The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-05-20
Fron lgadon papers, by The Cor'nthi0a
HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARoH ls.
FRANCE AND SPIN.


qualification be lth II seeing the right houora
BILE secretary Tor foreign affairs again IN his
place. and he hoped thai he would allow him
10 take that opportunity of asking him qnes
ton on the subject OF tue foreign relations
of this country. Indeed, the only eircum-
stance which prevented such a question from
being earlier put, was one which he lamented
and which arose entirely out OF the uniortu-
nate indisposition Of the right hon gentleman
This explanation OF the delay was necessary,
10 show that il had not arisen from any want
OF anxiety for the solemn aud important crisis
ia which the desiinies oil Europe were placed
nor from any want oil sensibily for the mag
nitude of the interests involved ia that crisis
Indeed he might add, thai Independent Of the
absence of the right hon. secretary, the gen
tlemen who acted with him (Sir MACINTOSH
had felt an extreme and delicate soliciude not
TO embhrrass the negotiation in which 1t was
understood his majesty government were en-
gagged TO avert war between france aud
Spain Whilst the government were under.
stood 10 he engaged ~ the heavy burden of a
responsibility OF 81 serious nature rs that OF
maintaining peace at this awful aud arduous
crisis, any interruption of which must, nj this
moment, endanger the tranquility OF the Bri.
fish dominions more than II could any other
European power, aud more than II could be
supposed To do almost under any other cir
cumstances, he Ind, together with others, for.
borne from making any specific inquiry which
could, by possibility, cmharrass his majesty s
government in The conduct OF negotiation
al once arduous and most delicate perhaps 10
fhe greatest de rec but they nevertheless.
trusted, that that lorbearaDre had been sauta.
ry, and that the negotiation had been con.
ducied upon those principles OF national indie.
peadence which became the British charac-
fer--lioud cries OF hear, )--upon the principles
of the maintenance Of that grent balance of
power ia Europe, which If not the sole was
at least an essential safeguard 1l national IN.
dependence. He sincerely hnped that in the
negotiation these great principles had been
upheld, that the faith OF treaties hid been en-
fofced--that the ancient principles Of true
British policy had been steadily ob4eyed--
those prime plies which We're inseparhble from
tie national honor, aud which contra .disiin.
guished The be,t era OF the history OF Great
Britain, the feigus OF Elizabeth and William.
from those OF james and Charles.-aiear,
hear) He most sincerely trusted that in the
negotiation which II was understood had been
suependng, those good and only great princ-
pies had been pertinaeionsly kept in view
Having said thus much, he rose for the pur-
pose oil asklug-and he put the question with
feelings OF painful HnNiety--whether the right
hon. secretary Tor Foreign Affairs had still nnv
reason 10 hope, that the inlerpositiOn of his
maJestys government was likely 10 utevent
that most nnpros uked aggression which
France was now carrying on against the ma.
uonal Independence of Spain Should the
answer OF the right hon. gentleman bc IN the
negative, then his other question would be
When Tue rshi hon gentleman meant 10 lay
on the table OF the house copies of the cor.
res kyb,,.I, Al
alton oil this country with France and Spain ,
lie hoped he might be permitted TO rntreat.
but not IN the doubtful form of a oncstiou
that when these papers were submitted TO
farilaneht, aud before his majesty 5 govern
meni meant to take the sense of the house
upon Them that sufficient time would be nj
lowed To have them printed aud well under.
stood, 50 that the house, after fun prepafatioo.
could decide with Judgment and wisdom ma.
Oh the conduct of his nnestvs goyernmen nj
al a great aud unesampIed crisis ike the pre.
seat. lie hoped that the right hon gentleman
would excuse him in putting this question:
(Hear, hear)
Mr.. Canning said, that nothing was farther
rom ms mind than any thing like a complaint
against his honorable and learned friend Co,
putting this question. II was undoubtedly
quite competent for his learned friend accord.
ing 10 Parliamentary usage, to solicit the in.
formation he now sought and with resnect
10 ms delay IN torbearancc 70 put il, he owed
10 nun 10 State that the delay was not only
proper and becoming, but founded npon n sa.
Htary WISDOM, considering the state of nnhIi,
affairs and also, (and he thanked him far i,1
dictated in n spirit of benev olant cou,,e,v TO-
wards himself. He was now prepared IA an.
swer his hon and learned friends interrogo.
tory distinctly, and with that candor vbirt
was hitting towards him, aud ia accordanr,
w,th The tone OF his question First, then
WIN Feierence to his hon and learned friend,
preliminary observations, he was only al thi,
no'he"' prepared 10 say, that the conduct o
MS maleSty's government, al what he conc,r
FED with him in thinking to be an awfnl onc
arduons crisis in the politics of Eurone ba,
bscn becoming and befttine the orcasino
%hsaf' near lie desired on the par, of hi
malesiys government, no other ground n
STAND upon tiian thet which his honorable nm,
learned friend had alluded, as recognizinc nm,
saactoning the Independence of natioos
Cloud cries of bear0 He desined m \.
judged by the earnest desire thew had evincsS
10 iuinl und preserve the faith of subsi.tin,
trsaues' positive or conditional and In odji
iion to those tests which his honorable n -,
learned friend hal laid down, he desired ale.
20 f,e judged by the fixed desire " ,nnin;ain;n,
ana neVei losing sight of the interest and bn
nor ana station ofthe British nation In N,
eyes OF the world. tCheers) Having mad,
these general illusions to his honorable am
Leaned frend's preliminary observations h,
shohid now apply himseIfts his specific uues
lon-a question which il was quite competent
iof MS honorable and learned friend to nut
\ ano which he was prepared to answer in tina
sinrii and candour which governed his hone.
1a'ie ana learned friead'sconduct lie should