The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-05-07
G:lrc~can I!,tsi.igeit:e.
IMPERIAL PIRLIf!nENT.
HOUSE og COMMONS, February l2.
SPANISH WAR DEBATE.
coNTiSUED.l

Mr.. lilly Arlington faid, Il was not his in
tent'on to have treipaiitd that night upon the
attention Of the houie, lad It not been for the
very able fpeech delivered by IN honorable
member who ipo'le Ian hut one. (Nr. Hanks) TO
every tentiment of which he rote To cxpreG, his
moh hearty concurrence. He wiihed to offer
word or two, in anfwer to what had fallen from
an hon. and learned gentleman (Mr. Raine,)
who had opened this debate this evening
and who, in the courfe of his fpeech, had pref
ty clofcly followed the ground that had been Ia
ken by another hon. gentleman (Mr. Crew. in
the debate of laf night. IF he did not attempt
any anfwer 20 the arguments of the honorable
gentleman who had fpokcn lan, he hoped it
would rot be imputed to any want of perfonaI
refpect on his part for that honourable gentle.
man; but becaufe mott ofthofe arguments food
already refuted in the very able defence of that
night, and that he felt reluctance in trefpafIing
long upon the attention of the houic, while en-
gagged In the diicufion of topic on which 70
many perfons of high talent aud confederation
were anxious to deliver their fcntiments. The
honorable and learned gentleman (Mr Raine,)
TO whole arguments he wifhed ihortly and prin-
cipally to apply himfelf, had endeavoured to
| flew, by deductions from the law of nations,
that his najefty's miniftcrs were utterly uniuni-
fed in the commandments of the exiting hoRi.
lities with Spain. He did not pretend 10 be
learned gentleman, upon 70 exteniive toric as
the law of nations; however, it feemed to re-
quire but q very moderate flare Of plain ftnfe,
to draw from the rlaXirns Guoted.Sy that mem
Der, deductions quite oppohte to thofe which
he had made. >
He commended, that upon every principle of
common policy, common jutice, and common
fenfe, the treaty of ST. Ildephonfo gave to Great
Britain an unqueftionable right to commence
hoft;lities with Spain the very moment that tn.
war had commenced with France. The hon.
and learned gentleman had faid, that rmedi-
ately on that event, the mof deciiive sihou!d
have been taken to demand from Spain an ex-
plcit and categorical anfwer with reipcGt TO her
intentions and adherence to that treaty, and O.
hhge her 10 declare the extent of the contingent
he meant to furniih. On this point, however,
he totally differed from the hon. and learned
gentleman; for what fort of anfwer could be
expected to fuch queftion, thus abruptly and
precipita,ey preifed upon Spain, at 70 critical
moment, and with fuch an implied menace of
an hottie alternative? Certainly not an exp-
cit anfwer, if Spain really intended to abide by
the treaty to its fulleff extent; but fuch an an
fwer as would have taught the Britilh govern
ment to believe that ilie would uie every expe-
dent in her power to avoid compliance with the
treaty, and to prefcrve that tranq nty with this
country, which it was 70 much her inclination
and ntereft to maintain: that her government
wiihed TO avoid acting up 10 the treaty, that
they gain time, in hope of a favourable oppor-
tunity of aner.ing their own Independence.
Such an explanation it was not probable the
Britiih minifry could have refufed to acknow
ledge at the moment as Satisfactory; and, there
fore, we fhou!d fand precifeIy on the fame
ground as we did at the early part of the late ne
gocation.
The very clear and able manner in which the
coDduGt OF the Briti0h government, through the
whole ofth;s negotiation, food vindicated in the
debate of lat night, rendered it unneceGary for
him to trefpafs now on the attention of the
honie, by an additional argument to that pur-
pofe. He was one of thofe who had looked I'D
with the utmoft anxiety for the production of
thoie papers, refpe6ting the difcuf1ion with
Spain, which had been laid before the houfe by
his majeity's mininers; and it was with the ut
moft pleaiurc and fatisfdcfion he now avowed,
that after the moif minute and attentive perufil
OF thote papers, he was convinced, that through
ont the whole of this negotiation, the fame FIJI
rit of juftce, of moderation, and forbearance
from every dfpofition TO hoftiliy, that had from
the beginning marked the conduct Of his maief-
ty's government towards the Spanfh nation,
had been fupportcd, 70 long as ho1ities were
avoidable upon any grounds confident with the
honour or the fecurity of Great Britain; and he
found in particular, that letter had been, in
the month of October, difpatched by noble
friend Of his, to the Britini refidert at Madrid,
which marked to the very lah moment that die
inclination to hotility, that deirc of amity, and
that fpirit of forhesrance and moderation, which
cvcTy with of policy, as well as the voice of hui
mauity called for; and thus made one effort
more, to avoid thoie exremities which it NUT
be the win of every wife and iuft nation to pre-
vent. Feeling, therefore, as he did, that the
Britfh government food fully INDICATED in the
eyes of Europe from any conduct which could
bring upon her responsibility of hottie exsremi-
ties, he fhould not trefpafs longer on the indul-
gence Of the houfc, than by intreatirg it TO
pauie, and well coriider The consequences, be-
fore il would content TO adopt the amendment
moved by an hon. gentleman Ian night, to the
propofed addrefs to his maje1y; which amend
inent was only calculated 70 lower the dignity,
and humble The fpir:. Of the national character,
and unnerve The arm Of every braye folder a. ,
iaiior employed in the caufe Of bis conntrv,y !
them with an idea, that the war, enforc. oy
jnhice and inevitable neccfity, was unyH W
ed and dihonouyable, but which it M. NC nF
with of the houie, and of every trlIn.,e.no o,
the Britifh empire, to fupport with 'e1u' a'u
fpirit, Till brought to an honourar ""o "u'd"-
taceous termination. ..
DR.. Lawrence faid, that il as e, MS intention intention
ait night TO have noticed, il w '5 Ie
What had fallen from his LED ~ , ., NoII j0nn