The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-05-26 00:00:00

PASMA

• • •.‘ ,; ' ~;--15-7- .
whit hopes of liberty, religions qr civil, were to be ,
found in the conduct of the Allies? The Muse
was first 'called on for •streasurei of reiisitince•toeg.
gression; by which massy votes were gained : but
how it appeared too late to deliberate, and that Ave
%%ere at war. Call to mind the conduct of ._the
Allies, whose offences were now to be.slurred over,
and their character would not stand thitest of esami-
nation. Recollect the itivasion of Poland, the de.
struction of • its Government, and the scenes of
carnage and blood that ensued, and the march of the
Allies to play the same game in. France. They were
then combined to impose the Bourbons on France,
when the means of resistance were much less (omit!.
able than at present. The French armies were then
disorganized,- and there was civil war. It was said,
too, that they bad no money nor arms, and were in=
capable of resisting the powers of Europe. All this
was a mistake. At length, after France had risen to
its highest pitch, Bonaparte, by his own rashness and
precipitation, found his power overturned by those
who before were unable to meet him, and they (lid so
by refusing to be bound by Treaties they had made
with him. Could the same thing be the only cause
of oar with .him ? Was tint the name of the Bour-
bons formerly synonymous in this country with per-
fitly ? One historian, speaking of Louis XIV. said,
that he never wanted a pretence to break Treaties.—
The French Emperor and the other Sovereigns wire
much upon a par on this subject, end he was sorry•i
to say, that on the breaking the Peace of htttiim*,4
the grounds of war by this country were Trot placed
so as to justify us, as the Message to Parliament
stated what was not believed, that. armaments were
fitting out in the French ports with a view to the in-
• vasion of England. Again, we would not give up
. Malta ; but Bonaparte agreed to let us keep it for a
1 considerable time, and perhaps we might have kept it
forever. Previous to that, an almost unparalleled
crime had been committed in the murder of the
!French Ambassador at Rastadt, by Austrian hussars,
° though he 94 as there under AuStrian protection. All
rthe.crimes committed could not be impoted to Bona-
parte. At one time France wished to imitate our
Coustitutioe, by making a limited monarchy ;- but
the 'Allies were for reinstating the powers of the
Kings. of France, and by acting so, he believed they
-produced the catastrophe in which the sing lost his
head. 'They had hadatll sorts of Governments, and
I yet none of them could be found At 'to 'make peace
with. Wecomatelled.Fronee to become n great mill-
tar y nation,. *lid thence arose her successes ; bat
now, %Oen the .Colossus was overturned, and that
1 France wai less powerful than ever, all the ether
great Continental Powers were aggrandizing them-
! selves, artd.obtfterating smatter States, and handing
lover millions of people to different Goverttuienta.-:,—
• Saxony, the most enlightened part of G,qamany, and
entitled to respect., and which was well affected to
the mild Government of her Sovereign was, with- .
out regard to her or his rights, consigned over to.
i•Prossia.--Eiery small Power that bore a name
!alrt looked. like' freedom was obliterated.—
i.We went first to war to assist the Dutch about the
[opening of the Scheldt, and now we had done what
was most abhorrent to them, by placing them and*
a King, and of our own-malting. Was he the paa
It.
'lc choice? In fact, Bonaparte would from these cir-_
curnstances find alliances in Belgium, in Holland, in
Saxony, in Genoa, in Italy, and in Poland, if oppor-
tunity occurred to avail himself of them. In this
Totten state, all Europe saw declarations broken in
.the most shameless manner. The Fr.'nch might find
causes for supporting Bonaparte in our making him
necessary to them. If the Allies attacked France:for
the cause of the Bourbons, pretending it to be for the
sake of liberty, the French would do what we or ally
other invaded nation Would do,—they would put the
fittest person at the herd of their armies, and such he
belieren Bonaparte to be. If be had always some deep
riesign at the bottom, we might be doing for him what
he might not now be so well able to do for himself.
