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FOREIGN POXJCY . GREAT MEETING AT NEWCASTLE , A public meeting of the i nhabitants of thiB town and neighbourhood was hela in the Guildhall on Wednesday last , having been co . uvened by the Right Worshipful the Mayor , in compliance with a requisition bearing the names of a considerable portion of -tie principal commercial firms of iho district , fox the jmrpose of considering the propriety of petitioning Parliament to enqnire into the cause ? of our Commercial Embarrassments , and the conduct of the Foreign Office . FORB . 16 H POLICY . ,
The Mai OR , on taking the chair , aid , he had called this meeting in consequence of the requisition sent to him , containing the names of many gentlemen of the highest respectability and influence in the town . The subject furcished a very extensive field for discussion , and was one on which he should offt-r no opinion . All he beeped of them was to allow a fair &nd free discus--sion w go on , and that the meeting be conducted in an orderly manner . He should be glad to hear the remarks any gestieman might hare to make on the object of the meetine .
Wm . Cakgill , Esq . rose , &nd waa receiTed with a burst of cheering from all parts of the Hall , which continued for several minutes . Silence being restored , Mr . Cargill said—Mr . Mayor , and gentlemen , m rising to offer yon the remarks which 1 deem necessary for the elnciiai-on ef the subjects contained in the petition ¦ which I intend to submit for your adoption , or rejection , as yon may be convinced or otherwise by my arguments , I have to express the high satisfaction I feel at seeing so numerous an assembly , and the more particu lar ^ so as I perceive a large proportion of that class on -which the national greatness and prosperity almost entirely depends . What I intend to lay before you is not connected with any political party , or with any section of the nation—it is on national interests I intend to
treat , on interests connected .. with the prosperity and existence of England as one people , and I therefore -TejsiK to see so large a proportion of that class in which ¦ feeling 3 of patriotism are greater than in any otherwho are better able to appreciate the national position -of Ensf . and , because they are the only class whose interests are not in confli « tion with those of each other -and of the state—the working classes . ( Lond cheers . ) The snbject of my petition is the relation of England in -regard to Foreign nations , and in entreating yourattention to it , I have to express my conviction that the affairs of this country are in a condition of the utmost . complica tion and" of embarrassment from treachery and ignorance within , as from machinations without Complaints are constantly poured forth , but the causes of our distress
are unknown , because the phantom of party warfare are perpetually conjuring up errors in our minds which lead to away fram the investigation of our grievances—we * re satisfied with words instead of looking to acts . { Cheers . ! Sir , the wealth , the power , the very national existence of England depends on tbe labour of the inhabitants—th » t labonr producing articles of manufacture for which we must find a sale in foreign countries If those-warkets which are the veins and arteries of our commerce should be closed up , then must our wealth be annihilated , and our independence endangered . It is my intention to day to lay before you a number of instances in which those arteries have been choked up , and I shall confine myBelf to those cases that have happened . within the last ten years . Our commercial treaties are
the bonds which secure to us the right of disposing of our produce ; these treaties are indispensable , they are sore valuable than mosey , and cannot he violated -without an act of plunder being committed against the State which possesses them . If a great empire permits ha treaties to be systematically infringed , that empire becomes a party to the aggression against herself , and fear power must inevitably perish , because she holds -pot an inducement to every nation to take possession of her commerce by saeh acts of injustice ; for every state that assaults a great empire must necessarily place Tfceif in a position of hostility to her , knowing that that empire may one day awaken to a sense of the irjory , and insist onrestitntion—therefore , the offending 4 &te must seek the means ef resisting her power by |
allying itself with other nations , actuated by similar motives , and can you wonder that a combination of states can be brought about , in hostility to wealthy , powerful England ? ( Cheering . ) 1 will bring before jdo . the case of Poland—( loud cheering )—a country where we once sent vast quantities of our commerce , and made large purchases in return . We had rights of trading with Poland guaranteed by treaty , but in 1831 that treaty was violated , and our rights cut off by an ukase of the Emperor of Russia , incorporating Poland with his dominions , aad applying tbe Russian tariff of Mrtriction to our trade . Do you utter no word of ¦ complaint , or is this not a fit subject of enquiry ? { Cheers . ) We next find that France has acted in systemaSe violation of our commercial rights , and
consequently in systematic hostility to England . In 1835 * he placed her restrictive tariff on T ^ gH ^ commerce to Algiers , and many hundred miles of the African « ast , in direct violation of a treaty by which England possessed the right of import and export to Africa at ore per cent ., and are -we not to exclaim against this act of injury and of plunder ? We find that France has done the same on tbe western coast of Africa , driving ns from a trade which was our right , and firing upon our ships , and although one of our greatest international lawyers , Sir S . Lushingtcn , has declared thit France has Violated treaties and international law ;
yet we txclaimnot against tbe aggression , and so become a party to onx own infamy . We find France following this np by placing an illegal blockade on tbe coast of SoaSii America , in Mexico , and Buenos Ayres , by which our commerce has suffered to so great an extent as upwards of twelve millions , by which we are forced to the market of St . Petersburgh and the Black Sea for the tallow , hemp , and hides which we formerly purchased at Buenos Ayres—that is , to buy from a nation which refuses to buy from us bvretum , and we wonder why the prices of these articles should be so exhorbitantly high . < Cheers . ! Then , When we look to the Black Sea we find that we have
permitted the annihilation of our rights of trading with three hundred miles of the most valuable coast in the * wW—we have basely permitted the prolonged attempts of Russia to oppress and exterminate the fairest race , the noblest people that the world ever sawpeople whose e « untry is the key-stone of the arch of the power of England—CiTcassii . ( Tremendous cheering . ) CSrcasaa , on whose coast , and before tlie eyes of whose people , a British vessel , { Fixes ) engaged in lawful bade , was piratieally seized , and the British flag prostrated in violation of law , honour , and justice—( indig nation , —an act of disgrace and degradation to England which most be t-ffin-ed—* n ^ can only be effaced by a reversal , before we can lay claim to the once honourab le sanie of Englishmen . { Burst of applause . ) Our
posibofl in the East is a familiar subject to every person here , aEd we all know that , upon the strength of your position there , hinges the greatness or the downfall of England ' s power . To uphold our influence there , we have made more persevering exertions , and expended aore money , than in all our other diplomatic efforts put together . Our policy has been to strengthen Persia and -affghaaistan , that they might be enabled to meet the fMroaebments of Russia—tbe object of our exertions his been to ally ourselves with these countries , because ¦ an- matnal interest requires that we should oppose . ^ jKia—the position and policy of that empire giving « interests and aspirations at variance with the interests ¦ aafl policy of England . What has been the result of -oor poKcy of the last few ? We have just seen ¦ ¦— » ¦ ¦ mmm EfcirfUlr
yean . * — m — v —» - ^ » * w ** J W ^ ^ A « at the whole of our labour ba * been thrown away , « ttttoney expended in vain , our objects sacrificed , OUT PWBiion reversed—the independence of Persia overjtoown , and her hostility directed against England at the dictation of Russia—the independence of Cabnl * n 2 ul » ted , and the hostility of the whole of Central As * raised up against England . The result of our policy hasbeen , Russian interest * triumphant , England ' s Position sacrificed . We have detected Russia everywhere organizing conspiracies against us , and fomenting rebellion in our dominion *—Russia openly avowing hosttities to us in Asia , and England ^ edaring herself to ** wilted to Russia—the friend of Russia . ( Indigna t * 011- ! When Parliament desires to make enquiry into tbe causes of these disasters , awl the . papers are
