Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-05-10
BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS.
March IL 1903

While the orders in council were uD
der discussion, Mr. Gratan rose in his place
and made a speech, OF which we now give
sketch. 1t win be read with uncommon
interest by every American
MIR. Gratan, in a speech replete with
sound argument and eloquent expressions.
declared his decided hostility to the mea.
sure in discussion. He felt that, TO Great
Britain her name, her principles, and her
moral character, at all times necessary,
were now indispensable because whatever
diminished the credit of her reputation,
whatever rendered disregard for moral
priciple the measure of her actions, howe
yer 1t might afford temporary benefit TO
her interests, must, in the result, prove
degrading toher character, and consequent
ly irrecoverably impair, if not destroy the
source of her power. With such an i'm
preston fixed upon his mind, he depreca.
ted the system which should force, by an
impolitic and unjustihable violence war,
between this country and America. No
measure could be more improvident, and
no more precipitate minister could exist,
than him who should propose it. IT went
to associate cur cause with the vie,-S and
principles of France, and carried in the
fleets OF England the spirit of domination
across the waves of the Atlantic Indeed
however highly 1t might be rated for i'm
mediate commercial profits, in its ultimate
effects upon England, and the world, it was
the extreme of insanity. The Right Hon
orable gentleman next proceeded to the
consideration OF this measure, as regulated
by the public law of nations, he did not see
that Ministers had attempted to prove the
only justification on which their measures
could be supported, namely, the acquies.
cence of America in the French Decree.
1t was true, they had recommended their
policy with an abundance of zeal, only to
be equalled by the deficiency Of the argu-
ment. They totally forgot that paramount
consideration, the manner in which it was
administered. Had they afforded single
case where that nation had submitted to
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 forfeited and disgraced,
by its wanton imitation of French violence
and French oppression. Had America
such a system of conduct to expect from
this country! On the contrary, did not
the mild yet dignihed, the forbearing yet
determined dispatch of Lord Howick, de-.
clared to the American government, that
as long as they abslaned from an acques-
cence in that decree, so long would this
country abstain from the adoption Of the
measures OF justified retaliation. To pro-
coed otherwise was assimilating your poll
cy to that Of power, who respected no
right, OF admitted Of no neutrality. Still,
however fraught in the abstract, there
we're circumstances with respect to Ire
land, which ought to have recommended a
more safe and more honest policy. That
country depended upon the importation of
flaxseed from America, for the raw mate.
rial Of its staple commodity, the linen trade.
1t depended upon America tot great coDsurng-
ti.nof that manufacture. Ia what way, then,