Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-02 00:00:00

CONSULXR OFFICERS IN JAPAN

Mr. Monckton Milnes asked her rilajesty's Govern-
ment whether for the future persons appointed to Con-
sular offices in Japan, will tie submitted to the ordinary
examination by the ciiil §ervice Commissioners, or to a
special training similar to ,that now in prattice in the
Consular Establishment in China ?

Mr. S. Fitzgerald replied that a special tr.aining would
be enforced for persons appointed to the Consular offices
in Japan, and part of such training being instruction
in the Japanese and Dutch languages.

LMMIGRATION OF AFRICAN COOLIES

In reply to Mr. Kinglake,
Mr. S. Fitzgerald said, that an engagement had been
entered into bettveen the French Government and our
own, on the subject Of the immigration of African coolies.

RESIGNATION OP MINISTERS

Mr. Walpole asked the indulgence of the House while
he made an explanation regarding the causes which had
led to his retirement from office. He alluded to the
misconceptions which had prevailed on the subject, which
rendered his explanation the more necessary. When
Lord Derby, last year, requested him to accept office he at
first declined, both on private and public grounds, one
only of these public grounds he felt necessary to mention,
which was, the fear least he should be made to agree with
the promised Reform Bill. On this point Lord Derby
told him that he need not be pledged, and again urged
him to join the ministry. He had (lotto so on the under-
standing that, if he found that he could not consent to the
plan for reform, it would not be deemed dishonourable to
himself or his colleagues if he resigned. It was now in
consequence of the foreseen difficulty that he was
no longer a member of the administration. He had
.at the time felt the necessity of a measure of
reform. He farther bore in . mind the declarations
of Lord Derby in 1854, who had then expressly declared
that there were two classes of constitutions—the one
representing property, the other residence of members,
the first belonging to the counties, the others to the
boroughs. Lord Derby continued, that he trusted no
measure would be introduced breaking down the dis-
tinctions of, franchise established between these two
classes. He made his own opinion, which was in unison
with those he had quoted, known to his colleagues during
the autumn of last year. Nothing was decided by the
Cabinet until the 25th of January of the present year,
when the present ' arrangement of the franchise
was adopted. He found himself in a minority,
and felt that he had no alternative but to
resign. He therefore addressed a letter to that
effect to the Prime Minister. He said within
if the principle in question had been proposed by Lords
Palmerston or Russell, he should have strongly opposed
it. His noble friend requested him to retain office till the
measure was actually brought forward,. to which he con-
sented, being unwilling that they should meet parliament
with a divided cabinet. It was for that reason that he
sat for three weeks on the ministerial bench —his col-
leagues telling him that he had no right to resign till the
government had irretrievably commttted itself to the
measure. How with his opinion could he give the bill
that ungrudging support which he ought, to have given
it, if lie continued in office. It had been stated that he
was in favour of a£6 franchise. He had admitted
privately, that he thought certain fixed landmarks should
be adopted, and that £2O yearly occupation in counties,
and £6 rating in boroughs, were the best of such land-
marks, but he neverstated this to the cabinet. He declared
his intention to support the cabinet as a private member,
as earnestly as he had done if he had continued one of its
members, warmly approving their foreign and domestic
policy.
The. Chancellor of the Exchequer roses but gave way to
Mr Henley, who said that his reasons for resigning
were similar to those of Mr. Walpole. When he accepted
office, he had made but one condition, which was, that
the reform question should be undertaken, and, was, like
his right hon. friend, guided by the same opiniOn of Lord
Derby which they had heard read. He argued strongly
against the principle of identity of 'suffrage. By adOpting
that principle they threw the whole power into the hands
of one class. They drew a broad line, which the nation
would strive to efface, and a revolution would be the
inevitable result. He, too, when that principle was
adopted, had tendered his resignation, and had
been requested to remain for the same reasons
He did so with great reluctance,' feeling all the
while as if he was wearing a mask. He also thought
that the franchise ought to be extended, and
thus, under the circumstaucees, felt that he had no right
to take part in the bill of the Government, and was' com-
pelled to resign. (A pause took place, in the expectation
that Mr. Disraeli would rise, but the hon. gentleman kept
his seat.)

THE SHIPPING INTEREST.

Mr. Lindsay then rose to call the attention of the house
to the present condition of the shipping. interest, and to
move for a select committee to inquire into the operation
of certain burthens and restrictions, especially affecting
merchant shipping. He traced the rise and progress of
our shipping, and entered at large into the question of
the Navigation Laws, defendinc, their repeal. He ob-
served that, if either the last fewl years foreign• shipping
had increased in a greater proportion than our own, the
latter had increased in a greater proportion than ever it
had before. The comparison should be not with foreign
nations, but with our own. The depression
of the shipping interests was due to other causes.
He alluded to many of the grievances of the shipowners,
and demanded that inquiry be made into the burthens
specially affecting them.
Mr. Liddell seconded the motion. The shipping
interest was in a very- depressed condition, it suffered
under disadvantages which demanded the intervention of
the Legislation.
Mr. Crawford said, that the original motion related
only to the imposts on shipping, while, he thought the
legal restriction imposed upon them equally injuriously.
He moved an addition to the motion, that the com-
mittee inquire further intothe operation of the following
statutes 9 and 10 Vie. c. 93, an act for compensating
the families of persons killed by accident, The Mer-
chant Shipping Act 1854; The Merchant Shipping
Amendment Act PassengerslBss, the Act 1855, and the
Chinese Passengers Act 1856.
Mr. Collier on seconding the amendment -expressed
his•,satisfaction that the Government had consented to
grant the committee over-legislation was amongst the
worst evils affecting the shipping interest. •
Mr. Horsfall also approved of the amendment. He
complained complained of the absence of that r.tiprocity- to which'
our measiires entitle us. The; Liverpool '-ship-
owners -did not demand that parliament• should adopt a
retrograde legislation—they only asked that they should