question in the whole course of his politi-1 cal life on which he had been called to judge, where he had given his opinion more reluctantly or more decidedly. If the claim of naturalization, insisted on by the Americans, were allowed, why should it not be made by other countries? If a residence of five years established the right, why should not a residence of one month? It would thus be easy, by the offer of impunity, and by the temptation of greater pay, to seduce our seamen into the service of foreign states. Unless America should think proper to alter her tone, he did not see how the national differences could be settled: surely never, if the condition of conciliation was to be the concession of that claim which was the life of our navy, and through that, the life and protection of the country. Was it not, he would ask, a surprise on the nation, to find at length that the war with America did not arise out of the Orders in Council, but from a cause which had never been dragged into the discussion while there was any thing else to talk about,-from a cause now introduced merely for the purpose of irritation, and as a pledge of their hostile intentions? As an adviser of the crown, he would never consent to an armistice on the condition of appearing to hesitate about a right so vitally affecting the nation, that its ruin might ensue in a month from its concession. The Address was then carried without a division. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Thursday, February 18. PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLAIMS OF THE CATHOLICS -FROM WAllingford - NEW SARUM AND ARCHDEACON, &c. OF MIDDLESEX.] A Petition of the corporation of Wallingford, Berks, was presented; setting forth, stance it does not, they pray the House, as a branch of the legislature, to take such steps as shall supply a remedy; but they beg leave humbly, yet earnestly, to state, that establishment is a matter of quite different consideration; they bear no ill-will to the Roman Catholics, though no man can deny that when they possessed political power they used it oppressively; the petitioners cannot but esteem every attempt to be inauspicious which has confessedly for its object an alteration of any point established and ratified by the glorious Revolution; they have the authority of the parliament which completed that great event to assert, that the grievances which were then complained of and recapitulated by them, and of which they employed themselves in devising the means of preventing a recurrence, were utterly and directly contrary to the known laws, statutes, and freedom of this realm; the execution, therefore, for the future, of the laws in being was their single object, and the single mean which they devised for securing this point, was the exclusion from political power of all such persons as were not friendly to the constitution, and refused to give public pledges of their being so; and that it is a fact which cannot be denied, that since the Revolution the nation has enjoyed internally greater happiness, quiet, and security, and during that period the public functionaries have invariably and exclusively been Protestants; and praying, that the laws for securing the religion established in this kingdom, on which the petitioners presume to think radically depends the Protestant succession to the throne, and the permanent tranquillity of the empire, may undergo no alteration." A Petition of several inhabitants of Lewes and places adjacent, in the county of Sussex, was also presented; setting forth, "That the petitioners take leave humbly to express their wishes and opinions. "That the petitioners observe with upon the great question which at present astonishment and alarm the persevering so much engages the attention and interests efforts of the Roman Catholics to obtain the feelings of the public, the demands of admission to all offices of trust and authothe Roman Catholics: that every man rity, both civil and military, and to the should be at full liberty to worship the exercise of legislative functions; and that Divine Being in the way which he is con- it is with unfeigned satisfaction they see vinced is most acceptable, is a position their fellow subjects of the Romish Church which the petitioners flatter themselves, freed from all pains and penalties on acis not controverted in this country: tole- count of their religion, and in the full enration to the utmost extent, in matters of joyment of the blessings of toleration; religion, they are persuaded ought to but the petitioners feel it their bounden exist: they believe it does; if in any in-duty not only to themselves, but to pos terity to resist their endeavours (notwithstanding the numerous concessions already made to them) to get possession of political power and legislative authority, and thereby to destroy that Protestant ascendancy to which the people of this country are indebted under Providence for the establishment of their liberties on a firm and solid basis, for the petitioners consider it as a fixed and unalterable principle of our glorious constitution, as settled at the Revolution, that the legislative and executive authorities of this Protestant country, can be administered only by Protes tants; and they regard the laws by which that principle is established as no less sacred and inviolable than Magna Charta and the Habeas Corpus Act, and implore the House stedfastly to reject all applications for the repeal of those laws." A Petition of the inhabitants of New Sarum was presented; setting forth, of a temporary nature, but are fitted to all times and to all circumstances: hence,under the protection of those laws, this nation has enjoyed uninterrupted peace and unexampled prosperity; and that, forcibly impressed with these sentiments, the petitioners do most confidently hope and trust, that the safeguards of the constitution will not be thrown down, but, on the contrary, that they will be transmitted unchanged and