The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-01

Ecu W near nooie lorQS talk OF the necessity
or policy OF the measures under discussion:
Did they shelter themselves under the prin-
ciple of retaliation? If so, the house had long
since been apprized that this measure of our
government outstripped that of the enemy
1t could not be defended on the principle of
policy. The decree ofthe French emperor,
lie SAID, as tar as it affected America, had,
he maintained, been satisfactorily cleared
up to the minister then in France, and was
deemed SO even by the President of the u. S.
Hence he concluded, that America was no
party in the decree of the French emperor.
Ibis, he said, was evident also from, her sub
sequent conduct when aware even of our
orders in council here, she ordered general
embargo Much had been said of the right
OF retaliation, on which these orders were
founded no body denied the right to resort
10 such system, when the conduct of the
beliiserents justified its nesessity-but even
that law has its limitations. 1t should not o.
verstep the nature Of the evil which it went
to redress yet in these orders, all limitation
was lost sight OF, and convenience alone regu-
lated the extent. 1t would seem that if the
French emperor declared the moon in a state
OF blockade, U. Britain would have meet
ing OF the board of longitude, and our most
celebrated astronomers, to retaliate bv a pro-
hibition on the satellites of Jupiter when he
commanded a cessation of the lunar motion,
OF her conJunctions and opposites, they would
react by declaration that the whole pla-
notary system should stop still. IA loud laugh
from the ministerial bench He really CON
celved, Notwithstanding the manner in which
the comparison was received, that the cases
were, In great degree similar: inasmuch
as he believed Bonaparte had as much eff
cacy over the moon as he had in placing the
British isles I'D state of blockade.
Lord King observed that thera M
proof that America had acquiesced in the
provisions of the French decree-she had
disciaimed any disposition, and yet ministers
had treated America with the same severi-
ty as if he had acquiesced.
Lord Grenville in his speech, asked, was
| 1t not more natural to expect that ministers
would defend their system of policy by
full discussion of its merits and necessity
that at last there would be an end to that e.
ternal circle of arguing present questions
| from past transactions with that feeling
he entered on the discussion, believing in
his soul, that on the revocation or non-re-
Oocatior, or these orders, depended the ulti-
mate existence OF the country. He contin-
ueu In most animated appeal to the house,
| TO lnterpose between the country and its dc-
StrucuoR-to re-tread its steps as the path
through which it moved led quickly to the
| grave-1e warned them against the renew
al or system OF taxation, either directly Or
indirectly upon American Trade and con
Jured them 10 seize the opportunity afforded
them, by the Pre-eminence of France in this
rivalry of injustice of erasing from the re-
cords OF the country, and of celebrating from
the minds or the people, the least intention
OF acting upon system of policy rashly in
troduced and wantonly pursued, calculated
tor no other purpose, than to involve the
| nation In an unjust war.
The Lord Chancellor took view Of the
various objections made to the orders of
council, which he commended were not vio-
lations, either Of the public law of nations,
or the municipal law of the country-they
were founded, he said, on the most para
mount OF all rights-that of self -preservati-
on-fie considered it inconsistent with his
majesty's late ministers, to raise objections
against system of conduct which they were
the first to institute, and which every man
must admit was called for by the violent &
unjustifable decree of the French govern
ment.
On the qgestion-tfat the papers furnished
| to the house on the subject of the regulations
respecting the trade of neutrals with France,
| the house Embellishments 3o-proxies Is
l-4S.-Non-content 61-proxies 45-1o6-
Majority So.