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jajngltylW. . THE NORTHERN STAR. " "~ *»...
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^ -- PORTUGAL: inr, AiatED mERVsmor. n „...
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HOUSE OF COMMONS.—[In consequence of our...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Jajngltylw. . The Northern Star. " "~ *»...
_jajngltylW _. . THE NORTHERN STAR . " " ~ *» .
Foktp Ftttliligmce
foKtp _ftttliligmce
^ -- Portugal: Inr, Aiated Mervsmor. N „...
_^ -- PORTUGAL : _inr , _AiatED mERVsmor . n „ nPCai in o « r last number tue capture of _^ a f " _sand two _thomaml _f-nr hundred of the r _*\ - ' _tioins . by the British squadron , under the J ° n _n ! of Sir T . _Mait ' snd . We now give the _ o _* n * * '; ' , f { hi 3 _nerh'dious _transaction , so disr * "Tt to ibc British name . _& " _? _Wlowint : accoun' is mainly derived from the 1 _^ ' ¦'* ' _^ jivn' -c ' ofthe Thms . Ic must be borne in t * jTr _^ liaf " t ' iat journal bas from the first been
_£ m ] v oppr - _" _** - ™ _***>" n _**» party , - and its _cor-^ Lo _' rtVnts hsve feh-en the ntnuist twins to _throw _^ _. _^ iton the rawc and actions of the patriots . So V _ , . v is the l / _siwn correspondent _, a partisan of wLk Marl ** _, that there can hardly be anv doubt - t he _N - _^ * M - V of _tnnt _^ fepntahio _rH _* rsona _& _< __ _,- _ _, _* these facts in mind , onr n _a-lcrs niay take it r _ _T- ' , _ntad that the 27 hi _« ' currcsriondents are not fji ' io piint the Queen and her British confede-* , - blacker than tbey really are . but rather the rct _*^ . " Vet these sai = l _corresnond- _? nts disclose facts * * _jrh decide for ever the infamv of the British f _ : wh o , by a combination of fr . _indwith force , _$ _* jf _. _-.-tod tbe rain ofthe Nat inna' cause _, _^ nv first q « cte from the budget of the Lisbon
_cor-^ I _^ _tios , June 4- —Tn wit last I mentioned the return • the iVr-stoamer _Bnl _' . do _* : to Lisbon _, on theevenimr j & _e'V = h n'f .. after a rapid _vsya-ze of fonr days from $ r _* , « on 1 h . w ' tb despatches for Sir H . Seymour ! 5 _idiiirsi Parker , communicating the _sisni-igof _> pratee _' ed and the further instructions . . Not an - " _^ tint _- * _- _l 05 _- * ' n transmittin ! r _correspondin ; _in-_^_ . _tions bythc BnlMog to the commander of onr _^ _almB at Oporto , who was directed ( ss I intimated ? mvla * t ) t « "make the blockade effective , "in ' - _auction with a French ship of war . Within 30 * ¦ _utttr these instructions reached Oporto , a _* ____„ _expedition wbicb the Junta had prepared to Si _frP- _'nicIic . about 30 miles north ofUsbun , Mid , '» nda'kins there , to march on _thecapilal , in _purree ofthe _policv which I described in a former _w _, . which _desi _* ined to bustle Donna Maria S . Vthrone and get h _? r out of tbe kingdom bef _.-re fJ _& palmerston conbl have _arranjied wiih France _Tjjpain ns to the ulterior proceedings , sailed from
T _ p _. nir . _1 . with IMS Antas on board as co-niuaiiflerj _f _^ cf , when they fell , quite innocently , into the _jgjjjls of onrblrckadinu squadron , wbosecomraander _^ lop t the way" and intimitcd that they could not - _ _: _ , The expedif Innary squadron chose to _disrejjn . tbis intimation , and was _proceeding to pass _Sof the river , when nf course , without firms a Ab _ . which would have been madness , considering I _ttvptriority of n « i' < i * force on our side , they gave _AfOiajives up as prisoners , with many protestations _rtst "' thev yielded taily to constraint and force , " and _j-a a formal declaration that tbey surrendered to
jj . Allied Power- ? , and not to the Q ieen of Portugal . This important seizure took place at sunset on the 58-1 clt It was tbe more important b » canse _ tbe jjj _ e _insnrsenfc steamers which left Oporto _ab-iut _jajdavs since , bad returned and formed part of tbe figent expedition . The vessels seized by the allied _LuJr-ra were tbe _fa-liowinj _; : —Steamers . _—R-yal j _ r . _Mindvllo , Porto , corvette Eighth of July ; _Mergaiit vessels—Flcr da Amizade and Amor da _Pajni , and six Mates—in all twelve vessels , having on lard afore : of 2 . 400 men of all arms , with 50 horses j _ d two pieces of artillery , the military commander g il _; e expedition being the Conde das Antas , and 4 » naval commander an Englishman , named S _ tljjr , who deserted at the commencement of this in-. _srrection from tbe naval service of the Queen « f P _ _riUiTal . and bas since been coin * : all the injury he
( 5 _ _W to his-dopted sovereign . _iJasAnfcis was on baril-he Mindello steamer , and was allowed tore-Diin there : bat Salter was removed on board the Baildi' 2 . Several of the most important amongst l _ ein ? nr _^ ent leaders were likewise on board the _vessefefarmin _* : the _insarjent squadron . * " * _- _* eno » turn to the Oporto _correspondent of the Sacs . Th . ' Jantn had deliberated ou the possibility tftbe _espc-Jnion bcin 2 interfered with by the Biili . ! i _sajiadran o £ _f the bar , and _asome to the _cnnclusion & tsacU interference was net probable , as up lo that _itse [ three o ' _clock , p . m ., Mav 29 ili ) . " nodistinct tlnatcf seizure or sfo }> _page had km made ly any British agent . " Under these circumstances the order to embark was given : —
_Abiutfivc _o'd-. ck , 2 ,-100 men were drawn _upvn fraatofthehon ? _e''CCUj'ied by Das Antas—colours were distributed by his lady to one of ths battalions —a speech was made by the Commander-in-Chiefhearty vivas were given by the surrounding multitude , ar . d the embarkation commenced amidst the _p-eatestenthusiasm , both * n the part of the _froops ind the people . While thi * was going on , tbe British squadron , consisting of a _frigate , a brig of war , and line * : * _larse steamers , lay eff the bar , a witness of all fiat passed , but no message was sent in . nor any order oiven , even under the shape of " _friendiy advice . " About G o ' clock the British Consul arrived atthe Fez . and bad an interview of nearly balf-an-honr trith Das Antas . The object of the Consul was to deliver a letter , dated tbe 23 th of May . from Sir Hamilton Seymour , refusing to protect the commissioners whom die Junta had proposed to address
personally to tlte Queen , for the purpose of having a national question decided by narional means . Our Consul I have no doubt advised Das Antas in a becoming manner ; bat I am positively _informed tbat Mr Johnson did xot _declare that the expedition would be seized , or use any _Jansuase unqualified by the _wrd '' probably . " ' Theinterview being ov «* r _ Das Anfa ? himself embarked , and the Consul returned to townforthepurpo . se of deiiverins to the Junta the ktter alluded to , as Das Aritas had declined officially to receive it , on tbe sround that being Commandc-i _ia-Chiet of an expeditionary movement he had for tie time resigned his presidency ofthe Junta . The Gmsnldid deliver the letter , and bad at the same time a long conversation with that body ; bnt I lave reaso ? . fri know without once exceeding the Inaits of advice , or converting ' probability" into eertainty .