predated by the Foreign Office , pnjperting to give an sptanatioa of them , what do we find ? I have « snined these papers , and 1 fin * a fraudulent trans-P ° * SJon of despatches—a confusion of events . I find nftoes to despatches given beftrethe despatch to which « ey are the reply—ttere being no intelligible tt **« e for these transpoeitions , but the result being to ** d « the whole a mass of unintelligible matter to any S ~® ^ rt intimately acquainted with every bearing of w * Reject , and willing to bestow the most laborious « t « ntion to the naravelment of the webI have found ¦ ¦ ¦ VUUVHt
. — - — -- w n w » Vi « UW ^ VM A * * " 1 V H / UIIU « TV " P » pers presented in the inverse order of their r *^; for instance , the correspondence relating to |^™ i 8 tan is split into two parts . In one number of i 1 R , ^ a ^ en k gi ^ en the correspondence , beginning in ^¦ aud continuing to 1838 ; and in a succeeding ' reaper of the papers is given tbe correspondence be- j I ^ Hf m 1 S 37 , and going down to 1838 . This sepo- j IT "' i" ^ o two parts occur * -without any obvious mo- ' r ^ tat the effect of it is to Teil from onr minds a ' r'teption Of the fart that * Vio tram a n ? Vnnl . V . o ed
^ waessfulry play against England . ( Movement ) tri ? f « Bce , a letter of the Bnler of Cabul U Lord jT ^ d iB given of tfcedate of May , 1828 , in papers b *^ That letter contains the offer of Dost Mahomed r ! ° « PPly assistance to England against Russia , and to 2 ™ f JV ? 7 ** & *> <* Bngjand m to the internal Zj = * « CilmL Then , m tbe middle of papers N a 6 , "" STen extracts from the British Envoy's letter Jrr * ^ it , which are absolutely necessary for the J *« «> comprehend the position of Doet Mahomed at ££ wae of writing it This separation prevents any tCP *? «» der from seeing that England has thrown rrjuahomed into the arms of Russia , which has . ^ J ** the insane , the base and cowardly outrage ca ^ P * " of the Indian Government , of marching an T 7 * * 0 I the exnnlnnn nt «»«* . f « . » hfnl * nA ) ufr . n ^ thM the
o ^ f ^ procuring hatred to England of the ^ S ™ . Population of Central Asia , which v , thrown ^ Jr ^* for protection against England ^ -who still <* ftT ^ J 1111 * 1 to Ra » aia » the acknowle / iged author ki « p « rS ( Cheei 1 } Tbe documents presented ^ Jf *« order of dates , are that in February , fintly *^ 7 ^^^ Indian Go ^ ernip . fcDt , of the dates P « r tr , October , 1838 . In it ^ jch , secondly ap-W * JectiS ) , ' 1833 '"^ 1 & , not bearing on the l doTrnt ^ i appear * interco ' jrse with Cabnl from ^ wwd * . * M a « xt ippesa intercourse with
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Rusaxa and Persia from January , 1834 . The second and tbe last of these documents are absolutely necessary tot a-comprehension of the whole of the policy in Central Asia , aDd the order in which they are given raden the rsr 2 rsj ¥£ -ssyr ¦ £ »« ^ % &p ^ S $ . TS 32 * $ « £ method of rendering an account of a Beriea sen « , of CTenb , so disastrous to his country , j 8 not a fit subject for Parliamentary investigation ? ( Hearfhew * I cannot conceive any man having a single feeling of a Bnton I care not to what section or party he may be long , who can contemplate such conduct in a minister without horror and indignation . ( Loud cheers ) In B ^ Prt . t-,. ^ , .. ,.., . ¦
. the case of Greece I find a similar overthrow of the influence of England , and sacrifice of her money It was the object of Russia to detach Greece from Turkey and S ^ ^ ^ * , KU 3 Skm ProTiDce - F <* this purpose -we find Russia fomenting rebellion , and bringing about disunion m that unhappy country , and secoringthe assistance of England in the unhallowed \ rort ! by appealing falsely to her feelings ef humanity and liberality Kusina represented Greece as suffering under the des w ^ ° t T > , Ulkey ' deeeived EngIand intf assisting her under the pretext of introducing a Liberal Govern ment : but what was the result ? She found liberty in Greece , and she introduced despotism , as well as anv ™ l a ? ' foundin Greece tbe liberty which you in England have lost-municipal institutions and direct hear 1
£ ? . ! ? ' ? f * - ' In Qreece tlie ^^ ^« e co - twi' T * Z ^ ^ ' a offieer ' nofc by the central aQ - incrS U be people ^ niselves under municipal institutions . The people had thus a control over the money they paid , but Russia did away with this , and introduced the doubly accursed system of centralization and custom houses , which is the subversion of everything l * e popular liberty , throwing the collection of the taxes out of the hands of the people and putting it in those of the Government , and making it an engine of corruption and oppression . ( Loud cheers . ) A council or Kegency was appointed in Greece under the auspices or Kussia , and on examining the history of these transactions we find that Lord Palmerston , while appearing to bs opposing Russia , is in reality furthering her ; objects . He instructs the British Minister in Greece to
- support one member of the Regency against the others , I thus splitting the GoTerament into factions . He tben i takes measures fop the expulsion or two members on the plea that the majority was Russian , and the declai ration of the expelled members totheteSect that this j was & Russian intrigue practised W deceive England ; supported by documentary evidence , is unquestioned | and unnoticed—the Secretary of the British Legation j was recalled for stating tbe truth , and the friends of ; England in Greece were driven away by the aid of Russian bayonets on the accusation of their being , Russians ! ( Hear , hear . ) The money of British subjects ; to the extent of £ 3 , 009 , 000 was sacrificed by the trans-; ference to Russia of property , mortgaged to British bondholders , and the Greek Government placed a tariff on [ the import of British merchandizs , which cut off the
l commercial rights of our country , that had before en-¦ joyed freedom of commerce with Greece—convulsing Greece and injuring England . This Russo-Greece : Government regarded us as men who could not com-; prehend our own interests even in a coinmprcial sense , I and who could be plundered without our perceivins or i preventing it ( Indignation . ) Turning to our colonies . m Xorth America , we find that ten years ago Canada : was tranquil , but it has been brought into a state of . blood-shed and convulsion ; we found that Russia had j openly excited and encouraged rebellion against England , j yet we hear a British Minister at St Petersburgh repeat I the parrot cry that " England and Russia are united to maintain the peace of the world . " ( Ironical cheers . ) j Russia who turns our fleets and our armies to the
destruction of ourselves by working on our absurd ideas of political principles . We were at peace with the United States and were respected if not feared by that country T-our dispute about the Boundary line separating them from our possessions , had been adjusted by the award of a sovereign arbiter , the King of Holland , whose decision was to have been binding on both parties ; but we find , on examination of the parliamentary papers on that , negociation , that the British Minister brought about , by a series of intrigues so disgraceful , as must be a lasting monument of his infamy , a rejection of that award , and thus has kept open a question that has brought us to the verge of a collision , and open » up to Russia and France a means of hostile action on England . We permit the United States to commit aggressions
upon Texas , an integral por tion of Mexico , and to infringe our commercial rights there , yet we know not our injury . ( Hear . ) We find ourselves placed in hostility with Naples and China—but it is as fatiguing to me , as it is needless in itself , to go over more instances of complication and aggression . To minds rightly constituted , one case of plunder or of treachery , or of mismanagement , ought to be sufficient for urging to enquiry , and when we find a powerful Government everywhere in hostility to us—constantly directing her machinations for our harm , and when we find that we ourselves are parties to our own plunder—are divided into factions leagued for the concealment , and even the defence of our own degradation , what language can describe the seriousness of our national position ? iHear