However great Bonaparte's abilities might be, it was
pusillanimous to say, that with our alliances, we ap-
prehended danger. We were giving to France a just
cause, And making it a point of honour by a menace;
but no great nation would yield to a menace. We
might lament our policy from day to day, while we
113;1 all the disadvantages of paying for the projects
of the despots on the Continent. lie could not pre- •
tend to prophecy on the events of war, but at any rate,
we should entail on ourselves incalculable burthens.
The people had certainly borne their burthens with
fortitude: but instead of beingio much alive to the li- :
berty of France, he should like to see Gentlemen a little
more alive to our own freedom, and.not fix on distant
objects while they neglected home. It was said that Bo- ,
naparte seized Spain, and established the worst of des-
petism. What had happened in Spain! Good God ! We
had engaged in treaties with her, which, if lint literally i
binding us to her freedom, leagued us with the Pa-
triots. We took them by the hand, praised their
valour, fought side by side with them for an object
common to English and Spaniards, had all their re-,
1 sources at command, and they submitted to au Fug-'
' fish Commander. flow did we perform our engage-
ments, such, at least, as they ought to have been ?
We abandoned them, and even gave money to the
odious and contemptible tyrant Ferdinand VII., to
subvert the Constitution, and he had persecuted the
Patriots, one of whom was even denied refuge in
au English fortress. There must be some reason for
going to war, because amu individual is testured in
France. Bonaparte did a just and magnanimous
thin„ in throwing hir.lself into France, through which
he marched, the King having possession of the Go-
vernment and the National Guards, and yet not able
to get a few thousand melt to take Bonaparte, when
lie might have taken him, and justly executed him as—
[Hear, hear, hear!i—lle did not understand these
cheers. They might allude to what lie had said ; but,
however, the Noble Lord hod described Bonaparte
as the independent Sovereign of Elba. It was said
rather ludicrously that he invaded France ; but if an
independent Sovereign, and if the Treaty was broken
with him, he might make open war. The war now
entered upon seemed perfectly unnecessary ; but the
Right Hon. Gent. said .we mast, soon have it disad-
vantageously. Little reliance, it appeared, could in'
general be placed on treaties ; but we ought rather
to vely oq our defetraive treaties, if we did not be-
lien& our Allies faithless. The conquest of France
was absurd, and war for the Bourbons ridiculous.
Ha would rather depend on Austria, Russia, and
Prussia, for their mutual iuthrests in keeping their

(unite
i
! es. ~ , ver sinceKlig IYllliim's reign, when we ei.); iand certain stipulations determined on In the t7o e,s at 'Via
their resources
. jai tialatalningtotitelliitreanibt )211414
Lot 'lou. Mich into Centinental• politics, it was one third !sledging the Contracting Notes not to lay
Aix that, Belgium should belong to some great down their arms, but by common consent, nor te•fore.ere amen
! eittsfr capattle of defeudine it t such , Was Austria ; of the ear, designa ed iu the Erse Ar ,cic of the 'T'
liotirm,dhai:::: rte. hall have been . 0,,,_
redberniattaulea ; nor rev, snail
bAt. itt *or had taken it for an upstart King, who to rhance, and 10 palest/ea
C I fj maintain himself, 'bet wouict throw the attreeintlits9°lourteplueThhigleiitf'sountseriti
hat.his3ohli:7locCtier:iSt:lPric6ryietnlMNl:ta.iipja,:.:l.-yeworiooto,7}d-f.„..Fie,,"
b tt it pp us., lie believed' Olii. Military, des o. ti
cedAncliat:te
oe:hglieTth
reainvivi:
.in:
the Treaty ; and requiring hint to wale, in the. event a! tOs tic-
,li ' ill t once wet more Watling -tcs tie Foreign
- ,
Powers thee a fire Constitution, end perhaps was so ltim to bring forward :ii furtherance of the grand object].