_Thosclo-ed tie Sunday ni _* . ht . some _desreeof _eenfio _' ence being given to the few English families remaining , by a hint that nothing ho _* . tile wonld be dene by onr feei in this viciniiy , on account ofthe great value of British , property in Opcrln ; and that the expedition _woa-ld not be disturbed till it reached _Casca-. s . Iu fact , on Mond-iy morning the whole of the squadron andI tbe _sbip 3 of the Junta were seen peaceably , and , to all appearance , _soi-iabfy , at anchor _dflLe bar— " the wolf lying down with the lamb " - — bat a notice placed on the bar book soon altered the ease , and we saw , as it explained , that the Portuguese fleet was in fact environed by the British squadron . The whole troth then became known , _inlitw _., 3 found that , at -i a . in . on Monday . Sir Thomas _Maitland had captured the whole ofthe
Janta ' s s __ ip 3 . and bad disarmed theexpediion Tins was done in so offhand and cbaraeteristica manner that I cannot do less than give the correspondence ** Kcu accompanied it . The _correspondence begins with the following summons to surrender from _SirTboma 3 _Maitland to the Count Das Antas : — " Her Majestj ' s Ship America , off Oporto , May 31 . "I have ihe honour to iuturm you that my orders "¦ re impera ! ive to take possession of the Junta ' s vessels of war , troops , & 3 » If they do not immediately anchor near the America , I Ehall bo compelled , howerer" reluctantly , to use force . ¦ " _£ . Maiil & sd . " Of course Das Antas , on receivint f this letter , saw that he had no chance of escaping , and so . making a Tutne of necessity , he _struck his flag aud wrote the following answer to Sir Thomas : — " _MindcUo , off Oporto , May 31 .
' I have received the communication which your ¦ Excellency lias made me . Surrounded by forces so tnnch superior to tbose under my commaud , I _consider myself a prisoner of war . I protest most solemnly against this violent infraction of the laves of nations ; against war , without any previous declaration of war en afriend ' y nation ; against the greatest abuse of force ever made under circumstances ofthe greatest aggravation , which dishonours for ever the English nation . Your Excellency will be pleased to give -orders as to the ulterior destination of the force now sader your command . "Cosdb Das Akta 3 . " .
_ Sir Thonns _Maitlasd did not leave Das Antas long in ignorance of his intentions , and he proceeded at onee to the disarmament of the troops in the foliow iagtharaeteristic manner : — "Ber Majesty ' s skip America , off Oporto , _Ma-ySl-As the troops nnder year command are now prisoners ef war , in order to prevent unnecessary bloodshed I have the honour to request that you will give the necessary directions to them to lay down their ann 3 , —o & erwise I must use the meant in mg power to oblige them to do it . " T . _Mai-oakd . " This order was obeyed without resistance . Lam told that oneofour boats fired unnecessarily into one of th smaller Junta vessels , and that tao men were j InUed . I hear that one officer stabbed himself to the heart sooner than give up his _stcord , and that twoi tailors threw themselves overboard , one of whom had tbe <_ cod luck to swim to shore .
The full extent of the news was not known till the " _^ terno on of Monday . It of course produced a _violet irritation in the town , and caused the remaining English subjects to reflect very seriously on their _atttttion . The * Junta , _however , behaved admirably . Bad ths Junta shown the white feather , had they _Wasniitd their jieisonal pafety and fled . I should not Probably be alive lo write this letter , nor any other Of my fellow-residents . Tbe Junta certainly deserve _W _Kiit for their forbearance , for , according to the _socount which they have published , and to the "Mffers which they have given to such Englishmen
_fccalledonthem , the letter of Sir Hamilton _Sey-§¦_ *» . _deelaratory of the final intentions of the British government , though dated Lisbon , May 20 . * a 3 not delivered to the Casa Pia ( palace of the Junta ) fill one o ' clock of the afternoon of the 31 st , ""¦ 'UCTLT . KISE HOURS AFTER THE FLEET ASD _EXPEDX-**«» webs capicbed . This fact is so strange—it is 80 contrary to British good faith and repugB _*» nt to _ffery feeling of fair p lay , that I hive made minute " _^ luiries into it ; and I can state _tvitlt eertainty that ¦* f ' letter in question was not delivered ly our Consul "" after one o ' clock p . m ., on Monday iht 31 _« t f tht cap-
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ture of the expedition having taken place at 1 a . m . or fast nine hours previously . The J unta addressed aformal protest to the _English Consul , but as this ' document is very lengthy , I onlv extract tbe most pointed _passages . After reciting the facts of the cascthe Junt 1 say , " We _protest solemnh asainst this foreign intervention in the domestic affairs of I _' _crtugal , which , as a nation free and inilc-• re , '_ dcn _*' . "ils an _Jn'KspntaWe _ricfit to constitute itself politically according to _tbeexistine laws . Wc protest-asamst . this flagrant violation of the rights of _r-SKT k ? _.-, V * t _* * ' _Yi- _^ mg to force am ! violence , but still solemnly protesting , we assent to the _avnustice required by Sir H . Sevmour , on the condition contained in his letter , that the _for-esof the _cpvernmcutof _lAhon shall at the same " ime _absfann all
Irom ho . tUific . , hy sea and land ; J as , before Vie rccopt of the said letter of Sir 11 . _& _- . ,-it _$ _*!! _£ _** _% , _*?» Britlsh M" _» <« - _^ _*< he _thnrt 03 s ! , t l _* ' wit , 10 Ut _»« t 'let / al ! w , _-- _« _¦ _, _^ _eT _•^^• _, mtimation . to take pr .-a . esb _' _laS 4 _?!' ni ' - of the s 1 , lvlrnn an « I troop , _tetensaiig to tbo Junta , we protest solemnly a-ain » t uie act , as one which violates all national law , and _S . * _™ _"" _*» "Jd have expected from the old nn ? _JS f * ny f _Portnw ! .- lam glad to say Hint not a single Englishman has bad reason to complain ™„ bk - s _''«! sles £ _msiM or injury . The people were much irritated unseeing their fleet carried tethn southward each of onr steamers having a Poftiiguefc vessel in tow ; but the peace of the citv was so _wcu preserved that we walked about in fnll » . n _* rifv .
I fcrfn _^** : _" «• wl » committed tbe imprudence of _wmg out at late hours of the nis * ht reached their homes in safety . This good conduct was observe '* nn _ertjio additional _agirravation that Marshal Sal-Q-nua , in defaance of tbe arm 1 _st : cc . advanced bis head _qaarters to _Grigo within two leagues ofthe city _. and his advanced posts to Campo Grande , only one league , f tnat a Spanish force had crossed at Va _* eho . i _, irom _babciat . and defeated with great loss the Junta trnnps atatwned near that place . I am told thnt . MIdanha , when remonstrated with for _dlsre-ardin ? the armistice , said , that the orders for advance had Men previously given , and that he was clad to be near Oporto to assist the Jnnta in protecting the persons and property of strangers . 1 suppose tbe leader of the Spanish _troonsat _Valenca will offer a similar excuse . The conduct o f Saldanha does not
escape criticism here—and m ? n exclaim against the Duke , who remained four months _q-.-iet at Oliveira . and never moved a step forward until he had the ewer of an armistice , and found tbatthe Junta lost £ , iw men in one sweep . th m . now . tura again _* o toe Lisbon correspondent of The news of this important capture wag carried to Lisbon by the Madrid Peninsula-- packet , which reached this m the afternoon of the 1 st inst . It speednv became disseminated _thronshout the metropolis , and produced a most extraordinary sensation _, bavin .. ' taken every one by surprise , and _fiUina tlte _Uteens supporters with jog , and the adherents of the Junta with _dismaiv .
