The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-22 00:00:00

I
. •

dial good feeling between the people of the two countries, this lesson, that the present state of civilisation
eradiate is the surest and best foundation of international opposed to all extreme opinions. (Cheers.) In my 'pings
elliance, the system of persecution, of oppression, of ill.- both the sovereign and the wlle'. in every instance ha"
--
Oily, which has rendered the Neapolitan territories • bye- escaped considerable peril—great though may be the coo
word among the civilised nations of Europe, must neces.a. but of this feel convinced, that whether it arises from the
in Portugal and in Spain despotic monarch or front the red republican—if that spirit
rily taus to be. The English government had a great highest or the lowest quarter, whether it IM from the
share in establishing
that constitutiesiel form of government which had of disorder again arise in Europe, there is not the sexes
already contributed so much to the prosperity and prospect of its being so speedily allayed. (Loud cheers.)
welfare of the Portuguese and Spanish nation.; and he was Sir DE LACY EVANS said that the ruinenrs teat pre_
sure that any man who bad of late years visited the Penni- veiled were quite sufficient to cause anxiety, and he trusted
sale, and who was at all acquainted with the state of things that the government would take the subject intu their reed
before, would be struck with the vast improvement and ra- serious attention.
pidlr inereuing progress which those two kineoms evinced. HOME-MADE SPIRITS IN BOND.
Now, it was a maxim to physics, that action and reaction Mr. REYNOLDS said that if the right lion. nouns,
were equal and opposite to • certain degree. That was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, would not promise ejg•
true also in regard to political affairs. In the year 1848 his support, he should not, in the present Mate of the see;
there was a great outburst in Europe of long pent-up 'ion, persevere in the motion for this union.
content, and many governments, struck to the heart The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said lie
with fear, were induced in the momentary panic of the could certainly not recommend the hon. gentlemen to make
day to make, from fear, concessions far greater than those his motion at this advanced period of the s, ssion—(uk„gh))
which they had long refused to the calm and steady voice —but if the hon. gentleman made up his mind to pressed
of reason. The crisis passed away, the fear vanished, and with it, he should, with great respect, tell hint what mane
then came the reaction—and the reaction, I am afraid, is government intruded to pursue when the quistiou car,
coming still with unabated force. Now there are two parts properly before the house. (Laughter.)
of Europe to which I fear that reaction is particularly ap- The question respecting the adjournment of the hems
plied at the present moment—l mean Sardinia and Spain. was then agreed to.
Now Sardinia may be held up to the world as a model of
the success of parliamentary government. That conatitu- The house then went into committee on the Militia Bill.
tion was given to the people of Sardinia by the spontaneous The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER announced
set of their sovereign ; and during the short period. for it that the government had considered clause 2a, which haa
is but two or three years, that that constitution has been been objected to by the hon. gentlemen opposite. se.
at work nothing could exceed the harmonious manner no.") It appeared Wee, that there was a very geoseil
in which the sovereign, his ministers, the parliament, and sympathy on that side, of the house with the proposal oft's,
the people have co-operated for the public and the national hon. baronet the member for Bedford ; end therefore the
good. It would be indeed &calamity if that constitution were government would not insist upon the clause.
to bo overthrown. I will not ask her Majesty's government Mr. BRIGHT said the right hon. gentleman had never
to step out of their way to interfere with the affairs of any had the slightest intention of passing the clause. If when
country, but this much l take leave to say, and Ido hope, that the hon. member fur lied,funi had moved the onii-seta of
considering the great political endeomenrcial interests which the clause, the right hon. gentleman bad shown ma thine
this country has in the maintenance of the Sardinian mo- like the determination which he had manifested with re:
narchy in peace and prosperity, the Sardinian government vett to other parts of the hill lie would easily have carried
will never appeal in vain for the countenance, the support, it. Ile trusted that the Home Secretary would not bee
and even the counsel of the government of Great Britain, in himself to this proceeding, fur when he introduced the hill
moments of difficulty and danger. (Cheers.) Nuw, sir, he referred to this clause as showing that the measure was
with regard to Spain the same opinion prevails. It is not intended for the repression of public opinien, but
thought that influences external are at work for the pur- entirely for the purpose of defence. hie was 013 t of the
pose of inducing material and fundamental changes in the tricks of a government which were not remarkable for their
government of that country. No doubt I shall be met with straightforwardness and for their character fur alien: bond
the reply, that any apprehension of that sort is vain and dealing, and its object was to secure supp art for an ob.
