The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-02-05 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN

where was the nation wherein, both with the Government
and people, and the name of England was not held in de-
testation? She was necessarily hated by the Govern-
ments of Europe, as the only nation wherein that liberty
of the press existed, which, if not destroyed itself, must
eventually destroy their tyranny; and equally hated by
all other nations, because, in every instance of a struggle
for liberty—whether in France, from the commencement
of her Revolution, or latterly in South America, in Greece,
in Italy, or in Spain—the British Government had inva-
riably opposed it. Thus England, through the system of
its Min'sters, was the enemy of the human race ; and
whilst the Iti4ht Hon. Gentleman had been exhibiting
himself about the kingdom, trumpettitig in all directions
the praises of himself and colleagues, there was not a na-
tion but abhorred them, not a power in Europe that was
not pledged to destroy the liberties of the country com-
mitted to their hands. And after all his fine speeches,
what, in fact, had been the measures of the Right Hon.
Gentleman to oppose France and the Holy Alliance up to
the total destruction of Spanish liberty by the fall of Ca-
diz? Nothing whatever hut intemperate abuse of their con.
duct, with a positive declaration of strict neutrality. This
was not Quixotism, certainly, nor did the Honourable
Member know a para Del to such conduct in history
or romance. The only resemblance he could find to it
was the case of the late atrocious murder, wherein the
Holy Alliance was the bold villain who was straight
to his purpose, whilst the Right Honourable Gentleman
was the humane and consistent accomplice, who, aftec fur.
nishing the rope and sack, resolved, " come what might,
to have no share in the transaction ;" for precisely with
the same feelings that this miscreant hung back whilst the
deed was perpetrating, so the Ministers of England, who
had gone hand in hand with their accomplices in their plot
against liberty for the last thirty years, now stood aloof
whilst their victim was expiring under the blows of its as-
sassins. As to their accomplices, compared with themselves,
they were honourable, upright characters, for their conduct
had been consistent throughout; and whilst the Hon.
31ember detested their policy, in justice to their private.
characters, and what be believed and knew upon the sub-
ject, he could not agree in all the odium cast on persons,
so u horn every allowance was to be made for those pre-
judices and impressions, which, however hostile to the li-
berties of mankind, were inseparable from human nature,
and would be felt equally by others under similar circum-
stances. For the same reason lie could excuse the Minis-
ters of these despotic powers, who were in fact their
slaves; butihe could find no excuse for the Ministers of Eng-
land, who were not the slaves, but the tyrants of the.
Crown and the people, and of all others the most base and
cruel that ever infested the earth. Even the King of Spain,
madman and monster that lie was, had been less base and
inhuman; for his conduct had been consistent with the
feeling of Bigotry and Divine right; but where was the
consistency or the humanity of Ministers? For at once to
have declared against Spain would have prevented a strug-
gle equally disgraceful and deplorable in its consequences
to the victors and the vanyiished. Bat what had been time
refined policy of Englanu's Minister, and of that heart
which, by its own account, beat so high for the interests
of huinauity, but to create this confusion of horrors in
Spain by means of treacherous neutrality, and having so
' far succeeded, it was still to perpetuate the miseries of that
wretched country to prevent France from rraping the fruits
of her victory. So much for the humanity of the Right
Hon. Gentleman. As for consietency, let him reconcile
his prayers for the Spanish Constitution, sod his con-
temptuous answer to the Regency, with his subsequent
congratulations to Ferdinaad on his success, and the
treatment of the unhappy Patriots who sought refuge in
Gibraltar; and when he had answered the charge of apos-
tacy from Radicalism to Divine Right, let him answer the
charge of Ultra apostacy from Divine Right hack to Ra-
dicalism, in now declaring for the Patriots of South Ame-
rica, in the teeth of the Foreign Enlistment Bill, expressly
enacted against them. As to the real situation of the
country, the llonoorahle Member recollected, long since,
upon a question of the same nature in the house, they
were told by an Honourable and Leading Member of
the Landed Interest that it was time to speak out, and look
the danger in the !face. If such was his opinion then,
what did he think now ?—wlien, during eight years of
peace establishment, no reduction whatever had been made
of the burden of the public debt—when, in spite of all the
retrenchment which. Session after Session, had been forced
upon the Ministers, the load of taxation still pressed too
heavily upon all classes to admit of any increase—when
such was our state of real weakness, that the Ministers,
who in the last war expended millions to deliver Spain front
the power of France, had nine suffered her to fall without
even an attempt to save her—when France herself, whom
so lately, in conjunction with our allies. we bad humbled
to the dust, was now ae,nin on foot, more great, more
powerful, and more inveterately our enemy than ever—
awl lastly, when these same Allies, who first combined
with us against her liberties, were now combined with
France against the liberties of England, and time storm,
lone gathering around, was now at last ready at one mo-
ment to burst upon its head. If, in such a state of things,,
so bumble an individual as himself might presume to speak
out, and look the danger in the face, the Ron. Member
thought he could explain the cause and the only means to
remove it; but having already trespassed too long upon the'
attention of the house, he should defer to a future °imports's
nits what he had to say upon time subject.
air. HUME was desirous of saying one word in answer to
the Right Hon. Secretary, respecting the proclamation of Sir
T. Maitland. He had received a letter from Ithaca, and lie
could assure the Rigid lion. Gentleman, that so far from the
fault being in the first instance with the Greeks, it was the
Turks who first fired. What the friends of the Greeks la-
mented and complains: of was, that this was the only viola-
tion of neutral ground which had been noticed, and that the
Turks lied frequently violated it with impunity. lie must pro-
test against its being called a massacre in cold blood, for the
whole took place in the heat of action. He could but consider
tne transaction as one more instance of Sir Thomas Maitland's
endeavour to crush men struggling for their freedom and their
lives, and he should be amongst the last to throw impediments
in the way of such a cause, for when he was in that house, there
was no man who was a greater friend to revolutionary prin.
ciples.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE expressed his satisfaction at that
part of his Majesty's Speech which alluded to the state of the
agricultural interest. He bad every reason to hope that the
improvement in that great branch of industry was not casual, but
owing to steady and permanent causes.—He must dissent
from the declaration of the Hon. Member who spoke last, that
this country was detested by others. On the contrary, he be-
lieved that other nations looked up to England as the Saviour
of their liberties in the lite glorious struggle, and that the
British character never stood so high as at the present moment.
He could not withhold this strong expression of his applause
to his Majesty's Nlinisters for their conduct in keeping this.
country out of the Spanish war. If they had gone into it, it
would have been the moat fatal determination that ever was
taken. He thought it the duty of every man to support them
while they so acted for the true benefit of the country.
Mr. W. SMITH hoped that no negotiations would ever lead
to en amicable termination of the differences between the
Porte and Russia, if they did not leave the Greeks in a
better condition that than in which they found them.
The Report was then brought up, agreed to; and order_
ed to be presented to his Majesty by such Members of the
house as were Members of his Majesty's Privy Council.
EMIGRATION OF ARTISANS.