The landing and _secnrins of the prisoners within tnenreeincti _ofSt . Julian ' s was comnleted _yesterday afternoon , June 4 th ; then arc guarded bu a strong body of oitr marines . On _Wednesday some 50 cavalry and 16 artillerymen wenfcdown in a steamer to conduct the captured horses and muks to Lisbon , and arsenal boats to bring up tha armament , ic . The great number of the captured vessels arrived here ina tniserable state , short both of provision 1 * and water . Too many men were likewise crammed on board some of the vessels , and they arrived like the human _rat _' e of a slaver , _tcrriblv exhausted bv t _^ e excessive heat and confined space . TVe havo thus got a Httle army of prisoners on our hands , and will not perhaps find it so easy to get rid of thera . Whenever s t at liberty they may immediately proceed to make a fresh rebellion , of which their numbers would form a sufficient _nucleus .
We are loth to charge Admiral Parker witb the _trcachef-isB design of _seducing , under false pretences , thai _Viscount Sa da Bandeira to surrender himself and followers , but the extract following , from the Admiral ' s letter , wcar s tbat «» ly appearance , when he so grossly exaggerates the number of the Junta * * troops _seiz'd , and speaks as though Das Antas nad voluntaril y surrendered . Our readers will remember that Su da Bandeira commanded the Junta ' s forces at St _Ubes , near Lisbon . " Her Majesty ' s ship Hihcrnia , at Lisbon , "June 1 , 1847 .
My dear Viscount , —I have this instant received , by the packet from Oporto , a despatch from Captain Sir Thomas Maitland . of the America frigate , who commands the British squadron off tbe Douro , informing me that yesterday the whole of the _insursent naval forcf , consisting of the . vessels enumerated in the margin , and having on board the Count das Antas and 4 . 000 troops , surrendered themselves , to tbe British _squadron , and are now on their way to the Tagna . "They are in the hands ofthe English ; and I need _notas-mreyou that notonly will their lives bcsafc _. and that they will not be delivered un to the Portuguese government , nor dbliqcd to land in Portugal against their will ; but I flatter myself they will find themselves kindly treated . " _Noed I intreat you , my dear Viscount , to cease hostilities , and / oUow the example of your associates in arms ! * * *
" W . Pabkeb , Vice-Admiral . " "The following i 3 an extract from Sa da Bandeira ' s answer : — "la reply , I have ( 0 tell you that I shall defend myself if I am attacked ; but also , that upon the appearance of the new and powerful enemy wbich has presented itself against the cause of the people of Portugal , I shall suspend hostilities until I receive the instructions ofthe Jnnta ofthe supreme government ofthe kingdom , " I have the honour to be , Mons . L'Amiral , & c . "Viscount de Sa da _Bakdeiba . " St _Ubos _, June 2 nd , 1847 . 2 am . Admiral Parker assured Sa da Bandeira tbat the prisoners would kot be obliged to land in _Portugal _against their will ; yet three days afterwards the prisoners were landed in _Pormgal and _consigned to a Portuguese fortress , under the guard of a body of British marines !
Since the above wag in type we have received by tha Madrid . PeninRular steam-ship , intelligence from Lisbon to the 9 : b , and from Oporto to the 11 th instant . The correspondent ofthe "Daily News " thus writes : — The consequences of tbe coup de main perpetrated by the English squadron on the 31 st of May have not been long in making themselves apparent . It is no exaggeration to say that , with the exception of the court parfy , and of a very small and bigoted party of Englishmen , ( whose monied and stock-jobbing interests aro implicated in the triumph of absolutism , ) the whole population of Lisbon feel alike contempt _and'indignation for a nation which could first foster the insurrection of Portugal , and then
use its irresistible power to quell it , and to deliver its chiefs over to the hands of tb » ir enemies . The firm determination of the Viscount de Sa Bandiera to yield nothing short of direct aggression on the _' part of Great Britain , has apparently occasioned some embarrassment to the ambassador and the admiral , for no step had bpen taken up to the evening of the Sth of June to compel the insurgent forces at St Ubes to lay down their arms . A _Spanish force of upwards of 1 , 400 men . under the command of General Meudez Vigo , marched into P 6 rtugal on the 3 rd inst .. crossing the frontier river Minho , at Valenga . Colonel Damazio _, commanding tbe Junta ' s forces in tbat quarter , offered some resistance to the advance of the Spaniards , but subsequently retreated to Ponte de Lima .
It is difficult to ascertain what diplomatic steps are being taken in the present confused state of affairs . The report most current is that Sir Hamilton Seymour has been _unintennittinuly employed , since the news of the capture of the expedition of Count das Antas reached him , in an endeavour to induce Donna Maria and her ministers to carry ont the preliminary steps of the conditions accepted by her , and upon which the whole of the recent acts of the British squadron are ba « ed . These preliminary steps consist iu the immediate nomination of a ministry calculated to give tbe popular chiefs confidence in the future conduct of the court aad government , in the restoration of the personal guarantees , and the liberty of the press , and in the liberation of ail
persons confined under the rigorous regime of the Mar * quis Frontera and his brother , on suspicion of being disaffected . But up to the moment at which I write nothing whatever has been effected either by the representations or entreaties of our ambassador , nor lug Donna Maria or her advisers advanced one ineh towards rendering her government more _ in accordance with the policy recommended and imposed on her by Lord Palmcrston . Indeed , if tbe official part of the Mario may be accepted as evidence of the Queen ' s determination , conduct the" very reverse to what I have above indicated must bs * looked for , inasmuch as the Gazette ofthe 7 th instant contains a decree , dated the preceding day , _prolonging the suspension ef personal freedom , and of the liberty of the _prea ? , and this , too , in the very teeth of Donna Maria ' s own personal engagement with Sir LI . v < _$
mour to annul every illegal act passed by hi *** _, amongst which this stands first and foremost . Of the general sentiments which animate all classes in the capital , save a _select few to whom I have already alluded , it only remains for me to say , wbicb I can most conscientiously , thatone common feeling of indignation and sorrow appears to pervade the whole mass of society , from tbe highest to the lowest . Even the more enlightened and liberal amongst the Cabral partisans feel that a blow has been struck at the honour and independence of Portugal by a power which , up to that moment , had at least tbe confidence and esteem of the nation , but whieh , by this act of partisanship and of police intervention , ( for that will be the effect of Lord _Paimerston _' _s proceeding ) has forfeited its pretensions to be considered a friend . to the Portuguese people , whatever it may be to the court and camarilla . Accounts from Oporto represent that the Junta _badeiimified tboir willingness to accept the terms
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dictated by the British ; at the same time protestin- ; _against the intervention . UNITED STATES AND MEXICO . Bv the linii steam-ship Britannia , we havo news from New York to tho 1 st instant . Letters from the seat-of war state that General Scott was advancing rapidly upon Mexico . Although short of troops—a laigj number of volunteers having left him , their time of service having _exfaircd—he had pushed on a column to I ' _ucbla , where no resistance was expected . _Gascia ! Worth had taken possession of Perote , _withoutoppositinn . _Gcm-ral Taylor , in consequence ol _alaruenumber of troops bavin ? left him , _wasnniblc to move from his position . In tbe capital of Mexico _evs-rythins was in _confusion . Little or no preparation for defence was made .
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House Of Commons.—[In Consequence Of Our...
