Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-09 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS. --TUESDAY. -
WINDING-VP BILL.
The Trading Companies Winding-up Bill was read a
second time.

THE CHAritts,kr-otiortote.
Lord W d h
o e ouse moved an address to the Crown, praying
for the production of certain telegraphic despatches relating
to the affair of the Charles-et-Georges. He referred to the
circumstances of the dispute between France and Portugal,
at,ml accused the Foreign Minister of having sacrificed, by
conduct, the interests of Portugal, and compromised the
et, of England.
-"le Earl of Malmesbury observed that there was, of
traecessity, much ambiguity in the wording of diplomatic
?ages transmitted by the telegraph, because secrecy in
h messages was important. Referring in detail to the
!flatten despatches published in the official correspondence,
,0e showed from them that the legal questions raised by the
„,,,,,,rtnuese Government in the contest with that of France,
involved in many doubts, which the Ministry of the
country was compelled to recognise, and could not take upon
.11.ejtiselves to decide mere ex parte evidence. He passed in
e,‘lew the circumstances attending the capture of the
raarles-et-fleore•es, and the disputes arising out of that
cPture• Heidelared that the responsible Ministers of the
41:2wrf did not then, and did not even now, possess data
Fucient to enable them to pronounce an opinion in the
abstract on the question of right or wrong between the
j3Vrelleh and Portuguese. This, it should be remem-
deerfe', was a matter on which the peace of Europe
, ended. He discussed the various issues raised by the
alleged
that
infringements of international law, and maintained
at they were not such as could be decided by the ordinary
Judicial tribunals, but were essentially subjects for diplo-
Ftic action. This was the view of the case adopted by the
ench authorities, to which the . British government felt
themselves unable to oppose any decisive reasons by the
Principle that the matter was one for diplomacy, and the
srernment had endeavoured to find an amicable solution to
e difficulty. He went through the several stages of the
ntroversy, and contended that the ultimate result had been
satisfactory to Europe, and honourable to the British ad-
ministration. The only difficulty had arisen from the refusal
orna,the French minister at Lisbon to fulfil the
ecL'itions into which his principals at Paris were
understood to have finally entered. Our gmernment
the
throughout under the alternative of pronouncing
e Portuuese Government altogether in the right, and of
1,
°Prorting that opinion in the face of any contingencies, or
P doing what they had done. They had admitted that
be
•b at
in this case could claim the same right which had
l
tell Conceded to Sardinia in the affair of the Cagliari, and
b at the decision could not belong to judicial tribunals,
it culusively to international law. The British Govern-
ment had, lie contended, acted throughout in a manner at
Prudent and patriotic.
eell:',arl Granville complained of the imperfect information
p, 'allied in the despatches published by the Government.
• 0 hrs
infe; what he could gather from those despatches, he must
Port that the Government had neither dealt fairly with
L0c,140,0r fairly with France.
°lle of • Kungsdown said that the question was essentially
l,*national law. In this point of view he did not
warr ne,t"at Portugal could establish so clear a case as would
eountar-,lbe Ministers in adopting the conclusions of that
eolliß"u opposition to that of France, and in risking a
ir which might have compromised the general peace.
Por:rl ?rey said that the treaties between England and
faithfullyt for the suppression of the slave traffic had been
late „,, observed Portugal ol ally while our conduct in the
the tusPute between and ,France was one deserving
bd. severest censure. That conduct would lead to the
the ele that England was 'ready to desert her friends in
it, hour of need, and was ready to repudiate her principles
o.,e,never it suited her diplomatic covenience.
deiitarl Derby complimented the opposition on their pru-
tesir in bringing forward this motion in such a shape as
rendered an expression of opinion on the part of the House
tirsible. The real question at-issue- wa.s not the con-
t eration of ancient treaties on the principle of the slave
aeration
but whether the British ministry, when the matter
45: formally brought under their notice, had acted as
teillne impartial judges and faithful allies of both the con-
th--;Lag powers. This he contended they had done, as with
lifs"i'mPerfect information in their possession, it was impos-
t, `e for them to have interfered as mediators or arbitrators
,;(,°re, effectually than they had done. Our good offices had
I,;‘, een claimed till a comparatively late period of the dis-
t &ea' when we proposed an honourable solution, which
tL"' Only through the extraordinary and unexpected obsti-
CY of Portugal. He declared that there was nothing in
e transaction unworthy of the British government.
stAfter some remarks from Lord Cranworth, the Earl of
~vermains and Lord Wensleydale,
-t,,413rd Wodehouse withdrew his motion.
he house adjourned at a quarter past ten.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—TUESDAY
.Tike Rouse met at four o'clock.