, hear . ) We are suffering the effects « f these things in the embarrassments of our trade , in the expenses of our ravy seBt to distant shores , while we have not the security arisin ^ JrooLa sufficienci -of armaments at home , we are suffering from the expenses of the wars which we are waging with all our friends , whilst we are destroying our character and weakening our position by proclaiming ourselves the friends and allies of those at whose hostility we basely tbink we are aiming a blow by the sacrifice of our real and natural friends . If , then , these things be true ^—and I pledge myself to the proof of every thing I have advanced—If , then , we have , in reality , neither peace , nor economy , nor safety , what are we to think of those of our public men who endeavour to stifle the voice of public indignation , and prevent an enquiry into our wrongs by
dwelling on the terms "Peace , " " Retrenchment , " and " Rtform ? " ( Hear , hear . ) What are we to think of men who substitute words for things , as if denying that we had wrongs were all that is required for preventing their existence , and thus , by conjuring up phantoms , lead us away from the reality ? Must we not look upon them as the worst enemies of the State—enemies as ¦» rei ; of themselves as they are traitors to their country . iCries of " They are , they are .- ) Mr . Cargill then con-, eluded by memng the adoption of a petition embodying the principlal points of his speech , and praying the Honourable House to institute a strict enquiry into each of the disastrous complications which we have enumerated , and into the deceptions and frauds that have been practised by that branch of the Government into whose charge have been especially entrusted the management of our Foreign Affairs—the Foreign Office .
Cparles Attwood , Egq ., rose to second the motion submitted by Mr . CargilL It was not his intention to have done so , not because he did not cordially approve of its entire contents , but inasmuch as he was desirous , and remained so still , of moving in addition to the petition to the two Houses of Parliament that tbe meeting should adopt another , to be sent to the Queen ; and he begged to be understood distinctly , that in seconding tbe adoption of the petition to Parliament which had just been read , he was not precluded from moving another which he had prepared , and which contained matter which was in anison with the feelings of the meeting and of the country at large . With this understanding , therefore , he should reserve what observations he bad to make upon the subject till a subsequent period of the meeting , and content himself with Eimply seconding the adoption of the petition so eloqnently moved by his able , intelligent , and patriotic friend ,. Mr . Wm . Cargill . ( Loud applause . )
I > r . . LT > cH then presented himself to the meeting , and insisted that Mr . Cargill had in this proceeding lent himself to Mr . Urquhart , whom be denominated a sort of diplomatic magician , a kind of political Dr . Faustu * . These offensive personalities being resented by Mr . ¦ C rqubarfs friends , caused much confusion , and it was some time before the Doctor could obtain a bearing . Having done so , on the intercession of Mr . Attwood with the meeting , he resumed . If they were to believe Mr . Cargill , England was no longer one of the great nations of the world—that she was no longer able to defend herself . He would best discuss the case by establishing a comparison between England and otter nations ; but in doing this he would not follow Mr . Cargill through tbe rambling course he had thought
proper to pursue , but confine himself to the four great nations- of the earth—Russia , France , England , and America—and enquire into their relative position so far as regarded the points on which the question hinges . He would fiat take Russia—that great power which haunted Mr . Cargill , and those who act with him . It was said that England waa in danger from Russia that Russian armies trampled down our fields , and Russian ships compelled the proud flag of England to be struck . Was this the case ? Let them consider the present position of Russia with a view of determining whether she could deal with all-powerful England , for he was proud to say that even his opponents were men of true born English feeling , and had plenty of pluck in them stilL ( Laughter . ) What , then , waa the
present state of Russia ? Russia had marched her powerful armies against the Khan of Kiva , whom they were unable to conquer ; and carriages had been sent t « convey back the soldiers— tbe sick , the dying , and the ¦ wounded—who were unable to march . Then , again , if they lvoked to Cireasala , what was the position of Russia there T The present state of things in CireaBsia was » most unfavourable argument for Mr . CargilL Tbe gallant Circassians had defeated the Russian troops , and , according to the last InteJigenc received , eight fortresses ef the Russians bad bees taken by the Circassians , and only four remained . Was thi « the great and powerful cation that was to conquer England ? Why , it could not conquer the little Tnwm
of Kiva , or the small barbarous nation ef Circwsia ! ( Laughter , and cheers . ) We were in no danger , then , from Russia , and he would , therefore , pass on to another nation . Mr . Cargill would say there was Franceincreasing every day—extending her arms in Africa making encroachments on British possessions in all parts of the world . But let them look at the present state of France . The condition of Algeria was far from satisfactory j indeed that colony was a sore point with the French nation at the present moment A commission of the Chamber of Deputias had recently reported on the subject of Algeria , and notwithstanding the amour - propre vrliicli influences Frenchmen upon all national points , this commission had come to the conclusion that the colony of Algeria was not worth any-
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thing to France . Algeria was the white mail ' s grave of trance , as Sierra Leone was that of England . Let ^ a 8 S ^ ? , Uenos A ^ s ~^ "tile power torn with intestine discord , as the republics of America usually are , tothe regret of every lover of humanity . France had attacked this power ; a blockade had been going on for several months ; and at this moment the French were debating whether they could come to a compromise . He had now disposed of the two principal powers , Russia and France ; but , then , it was said that America was a powerful nation—that she was alike victorious in the field and on the sea-that England herself had crouched before the republic . On looking over the history of the late war , he found that the reputed victories of America were no victories at ail-.,. .
that the [ American frigates were superior in weight of mttal and number of men to ours , and yet the English had successfully contended with them , and never struck their flag before three hours fighting . If we were at war with America to-morrow , what would America do with her three millien of slaves in the Southern States ? These slaves were in a state of discontent . Under these circumstances America was bound to keep peace with England , and there was not , therefore , the smallest chance of war in that quarter . Mr . CargiU had treated not only of foreign , but of colonial matters , as exhibiUBg the consequences of mismanagement Before he proceeded further , he begged to remind his fellowtownsmen that England was situated different to any other nation in regard to her colonies . The population
of England was twenty-five millions ; that of her eolomes , excluding Canada , more than one hundred millions . And not only was the population of her colonies , thus extensive , but it extends over every part ef the globe , and her ships were necessarily separated in order to defend them , yet Mr . Cargill made thi * a complaint against the Ministry . The very extent of our colonial empire increases the difficulty of regulating its concerns , it appeared to him an extraordinary time to throw blame upon the colonial management of the government , when , notwithstanding all the attempts or Russia , our gallant soldier , had been marched i * to central Asia , carrying everything before them—victory
following victory in rapid succession . By this march England had attained her ends—she had succeeded in such a way in Central Asia , that Russia cannot , and dare not , attack her . Another portion of eur colonial empire had bten referred to , namely , the Canadas , and he must say it appeared to him most ungenerous that Mr . CargiU should have alluded to that country . There was ho danger there noV ; tbe worst had pawed . Mr . Carg ^ n had talked * great deal about patriotism j but he vbaldtell Mr . Cargill that he ( Mr . C . ) would act more like an Englishman , if he were not to depreciate this country as he does , and endeavour to make her contemptible in the eyes of surrounding nations .