also to our Govertupent. Believing that every people ' After h • , having read, this, continued, Mr. Pelisse
had a right t h the' Government,
tee oose sr own he was- surely no man in the House could duebt - tha
neither for forcing liberty
nor deipotain on France, t
they voted for the Address of the Noble Lord
by .war; and vrishing to avoid a ear on such !grin-. -s
would be bound to approve of, and to
ciplc of interfefence be shouldvote for the Amend- •
.. , , the stipulations ugteed co ewd signed qethe Cons,
ment. ' iof Vienna? :Many of those stipulations they
The lion. Mr: LAW thought it was impossible ' nacquatnted with ; for, though they were signed,
at preeen a t-tn make peace without the prospect of u the Noble Lord refused to communicate AhiNge---'
long and disastrous war. 'the si
.. as., he conceived, at Some u •they them f
present to be both just and wecessary,- though the for one, entirely condemned them. Would
chance of success was evidently doubtful. The Hun. House beright in- '
Member concluded speech,lik by h • that the '
. hoping,
.batton on that part of. the proceedings of Cougreley
Allies, who had the same feelings, the same motives, which the Noble Lord
and the same iiitereits would stand firm,and ' '
(13w46.11?
fit
Ii"
r prose- . approve of the up of Goma to the King et
cute the ear with vigour. ; Sardinia ?—[l./earr hear !I—Woul4l
..they Ny. co,
Me. C. W. WYNNE could not really exactly of the giving• u•p of Saurus, eltogether, or its puff
find out on which side the ilonoUrable Gentleman to 'the of P • ?-4//
King tissue oar, beer 1)--W'
intended to give his vote. Ile conceived it abso - they prepared to approve of that part, of the'
!utter necessary to preserve the 'Mance of all the ' ceedings, of which they were ignorais dite
greaepowers of FArope, and tosle this we must re- . which perhaps handed Polandower to Russia; or nt.
maitrut war. To our entering into hostilities there cognised
some other acesspelly_eejetre ItKiglitY-Trou
!•werisastlytrbjectlons, the first, and chief ofwhich • • was, politic, and equally oppreeshe, as tboso, 4,whisals
with they e. that we had no right or authority to interfere•
,re apprised ?-11/e.er,,AoF.9—itat kivitAel.
France. But, if this were to be allowed—if, when tteman imagine, that, in Reties fir 144-414109111, .1'
a man or a Government assumad tyrannical and did not express his
overhearing power, he were not to be interfered tallied in the stipulations, alluded to in the Treaty
with in France, the same thing might be said of it was clear, from what he T
had •
tread,
that, echo!'
Belgium, the same thing of every other obnoxi- • gave his suffrage in favour of the Address, he at
ous and overbearing Power. He could not con.. * same moment declared
ilia
approval qf those acts
ceivo tiny thing so absurd. There was not a Congress which were known,l as
owe If as of those
volume of history which. was not. full of the inter- 'which he was ignorant. If • •at any future time an 7
Terence of 'otie Government with another, and fee- divid lua , who had voted for the Address, wished to
quently with just interferences. . Where was there a stale his disapprobation of the acts of Congress,
more lawful, a more . justifiable, or a more necee. i would be the answer? Ministers would irruntelii
sary case than the present ?—Would it not preserve : say, ".You, and the House, ley voting in favour
this country, arid all Europe from, being embroiled in : the Address, declared
a
a constant and ruinous war ? That House had not to i Treatyi—which recognised the identical proceeffiegs
decide between peace and .war, but between war, i‘ you now reprobate; a d n „ awn you, can undo th
and a
.peare worse than. war. Another most tremen- 1 Treaty, you are uselessly employed in ladling agilir
deers objection to our going, to- war was the nutne. 1.. it." The most material' part of tl •us Treaty was
roes, the brave, and the enthusiastic battalions of shy which the Contrectiug Patties bound themss
Itspoleon. He himself much doubted if these bat- ids make war upon France, •for the purpose of
isaions existed any where bat on paper! To the for. !stroying the power of. Bonaperie—Aud by which
mer objection or theinterference of a foreign Power, they entered into an engagement, never to i-
he opposed William lll.'s interference in assisting to ]down their, arms, but by common -consent, tie'
dive Jeer 11. from the throwhof England. He con-1 alliance, sed until the object. for which they unit,
eluded by strenuously suppOrting Lord Castlereagh's . was accomplished. His Hon. Friend who spoke
