The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-04-30
HOUSE or COMMONS.
WAR WITH AMERICA.

Lord CASTLEREAGH trusted that in RI
sing To address the House, they would ex-
euse him for Calling to their recollection the
great Importance of the present subj ect. The
consideration that would come before the
House was whether Ministers had 50 CON
Quoted the negotiations & discussions with
America, as that now, under the present
their conduct merited the
appreciation OF Parliament. He apprehen
ded, however, that 1t was not the practice OF
Ministers in such cases, TO come down to
Parliament to ask for vote of appreciation
in their own favor it was enough 10
have discharged their duty to the best OF
their means, and to be satisfied in their own
consciences; it would be great arrogance
to presume that they had merited the APP
probation OF Parliament but it would be
their qualification to find that appreciation
on their conduct. The merits
of their Conauctit was. natural to leave to
those who ght think them i'm error, and
who might therefore, if they pleased, move
some proposition upon that point. The in
formation now laid before the House was
produced ar the instance of others, par
ticuiarly an hon. gentleman, (Mr. Whit
bread); but though it did not call on min
listers to Justify themselves. yet the House
would do them the justice to say, that they
had manifested no sort OF reluctance in Civ
ing ali the necessary information. They
had submitted the whole state of the discus
sion to Parliament, and though it was not
the particular question before them, he
should feel disposed, if called upon in later
stages of the debate, 20 answer any inQui-
ries that might be made respecting the views
and conduct of Minister'S, though that was
not in the first instance neceSsary.-He re
GREETED that under the circumstances of the
war, the additional calamity of the hostili-
ties with America should have occurred.
1t was an evil that the war should be ex-
tended, but particularly so in this new di
rection, for he knew Of none in which it
could happen with less advantage to both
parties. These were his feelings and he
iamented the war in common with Parlia-
ment and the nation, Notwithstanding the
right and ju stiCe of the grounds on which
we had been obliged to enter into it. 1t wa.
however, consolation, that though our sin
Cere cndeavorS to prevent it had fail
ed, the justice and necessity of our meas.
uCes were so connected with our paramount
interests, that the feelings of the country
must go along with government, and form
the best pledge of yigour in conducting the
war, and of obtaining that peace which
was its only object The Americans could
not be so deaf TO reason, as that our cause
would not nave It's due weight with them
and induce them to call on their govern
ment for peace. His proposition would be.
to assure the Regent that they were conf
dent of the justice of the war, aud relied
on the best exertions Of the country. MANY
parts of tue question had already taken up
the time OF Parliament, which had given
its opinion ON the MOST important of them A.:
he should therefore look rather to the later
stages OF the discussions. In showing the
necessity of the stand governmenthad made,
he felt confident that those who had recon-
mendcd negotiation with America, if they
found that She had presumed upon mere
supposed opinions in her favor, would be
among the most forward TO resist her, and
to maintain the rights and Interests of this
country. America might soon see, that
anxious TO lie het friend, we were equally
determined not 60 surrender what was es-
seEtIal to our interests lie lImcnted, that
IN the communication of the President to
Congress, !nl tie report of the Minister of
Foreign Relations almost every ancient
subject ot grievance, though settled by am
icable treaty, and even by explanation and
atoneuent in sOme cases had been brought
forward the tendency of which was, to
protract every reasonable hope of peace, by
inhaming the public feeling. This certain.
ly was not the temper in which America.
should have proposed an armistice. The
NAN points IN the American declaration
we're what concerned Illegal biockades as
ne ,,,yef r,,eo,, Ell.