The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-07-27
+ o II =. IG N.
BRITISH PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
MONDAY. Nav z

I" the following purport My Lords, I am
persuaded there is no one i'm this house or
| me country but views the present crisis of
affairs with the deepest solictude. To what.
ever quarter of the chart of the public inte.
restl turn my eye; whether 1 consider The
transcendant power OF our enemy ON the con-.
| tinent. the injudcious policy Of our govern
inent, or the present distraction-of the pub
lie mind at home, am equally filled with
anxiety. Feeling, as l do, in unison with
my noble friend on my left, (Lord Gren
WILEY and those who have had the happiness
TO Concur with him in opinion, | Thought it
my duty to address your lordships upon the
present awful & alarming state of the coun
try. 1t is not in behalf OF any particular ad
minIstration, but it is in defence of the con-
stitution and liberties of the nation. l would
communicate my sentiments to this house &
the people,. l would examine, that we may
find out the source of those calamities which
at present threaten our very existence.
bu. whether they have any origin IN Jnl,e
who unfortunately hold the reins OF govern
aent, or whether hey are more immedl
ately to he ascrbed To those who are at pre-
sent attempting to dlrecl the public mind, it
rs OF the last Importance that we should con
send tor the power and privileges of the two
houses OF parliament. feel also conside
rabiy embarrassed in adopting The line of
i
the present times and poste:+ty would.
my lords, have II clearly Understood that no.
thing can induce me, or those with whom |
nave the honor 10 concur, To give any asss
lance to h 5 maj ,sty's ministers who have so
bindly & SO gnorantly conducted the afftirs
of this country
| whether we advert to the calamities of
Warfare, or the con entions they have excl
ted al home, their conduct must meet with
lpersons Who have not only al one time uu
necessarily stretched the power of parlia.
nent beyond salotary degree but they
nave, at another .ime, by their imbecilIty
and indecIsion, produced the opposite ex
IRENE OF reprehensble relaxation. They
nave, by their measures, produced that fer
ment winch now agitates the public mind
ana nave given to many mistaken iudividu-
ais AN opportunity OF disputing eve n the ex
lstence OF the power and privileges of pari.
ament. This power, my lords mas always
belonged to the two houses of the leg sia
ture, and was never disputed. According
TO every information 1 nave derived /; &c
IcCrding to all which l. ever read or was
taught respecting the constitution /; accord
| ng TO the most competent and eminent au
thoritieS have consulted or have known
the power and privilege of parliament have
been invariably admitted. For a moderate
| always be an advocate.
Considering, as | do, the critical situati
on OF the country, it was not an easy mat
ter tor me and others TO discharge what we
may term our duty, on this occasion. But
L wish the public to have this opportunity
OF learning our sentiments. and that we may
no longer be made the objects of misrepre
sentatton. have thought it incumbent thus
to address your lordships and TO signify that
! he IKnPc coll
ties which threaten the nation, to their true
source, and to suggest those measures which
may avert their ruinous & alarming conse-
quehces. For this purpose. my lords, | now
give notice that 1T is my intention, on this
day three weeks to move an address to his
majesty, and now move, That the lord, be
summoned for hat day
| lhe Earl ut Liverpool, was happy to find
SO much uDanimity respecting the public
spirit which had been raised against the
power and privilege OF parliament What
ever might be The opinion OF the noble earl
who had last addressed the house. as to any
individual ot administration, he was sure his
| information, and the long experience of his
| lie, would lead him to- support the power K
privileges vested IN the two houses Dy the
constitution. He would not enter into any
arguments. at this time, to- shew how far the
Conduct OF ministers had been guided BY a
Se''Se OF pfoprlety on the occurrence of past
events /; thai subject would come under their
consideration. and he had only 70 make a
Claim OF reserve, with respect to what he
himself, or amy of his colleagues, might have
to alledge at that period He had no hesI-
tation IN saJ ms they could dG.end them
selves from any charge which might be bro't
against them, and would prove that they
had discharged their duy with the strictes,
! propriety.
Lerd GrcnViHe--" My lords, confess it
| does not appear to me. that the noble secre
tary Of state can reasonably expect l should
say, that could possibly receive IRON any
man more distinct state ment of the object
and nature OF the melton, Of which he has
gwen no'lce, than have received by what
has been stated by my noble friend. My
noble friend has distinctly stated, that, i'm
pressed with a sense o! all the dangers which
surround this Kingdom dangers, unhappy,
not of one description only, but surrounding
us on every side dangers not assailng US
from one quarter alone, would to God they
were but dangers threatening the country
from every quarter. 1t his intention is to
submit detailed address to his majesty
upon the subject OF hose dangers. TO submit
his views, and the views of those who con
Cur with finn rs to the causes OF those dan e.
gers, the measures by which they may be
averted, and the steps they are imperiously
called on 10 take. cannot agree with the
noble losd, thai these questions, when DIS
cuSsed, can be seDat Atsd from the question.