The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-13 00:00:00

THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL

BELFAST.—Mr. Cairns, her Majesty's Solicitor-
General, was re-elected last week without opposition.
Mr. Cairns, in the course of his remarks upon the
occasion, observed that it was true Lord Derby's Go.
vernment was a Conservative Government. And
what was a Conservative policy ? Some newspapers
cried it up as something opposed to improvement,
and said it was rather for retrograding ; but it did not
mean that. He would ask them to look at the names
of those in the new Government in the House of
Commons. There was Lord Stanley, Sir John Pa-
kington, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Henley, Sir F. Thesiger,
now Lord Chelmsford, and he would ask, were not
these the very men who were the supporters and
originators of every scheme for improvement in ''
House of Commons' Mr. Cairns then proceeded
notice what might be the measures which the •
Government would propose :

The question of legislation for India would require
attention. The late Ministry had brought in a bill
away with the East India Company, and appoint
tary of State with a council of eight, which the Sec.
himself was to choose. (Laughter.) He objected to at..
a measure as this, for it would place too much patronage
in the hands of one man, which no Minister should be
allowed. (Hear, hear.) He considered it would be well
to take time and learn the cause of the mutiny, • d then

tern and
it in the
eeded to
the new
sire their
bill to do
a Secre-
Secretary
xl to such
patronage
thould be
Id be well
and then

bring in a bill on the matter. He next referred to the
bankruptcy law and the banking system as requiring legit..
Winn, and then referred to a Reform Bill. He did not
think they should have parliamentary reform too often, but
he would be in favour of it when the advancement of the
country in education and wealth required it. (Applause.)
Mr. Cairns then referred to the system of go
vernment pursued latterly in Ireland, by which
one political party or faction had all favours lavished
upon them. He would oppose any party getting all
Government patronage and support, and would not
hold office under a Government which would give all
support to any one party ; but that course had been
pursued in Ireland lately. It was a great mistake
for any Government to thiuk of ruling Ireland after
that fashion. There should be no backstairs in-
fluence at the Castle. The late Lord Chancellor's
letter to Lord Londonderry was an insult to the magis-
tracy of every shade of politics. (A cry having been
given of " Groans for Brady," was heartily responded
to.) Mr. Cairns then declared his own policy to be a
strong determination to maintain the Protestantism
of the country, which gave liberty to England such
as was not possessed in any other country in Europe ;
and after thanking the electors for the honour con-
ferred upon him, he resumed his seat, loudly
applauded.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND.

ENNISICILLEN.—On Tuesday Mr. Whiteside was re-
elected for the borough of Enniskillen without oppo-
sition. The right hon. and learned gentleman was
proposed by Paul Dane, Esq., and seconded by Dr.
Clvenden, and, no other candidate appea►ing, he was
declared sleeted. Mr. Whiteside then presented
himself, and was received with great enthusiasm.
When the cheering had subsided, he expressed his
acknowledgments, and, alluding to the advent of
Lord Derby to power, gave the followidg definition
of Conservative policy :

My notion of true Conservative policy is, to maintain
with inflexible firmness all the landmarks of our happy
constitution, while I would remove the obstructions which
impede its free and useful action. It is true Conservative
policy to govern the people wisely and well—to keep them
contented and peaceful, in the pursuit of industry. But
in order to make the nation contented with the laws
under which they live, we must adapt these lass to the
wants and wishes of the people. (Hear, hear.) I believe
in this sense there is no limit to improvement, and that
the progress of decay must be met by that of renovation.
(Hear, hear.) Here we have ample scope for the exer-
tions of the best men; and, believe me, there is much
more useful work to be done here than in tampering with
the constitution of the country. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Whiteside then entered into the reasons of the
fall of Lord Palmerston, and contrasted the comp°.
sition of the late Ministry with that of the present,
and observed that, while Lord Palmerston confined
himself within the charmed circle of Whiggery, Lord
Derby selected the best men he could find from the
representatives of the people; and went on to say
that the duties of the office to which ho had been
appointed, as first law officer of the Crown, were
high and solemn, and to be performed under a sense
of responsibility to God. In the government of Ire-
land he had the happiness to serve a nobleman
whose love for Ireland was only equalled by his zeal
to promote her best interests. He returned to her
shores not a stranger. His former sojourn bad en-
deared him to the hearts of the Irish people. He
(Mr. Whiteside) believed that the Chief Secretary
for Ireland, his noble friend Lord Naas, would apply
himself diligently, and be hoped successfully, to the
public service and to the promotion of useful mea-
sures. He also expected, confidently expected, that
the Lord Chancellor would maintain on the bench
the high reputation be held at the bar, and adminis-
ter justice to the satisfaction of all parties; and he
hoped that the members of the Administration, one
and all, would labour to the utmost to promote the
good of the country, the happiness of the people,
and the glory of the empire. Mr. Whiteside con-
cluded a lengthened and eloquent address, of which
the foregoing is but a summary, by again thanking
the electors for the honour done him, and resumed
his seat amidst loud and long-continued cheering.

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF WORKS.
Nowa LZICKSTRRSHIRE.—Lord John Manners
was re-elected on Monday without opposition. The
noble lord, in his admirable address to the electors,
gave a lucid explanation of the fall of Lord Palmers-
ton and of the advent of the Conservative party to
power. Alluding to the introduction of the Con-
spiracy Bill and the laying on the table of the Wa•
lewski despatch, Lord John Manners remarked :

Partly, therefore, from a oonstitntionsl deference to her
Majesty's Government, sad partly because we wished to
asiagent our abhorrence of the dastardly offence which it
bed bass eoagb t to perpetrate in France, we did not oppose
Ate wee introduction of the bill. During the discussion
qvbioh took place upon that occasion, however, fair warn-
mg was given to her Majesty's Ministers that the honour
of England must be vindicated from the aspersions which
bad, at ill events in appearance, been cast upon it, and
xbicb voald cop4nuo .to ottocipt to it so 10P0 w tho tls•