Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-08-19

iSiSVu Oh tune, We SnOutu perceive that o.
Their Causes might exist sufficient to produce
such an effect.
Lord Grenville, in a speech Of great
length, and strong argument, pressedi tup-
on their lordshps' consideration, that il
would be incumbent upon the noble lords
iopprs'te to abandon these orders in council
altogether, when they found all their ex-
pectations disappointed respecting any sup
posed advantage which WAS AZ first apDre-
{hended would be tine result of such extra I
ordinary measures. Indeed they had some
time ago been tried by the test Vt reason
and opinion, ard had been condemned
The arguments against them AT first were
strong and cogent, and men acquainted with
the commercial world had given their tes-
timony at the bar of the house, upon their
oaths, that thev expected rum would ensue
to our trade aud our commerce, if these or
ders in council were acted upon. In add
tion to the test of reason and opinion, we
had now he test of experience SD far as to
shew that none Of the benefits expected I'd
resulted from This measure but, on the con,
trarv, great injury had arisen in the great
ulninu'ion ut our IMPORTS and exports. II
the enemy had devised he best plan he POS
Sibiy could invent for the destruction of Br-
fish commerce, it would have been TO have
prevailed upon merchants to give that adj.
vice to ministers, which led to the issuing
o. these riders in council. He was astonish-
ed at the time when merchants of London
could be so far infatu tied as to think that
such orders coul. have any beneficial effect
twhatever, but now they had come forward,
and confessed their error, being very rea
! dy to concede they had been under a great
mistake with regard to the result which
they had found to be very different from
what they in the first instance were dispo-
lsed to imagine. Our strength as nation,
was founded upon orr commerce, and we
had been destroying the sinew of that arm
which alone enabled US to carry on the CON-
test. He had no hes tation in p ed citing,
that when these papers were produced the
test OF experience would pronounce what
pernicous effect the orders in counc had
produced, and that ministers would be com
PEELED at last to abandon their favorite off
spring If they would listen to HIM, he
would advise them 10 give the measure up
at onces anh not waitfor a convenient oppor-
tunity to free themselves from this mea-
sure, with less charge of inconsistency.
Every month, every week, every day, and
every hour, were pregnant with fresh mis-
chief and ruin To the vital interests of this
country. No person could be more studnus
than he was, to avoid any discussion which
might tend to disturb the pcaceable dispo-
I sition Just at this time manifested by this
country and the United Safes of America,
and he, considered that a sufficient ground
Ia preclude him from entering more fully at
this time into the subject, relating TO the or
ders in council.
Lord HawkeShury considered it unfair to
draw this CONCLUSION, that because a dimi-
mutton had taken place with regerd 90 our
exports and imports, after issuing of the or
ders in council, that such diminution must
have been occaSioned by those orders, & not
J by any other means whatever Noble lords
ought 10 consider, that about the same time
our situation with Europe was materially
altered from having, gone TO n war with
Russia and Denmark, and he Thought more
] time was required to shew what effect had
been produced from those orders in coun-
| Gil.
The Earl of Lauderdale condemned the
delay of the time upon such AN important
subject, when rum was making it's wav, in
all directions, amongst the trading mercan-
tile class of people. They had already
had sufficient evidence at their lGrdships'
bar, and before the other house, which
ought to nun an end to the speculation Of
ministers upon the ruin of commere. T.
has been stated on oath, BY a man from
Manchester, that he had employed fifteen
to twenty men, who are now out OF employ;
and he declared when he sometimes met
them, such was the change wrought by hun
lger, that he did not know them. HIS lord.
| ship observed, that the countenances OF
these men, rendered ghastly for want Of
fond, were the best possible description of
the bad fleets produced by the orders in
council, AID could not fall to interest the
heart of every feeling and good man.
The lord Chancellor observed, that the
motion had been pu. and agreed to half au
our ago, and still heir lordships were con-
iinuing in debate upon that motion. He
rose merely for the purpose Of protesting A.
ganst the doctrine which had been main
tanned by some noble lords that because
diminution had taken place in regard to
our imports and exports, since the orders
in council had been issued, Therefore the
orders in council had been the occaeiDn Of
that diminntion. IL was incumbent upon
noble lords, in the first place, to prove thar
this diminution had been occ asioned by those
orders IN council, and no, from any other
source and it was also necessary that they
should prove worse state of things wauld |
not have ensued, If no recourse had been
had TO the ORDERS in council.
Lord Holland shortly expressed his az
constituent hat the motions should have |
been put aud agreed to without his know
ie, 'ge; for his noble friend (Auckland) had /
SIX motions relative to the production Of pa
pers. The onus hrobanH lay on the noble /
lords opposite to prove that the orders in |
council had been benehc al.
After some conversation, relative IN the !