groundless ; that there is no nation in the world so jealous noxious measure. After the various occasions in the
of foreign interference se Spain; and that the people of Spain last two months, during which they had had explimatiees
may be safely left to take care of their which bad been explained again the night afterwards, with
own affain. Now, if this 'were said with regard variations of opinion of every kind, he put it to the gofers.
to Fresno or Germany, I should implicitly concur is the ment whether their character was likely to be imprere d
remark, because we know that the people of France and any degree in the estimation of the house and the country
Germany would neither accept nor permit, far less would if proceedings like this were to take place. Alter the whole
they solicit, interference of any sort or kind, the most die of the enacting clauses had been passed, except the meth,
tent or' remote, in regard to their internal affairs. But they withdrew one of the most important clauses fifths
though the Spanish nation are proverbially a nation, per- bill—the one on which they had endeavoured to persuade
harm of all others in the world the most jealous of foreigners, the house that the bill was one for defensive operations
it does so happen that, from political circumstances which only, and had no reference to the state of thing. in this
it is unnecessary for me to enter into, there is perhaps no country. If they withdrew this clause the irresistible con-
country, the goverment of which has for a long course of elusion would be that these 86,000 men were in reality
time been more frequently or more importantly swayed by meant to repress any interruption of the public peace that
external influence than the government of Spain. (Hear, might arise, should the government be hold enouith or reek_
hear.) Now, if all parties can agree to leave Spain, or any lees enough to carry out that policy which they had adopted
other country, entirely to itself, every ono ought to observe when in opposition. (Cheers.)
that rule • but if influences of one kind are at work for the The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
purpose of producing what we think an evil, I say there the consolation of the government under the attacks of the
can he no objection—no national objection, to ex- hon. gentleman must be the conviction that a lusher in their
mile influence of another kind fur the purpose truth was nut shared by any considerable numben. (Hear,
of counteracting those influences, and for the purpose hear.) The very argument which the hon. gentleman had
of procuring or maintaining a good. (Hear, hear.) lam used Iranian the Secretary of State—that he had founded a
not disposeel to think that there is any great foundation for recommendation of the previous clauses on the clause now
the reports to which I have alluded—at least, there is no under discussion—proved the sincerity of his right lion,
great apprehension that, Hausa report', be true, the infl u. friend at the time when he made that declaration. Of
ens in question can lead to any great or injurious result; course, if he had supposed that the clause would not remain
because at the head of the Spanish government and holding in the bill, he would not have founded any argument upon
the highest place under the Spanish crown, there is a die- it; but his right hon. friend would Rive up the clause with
tinguished statesman who I know looks back with just reluctance. Any one who could judge of the temper of the
and honourable pride that treaty of the Quadruple Alli- house must have seen that, on the subject of the oini,sion of
anos which be took so great a pest in framing and colleted• that clause, there was a very preconderuot opinion. Ile
ing, and which he knows was the foundation upon which hardly remembered any instance in which the similarity of
the constitutional government of Spain as it now exists, has opinion was more general. This clause had been brought
been placed. I cannot, therefore for a moment entertain forward in a sincere spirit, and the government was pre.
a belief that that honourable statesman would consent, on pared to support it. The hon. gentleman said that in
any conditions whatever, to reverse his own work, and to consequence of a single objection from each aide of the
undermine that structure which is based upon a foundation house, it had been immediately relinquished. The hen.