HOUSE OF COMMONS . —[ In consequence of our publishing _arrangements precluding the insertion at any length ail the _i-ommcncemcnt of the important debate on the intervention of this country in the r . ffairs of _PortiijCil _, we here give an abstract of the discussion on _Frialay _evening last . ] " _iFFAiasov Pob . tc < 3 ai—Mr _litJME moved that in the j _* i < li . 'nii ! tit of the bouse , the armed interference ot the _Briii } ! ' _Govornmen ? iVtwecn political parties in Portugal was unnrairantable in principle , anil likely 10 leail tu miechievous consequences . After reminding : tbe hou » e of the popular _Rtruj _^ les by which the liberties of this country hail been achieved and _established , and insisting
upon the right of other people to fulfil in the same waj tlieir own _poliiicil destinies , without being interfered with by _aa ; y foreign power , the honourable gentleman proceeded to criticz _** the foreign _piliey of her _Majest . _i _' e government in relation to Portugal— -a policy to the principle of which ho objected , as he also did to the manner in which it hid b _.-en carried oat . Without _qua-stiamiaag the _aibsolutc _risht of the executive government to act as it _laa . _l . tone , he _conttHiiled that the whola question should hare been submitted to parliament before the intervention of which he complained wns deciled upon For such a course the conduct of Mr Canning , ' in relation to _Portugal , hnd not left them without a _precedent . He r _.-garded the news of that morning as _casiing a greater stain upon the honour of the British
name than had ever been cast upon it before . It had allied itself with despotism , and _succcealed in crushing a popular mov . _uaent , to which a patient and suffering nation had been driven by a series of arbitrary acts , which more than justified the people m the armed resistance which they offered to their government . Theliberties of the Portuguese bad been nominally guaranteed by charter , but the whole conduct of Donna Maria ' s government had _bsen subversive of that charter , at war with every principle of freedom , and destructive of every right and of every guarantee for the enjoyment « f those rights which the people of tbat country had imagined that thej had _¦¦ eeured . Yet such was the new ally of her Britannic _AJajrsty ' s government , in _cenjunction with whom it was now encased in crushing a popalar cuuse whieh was
sanctioned by every principle of justice . One of the reasons assigned fur this unworthy course on the part ofour government was , that if we had not interfered , France and Spain would have done bo , to the annihilation of the popular party . But we were yet to be told wluit it was precisely that France would have done . " Louis Philippe cannot have forgotten , " said the hon . gentleman " the circumstances to which he owed his throne and the principle by whieh he holds it , " an allusion which elicited a burst of cheering from all parts of the bouse . Remembering this , tbe part which he hnd taken in this intervention appealed to him ( Mr Umr . e ) utterly unaccountable . Tha whole of constitutional Europe had acknowledged the right of the French people to _resitt the despotism of Charles X ., and it was the
exercise of that right , uninterfered with , which elevated the present dynasty tothe throne ; yet that same dynasty was now resisting the exercise of the same _rijht by the _Postoguese people , who wire ten times as much oppressed as were the French previous to the revolution of July . It was urged by the advocates of intervention , that the pacification of Portugal , which was its object , would be its speedy result . Portugal might be cruslaed , but it would not be pacified ; and he could assuro the government that the step whieh _tlaej- had just taken would give rase to political coni _ dicilion » ' which would certainly lead to great future embarrassments . The differences between the government and people of Portugal would be multiplied instead of being lessened , and the impediments in the wav of the pacification of the country
augmented instead of diminished . Such would be the fruits of nn _intervention , unjustifiable in its inception , and unworthy the character of this country in the mode ia which it had been conducted ; for the news of that morning as to the capture of the troops of Das Antas left them only to infer that the Junta had been entrapped into the bands of the _Britith squadron . The evil tendencies of this unfortunate policy on the part of our government could be better appreciated when it was considered that should Russia aud Austria , on the death of Louis Philippe , march an army to Paris for iho _re-cstablisbmeat of legitimacy in France , our course a _* _oira rds Portugal would pr < elude us not only from resisting , but evcu from remonstrating _nith tbem . "What rendered the conduct ofour government all the more indefensible was
the fact that the Portuguese _paop ' . e were not in reality 10 arms against their sovereign , but against a cabal of tyrannical miuisters , who oppressed the nation and coerced the government . To interfere in behalf of these was neitber more nor less than to sanction their violation of the constitution , and to sustain them in that violation . This was no party question , but one of national , indeed of universal , interest . What had leen done could not now be undone ; but he called upon the house , by affirming his resolution , to manifest 11 the world iheir unanimous reprobation of a policy wbich involved a course of conduct on our part towards another people which , pursued by others towards us , would be scornfully repudiated and indignantly resisted . Tho motion was seconded by Mr Osborne , whereupon Lord Kabbv Vane addressed tbe house in vindication
of the policy of the government . Mr Hume had Inn . fell _admilte _. that circumstances might arise to justify the abstract principle of intervention . He ( Lord H . Vane _, contended that the circumstances of the case in question afforded this justification . Had we not interfered others would bave done so , when intervention , _independently of us , would have led to results which would havo perilled the very existence of the Liberal party . He admitted that Donna Maria had pursued an indefensible and unconstitutional _conrie ; but tbe object of British interference was the maintenance of tbe constitution , which she had frequently violated . Oar abstinence , when others intervened , would have promoted the establishment of _despotism , whereas the allied intervention , iu which »< e took so prominent a part , would have the triple effect of maintaining the constitution , supporting the throne , and perpetuating the liberties of the nation .
No one rising after the noble lord had taken his seat , a pause of some minutes ensued , during which Lord Palmerston was frequently called for , but he refusing to rise at that stage of the debate , some honourable members on the Liberal side , below the gatagway , became clamorous for the question , Mr B . E _« cott _vociferously , so , that honourable gentleman concluding his vocal performance by noticing that there wre strangers in the gallery , Strangers being therefore ordered to withdraw , were slowly defiling out of the house , when Mr M . Mjlnes roue and continued the debate . He commenced by vindicating the general principle of intervctition , on which , if we had not formerly acted , Spain , Portugal , and Greece woula _" , to this day , bave beindestitute of constitutions . If it was proper to interfere for tbe establishment of a constitution , it was equally so to interpose for its preservation when its existence was perilled . It was because be _reg _.-trded the present
intervention aa essential to the maintenance of the constitutional liberties of Portugal , thut he was disposed t _*> acquiesce in the policy pursued by her Majesty's government . The government had confined itself to the use of moral force in Portugal , until the threatened active intervention of France and Spain necessarily threw it upon another course , by forcing it to choose between conjoint intervention with these powers , permitting them , to interfere alone , or going to war to prevent them from to doing-. 7 s adopting tbe first of these alternatives , the government had pursued the wisest course , Notonly had it thereby consulted the beBt interests of Portugal itself , by restricting the intervention to the narrowest limits compatible with tbe Attainment of tbe object for which it was undertaken , but it had also conserved the interests of the English creditors , to whom the bulk of tbe Portuguese debt was owing and who mainly depended for their security upon tbe maintenance of constitutional rule in the indebted state .
Lord W . _PotrtETT thought that thegovernment should have interfered so far as to bave given the Queen of Portugal an asylum on board oie of its vessels , but no further . Mr "Wabbubton contended that , by depriving , as we had done , the insurgents of arms , we bad rendeied ourselves virtually responsible for the future good government of Portugal . In addition to this , ho wished to draw the attention of the house to the consequences of inducing foraign governments to look to foreign aid for support whenever and however they might compromise themselves with their subjects . Such was the position in
wbicb the government of Portugal was placed—depending for its maintenance , not npon tbe affections o f its subjects , bat upon the physical force of its foreign allies . The consequence was tbat tbe Portuguese people , uo matter how grievously they might be oppressed , were in a most hopeless condition , inasmuch as , if they resorted to the ultima ratio , wbich uuder certain circumstances they had a right to do , for the vindication of their rights , tee government appealed to its foreign allies to crush the people , whom it drove into insurrection . Undtr , tuch circumstances , what hope was there that the _gov . vnmeut of that countrv would deviate in future from its former unconstitutional practices ?