An altercation here took place between the Doctor and Major Cadogan in reference to his attack on an absent person , Mr . Urquhart . This being stopped by the Mayer , Mr . Thomason rose to address the meeting . He hoped that all the working men present would give an attentive consideration to the subject before them It was surprising that a question like this should be considered as associated with party politics . The working men had been charged with supporting the Tories upon this question ; now , he would state distinctly that they liked Toryism just as much as they liked Whiggery , and that was not very well . ( Applause . ) He would bn . fly refer to some of those splendid victories to which Dr . Lynch had alluded , and would ask the
workmen present what benelt they had ever derived frcni such victories ? At the general peace it was proposed by the Plenipotentiaries assembled in Paris that EDgland should be reimbursed for a great portion of the money expended during the war ; but Great Britain agreed voluntarily to meet all expenses ; and immediatty after that Government abolished the property tax . He would tell the gentlemen present , that if they expectsd to make the foreign policy of the country a stepping stone to power , they would be much disappointed . But whilst he made these remarks , it was only justice to refer to the doings of the Liberal Government , about which the Learned Doctor had prated so very eloquently . He thought when the next election should arrive , they would have to ask the Whig candidates
, Mr . Ord , Mr . Blackett , and the rest of them , for a new definition of liberality . ( Applause . ) Mr . Thomason then referred to the votiDg of £ 50 , 000 to Prince Albert , and some other acts of the Liberal Government , not forgetting its recent increase of the taxation of the country . Increased taxation , he observed , was one of the blessings of Reform , and " no mistake , " The interest of the national debt was too millions and a half more than under the Duke of Wellington's administration . ( Applause . ) And this was the Liberal Government which the Learned Doctor had lauded ! He could tell them that the majority of the people of this district
would feel no greater pleasure than to drive them out of office , to the tune of the " Rogue ' s March , " ( Applause , " Lynch is asleep . " ) Mr . Thomason referred to the conduct of the Ministry in respect to the Chartists , which , he said , had placed a gulf between the Whigs and weiking classes of this country , which was utterly impassable ; and concluded by moving an addition to the petition by way of rider , to the effect that this disastrous Btate of our Foreign affairs could never have existed had the people of England been represented in the House of Commons ; and that the only cure for this state of things was in a Parliament elected by tb « people a * large . - k
-Mr . Cooseconded the amendment proposed by Mr Thomason . Major Cadogan aaid—Mr . Mayor , I rise , Sir , to reply to some of the arguments used by the gentleman who commenced the opposition to the petition proposed by Mr . CargilL He says that Mr . Cargill has taken a very rambling conrse , and proved nothing . Now , I contend that the worthy gentleman has proved infinitely less on behalf of her Majesty ' s Ministers . He has said that on no occasion has the flag of England been struck to any other nation . [ Dr . Lynch— " I taid no such thing . ' ] [ A voice— " You did . " ] If Dr . Lynch had not used these words he had said something very like them . That was the substance of his statement . I wish to ask that gentleman if he has ever heard of a
British vessel called the Vijcen , and two other vesfels that have been seized by France in the Bay of Portendic ? I wish to ask him if , in addition to these gross acts of insult , he has heard of another circumstancethat a packet commanded by an officer in the British Nary had a pilot taken , by force , out of his vessel , and from under the protection of that flag that Las , as the gentleman very appropriately said , " Braved for a thousand years the battle and the breeze . " Notwithstanding the protest of the English Captain , this outrageous insult was committed , and not one shot was fired for the honour of Great Britain . These are instances which , if they have not come to the knowledge of the gentleman opposite , it is high time be knew them , —at all events before he ventured to speak upon
them . Sir , be has entered into a disquisition upon the strength of Russia , endeavouring to prove that we have nothing to fear from that power , because the Russian army had been unable to put down the little Khan of of Kiva , and subjugate the Circassians , a nation he was pleased to designate as a nation ef barbarians ; if Russia has been unable by all the power that she was able to collect to put down that small principality—if she has been unable to conquer a small territory of barbarians , on what does she rely for the purpose of carrying out her projects of universal empire ? It is by prac ising upon the minds of men , and by endeavouring to obtain her ends by frauds and intrigues , which she cannot obtain by force of arms . ( Cheers . ) If she has continued to pursue that course of aggression , -which ia
but too apparent , she has placed her reliance on the almost universal ignorance existing in this country npon all those subjects , and upon the collusive assistance sho has obtained towards the furtherance of her plans from unfaithful subjects in this country . ( Cheers , and cries of name . ) I have no desire , Sir , to follow the gentleman epposite into a party discussion , but I consider it as a great national question , involving the honour and integrity of this great empire ; and I rejoice In seeing men of all parties assembled here to uphold the honour and the interests of England independently of party considerations . And I do say that any person who endeavcurs to introduce paltry party discussions on such a « ttbjeet as this is on enemy to his country , and of the number of those to whom I allude as acting in collusion
with the enemies of this country . The gentleman opposit « laid great stress on the smallnesi of the territory that Russia had attempted to gain at Kiva , and said as an excuse for Russia that tbe sovereign of that country was only a " little Khan . " Sir , this reminds me of the excuse an unfortunate girl once made , when she hoped her mistress would net discharge her for having given birth to a child , when she said— " But ma ' am it was such a litle child . " Finding there is much misconception in the mind of the gentleman opposite—I will not call it ignorance , because he may Bay that also is uncivil—I would wish to recommend for his perusal a work published by a very distinguished man , in point of talent and ability—one who was the late ambassador at the court of Persia—who had passed a great number
of years in the East , and is considered one « f the first authorities on this subject—I mean Sir John McNeill and as he is a mest strenuous supporter of the present Ministry , to which party the gentleman opposite appears also to belong , he will not hesitate to follow his views upon these rubjects . The work is " The Progress of Russia in the East , " in which he will find great and valuable information , the book being full of tb / most convincing arguments , and , I most say also , mo * appalliig truth * . That gentleman haa spoken . o j another country—Circassia—and talked of its barbarism . Now , I must say this term cert . ainh cannot apply to a country which has contended for « c many yean with uninterrupted success agair . st the whole strength of Russia—that has upheld it / , libert ; and Independence against that gigantic power , andhai
presented to the whole world a splendid in- stance of i country fighting for its freedom . It is a gr eat satisfac tion , Sir , forme to find that even in tb-, ) degenerat days into which we have fallen there is » nation existing whose glorious achievements in their , - country's defeuw can bear a comparison with tae most brilliant events oi former ages . The term » barbarism . ' cannot be properlj applied to such a nation , but mor . e properly applies t ( those degenerate Englishmen , rho tamely suffer th ( honour , glory , integrity of theJ r native country to tx trampled under foot , and the » deny that such matte are fit subjects for inveatigaf lOn and enquiry—for thi is all th * t the petition . projr ^^ by Mr cargill desires it prays only for an invwPgatJon into the distressed am eTnbarras 8 « 4 g » nditum ft this country ; and I besitat not to say tt » t any nua \ -whatever may be their politi
