"He pledged himself to the House, and to the public, that, while he had a leg to stand on, he would come down day after day to express the most marked abhorrence of the measures hitherto pursued, and meant to be adhered to, in respect to America." On the same night, in the Commons, Mr. Fox exclaimed:-- "The noble Lord who moved the amendment said that we were in the dilemma of _conquering or abandoning America. If we are reduced to that, I am for abandoning America._" In the Commons, November 6, 1776, Mr. Burke likened England to a "cruel conqueror." "You simply tell the Colonists to lay down their arms, and then you will do just as you please. Could the most cruel conqueror say less? Had you conquered the Devil himself in Hell, could you be less liberal?" Colonel Barré, in the Commons, February 10, 1777, insisted:-- "America must be reclaimed, _not conquered or subdued_. Conciliation or concession are the only sure means of either gaining or retaining America." The Budget came up again in the Commons, May 14, 1777, when Mr. Burke spoke nobly:-- "He was, and ever would be, ready to support a just war, whether against subjects or alien enemies; but where justice, or a color of justice, was wanting, he should ever be the first to oppose it." All these declarations were crowned by Lord Chatham's motion in the Lords, May 30, 1777, to put a stop to American hostilities, when he spoke so wisely and bravely. "We have tried for unconditional submission: _try what can be gained by unconditional redress_.... We are the aggressors. We have invaded them. We have invaded them as much as the Spanish Armada invaded England.... In the sportsman's phrase, when you have found yourselves at fault, _you must try back_.... I shall no doubt hear it objected, 'Why should we submit or concede? Has America done anything, on her part, to induce us to agree to so large a ground of concession?' I will tell you, my Lords, why I think you should. _You have been the aggressors from the beginning.... If, then, we are the aggressors, it is your Lordships' business to make the first overture._ I say again, this country has been the aggressor. You have made descents upon their coasts; you have burnt their towns, plundered their country, made war upon the inhabitants, confiscated their property, proscribed and imprisoned their persons. _I do therefore affirm, that, instead of exacting unconditional submission from the Colonies, we should grant them unconditional redress._ We have injured them; we have endeavored to enslave and oppress them. Upon this clear ground, instead of chastisement, they are entitled to redress." Again Lord Chatham broke out, November 18, 1777, in words most applicable to the present occasion.