411 Bailub observed that the question with _ffhrai tha h . _mso had to deal was , whether the govivrnment was jastifle _i under any circumstances , in interfering by arms in the a . S » w « . of Portugal , except when the liberties and independi _*»<*« « f that country might be menaced by foreign poi _* tit * _. "What had wo gained by former inter _, ference * in t * * _' * internal affairs -of both Spain and Portugal ! We 1 . •«* « a _> aed neither the good-will of the peo . pie of the latter , "M * the confidence of the government , which , by very _un'YKUvantablo means , we bad established in that country . Ur Osbobne impu _. _wed-be policy of the British government , as laving the * fends 0 /* general war in Europo ,
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as supporting absolutism in opposition to popular liberty , and as sustaining , at all hazards , a throne which had divested itself of every title to respect nnd confidence _, cither within or without Portugal . and It therefore became every representative of a liberal constituency to rocord his reprobation of that policy by supporting the motion be ' ore the house , ne believed that Lord Palmerston , judging from the papers before the house , was at first averse to such a proceeding , but that he had heen outvoted in the Cabinet . By inviting foreign troops into the country , the Quean of Portugal had broken her oilh and sacrificed her throne . The hon . gentleman then took a rapid historic review of events in Portugal since the accession of Costa Cabral to pow _. r , t . i whom he attributed all ( ho evils which hnd _recen-Jy befallen that country , and who , as Portuguese
ambassador at Madrid , hud . solely concocted thli iniquitous intervention . It was , therefore , Costa Cabrnl ' s game . that _thiscouniry was now playing . Wns that the position Which _tiDfittfitl its honour and dignity ? Wo were not bound by nny existing treaties to support any particular ruler or dynasty in Portugal , but to extend our protection to _tiiat country , should it bs menaced with foreign invasion . This was the general rule of England , both in relation to Portugal and other countries . Besides , there was nothin . _j in the condnct of the _government of Portugal to enlist the sympathies or secure the countenance of this country . A government which was still ruled by the spirit and by the measures of Costa Cabrnl was not that with which a liberal government in this
country should havo takcu part . If the conduct ot the British government surprised him , that of the "King of the _Barricadus , " in becoming a party to the intervention , amazed him . The government could not get rid of this damning fact—thata ministry calling it _. elf _Liberaalhad pn ; ved itself to be the fri * nd and promoter of the most absolute principle of government , and the first to pander to the caprices of « court ; in doing which it put the constitutional liberties of a people aside , and , in tact , virtually subscribed to the principles ofthe Holy Alliance . Lord Palmerston should have scorned the threat of in . tervention from other quarters , and bad that intcrveaition _t . iketi place , to the dangtH * of tho balance of power , been prepared to uphold that balance .
Lord _Joutt Russell regretted that , in the speeches which had been made against the policy of the government , the foots of the case had been so completely over _, looked . Mr Hume , and others who followed him , took it for granted , but most unfairly and erroneously , that the _' government were engaged in an attempt to establish _despotism in Portugal , ou tho ruins of popular liberty . The very . reverse wrs tho fact , and thi * disposed of much of the * pecio'isncs 3 of the arguments which had that evening been used . As to the general question , it was necessary to interfere , first for the welfare of Portugal , next for the _inte-est of this country , and lastly ts avert tbe dangsr of a European war . He was ready to admit that after the insurrection had broken out decrees the
_moiat arbitrary and acts the most despotic received the countenance and sanction of the government of Lisbon . But these acts and decrees , so far from making against the British government in tho part whieh it had taken , was part of its case , for it was to put an end to these that Lord Palmerston wrote his . despatch of April 5 , and that the intervention complained of ultimately took place . Whatever might be the chaructnr of these acts the Queen should not be personally . blamed for them , but the p . _irty who surrounded her , and who threatened tn leave her without a government and without a direc-• ion to ber army , unless she conformed to their views . At tho period of intervention Portugal wa _*« divided into three parties . There was first the Queen ' s party , who _iroverned in her n _» me , in the most arbitrary manner ; there was next the Junta , which professed to have taken
arms in _bohalf of Liberal principles ; and there was , lastly , the Miguellitc party , which had coalesced with tho Junta , and whieh would ultimately have had the _odvantjge in the coalition . Such was the distracted state of Portugal when it became imperative to interfere , if in . _tsrference could ba effected , for tho benefit of the coun . try . Tho circumstane * s did not warrant interference un . dor tbe quadruple alliance , and all tbat remained for tbis country , was to mediate between the parties , with a view to 3 reconciliation betneen them . Lord Palmerston , with this object , first addressed himself to the Portuguese government , of which fee demanded , as conditions to reconciliation , the revocation of all _arbitrury decrees passed since October Inst , the recti of the prisoners sent to _Anarola , the calling together of the Cortes , and the _modlfic-itioti of the Ministry . The council of the Queen
adrtscd her to demand further terms , by which she might banish some of the popular leaders ; terms , however , which were not yielded _tohcr . A new ministry was nominated , and after some _deliberation , the other conditions wero _agreed to . This being sa , and conditions so favourable to the popular _p'irty having been _icceptcd by the government , the British goviH * nmcnt was ready , according to arrangement , to consult its allies with a view to inducing the Junta to accede to them , and to coll in the aid of f _.-rce , if necessary , to compel them to do so . There were other considerations connected with the interests of this country and general peace which rendered it imperative , to interfere . The existence of the throne of Isabella in Sp in was identified with the safety of that of Donna Maria in Portugal . The Spanish gwjrmnena ' , _thereVc , deemed it necessary to iuterflre .
Had that _interfereuca taken place , the result would have been that Lisbon would have speedily triumphed over Oporto , when tlio Spanish and Portuguese _gevenments might have acted in Portugal as they thought fit . And how would they have nctdd ? They would bave insisted upon the banishment of the leaders of the Junta , and would have permitted the administration , which had since fallen because this country had objected to its acts , te continue in power , when tho _libirties of Portugal would have been prostrated . But it was urged by some honourable gentlemen that tbe proper course for the British government to have pursued would have been to have prevented Spain , at all hazards , from interfering . But if wc hid declared war against Spain , had she interfered , we must have taken part with the Junta against Donna Maria ; besides , if Spain
interfered , she would have had the good wishes , if not the ocilve assistance , of France . And was the house prepared for tho establishment of a Spanish supremacy sustained by France in Portugal ? A good case for in . terferenco had , therefore , been made out , and it had taken place In conformity with tlio interests of Portugal , as well as in conformity with those of this country , which were closely bound up with the maintenance of our old alliance with that country . In all this the British government had striven for tho restitution of tbe charter of Don Pedro , for the convocation of the Cortes , and f or future abstinence from all arbitrary acts , and tho revocation of bucIi despotic decrees as had been previously adopted . The British government had anticipated that terms so favourable to the Junta would not have been rejected by that body . They were _rejected , how .
