The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-22 00:00:00

opinion upon its own part, the inference drawn out of doors
justly
be, from the silence of the house, that it con-
wouldCllTlEl d in what had taken place and made itself virtually a
party to the declaration of the British plenipotentiary on
the 26th of April, that his instructions were exhausted,
which of course, if it stood alone, would mean that
the discussions of the conference were at an end, and
that there was no prospect of a settlement being
arrived at by what had already passed between the
powers. We have already heard, and it is unnecessary for
me again to repeat, the answers just made by the noble lord
at the head of the Government to my right hon. friend ;
but it is plain that those answers leave the case in a posi-
tion different from that in which it would have stood had
it rested en the declaration of the Earl of Westmoreland onthe 26th of April that his instructions were exhausted;
will not enter now upon a discussion of the declaratir
.hfe
the noble lord, that no proposals inoompatible w b
honour of the Government or the country will be accepted
or entertained by the Government ; but I, fiorhone, feel very
the proceed-
deeply the responsibility of interfering
gotdn
ings of her Majesty's Government in m.atwttehrtas
which are still open, and Ido not think t°flnoever-inter-
pret what has fallen from my noble
and
that these negotiations are still
.openn, edn thatwh
e these n I snaey-
of the powers, or
gotiations do afford, in the opton-if
opinion
satisfactory
some of of them, the materials
went. There is no reason wh advantageth should
the purpose of
not be taken of those
le of them. Convinced as
proposals for
seeing what could be mac
I am that the right honourablegentlfeman has no other ob-
ject in view but the restoration o peace to this country
upon honourable terms—convince(ciliassolsiatmionthtoatdhiseteunrthirtehlye
disclaims all motives of party, all 13
Government, or to weaken its plans in the proceedings it has
been or may be carrying on, I venture with great respect,
g no title I am sure to assume such a function, to put
hita'li
beforel'i his consideration whether he would not exercise a
wise discretion in refraining from asking the House of Com-
mons at, the present moment for any definitive judgment
on the subject of the negotiations that are virtually still in
progress, and whether it would not be fairer to all parties
and all opinions, as well as more cOnducive to all the objects
which every patriot must have at heart, if he would forego
the occasion he claimed, and which had been offered
to him under circumstances materially different, and
exercise his own discretion at a future period, when these
circumstances may call for an appeal to the house upon the
question, to make a motion of this description or any
motion at all upon the subject—at all events, whether
it would not be better to leave the matter in the hands of
the Government, in order that they may not be embar-
rassed by our discussion in this place, which would cer-
tainly have an embarrassing and weakening effect on the
Government—to leave them free from any difficulty of
that kind to conduct to its legitimate conclusion the task
they have taken in hand. Sir, I beg leave, with reference to
what I have stated, to move that this house do now adjourn.
Mr. S. HERBERT—I take this opportunity of stating,
having no knowledge of what course the right hon. gentle-
man'the member for Manchester is about to take in conse-
quence of the appeal that has just been made to him by
my right hon. friend—l wish to state that should he think
it his duty to persist "in bringing forward his motion, I
shall consider it my duty to move the previous question
as an amendment. (Ironical cheers from the Opposition.)
Lord H. VANE said he found no difficulty, having en-
gaged to second the motion of the right hon. gentleman
the member for Manchester, and having come down to
the house with the intention of doing so, in urging upon
him to acquiesce in the suggestion made to him by the right
hon. gentleman the member for the University of Oxford.
(Laughter from the Opposition benches.) He would put it
to his right hon. friend whether it would be wise, in the
interest of peace, in the interest of that cause he had so
deeply at heart, to persevere after the declaration which
had just been made by the noble lord at the head of the
Government. It was quite obvious the question would be
discussed under great difficulties, and as negotiations
might be said to be still going on, that course would be
very embarrassing for the Government.
