The Express.
London, England, 1866-06-27 00:00:00

" 4

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TusaDAT, Joss 28..

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the weioissek at
five o'clock. The house was unusually full. The side gal-
lanes and space about the bar were occupied by ladies.
THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.
Lord RUSSELL snnounoed that, in consequence of the
adverse vote of the House of Commons on Monday week,
the ministers had tendered their resignation to her Ma-
jesty, who had invited them to reconsider their determi-
nation, suggesting that a defeat upon • matter of detail
need not demand such an extreme resolution at so critical
• period as the present. At an interview with her
Majesty that afternoon the resignation of the go-
vernment had been accepted, and therefore he in-
vited the house to suspend any progress with
public business for the present. Lord Russell then
entered into • history of the various propositions for par.
liamentary reform which bad engaged the attention of the
legislature during the last seven years, and remarking
that, in his opinion, the government was pledged to some
definite action, justified the measure recently introduced
as a moderate and just compromise which had been met
by opposition upon points of detail only with • view
to prevent or evade any settlement of the ques-
tion. In support of this imputation he referred
to the declaration of Lord Derby at the com-
mencement of the present session, that he would consider
fairly and would not factiously oppose any reform bill in.
traduced by the government, notwithstanding which de-
claration various meetings of members of the party in
opposition in the other house had been held, at which
Lord Derby attended and spoke in condemnation of the
measure. A majority having been obtained against
one portion of the bill, it was useless for the
government to attempt to proceed in the face of
such determined resistance, and therefore, as honour-
able men, the ministry had no other course open to them
than that which they had adopted. The noble lord added—
My lords, I have now only to make a few further
remarks, sad one is, that I trust whatever parliament
may do, they will fairly consider and will not treat with
contempt or contumely the claims of the working classes
to be admitted to the right of voting. (Hear, hear.) I
trust they will actin the spirit in which I spoke to a large
deputation when one of its members pointed out to me
that univenal suffrage existed in the United States, and
in many, if not all of our colonies. I replied to them that
this country has been famed for many centuries as • free
and happy country, possessing free and noble indite-
lions, and that their endeavour ought to be not to
tear down but to improve those iartitutions. (Hear, bear.)
I should say that was especially our duty at the present
moment, and in the present condition of foreign countries,
because we cannot forget the influence which was exercised
in Europe by the French revolution of 1830, or overlook
the circumstance that the minister of one of the German
powers has proclaimed universal suffrage as the basis of •
parliament for Germany. If you grant the suffrage freely
and generously, the people of England are attached to their
ancient institution', and will rather accept that boon from
you than look to any foreign power, but if your lordships
appear to refuse them the enfranchisement to which
they are entitled, evils must for many years
be experienced. We have made the attempt—unfor-
tunately as it appears—but we have made the
attempt to perform the duty of reconciling that which
was due to the great and established institutions of
the country with that which was due to the growing
intelligence, increased wealth, the manifest forbeamnoe,
the virtues, and the order of the working classes. I am
sure that that is the object at which others ought to aim,
No agreement between political parties can produce a last-
ing state of things with regard to the representation of the
people in the Commons house of parliament unless you
work in the open day, and persuade and convince the people
that you are acting honestly for their benefit and to
promote their interest. I have only to make one observation
in conclusion ; to express my gratitude to her Majesty for
the confidence which she has been pleased to bestow upon
me, and to bear my testimony to her Majesty's anxiety
to perform the duties of her high station. When I have
repeatedly urged upon her Majesty to take care of her
health, her reply to me has been that she would take care of
her heolth, but would not neglect any of those duties which
attach to her as the sovereign of this country. I trust
that with the blessing of Providence she may long
retain her health, and be able to perform those duties.
(Cheers.)
Lord DERBY, not having desired to speak upon this
occasion, regretted that he should be compelled to do so
in consequence of the rather personal attack made upon
him. He admitted the inconvenience of a change of go-
vernment at this moment ; but the difficulty had arisen
—not from the conduct of the opposition—but from the
conduct of the ministry. He had pledged himself to offer
no unfair opposition to the government measure, presum-
ing that it would be one that could honourably be accepted
by the conservative party, and that pledge had been
scrupulously observed. As to his attendance at meetings
of the members of the party which honoured him by
its confidence, be admitted and justified the fact
as consistent with all precedents, but reminded the Prime
Minister that nearly all the important amendments to the
Reform Bill moved in the House of Commons had pro-
ceeded from the ministerial side. Criticising the various
steps taken by the government in the present session in
relation to reform, Lord Derby condemned their conduct
as hasty and inconsiderate, and concluded by reiterating a
denial of any factious apposition to the Reform Bill either
by himself or his friends in the House of Commons.
Lord GRANVILLE disputed the candour and fairness
of the opposition that had been offered to the government
measure, pointing out that several vital amendments had
emanated from the opposition side in the House of Com-
mons.

