The Press. — London, England, 1857-03-14 00:00:00

IVi4nta 14, 1857. After the Persian difficulty we have the China difficulty, which may cost us no one kaows how much, perhaps Id. in the pound of the interne tax indeed, if we get out of it for a million we may think ourselves very lucky. As we are going to the hustings, where we shall lie asked to review expenditure and to reduce the burdens of taxation—when we find our constituents complaining of the increased duties upon tea and sugar, and desire to explain bow it happens that the income tax, which was to have expired in 180, appears likely to affect them for a longer period—let us ask them quietly to consider, before they complain of these burdens, whether they have sanc tioned the turbulent and aggressive system of diplomacy which has drawn us into these quarrels, and which really is the cause of our not being able to reduce the income tax in the present instance, and of our not being able to afford that still more ample relief which the country ex pects. (Hear, hear.) But, however we may disapprove of the policy, however me may lament the expenditure which it entails, we have A clear duty to perform. We have to support the Govern went, of whatever elements it may be formed, which has plunged the country into a difficulty of this kind. (Hear, hear.) We are now at war with China, and, however we may lament the penny which has occasioned that war, we must pursue it until an opening is afforded of bringing these calamitous proceedings to a close more consonant with those principles which we have endeavoured to vindi cate in the course of the late debate. Under these cir cumstances I no longer feel justified in opposing this bill, nor, indeed, in supporting any motion which can have the effect of reducing the resources which are at the disposal of the Government. lament the necessity of the course Which I have to pursue, and I indulge in the hope that the feeling of the country will at last force the Government to pursue a policy more conciliatory to foreign countries than that which it appears to me to adopt on every occasion—a policy which, while it maintains the honour, the dignity, and the true interests of the country, at the same time is not calculated to outrage the feelings of every foreign State which is brought into connection with us. Then we may look for economy, for reduction of expenditure, and for reduction of taxation ; but until a policy of that kind is adopted and sanctioned by this house and the country, I sun convinced that the expenditure of the country will in• crease, and its burdens also will increase in proportion. Cheers. ) Lord PALMERSTON, on the plea of friendly relations existing with all the great States of the world, vindicated the foreign policy of the Government from the charge of being " turbulent and aggressive," and anticipated that public opinion would express its approval of that policy. Mr. GLADSTONE, considering that Lord Palraers sten had challenged th 3 approbation of the house of the foreign policy of the Government, by way of pro test briefly reviewed that policy as respected Persia, Naples (where, he thought, we had done either too much or too little), China, and America, pointing out the undignified and inconsistent course the Govern ment had in each case followed. It was his opinion that a very material connection existed be tween the foreign policy of her Majesty's Govern ment, and the excessive taxation and high expendi ture of the country. • Mr. V. Smrru defended the course taken by the Government in the Persian dispute. Lord J. RUSSELL observed that the result of our proceedings et Naples had shown the inconvenience of the course which the Government had pursued. The discussion was continued by Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Milnes, Mr. White- ide, and Sir F. Kelly, when the bill was ultimately read a second time. The house at length resolved itself into a com mittee of supply on the navy estimates, when Sir C. Woon said, as he proposed to take votes on account, he did not think it necessary to go at length into the different items ; he gave, therefore, only one explanation of the reasons why he had been unable to make a reduction of the number of men to the extent he had expected. He should move a vote for the number of men (38,700 seamen and 15,000 marines) for four months only, and the money votes he should ask were one-third of the estimates, amounting in the aggregate to 2,700,000/. The several votes were ultimately agreed to. THE SOUND DUES AND DANISH TRANSIT DUES. