The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-03-09 00:00:00

imperial Parliament.

HOUSE OF LORDS-MONDAY.

Their Lordships met at 5 o'clock.
The attendance of Peers was not very numerous till
after that hour; some time the ministerial benches
were unoccupied. Most of the Members of the late
Government were present. The Strangers' Gallery and
the Gallery of members of the Hotise of Commons were
crowded.
The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord CHELMSFORD) took his
seat oil the woolsack for the first time. He was congra-
tulated by many of the Peers of both parties as they
entered the House.
Lord Baouorterd asked the Foreign Secretary (the
Earl of Malmesbury) why the official returns connected
with the suppression of the Cuban slate trade were not
now made till the end of the session, instead of before
Easter. The question being so remote from the busi-
ness that had drawn so many strangers to the House ex-
cited some laughter in the galleries, which Lord
Binmugtimahte'dmtdhecatlad was an
trL
repeated. goncrico
witeedorbcouris
ceoxrchdibiitiionn,wancred
The Earl of MALMrsHDRY could not at present give a
reply to any question on details connected with the
Foreign-office.
,The Ban l of DERRY than rose to make his statement
of the ministerial policy. Having alluded to the impor-
tance of the ditties that had devolved on him, he de-
scribed the incidents preceding and following the resigna-
tion of the late Government. The majoritt of the
House of Commons which had caused it was, he ad-
mitted, made up of parties not usually found acting to-
gather; yet he had not heard any rumours or reports of
combinations and coalitions, which were circulated when
he last undertook to form a Government. The late fdi-
nide, had acted strictly according to constitutional
usage in reaigning when in a minority, but when called
on to form • Ministry to seemed it he, fully estimating
the difficulty of the task, had hesitated, respectfully re-
questing Her Majesty to take time to consider whether
some other could not be found more fit to undertake the
duty. A note from Her Majesty on the following day
stated that reflection had confirmed Her Majesty in the
decision; he bad then hesitated no longer. The broad
distinctions of political parties no longer existed; they
were divided into the most various shrieks of opinion,
and, slich were 'jig niceties of division, he believed there
were many members of both Houses of Parliament who
would find it difficult to say 4.71 What political denomina-
tion they belonged. Still, he hoped he might obtain for
measures of progressive improvement the aid arid sup-
port of many of those not usually associated with him.
The change of a Ministry necessarily occasioned much
inconvenience. In the course of public business it re-
quired some time for the new Ministers to take up the
threads of questions in the different public offices; lie
had as yet a very imperfect knowledge of many details,
but on one subject he could express his satisfaction. The
army, notwithstanding the dram on it for reinforcements
to India, was left by the late Government in full
strength at home ; and lie trusted that, by the bravery
of the officers and troops in India, that unfortunate con-
flict was approaching its and. As to the war in China,
he had never denied that we had many grounds of com-
plaint against the Chinese, and he rejoiced at the success
of the British arms against them. He hoped that sw-
eetie would afford the opportunity of making without de-
lay a safe and honourable peace, and re-establishing that
intercourse which alone could render peace of the
slightest service. The foreign policy of the Government
generally would be directed to the maintenance of
friendly relations with all Powers, great and small; it
would neither take a tone of haughty intimidation nor
a servile submissitni. If differences should arise the
Government would endeavour to arrange them by •
frank explanation. If any remains of animosity existed
from the war in which this country had been involved
with Russia, he trusted that feeling would speedily be
replaced by the friendly relations that formerly existed
between England and that country. But of all our
alliances, if there were one they should more than ano-
ther (reek to maintain it was the alliance with our near-
est neighbour—the powerful Empire of France. Every-
thing, rendered a good understanding between England
and Frame) necessary to the peace of the world, which
was endangered by any quarrel or even coolness between
them. England could have no wish but for the wealth,
the prosperity, and contentment of France, to whioh,vrith
its great resources, nothing was necessary but the absence
of internal political commotion. That was the best Go-
vernment for France which best suited the temper and
disposition of its people, but it was most important that
it should not be subject to perpetual change. It was
with this feeling lie rejoiced that the Emperor and
Empress had escaped the recent peril of assassi-
nation—an attempt attended with every circuinstanoe
that could aggravate the crime of such a dastardly
attack. If the case had been reversed, and a similar
attempt had been made on the life of Her Majesty,
what would have been the feeling of this country?
Especially if it became known that it was made by
foreigners who had abused the hospitality of a neigh-
bouring country? Under such circumstances the ex-
pressions of feeling should not be too nicely scanned,
though he did not think the sentiments of some of the
addresses of the French colonels represented the general
feeling towards this country of the great and noble army
of France, because true valour never indulged in born'
haul. As to the foreign exiles in England, although the
law provided penalties for crime committed here, It was
impossible to put the law in force without an overt act.
It was most unfortunate that, together with the Bill
introduced by the late Government, a despatch was made
public, unaccompanied by any answer or explanation.
That despatch would be answered, and, he trusted, in a
manner that would remove all irritation from the minds
of the people of this country. Under all circumstances,
and without distinction, the right of asylum would be
maintained inviolable, but it was an intolerable griev-
ance that persons having that protection should by their
acts involve or embroil England with its allies. As to
the home policy of the Government, he first referred to
the India Bill. A majority of the House of Commons
had affirmed the proposition to transfer the supreme
authority in that empire to the Crown. That decision
would very seriously affect the position of the East
India Company. It was the intention of the Govern-
ment to introduce this session • measure that would
secure most of the objects of the Bill of the late Ministry,
and, at the same time, be free from seine objections to
which that Bill was liable. He thought abstract declara-
tions of policy of little or no use, but the general
course of the Government would be that which might
naturally be expected from it. It would firmly and
strenuously maintain the great institutions of the
country, but not hesitate to propose measures of pro-
grees and improvement where amendments might be
safely made. As to an amendment of the present
system of representation, he believed the House of
Commons, under the last Reform Bill, had fairly repre-
sented the people; he should have been satisfied if on a
question so exciting no alteration bad been demanded.
But for three or four years the demand had not only
been made but promised by successive Governments,
and, occasionally, in speeches from the Throne. He
would not pledge lime& now to introduce any Bill of
the kind ; but at soon as the pressure of Parliamentary
business allowed he would carefully consider the defeats
in the existing system of representation, with an
earnest deigns that this great question should no longer
be trifled with. He hoped next session to be able to
introduce • measure which, though it might not please
everyone, would be accepted as fair and reasonable by
impartial and moderate people. In conclusion, he en'
pressed his sense of incompetenee to the task he had
undertaken, but trusted it would be found, in any event,
that he hadstustained his political character, and left
the interests of the country in no worse condition than
he found them.
_ . _

Lord GRANVILLE had no objection to make to Lord
Derby's atatement, but defended the general policy of
the late Government, particularly in reference to the
Russian, Persian, and Chinese wars.
The Earl Of CLARENDON detailed the course taken by
the late Government in reference to the Conspiracy
Bill and the despatch of Count Walewski, defending
himself from the charge of not answering it. The diffi-
culty of the Government in acting on the information it
had in reference to the exiles was the want of legal mi.,
dance. The Conspiracy Bill itself had been totally mis-
represented.
A short discussion ensued, in which Lord Br.
LEONARD'S, Lord CAMPBELL, and Lord BROUGHAM took
part, principally on the different opinions of the efficacy
of the existing law.
Their Lordships then adjourned till the 15th inst.
(Monday next.)