The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-04-10


brave troops, whose distinguished and hero
&c valor has been unprofitabiy sacrificed in |
enterprises, productive not OF advantage,
but OF lasting injury to the country. Enter |
prizes. marked only by repetition Of for |
mer errors tardy and uncombined; inca
pable ia their success of aiding our ally, in |
the critical moment Of his fate, but expo
sing. in their failure. his maiesty's councils |
to the scorn and derision of the enemy.
"Fhat we, therefore. feel ourselves bound,
with view to the only a,oncment that now
can be made to an injured people, to insti-
tute, without delay, such rigorous and effec
tual enquiries and proceedings. as duty i'm
pe!s US u adopt. in a case where our country
has beensubjected to unexampled calamity
and disgrace"
The Eirl OF RdrroTrby commended, that
the house could not agree to the amendment,
unless their minds were made up on the
subject, as it amounted to an absolute and
decisive tote, whereas, there were not at
present. grounds laid before them even for
an enquiry. The speech, however, had
promised to furnish the necessary documents,
and when that was done. it would be time
enough to Institute process upon them
With respect to the charge, that we had no,
eHectuaiiy assisted the exertions of Austria,
that power he asserted, had gone to war
without amp encouragement from us but,
even SO. no spot could be so we'll chosen to
aid her efforts, as that to which the expedi-
ton was Sent. Had, however all this been
practicable, it would have been most impru-
dent to have sent so large force, to SO
great a distance from home, ignorant, as we
must be of the attempts which the enemy
might make upon this country, in its absence,
and of the material change that might take
place in the affairs Of the continent. Minis
fore iii
point, where the troops might be considered
as only the advanced guard of the country,
and no danger was to be dreaded beyond the
mere evil of failure i.self-That spot was
Lcaland--a spot from which Boaapartc me-
ditated an invasion OF this country-a spot,
which might be considered of his own crea
ton, with respectt to the means by which he
expects to rival US, as naval power In
the first place, then, we had not so large a
disposabIe force, as one hundred thousand.
Secondly. if we had, we did not possess the
means to maintain it at SO great distance.
| And. thirdly, it would have been imprudent
to have sent it to a distance, that must i'm
voidaby induce its long absence from the
country. The noble lord then proceeded to
compare the state of Portugal, before Sir
A. Wellesley sailed, with its present situa-
ton, in which Portugal is clear of the enemy
and may be considered safe, at least for a
time whereas, had not the troops been
sent there, the country would have been O.
verrun by the French. under Victor. With
respect to the expedition to the Scheldt, it
was objected, that it was too late to assist
Austria. 1t was true, the armistice was
signed; bat. suppose the armis,ice had end.
ed in the renewal of the war, what would
have been the case then i-And, even as it
was, it coad not be commended; that it did
not influence the terms. of the peace. His
Iiordship concluded with saying, that there
were no grounds laid, at present, for enqu-
ry. and that it would be, at all events un-
precedentcd, to vote ceHsure; before enqu-
ry.
The Earl of MORA said if he thought
any power Of speech or language necessary
TO excite the indignation of the country at
the scenes which this country lately exhi-
bited to the world, he would not have ad :.
dressed the house. The noble Earl had ask
| ed, whether without proofs they should go
into enquiry, much less pronounce judgment
| But would he therefore contend, that with
out proofs the House would go into APPROX
al! For his part he wanted no proofs but
those already before the House-the proofs
demanding not only enquiry but condemna-
ton stand before them, (Hearl Hear ~
ihey were plain and manifest. The whole
conviction of his mind, and the conviction
OF every one who considered the subject.
called for judgment. 1t was impossible to
argue against the direfu effects already
experienced, and those which still threaten
us. Upon the face of the case he would
therefore SO the full length of the amend
ment, although it only goes into enquiry at
present. The noble Earl had not fairly sta
ted the case of Austria, as put by his noble
friend. He would admit, with the speech,
that we had not encouraged Austria TO go
to war, but what was the real fact. Austria
having, of her own accord, drawn the sword
against France, ministers neglected their
duty if they did not Immediately exert eve
ry means to assist her exertions-we were
interested in her success, and it was their
duty to encourage not only her but every O
Their power that was disposed to fight our
battles. No specific promise of aid having
been given, none was broken but if that
aid, which our interests required, was not
granted, ministers had equally neglected
their duty. His friend (Lord Grenvile)
had not said that the succours should amount
to so large force as 100000 men-he on
~ commended that ministers having deter.
mined to send out certain force, it ought
10 be directed to different point from that
to which ii was sent. 1t would have threat
ened most formidable consequences torrance
had the force sent out been landed on the
south OF Germany. Again, had it been sent
to the north, what might not have been ex
Pected from it acting in the rear of the
French army, and combining the scattered
troops on that part of the Continenti--
With respect to Spain. he differed entirely
With the noble Earl. The case of Spain af |
forded the most glorious opportunity ever
ahorcSd OF terminating the war with glory