Lord GREY agreed that after repeated declarations the
government was bound to bring in a Reform Bill, but he
condemned their doing so hastily and without due delibe.
ration. Such a measure should have been prepared with a
view to avoid excitement of party feeling, and a measure
simply altering the franchise did not possess that charac-
ter, especially as it was believed to have been drawn up
and approved by Mr. Bright. After referring to the de-
nunciations passed upon the opponents of the bill by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer in his provincial speeches,
Lord Grey expressed his opinion that the measure, u pro-
rwied to parliament, was crude and unfair, and that the
government had acted unwisely in making their retention
of office dependent upon its pacing.
Their lordships adjourned at 8 o'closk until Thursday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TI7I3DAY, Jinn 26,
The SPLUSCR took the chair at six o'clock, but long be-
fore that hour the house, both in the body and in the gal-
leries was quite full, and great excitement prevailed every-
-where.
As Lord Dusigmcnt walked to a used on the ministerial
side of the house be was received with ironical cheers from
the liberals, and counter-cheers from the opposition.
In the peen gallery, and in the distinguished seats we
noticed Earl Stanhope, the Bishop of Oxford, the Earl of
Cardigan, Lord Fennoy, the Earl of Dalhousie, the Marquis
of Westminster, Lord Taunton, Lord Duffenn, and other
peers.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer entered the house
behind the Speaker's chair, and on being seen by the
ininisterialists was loudly cheered. On the Treasury
bench were Sir George Grey, Mr. M. Gibson, Mr. Villiers,
the Attorney-General, Mr. Childers, the Solicitor-General,
Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Goschen, the Marquis of
Hartington, the Lord-A.drooate, Mr. W. E. Forster, and
Mr. Hngesaen.
On the front opposition bench were Mr. Disraeli, Lord
J. Manners, General Peel, Sr Hugh Cairns, Sir F. Kelly,
Mr. Adderley, Sir Bulwer Lytton, Mr. Whiteside, Sir
Stafford Northcote, and Sir John Pahington.
Mr. Walpole, Mr. Henley, and Sir W. Heathoote were
also in their usual places.
HELSTON ELECTION COMMITTEE.
The SPLIAER having called over the names of the mem-
bers selected to try the merits of this petition, viz., Lord
Burghley, Major Gavin, Sir F. Goldsmad, Sir John Hay,
and Mr. J. T. Hibbert, chairman, the four first-named
came to the table to be sworn.
Mr. WALPOLE said he had, as chairman of the general
committee of elections, received a letter from Dr. M'Cann
stating that the chairman, who had been selected to pre-
side over this committee, was too ill to be in attendance
in the house, and that in Dr. M'Cann'a opinion he would
not be able to serve on the committee for ten days or a
fortnight. Dr. Dl'Cann was in attendance, and he begged
to move that he be called to the bar to give his evidence
upon the subject.
Dr. M'Cann was accordingly summoned to the bar of the
house, and having been sworn by the chief clerk.
The SPEAKER said—Dr. M'Cann, are you in attend-
ance upon Mr. Hibbert?
Dr. M'CANN—I am, sir.
The SPEAKER—When did you last me him?
Dr. IeCANN—On the 21st of the present month.
(Laughter.)
The SPEASER—What aoefount can you give of his
health?
Dr. M'CANN—IIe was taken extmedingly unwell an his