ever , and hence the crents which had recently occurred . The consequence of these events must bo , and would very shortly be , that both the Junta at Oporto ond Sa da Bandeira at St Ube ' s , would accept the terms origi . nally proposed to them , when the constitution would bo re-established in Portugal . So fur , therefore , from the British government seeking in all this to establish despotism , all that it had done was with a view to put an end t «> despotism at Lisbon , and to the irregular and violent government at Oporto , with a view to the welfare of Portugal itself , tothe obvious interests of England , and to the maintenance of European peace . The history of this country showed that _inti-rfcrence was not now to it , either in affording aid to other states or in being aided by thorn . Again and again had it interfered beforo : not , however , as the Holy Alliance did , to establish abso . lutism , but to establish _limited monarchy , with
representative assemblies , which would secure tho liberties of the people . Honourable ! , ' £ > ntleiKen had asked what security they had that tbe terms accepted by the Portu . guese government would be faithfully observed , He had no doubt but that they would be carried out , for the Por . _tuguese government wns bound to its allies , not only by good faith but by its oavn interests , to carry them out , and the means of d « ing so would ba at its command . Whatever view the house might take in reference to the policy of her Majesty ' s government in this momentous mutter , ho would have the satisfaction of knowing that he belonged to a' government which would not shrink from acting in such an emergency , and In a manner conducive to the welfare of Portugal , and which had not abandoned in the- hour of need an alliance which England had kept with good faith for centuries , and which he trusted she would adhere to for centuries to
come . The debate was then adjourned . MONDAY , June 1 * . HOUSE OF LORDS . —The Bawl of _FawmBonouan moved for a select committee on the Post-Office Revenue . The Marquis of Coanricaede had no objection to the appointment of the committee , and tho motion was agreed to , The other business was of a routine character , and the house rose at G o ' clock . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —The house sat at 12 o ' clock in order to proceed _wiih a number of private _bils ; up . wards of fifty railway aud other private bills were read 11 third time , and passed , und tho house adjourned al 2 o ' clock till 5 , when the Speaker resumed the chair .
Lord M . Hill reported her _Maj-sty ' s answer to tt address on the subject of colonisation , stating she woul direct further inquiries to be made , in order to enab parliament to adopt a _coursa free from those evils whic past legislation hud caused both to tbe emigrants an the colonies . Oa the motion of Lord J . Russell , tho resolution , 0 which to found a bill for tho further suspension of _tl Navigation Laws , was agreed to . Mr M . Gibson , iu reply to Dr Bowsing , stated , thatt tho new quarantine regulations , ships having clean bil of health would be immediately admitted to " pratique from whatever part of tbe world ihey may _cwne , ai whatever may bo their cargoes , Navigation Laws . —The house resolved Itself frit commitlee on tbo navigation laws . The resolution for bringing in a bill suspending tl navigation laws wiih respect to _vestels importing _grai from foreign countries was then _agreed to , and the hou resumed .
Affaibs of PoBTuaAL . —Tho adjourned debate ot Portugal was then resumed by Mr _BoEinwicK , who contended that on the preccdenl established by Mr _Canuing , in 182 G , Ministers ought ti have asked the sanction of parliament beforo they inter ( ered with force _« f arms in the affairs of Portugal . Tin time was nowgona by when the _inteifurence of the housi could be exercised with any good practical effect ; am the interference whioh the governmeut itself had mad was not for the benefit of tho people or of tbe Crown 0
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_Portugal , but of the basest . _ini ) most despicable faction which had ever swayed the _destiniis of a nation . By our iiUtianod intervention wo had sacrificed the liberties of Portugal to a faction avhieli had reacted in Lisbon all thu fabled horrors of our own Star Chamber ; and the result of it , after the destructionjof our ancient alliance with that country , avould be eithur the erection of a republic in Portugal or the _abnorption of Portugal iuto the kingdom of Spain . Mr Christie declared it to ba bis opinion that her Majesty ' s government had made out u valid nnd satisfactory _de'ence for _tludrn-t cent policy . It might bo that disturbances might break out again in Spain , as M . Gnizit predicted ; but _evtn if they did so . Loral _Palmi-rstoii would hare the _sn'isfaction of _linoning that bo had taken th >; best precautions for the couiiuiiiince of Portu . guese liberty , and that he deserved , if ha did not obtain , success .
Lord J . Manners , after _expressing liis intention to support tha motion of Mr Humn _, _im-cmled to _disehiru his deliberate conviction that Lord J . Russell had failed to substantiate any of the propositions nhleh ho had ad . vanced on Friday evening . He _Hft-A uot proved that our interference was _rcqniraial by tlw interests either of Portugal or of England , or that it mis _necessary to prevent the occurrence of an European war . Our former interventions in Portugal hud produced no other results than n ruined peasantry , an alienated and exasperated nobility , a bankrupt exchequer , a _perjured _ddinini-itration , und a languishing _i-ondition of _comtuercit and agriculture ; and he predicted that our present intervention , by giving a new _h-ase of power ami wrongdoing to the present Government of Portugal , would not _bi- productive
of more fortunate cons' _-quenccs . llai contrasted the remarkable moderation cf thai Junta , which had ne _» e . r displayed the sli ghtest hostility to the personal safety or the dynastic rule of Donna . Maria , with the violent nnd arbitnry conduct of thu supporters of tho present _tyrannicial administration , and lamented that ive should have combined with thoso who were anxious to fetter tho choice and control the _independence of tho Portuguese nation . l _( intervention were necessary , _aas Minister ' s contended _. Why had they not _liit-rfered 3 t in _tarlior period after th . first successes of tho _Qu-en' « troi > ps , when the _erujlties inflicted on the prisoners of Tot-res _Vco-ras had not been perpetrated , nnd wheu the atrocities which the peasantry of Portugal bad since endured were still _uncommitted ? He thought that the amendment , of avhich Mr T
Duncombe bad given notice that evening , was well worthy tho attention of the house . He concurred with Mr Duneombe In declaring that , as we had interfered thu » f . ar in the affairs of Portugal , we w « re bound to interfere still further by obtaining a public pledge from tbe house that it would preserve the rights and privileges of the Portuguese people , and a pledge from the Qjecn that she would rule in future according to tbe constitution , and would abstain from » 1 ) severity against those whom he had captured in arms against her . But , no—Lord J , Russell had already repudiated tbat amendment hy anticipation ; for he had told the house that the people of Portugal must rely on the faith of their Queen and on nothing eke , Such being the case , there was no probability that tbe terms which we had laid down would be
adhered to . Oaths would be violated , as oaths had been violated bsfore—anal thtRe insurgents would again be the objects of persecution and oppression . Other , insurrections would again take place , and that would lead to other interventions on our part , ns unwarrantable and mischievous as the present , but still mors likely to increase and complicate the difficulties of Europe . " On a review , therefore , of all the _circumstantfes , " said tbe noble lord , " I cannot arrive at nny other conclusion than that the conduct of the Portuguese government was such as justified the Portuguese people in an attempt to secure their lives and liberties . Tbe whole conduct of that government appears to me to have been most extraordinary . The Portuguese might say to them , as one of our poets said of a government of his day . — ' What would these madmen have us *
They'd bribe us without gold or pence , Deceive us without common sense , And without power enslave us !' I place no reliance upon the promises of this government for tbe luturc 1 I do not believe we can trust them ; and it Is because I believe this interference on our part not to bo for tbo interests of Portugal , because I believe that the interests of England must suffer for the disgrace attending the transaction , becausesofar from promoting peace , I believe it will produce a thousand greater disasters than that it was Intended to suppress—It Is { mv these reasons tbat I give my support to the lion , member ' s proposition condemnatory of this intervention . ( Hear , hear . ) The past , indeed , is beyond our recall . * we cannot recall those who suffered in the fatal exile to Angola ,
we _cannot'rccall those who have perished in the tumults which have occurred ; but , sir , there is one thing the Commons of England yet cm do—the future is still before us ; we can repudiate the precedent which has been set by the government of our country ; we can tell tho powers of Europe tbat wc will not be bound by tbis act , that we protest against it , condemn it , and will not suffer it to be drawn into . 1 precedent ! That is a constitutional course for a House of Commons to take , and 1 trust that by the vole upon this question we shall affirm the propriety of assuming that po 3 ition , and declare that tbis interference is not satisfactory to the country , nor in our opinion likely to prove beneficial to the interests of Portugal and England , whilst we think it calculated to disturb the tranquillity of Europe aud the world . " ( Much cheering . )