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ral opinions , whoj in an assembly of Englishmen , s * y ttiat these are not proper subjects for enquiry , deserve nov the name of Britons . With regard to France , wenavejust been told that we have nothing to fe » r wZ « . ' * ndno eomplaints to make against her . wny , sir , nave we nothing to say against her permanent occupation of Algeria ? Were not representations made , under a former administration , against French aggrandizement in that quarter of the globe , and did mL f ° W : ? ^ inct deni 51 &om the French Government that it had no intention of forming a permanent settlement in Africa . But what has really been the
case Algeria has been a French dependency , and no objection has been made by the present administration to tnis violation » f her former engagements by Franco , vve all know that when an individual takes a property he receives it with all its incumbrances , as well as its advantages . So a sovereign power in acquiring a new territory takes , it with all the treaties that conneet it with other friendly nations . But in this case , France has violated tho pre-existing treaties between this country and Algeria , and by placing that country under the operation of her tariff has abrogated the fornser beneficial treaty of commerce that existed between this
country and the former Government of Algeria , and consequently the British merchant has been defrauded of his rijgits . By the unjustifiable blockade of Mexico and Buenos Ayres the British merKhant has also suffered ; but , Sir , it is not only the British merchants , who are here assembled to support a petition for Investigation into the eposes of their distresses—the other classes of the : commercial community depending upon the merchants are also hero to complain of their condition , and to ask for enquiry into its causes . Distress in one class is invariably followed by distress in others , and therefore to see here a mixture of all classes for a great common object , is to me a proof that there is at length a rising feeling of nationality and patriotism in the country , that I feel will bring about
its restoration to prosperity . Now , Sir , there is another serious charge made against tie Foreign Office . I have heard it stated that the documents placed before Parliament for the purpose ' of giving information to the country regarding diplomatic transactions—are so confused—passages misplaced—dates falsified—and parts suppressed—that it ia scarcely possible ^ even diplomatic men , to understand them . N » w , Sir , we are all aware of the great injury that must result to a nation from such a course , of proceeding ; a falsification of public documents . Lhave no means of judging why this is the case , JHU * n « lyf if there is such a charge publicly made against Ore Foreign Office , it Is a fit subject for
your serious investigation . ( Cheers . ) With regard to the United States , there is another case of glaring injustice to this country—and I ' could mention others , but I have occupied so much of jour time , and I see so many gentlemen here present who appear desirous of addressing the meeting , that I will not go into fresh matter . I think that I have clearly made out a case for Parliamentary investigation , and I am satisfied that in an assembly * f Englishmen there -drill be but one aim for carrying this petition for an enquiry into the affairs of this country , and the conduct of the Foreign Office , to the foot of the throne , and to both Houses of Parliament . The Gallant Major concluded amidst general cheering .
Mr . Wm . Ahmstrong said he had listened with great attention to Mr . Cargill and Major Cadogan , but they had entirely failed to make out a case against the Government They should have pointed out what commercial injury had betn sustained before calling upon Parliament for an investigation . Any one reading the requisition would have thought that our commerce was cut off with all parts of the world . But such was not the case . Our trade was opeia 5 with the Baltic , the Mediterranean , America ; and the blockade of Buenos Ayres even had been raised . With regard to Algeria , that presented a most unfortunate case for Major Cadogan , for the fact was , that since the French came into the possesion of that country our ' trade there had increased considerably . ( Applause from the Whigs . )
And with respect to the blockade of Buenos Ayres , our losses had been very far over-rated , for it happened that our exports to Buenoa Ayrea never exceed about four hundred thousand pounds a year , and taking the whole of that sum , which would include principle and profit and all , it would require at least ten or twelve years to make the amount as much as had been stated . But this was the way in which matters of tbis kind were misrepresented . Out losses from the blockade had been stated . to amount to two millions , the whole value of our exports amounted only to a few thousands . ( Applause from the Whigs . ) With regard totho Foreign Office generally , he was persuaded that if any portion of the policy of tbjejjjdovernraent waa entitled to commendation it was that of the Foreign Department He
would refer to the affair of Belgium , which bad been satisfactorily arranged through the instrumentality of Lord Palmerston— -the man who was charged with a criminal collusion with the Russian Government . In rjspect to Franc * , was not the Government negociating a treaty with that country at the present time , although for a great number of years we had not had a treaty upon which we could act He might refer also to the treaties with Austria and Turkey . Then came the great Eastern Question , and was there not every probability ef that question being amicably settled ? Was not England , too , made the arbitrator between France and Mexico ? Was that dishonourable to the Government ? , He thoughtJUie reverse was the fact He was rather surj ? risea $ iiat bo allusion hadibeen ' made to the stoppage of the trade with China ; but he supposed the observations mado on that subject by the Duke of Wellington and Lord Etlenborough had quite satisfied tho
party that Ministers were not to blame there . Some observations bad been made upon the Boundary question as a matter of complaint against Ministers . Why , that question had existed above forty years ; and any blame attached tothe present Ministers on that head must attach also to the Tories who were much longer in power But it might be said that Lord Palnibrston was to blamo for not agreeing to the award mado to the King of Holland . Why , every one must know that it was the American Government that would not agree to the award ; and Ministers had recently mado a proposition to the American Government for the settlement of this question , which he had no doubt would be acceded to . Major Cadogan asked a question of Mr . Armstrong , which we did not exactly hear , but it waa to the effect of enquiring if by this contradiction of tho Major ' s statement he referred to the trade generally of all Eugland with Algeria^—or only to the trade in coals enjoyed by the Port of Newcastle—as the French could not get
coals for their steamers elsewhere . Mr . A . admitted that he referred only to Newcastle . Therefore tbe Major's statement remains uncontradicted as to all tbe other parts of England . Mr . Doubleday said he was sorry to find that an attempt had been made to give a political character to : he present meeting , which it was never intended te have , and he trusted the object of the parties who had made this attempt would be completely frustrated . ( Applause . ) Dr . Lynch had said he felt surprised at seeing him here ; but in his humble notion of the matter , it was a meeting called to inquire into the state of the country , and he would tell Dr . Lynch that he had always been a fritnd of his country , and allied to no faction whatever . ( Loud cheers . ) He might tell
him also , without meaning any degradation to the gentleman , that he should feel himself quite as comfortable sitting by the side of Mr . Cargill in this meeting , as he should be in sitting by his side . So much for the political turn it had beenattempted to give the meeting ; but , as he had said before , he hoped it would be futile . He would now confine himself to the statement which bad been put forth by Mr . Cargill , and he would beg them to observe this , that Dr . Lynch , in all he hadjsaid , had not contradicted that gentleman in any one single point . He had put forth a high coloured and exaggerated statement upon certain matters connected with the country ; but be had not attempted to call in question one single tittle of the statements made by Mr . Cargill Dr . Lynch had been pleased to say , and he supposed
