Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-06-17

which we were called upon to review our
past conduct. In the course of the last war
we had been forced from our national position
and II had left US too much connected with
thc most drspOtic governments. He then re
viewed the general conduct of the coniinen-
Ia! governments, commencing with the scram-
BILE which characterized the negotiations at
Vienna.
The charge against the Right Hon Cen
tleman, (hlr. Cdnning) was not thai he had
precipItated Great Britain Into war, hut
that he had not interposed the weight of her
character and influence in the right quarter,
or in the right season, with the almost certain
prospect of preserving the general peace of
Europe that he had sacrificed the certainty
ufavoiding wal to some chimerical apprehen-
sion of having the war thrown upon us imme
didiely, though with the imminent peril of be
ing dragged iuto il hereafter (Hear. hear.)-
To that apprehension we had sacrificed the
dignity and character of England, and exhibit
cd ourselves To Europe the object of its rdi-
cule and contempt
The language of the combined Monarchs of
Continental Europe appeared To him To be
perfectly inelligible. Ii was To this effect
e" Wait until we have closed the doors of eve
~ legislative assembly remaining in the States
of Germany wait until Austria is in posses
sion of Italy wait until France is in posses
ton of Spain wait until the Russian lux
waves on the DMdanelles and the Morea !;
and then, proud Islanders, your time is come :"
He concluded by moving
"That an humble address he presented TO
his Majesty To inform his Majesty, that this
House has taken into its most serious consi-
deration the papers relating to the late nego
clation, which have been laid before them by
his Majcsty's gracious com nand.
" To represent IN his Ma iesty, that the dis
appointment of his Majesty's benevolent
solicitude Ia preserve general peace, appears
10 this House tn have. in great measure,
arisen from the failure of his Ministers To
make the most earnest, vigorous, and solemn
protest against the pretended right or the
Soverrigns assembled at Verona, TO make a
war on Spain on account of her poliiical in
stituiions; we'll as against the subsequent
prctenson of the French Government to
deny that nations can lawfully enjoy any civil
privileges hut from the spontaneous grant of
their Kings principles destructive Of the rights
of all independent States, VIII ch strike al the
root of the British constitution, and are sab
verslNe OF his VI ijesiy's legitimate title 10 the
throne.
I" Farther, TO declare to his Majesty, the
surprise and sorrow with which this House
has observed that his Mniesty's Ministers
should have advised the Spanish Government,
while so nnNarrantahIy meuaced, To alter
their Constitution, in the hope of averting
Invasion : a concession which alone would
have invoI'ed the total sacrifice of national in
dependence; and. which was not even paa,cd
ny anassurance from France, that, ON recciv-
ng so dishnuourabie submission. she would
drsist from her unprnvuked aggression.
p" tinaliy,t 10 represent Ia his Majesty, that,
IN the Judgment of this House "A tone of more
dlgnifi"d remOnslranCe would have been bet
ter calculated To preserve the peace of The
Continent and thereby To secure this nation
more effcctuaIly from the hazard Of being in
voiced IN the calamities IF war"
Mr.. >. Woriley rose for the purpose of pro-
passing an amendment. With respect to all
which the Hon. Gentlemen had said nf the
conduct of the Foreign Powers towards Spain,
he suspected there was perfect agreement
throughout the country. On this subject he
iclt rs strongly and warmly as the Hon. Gen
tlrlnan could do. In his opinion the French
Government had manifested degree of folly,
- eater than ever had been exhibited l.y asy
other Go' eminent on the face of the cafth-
lie had himself very little doubt, that that folly
would meet withiis reward and that the pro
Jccis OF France would ultimately faii lie
thought ihc Dnke Vt Wellington had very ably
discharged his duties at Verona He would
conclude, therefore. by moving as an amend
men:, TO leave out ali the words in the tnoiion.
after the Paragraph, stating that the House
had taken into Ms most serious consideration
the papers which had been laid before it by his
Majesty gracious command, for the purpose
Of substituting the following:
70 assure his Elaiesty nr our entire con
currence in the principles which his Majesty
has repeatedly declared, with respect to inter-
terence in the interna! concerns of independent
nations, ADD in his Majesly's Just application
OF those principles, IN the course 0G the late
negotiations, To the case Of Spain.
10 acknowledge, with gratitude, his Ma
Iesiy's earnest AID unwearied eudcayours TO
preserve the peace of Europe.
I@ express our deep regret that thOsp
endeavours have proved unavailing and
while we rejoice, thar his Majesty has not he
come party To war, in which neither honour
nor treaty, nor the welfare of his Ala-sty's
domnlons, required his Majesty TO engage :;
TO assure his Majesty that highly as we est
mate Tue advantages Of peace, particularly az
the present moment, we shall be al all times
ready 10 afford his Majesty our most JEALOUS
ana aGectIGnate support in any measures
which his Majesty may find necessary to fulfil
the obligations of national faith, rs yindicaie
the dignity of his crown, or maintain the rights
and interests of his people"
Mr.. Thomas Wilson seconded the amend
ment, under the conviction that great pro
portion oi bis constituents in the city of Lon
don, as wen as of the people at large, were 10
favour OF the policy of neutrality, at the pre-
sent moment. Ills sentiments were complete-
ly in unison with The last speaker, and hs
viewed the conduct of France towards Spain
with tire greatest exccrai0u The Sprak
erhavinS put the question from the chair
upon the amendment Mr. Huhhousc rose
and AT very considerable length, made an
eloquent address in favour Of the original mo
linn Sir w ~, IL. l,......:---. IL 4 4