Mi * T . Duncombe could not help expressing his regret that the house had not earlier in the present session heard from tho opposite benches those expressions of deep affection for constitutional freedom which had been enunciated _th-it night , ( Hear , ' hear . ) He was much mistaken if on a previous occasion , this very year , he had not heard from those same benches an emphatic declaration that the most perfect blessing was the most perfect despotism , nnd tbatthe Emperors of Russia and of Austria deserved the gratitude of mankind for extinguishing the independence of Cracow . ( Henr , hear . ) He could not help thinking that there _wus more than met the eye in thu support which those noble lordB and honourable gentlemen were giving to the motion of the
honourable ma inker for Montrose . Friends as they professed themselves of absolute monarchy , perhaps they were convinced that tbe course pursutd by her Majesty ' s government tended , rather than otherwise , to promote the _causo . of constitutional freedom . ( Hear , hear ) But , far above the jangle of parties , thero was one consideration connected with this subject , which , in his opinion , it was specially important to . keep in view . Now that interference had taken place , our chief object ought to be , in his opinion , to _ secure tranquillity to distracted Portugal , and to see ber people placed in the enjojmtnt of tlieir constitutional rights , and of all the advantages the intervention could afford to them . It was with thut view that he
was now anxious to propose the resolution of which he had given notice . He must _frunkly say , thut , after reading the papers which had been phaced in their hands , nnd after attentively considering the speech ofthe noble lord ( wbich was the host possible commentary upon those papers ) , he had come to a conclusion very different from the views he had been led to entertain when he first heard of this interference . _Throughout these papers he must confess that he had found a desire and a determination on the part of tbe British government to protect the rights of the people who were in arms . The government here , as all who road the papers must conl ' _oss , were placed in a difficult position , and bad a most difficult duty to perform . Tho consequence was that they were abused by both parties . ( A laugh . ) There was ono
ploa , to be sure , set up in their justification , to wbich it was impossible for him to subscribe . It had been stated , us a reason for _intetferencc , that if England did not interfere , Spain would do so . Now , according to his vietv , that was no justification whatever for any inby its own merit or demerit . If interference was wrong , on no account should wo have been o party to it ; our terferenco on our part . Our conduct must stand or fall courso then should b 8 to reject all claim to interfereneo to tho last . ( Hear . ) Sueh was the conduct of the British government in 182 G , when Mr Canning was in power . What was his languago when , in that year , ho asked the approbation and concurrence of parliament to the course he was about to pursuo towards Portugal ? It was almost tbe first speech he ( Mr T , Duneombe ) had evci heard that eminent statesman make in parliament , and well did he recollect his concluding words , — " We go , " ho said , " to plant the staudard of England on the heights of Lisbon , and where that staudard is , foreign
dominion _shsll not come . " ( near . ) Respecting the motion of his hon . friend , he could not , after reading the papers before the house , agree in tho conclusion to which hia hon , friend had come . He did not thluk tho result of our interference would bo _dsngerous or _mischcivous tothe liberties of Portugal . What said the Cabral faction , which bad been the cause ofthe whole dissension ! In one of their documents , published in Lisbon , and termed tbe " Appeal of Loyalty , " addressing tbe Portuguese people , thev told thera that theirs was the cause _« f nationality , that tho proposal ofthe English cabinet sought to place the Queen ' s throne below the level of the junta , and that they ought to rally round the throne and defend the institutes " of the country . This showed that it was ' ti _* ne for every man to say whether the government bad encouraged this principle of absolutism , or stood by the constitutional freedom ef tho people . Sir II . Seymour , in addressing Lord Palmcrston , on April 14 said :
, " But for two circumstances I shonld feel sanguine as to tbe chances of carrying the wishes of her Majesty ' s government into full execution . Tbe first of these has bee * the universal disapprobation _whiuh every adviser ofthe crown , official and unofficial , has expressed with regard to an amnesty from wbich no exceptions are to be made . This is the great difficulty , I might almost say , the only real oue , wbich I find in my path ; but this appears utmost insurmountable . " He thought it much to the credit of the government that they would not sanction tho sacrifice of any individual who rose in defence of the constitutional rights of the people of Portugal . The Queen ' s party continued
obstinate , not being willing to grant a lull amnesty , while the junta demanded other guarantees than those ofthe government , if they laid down their arms , They had now laid down their arms ; or nther , we hnd wrested tbem from them-- ( a laugh)—and having interfered so far , it was onr duty to go further . Tho members oi the junta and their party were ne sans culottes revolutionists , but men of rank aud respectability ; and be believed they would have confidence in the joint declaration and guarantee of the three _powirs , particularly If supported by the voice of that house . ( Hear , hear . ) Their earnest wish , speukiug in the name ofthe Portuguese nation , was to be governed under definite and permanent _institutions , such as could and would insure to the people tho
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' _njoaiji . _jj . yt - _ . ___] f . titutioua ! freedom—institutions which _w ould not be changed tomcat the _iiuidious designs r , fn minister , which would protect the rights of pnmvrty , encourage the national resources , and lead to ihe restoration of public _confidence , by fair aud equitable means . No one could dissent from these sentiments as express- d by the junta . Thuy further observed , that it was not di _** i > o of change , bu _ nctunI Wrong _« , tliathad driven ihera to the attitude Umy had assumed , and . which they declared they would not abandon until they received ia guarantee tbat the representative government should not be a _mock' _-ry or irresponsible fur its own acts . Being now prisoners of war . ho was sure the house would agree to his motion , and , by 60 doing , not onl y _stn-ngthm tbe hands of her Majesty ' s government , and give effoct tothe recent _declarations of tho First Lord ofthe Treasury and enable thorn to Ciirry them out , but deserve thai gratitude and approbation of every civilised nation . His amendment
was"That Great Briiaiui having booome a pnrtj to foreign . armed Interference in Portugal to terminate tho civil war that , unhappily prevails in that kingdom , it is _tlm opinion uf thi , house that , on tranquillity being restored , it will become tho duty of . the British government to take ineaiures for securing to the people of Portugal the full enjoyment of their constilutionol rights and privilege 1 ! . " Lord Duncan having seconded it , _Mi-MacauIi & T said that he had heard with great pleasure thu amendment which had just been moved —( cheers and counter _eheers)—by his Iioh . friend , who had taken a correct _yicw of the principles which had guided , and would continue to guide , her Mnjesty's government , Ho hnd also observed with pleasure tbat his hon . friend and
others , who were at first disposed to _censaro the course adopted by the government , had , upon an examination ofthe unfortunate circumstances which had compelled them to depart from the general rule , which prescribed nn abstinence from interference in the internal affairs of foreign nations , seen sufficient reason in thoso circumstances to justify that departure . Mr _Macaulay then entered into a lengthened defence of the policy ofthe government , and in doing so virtually travelled over the same ground ns Lord J , Russell . It was admitted in every quarter that during the early part of the negotiations the principles of non-intervention had never been more clearly expounded than in tho despatches of the British Ministers ; but it wus stated tbat in spite of those despatches a change took place after a certain time , in our policy , nnd an intervention was made . Noav , tho causo of that change was this : 10
long ns it was an internal question between the Junta and the Queen , tho British Government refused to interfere ; but as soon as itbeenmo an international question , in whieh Spain and France and Portugal were concerned , the situation of _ntTairg became so altered that t was impossible for U 9 to . refuso to interfere . He repeated that our _inter'fera-iice imposed upon us tbe duty of protecting the _righ's and privileges , the lives and liberties of the Portuguese , _people , nnd that cuty the British Government was _priipsari'd to perform . It had been . said there _wob no guarantee that the Queen of Portugal would perform tbe engagements into which we had entered on ber behalf . He wondered how any man could venture upon aucli an assertion with the fact beforo his eyes , that tho convention maiW _Ualween _Eaiglnnd , Prance , and Sp :. ln was sufficient _guarantee , that if the Queen of Portugal was _uiiiiillini' to keep the terms which sho had granted to her subjects sho would be compelled to do so .