it was intended fer an argument , that the impression of this meeting was favourable to the views of Lord Palmerston , and the foreign office , but he much mistook the sentiment * of those around him , if the contrary were not the truth . ( Loud cheering . ) The same gentleman had referred to Circassia having defended herself against the " aggressions of Russia . Yes ; there waa a handful of brave men , relying upon their own resources as Lord Palmerston had left them do , and continuing to repel the contrivances of Russia to subjugate them . But he asked why did not the Government of England step in between Russia and Circassia ? England , until of late years , had always been known as the protector of distress , and yet she had stood by and witnessed the attempt to subjugate a brave nation without even
lifting an arm in their defence . She shrunk from meeting an open ami powerful enemy , and vet rushed into a little peddling war with the King of Naples . And now ¦ with respect to Algiers . But before going to Algiers b . e might remark that when they talked of the foreign , relations of this country , they meant not merely the trade of the country , but the character of the cr , antry amongst foreign nations as well as trade . If a country preserved her trade at the expense of her cha racter , the ministers who take such a step to preie / ve their trad * deserve to lose their heads . ( Cheers , ) If . may be very , true , for onghtwe know , that since the French occupation of Algiers more English goods had been exported to that country than before , but then tbe mere suffering of the occupation of that country by tbe
French was a national degradation . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) When Fiance first took possession of Algiers , it might be remembered , she said it would not be a permanent occupation . And why had Lord Palmerston submitted to this ? Were we to be told that this national degradation waa sufficiently compensated for by a few more coals going from Newcastle r He deprecated any inch mode of compromising th « national character . ( Cheers . ) He would now come to America With respect to the boundary question , Mr . Armstrong had said in the first place , it was a dispute of fifty yean standing , and , in the second , that it was the
American Government who bad refused to abide by the award of the King of Holland . This waa all very true . The question of the disputed boundary began very soon after the year 1783 ; it bad engaged the attention of Ministers who bad ruled this country before the accession of Lord Melbourne and the Whigs to office ; and the decision bad been left to the King of Holland in the most solemn manner possible . Both paxtieB bound themselves to abide by the decision of tbe King of Holland , whatever that might be . About two yean ago the award of the King of Holland was made ; it waa most favourable to the American States , giving up to them at least two thirds of the land in dispute , and
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bringing the American frontier within a few day ' s march of the St . Lawrence . Yet immediately upon the award being made , it was protested against by the American Minister at the Hague , and the American Government * is the most insulting manner , confirmed bis protest , refusing to abide by the award . He had a eharge to bring against Lord Palmerston on that subject Why had he not compelled Americato accept the award of the King of Holland ? That waa a justifiable ground for war ; and if this eountry had had any character , we ought to have been at war wiih the United States at tbis moment ( Lond applause . ) With regard to India , many high-sounding praises had been lavished ea the part taking by the Indian Government ; and these praises were , no doubt , well deserved . Bot
they would mark this as most extraordinary ; if any part of the British Government seemed to have the courage and the will to act in anything like an independent way , it was some degree independent of Lord Palmerston . ( Hear . ) The march was right under the circumstances which had arisen , but if proper steps iad been taken these troops ought never to have been called upon to act ( Hear . ) They would never have mndertaken that march if the Foreign Minister had not beenplayiDg into the hands of Ruesia , and betraying the interests of his country . ( Applause ) Mr . Armstrong had also referred to the blockade upon the coast of Mexico , and asked how we could have lost millions by that blockade when our export trade to that quarter did not exceed four hundred thousand
a-year . [ Mr . Armstrong— " I did not state that the whole of our trade with Mexico was only four hundred thomiand a-year ; I said our trade with Buenos Ayres did not exceed that sum . " ] Well , Mr . Armstrong had referred to blockade , which extended a considerable distance along the South American coast , and had estimated the loss to British merchants trading with Buenos at somewhere about four hundred thousand a-year . [ Mr . Armstrong— " Yes , that is what I meant" ] But it should be remembered that gooda were not the only loss that was incurred . Mr . Armstrong had forgot the detention of the ships , whilst the seamen ' s wages were going on , besides demurrage , and all the expenses unavoidably attending the delay . Ho hoped , therefore , that the next time Mr . Armstrong talked about blockades
, he would take into account the loss sustained by the ship-owners , as well as by the owners of _ the goods . ( Applause . ) But Mr . Armstrong had said that the blockade was about to be riven up . He had letters from a quarter upon ' . Vhich £ e could rely , which jsaid that newS-sras at least premature ; and he would add , that if the WockadtfiraS given u > by France , that giving up had been obtained lipon terms the most disgraceful to England thatconld be possibly conceived , for the French would only consent to withdraw their ships from that coast npon our paying all her claims . If that be an honourable and beneficial way of getting out of such disputes , he must confess that he and they differed as to what national honour is . Mr . Armstrong lmd also told them , in his usual eloquent wayamongst
, other great merits of Ministers , that they had kept this country at peace . If they had kept it at peace , a ' dishonourable , peace he need not remind them , was a far worse thing than an honourable war ; and if to maintain this peace , England had either to loose her character or her commerce , he would say , maintain your character— " perish commerce , but preserve your honour . " ( Cheers . ) But it was an abuse of words , and of all ideas that could be considered sensible , to call the present state of things a state of peace . He was told they were at peace with the United States . What sort of peace was it ? Had we not twenty thousand men in arms upon the American frontier % - And yet he would predict that the American boundary
question would not be settled by a Whig Ministry . He would predict that if Maine take every inch of territory they please , and if a Whig Ministry be in office , they will put up with insult , and not fire a single shot in defence of it Time would roll on , and they might judge between him and hia opponents by the event of this prediction , whether they knew more of the matter than he did . ( Cheers . ) He would not detain them longer at the present time , but if asked on some other occasion , how it happens that England puts up with all the insults offered to her , he would give them an exposition of the whole case , and convince them of the true position in which England stands . Mr . Doubleday retired amidst loud cheering .
Mr . Wm . Lockey Harle was the next speaker , after which Joh * Fife , Esq ., ex-Mayor and ex-Chartist , was the next champion of Whiggery who appeared on the stage , but he had no sooner risen than he was assailed with a volley of execrations from all parts of the hall . A scene then ensued which almost baffles description . " Whore ' s the specials ? " ' Read the Riot Act ! " " Traitor , Fife ! " " Shabby , " "Turncoat , " " Remember the Spital ! " resounded in every quarter . The Chairman interfered , and said they must allow Mr . Fife to speak ; but almost an unanimous shout replkd , "No , we won't" Mr . Brandling at the time attempted to address the chair , with a view , we suppose , of suggesting some mode of compromise , but Mr .