unchangeable to the latest posterity." A Petition of the archdeacon and clergy of the archdeaconry of Middlesex, in the diocese of London, including the parochial clergy (as well exempt as otherwise) of the county of Middlesex, with the deanry of Braughing, Hertford, and the deanries of Harlow, Dunmow, and Heddingham, Essex, was presented; setting forth, "That the petitioners are informed that a Bill is shortly to be offered to the House "That the petitioners, justly appreciat- for removing the restrictions that are now ing the inestimable blessings which they by law imposed on those who profess the enjoy under the Protestant constitution, Roman Catholic religion in this United by law established at the glorious Revo- Kingdom, and to admit them to all offices lution, and alarmed at the restless and in. of trust and authority, both civil and milicessant attempts of the Roman Catholics tary, and even to sit in the imperial parto be admitted to offices of civil power liament, and to legislate for a Protestant and military command, notwithstanding Church and State; and that, in their conthe complete toleration which has been templation of a measure so deeply inalready conceded to them, and which, teresting to the welfare of the Church as according to their own frequent declara- by law established, the petitioners have tions, left them nothing more to ask, do been led to consider whether the concesmost humbly, but at the same most sions hitherto made during the present ardently, implore the House to protect the reign in favour of the Roman Catholics, Church and the State from those dangers by which the free exercise of their reliwith which they are both of them equally lion, and other important civil rights, menaced, for should the Petitions of the have been granted to them, have produced Roman Catholics, or rather their demands, any relaxation in the principles of that for what, by a strange solecism in lan- Church; but it is with extreme concern guage, is termed Catholic Emancipation, they find that it remains as hostile to the be complied with, the petitioners appre- mild temper of Protestantism, that it hend that their views and expectations claims the same spiritual authority, aswill proceed even farther; and that they sumes the same infallibility, and considers may use their augmented influence and all Protestants as without the pale of the authority in the state, even to re-establish Christian Communion; and that it is in that system of civil and religious thraldom all respects the same, whether in doctrine from which the wisdom and the virtue of or in discipline, as at the time when these our ancestors so nobly and so happily restraints were imposed, the open and unrescued us; and that to the truly great disguised avowal of which has been remen who began, and to those who at sub-cently made by many of its most eminent sequent and different periods successively perfected and established the Reformation, the petitioners look back with feelings of increased reverence, admiration, and gratitude, they bequeathed us laws, founded in the most consummate wisdom, and the soundest policy, and of those some are not spiritual directors, and, what is particularly alarming to the minds of the petitioners, asserting the supremacy of a foreign power in these realms, a principle not only contrary to the constitution as established at the Revolution, but incompatible with the first principles of all civil go vernment; that the petitioners, whilst | they are sincerely anxious that their Christian brethren professing the Roman Catholic religion should enjoy every kind and degree of toleration which is consistent with the safety of the constitution in Church and State, feel it their bounden duty, as ministers of that 'pure religion, the secure possession of which they regard as the first of blessings, humbly, but earnestly to express the conviction they feel that the laws now subsisting, by which the Roman Catholics are restricted from the exercise of legislative authority and civil power, are not less necessary at this time than they have been heretofore found to be for the maintenance and security of the Established Church; and praying, that the House will in its wisdom continue to preserve those salutary restraints which, through the Divine favour, have hitherto proved the firm support of this nation and constitution in Church and State, to maintain and perpetuate which the family of our revered monarch was placed on the throne of this kingdom." lie And the said Petitions were ordered to upon the table. ADDRESS RESPECTING THE WAR WITH AMERICA.] Lord Castlereagh, in rising to call the attention of the House to a most important subject, namely, the negocia tions which had preceded the present state, of our relations with the United States of America, thought it necessary to remark, that it was not the ordinary practice of the ministers of the crown to bring before parliament documents for the purpose of showing that they were entitled to the approbation of the legislature; and if those now laid before the House had that tendency, it would be recollected that the production of them had been frequently requested, and pressed by gentlemen on the other side. His Majesty's ministers were generally disposed to be satisfied with the pleasing reflections which arose from the consciousness of duties fulfilled and zeal employed to promote the public welfare; it would savour of arrogance to obtrude, themselves, the details of their services, however meritorious they might be, upon the notice of parliament, and challenge the approbation of that high tribunal, how fervently soever they might desire to obtain it. The correspondence now submitted to the House comprehended a period of two years and a half, and the perusal of these various papers would (VOL. XXIV.) sufficiently show how little ministers were disposed to withhold any information that could be in the least satisfactory to the House or to the public, or refuse to