Lord G , _Bestinck was sure that every member of tho Cabinet would be delighted to find that Mr T . Duacombo , who had been pleased to refer with extraordinary courtesy to hi » friends on the Protection benches , had left it _beyon-1 all doubt that , though he had the love of liberty on his lips , be had that of despotism in his heart , by coming to their rescue from a vote of censure for tbeir interference in Portugal , when it was admitted that the Interests ofthe Queen of Portugal had become quite desperate . Referring to the speech of Mr Macaulay , and the argument which he had _founded on the long-contiiiued alliance _between Eugland und Portugal , ho _alefiod him to point out nny treaty by wbich we were bound to fly to the assistance of tbe Queen of Portugal when sho was resisting her subjects , forced to rebellion by the
oppression of her _£ ovf raiment . The noble lord then gave an interesting narrative ofthe causes which led to the rising of the people of Portugal against tbe government . In Portugal , uuder the existing order ot things , all was plunder and corruption * , every place wns matter of pur . chase ; the money going into the pockets of tbe officers of state . Tiler- ; was Cabral himself ; but five yeors ago tho son of an obscure shopkeeper , nnd himself sines employed at an ostensible salary of £ 800 a year ; this person was now one of the very richest men in Portugal , and the estate of Thomnr , which he hud purchased , and whence be had derived bis title , being alone , it was said , worth £ 10 , 000 a year . With respect to the impost of burial fees for _intcrmnts iu tho public cemeteries , this _vtas another cause of excitement to tho poople , because
there were no walls erected to surround tha cemeteries , which were infested by dogs , and the herds of wild swine pcenliHi * to the couutry , by which the dead , who had been interred after the payment of heavy fees , were torn from the graves wherever they had been deposited , and the placrs were desecrated . These events breught the population of Portugal to a state of frenzy . The case of the poor peasant woman , whose name had been given to an insurrectionary rising , must be remembered by the house . She brought her dead child for burial ja the village churchyard , but the priest declined to bury the child , and appealed to tho law . which forbade bim to do so . The poor woman , unable to pay the ten shillings ' fine required , insisted upon tho burial . The result was that a disturbance arose , the military were called outj
blood wa 3 spilled iu the churchyard , the peasantry though only half _ara-ed _, defeated the military , and in a few days from the incident the whole country rose in arms and required the dismissal of the Cabral _odministration . Another offence given to tho people was the monopoly of th * tobacco contract , which , though never before conceded for a longer term than twelve years , wa » granted for a period of twenty-three years . So also the contracts for gunpowder and soup : and thus ia everyway that it was possible the people had been plun . dored and pillaged by a venal and corrupt ministry , ( Hear . ) These were some of the uffcuces among many others , But , in addition , laws had been passed without any reference to the Cortes , but by the mere publication of decrees , and the elections were . conducted without any .
regard to the freedom of the peoplo ; but on the-. contrary troops wcni marched , in direct violation of tbe charter , to Tote in companies . Ballot papers of a particular colour were distributed , so that tbe government could _ascertain how every man voted ; and of course the result was thait tho elections were carried in favour ot the then existing government . It was one of the provisions of tho constitution ( as in this country ) that the military should not bo allowed to interfere at elections ; but in the instance he referred , thay had not ouly interposed by record _, ing their votes in whole companies , but they had also istt * rferod with the people by force , and blood had been shed In many of the very churches in which the elections were conducted . But this was not all—a poll-tax of tweuty pence per head had been put upon the whole
population , without any difference being made between the rich and tho poor , and this tax was imposed under tho pretence that it was designed for the maintenance of the public roads . Under this poll-tax it was arranged , that where tho peasantry were unabic to pay , thej wero permitted to commute b _* - giving eleven days' labour on the public works . This , of itself , was felt by the people to ' be a great grievance ; but the grievance became tha greater , because these very public works afforded no benefit to the country , but wero rendered the means ef tbe most nefarious jobbing . It wns notorious that Jose Cabral had realised £ 50 , 000 by the contract he had secured for public works between Lisbon and Oporto . These were , as ho thought , causes quite enough to stir up the most patient peoplo that ever existed in the
world . And , as might have been expected , they rose ia arms—juntas assembled in every part of the country . and in May , 1 _SIG , a new ministry was appointed ; and no sooner hud the people obtained a government which ia their opinion would do them justice than with one Record they laid down their arms , and in the course of a very few days universal peace prevailed throughout Portugal . He contended that a people who could so behave and conduct themselves mre worthy of freedom and of a constitutional government , ( Hear , hear . ) The Queen of Portugal appointed the Duke of Palmella her minister , and made to her people a proclamation to the effect that all those grievances should bo redressed , The Queen called upon the people in these honourable words , "Portuguese , confide In me . " The Portuguese nation on tbis
invitation had confided in their _*" _ uecn , but it appeared that then the elections which were to take place in Octo . bor were near at hand . The people demanded the expulsion from Portugal of M . Dietz , who was supposed to bo the adviser of the King of Portugal , and they were called upon to insist upon the just impeachment of the ministers who for fivo years had committed so many breaches of the constitution , and had been guilty of so much pressure upon the people . For tbis reason onl y , on tbe night of the 6 th of October , the Queen of Portugal , in , breach of ber coronation oath , in breach of . every put ; and parcel ofthe constitution , sect for the Duke of Pal- mella nnd tbe military Governor of Lisbon , and put them 1 both under arrest , while she appointed a new ministry , , which , though it had not one of the Cabrals at its head . ,
was to nil intents aud purposes a Cabral _adminiatrn- - tion . Was it not , then , the natural consequence t > of such a proceeding as this , that tbe country 1 should again rise in arms ! They did sd , even \ though the whole military power of the country was 9 against them—though they wore quite unprepared and 1 takon by surprise , yet in tbe course ef six months all 1 parties became united , and were on the point of perfect t success—success not witb a view to dethrone the b Queen , for no such feeling appears in the whole of their r proceedings . It had been said tbat the cause of liberty y would be best served by this houso refusing to pass any y censure on what the government had done . But whati it security WHS _thcro that tho Queeu of _Tortugal would not it acts \
persist in her illegal _»«* tyrannical Only on th * * Oih of January the nep hew of an eminent member of that _: junta had been seized in the public street and hurried off iff ; to a dungeon . There ho was crowded along with 400 or or ' oOO other political offenders , wbo knew nothing what . it . _, evorof the charge against tbem ; they were kept there roi till tho 29 th of April—20 days after tbe intimation given eni by our gevernment of their intention te interfere , Tbey leyi would still have remained there , bad not tbe prison been eni broken , when 70 or 80 of the prisoners were butchered in im the streets by the Queen ' s troops . ( Hear , hear . ) " _aThatiatf guarantee , then , had wo for constitutional _gorernmentms in Portugal ! It might bo said tbe Quocn waa nowowi pledged , not to her people , but to England , Prance , andindj
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 19, 1847, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_19061847/page/7/
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