Councillor Ralph Park Phllipson seized the arm of the Mayor , and with much earnestness of manner impressed upon his worship , that as Mr . Fife had possession of the meeting , no other gentleman should be allowed to speak . From this the Chairman appeared to take his cue , and with extreme pertinacity insisted on i Mr . , Fife being . heard , wb ^ tb ^ i h © nieeUng . would or hot Mr . Fife * he said , bad' possession of the chair , and until he sat down the meeting could not proceed . The quivering apothecary" persisted in thrusting himself forward ; and occasionally threw himself into a sort of theatrical attitude , as if to bid defiance to his opponents . He asked , at times , for fair play , but was immediately answered , in apithy interrogatory , " Was there play at the Forth ? " " His hands are stained with the blood
of the Chartists ! " " Who stabbed the man that carried the fl-ig-stafF ? " "Traitor ! " " Turncoat ! " were heard at intervals in the confusion which prevailed . At one time the miserable man pulled out his watch , and held it out significantly to the meeting , as if to intimata that unless they heard him he would stand till midnight But this intimation produced no impression whatever ; he no sooner attempted to speak than a yell of execration arose on every side . When this scene had continued a few minutes , the Chairman said that ho considered it to be his duty to give fair warning , that if they would not hear Mr . Fife he would dissolve the meeting . On this . Dr . Hume charged the Mayor with being ear-wigged ; on which the worshipful functionary rdterated , with some vehemence , that he acted independently of every party , and entirely on his own
responsibility . A gentleman , from another part of the meeting , on hearing this declaration , said aleud , " Put it to the meeting , then , whether Mr . Fife should be heard or not , " but this very proper request was not complied with . Mr . Fife still persisted in attempting to address the meeting , being encouraged to do- so by the Whig clique , but was continually assailed with epprobious epithets , and shouts of execration . The Whigs now began to look as if they thought they had played the game well , and when a suitable time arrived , the Mayor rose and said he bad given them fair warning , and he now dissolved the meeting . Upon this his worship vacated the chair , and left the aieeting in company with the Whig clique , on whose advice and suggestions he had evidently acted from the beginning , It was then moved and seconded , and carried unanimously , that
Thomas Doubledat , Esq ., should take the chair , which that gentleman did , amidst most enthusiastic cheering . Before proceeding with the business , he said—Friends and fellow-countrymen—I assure you that It was with feelings of very deep regret , indeed , that I have obeyed the call you have made upon me to take thla chair . It was my earnest , sincere , nay , I may say , my first wish , that your worthy Chief Magistrate should have brought the proceedings of this meeting to a regular close ; and you must forgive me for saying
that I tbink , in refusing to bear Mr . Fife , you have acted not only an uncourteous , but a very impolitic part I may be wrong , but though that seems the whole cause , in my mind I cannot help thinking that tbe attempt to speak , and the opposition made to it , from some cause or other , might be done as a means of breaking up this meeting . 1 trust , therefore , that as you have-appointed me to the chair , there will be no mote , interruption , and that the gentlemen who are willing to address you in proper language will be listened to the end . ( Loud eheers . )
Mr . Cargill then said ,, that as tbe time was come for putting tbe adoption of the petition to the sense of the meeting , be was entitifid to reply ; be should not make any reply , because he bad nothing to reply to . He had advanced arguments on national subjects—he was met by assertions « a local interests and personal matters ; he bad advanced proofs of national plunder , of national disgrace , amd of ministerial perfidy—be was met by evasions , and his statements uncontrodicted ; he therefore considered all his arguments confirmed by bis opponents , because a man who has good reasons to
give never offers bad reasons ox evasions ; and as to calumnies on individuals , all he would say was this , that those who prostituted themselves to the task of defending the enemies of their country , and endeavouring to prevent enquiry into tbe conduct of faithless Ministers , by transferring national subjects to personal invective , are unworthy the name of citizens—but those who , in furtherance of so horrible an object , descend to the adoption or repetition of aspersions on the private character of public men whose reputations are spotless , whose livea are unsullied , cease to have tbe character of men . ( Great Applause . )
Mr . Thomabok said , that in order to confine the attention of tbe meeting as much as possible to the all-absorbing question of the Foreign Policy , he should withdraw bit amendment for tbe present , and afterwards bring it forward as a substantive motion . Mr . Chables Ratne objected to this course . It was usually considered that when , any gentleman made a proposition , and it was duly seconded , it became the property of the meeting , and could not be withdrawn without its consent After some discussion , The Chairman put the question to the meeting , as to whether Mr . Thomastn ' s amendment should be taken separately , or as a rider to Mr . CargUTs motion , as at first proposed . The meeting decided , with , only two or three dissentients , that the two propositions should be taken separately . Mr . Cargill ' s motion was then put from the Chair , and carried unanimously , amidst loud and protracted cheering .
Chas . ATTWOOD , Esq . then rose , and was again received with loud and enthusiastic cheering . He eaH , Mr . Mayor , friends , and fellow countrymen , it now becomes my duty to submit to the meeting the petition to
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u £ 2 S . -T ^ * 8 *™ notice « " e » 1 J I ***** «* Se ^ ET vft If" aftaid r ifaaI 1 '¦«*»« 7 » aV ito S £ fl n ^ vfi feel that l o * **** ***~ i ^^ SWttft S 5 £ SM ^ J Sv * 3 iS £ Stt ^ ffttSX tZXSS Msr ^ atas which you , or the greaterpart of you , and which I afo * am well known to entertain ; nor have I suggested the adoption of any specific measure , in compliance with our projects as a party are designed to terminate : and that principle is , indeed , very similar to that which seems to me to be comprehended in Mr . Cargill ' s petitions also , to the Lords awi Commons , although not by him so fully expanded ; ami for the rest , it takes a Tery similar view to that which he has taken , of the
mrcumstances of our foreign pobcy , but connects those crrcumstances with our internal dangers , discord , and misrule , and charges both to be the common progeny of the-same corrupt misgovernment and vicious legislation . 1 have connected , Mr . Chairman , t&ese internal and external circumstances , as you have dene , and declare that they have made tbe country , at length , too weak to confront and to contend against her foreign enemies . It has bten attempted to meet with ridicule the charges which have been made that much or all this danger from abroad has been designedly produced ; but , Sir , though I am not prepared to go the length of affirming that the Foreign Minister has been proved a traitor , I am prepared to say , tkat , as regards the effects of tbe measures and the policy he has pursued , I do
believe him very little better . ( Loud applause ) . Nor have-1 come to that conclusion upon light or hasty grounds ; and my friend Mr . CargiU ean testify , and my friend , if I may call him so , Major Cadogan , is also in some degree able to bear witness , how reluctantly and slowly I have yielded to the weight of evidence which seemed to indicate anything approaching to deliberate treason . They can state with what repugnance I allowed my mind to open the reception of conviction of a crime b » execrable ; with what pertinacity I adhered to the persuasion that the difficulties in which they found themselves involved , as the natural fruits of their own fttadamentally false and fatal policy , had been the cause , and so far as intention Is . concerned , were also the excuse , of the Cabinet , for those
unwarrantable , inexplicable negociations and diplomacy . Such embarrassments as they bad thuarereated for themselves ,- might very easily , Sir , and yet I felt , very erroneously , be construed as intentional , be mistakenly considered treason . But , Sir , after a fuU and prettycareful consideration of the matter , I find myself compelled to come to this broad conclusion . I charge the whole Whig Government that they have betrayed the interests , the honour , and the safety of the country ; but I charge upon Lord Palmerson that be has done more ; that he has connived at , and elaborately concealed the progress of the public danger ; and that whether or not he have sold the crown and country , he has done that which is , in effect , equivalent to it ; that if he have not sold them for a bribe in money , he has