Mr. DISRAELI—I have seldom witnessed in this house
a scene like that which is apparently performing near me
to-night. (Loud cheers.) At the first blush of the ques-
tiOn, it appears to me that if the extraordinary, and as I
believe most impolitic, request of the two right hon, gen-
tlemen who have so suddenly risen this evening is to be
acceded to, the House of Commons and the country
have a right to demand a much more explicit declaration
from the head of the Government—(Load cheers from
the Opposition)—as to really what position the country is
now placed in with respect to recent negotiations, and as
to that which the noble lord and his colleagues apparently
seem to consider amply sufficient to satisfy the demands of
the two right hon. gentlemen. Now, what is the Mate of
the case? The noble lord tells us that he believes he can
venture to say that he supposes that it is not impossible—
(laughter)—that peace may result—that all the means of
solving a difficult political problem have not been ex-
hausted by those distinguished men who have devoted their
abilities to the service of the Government and the country.
But has the noble lord stated any circumstances which may
induce us, as representatives of the people, to suppose that
there are any grounds by which we may guide our conduct at
a moment so critical ea the present in order to justify a strange
forbearance from expressing our opinion upon public affairs?
The noble lord has clone nothing of the kind. While there
is life there is hope ; that appears to be the policy of the
Government. lam sure, sir, I am the last man in this
house who would strictly define the limits to which for-
bearance might reach in the conduct of Parliament or of
the Opposition while preparations for war or negotiations
for peace were taking place. I think it our duty to place
in the Government a very wide confidence under such cir-
cumstances. Had the noble lord come to us when the un-
successful plenipotentiary had made his re-appearance in
the house, and said to ns, " Although my baffled colleague
has returned to resume his duties as a Secretary of State
for the Colonies, I have the satisfaction of informing Par-
liament that the means of solution of this difficult pro-
blem are by no means exhausted, and that I have reason
to believe we will yet succeed in accomplishing a solution ;
and, therefore, I trust to the generous confidence of Par-
liament and to the patriotic spirit of the country not to
press me to lay upon the table the records of the hitherto
unsuccessful negotiation ;" then the noble lord mig;:t have
appealed, and not in vain, to the forbearance of Parli tment.
But what has been the conduct of the noble lord ?
The noble lord has placed upon the table of Parliament
the records of negotiations which have been undert tken by
his colleague and by other representatives of her Majesty,
under instructions which they had formerly in those papers
acknowledged to be exhausted. For what were these papers
placed upon the table? (Hear.) Surely they were placed
there to elicit the opinion of Parliament upon the conduct
of the negotiations, and to ascertain the precise position in
which our country is now placed. (Hear.) I sail then,
as I now repeat, that it would have been well if the noble
lord, following the authority df precedents, had been him-
self the leader to elicit the opinion of Parliament under
the circumstances. Bat the noble lord forbore to fulfil
his duty, and an independent member, a gentleman not
connected with. the Government, exercising a legitimate
and, as I think, a very proper duty, gives notice that
he will propose, instead of the !Minister, an address to
her Majesty expressing the opinion of Parliament upon
those papers. Did the noble lord rise then and say,
" I have, perhaps with too much readiness, placed
these State papers upon the table, but do not, under any
consideration, press the opinion of Parliament upon these
negotiations, because the means of solution are by no means
utterly exhausted?" The noble lord said not a word of the
kind. He gave no discouragement to the motion of the
right bon, gentleman, but on the contrary, the noble lord
disturbs thel natural order of the business of the house, and
facilitates the course which the right hon. gentleman pro-
poses to take ; anti when the whole country is expectant—
when this room is filled as it has seldom filled for years,
then the noble lord, having himself given a day to the
right hon. gentleman—having himself created the occa-
sion and framed the opportunity—then the noble lord, by
some mysterious and sinister means, as rapid and unex-
pected as that wire which now communicates from Bala-
klave. to Downing-street, and which passeathe gangway as
unseen as that wire passes the Black Sea and the Dautibe—
(laughter)—the desire of the noble lord comes from an MI.