.hlonion, and hoping that we should sufficiently re- : last, seemed to think that this was the wisest neared
gruel the honour of our country to make no peace iof policy that could be pursued. He Dowered/
.wititAlonapaste. . . I think, that there, was something it; the very, ne.orte
Mr. PONSOMBY said, he certainly never rose of Bonaparte's power, so inimicel to our safety,s4h4l
ustd4 the operation of such painful emotions 'or. : the moment he returned to Prance, hot does p
ally' former question, as he felt on the present oc- '4iise of conduct remained for our adoption.-4
~
casion; becaust; in.voting as he should do, lie was mediate preparation for. war. Certainly, ;if
compelled to differ from those, and particularly , was sotnethisog in the character of Bonaparte.,
from a flight Hosiouenble Friend (Mr: Grattan), the nature of his power, that rendered war Wet'
‘4O-1111Psteegetly spokesei with whom Ire had been its his Honourable e'siend's argument, was CorreptsWe
the habil of feting, d uri tie-the whole caseate .4.4 ,II !..9italt9t -the0.10.4.40,0364die5ai-Wers trrt4,
lonetornicolitfe. It we's eeitisi-His poWer;•trfter, the time of comareacing hostilities. Now, be.viae.
moat careful and exact consideration of this im- reie of those persons who Meant to deny, that A •
•portant subject, to brine his mind to adopt that coarse couatry had' a just cause of wAr againstiZrence...
of policy, which his Majesty's Ministers recom- .; Strictly 'peaking, the viotatiOn of the Treaty of Ride
mended to the House, and which his Right liotiOur:. and of Foutainbleau did cornititue e cause •of,Wareise
able Friend had so powerfully and so eloquently , One of the copeiderations which itineeedithe AU
supported. If Ministers had depended' entirely on to give better terms to)Fratice, than they wowld.hastip
themselves, for the display and defence of their ,clone, bad they treated with Bonaparte Rat; titlistis*
own measures, it would not have been very difficult fated, andicatioo of that persotsaad:thehnetatatary
to encounter them. But lie felt it almint impossible • inference( With, that Jhey exPected ihta, as to
In combat the eloquence of his Right Honour/we : base 4044101 d on the throne arf • Frjati ...did
Friend, and to oppose that voice, which-had hitherto :not deny that they had a right to espeCtt.thisT:
been always exerted in proclaiming sentiments •sii. ;_neithet• alititive- mean to complain of the Ipvinci.
tnilar to his own. The question before the House pie, ins imolai point of view, on which . therm*.
now was, whether they would sanction, by their :ceeded,to wise; but lie objected to thc:expldieney
vote, the.coisduct of • those Ministers who had signed of
the Course which was about to be edopted, • afact,
the l'reaty of 'Vienna—whether the House would he thooglit, a much better line of *conduct might
declare an approbation
_of all the articles of that be pursued. The character of Borseparte,,•it -
Treaty ?. For,. it .was in vain to argue, that the argued, rendered it impossible to ',treat
' Address now proposed did not bind diem to main- him. As lo.Ohe perfidy .of Bonaparte being
tali all the stipulations and engagements entered good restore /or not treating with him, 'lie should
into at the 'Congress of Vienna—to carry on only observe,. that, if we acted always owthe pried*
war against France,
,for the purpose of destroy-' pie of refusing the assistance of those 'Sovereigns
ing th Government of Bonaparte, and of plac- i who had acted faithlessly, there was nob one of 0-
,
mg the Bourbons on the Throne—and never to lay powers with whom we were now in alliance,
1 down our arms till that object was necomplish- !whom we would not have-been in a state of Isola
ech—The Noble Lord lied that night told the !—{ !leer, hear!}—There was not one of them,
(louse, that, for a considerable time past, this ticulurly Russia and Austria, that was not in pollees
country was in a state of war. From the. state- , slot of advantages obtained by arts as perfidious
ment of the Noble Lord, it appeared, that from : any of those ever made use of by Bonaparte. What
the moment Botraparte•hed violated the Treaty of was the conduct of the Empress Catharine towi
Fontainbleau, and returned to France—from that Poland ? At the very moment, when her troops •
moment was this errantry 'engaged in war. If the marching to distnQrihtr that unfortunate country
Noble Lord had made this'discovery at the time tie' wrote a letter with her own hand (one of
first heard of the escape of Bonaparte, he was very autographs to which the Noble Lord attached .
