er done, that our supremacy must be
maintained, in order to avert our ruin. But this part of Chatham's
speech was replete with inconsistencies. While he maintained that our
supremacy must be maintained at all hazards, he applauded both the
spirit and intention of the Americans; and while he acknowledged that
they had arms in their hands, he boldly asserted that they were still
full of affection for their mother country--that they only declared
independence in moments of anguish and despair; and that they were still
in heart inclined to return to their old political constitution. Again,
while Chatham attributed every blame to the British government, he
nevertheless would not admit that our power of regulating their trade
ought either to be abolished or abridged; which were the very sentiments
of the government on whom he cast odium. Chatham, also, denounced the
war as unjust in its principle; and yet it had for its indisputable
object, from beginning to end, that very independence and separate
sovereignty which he had sworn he would never recognise. The great
orator then attacked the ministers more personally than before, and
recommended them to make haste and quit office, lest the punishment
due to their crimes should speedily overtake them! He concluded
thus:--"Since they have neither sagacity to foresee, nor justice and
humanity to shun, these calamities--since not even severe experience can
make them feel, nor the imminent ruin of their country awaken them from
their stupefaction--the guardian care of parliament must interpose. I
shall, therefore, propose an amendment to the address, to recommend an
immediate cessation of hostilities, and the commencement of a treaty to
restore peace and liberty to America, strength and happiness to England,
security and permanent prosperity to both countries." He added, that
"this was still in our power;" but few or none who heard him believed
that peace could be obtained but by a recognition of that independence
which Chatham had so warmly denounced. The amendment which he proposed,
however, was ably supported by the other peers in opposition. Lord
Camden declared, that if the war were prosecuted to the issue of the
alternative, whether America was subdued or rendered independent, he
would still wish for independence; because the subjugation of that
country by force of arms, would lead to the enslavement of England!
Some of the opposition members, notwithstanding, were not for an ins