expected but influential quarter. And now, when we are
assembled to give an opinion upon these unsuccessful ne-
gotiations, the records of which have been lying for a
considerable period upon our table, and in reference to
which a privy councillor has given a notice to which the
noble lord has given precedence, then the noble lord rises,
and without the communication of any particulars, and
without any, unequivocal statement that there is any
chance of negotiations being carried on, bat by a vague
declaration, which he would have been justified in making
if there never were a more favourable prospect of bringing
affairs to a more nappy conclusion, it is expected that, in
silence—without a murmur, and without a protest—this
great discussion should not occur. lam not aware what
course the right hon. gentleman the member for Manches-
ter is going to take ; but, judging from the remarkable
promptitude with which the noble lord whowasring to
do him the honour to second his motion—(l
Tended to what I have described as the mostaulfhra a‘ronl-111
suggestion of the two right hon. gentleman the ememtes
for Wiltshire and for the University of Oxford—judgingr
by that extraordinary promptitude, one is almost afraid
that the proposer as well as the seconder of the motion has
fallen into this position, which is much more convenient
than honourable to the individuals (hear) and to the Mi-
nisters. Bat, sir, is there nothing to consider in the matter
but the convenience of the Ministers? What is the
country to think of this exhibition ? (Hear hear.) The
country will surely require some information, at least some
rational explanation why, when negotiations have been
carried on until they have arrived at a termination of
failure, when their records have been placed upon the
table of Parliament, when a right hon. gentleman has
given notice to ask the opinion of Parliament upon-these
negotiations, when the Minister rises, and only rises to
facilitate that discussion, and yields the highest possible
favour to a private member of Parliament. viz., a Govern.
ment day, in order to take the opinion of Parliament—the
country will at least expect that the Minister should make
a declaration, clear, unequivocal, explicit, to show that we
are not trifled with under those circumstances. But if we
renounce, as a Parliament, one of the highest, one of the
most solemn' duties a House of Commons can perform,
which is to express its opinion upon negotiations that have
f:iltwedw_inaccomplishingtheir ()ject or objects, let it. be.
grow!, that we have done it upon great and sufficient
be em te and in a manner and spirit which, whatever may
condition of the Ministry or of their official or non-
mow, ii7..c?ertea rs, will at least leave the House of Com-
Cheers.) r and honourable light before the country.
FAlSTg°enNtl—Sir,
Lord PALM.
in reply to what has fallen
from the right bun.
that the course which I haen:an, I am prepared to maintain
upon
thtiaken in regard to the pro-
ceedings of the house
matter has been uniform
and consistent. The right he:
thie table of the house
occasion called upon me to lay a. g
re. country I
n told himw were
I
gentleman upon a former
the proceedings of the conferencepoofn Irn
would do so. I think the house and
the
to call the
entitled to have those proceedings in their
hagotiatione
gs the right hon. gentlemanne
. they
pleasedds. `hose
proceedin
records of an unsuccessful or failing
are the records of a negotiation conducted with the gt.:atjt,
ability by my noble friend ; and if they have not r,
in a termination f tvourable to the' objects of peat,;,
the
fault has not lain with the noble lord, the fault has n,.t lain
with her Majesty's Government, the fault has not Inin
with our ally the Emperor of the French, the fault has not
1,9411 with our ally to a certain degree I may say—.
(ianehter and cheers)—that is as far as moral and
political sentiiment goes—(laughter)—r say the fault has
not lain with the Government of
Austria, but. the fault
has rested
opposed. with the Government of Russia, to wnom wo are
me to de that
Bet the_ right hon. gentleman then called_ upoen
.
cmons
;pa
he said had been done on similar o
fora le4a.of Tare down with a message from the Crown
been taken. Who: Tent approving of the course that had
gentleman ? The h as the answer I made to the right hon.
house recollects that answer. It refutes