
cover of Stue policy, it was an abominable attempt,
to impose upon the people of South America the ty-
ranny of the Government of Old Spain! —(Hcar, hcar.t
Lord CASTLEItEAGH said, that he had been
greatly delighted with the eloquence of the Honour-
able Membei, but regretted extremely the nature of
the language which he had used. It was any thing
but the-language of neutrality. It was our duty, his
Lordship-observed, to prevent an abuse from existing.
against that Power, with which we have many

portant and acknowledged relations. He desired to
put it to the feelings of the House, whether they
would estimate their duty by the degree of weakness
which might exist on the part of a friendly Power to
assert its rights?—(Hear.) If Spain bad power to sup-
port her demand, she would have a right to call for
the, introduction of a law similar to that which it was

now proposed to bring io and if her demand weer
not complied with, she would have a right to resent it,
Every one approved.of the Proclamation which had
last year been issued by • his Royal Highness the'
Prince Regent, requiring that a strict neutrality
:should be observed ;,but it was absurd to talk of,
neutrality, when a Foreign Power can shoat that;
Regiments are prepared, and Ships fitted out, from
'this country—(('Ties of Hear ! .flora the Opposition
side): He owed an apology to the House, aad to the
country, and to the world, in order to explain why
the Hill had not been brought forward before now.
The delay was occasioned by certain discussions
which had been goiag on respecting the dispute be.
tween Spain and her Colonies ; but these discussions

•
were now at an end. While the Common Law of.the

country applied so little to the presept situation, it
was too much for the Honourable and Learned Gen-

tleman to attack his Majesty's Government so much
on a subject of legislation, to which other countries,
equally interested in the result of the war carried on
between Spain and her Colonies, led the way. What
had the United States of North America done

tive to that war? _ Was it to be accounted unfair in

the Legislature of Great Britain to follow the ex-
ample of the United States? It was perfectly incon-
sistent w:th the general line of duty adopted by this
country, for it to sit longer quiet, and net to endea-
vour to prevent its subjects from joining the standarti
raised by Foreign Colonies against their Parent State.
It was prohibited to levy forces in this country in
favour of Spain, and why should it not also be pro-
hibited to levy them in favour of her Colonies ? His
Majesty's Government was desirous of fulfillinF, the
Treaty which had been entered into by Great Britain,
and which had been laid before the House, by fol-

lowing the principles of strict neutrality, in relation
to both countries. He felt himself, therefore, bound
to protest against the proposition of the Honourable
and Learned Gentleman, and he tberefore entreated
the House to protect the good faith and honour of
the country, which were solemnly pledged for the
fulfilment of•the Treaty.
• Mr. ELLICE said, that be notild' mat profess-eny
desire to maintain the neutrality AU iflaich the Noble
Lord was so very solicitous, as be had no hesitation
in avowing that be was a decided friend to the cause
land object of the people of'South Amerke.=(Lead.
trier of Hear, hears)--But he wished to know why
Ministers bad not sooner brought forward the mea-
lyure before the House? and also, whether they meant
to apply this measure to the ten thousand British
subjects already engaged in cooperating with the
people of South America ?' or to send out a fleet for
tlse purpose of taking the several British ships which
wore notoriously acting in the same cause?
Lord CASTLEREAGH observed, that the Hon.
Geetleman had no doubt spoken very plainly, but in
reply to his questions he had to state, that it was not
intended that the measure before the House should
be retrospective.
• Mr. G. LAMB maintained, that the spirit of the
measure before the House was decidedly contradic-
tory to the principles of neutrality which its authors
professed to revere; for if such a measure were adop-
ted, its effect must be to promote the restoration of
Spanish tyranny in South America—(//ear, hear.}—
It was an egregious error, he contended, to allege
that a measurrof this nature was in accordance wish
.the principle of the Statutes of George 11. for the ob•
ject of those Statutes notoriously was to prevent Bri-
tish subjetts from being engaged in hostility with the
43ritish Governments- But such was not the purpose.;
Of the Bill proposed by his Learned FrieodLthsti.
Bill had. indeed, a materially different object... He
admitted the right of the Governmeni to &event its
Subjects from enlisting in the service of-a Foreign
State without the permission of his Majesty; but he
most sensibly regretted to witness any disposition on
the part of the Government of this couatry, which
ought to be the principal guardian, as it had long
boasted of being the favourite abode; of Liberty, to
restrain any part of its population frdm becoming
the champions of that...sacred cause fOr which the
people of South America were so gallantly struggling
against the universally degraded, and fortutiately de-
crepid, Government of Spain-(Loud cheering.)
Mr. WYNN expressed his intention to support the
proposition. He thought the object of the measure,
should not be to the extent of the spirit of the Acts of
the 9th and i9th of Geo. 11. but to mitigate their se-
,verity. As the law now stood. the penalty was too
severe and inapplicable. These laws were passed
with the view of prevereing I foreign Power enlisting
soldiers in.these dominions. Was iethen fit that the
'law should thus be operative against Spain nad
France, at the same time that, it was open to the
agents of the South American Provinces to enlist
ttoop.this country?. It was notorious that sueat
,transactionsria took place—regiments were raised, and,
transports were fitted out in the rivet. Was proceed•
lags were very different in character from the; °fin.
4ividuals who, actuated by hoaourabile motives asoltgi
trusted, gave their services- to that. cause: It lees
impossible for any man who considered these circum•
stances, not to-feel that if the Government allowed
it, it would be a violation of neutralit y..--.( ficae,hear.„
rrons the Mixisterial Benays.) 1104grred.with,thpie