Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11

An interesting debate took place in the House of
Lords on the 14th ultimo:
The Marquis Of CLAyRIoApB to ap address
to the Queen the Eastern question: and said that his
quarrel with the Government was not that 1t had not
tered upon at earlier period but that by its
mistaken it had brought into position in
which war seemed inevitable.
This, then, the present position Of affairs All
negotiations had ceased most extensive preparations
being usio aiuss Russia both land and Jot
no could say not the Prime Minister himself,
whether we wero at peace war; nay, instead of the
Government making any communications TO Parliament on
the subject it had been left to him, humble member
Of their lorashp's House, to address to the
Crown. The noble lord then sat down, after paying
high compliment to the conduct Of the French Govern
ment which, he said had behaved hroughout the whole
Of these negotiations in way which had for the
respect, gratitude, and good feeling Of every in
Ergand. ~.
The Earl Of CLARENDON, in his reply, said We are
neither a war nor are we at peace, but in that inter-
mediate state when desire for strong
and ever though expectations maintain
ing it gradually dwindling away and concluded by
declaring that if forced us, England would
respond to the call to in manner worthy of her
ancient well Of the fame of those allies who
would time, be ranged battle by her side
Earl GREY considered that great fault of the pre-
sent Government that they had been drawn
into this at OIL inasmuch as he pro-
vocation why should have interfered in the way We
had in the dispute between Russia and the Ottoman
pre He saw reason to support the Turks, whom he
looked upon little better than horde of barbarans
who had for the last four the popu
ation which they had control. AS to saying that
the character of the Turks had improved of years.
he believed nothing Of the kind and he contended that
it could improve long Turks remained Maho-
medans, and neither the property nor lives of Christians
were safe in their dominions This not only his
opinion but from the dispatches received from Lord STRAIT
ford de Radcliffe it appeared it also entertained by
that nobeman, who when speaking Of the Turks 1852
says they distinguished for "cruelty, rapne and
murder" As to saying entered into this dispute not
of consideration for the Turks but maintain the in
Ottoman to keen nm tho ha.
lance of power, he could hold with any such opinon
and he believed that in this matter fear
of the aggressive power of Russia had been
and such neither the campaigns of that country from
1928 to 1S40, the doubtful attendant on them
in any way justified He believed that the course taken
by Government in support of Turkey would do more to-
assist the aggrandzement Of Russia than if We had
interered at all in the matter.
The Earl Of DERBY attacked the Ministry, and particu
lary Lord Aberdeen for the pursued by Govern
ment and said Another popularity in all these trans
actions was that Russia all the way through from first
to last had given to Government of her
peaceful intentions but the contrary had claimed the
protectorate oyer Turkey from the first moment aud
separated such from the question or
the Holy Places. Han government, instead of going
compmentng Russia, protested against her aggression,
they ought have done and had their reproof
prompt nd vigorous the Emperor would have pro-
ceeded the length he had DONE He differed from Lord
Grey the policy Of interference and he differ
ed also from Government to their mode Of interference
He believed that all hope peace was gone and that
war was inevabe and being of this opinion he thought
almost every thing depended the way which France
England performed their part and between whom he
was happy to see perfect and generous an UNDER
standing
The Earl Of ABERDEEN said it little mattered what the
conduct of Government might have been as the re-
proaches of Lord Derby concerned; for let their
conduct be what 1t might it would have been certain to
be characterized either rashness or timdty and OF
asacrfce Of honor 1t was very easy for Lord
Derby say that there had been more vgor aud less
infrmity in the Government the war might have been
aver hft fhQ nphla lnrl IL.
subject of much congatulaiou that and England
acted IN this matter nation and nothing could
be better than che which between the
two countries lie earnestly hoped that tle peace of tho
world might yet be preserved; but at the he
thought 1t right to adj that in order any emer-
gency that might arise, the G,vernmep making the
most active and energetic preparations foc war.
| The Marquis VI Cianrioarde witharcw ais motion.