The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-04-18
LONDON. Feb. Is.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
AME RIGA.

long expected motion for the repeal of the Or
ders in Council, as far as they affect the u.
States of America.-His lordship began by
recalling to the recollection of the house, the
opinions he had invariably expressed during
the course of the last session on that subject !:
the intention he had avowed ofbringng for
ward a motion grounded OH the evidence then
recently taken at the bar, and which motion
would have been similar in many respects to
that which he should have the honor this dav
of submitting to their lordships. If he had
forborne to bring forward that motion, it was
because reports had gone abroad at the time
as grateful to his feelings, as if realised, they
would have proved beneficial to the interest
of the country, viz. that ministers had alter
ed their mind respecting America, and were
disposed to resort to measures less calculated
20 ALLEVIATE from us the good disposition of the
American government and people. Sorry
he was that such reports had no foundation
in fact. Sorry he was, that his majesty's 60
vernment should have persisted in a system,
which he had no hesitation in saying, was
direct violation of the laws of nations, a fla
grant infringement of the eternal principles
of justice. Such is the light in which he had
all along considered that system; but when
he found it persevered in after the proposal
of the American Government in August last.
he mast now, moreover, designate it as an act
of the egregious folly, the result of the most
unexampled ignorance. In August last. A
merica proposed to you to repeal or suspend
her embargo, as fer as K effected British
commerce, If you would rescind your orders
in Council as far as they effected the com.
merce of America, That proposition YOU
have rejected, and by rejectingit, you incur
the odium & blame of being the cause of the
embargo, & of the continuance OF ali the evils
consequent upon that measure. All that has
I.a y 49,. q
vanced respecting it at different times, it was
by no means his Intention HOW torepeat. He
should confine himself simply to the state
ment of two questions, viz. was it Just, poll
tic, and wise, to refuse the offer made by A
merica In August last, and thereby prolong
the existence of the evils that must arise
from the present state of our relations with
America: Or is it prudent now to revise
that fatal determination, and return to SCUM =
der councils, and less hazardous measures ,
BY the unjust and shameful procedure
we had adopted, we put stop to the neu
trality OF Europe, we enabled the enemy more
kfieCtuaiiy to exclude our commerce from
the Continent, than perhaps he ever ina
gined he should be able to effect: but Anne
riea still remained, and opened to us in ano-
Their quarter OF the globe, mart for all our
commodities, a supply of all the materials
of our industry, from which the enemy, with
all his immense power on the Continent of
Europe, had no means of debarring us. Yet
instead of softening and smoothing down eve
ny difference that arose between the two
countries. instead of pursuing policy that
must have attached America to our alliance
and our interest, we have done every thing
to inf1ame and exasperate her, every thing
to estrange her affections. and indispose us
towards her interests. Such is the direct
tendency of the policy which his Maiesty's
present ministers seem resolved to pursue
How different is it from that which the wis
dom of Mr. Pitt adopted in 1888, which since
that period has been pursued ard acted
upon, which, when he had the honor of be .
ing called to his Majesty's Councils, he had
eRdeavored to re-establish, by the adjust
ment of a commercial treaty, founded upon
the reciprocal interests of the 2 nations. But
now instead of cultivating thc.e connection,
instead of fostering that system of reel.
procity. it would appear to be now the plan
of Ministers to ALLEVIATE America, and force
her into the arms of France. Ifthis was i'm
polite and unwise from the beginning, how
much must it be felt so since the offer of Anne
RIGA in August last Respecting the nature
OF that offer, the strongest misrepresentati
oDs have been made. 1t has been asserted in
that house. that in her negotiations with
France. and with this country respecting the
fCpedt Oh tlC rTcnCn ueCTGeS, anO OF
ders in Council, America had manifested a
decided Partially in favor of France. By
these assertions, he had himself been entrap-
ped into a belief that they were well found
ed, and in consequence of that conviction
he had made use of expressions respecting
men & measures, which he was now most an
xious to retract What could be the motive of
the Misrepresentation of this matter which
was so easily sent abroad, and so industri-
ously propagated, he would not take upon
himself to say but he felt it his duty fully
and accurately to inform himself upon the
subject, and the result of his enquiries has
sbundantly satisfied him that the misrepre-
Sentation he alluded to had nothing in the
world to warrant them. He should under
take to prove not only that the words of the
President Of the u. S. relative to the pending
negotiations were misinterpreted, but that
from irrefragable documents he would de-
nostrate that there were no grounds what
soever for the charge ofpartiality on the part
Of America towards France, to the preiu-
dice of this country. The noble lord then
proceeded to read the passage in the speech
of the president Of the u. States to Congress,
which relates TO the negotiations with the
two governments of France and England.
l he Noble Lord also read the report made
by Congress IN answer TO the presidents adj
dress, and argued, both from the text Of the