Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-03
HOUSE OF coMaIoNs-April :.


| .1IDhESS 10 IKE REGENT.
! SIR Francis Burdett rose and agreed, that while
Bonaparte was n Elba we had no right to RESTRAIN
his act ons, further than as they tended to re
produce war IN Europe. II was absurd TO talk OF
has invading France. Whoever heard of 80 m,i
ons OF people beng invaded by one man. His
success could only be accounted for by his cha.
racter standing so high, that the nation regarded
nm as ITS delrerer. The real causes, he took
l., We're that there was quite new order Of
things IN hat country, that property WIS changed
and the present possessoTs of properly felt them.
selves insecure, and were alarmed, and that the
King had not Kept faith with the nation, and had
not accepted the constitution accord no to the
stipulation agreed 10 by his brother He would
not be harsh 10 tie Bourbons but Their conduct
seemed 10 have deprived them of The throne, and
IL Would be nost.ie TO make war upon Or nc!pie
OF forcing monarch on q nation, IN combination
OF the other arbitrary governments of Europe-
The hon. Baronet sad, were these prenarat mas
intended to rePel aggression, he would concur m
the address; but notwIthstand ng the ambiguity
OF the noble Lord, he perceived desire 10 STR
up the elements OF war upon the princ pie OF
MAINTAINING what was called legitimate soce-
regnty. After nve CHING against the proceed
lngs OF Congress, and contrasting the conduct OF
LOUIS XVIII and Bonaparte, on the subject of the
slave trade, he observed that we had already done
more than could have been eXpec ed for the cause
OF the Bourbons. We had spent oceans of blood.
and had incurred many millions ofdebt. The ex-
per ment to restore them by force m eht fail; for
history scarcely gave SO magnanimous test 90
the OPINION of nation as IN the recovery of the
throne by Bonaparte. In conclusion he dssented
from the Address, because II was q measure lead
ing to war, unjust its principles, and wh,ch
night be ruInous IN its consequences
Mr.. Whtbread considered the whole az film.
! sy veil, to entrap his hon. friends, on a great
question, on which peace or war depended. II
was not our interest to make fresh crusade 70,
the French throne 1t was essential to hold 10
the treaty we had given TO France under the Bour.
oons. L, was merely an assumption that we ba,
gwen better terms by the Treaty of Paris thar
would have been gwen TO Bonaparte Ttwas even
contrad.cied abroad The papers had been prod,r.
Iced-Good faith had not been kent with Roma.
parte II IS aPetty-fogg lng excuse to say that the
year had not expired. He was convinced tina
| he noble lord knew nothing abont Bonaparte's
plans. In regard TO the slave trade VIII CHI the
bouTbons could not accomplish N less than five
| months, Bonapare had done 1t by a single stroke
| OF hls pen. Here the hon. member reproba,e ed IN
severe terms the Declaration of the All es aga rst
! Bonaparte--it was abhorrent 10 his feelings.
issued, TOO, so shortly after the King of Saxony
mad soleTnnly protested against the dismember
ent ofh,s territory, and SO shortly before Napo-
leon had decreed the abolition of the slave trade.
that, IN his opinion, our ministers at the Congress-
ought to be imPeached for having dlsgraced the
national character by signing 1t. The noble lord
wisely abstalned from saying any thing IN It's be
halt; for If there was any meaning in words that
| declaration went to designate Bonaparte for as
sass nat on; and as 1t might naturally call fort
spirit OF revenge, IT went to introduce war o.
determination among mankind Sorry he was t.
say, that the great name of England was sull.ed
by that declaration and all the great talents and
exploits ofthe Duke of Wellington would not re-
trieye his charac er from the shame which his s o.
nature had cast upon it. Could that stirgu,sh-
ed warrior, after all ms victories, call IN aid the
hand of an assassin
After alludng to the discOntents in Saxony and
Italy, the hon. member concluded w tn deDre
eating the attempts Of some of the prints to pro
duce hostile feelings between the two nat ons-.
In cOnclus on, he would observe that though i,c
approved of the present address, he should sub
init an amendment to It, tending TO take from VI =
nisters the power of aggression, limiting the
efforts to RESISTANCE, and mploring the Prince
Regent 10 preserve the blessings Of peace as far
as was compatible with the essential interest OF
the country.
Mr. Croker, said, no officer had orders to IN.
terfere with the trIcolored Flag Of France
Messrs. Banket Douglas, Plunker, w Elliott
and Robinson, were n favor of the address and
Lord Althorpe, AIessrs. Abercfomby, and W
Smith, IN favor of the amendment-On a d.vlslon.
the amendment was negatlved by 227 votes TO 81.
Adjourned.