Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-07-30
FOREIGN.

NEW YonK, June 23.-Yesterday the packe
ship New York, Capt. Maxwell, arrived at ,hi.
port Ia So days from Liverpool.
/ Among the passengers in the New York
are the Hon. Z. G. Stanley, and Mr.. j. f.
Den;snn, members of the British Parliament.
A Liverpool paper remarks, in relation to the
visi, ofthese geatlement to our country This
IS new but most interesting aud important
| field for the observation of our Senator'S"
| The debate ON the subject of the trial and
condemnation of the Rev. MIR. Smith, the mis-
sIonary at Demarara, was concluded in the
iouse Of Commons on the 18th of June. A
very laboured speech was made by DR.. Lush
ington in favour Of the original motion sub
United To the consideration of the House, in
which he attempted to establish Mr.. Smiths
Innocence both in legal and a moral sense.
For the vindcation Of Mr.. Smith," said he,
and IN proof G the gross injustice he ex-
perienced, shall rest solely and exclusively
on the documents laid before this House by
MS Majesty's ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ad-
united on all sides, as far as they extend, to
be nnquestionable." Again " / mean not 10
limit myself TO the mere showing whether the
proceedings adopted against Mr.. Smith were
legal or not. | go more directly TO the great
issue. claim for that injured man his in
oocence both legal and moral and am salts
Red IN my cunsclence that shall establish il
by evidence which any fairly constituted
trlhunal--any Judges seeking the truth only
will declare TO he unimpeached, and unim-
peachable. il is my purpose also to show,
that by the tribunal before which he was ar
raignsd, not only all the dictates of justice
were overlooked, but even the for ms of law
The rules @! the latter were violated, while
they disregarded the principles of the first"
The original resolution, introduced by Mr..
bronghan,, was warmly supported on this day
by Mr.. Wiiberlorce ALSO who condemned the
proceedings oil the court martial by which MIR.
Smith was tried in very pointed terms, and
pronounced warm enkogy upon the charac
ter and the virtues of Mr.. Smith.
| Mr.. Tindal, the ATTORNEY General, and Mr..
furmer upon the ground that Mr.. Smith was
possessed Of some knowledge respecting the
intended instruction of the slaves, bot con-
ceaied II and the latter, without attempting
absolutely To Justify the proceedings of the
court, or positively to establish the guilt of
Mr.. Smith, took middle ground, =" and with
out desiring to identify himself ut all with those
principles on which Mr. Smith had been tried.
or ia Justify the sentence, by which he was
condemned" said he believed "that Mr..
Smith did know that, which, if he knew its
character, he ought to have divulged {; and of
which, it he had only common discretion the
' u.
He afterwards, in the course of his speech, said
:" From the authorities which had been
cited. he did believe that sentence to be Illegal
II" and that upon the fullest and most careful
! examination Of all the evidence and the pro-
ceedngs in the case his majes,y's govern
ment felt not a moments hesitation in an
nulling that sentence"
MIR. Canning proposed to meet the motion
| by the previous question and on the fina re-
suit, there were for the original motion I4G,
against II 193-majority AZ.
Under the circumstances uf this case in our
| opinion, II would have been more manly and
more honorable in the ministry 10 have met
-ihe question fairly, and TO have condemned by
| vote of censure the mock tribunal, whose
sentence they had not for a moment hestated
to annul.
Nothing farther has TRANSFERRED concerning
the real cause of the dsmissiOn of Viscount
Chateaubriand from the French Ministry
Nor is it, in itself considered, and as it con
Germs himself only, a matter of much impor-
lance. That he was an enemy TO the freedom
and Independence of nations, supporter oil
the oppressive and drspotic system of the
Allied Sovereigns," has been long known
both by his determinations and his conduct. Ii
follows, therefore, necessarily, that he was a
bad minister; and as that system is the worst
III its principles and effects Of any that is &C
4 knowiedgeG or exists in any part of the civi
lized W. ord, ii would seem that there il moi
much probability ola worse man being an
pointed his successor.
Mr.. Brougham was assaulted in the anti
chamber OF the House Of Commons, on the
same spot where Mr.. Percival was assassipated
IVY Mr.. Gouray, who some years ago mad,
So much disturbance among our neighbours II
| Upper Canada. AS the instrument used
however, was only switch, and not dagger
MIR. Brougham escaped unhuri. GourIay wa
committed for breach of privilege. /
seemed to be conceded that he was insane.
In the House of Commons on the 18th June
the Speaker submitted letter from Doctors
Munroe and Sir Charles TuthilI, who at hi
desire, had visited Mr.. GosrIay. The lette,
states that Z" Having, in obedience to YOU
commands, visited Mr.. Robt. Gourlay, at pre-
sent in custody, by order of the House o
Commons, With IA view of ascertaiuing the stat,
Of his mind after repeated conversation
with him, and after hearing from him tn,
details OF the events of his life, coupled will
, the late occurrence, it is our opinion, that ht
mas iabourea under uDsOundness Of''mind tina
he was o. unsouDd mind when he assaulted an
honourabie member of the House Of Com
! mons, aud that he continues in the same state
still"
Mr.. Secretary Canning said that after III.
letter just read, the house. he was sure, woult
feel II inexpcdieDt, on the question Of privilege
to proceed further. There still arose n erea
difficulty as to the future proceeding. He wa
disposed to think, that The better course was {,
deiaIo the individual where he was, until ar
, opportunity was afforded of having some com
muu'ca.ion with his friends. Here the matte
dropped.