The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-02-12 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

In the House of Commons the Address was moved
by Sir T. E. COLIBIIOO[I. who riousinenced by ad-
verting to that part of her Majm.ty's Speech which bad
a personal reference to herself—the allusion to the
manner in wiieh the Prince of Wales hat been received
in the British colonies ho had visited, as well lain the
United States of America, which he considered an
important historical event. He congratulated the
House on the success of our arms in China, and the
happy term Oat. of hostilities. In touching upon
those portions of the Royal Speech which related to the
state of the Continent of Europe, he expressed his
belief that the Emperor of the French was actuated by a
sincere desire for the rnsii.teilance of peace. After a
few r.rnmmku upon domestic topics, he concluded by
Mg an Address echoing the Speech from the
Throne.

-iii:;nution was seconded by Yr. PAGST. who eon.
laid himself to subjuotu haw interest, indulging

favourable antic*. at ions .4 the effects of the aminirtircial-
triaty with Fiance. f. the subj. et of commis, in th,
pubic tgpenditure, le ilddland ha conviction that,
though the lueumple desired that the money retard by
&nation shoal i not be protons!, wasted, to reduce the
navy and the army below what was hecesaary f.,r the
vatoty and honour of the country would be as unpopular
es impolitie.
Mr. WHITK said. although very reluctant to disturb
the unanimity which generally prevailed upon these
oc.a.asions, there were omitations in the 'loyal Speech.
. and he felt bound to •an ameiclioeilt. Notbliq
was said about the question as to the tvtpective functions
.if tlic two Howse, and the titian.. :•ur.tit of one , I the
most precious privileges of the Coninions. The It..yal
Speech was defective in relation to a neighbouring State.
tid to the w srlike Irenaration4 there ; sea it made ho
itientim of admmnistrative uar 4 ParliaineutAry reform.
He movertto edit a larastaph to the Addrem, on the
attl.lect of Parliamentary reform.
limo anieudnient was seconded by Mr. G. W•
Si.TH 'Vt.
Mr. DittitiKi.l. referring to the manner in which the
Reform Bill of the Government lint &whin had been
treated by their impiiorters, thought they could not be
ce••••ireil for moit mg the to, i“ in the Royal Breech.
aril lie was not clomieamt at the ouni.ion. Bobjeeta
muad uceuoved 'in,. the House inct, however, which lie
•bought justified icquiryof the Govertinit•sit as to the
general state of our affairs and the policy we were
punning. Hail we fortneb, as hail been auggestal, new
alliumes, or attempted to form them, and, if su, mull
wat pcinciplier He hall 'least upheld what was
calleil the French alliance with title countiy. But this
CORLAI sinlentanding depended upon two aasuoiptiona,
—that France wait of opinion that, by the develoi-
itient of her resources, her power would be more
ccurely eicured than by any increase Of territory ; and
that the noble wetness of the French people--dhe
love if glory—would be aatialludl, in ally intei national
ifliculty. by being consnlted. Leaving out of view all
the controverted queationa clutch had grown out of
Italian affairs, the policy of the British Government,
he repeated, required explanation.
Lord J. Ituserht remarked thAt it was hardly fair
in Mr. Disraeli to complain of ignorance of the policy
of the Goverment when papers had keen just laid upon
the table which would ahow time policy they had been
purauing. observing that the policy of the Government
in regard to Italy had been proclaimed over and over
again—namely, not to attempt to impom any form of
government upon the people of Italy, but to allow them
to settle their own affairs as they saw fit. The
Government had kept steadily in view two objects—
first, that Italy aliould be left free to settle their own
concern.; mcondly, that after the peace of Villafrance
the treaty should be made a security for the peace of
Europe. believing that it was for the benefit oi Italy
and of Sardinia Lermelf that she should not rush madly
into ear. The estratiriiinary reaulta of
invasion had, however, shown that he wax welcoutt•d as
• del by the people of Sicily and Malden.. But he
could not found a solid power at Naples, end unless the
King of Sardinia load .topped in all would have been
anarchy, and Italian inilelemlence would hay* vanished
. .•

_
like a dream. The policy' f nun-intervention wes oon•
curred in by France ; Her Majesty's Government
entirely agreed with the Emperor of the French in
this policy, and we were in close alliance with the
other greet Powers. With repril to the amendment,
and the subject of Reform, he thought it wee better
for the Government not to bring forward • isiessure ,
which, at the present time, must creste di..appoisit.
merit. and recopy • greet deal of time without lesding
to any satisfactory result. Upon this queition Ii
always dreaded whet fcroons would do by way of .1111.
promise. He had c .O the opinion that, in order to
carry a Reform Bill which would be of we to the
country there mus he such an •.uount of public opinion
in its favour as *odd carry it through 'het House and
the HOUMI of Lords. The country, however, had the
matter in its own hands, and might declare thst
nothing would satisfy it but Parliamentary Reform ;
the Government were of opinion that their hest course
would be to give their attention to the various subjects
indicated in Her Majesty's Sperch.
Mr. BRIGHT said he felt a grief which he could not
"sprees at whst hut f ben from Lord Joh'. RulJ on
the suliject of a Reform Bill, and at Om tone in which
he bad treste.l it. He asked the Inoue to cowider what
was its position with regard to this subject,—. ques-
tion more importanttlian the consistency of the lout
uf any meinher of it. When the pri sent Goverument
came into power, pledges, publie aid private, had heen
given on the ouliject of Reform of the unel eel.l rit
character, awl he asked the House whether it was right
that the representation should be amends,' or cot
mid if right, whether it was no. better that it should
be done now. Th.. question could not remain aa it wan;
it must be settled, sod lie believed thst, in this Sealion
of all others, a niuderato and useful niespoire of Return.,
I if the Government were in earned, 'night pus both
Howes of Perliamint. He wirned the Howe of
d 'ogees which. though regarded iu rein-te, hat over-
taken statesmen of every country who hail neglected
them, and had overwhelmed many, and again risking
the loss of their own self-respect as well as the respect
of tl..e country.
Upon • division the amendment was negatived by 129
to 46.
The motion for the Address was then a-reed to, and
the House sojourned at 10 minutes to 10 o'clock.