Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-10-31 00:00:00

house, of men like your noble guest (Lord Derby,) and
in the other, of the most distinguished commoners that
ever existed? What are they but two crowds of indivi-
duals, if there is no sympathy of principle, no similarity
of sentiment, and no combination of action to guide them.
(Loud cheers.) Such a senate, whatever its elements,
must be the slave ofa Minister, and would deserve to be so.
If that were the condition of the representative body ofa
Parliament generally, What must be the .condition of the
nation of which it should be the type and guardian ?
(Hear, hear:) I say this in vindication of the character
of our parliamentary goveinment, of the necessity of
political parties, not to differ from the tone which has
been adopted, and the counsel which has been offered to-
night by your .distinguished guest, the chief of the Con-
servative party, and the chief under whom I have
laboured on terms of -confidence and trust, which proba-
bly have never been exceeded before between public
men—l say this not to contravene, but to substantiate
the advieehe has given you. (Cheers.) There are duties of
great polhieal parties other than those of vigilance,
and of criticism—other than those of advancing to an
emergency, to propose a policy, or to initiate a measure.
There are duties more important, and, I would say, more
solemn.. There are moments when a party like the
great Conservative party of a powerful and ancient
nation like England have not to oppose the Government,
but, if necessary, even to support it, and if the moment
demanded such a course, to give strength even to their
rivals, and to support those whose success in their poli-
tical career might, under ordinary circumstances, be to
them a source of disappointment. (Loud heers.)
Gentlemen, I am not one of those who squander
ambiguous voices in the market- place. That
has never been my custom. I have ever been the
supporter of a peaceful
.policy. I have ever believed that
peace might be maintained, with a good understanding
with our allies, and that we should look upon
their conduct, not in a suspicious or litigious spirit, but
that we should give to their conduct, and allow to their
proceedings a fair and even a generous interpretation.
(Hear, hear.) I should indeed be blind to the signs of
the times, I should indeed be insensible to the feelings
that are universally expressed ; I should be treating it
with, I think, a haughty negligence, if I did
not recognise what is the anxiety of a great people.
I knoW not whether 'it be true or not that
designs upon the independence and upon the
empire of England are cherished by any Government
or potentates in other countries. I presume not to
read state secrets, nor is it for me, in the responsible
position in which I and my colleagues have been placed,
to presume to pretend that we can communicate to you
any intelligence of which.vou are not already equally
the masters. But this I will say, with reference to the
form of our Constitution, and especially with reference to
that House in which I have the honour of a seat, that
if there be any foreign Government or foreign potentate
who, on the supposed distinction and political dissensions
.of our form of Government, believe that he has found
elements upon which he may calculate for pursuing with
success any system of aggression or of violent ambi-
tion, then I can assure that Government or that ruler
that they mistake the character and the genius of the
English people—(loud cheers)—and the English Con-
stitution, and if they count on our dissensions, or on the
noble rivalries of our public life for the successful pro-
secution of their designs, they will count upon them to
their confusion. (Loud cheers.) And that even if the
time should come, when the independence of this
country or the empire of our Sovereign is indeed
menaced, they will find that the Sovereign of these realms
rules over a devoted people and a united Parliament.—
(The honourable gentleman resumed his seat amidst loud
cheers).
The Chairman proposed the health of Lord Eglinton,
and alluded to the great progress which had been
made by that part of the kingdom called the Emerald
Isle in prosperity and improvement. A great deal of
this advancement was due to the Government set
over the people of that country ; and he therefore
could not allow the name of the noble earl who presided
over that country during the Government of Lord
Derby, to pass without especial notice. He called
upon the meeting to drink the health of the Earl of
Eglinton. (Vociferous cheering.)
The toast was drank with all the honours.

