Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-08-06


LORD PAI.MERSTON AND U. ,. pf-n -
In the dcarlh OF interesting intelligence ifo'h
En,one we republsh certain passages from Inc
speech OF Viscounl palmersion in The House Oh
Commcns, in reply 10 proposition VI LOU
George Benlinci, TO enforce from Spain Inc pay
menl of forysix millions sterling, due TO The sub
iecls Of England, on which she had paid only a
mar, Ut The interest for the lasl seven years Loru
George commended with warmth and al ens'h'
that il was The duty OF the British Government
10 compel Spain 10 make provision Tor hef oeo'
or The debts OF her subjects, due 10 EnglishAen'
Lord Palmerslon assened 10 This, but tnough' 'he
enforcement of the law question oil lime anu
expediency.
The threats Of the British Minister Will be
every where regarded as idle and absurd, and as
n beautiful commentary upon The pharisaica
professions oil Government, whose national
debt is swollen TO mammoth size, and which
no body is fanciful enough to expect 10 see paid
of. Ii is the excess OF hypocrisy in the BRUSH
Government to present moral lectures upon Inc
clouded credit of a few American States, when
itself in pas, time has resorted TO The woTsl species
of population, viz: The paying of her promises
III broken bank bills.
II is strange that this vapid pronn"e'amsn'0
should have reached this country a! The
very moment when Pennsylvania, whose credit
had been impusned by British moralists, was
about 10 pay of, as she did last Monday,
every cent OF in,eres: on her public debI!
We hope soon TO see the few States OF
the Union, which have not met their engage
menis, prepared and willing 10 wipe OF all their
scores-but the operation will certainly not Oe
fastened by the menaces of the British Govern
men,. The Yankees cannot be wdipped into any
course OF policy. The only plan is 10 coax and hu
NOR them, and leave il 10 their own good sense and
spirit of Justice. But, after all, we presume thai
Lord Palmesun meant nothing seriously. With
his impe,uous temper so long keptdown, he seized
the presen. occasion TO lei of little steam, to
show that his bold and dashing spirit had mol en-
liyely died within him. Putting out OF question
the RICH, Of the case, and the prominent fact thai
| the United States are utterly independent OF the
engagements OF the respective States and in nc
wise responsible for The contracts OF any one Of
them, The world cannot but repTobatc The tone and
language of menace held by The British minister
al time when the American people are sending
across the water The rich fruits OF their munitl-
cent charity, for The relief Of The furnishing sub
jecis OF Great Britain. Good taste aud propriety
at least, should have confined the minister TO lht
special theme under discussion and prevented
him from wasing a crusade against the States O
the American Union.
Among the various comments Of The Londor
papers on the speech Of the Foreign Secretary
We extract the following severe Iebuke from tho
Weekly Dispatsi:
@There is wreiched inconsistency about Lore
Palmerslon's bravado. We had a much nearer
approach TO right, had we ineiposed TO proven
the Uullcd States from running Mexico, from alb
solbing revenues norlgaged 10 our subjects Blu
the United States are loo observation-disclosures
Lord Palmerston holds his tongue. Spain il
| weak-lhereiore he busters. The oher day, il
the question Of our nefaIous interference in Por
tuaal, Lord Palmers,on acclaimed on the grea
| impudcnce OF holding out a threat Of war, never
| in any case, 10 be accomplished. Yet ne nov
holds our this very threat on an occasion on which
we defy him TO put il in practice. All Doctors
| Commons would tell him that he has no light 10 d.
il. and all England would tell him that he SHOULD
not do ii. We are no apologisls Tor The reckless
mismanasemeni, the corrupt expenditure, the bi
| sotled policy OF Spanish rulers. Wehavc shown
| before now, on Mr. Cobden's authority that Spa
nish finance ought 10 be prosperous by The mer'
| abandonment OF smuggling and fraud, created ~
the laws We know the prohisacy OF the court
| The dishonesty OF The administrators, We can Tee
| Tor those who have been simple enough 10 len'
| money 70 swnders. II shame or reproach coult
l.. - S'o0iencu. a, gives no rt.fsol
| Tor numbering innocent people whom these yer.
| swinders mis2overn, and whose government LoT'
Pamerslon has upheld"
As Lord Pamerston processes 10 agree 10 ,h
principles Of law laid down by Lord Georg
Bentynck, we presume, OF course, he assents I
the policy fno,, however, 10 be carried inio i'm
mediate cfcc;,l suggested by lie later in a let,c
addressed TO ille Spanish bond-holders in Londor
Lord George states that if The British Govern
| ment fails or procr astinates in demanding an
procuring redress for the British holders of Span
| ish bonds, he will again brirg The matter beor
The House Of Commons he recommends
summary process viz: 10 disrain upon Cuba O
Porto Rico, Or, in Other words, [says The Bait
more SUM ''anncx Them 10 The British posses
sions." He says:
| "Wi the people Of England be conten, an
| longer 10 look quietly upon Cuba and Porto R
co, producing in value upwards OF ten million
sterling OF produce annually, on the one side
| aud on the unpaid debt Of the forly-sx million
due by Spain 10 British subjects, on the other sid
Cuba and Porto Rico, once so rich and so cas-
prize-and iorbear longer 10 dislrain upon N
g0ods NJ tier rcaltg, TIER laitilesS Nsi, uayr,nc
| ;,led Spanish deGt0,S?'
We cannon see how Lord PalmerstoE woul
apply this 10 the few non-paying States OF ou
| Union. He cannot make reprisas upon The pre-
perry of the United States, which are not in tn,
least responsible for The debts Of individual STATES
nor Can he seize the property OF The separa,
States, because then it would involve gene
| ra! war, as the United States would come to til
| relic. Of the assailed State. On the whole, I.or
| Palmes.on'S demonstration is as absurd as il
in violation Of right and Of The good feeling an
friendship which should exist between the ,w
nations.
| Lord Palmersion's remarks were in The word
| which follow
"Niy noble friend Lord George Benlinck ha
quoted passages from he law Of nations, layin;
| down the doctrine, that one Government is emil
| led 10 enforce from the Government of anolhc
country redress for all wrongs done 10 the sub
ects Of the Government, making the applica
ticn for such redress and that, If redress be dc
MED, il may be justly Obtained by reprisal lron
The nation so refusing fully admit 10 this e1
tent the principle which my noble friend has lait
down. But there has always beer
drawn distinction between the ordinary trans
actions Of British subcc:s with The subjects o
other countries, and the transactions OF British
subjects with The governments OF other countries
[Hear] When British subject engaged ii
trade with The subjects Of foreign country, sus
,ans a loss, his frs, application is 10 The laws Of
that country for redress Ii those laws are mol
properly administered in his case, then the Bri
fish Government Steps in and demands either
that The law shall be properly dealt out, or thai
redress shall be given by the Government OF thai
| State. Il is TO The advantage OF this country ,c