Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-04-17
F @ r FL G n.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

oSs
ESee the last Argus.1
The Hon. MIR. Ward, in rising to second
the amendment proposed BY his noble
friend, begged to assure the House that it
~as NOT his wish unnecessarily to tfespass
upon its attention, or, upon light grounds,
70 disturb that unanimity which gentlemen
seemed 30 anxious for on the present oc.
casion. But when he adverted to the ma.
ture Of the measures which had been pur-
sued by his Msjesty's government--when
he considered the weakness and impolicy
of their whele system of conduct, he felt
himself expe riously called Upon to declare
his decided disappr obation of the address.
1t appeared to him that the past afforded
sufficient grounds. not alone to condemn
the policy upon which il turned, but to en-
able the nouSe to form an inadequate judg.
ylsnt of the future measures of those men
by whom the resources of the ma.
ton had been 80 shamefully rhisappiied.
If that House were 20 agree to the address
proposed by the noble mover, it would IN
eff.cs resolve to address, after the caiani.
ties witch had been suffered, for the con.
tinuapce of tina, policy aud those measures
10 which alone those calamities were TO be
tscribed. -Iftna, House were no. to express
in that instance either resentment for the
past, or anxiety for the fusure--if they we're
not to give expression to their sentiments
with re spect to the authors aud the causes
cf the great public distress, ne was conv,n-
ced thatsthcy would be Wanting in duty,
both to the public and themseves. So far,
therefore, froa surprising that they would
agree 10 the address originally proposed, he
was persuaded that they would be convin-
ed of the necessity of addressing his Ma
';essy in another form. anu consequently a.
dept the amend,aent moved by his noble
ft,;. he Ill,
fst should act at the present moments md
iii IL should not act now, ne was sure it
would rot act ar all. 1T that House were
to resign its inqu.sitorial power az to the
acts CT any set of men, and to renounce the
lsaiutary control which " used to exercise
over the servants ofthe crown, 1t would. he
was Convinced, be proof of the decay OF
parliamentary virtue, and IN unerring symp.
tom ct the decline OF taa true sp TIT of the
constitution Itwas matte- If assohishment,
that after such a series OF aseSsmpIed C.
lamines, has Majesty's Ministers, over &C.
greater number of whom the terrors o in
parchment we're Impending, should dare to
lremajn in otGce. 30 Hear, Hear j-3s,
If Par.sameat should, without any regard
to their past conduct, think proper 90 give
its support 10 such rulers, or lend its sane.
ton to such measures, nothing could more
clearly cylnce that silent but actual and a.
farming change which was said TO have
taken place in the British constitution: no.
thing could more indisputably snew The re-.
|sembance between the government of TINS
country and those old governments OF Eu-
rope, which, weighed down 10y the influence
|of corruption and imbeciiity. tell succea-
sively a certaiH aud easy prey 20 the su-
rerior wisdom and energies OF the power
Witch has enslaved them. Having made
these general observatioas upon the SUBJECT
at large, he proposed 10 Apply himseii more
par .Icuiarly TO waat appeared TO him to nc
the man question uader Cpnside rsiion=zthe
coycuct OF the war. Every gentleman VINO
heard him mnst be aware, that SINCE the
last session of Parliament the conducr Of the
war IN every euarser had been attended by
failures more complete, disbrases more
signal, and losses more depioraOie, than
mad ever been psraiieled IN any war in
winch this country had been engaged
That was the pialn but true Q atcment Of
the case, which, though It migat be attempt.
Ell to paiI,a,e, it was absolutely Impossible
satisfactorily to account Tor, OF successfully
to justly. AS ,hat Hoese must be sensible
hCw much such state of things must im.
piicafe ne conduct OF those entru .tgu with
tbe a ministr zion oil affairs--how far IL must
affect tie character OF the i.aiioa-lt was
une OF ats most important and essential ou.
ties to- institute an immediate, vigiiant, and
severo inquiry Into the real cause OF the
national calamities, aud even TO cary up
,be result Of such inquiry Ia the iooe OF the
titScne, VA an address 90 ms Majesty, Stating
,hat they could no ioneer rePose confidence
II tuese ministers wRoso conduct hag pro-
ducec sUch lam eb,aDie instances 81 pu tic
6isastes ana dissrace. But witbcu. enter
ING INTO Ike detail just ,hen. lac must o.
allowed 90 make oae segSr~l semark, tnat
tiie DUDber, tnc oaiuJe, ava tue succession
ot their failures, were Irfnd race ev'dsnCe
oftne incspacity and isneraic- oi ms Ma
iss = n n sters tor trough ne sncuid no
contend that faii lure was ~ ais cases proof
OF want VI wisdom or Of .Teeclty, ye. ms
must con,snd, tn 4 where !siiures nave oeen
constaH,, frequent aud .nvariaDle, thsy al
ford tho stfohges presumption Of tns weak
ness and inespac.t W OF ,nBseJ wnise mea-
sutes thus HaiiorIniy termnete 10 disap-
pointment aud oisss.e Hear, Hear -
That such nad been tie issue OF all the
measures Of his Mjesw's present mn,s-
ters, ne need only appeal e the'r history
sor demonstrates Al he were to 70 tn.
10 any detailed proofs OF ia assertion, It
YOU'D be an Insult co the enlIghted assem-
oily tie was addressing to tue recollection
OF every oAe OF whom, Innuin< rable iDsten-
cek 10 gilunfrafe N oAu.t he a.. Mia What