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—in reply to Mr. G. Dundas, whether it was the intention of the Government, in negotiating the question of thp settlement of the Sound dues, to s tip u l a t e f or thle settlement of the Danish transit dues on the same basis—said that a treaty was about to be negotiated with Denmark for the remission of the Sound does by the principal powers of Europe, including Austria, Belgium, F rance , G rea t Britain, Hanover, Mecklen burg Schwerin, Prussia, Russia, Sweden, Norway, and the Han se T owns . I t was anticipated that the treaty would be signed this week. It would have relation not only to the Sound dues, but also to the reduction of the transit dues; and although he was not able to state the exact amount of the remission of the transit dues, he believed it would not be less than a reduction of four-fifths from their present amount. • THE RIVER DANUBE. Lord PALMERSTON—in reply to Mr. Meagher, whether he could afford any information as to the present state of the river Danube, as far as its safe THE PRESS. and proper navigation was concerned ; and whether there were any reasonable hopes that the river may now be sufficiently clear to allow of spring shipments being made to and from the Danubian provinces— said that the commission appointed to take measures to render the mouths of ti►e Danube open for na vigation and removing obstructions had not been able yet to settle measures for clearing away the sandbanks within the delta; but there was one material point now under their consideration, and that was, which was the month of the Danube which would be the most useful for the purposes of naviga tion. Many of them thought the Sulina Mouth was not the best, and that arrangements might be made by which the St. George's Mouth would be rendered the most useful. RETIREMENT OF TIIE SPEAKER. Before proceeding to the orders of the day, the SPEAKER announced his retirement, at the close of the present Parliament, from the duties of his office. In a brief address he expressed his regret at the severance of his connection with the House of Com mons, and his acknowledgments for the courteous support he had received from all sides in the per formance of the functions he had exercised for eighteen years. Lord PALMERSTON, after testifying to the regret which all members felt at parting with their Speaker, gave notice that he should the next evening move a vote of thanks to the right hon. gentleman for his long services in the chair, proposing also to memorialise the Crown, praying her Majesty to bestow upon him some special token of her favour. Mr. iiOUVERIE obtained leave to bring in a bill to continuo the act for charging the maintenance of certain paupers upon the union funds. '!'he ATTORNEY-GENERAL had leave to introduce a bill to make fraudulent breaches of trust and duty by trustees, directors, and agents criminally punish able. HOUSE 0 LOP.DS.—WEnxEsimr. Earl STANHOPE moved that the resolutions in the report of the select committee upon the minutes and journals of the house be made standing orders, which was agreed to. Lord DVN6ANNON moved for certain returns of the correspondence between the Dublin Protestant Association and the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, relative to the conduct of certain Kilkenny magistrates. Agreed to. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY. VOTE OF THANKi TO THE SPEAKER. Before the commencement of public business, Lord PALMERSTON, addressing the Chair, said, it had been his duty, on the previous day, to be the organ of expressing to the right hon. gentleman who filled it the regret of the house at the intimation that the new Parliament was not to have the benefit of his assistance in conducting its deliberations. That day, he observed, he had a more agreeable duty to perform, that of returning to the Speaker, by a unanimous vote, the thanks of the house for his able and distinguished services in the chair during eighteen years. In a warn eulogy upon those services Lord Palmerston dwelt upon that combina• tion of promptitude of decision, justice of judgment, and firmness of purpose, with the most conciliatory demeanour, which distinguished the Speaker, whom no one, he remarked, ever approached in search of information, not only without receiving the most courteous reception, but without experiencing the most accurate information in rega %1 to the matter upon which he consulted the Cha . r. He likewise spoke in terms of stron g commendation of the manner in which the Speaker had contributed to the despatch of the business of the house, and concluded by moving the following vote of thanks to the Speaker for his eminent and distinguished services and his exemplary conduct in the chair : That the thanks of this house be given to the Speaker for his eminent and distinguished services during the period of nearly eighteen years for which he has filled the chair of this house; that he be assured that this house fully appreciates the zeal and ability with which he has discharged the duties of Speaker under circumstances requiring unprecedented labour and exertion; and that this house tntertains the strongest sense of the firmness and dignity with which he has maintained its privileges, of his unremitting attention to its business, of the care which he has devoted to the improvement of its forms, and of the urbanity and kindness which have uniformly marked his conduct in the chair, and which have secured for him the esteem and gratitude of every member of this house. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) Mr. DISRAELI (who was received with cheers, and spoke in a tone of evident emotion) rose and said : Sir, I have the honour to second the motion of the noble lord, and to express on behalf of the gentlemen who sit on the left of the chair their entire concurrence with the description which the noble lord has given of your high palities, and in the estimate he has offered of the services which, unfortunately, we are soon to lose. (Cheers.) Sir, we too can► bear witness to the blended firmness and cour tesy with which you have regulated our debates, and winch have when necessary controlled them. We, too, can bear 245 witness to that learning which has guided and enlightened our laoours—to that high bearing which at all times a nd under all circumstances, even tho most trying, 111.8 sus tained the dignity of the exalted office which you have tilled. (Cheers.) Sir, the eighteen years during which you have occupied that chair have been a memorable period in the history of the Parliament of this country. Some of the greatest measures that have ever been proposed in the counci:s of the nation have been carried during that period ; and some of the greatest men who ever flourished within these walls have been under your guidance. Sir, I make no doubt that in the page of history your Speakership, under those circumstances, will figure as no unimportant one in the parliamentary, annals of this country. (Cheers.) The severance of ties so long, so intimately, and so cordially maintained between you, Mr. Speaker, and this house cannot be witnessed without deep emotion. (Cheers.) I confess myself, sir, utterly unequal to the language of panegyric—l confess myself, sir, at this moment unequal to offer you those compliments which you so well deserve ; yet I can express to you for those who sit on this side of the house, sad I may perhaps presume to say fur all present—(cheers)—but certainly for him, sir, whom you have often so condescendingly aided and guided by your counsel, the tribute of our affectionate respect —( renewed cheers)—the hope sir, that when your name is mentioned in your absence in this house you will believe that it will always be quoted with regard and reverence, and our anxious and earnest wishes that in the compare. tive retirement which may await you you may enjoy that perfect satisfaction which you have so worthily earned. (Loud cheers.) Lord J. RussEi.r, added his cordial concurrence in these sentiments, observing that the proper conduct of the ordinary business of the house had been greatly facilitated by the Speaker, who had, he said, marked the line where it was wise to concede, and where it was necessary to resist, innovation on established forms. The motion was agreed to nem. con. .... _ . The SPEAKER, in - a tone of deep feeling—every member of the house uncovering —returned hie grateful thanks for this crowning mark of the favour and approbation of the house. He said :-- Daring the long period in which, by God's blessing, I have been enabled to discharge the duties of this chair, I have had abundant experience of th kindness, forbearance, and indulgence of the house, whi have shown to mo under all circumstances and on al casions. (Cheers.) But I have not words at my command, nor can I suffi ciently control my feelings so as adequately to express my gratitude for this crowning mark of their favour and np probation. I can only assure the house that I shall cherish to the last moment of my existence the remembrance of the proceedings of this day, and of the resolution& which this house has unanimously agreed—this great an/I inesti mable reward for public service ; and in all sincerity, and from the very bottom of my heart, I thank them for the distinguished honour they have conferred upon me. (Loud cheers.) Lord PALMERSTON rose again, and, in order to give, he said, to the Crown an opportunity of going hand and hand with the house in acknowledging the great and eminent services of Mr. Speaker, moved (following the examples on former similar occasions) an address to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty will be pleased to confer soma signal mark of Royal favour upon the right hon. gentleman, assuring her Majesty that the house would make good any expense attendant upon such mark of Itoyal favour. The motion was seconded by Sir J. PAKtsorox, and agreed to nem. con. Lord PALMERSTON further moved the thanks of the house to the Speaker for what he had said that day, and that it be entered upon the journals of the house. This motion was likewise agreed to. LAND TRANSPORT CORPS. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE called attention to the griev ances complained of in the petitions of the non commissioned officers and drivers of the Land Trans port Corps who served during the late war in the Crimea, and moved that they be referred to a select committee. Sir W. ContirNorom seconded the motion. Mr. F. PEEL offered no objection to the motimi which was agreed to. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend an act of the last session of Parliament for repealing and reim posing, under new regulations, the duty on race horses ; and Mr. WILSON a bill to amend the Cinque Ports Act. INCOME TAX. The house having resolved itself into a committee upon the Income-tax Bill, Sir F. KELLY, after a general protest against this first departure, as he deemed it, from the policy of the Act of 1853, whereby that act might. become a dead letter, moved to substitute sd. for "d. in the pound in the tax upon incomes for the ensuing year. The CHANCELLOR of the ENCHEQUER, in opposing the amendment, argued that the supposed moral contract of 1853 bad been based upon an assumption that there would be a continuance of peace; but tho very foundation of the settlement had been subverted by the war. He observed that, so far as the Govern ment were at present advised, it would not be neces-