so successfully laid by him; but, nevertheless, one titan or gentleman had not been on that occasion so keen an ob-
one set of men, are not sufficient to secure the destinies of server of the temper of the house as he usually was, or he
the great human family. Now, there is prevalent among would hare found that the objections were much more nit-
the nations of the continent a notion that with every merest&
change of ministry here, there is a great and entire change Mr. BRIGHT—Not before the right hon. gentleman of.
in the foreign policy of this country. Sir, I hold that to fered to postpone the clause, but after.
be a complete error. (Cheers.) Now, making the observe- The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had
lions which 1 have offered in no spirit of hostility to her not asked for mu opportunity of postponing the clause till
Majesty's government—not even in a spirit of distrust m convinced that a large majority of the committee were eit-
her Majesty's government, in regard to the matters to which pond to it. Under those circumstances he hail token the
my remarks apply, and certainly not in a spirit of enmity usual course—of asking leave to postpone the claw, in-
to any foreign power whatever—but believing that there is stead of moving, as it was open to him to do, that the clause
a crisis that may be impending over Spain, and deeply im. should be omitted. He had since taken the opportunity
premed with the vast importance, not only to Spain herself, of ascertaining what was the feeling of the house upon
but to this country, and, I may say, to the w. ole of Europe, that clause, and he was convinced that it was uttifly vain
which attaches to the maintenance in Spain of the coestitu- to attempt to carry it.
Ronal government which after such a struggle was eats, Mr. M. GIBSON mid that the noble lord now at the
bashed there—convinced as I am, that if any influences head of the government had once remarked of a distin.
whatever were to overthrow that government they would guished statesman, now no more, that no one knew so well
only lead to the renewal of the tragedy which has before how to dress up a state= nt for the house ; and he eon-
been enacted; and that, after the desolation of the ceived that some pains had been taken, either by that noble
country, the immolation of a vast number of human lord or some member of his government, to dress up this
beings and the destruction of a great part of the bravest bill, so as to put it in a popular shape before the house.
and most eminent men in the country, it would only lead (Hear, hear.) It appeared to have been supposed in the
to the overthrow again of that fabric which for so short • cabinet, as they had an unpopular measure to pass through
time would have been raised, and to the revival, though, the house, that some members of the opposition might be
perhaps, under some different form, of the system of liberty quieted if votes were given to the militia—(cheers and
—believing that great weight attaches on the continent laughter) ;—and if the militia could not be drawn out to pat
to a knowledge of the disposition and feeling of the British down insurrection. (Hear, hear.) It was an insult to the
government, and being perfectly persuaded that however house not submit the measure, in a bold and manly way, in
the gentlemen who now fill the offices of government may the form in which-it was intended to pass. (Cheers.) The
differ from those whom they havesuceeeded in matters of do- proposal fur giving votes to the militia, and not calling them
tail, they attach the greatest importance to the maintenaime out in cases of insurrection, were the conceptions of ministers
of constitutional government in the eouutries allied or poe- themselves; and after lion. members had been induced to
sassing political relations with England—my object is to withdraw their opposition, in consequence of one of them
elicit from her Majesty's government some declaration proposals, they had a right to complain of its with-
of their sentiments or opinions upon this point, drawl. He should be glad to have these two questions
which may disabuse those persons on tho continent answered by the Home Secretary—what he conceived to be
who think that the arbitrary system will receive the support • legitimate occasion for rolling out and embodying them
and countenance of Great Britrin, and which may rive that 80,000 men, in reference to the internal atfiirs of the
encouragement to the liberal cause which such • declaration country ; and whether it was part of the law that patine
from one of her Majesty's government cannot fail to afford. ment should first be called together, if not then sitting?