The Earl of EGLINTON rose to respond, amid loud
cheering. His Lordship said:—Mr. Chairman, my lords,
and gentlemen, I need hardly tell you that the honour
which you have just paidme must-be most gratifying to
my feelings,—(cheers,)—but I will say that it is even
more gratifying to me, when I reflect—when I know that
the honour so paid me is in relation to the position that
I late:7 held in the kingdom of Ireland. (Cheers). I
should, indeed, be wanting in every good feeline. if I did
not take the deepest interest in a country which has been
on two occasions committed to my charge. (Hear, hear.)-
I should be guilty of the basest ingratitude if I did not
feel the livelu st affection in the welfare of those who, on
both these occasions, treated me with a kindness and a
confidence which has been but rarely accorded to a public
man, or to public men. (Cheers.) Your chairman has
told you that Ireland is progressing—is keeping pace, at
least, with the rest of, the kingdom—(Hear, hear)—and,
I will add my testimony to his. (Hear, hear.) I will
say, gentlemen, that the most gratifying thing that ever
happened to me in my life was to find the improvement
which had taken place between the time when I was first
in Ireland, and when I returned to it on a later occasion.
(Hear, hear.) The improvement that had taken place,
and which was progressing was beyond my hopes, infi-
nitely beyond my expectations. (Hear, hear.) I found
agriculture of every sort improving ; I found rents paid ;
I found general crime diminished—(hear, hear)—l found
the poor houses were empty. (Loud cheers.) There
was and there is but one plague spot left, and that is that
dread secret combination of blood which retards the pro-
gress of Ireland which occasionally deluges it with honest
and worthy blood, which is a disgrace to a civilised
people. (Hear, hear.) That, gentlemen, is the only
plague spot, and I believe the only thing left which
retards the progress of Ireland, and I believe that
that would be put a stop to if every Christian, whether
layman or churchman, whatever religion he may be-
long to, were to put his shoulder to the wheel, like my
noble friend your guest this evening. (Loud cheers.) If
they were all not only to do their utmost to secure the
apprehension of the criminals, of expressing their
detestation of it, and of refusing to have even any
connection with those who are the abettors and
aiders cf such assemblies, great good- would follow.
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, to go from that grave subject,
I will mention one point, which, I think, will find
favour in your eyes, and which, I think, it is but
justice to Ireland to allude to, and that is, that in
the division on which the fate of the late Government
depended, Ireland sent sixty-eight out of one hundred
and five members to its support. (Loud cheers.) I
wish I could say the same of the country to which I, as
an individual belong—(laughter,)—but I have hopes of
that country yet—(renewed laughter,)—and I do not feel
that we are so much disgraced, so far as the Conservative
feelings of our country are concerned, as we have hitherto
been—(laughter and cheers,)—certainly not in the county
. to which I individually belong, because I come here
bearing the news of the recent triumph of the Conserva-
tive party here. _ (Cheers.) lam happy that that event
occured upon so auspicious an occasion, and I trust it
will be a happy omen of future elections. (Hear, hear.)
Although it it is now late in the evening, I cannot sit
down without expressing the extreme easure I feel
in being . present at this magnificent demonstration.
(Cheers.) Ido indeed rejoice that I have been allowed
to join in this tribute of respect to one whom I
look upon as my most valued friend, and my
greatest benefactor, and my political chief. (Great
applause.) I have not been like my noble friend on my
left, I have not been a member of the home ministry
under the noble earl, but I will bear my testimony to
the high character which he bears amongst men who have
been placed under his command, and the confidence with
which he treats those who may be perhaps young in
office, who are willing to do the duty allotted to them.
(Cheers.) I will say this, that the noble earl is not more
distinguished by his eloquence which is unsurpassed—
(hear,- hear,)—by those talents by which he is so promi-
nently distinguished, thau by the uprightness of his con-
duct, than by the uprightness of his character and by the
straight forwardness of his political views. (Cheers.) And
I can only say, I shall never forget the confidence with
which he has treated me, being as I was, upon the
first occasion, a totally untried man, and at the last
certainly not unequal to the office with which he entrusted
me.. (Cheers.) With such a leader, and with such
:feelings I perceive actuate the assembly before me, t
feel sure the Conservative cause Will triumph, and that
this
hisobmutthaeypraerleudtehetore
g,onbutht e
of part
those
'yes. (Loud cheers.)
health f
The CHAIRMAN proposed theo ir John
Pakinnion, whom he described as the greatest practical
those, not only whom I am addressm
and brought it from a low state to be equal in
navy, pgrreesaetnertateineTY
reformer of the age,—a man, who had reformed the
guns and men to meet the great forces of other nations.
(Loud cheers.)
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON.—My lords and gentlemen,
1 really know not in what terms to express the gratitude