Cir. Gladstone took the oaths and his seat upon his re-
Leeinetion for the University of Oxford The right hon. gen-
sw an Was warmly cheered on advancing to the table to be.
4ha11.,a, and he was engaged for some minutes afterwards in
who
eltitg hands with the numerous members of all parties,
agratulated him upon his return from the lonian
thi,Juans•les He took his accustomed seat, immediately below
s.- gangwayon the ministerial side of the house, next to
St
.-.ord A Graham.
d_ A. Hervey took his scat on his re-election for Bury
!Zids.
kill, ' • White gave notice that in committee on the Reform
he should move that, instead of disfranchising the
kla,rtll,l,en in Plymonth dockyard, their votes should be taken
J Vatiot.
kr
th Cox gave notice of other amendments in committee
pa Same bill, to the effect of shortening the duration of
shreliament, and preventing their dissolution till this time
lurid have,.. expired.
ne:rkeley asked the Chancellor: of the Exchequer
uwhether, in the event of certain conditions being accepted
py the Atlantic Telegraph Company, it is intended to confer
the a thorn exclusively' a guarantee or subvention, or whether
Pant "ule privilege will not be extended to any ( they com-
-eo that may be the first to establish an efficient line of
11munication across the Atlantic.
Ithe The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that it was not
on intention of government to confer exclusive privileges
any
Fortcompany whatsoever.
h Bowyer asked the Under Secretary of State for
t,(letga Affairs, whether it is true that military deserters
beir,A,°ther fugitives, subjects of the Emperor of Austria,
:are
by ;1,6, or have been lately, received and enrolled as soldiers
Goner"g Sardinian Government; also, whether her Majesty's
that have any information regarding the object of
4110,1„Le ezeolriendenta,hya,nd whether her Majesty's Government
and what, advice to the Sardinian
Be°,,vveatunent on the subject, with reference to the pre-
Mr the of the peace of Europe.
informs • . Fitzgerald said that the Government had received
hd.ion on the subject, and had given the most urgent
eet'rles to the Sardinian Government to abstain from any
kre which might endanger the peace of Europe.
whether • Fitzgerald asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland,
thee ;, a was the intention of the Government to recommend
Co3rivNiattnent of a third Judge of the Landed Estate's
s
deeea' Ireland, in the room of Judge Matley, lately
iteat.„ed, having regard to the return contained in Parlia-
. L4'4llerktie'tP," No. 83 of the
aas replied that the matter was then under con-
In ren?'
Lrd to Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald,
'eaP° lit ass said that an American vessel with sixty-two
there%,-"aa, refugees had arrived in Cork harbour, and had
true th"nued the men at their own request. It was not
Air. at the refucrees had seized the vessel.
respef,..Kinglakeb called attention to the correspondence
for
des tic e
b the Charles-et-Georges, and moved an address
in re,eiatches and documents relating thereto. He passed
and ..07 the various treaties existing between England
protect rtuiial, under which the former was bound: to
the tc the latter. He then entered specially into
„averteaties between the two countries relating to the
the
rade. Passing to recent transactions, he referred to
the 01/nressore.put upon Portugal by England and France—
the ex urging urging Portugal to permit, and the other to refuse
of free negroes from the Mozambique coast.
pPreoritugalt the counsels of this country prevailed, and
prohibited the practice. Unfortunately the
te,„_„ o.n was systematically evaded, and this led to serious
Tile‘ualZications, and to the adoption of more stringent mea-
Chad:Bes bY Portugal. Under these circumstances the
e :et-Georges entered the Mozambique channel, and
ref.uNv(-'ll ded to take on board a considerable number of negroes
th:ont Some had their hands pinioned. The proceedings
as vessel an were denounced to the Portuguese, authorities
of .linfraction of the law. In consequence of the return
Charles-et-Georges, she was boarded by the Portu-
theguese ; a commission was issued, which reported that
was vessel had acted in direct contravention of the law ; it
to teaseherefore condemned as a slaver, seized, and brought
b isishian• The Hon member detailed the claims made
e French Government' for the release of the vessel.
acclaims were brought to the notice of Lord Malmes-
no?: as early as March Ist, yet the Foreign Secretary tooekr
erawhatever in the matter; he never enquired wheth
:_ 'nee was right or wrong, while it was his duty to have
ilar,rianneede into t the matters, to have told the Government
tre • we were 'bound to Portugal by ancient
adla.es, and that Portugal acted in the matter under British
t,ll2'e• Examining the demands made by France, he urged
;"those demands constituted an interference by force
,th the ordinary course of judicial proceedings. Still
SeptMahnesbury did nothing. It was not till the 25th of
ember that he began to take steps, and then he only
his friendly offices, which promise came to nothing.