Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-09


done, 1t placed Ia similar circumstances
America had been i'll treated both by France
and England; both had exacted from her
whatit was perfectly impossible for her to
perform. Sine had borne with this rs long
as she reasonably could, without even resor-
ing To defensive measures. At las. she was
compelled to lay on the embargo. and forti
" herself by the non-intercoursc law. To
neither OF the belligercnts had she acted
with Injustice, though i'll used by both but
france had wisdom enough to be rhe first to
retrace her steps, and adopta conciliatory
tone. The recent accounts from America
rendered the production of the information
winch he called for a matter of still grea-
ter Importance. The admission of our man
utacturcs would probably give umbrage to
France--and Great Britain ought to he pre-
pared to take advantage of this favorable oc-
currence. Whether he succeeded or failed
IN his motion, he would at least, have the
satisfaction of having done his duty.
lie concluded by moving, .' that an adj
dress he presented to the prince regent for
copies OF the correspondence between our
government and America, through the me-
uiuni Oh the respective ministers, with the
documents referred to in that correspon-
uenee, from the LIST of January, 1910, up to
the latest PERIOD
MIR. Perceval (the premier) replied to Mr..
Wnitoread. FROM the declarations of the
minister IN this speech, we have no hope
of the repea! of the orders in council
lhe following are extracted from the
speech:
Mr.. PercevaI said, he agreed with the
non gentleman (Mr. Whitbreatl) in consid-
erlnS the subject as one of extreme impor-
tance and interest. 1t was, moreover, a sub
Ject OF great Importance to us, whether il
was this country that should be forced into
war (it war could not be avoided) by Amer
ica, or whether the war should proceed from
any misconduct OH the part of the British
government. He must, however. ALWAYS
maintain, that as to the spirit of concilia.
ton always protested in the diplomatic COR
respondence between the two countries. Il
was most sincere upon our part. The 70
vernment was alive to all the advantages of
reconciliation with America but still thew
felt it their imperious duty not to abandon
those maritime rights which this country
had ever maintained, and which, if once re.
iihquished. would leave the country but little
moro to give up"
Again" He thought the gentlemen who
supported the original measurein 1906, mfr.
Fox's blockade1 ought not now to be the
persons to raise their voice against the ius-
tice and the policy of the measures since
pursucd.--TIe should bc at all times ready
to maintain, that they were consistent with
justice and policy, and with the relation
which states bear to each other in the ex
traordinary circumstances i'm which the
world IS placed at the present moment
When the hon. gentleman talked of mer-
camille distress, and attributed it all to the
orders in Council, he must positively deny
that it was OcCasioned by those measures:
on the contrary it was owing to them that
the distress was not much greater. 1t was
to what was called the continental system
that this mercantile distress was owing; and
tins system had been much controlled and
checked In its progress by the orders in
council. As the hon. gentleman has pro-
iesseo not now to enter into the argument
OF the justice and policy of those measures,
ne should also content himself with lust
5iancins, as he had done, at the reasons
which made him consider them neither un-
just nor impolitic. He deprecated hostilities
with America Cf they could be ayoided) as
much rs any man; for Inc agreed with the
non. gentleman, in believing that the true
prosperity OF America would produce the
prosperity OF Britain; and that there was
much greater advantage to be derived from
the wealth OF America, in friendly COM
merce, than could be expected from provok-
ing her to war. Under these impressions
he thought that peace should be maintained
and preserved as long as it could be preserv-
ed, without abandoning those maritime
rights which this country had ALWAYS claim
ed and exercised. But although he saw great
evil i'll war with America, vet, he Could
not Conceive 1t an evil of so great a magni-
tude as it appeared to the hon. gentleman.
who looked TO 1t as likely to produce the
ruin OF the British cmpire,-No one circum-
stance would be found IT. all the papers be-
tween America and France, which Showed
theleast intention ofdiminishing in any man
ner the real effect of the Berlin and Milan
DEGREES. The continental svste1, ryae m he
trescrUedm aHhS force, and there was not
to be the slightest relaxation, in EaUo,- of This
country, Of n single hoint IF il, eUen if il
shoUta consent 10 abandon the orders in cou1-
Gill;
Mr.. Percival concluded by observinr-
The honorable gentleman seemed to think,
that the correspondence between the two
countries was now finally closed, and that.
therefore, there could be no danger in their
production. lie, for his part, hoped that the
correspondence was not finally closed and
while hope Of that sort remained, however
slight, he would wish to cherish il. and do
nothing which could increase irritation. He
Thought Il possible that there were points in
those discussions which might still be brought
60 afavorable issue, and which could hardly
be expected It those matters were publicly
discussed in that house He was extremely
DESTROYS to believe that the final issue might
1edifferent, from what appeared the present
state of things, and therefore, he did not feel
himself at liberty to go freely into such dis
cpssion until the final determination. There
were many points in the conduct Of America
which ne could not now characterize by those
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