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Mr. lIUME gave notice that on the 12th instant, he
would move for a Conimittee to take into consieteration
the state of the law respecting the Exportation of
Machinery, and the Emigration of Artisans; also, that
on the 19th, he would bring before the house a motion
respecting the Impressment of Seamen, and moved for re-
turns thereon.
Mr. WAItItE moved fot Returns of the Quantity of
Foreign Wines imported into the several Ports of the
Vaud Kingdom fur the last year. Ordered.

POLICE OF IRELAND.

Mr. GRATTAN gave notice of a motion for to•morrow,
for Returns of the number of Constables and Sub-Consta
bles, who had been appointed in Ireland under the Ari
of 1822, together with the number of persons committed
under the Insurrection Act. Ordered. _

Mr. WESTERN moved for Returns of the Numbers of
Persons committed to the several Gaols of England and
Wales, and those remaining for trial on or before the 12th
of December last, distinguishing those charged with
Misdemeanors from Felons.—Ordered.
EXPENCES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW-
FOUNDLAND. _

Mr. HUME moved for Returns of the Salary, Allow.
anre, &c. of the Governor of Newfoundland, the Expences
of that Colony, the Receipt of Customs there, &o.—Or-
dered.
Mr. HUME also moved for Returns of the number of
persons who had been summoned by the Sheriffs of Mid-
dlesex to serve on Juries for the last three years, distin-
gui,hiue• the Commons from Special Jtirors.—Orderel
Adjourned at a quarter past six o'clock.