The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-03

D
then described the course which the questions thus
raised between this, ountry and recce had followed
and how the extent oi u. Pacinco'sciams han Inter
fered with settlement. He bore testimony 10 the
noble and dignifcd conduct Of the Greek govern
ment who were unable to resist and whose suffer
ings had excited the sympathy OF Europe. Mr..
Wyse and Admiral Parker bad only acted accord
ing TO their instructions and he was sure that the
latter would rather have been engaged in the most
deadly contest of an honorable warfare than in such
transactions. The noble lord, in eloquent terms,
contrasted the tome of the Emperor Of Russia's let
ter the Greek question: to his representative In
this country, with that which Lord Palmerston had
thought fit TO adopt to the defenceless government
of Greece. He reminded the House that France,
though she desired to pursue most friendly course
Of conduct towards England, had been alienated by
the treatment which she had received.
The question of the island of Sapienza was one
on which the British government had no right to
act independently of the other protecting powers;
and now that Russia had protested on the subject.
he supposed the claim which had been made would
be Withdrawn. The order TO take forciblc posses
sion of The island, however, had not been rescinded
and had only not been executed because Admiral
Parker and Mr.. Wyse had had more discretion than
Lord Palmerston. lie thought he had made out
the points stated in his motion; and II they had
been guilty of injustce--if they had made extrava-
giant demands-if they had oppressed the weak and
disgusted the strong-it became that House to show
that the Government of England was not England
In strain of the highest coquence he called on the
House to vindicate the authority OF great nation
hands upon u weak and defenceless State.
The Marquis of Lansdownc, in reply, acknow-
lodged that the government was Responsible Tor the
transact tons which the noble lord had brought I'M
der review, but III the House OF Commons Lord
Pamerston had been subjected to no attacks upon
the matter in question; and he hoped to satisfy
their lordships that the speech which Lord Stanley
had made was indebted much more to the elo-
quence Of the speaker than to its intrinsic merits
He disputed entirely the soundness Of the rcsolu
ton before the House in point OF international law
He pointed out that injuries to the persons and pro
perties of British subjects abroad had always been
held to Justify peremptory demand for redress,
and that without reference to whether the govern
ment of the country where the injuries were
tanned was an absolute monarchy, u constitutional
monarchy, or a republic.
Greece, the House had been told, was an in
dependent government. and if she we're 80, she
accept the responsibilities we'll as the priv
ilegcs Of that position. He quoted number OF
instances where foreign nations, whose subjects
had been treated with indignity, had enforced re-
dress in equally decisive manner IA in the case
before the House, and he closed has list by mentioning
that at tie present moment american ships Of toar
,Dere on their ,cay TO Lisbon 10 support peremOtory
demands for redress made by the Government Of the
United States On that Of Portugal Coming to the
main point OF the noble lords speecl-he expressed
his regret that Lord Stanley had condescended to
attack Nj. Pacifcos character. What that char
acter might be, it had nothing whatever to do with
the question. Mr.. Wilkes might have been gam
bier and cheated at play, yet the principles which
missed thereby. In the same way, Lord Stowel
had pronounced many splendid decisions ON points
of law evolving great and important truths, though
the people to whom his judgments referred were
many OF them slave, dealers, pirates, and adultcr-
ers The noble lord had referred to Mr.. Finay' 3
case, but through the influence of the Greek gov
eminent the arbitrators had never been allowed to
meet and the writers International law declared
that delay was as bad denial Of justice.
A gain, in the of the robbers choosing Greek
custom house In order to carry on system Tor
pluudering Ionian subjects, he reminded the House
that Sir Edmund Lyons letter TO the Greek gov
crnme mt on that subject had been answered.
Nj. Pacificos claims had been made to the Greek
government in general terms, to prevent inconvc-
nience if that government raised no unreasonable
objection. Subsequently to the dishonest acts winch
the noble lord had alluded to, M Pacihco had been
| a consul under the Greek government, and he had
too much respect for that government TO believe
that it would employ in such an office man OF
| improper character.
The claims which had been made upon Greece
! had received the sanction of the cabinet and the
| House would not, therefore, lie hoped, consider
them exaggerated and unjust AS the noble lord
had desc ribed them As TO the feeling of Russia on
| the subject, he attributed it to impression that
the claims against Greece had been too suddenly
| enforced ana with too short notice. He Jusuhed
the employment of so large force under Admiral
Parker. lie emphatically denied that the amity
| between Russia and this country had been disturb
| cd, and declared that the community OF feeling
especially with reference To all questions connected
|
at the present moment. With reference TO tho
| passing cloud which obscurcd for moment the re
ations of friendship between this country and
| France he trusted il would soon pass away. Ht
expressed his regret that the convention concluded
| with NJ. Drouyn dc Lhuys had not reached Athens
| in time 10 prevent the renewal OF reprisals. Com
plications had unfortunately arisen, and had been
| going for some weeks, which were now APP
| preaching a satisfactory conclusion. He hoped Il
| be able 10 announce that conclusion within a lev
| DAYS, even a few hours, and called on the House
in conclusion, not to embarrass the position OF Tho
government with foreign powers, but to reject fh'
motion
| Lord Aberdeen did not think that the question
before the House required any elaborate demonstra
ton. The recent proceedings in the Greek waters
had excited universal cry OF Indignation
throughout Europe. The equity Of Mr.. Finay',
claim and that Of NJ. Pscihco never was denied by
Greece, furnishing proper subjects of reference
to the judcature OF that country, yet II had beer
represented that there had been a denial OF justice
With reference to the claim put forth TO the islands
of Sapcnza and Ccrvi, the noble Marquis had g1ver
no answer to the arguments of Lord Stanley. Since
the feet under Admiral Parker started from Eng
land, IL had been employed in little that reflected
| credit on this country At Lisbon and Naples i
excited the suspicious Of the governments, ane
though arrived at the Ionian Islands after the IN
surrection, supply of naval "cats for the tortur'
of the islanders were sent on shore from II, IN
entry into the Dardsncles boosted OF as having
brought the emperor 10 his senses, but the emperor
had previously acquiesccd in the Interpretation o
| the Turkish treaty IN question, ana hcr maJesty
government had been obliged To apologize TO thu
emperor for entering the Dardanellcs, and had
promised to do more. He charged minister
with having sought, in accepting the good offices
France, put its plenipotentiary, Baron Gros, II
the position of sheriff. officer.
The French government had recalled its ambas
sador in consequence of the manner in which It ha'
been treated, yet her majesty's ministers went OF
haggng with II, 90 the great injury Of the good un
derstanding which ought TO exist between two sucl
great nations. When he looked at our relation
With Europe, generally, he found them in an un
precedented condition. There a time whei
this country respected and loved by all III
great continental nations; but how was 1t nowl IA
could not congratulate the noble marquis on tn
novel friendship which ne found existing with Rus
STA. Austria had been deeply injured by the influ
encc which had been exercised by us in Piedmont
We might have prevented the Picdmontesc war
and we might also have pursued policy whic
would have rendered the occupation Of Hungsr
by the Russian troops unnecessary. The nation
Of the continent fortunately separated the conduc
of her majcsty's government from the feelings Q
the English people, and he was sure that there wa
not one member of that House who had listened L
Lord Stanley speech who could lay his hand on hi
heart and cay that every word Of IL was not strct
and literally true.
lord Cardigan was deeply impressed with a scns
Of the danger 20 which this country exposed b.
the ita foreign rcla tiops He had the