Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-06-06


ed ii would not be thrown away OH pub
lie men in general, To state the facts on
which he asserted with regard 10 those
very individuals for whom the Noble
Lord had sacrificed the honour of the
country, and abandoned lis sound policy
with regard 20 foreign nations, and in
whose behalf, after he had pulled down
the usurper by whom they were threat
ened, he had plunged into the commis-
sion OF the greatest political crimes-that
they eXecrated the man who had been
their accompiiCe IN tlIeir infamous pro-
iects. He was sure that The Noble Lords
political conscience already whispered TO
him what he (Mr. b. alluded. He was
sure that the Noble Lord knew that he
meant 10 refer To his conduct with respect
to Ragusa and Genoa-wh here the name
OF England had received stain, that not
all the victories of the Duke of Wellington
could wipe ont, nor all the services of the
longest lie of the greatest Minister that
ever lived atone for hear, hear, hear q
He would advert first TO Ragusa, because
1t as The smaller State; and because, II
political morality and political Justice
meant any thing, they meant that the
rights and Liberties OF inferior States
should be protected by the most power
were San Marine instead of Ragusa. he
would cite the conduct which had been
pursued as still more fragrant instance
of base dereliction of public principle.
Ragusa had been nominally AT least un-
der the dominion of the Ottoman Porte.
The Ottoman Porte was the ally of Eng
land. 1t has been SAID that the worst of
all Bonaparte's atrocities was his attack
| on Egypt, he being at that time in alli-
| ance with the Ottoman Porte. and having
therefore no motive fort enterprize but
J the love of gain and the lust of power ::
| and it was well known that his seuding
| Sebastian TO that country after the Peace
| OF Amlens, was one of the chief causes
| OF the war that was so suddenly renewed.
| But what had been our conduct In the
occurrence 10 which lie was adver,ing
! We're we al war with the Ottoman Porte ?
| II not, did we consult the Ottoman Porte
| about The cesslon OF Ragasa TO Austria {?
WHAT was sui more important, had the
! kogusese been consulted about that ces-
sion! Had we not, without the SLIGHTEST
( regard 10 the rights Of free people, par
celled them out at our own dis, retion.
/ and from the state of liberty which tbey
were enjoying, had we not handed them
over 10 that, which they at least CON
| ceived to be Tyranny? Had they the
| slightest share in the deliberations of the
| Congress. They had Ministers there
| They had made no communication nor
| had any communication been made 10
| them. Their very existence was scarce
| ly known, except 10y the gallant ex-
ample which they had afforded i'm sha
| king off without aid the hated empire
of France. Aud how did we require
them for this II Die and successful effort?
| We, who had sounded the alarm to the
uttermost corners of the earth against
the despotism of Bonaparte, and who
in the cause of liberty and independence
had called on the people of the whole
Giobe-on the Ragusese as OH others
to seize the first opportunity of over
turning his tyranny? Werequitet them
power which they detested Thear. hear |!
But let the Noble Lord, and let that
House, and let the world mark how we
! were repaid for this most criminal act.
The Emperor of Austria, extending his
commercial regulation 10 all his Italian
States, absolutely shut our trade of that
very Ragusa which we had delivered o.
yer to him; and thus had the Noble
Lord received his punishment OIL the We
ry spot on which he had so shamefuIlv
sacrificed the honour ofhis country [hear.
hear, hear! But if any page of the his
tory of the late transactions on the con-
tinent were blacker than any other, il was
that in which were recorded the deeds
OF the Noble Lord respecting Genoa. I'm
speaking on this subject, when he recol-
lected the eloquence, the force of Ian
guage, as well as of argument, and the
authority of virtue IAN authority ever
deeply acknowledged in that Housed
with which the cause of Genoa had once
been advocated by a tongue now silent.
but which used To be ever eloquent when
public law was to be maintained, or use
iul truths were to he inculcated, he fell
a still deeper regret that his lamented
friend was not living to witness the No
bic Lords punishment for the conduct
which he had pursued towards unhappy
Genoa hear The Petty tyrant TO whom
the Noble Lord had handed over that
once free and gallant Republic, after ha-
wing called upon it TO join the standard
Of liberty aad independence, had laid it
under the most rigid commercial restric-
Demonstrations not directed against
IFS trade generally, but especially and
pointedly against its trade with this coun-
Try. Ii appeared, therefore, that in pub
lIc as well as in private-in state affairs
as well asi in the affairs of an humble in
dNIdual-the old maxim, that" honesty
is the best policy" ought never to be
forgotten, In vain had the Noble Lord
iattered himself that his subser,iency to
the unrighteous system which prevailed
at the Congress, would secure TO him
the adherance of the Courts of the Con-
tinent. Had he abandoned that system-
had he acted in conformity to the princi-
pies OF the country which be represent
ed--bad he advocated the rights and IL
berries of the people, the people would
have been grateful. PrefeTriutr the i'm