(Cheers.) Mr. CLAY trusted that the clause would be retained.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, after a Experience had proved that the police force and the regular
few introductory observations, said,— I may be per- army were far better adapted to act in cases ot insurrection.
mitted to relate to the house • circumstance which Mr. J. BELL did not believe that any trickery had
will at least evince the feeling of the government been designed in introducing or withdrawing the dame ;
with respect to the constitution at present existing in Spain, still less did he suppose that its withdrawal would
end which incurred when we tint acceded to power. Iler cause any great amount of dissatisfaction in the public
Majesty's minister at Madrid at that moment was a noble mind. (Hear, hear.) But the umiesioo of the
lord who had been promoted to that high office by our clause placed the bill under an entirely new
predecessors. That noble lord thought it his duty, under aspect. It had been introduced as n precautionary
the circumstances of the change of government, to offer measure. It was now generally admitted that there was no
the resignation of his office to her Majesty; but consider. danger of an invasion; and the first effect of this precan-
ing, as we did consider, the high character and ability of tionary measure had been to induce the French to add
that noble individual, his acquaintance with the Spanish 80.000 to their army. (Hear, hear.) So that, while we
character—cheer, hear)—and his sympathy with the cause had got 80,000 militia, who would not be embodied till
of constitutional government in Spain, and believing that next year, there were 80,000 additional regular troops in
he was one who, if an exigency should occur, might ap. another country.
preach the government, or even the throne of that country, Mr. MO WATT thought it desirable that the govern.
we humbly advised her Majesty not to accept his ruigna. taunt should state the reasons which had induced them to
tion. The noble lord therefore continued in hie office, and withdraw this clause.
continued the same policy which has always been pursued The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, said the Chancellor of
With regard to Spain. (Cheers.) The noble lord has the Exchequer had a few minutes ago stated the reason of
always received from us instructions not violently the government for withdrawing the clause—that the inti.
te actively to interfere or interpose with the government =alien of the committee's opinion was so strong, and*,
ef Spain, or to take any course that might justly excite its impossible to be mistaken, that it was perfectly clear the
Jealousy; bat, lam quite sure, that he would never coon. government could not succeed in mnintsiniml that
lamence any attempt, especially on the part of a foreign ea part of the bill. The clause being admittedly
purer, to assail those free institutions which have been unimportant, and the government stein.; that
Mainly owing to English influence and English arms and there was a predominant feeling against it, it
which, we believe, have on the whole greatly conduced to was unquestionably their duty to yield to that feeling, and,
the welfare and progress of that country. lam quite sure even against their inclinations, to withdraw the clause. As
that tho noble lord would, under no circumstances, take to the question of the right hon. member fur Manchester,
any Course that could be hostile to the feelings of the people the committee must first decide whether the clause was to
o*a country; and that he would never be slow in that form part of the bill before any neOcisity arose to answer
friendly counsel which, I think, under these circumstances, that question. At all events, the government ought
ft would be his duty to offer. (Hear, hear.) Sir, Ido net not to be called on to provide the right honourable
undervalue the effects of the Quadruple Alliance; gentleman with a definition. As to the second quer
but this I venture to say, on the part of the government, tion, whether it would be necessary
to call parliament
that if there be persons—foreigners, as I inter from the together,' the 111th section of the 42 Geo. 111. provided that
address of the noble lord this evening—who are attempting in all cases of invasion or imminent danger thereof, and Mall
to disturb that system of government which has now for cases of rebellion or insurrection, it should he lawful for his
some time existed in Spain, and has existed on the whole Majesty, the occasion being first communicated to path*.
for the general benefit of that country—if there be persons ment, if parliament were then sitting, or declared in council,
of that kind who are exercising this influence, all I can say and notified by declaration, if parliament were not sitting,
is, that we hope those who are meat interested in the throne to order and direct the lords lieutenants of counties to
of Spain will recollect the circumstances under which the embody the militia. That would be au answer to the
present dynasty first occupied it. (Cheers.) The question right hon. gentleman. Supposing this clause struck out,
naturally arises, and will be generally asked—if the ancient that portion of the old act would operate.