furnish lights by which their own conduct might be subjected to the most rigid scrutiny. The question which he should ground on the production of those papers, was one in the decision of which the character of the country was at issue; and as it was therefore of the utmost consequence that such decision should be the result of the most patient and cautious deliberation, he would cheerfully supply, by unreserved answers to any interrogatories that might be put to him, such information as might tend to elucidate the documents on the table, and render the result of inquiry as full and mature, as it would be beneficial to the community. The chief point to which the attention of the House would be directed was, whether it had been in the power of ministers, by any exertion, to have prevented the much-to-be-deprecated war in which we were now engaged; and here he hoped to have credit from the House, when he said, that no one more sincerely lamented the necessity of that war than he did. War, in its most favourable aspect calamitous to a country, was, in this instance, rendered by peculiar circumstances doubly calamitous. Most sincerely grieved was he that he could but too well make out for the satisfaction of the House the necessity there was for extending that evil; for exchanging, in our relations with the United States, that peaceful intercourse, which was so beneficial to both nations, for all the ills which a state of hostility involves; and he trusted, that in the sentiment by which he was actuated, his colleagues, the parliament, and the nation at large, most cordially participated. That justice was obviously on our side, was, indeed, a mighty consolation, but certainly not all-efficient to subdue the sense of the calamity in which the severe pressure of necessity had involved us. But was a feeling of this nature to lay us at the feet of an enemy who had met every act of conciliation on our part with augmented hostility? He trusted that we would be found actuated by a far different spirit, and that, after having deplored the infatuation in the government and population of the United States which had forcibly drawn us into the contest, we should turn our attention to every means by which unjust aggression could be most effectually repelled. In the course of (2 Q) what he should have to submit to the respondence. They would, he was satisHouse, and from the documents before fied, easily collect from them the necesthem, it would appear very plainly that sity of the stand which the government ministers had not wantonly plunged the was now disposed to make, and would concountry into a war which there were so sequently acquiesce cheerfully in the many motives if possible to avoid; and in proposition with which he should conclude having at length recourse to it that they to call on the crown to engage with spirit in were compelled to the step after they had the contest, confident of finding in the by repeated attempts to promote a pacific people a determined resolution to repel the temper in the enemy, endeavoured to attacks which had been so wantonly made avert the evil. They felt confident that on them, and which they could not have they had carried into it with them the prevented but by a sacrifice of rights acfeelings of the country with so full a tide, knowledged and maintained by every nathat it would be prosecuted with a vigour tion whose intercourse with her neighand firmness of spirit such as would be bours is regulated by any reference to a most likely to promote the only legitimate code of international law. They would end and object of all war-a secure and ascertain that every possible attempt on honourable peace. Nor, indeed, was it to our parts had been made to bring the be despaired that a wise and firm line of American government to reason, and that policy on our part, together with a candid every such attempt had failed, merely be and temperate discussion of the differences cause there was to be found in that governwhich had arisen between the two nations, ment, supported by a part of the populamight have a more extended effect than tion entrusted to their rule, an inordinate that of confirming our own people in a and insolent spirit of encroachment which resolution to maintain their rights unim- would have made protracted forbearance paired. It was difficult to suppose the appear like imbecility, and would have people of America so deaf to the voice of committed the honour of the country, the reason as to be utterly unconscious that in government of which could seem insenthe intercourse which had taken place be- sible to insult so frequently repeated. tween the governments of the two coun- This was a spirit which had seemed to tries their's had not been the party which gain strength from every fresh concession, had held justice cheapest, and sought the and had at length risen to a height which most eagerly for war; and if their eyes imperiously called for resistance from this were once opened to this fact, it would not country, if the preservation of her rights be an unreasonable expectation if we and her honour were dear to her children. looked to their calling on their rulers to We had gone perhaps as great lengths as desist from hostilities, in which they were ever nation had gone, to evince our likely to reap neither honour nor profit. anxiety to be on a friendly footing with a The question now before the House was people, with whom no doubt we had the simply this, whether the country was or strongest incentives to remain on such was not engaged in war with the United terms, it was now high time to substitute States, having justice on the side of Great the spear for the olive branch, and show Britain? And the proposition which he the perverse enemy we had to cope with, meant to ground on their decision in the that in our humility no principle of fear affirmative was, that an Address should be had mingled, and that we could be as terpresented to his royal highness the Prince