The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-02-04 00:00:00

the subject of the Address, but however be might approve
of other parts of the Hon. Seconder's speech, he could not
but enter his protest against some of the doctrines with
which it concluded.
Mr. Secretary CANNING said, lie had learned in the
course of the day from rumour that an amendment was to
he proposed by an Honourable Gentleman opposite; (that
not having been done,
he did not expect that any impedi-
ment would be thrown in the way of the practical vote to
which the House was in the habit of coming on such
occasions. As the Hon. and Learned Gentleman however
thought proper to allude to some topics touched upon in
the Address, it would not be treating the Hon. Gentleman
bimself,or the House,with due respect,if he were to remain
entirely silent. He fully agreed with the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman that this was not the period to discuss
with advantage the past question of the policy pursued with
respect to Spain. As little was he inclined to enter into
the causes to which the failure of the Spanish Constitution-
alists was attributed. The principle on which this coun-
try determined not to interfere in the contest pre-
vented hint from offering any opinion on the
system of Constitutional Government adopted in
Spain ; but there were indications which to him
made it obvious that it was unfit for the nation.
In reference to the efforts which the Hon. Gentleman had
made, for the discovery of some discriminating principle
by which the conduct ofHis Majesty's Government respect-
ing the South American Colonies could be reconciled with
their avowed determination not to interfere in the internal
concerns of other nations, and their refusal to take any
part in the struggle which had taken place in the parent
State, lie (Mr. Canning) conceived there was but little dif-
ficulty in the question. When they looked at what had
been done in our own case, when they recalled to mind the
interference of other countries between us and our
own American Colonies, he was sure that the house
would agree with him that, instead of doing as we
bad been done by, we had better do as we ought.
He was clearly of opinion with the President of the
United States, that no foreign nation haul any right to in-
terfere ; but he could not deny the right of the Mother
Country to recover her dominions. We should have acted
ungenerously, if, while the struggle was going on in Spain,
while all her forces were engaged, and her whole means
and attention engrossed by domestic war, we had taken
advantage of her situation, to make inroads on her Colonial
possessions; and if the abstaining from so doing were to
be regarded as an opportunity lost, he should rejoice that
it had beer so lost. His Majesty's Government
had stated last year that their recognition of the
South American Provinces as independent Sta'es
must depend on a variety of external circum-
stances, and also on the internal circumstances of those
provinces themselves ; and now, after a lapse of eleven
months, they had a speech from the Throne, telling them
His Majesty had reserved to himself an unfettered discre-
tion, to be exercised as the circumstances of those countries
and the interests of his own people, might appear to re-
quire. The lion. and Learned Gentleman knew as well as
be (Mr. Canning) what that meant. He knew that it
meant no more than that His Majesty declined the offer
of joining with any other Power. or fettering himself by
any pledge to acquiesce in any line of conduct which other
Powers might choose to adopt in reference to those
Countries, and had determined to act for himself as should
seem best under such circumstances that might arise.
As to the situation in which the Country stood at present,
he would take upon himself to affirm, that she was now in
as good condition for defending her rights, maintaining
her honour, and upholding her dignity. as at any farmer
period. There were two great preponderating Powers
which possessed a much greater proportion of influence in
the affairs of Europe than at former periods, and His Ma-
jesty's Government was cetiruired for not holding the ba-
lactic of power in Europe, on the ground of their alliance
with those Powers which siere not governed by a free
Constitution. Ile would ask those who I;assed that cen-
sure to look back to time history of this country—to refer
to the times of King William and Queen Anne, and the
alliances which they thought proper to form with Con-
tinental Governments; anti lie would ask why it was cen-
sored as something new and unheard of for tha Govern-
ment of this country to ally with States governed by a
different system of domestic policy from our own? He
,t;11 not think it any part of his duty to defend the state
of municipal law in those states with which we might be
thrown into alliance. But he would ask if such references
as had been wade to the forms of toialinal procedure in
particular cases, were a fair mode of judging of the cha-
racter of the Government of the country in which they
took place? In all their transactions with the Conti-
nental Powers, the object of His Majesty's Government
bad been to keep all in order, and that this country
should move in its own orbit—to content them-
selves with their own place in the great sys-
tem, and not look too nicely into the magnitude and
glory of the bodies by whom they were surrounded.
There was no word which in Parliamentary
warfare was so frequently bandied about as " in-
consistency." Tints he had been charged with
inconsistency for his acceptance of °like with others who !
differed with him in opinion upon the Catholic question.
lad he compromised in atiy way the question of Catholic
Emancipation ? At whatever period, and by whomsoever
brought forward, that coestiwt would always meet from :
him with the best support in his power to give it. But he
still retained the opinion which he held in ISI2, that it
could not in the present state of public men ever be carried
as a Cabinet question, though he felt persuaded that in the
progress of time, and by the gradual %rearing out of the
prejudices which yet remained opposed to it, the question
was one which must ultimately be carried. There was
one point of great delicacy and importance mentioned in the
speech, which he should refrain from entering upon, be-
cause it had not been questioned by the Hon. and learned
Gentleman. Upon every other toaie of the Speech he
trusted he had already said enough to sheer, that is their
correspondence with foreign States, no less than in the
internal administration of the country, his Majesty's Go-
vernment bad discharged their functions without any loss
of public honour. The Speech from the Throne was
the account of their stewardship since last they had met in
that place, and though they did not challenge admiration,
they were prepared to meet criticism without shrinking.—
(Cheers.)

Mr. DALY explained.
Mr. BRIGHT protested against being understood to
concur in the system of policy which had been adopted
with respect to our West India Colonies.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman (Mr. Brougham) having inferred from a pas-
sage in the Royal Speech relating to Ireland, that there
was a disposition in the Cabinet to concede the question of
Catholic Emancipation, he could not let the observation
pass without assuring the Hon. and Learned Gentleman
that bis inference was entirely groundless. And as his
Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Canning) had taken that opportu-
nity of declaring his adherence to the opinions be had so
often urged on the subject of that question, so Ike (Mr.
Peel) would take the same opportunity of proclaiming his
unshaken persrveraace in the opposition which he had
heretofore given to it.

Mr. HUME lamented to perceive, in what had fallen
from the Right Hon. Gentleman who had jest sat down,
the determination of ioverninent to persevere in the odious
policy of" divide and conquer" with regard to Ireland.
/le expressed his dissatisfaction with the want of informa-
tion in the Speech as to any further reduction of taxes,
which be had hoped to bear announced, and as to the
finanCial arran7ements in contemplafon, respecting which
he hoped some information wou►d be gircn by ;be light
tI n. Orttilen an al.po•it',