Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-05-13

come To- something OF more Importance, namely
the debate of the 18th inst. in the House OF
Commons, upon the subject of the war with A.
merica. l perhaps should not call il debate,
where, as to the only point at issue--all the
| speakers seem to have been of one mind and
sentiment. But be it what it may, it is great
importance to the liberties of mankind and
| as such, shall notice it somewhat in detail
| Lord Cast'ereagh (ayc, that is the man, Aine-
| ficans;) opened the discussion in the charac~
| ter OF Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs
| This mans name is we'll known to the world.
This is now the man, who, after Perciyal, is TO
maintain the justice and necessity of war a.
gainst America. The papers, relating to the
| negotiation between the two countries, had
been laid before the House; and, in consc-
| qncnce OF this, Lord Castlereagh, on the 18th,
brought forward motion for :" an address TO
the Prince Regent, expressing the regret OF
Parliament for the failure Of the negotiation,
"and pledging themselves to jealous and cor.
dial rdtion 1cifh his Royal Bigness in the
" Prosecution Of the soar, in support ofthe rights
" and interests Of Great Britain, and the honor
"of his Jfajesfy's Crosvn % This motion was
carried with an unanimous rotce, just rs SINH :
| lar motions used To he during the former Ameri-
can war, when about forty of such addresses
were carried up to the kng.-l shall now pro-
! coed to notice such parts of the speeches as
| seem to me worthy of particular attention.
Lord Castlereagh set out with relating what
had passed in regard to the Orders ia Cornell,
| and, after having referred to the time and man :
ner OF their repeal, and TO the pledges ofsup-
| port ofthe war given in case that repeal should
iail or producing peace with America, lie sad,
as 1T is stated in the report in the Morning He
raid, that, She, therefore, should support the
I war against her. lie, therefore, now Halter
ed himself, that government would mcetwith
| = that SUPPORT uhich had been literally pro-
missed. If this was really found to be the
:. case-if every attempt had been made that
Justice or Jorbearance could suggest, TO con
"cilintc America, and If, Notwithstanding, she
mad ISSUED a declaration OF war, and persist
"ed in carrying it on, after the concessiOns that
had been made, where was the man that
could refuse his assent to carry on the war
with vlgour adequate to our means! Ame-i-
ca would thus see the united efforts OF the
| country, and the unanimity of the House,
that had been called forth by the line of po-
licy that she had pursued. IF they looked at
the documents that had been pablished by
: the American government as the grounds OF
the war, they should look at peace as an OBJ
ject ve'y distant, because the American 60
| vernment placed the war on such extensive
4 grounds as could not be removed by this
country"
| 1t is very true that there were people in the
| House of Commons to promise to support the
war if the repeal of the Orders in Council fail
A
such Promise; and therefore, /, though fly a.
| mongst eagles, am at liberty 10 express my
disanprohation of the war. Nay, most dis
tinctly said, at the time, that the repeal of the
| Orders in Council would not satisfy the Ame-
! rican people. L had, indeed, said so many
months before and had said it upon know
feage Of the feet had all along said, that, un-
| less we ceased to impress persons out vi Ameri-
can merchant ships upon the high seas, we
should have wn,; and therefore, when the min
stry were, By Nh. Brougham, reduced to the
necessity of repeating the Orders in Council, |,
| in an address 10 The Pr nee Regent, PRAYED him
tc add a REIMBURSEMENT of the practice of i'm
| pressment, without which, positively assert
ed, that thc othcr measure would fail OF Its de-
sired effect. Nevertheless Mr. Ponsonby as
the leader Of the Whigs] did p,omise support
to the war, sahe repeal ofthe orders failed to
satisfy America; and Mr.. Brougbam did the
same. Tile country was thus misled, and was
| prepared for justification of the war. The
manufacturers, some of whom came 10 sec me
| in Newgate, where had been imprisoned Tor
two years, and sentenced TO pay fine OF q
thousand pounds to the King, which have
since paid to his son in his behalf, for having
written and published upon the subject of the
6ogging Of some Local Miitiamtn, in the
town of Ely, in England, who had been first
queicd by German troops here, say, M
this prison, saw some of the manufacturers,
who, after the success of MIR Brougham's mo.
ton, were preparing to return home, full oil
JOY in the assurance of renewed and uninter.
rupied Intercourse with America, and | told
them, that they ought to moderate their joy;
for, that Mr.. Brougham's success would not
produce the effect they expected, but that, on
the contrary, his pledge 20 support war. II
that measure failed TO ensure peace, might be
attended hereafter with infinite mischief
| They did rot absolutely laugh in my face, but
could clearly perceive that they did not believe
word that said, and that they attributed my
| gloomy predictions TO n feeling, which, though
l might nave been excused for possessing it,
really was = stranger, as far that subject
went, TO my breast. The truth is, that fhcy saw
no importance in any thing but commerce
saw nothing in i'm b,ossmepfs to make nation
| go 20 wal they regarded it as madness 10 supA
| pose that anation would suspend its commera
| cial gains for single hour for The sake OF 4
| few thousands Of men impressed from Ereign
| power. 1, howeverknew the disposition OF the
! free reople Of America better; | had heard
| the declaration of the congress on the subject !;
| knew that that body, whose seats not
| bought and sold, spoke the voice ofthe people,
! and, upon this ground, together with other
| grounds that | need not be- particular in nam
| ing, foitnded my assurances 10 tbe manaiac
| turers, that the repeal OF the Orders IN Coun-
/ Gil would not answer thc end they expected
| som il and could not help, must confess,
| feeling some slight degree of anger agaipsi the
/ manufacturing bodies wien saw them meet
| ing to vote thanks to Mr.. Brougl,am, without
| taking the smallest notice Of ny inccssant ct.
| forts 10 prevent that destruction oftheir hopes
! which saw would speedily tread upon the
| heels of their exultation. However, this feel.
| rig las long been extingushed in my breast,
(. ana only regret that am without the power
| Of a.Fording any portion of assistance To the