Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-08-12

not obtaining what he conceived satisfac-
tory reply, he desired his audience of leave. |
He (Mr. Whitbread) Thought, that after hav- !
ing heard these memoranda, the House
would see the expeaiency Of procuring the
documents in an official form. But whate-
Yer might be the sentiments az tho House on
the subject, knowing, as he did. the serious
evils which existed-foreseeing the dreadful
events which might possibly take place IL,
tie coarse OF the Summer among those who
were enduring such evils--bemg aware tina,
hunger WAS sharp taSk-mas;er, and might
drive to acts which lac pray ed God to avert,
lie ieit 1t 10 be his duty 10 move, That an
humble Address be presented to His ROYAL
itlghness the Prince Regent, praying that he
would be gracious!v pleased to direct that
there be laid before the House, copies of all
correspondence between the Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, and the Minister
O. the United States of America during the
year lSll.'
The Chancellor of Exchequer trusted the
house would not be disposed to entertain
such motion as that made by the Hon. Cen
tieman, without any previous notice having
been given, and more especially when the
Hon. Gentleman himself stated, that he did
not conceive his motion could be followed BY
any thing in the present session, but merely
the production of papers. IL ever llcre was
case in which a notice of motion was pecu-
larry requisite, it must be when another pro-
position was speedily to follow. Ii it were
necessary to do any thing immediately, that
necessity must reasonably be urged to induce
the House TO entertain molten without no.
tice.-Here, however, there was no such
necessity, and he was persuaded that the
House felt too strongly the benefit to public
business, which was derived from the prac-
tee or giving notices Of motions, TO depart
from their usual course on the present occa-
sion. The Hon. Gentleman could have had
two motives in bringing forward this subject
me one was to make a speech, the other to
obtain the productions of the papers in cues
ton. In the first part of these objects the
Hon. Gentleman had succeeded: and with
respect TO the second, as he himself declared
that 1t was not his intention 70 found any mo-
ton upon the papers during the present ses-
son, 1t appeared unnecessary TO produce
them until the next session. Such wouls,
have been his argument at any period, but
ii there ever was a time at which il was pc
culiarly incumbent upon the House to resist
motion OF this nature, It was the present pc
rod, when no opportunity had been Afforded
Tor Judging OF the effect which might be pro-
dlced by Mr.. Fosters mission to America
y ct at such moment did the Hon. Gentle
man come forward with his tirade.--( Hear,
hear! )-At such a moment did he tell the
Americans not only THEN. Interests, but that
their honor had been injured by c.. Britain
{ Hear, hear, hear +! AT such moment
cid he attempt to give an impression of the
negotiation which had taken place, of such
nature as might be fatal to the negotiation
which was still carrying on.-( Hcar, hear,
$50! J-With respect to the Hon. Gentle
M pt,tr-f, ~. n
the correspondence, the present was not the
period Tor commenting upon them. When
the negotiation should be terminated. that
would be the time for discussing its merits
and not while it was yet pending. Indeed,
these observations might well have been SPAR
ed. Thinking, as he did, that the whole of
the existing evils Of the country arose out of
the commercial policy of the British govern
ment, the Hon. Gentleman had right to a.
VOW that opinion but at the present critical
Juncturc, when the Hon. Gentleman himself
had admitted that no Parliamentary proceed
inS could Immediately follow his motion, he
was not justified in making remarks, the ten
dency OF which could at least not be benefici-
al. With respect to that portion of the Hon
Gentlemans speech, in which he declared
ms opinion, that the existing evils grew cut
ct the commercial policy of the British Co
vernment, did the Hon. Gentleman consider
that there was It least considerable doubt,
whether had this country not pursued the
system which had been adopted, her trade
would not have suffered as complete an e5i-
clusion from the continent as at PRESENT. In
that case the same pressure would have been
endured by this country, as she sustained un-
der the existing circumstances, with this ag-
gravating consideration, that the enemy was
suffering no inconvenience whatever. but that
from the advantage Of neutral carriage, he
was relieved from the pressure which he en-
dured at the present momcnt-a pressure
which he (the Chancellor Of the Excheuuer)
contendcd, was infinitely greater than that
sustained by q. Britain, and which he was
satisfied could not much longer be endured
by the enemy. He urged this more strong-
~, because he did not wish those unfortunate
individuals who were suffering in this coun-
try from the suspension of commerce, to be
impressed by the Hon. Gcntleman's speech.
with the notion that their evils were attribut-
able to their own Government alone; that
there was nothing i'll the conduct of France
winch tended to occasion those evils but
that their own Government were the real
and sole enemy Of their interests. Did the
Hon. Gentleman consider the effects OF such
representation ON the minds of the suffer
crs' The Hon. Gentleman had alluded to n
misrepresentation of what he (fhe Chancel-
Tor OF the Exchequcr) had said on former
night, and had dwelt on the alacrity with
which the observation had been interpreted.
as holding out the prospect of an accommo-
da'icn between Great Britain and Russia.
Certainly he had held out no such expecta-
tionf-What he had stated was simply, that
IN the present aspect Of affairs in the North
OF Europe, II would be impossible for Bona
partc 10 make those exerficpe -, c,,,;- -, :,
Portugal TO which he might otherwise inc q