rible in the conflict they had provoked, as Regent, calling on him to direct a vigo- we had been mild in the negociation by rous prosecution of the war with the which we had sought to avoid it. The United States; and praying him to repose Address which he should this night the fullest confidence in the support of his propose to the House, he trusted, would parliament and people. Of the negocia- lay the foundation of such a peace as tions now before the House, he had to ob- it would alone be desirable to obtain. serve that many points had on former oc- The noble lord then proceeded to take a casions occupied much of their attention, view of the documents which had been and given rise to discussions of no incon-published by the American government, siderable length. The points, therefore, to which he would more particularly draw their attention in the present instance were those which were to be found of any importance in the latter stages of the cor contending, that an adequate notion could be collected from them of the unreasonable spirit of hostility by which that government was actuated against this coun try. He referred in particular to the ex [598 position of the President of the motives but he would venture to say, that those which had induced the declaration of war, opinions bore on the commercial expeand to the paper which had been pub- diency of the measure rather than on any lished by the Secretary of Foreign Lega- doubts as to the right and competency tions after the commencement of it. of this country to retaliate and throw back He asserted that these papers would on the enemy the injuries and inconvebe found to contain a full and complete niences which their Decrees were calcudisavowal of all the points on which it lated to inflict upon us. This was a dishad been supposed in this country that cussion, the renewal of which he wished concessions had been made, and amity to waive at that moment; but he trusted, thereby assured; those very points were no individual would suppose, that his Mawhat the American government had chosen jesty's government could be so dead to to press as affording just grounds for hos- their duties, and so insensible to the getility, arguing on them in precisely the nuine interests and rights of the country, opposite direction to what any reasonable as not to be anxious at the very moment man would have supposed them likely to they modified the measures which had do. They had extracted matter of offence been previously adopted, with the expecout of every negociation, however amicably tation of conciliating America, and inducit appeared to have terminated, and not un- ing her to embark with Europe in the gefrequently even from those in which injury neral cause against France, so to guide had been alleged on the side of America, their conduct as to leave the rights and and actual and apparently complete atone- claims of this country on the subject as ment made on ours. The war which had clear and untouched as if no relaxation thus commenced had been followed up by whatever had taken place. Unquestionan armistice; but if this armistice had ably, he was prepared to contend, that his been meant as an indication of a wish for Majesty's government had an undoubted peace, the tone and temper of the Ameri- right to issue the Orders in question, and can government towards this country that their justice and necessity at the parwould have undergone a revolution, and ticular moment at which they were issued, far different grounds of adjustment would when the previous conduct of France was have been assumed from those on which considered, must appear still more evident, they now stood. The great questions be- as well as their foundation in the true and tween the countries were, the Orders in sound policy of the British empire. For Council, which it was customary in Ame- whatever inconvenience a portion of the rica to call an illegal blockade, and the manufacturing interest of this country impressment of our seamen. They might, might have sustained in consequence of the perhaps, think that the former of these was interruption of the communication with taken out of the question by the armistice the American market, he had no hesitation. -that might be true; he would not in stating it as his decided opinion, that pledge the American government further had not the British government opposed to than they were disposed to commit them- France measures similar to and retaliatory selves; but they ought not to have closed of the measures that France had adopted in up every avenue to conciliation but those hostility to this country, the commerce of by having recourse to which we should France would have been as triumphant on make a surrender of our rights. Their the continent, as, until recently, had been ministers had even laid in a claim to in- her military career; and the commerce of demnity for the vessels captured under Great Britain would have sunk to the the Orders in Council. Not satisfied with lowest state of depression. He begged the forbearance manifested by this coun- therefore to be always considered as one try in the revocation of these Orders, and of the most steady and faithful admirers the relinquishment of the blockade of of that system in which the Orders in 1806, the American government claimed Council originated. When any relaxation the abandonment by that of Great Britain of those Orders took place, it had always of the future exercise of the rights involv-been on the principle of accommodating ed in those Orders and that blockade. With respect to the Orders in Council, that question had undergone repeated discussions in the British parliament, and a variety of opinions had certainly been entertained and expressed on the subject; neutral powers as far as was consistent with the preservation of the system of coercing France to the abandonment of that unjust and unjustifiable system by which she was endeavouring to exclude British commerce from the whole world. |
