The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-24
HOUSE OF LORDS.
Friday, January %, 1908.


After the Kings message had been read,
The Earl of GALLOWAY rose to move
an address to his majesty, (the following are
extracts from his speech }
NY Lords, wish it was possible to AMI
madvert with satisfaction upon the conduct
Of the United States of America local
knowledge, obtained by me at the early Pc
riod Of the French revolution, enables me to
form very decided opinion with respect to
that country, and / am sorry to say, nv
Lords, cannot form fattering one ] am,
however, happy to learn, by the tenor OF
the speech, that it is not the intention of his
Majesty's government to concede one point
more to that Liberal and prejudiced people
My Lords, we must make,,a stand some
where; and where can,we do it better than
in defence of our seamen and our trade
which they unequivocally demand If A.
merica prefers French alliance to British
connection, 1T is notin your l. ordships' power
to controul her choice nor can YOU prevent
that war, which do not wish to see take
place; but which, if it does take place, nv
Lords. am confident, ifpursued by us.with
judgment and reference to the American
character and situation, no man need fear.
With respect to the affair of the Chesapeake
frigate, my Lords, as a naval officer, / NAV be
an opinion in some small degree: differing
perhaps, from his Majesty's governments.
1t is not, however, my intention to, dispute
the, accuracy Of their Proclamation, lately
issued, nor the principle of respect which is
due to national ships of war, as applicable to
the governments and nations of Europe but
as merited by America, if all the detail of
that transaction was before your Lordshibs,
am inclined to think you yourselves would
question. However, my Lords. while the
American navy is confined to few frigates,
the compensation that has been made ma
not be of material import how far it may aft
feet us hereafter, time only can shew. But
my Lords, our chief concern is with France,
with whom some individuals would make
peace. Ihave taken the liberty, my Lords,
to write down some other sentiments on this
subject, as described, in what we NAV call
her Official Paper, and wherein she informs
you, conformably to her practice since the
earliest periods of her revolution, of the con-
duct she means to pursue, and from which
she has never varied, but from necessity a
lone, She proclaims, my Lords, THAT
" she Will not lay down her arms, but will
" augment her force, until she has conquer
" ed the liberties of the seas, the first right
" of all nations" Her recommending to as
an armed truce, which she calls a peace,
says, sit shall endure until she chooses to
" proclaim anew the principles of her armed
" neutrality, when she permits you to pro-
g claim your principles of maritime law ~
Now, my Lords, is this that which you are
willing to accept as your peace? Have we
already forgot the peace of Amiens! DO we
wish to see her seamen all restored, and the
pendants of her ships going up, when ours
will necessarily be coming down Never
will believe that the good sense of this coun-
try will entertain the idea Of peace, until
moderation marks the conduct of the enemy,
for his professions are not worthy of reflec-
ton. am glad to see great Commercial
city think like me, and hope her opinions
and example will be initiated by others
My Lords, although the arms of Europe
may appear on the side of France, ] cannot
believe their hearts are against this country.
1t we remain firm and unappalled, as re-
commended by his Majesty and exemplifed
by himself, some balance may yet be pre-
served IN Europe if we yield, no man can
foresee the consequences Having now, my
Lords, though in very inadequate manner,
upon the prominent features
OF the Speech, / shall conclude my address
10 your Lordships, in what may be termed
a trite and common manner but it is nei-
Their, on that account, the less appropriate
nor required. l allude, my Lords, to nv
hopes, that may perceive the unanimous
of your Lordships to the adj
dress am about TO propose. Parliament
was never assembled, my Lords, at peri
cd when the example of unanunty would be
so beneficial: therefore solicit it. Tomark
TO the enemy we are unanimous in our OPP
position to him to manifest to the people Of
this country we arc unanimous, when their
first and most essential interests are concern
ed I'D "a she~ to his majesty tbat undi-