niggardly in stating the circumstance to the House value) to the King of Poland, declaring her Intl
—lllear, hear !j—for a lien he (Mr. Ponsoisby) tires of preserving the independence of his territorief.
put a question to the Noble Lord as to our rely-' This she did, at the time her troops were marchi'
lions, he was answered, " That we were not in a' to take possession of that ill-fated kingdom. Su,
state of war."—And when the former Address was Bonaparte never was implicated in a more perft,'
moved, the Noble Lord declared, 66 that it hound transaction.—[ Ikar, hear, hear !]-.- The Right
us neither to war nor peace— that the alternative re- Gentleman still farther exemplified his propot
mained perfectly open to the House—and that all by adverting to the,scandalous conduct of Aut
the Address pledged us to was, a state 'of prepare- who, haring joined a coalition against France, '
tion."— But now the Noble Lord informed them, she found herself unable to continue the contest
that this country had been in a state of warfare ceitted-pertniaslon from France to seize nn the.
ever since Bonaparte landed in France. Ile had also cient Republic of Venice, for which, in rett
stated to the Heusel that dips° - who were the France was suffered to annex the Low Countries .
most averse to the proceedings which had taken her territories. At a later period, *ben the Treaty
place in Congress, might safely yote for the Ad. of Pori, was concluded, Europe Was told that the
dress, without binding themselves to an approval Allied Sovereigns would restore all the ardent Go.
of those prOceedings, Fie (Nlr. Ponsonby) appre. verttmeists. And how did they art? They destroyed
headed, that any Gentlemen who that night voted the Republic of Gent:). They wentstill farther. In
s
for the Address, and who, at any future time ex spite of the remonstrances of those Saxon Generals
pressed a wish to manifest his hostility to the pro-
and soldiers, whose exertions turned the fortune
of the they at :Leipsie, their native country was turn,
ceedings in the Congress, might very justly be met
;
by the Noble Lord e its the observation, that he ed over to Prussia. And the Noble Lord him.
was precluded, by the vote he gave on this occa-
self eaid,•that he had ne sort of objection, moral or
sion, irons passing any censure on those
proceedings. political, to the trarder, which he conceived to be
'
a proper punishment for the King of .Saxony—and.
lie was not fond, in cases of this kind, of orcupv-
ill the House by reading extracts; but he was a measure likely to have a. very stlutaryellect on'
isinOr Germon-States. This 'was the cosaloct r
still le* fond, where important points note iir dis-
sued at Coogrese. This was the.mowdert the N.
pute, by trusting to his own ntemnry ; he should,
thereforel take the liberty of reading to the House Lord now called on the House of ali;ornmore
. ,
the nutria wbieti the Noble Lord desired theni to Csigland to sinctron. But it was seiti,,ll If
approve
will not make tsar on him, he will certainly wsaimi
:
on
r mr, Pmssonhy here read Articles I. ill. and Vitt' of the war you ; cad it is better that pin should silt
Treniy of Vienna. The ars: bioding thc Couttactii‘g ratite,- to the time, than lease it to Mr." This, how'

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