Star.
London, England, 1819-06-24 00:00:00

,ion, by -an Honourable and Learaled Gentle.
(Sir James Mackintosh), of whose speech,
say with the Poet, that it was
As rapid, as deep, and as brilliant a tide
As ever bon freedom aloft on Its wave!"

all necessary purposes, he conceived that the
ion law was sufficient ; and he really could not
iy they should have recourse to certain unpre--
qited, unconstitutional, and uncalled-for provi•
, which were contained in that Bill. One
invested the lowest Officers of the State—Cus-
rouse Officers, with a discretionary, power
.timg persons, not merely before the commission
offence, but on a bare presumption. This Bill.
brought in at a time, too, when the revision of
penal laws was under consideration, aided by a
in whom zeal was tempered by prudence,-feel-
regulated by judgment, and perseverance and
laity rendered still more brilliant by his talents.--
tin, he contended, was bound to know the nature
our constitution ; but the whole argument on the.
side proceeded on the error of confounding in-
with injustice. Spain had as good a right to
upon us to alter any other law—to restrain
instance the freedom of debate in that House,
case such freedom might prove injurious to her.
wilier he examined the question on grounds of jus-
or of interest, whether he regarded the present
are as one of fear or of favour, he was equally
loss to find a justification for it. He would beg
refer the House to that periodkof history when
Elizabeth, whose government was a model of
. and diplomatic policy, was induced to assist
people of Holland in their struggle against the
any of Spain. Philip H. remonstrate and she
ithdrew all national assistance, but at the same time
'vely refused to prohibit her subjects from volun-
engaging in the same cause She made this
at a time when her own subjects were divided
actions, when the country was threatened by ex-
danger, and when the consequence of the refusal
,to offend the most powerful monarch in Europe.
might be a subject for fine periods to urge that we
'e to weakness what we would not give to strength,
he did not think the argument good for any other
Q. The principle of liberty was of a diffusive
communicative nature ; it taught those who were
possession cf freedom so to appreciate it as to
deem it good policy to extend it to others, because,
by such an extension it became consolidated and se-
wed wherever it previously existed. Although a
to legitimate government, be thought it would
for its own interest to correct abuses, when they
grievous and intolerable to the subject. A
useful and memorable examples had taught a
lesson both to princes and to people: to the
that there could be no assurance of impu-
for misrule ; to the latter, that while they were
born to be slaves by any unhappy fatality, they
ight to be cautious how they innovated or over-
-led existing institutions. Tereturn, however, to
question more immediately before them, he must
- that the sole object of the present measure
I to him to be a sacrifice of justice for no
ier reason than because this sacrifice would be pre-
licial our interests--(Hear, hear).
Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN assured the noose,
it was not his intention to trespass on its atten-
for more than a very few minutes. There were
from the Merchants of London lying on
the table, to which he did not think sufficient consi-
deration had been paid. On the question of 'neutra-
lity he should 'say nothing, after the ample discussion
which it had undergone, and because he considered
that the common law was sufficient to provide for it.
The Act of George H. was justifiable upon a prin-
ciple of self-defence, but here no such ground could
be alleged. The only question now was, whether we
were bound by Treaty to the adoption of this mea-
sure? Had Spain fulfilled her obligations arising
out of it with regard to the commercial intercourse
between the two countries ? So far was this from the
fact, that.her prohibitory laws had been revived, and
to that extent the Treaty had been violated on her
part. This was a consideration which had not been
adverted to, he believed, by any preceding speaker.
The allegations contained in the Petitions upon this
subject had not been controverted or denied. On
other occasions it was usual to consult the feelings
ald opinions of commercial men. In fact, Ministers
had never contemplated any great job, without making
an appeal to the Merchants and Citizens of London.
(A laugh.) He recollected a great Meeting in Mer-
chant-Tailors'-hall, followed by another in Grocers'
Hall (a laugh), on the subject of the Bank Restric-
tion. When the war broke out in Spain, it was
thought necessary to have a dinner, in order to rouse
a spirit favourable to its support. He believed the
price of the tickets was not. less than four guineas
each--(A laugh.) One of the toasts which, were drank
on that occasion, was, " Our brave associates in li-
berty and arms,".alluding to the Spanish people. It
was not just thus to work upon the feelings of the
public at one moment, and to despise them at ano-
ther. Thousands of individuals had freely poured
out their blood in the contest which followed those
Meetings and toasts ; but he -was sorry to say that our
Allies, the Spanish Patriots themselves, in Old Spain,
had been disgracefully abandoned. He did not wish
to dwell upon the commercial interests of the coun-
try, though it -could hardly be denied that they, re.
quired protection when not militating against justice;
or general policy. • To overlook those interests at a
moment when they were so crippled, and fresh bur-
dens were about to be imposed, looked like a volun-
tary surrender of them. He trusted that, however
attached a majority of the House might be to the
Ministers, it would not, under the circumstances of
our present situation, sanction a measure so injurious
and so unnecessary.
Dr. PHILLIMORE hoped the result of the contest
would be the emancipation of the Colonies. But the

juestion was, were we not compelled to the observ-
ance of solemn compacts, and the maintenance of
national faith and honour ? He was of opinion that
the worthy Alderman (Mr.Waithman) had his lenti-
l') ents insensibly biassed by the considerations of self-
interest. The authority of Bynkenhoem in favour of
the principle of the Bill seemed to him irresistible.—
Be believed that writer's own opinion was, that
troops might be levied in neutral States, without a
breach of neutrality ; but then he limited his reason-
ings to a State simpliciter amicus, distinguishing the
Later from a confederates. The Honourable and
Learned Gentleman then argued at length, that in
common sense, reason, and justice, Great Britain was
closely confederated With Spain by the Treaty sped-

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