sold them to make smooth the way—to make secure and permanent the occupation of office by himself , hia friends , and faction ; and I care not much , whether his private pokets , under such circumstances , be crammed and bursting with ill-gotten wealth , or whether be be as poor as the poorest of the multitude of poor , but honest men , I see before me . ( Loud shouts of applause . ) Neither , Sir , can I pass over in silence the audacious assertions that have been made , as to the pretendedly felicitous and prosperous condition of the country , by those who have appeared as the defenders of the Administration ; although , you , indeed , Mr . Chairman , have already sufficiently exploded that miserable pretence—that shameless and unblushing statement Ia it not , Sir , absolutely an outrage upon the patience of
his meeting , upon the common sense and feelings of this whole community , to dare to tell us that England is a prosperous country , that Britain is , in fact , aught else than one vast ' scene of infinite danger and disgrace abroad , of infinite distress and discontent at home ? They talk , by way of luring your attention from the business of the meeting , about the glories of the British flag , and let us ask in what battle the Whigs have hauled it down . In wbat battle have they hauled it down ? What battle ever did they , or ever will they fight ? Their way to escape defeat is to settle the dispute by surrender without a battle ; and thus do they uphold the honour of the British flag . But how did they uphold it in the Vixen ' s case ? By the by , I possess some peculiar knowledge on the history
of that affair ; and I sun able to give some evidence about it ^ gainst Lord Palmerston . The pretence sci up by the Whigs for submitting to the seizure of the Fixsn , tho second pretence , after the first about the blockade had beon abandoned , was—that the harbour and fort of Soudjouk Kale , off which the ship was seized , were in the actual possession and occupation of a Russian garrison . I say that this was an utter falsehood ; and I say that I believe that it is also known to be so , to Mr . Yeames , the British Consul at Odessa , from whom some sort of equivocal statement to the contrary , by some manoeuvre of Russo-Whig diplomacy had been purposely procured . The Whigs have made themselves scarce here , Sir , after vainly attempting to break up this meeting ; and though I little esteem
their company , I cannot help a little regretting that they are not here to receive the costigation I had intended to bestow upon them . I must not on that account , however , let all their flagrant mis-statements pass unnoticed . They claim for their faction the acquisition of the glories of the British flag , and they charge that all the difficulties of the country are of Tory origin . Sir , I am no friend to the Tories , but I am a friend to-the truth ; and I say that it required Whig impudence—no otherimpudence is equal to it—to make this assertion . The Tories claim , and I claim for them the sole honour of a long series of triumphs and of victories of the British'flag , by sea and land , without Whig aid , and despite Whig hindrance ; and be it so , or be it not , that they did plunge the country into &
war , originally unjust and unnecessary , they did at any rate conduct that war with ability and courage , to a splendid and successful final triumph . But when that war had palpably become—whatever it were at its commencement—a conflict f » r the safety of the country , at that very moment did the Whigs , in order solely to arrest the progress and the issue of those triumphs , by which their political opponents resisted and averted tbe subjugation of the State , set up a cry for peaceyes , everywhere did they inscribe upon their party banners , a cry for " Peace , Retrenchment , and Reform , and raised thereby a mutiny amongst the tribes of cant and tribes , of Mammon , which hod nearly sunk the country . But I ask these miserable and sordid-minded Whigs , in how few years of peace have they contrived
to sacrifice or sell all the power , the influence , and honour which it cost the nation so many years of war to conquer and obtain ? ( Hear , bear , and cheering . ) When will they listen to the call of honour , and do some thing to uphold that flag which waa unsullied till they received it ? ( Applause . ) Never , my friends ; no , never ! An instinctive sense of incapacity for warsupposing there to be no treason—no matter what necessity , will always keep them at peace . ( Applause . But , again , as to the honour of the English flag ; bow did they support that honour when the great Whig potentate Lord Durham , as Ambassador to him we used to call the Czar of Muscovoy , sailed under its protection ? He went to Russia by way of Constantinople , salting in a British frigate ; and when he got there , the Turkish
Government , acting at the instigation and positive demand of Russia , hindered his frigate from sailing through the Dardanelles into the Black Sea , by virtue of a hostile treaty which the latter had extorted from Turkey , by which the key of the Dardanelles had been transferred to her ; a treaty which Great Britain had declared a nullity—but which the Earl of Durham , by submitting to its operations , confirmed and admited ! Yes , my friends , they transshipped him like a bale of damaged goods , they compelled him to disembark from , that British frigate and its glorious flag , and pursue hia voyage in a paltry steamer ? That frigate , to complete the picture of our insult and disgrace , was the Barham , the finest frigate , I believe , Sir , in the British Navy , and commanded by a Grey , another of the great Whig
family , and son , I think , of him whom we were used to call the Father of Reform . But from the pwud d- ek of that vessel , Sir , the prince of Whiggery , that Radical Whig the Earl of Durham , as represents < ve of the ' Majesty of England , was insolently required—and he submitted—to descend ; and whilst a Russian frigate fired an insulting salute upon those waters on which tUo Barham was forbidden to sail , The set bis foot upon that petty steamer , which had been previously compelled to disembark tho one only gun she ever carried ! Aye , thus , like a captive behind the chariot wheels of some insulting conqueror , a spectacle of the degradation of his eountry , and seen , in those narrow seas , without a > glass , from both the shores of Europe and Asia , did the Earl of Durham pursue his voyage to a port of bis Sovereign ' s pretended ally , om board a sorry boat , from ' which the insulted naval genius of his country bad been
compelled to unload her thunder !/ ( Loud and continued shouts of applause . ) Such is the manner in which the Whiga uphold the honour of your flag—and of theirs Sovereign too—when trusted with them ! ( Applause . * But , a few words about the Circassians , who have been described by one of those intelligent and candid orators as a few tribes of barbarous mountaineers , from whose recent successes in resistance of the Russian invasion , ha draws an inference that Russia may be safely left to extend her power , since here is a proof of its present insignificance I This orator has yet to learn that , solely through the almost impregnable strength , of their rocks and fastnesses , this brave and glorioua people , whose civilization is of an order which ; it belongs not to Whig minds to appreciate and understand , has indeed maintained a constant war of twenty yean duration against Russia ; and that Russia has , from first to last , sacrificed in the attempt to conquer them
more than twice the number which Napoleon lost in all his wars in . Spain and Portugal—wars in which he had the arms of England to contend with as well as their own . ( Applause . ) Yes , Sir , Russia has lost six hundred thousand men in her long attempts to subjugate Circassia . ( Applause . ) And not one man too many , Sir , if thereby she could obtain possession of that rampart-ridge , to her who . aeeXa what tibia would glTd her—the sure and certain conquest of the world ! ( Loud and long-continued applause . ) Dr . Lynch observed , Sir , I thtnk , on Whig philanthropy , and told . { Concluded in our Eighth page . }
Untitled Article
THE NORTHERN STAR . r ~ ud ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ 7 >¦
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 13, 1840, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/king-y1kbzq92ze2688/page/7/
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