The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-06
BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS,
March II.

March Il.
while the orders in Council were under
discussion, Mr., GRArTAN rose iii his place
and made speech, of which we now give
Sketch It Will be read with uncommon in
terest By every Americana
Mr.. GRATTAN, in speech replete
with sound argument and eloquent eXpressi-
ons, declared his decided hostility to the
measure in discussion. He felt that, tossrsat
Britain, her name, her principles, and her
moral character, at al times necessary, were
now indispensable because, whatever dimi-
nished the credit OF her reputation, whatever
rendered Il disregard to neral principle the
measure other actions howcv Ell 1t ght afford
a temporary benefit to her interests, must in
the result, prove degrading to her character,
and consequently irl'ecov erabiy Impair, if
not destroy, the sources other power. With
such an impression fixed upon his mind, he
deprecated the system which should force, by
an impolitic and unjustifable violence, wac
between this country and America. No
measure could be more improvident, and ne
mere precipitate Minister could exist, than
him who Should propose 1t, 1t went to asso-
Ciate your cause with the views and prlnci-
PIES of France, and carried III the fleets OF
Grgland the spirit of domination across the
q
highly it might be rated for immediate COM
mere profits, III its ultimate effects upon
y / and the world it was the extreme
.ity. The Right Honorable Gentle
III next proceeded to Il consideration ut
this measure, as regulated by the public law
OF nations. He did not see that Ministers
had attempted to prove the only justihcati-
On on which their measures could be support
ed, namely, the acquiescence OF America lin
tie French Decree. 1t was true, they had
recommended their policy with al abundance
Of zeal, only to he equalled by the dehcicn-
cy Of the argument. They totally forgot
that paramount consideration, the manner
N which it was administered. Had they af-
forded a single case where that nation had
submitted 20 the acquisitions of France?
Surely in such an absence Of reason, law
ought not to be violated, and the character
and policy of this great empire fofcited and
disTraccd, by its wanton imitation of French
Violence and French oppression Had Ame-
rics. such SYSTEM of conduct to expect from
this country ? On the contrary did not the
mid yet digni6ed, the forbearing yet de
tc: mined dispatch of lord HowiCk, declare
TO the American government, that as long
as they abstained from an aCquiesCence in
that decree, so long would this country alb
stain from the adoption OF the measures of
a justified retaliation. To proceed other
wise was asSimlating your policy to that Of
a power who respected 10 right, or admit
ted OF no neutrality. Still however fraught
III the abstract, there were circumstances
with respect to ireland, which onght to have
recommended more safe, & more honest
policy. Tnat country depended upon the
importation OF haxseed from America, for
the raw material Gifts staple commodity, the
linen trade 1t depended upon America for
pf that Manufacture
In what way then, was that manufacture,
so vitally important to the interests and
prosperity of ireland, effected by these or
ders of commercial rigour? 1t had this effect,
that at the last linnen markets in the me-
tlUpols OF ireland. net one fifth of the liHnens
exposed for sale were purchased and what
were sold, were at the depreciation OF copper
cent. for foreign and 10 per cent. for home
consumption. There was also a consider
bic want of potash for that branch OF manu-
facture, as a considerable deficiency ofstavcs
so much wanting for the south of Ireland
On every view, he knew of no greater adj
Ciition 10 the calamities Of the world than an
American war. In the present CirCumstan-
ccs of the distracted globe, that nation which
yielded most TO avoid such state OF hosti-
litv, was the nation of most understanding
in such contest, victory and defeat were
SYNONYMOUS terms; as whatever, i'll point
OF success, each should obtain over the other,
would be nothing more than the accumulated
gain of France. Much had been said of the
h 5tilc zeal of the American Congress, and
of the warmth with which its members de-
bated the nature of the relations existing
between the two countries. Have we not
had angry debates in the British Parliament?
Is il to aifiX an evil character TO the warm
contentious Of this House Let us, then
recolect, that America was animated by
spark of the same spirit, that the attack
would be between the parent and the child
1t would be worse, because itwculd then be
freedom .arrayed against its kindred spirit.
Depend upon it that such war will give the
title deed of Inheritance TO the dynasty of
Bonaparte. 1t will place these two Islands
the last resting place of iiber:y, between two
hostile hemsphcres, and ultimately sacri-
fee the last spot of that sacred soil where it
will be possible for a freeman to tread
And for what purpose shall we realize such
an evil on England, on the world, on the last
resource and future hopes of mankind p
Forsonth, to get a market for sugar--mis-
Chicyous policy Can the British Psrlia-
ment go soon forget, that the imposition Of a
Tea Tax on America brought ON Property
Tax upon England. Beware how YOU esta-
blish France in America, and By your fran
tic quarrel with Jhat nation. enlist the navy
of England IT, the service OF Bonaparte. The
ocean protests against the calamity, and
will an infatuated Ministry proceed