The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-12
EUROPE.
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE Of COMMONS,
A NJ L r c A n AFF AIRS
Debate on mir. HAitbread's motion.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,
A NJ RIG AN AFFAIRS
Debate on D7r. HAit6read's motion.
(coNcLUDED.
Mr.. Canning would not trespass on the
patience of the House at so late AN hour, but
he must beg leave to observe, that most of
what had been observed upon the subject
ostore the House, led to no practical conclusi-
on, led to no recommendation of measures
which it would be thought safe and political
20 adopt. Almost all he had heard was lost
i'm Yagueness of conjecture, or splendour of
Reclamation. The question really was be-
tween England and France not between En-
gland and America and if the question in
wolves matters of a delicate nature, which
Were not Internationally or prematureIy to be
exposed, the fault was with those who called
for the papers, and provoked the discussion !;
rot with those, who while they deemed it
their duty to shrink from no enquiry into
itheir conduct, still felt the improperly ofbe-
ils forced into explanations, which it were
D'ore prudent to postpone. He most GER
Ittniy should have opposed the production of
ttose papers, had they not already appeared
IL print IN another country, because he was
sensible that the discussion of them was pre-
tFiature, and that they were not in shape for
ut and seasonIbe discussion. The blame,
ias he had already observed, must rest with
tanse who recommended 1t, and would en-
jforce a parliamentary consideration of an
! kMompletc and undecided question The
, Right Hon Gentleman then proceeded to
argue the question of the Justice and thu
l,ight, as well as o. the policy and expedi-
Sr5, d maintaining the principles upon
wh tch the British government had acted
with regard TO America, under the circum-
stances ofthc French DEGREES These prin-
icH'cs were the grounds of the Order in
Council OF the 9TH january, 1907. a ground
not Only of retaliation, but of self defence a
/ ground therefore, which the gentleman OPP
Positc him weuId not be disposed to contend
against. Upon that ground his majesty s
present Ministers had found the question:
upon that ground they felt incumbent on
them u sUpportit. And here he begged leave
J to aprcai Co tile principles and the language
| laid down by his Noble and able predeces-
/ sor (Lnrd Gregg whose authority, he did
not Imagine the Gentleman opposite him,
would dispute. Much was said about OBJ
servance cf the Law of nations. He ould
| not say that the Orders in Council were an
exact application Of it: he would allow
4, they were rather an extension Of that law
but an extension called for and justified by
| the new order of things that had arisen in
the world. The Berlin DEGREES were cvi-
IDENTIFY acts of hostility against England as
such England must have met them. Tn
| der the pretence OF a municipal regulation,
these were intended to exclude British com
mcrce from every port; but that they had
none of the features Of ordinary municipal
regulations, which obtain ia peace as well
| a. lii war.
| France was I'll along the original aggres-
scr, in this respect. though she affected to
| pay us the compliment of a priority of
wong. The Righ: Hon. Secretary next ar
! gied, to slew, that the orders in council
were not the real cause of the American
Embargo This appeared to be the case,
from the acknowledgment of Mr.. Pinkney,
who confessed the EmbarGoto be only mea-
/ are of precaution, and as such, not the
consequence of measures which we had a
dnpted, but a guard against what We were
| likely to adopt. AS TO the offer of repeating
the embargo if England revoked her orders
| in Council, Nothing could be more hollow
than the ground upon which that offer has
been made. Should we repeal our orders,
America would revoke her Embargo, and
| go to war with France, if France refused TO
! repeal her DEGREES But when that was
J the question. America certainly held out
tina, expectation, but it was Tor an indefinite
! tine. il NaS 10 ascertain this particular
! polnt, that he M. d been anxious and had
I required that every thing connected with
,tat question should be recorded In written
Gocuments-loose conversation he did not
I think himself justified in depending upon
/ The grounds of negotiation he had to sub.
I nat not being to his own judgment but to
: tliat Of his colleagues, and therefore it was
Indispensable for him to have them reduced
to a fixed form. Besides he was admonish.
cd by What had already taken place in A.
} Terica, where these conversations had been
! nlstatcd in the American newspapers,
which in that country were made, and con-
! Gidcred as the vehicles of Government au-
thority. Those who accused Ministers of a
Discrimination to adopt pacific measures res.
/ Getting America, must surely have lost sight
ri the line, temper and manner in which
his Majesty's Government had acted to.
wards America, since differences bad unfor-
ltinately arisen between the two Govern
ments. Had they not sent Special Missi-
On to explain and apologize for the affair
of Inc Chesapeake and was not the mere
\ sending Of Special Mission to such an eff
feet, ever deemed ssf6cient atonement G.
ven by Gle proudssi nations. Yet even
there, we nat the vessel that carried out
he MISS !. COMPLETED tosqbnit ts ths de-