system which was subverted in Spain is to be restored, why After • few words in explanation from Mr. CLAY.
should not the dynasty that was subverted (whether in Mr. J. EVANS said the clause was en entirely (veep-
Spain or Portugal) be also brought hack ? (Hear, hear.) tientl one, not Round in any other militia bill, but intro-
I make this as a general observation upon the surmise of duced here for the first time. It was for the government to
the noble lord, and I cannot but feel that one of his vast state why it had been so introduced. The clause had been
experience and acntencu must have had some grounds regarded as a redeeming feature in the bill; the Homo
for his observations k but I must express my Secretary had founded his arguments on it ; and now the
confidence that, notwithstanding these rumours and leader of the house stepped before him, made an admirable
the vain theories of some few individuals, the speech, and prevented the Home Secretary from answering
persons who exercise the greatest influence in the question put to him. If the clause had not bees in'
Spain are those who are resolved to maintain the constitu- traduced at all, it might have been a matter of little cma
tonal system. I believe that the exercise of their power n'quence ; SS it was, it ought to be retained, having been
will be each as to give a hope that none of the fatal disturb- mainly relied on by the government in supporting the bill.
ances, to which the noble lord has adverted as possible, will After some discussion, interrupted by cries of" Divide,"
happen. Although lam not prepared to eulogise in such Mr. TIIOMPSON said thin clause, perhaps, more
unmeasured terms the constitutional system so genera/ in than any other in the bill, must have occupied the serious
Europe, on which the noble lord has touched, and, which I attention of the cabinet, and it therefore became of im-
mures somewhat surprised me u I listened to his cares- portanee to know the reason of its withdrawal. Ile wanted
nye, still I must say that the constitutional system which to know the motive, which dictated its insertion, and also
has prevailed in Spain has been strictly a domestic system ; the motives which caused it to be withdrawn. (hear, hem)
and that there has been no development or offensive props- Mr. WALPOLE said that he would mentor both the
gstion of political ideas in that country acting upon others. questions put to him by the bon. gentlemen with perfect
I think the same has been the ease in Piedmont, another sincerity. This clause was introduced into the bill, because
instance to which the noble lord adverted as a country also the government thought, and no one more strongly than
' subject to them mysterious rumours. There is no doubt himself, that the militia should be made a purely defensive
that in no modern instance has a parliamentary system force, and should not be used for any other purpose than
been mere successful than in that of Sardinia, and in that Ito resist a foreign attack. (Hear, hear.) 'I hat was the
there has also been the absence of that propagation reason why it was introduced, end till they came to the
of a political system which is generally the sign of a want clause last night he for one wished and determined to per-
of success of the constitutional scheme in the country itself. severe with it, because he thought there was a great
(Hear,' bear.) I think I need not say more upon the pre- advantage in not calling out the militia to quell any
sent occasion. lam quite sure that the noble lord would insurrection or rebellion that might take place. (leo,
not have taken this step, especially in the present state of hear.) But when they came to the clause last
public business, unless he had thought he was justified in night a strong opposition was manifested against
doing so, but I trust the house will not be led into any it, and communications had been made front all
discussion on the subject. (Cheers.) I trust that the house quarters messing its withdrawal. (Hear, hear.) AI
will give her Majesty's government credit for • wish to far as he was concerned be could assure the commute: that
carry on the foreign affairs of this country in that spirit it was merely out of deference to the opinions of a prep's-
which will respect the rights of every nation, and which, in donating majority of the house that he reluctantly gave up
doing so, would best secure the blessings of a general peace. the clause. (Hear, hear.)
(lkar, hear.) Ido nut know where these menaced dangers Sir IT. VERNEY said that when ho objected to the
are to occur, whether they are to arise from the jealousy of clause, on the ground that ft seemed to interfere with the
monarchs, or the violence of multitudes; but after the , prerogative of the crown, his view had met with a very ge*
experience of 1848, I hope that they have learned nersldegree of assent from both sides of the house. (War)