The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-16 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING,

• .14A, laugh.) Actingea on e- -that- e. peijecipler Friends and enrcelleegur st*, thepG.overnment for the reedit.
he .a., ad Beaumont)rGovernment sheuld state to the thought the. Noble Lord ness with which th ts).s ered to' the call, felt that in the
at the head off"tee
then state of this country, internally and externally'' -flew
'- - -
country ought not, and should not, be left without a Go-
country whether he meant to win with a ss. or 7s. duty.
vernment.—(Loud cheers.) My Lords, when that division
—(Laughter.) The labouring classes throughout the
took place which was the ostensible cause of the fall
country were never in a better position than they were of the late Government—the real cause was very diffe-
at the present moment. Looking therefore at the rent, and, perhaps, the Noble Earl opposite, whom I see
whole interests of the country, the activity taking a note (Earl Grey), may
in the manufacturing districts, and the advan- cause—(Laughter, and Hear)—when, I say,the late Governs I
be somewhat aware of that I
togas 330 W enjoyed by the people, whatever were went had been placed in that minority, the Noble Lord at 1
his opinions in the abstract in regard to the burdens the head of the Treasury announced to Parliament, that sub-
sequently to that decision he had his colleagues as
to the propriety of their resignation, or of a dissolution of
upon land, he was decid-dly against all reversal of our
commercial policy, for in such a reversal he saw
Parliament, and that -he htecleconi to the conclusion that
great dangers s he saw violent passions raised up, class
against class, and that animosity revived which under the circumstances of b
expedient.—(Hear, hear.) ' -Inexpedient for whom, my
long-slumbered and died away. He considered that if Lords? Inexpedient for the Noble Lord and his
—(Hear,colleagus
country a dissolution was in-
setthe Noble Earl at the head of the Government did not or inexpedient for the interests of the country? a,
give a distinct reply to his inquiries he would inflict hear.) I will not so far impute such unworthy motives to
great injury upon the country. Lord Beaumont con- the Noble Lordmearesetont
) conclusion I in ust consider
that a thatdiss 0
Ihnet i
eann de hisf
Parliament
eluded by presenting the petition of which he had given or advantage of his colleagues and himself that he looked.—
PwPhosaetetvheartit was to the convenience
notice.
The Earl of DERBY then• rose and said—My Lords, it
a(th
htria
edt looked.—
(Hear,
mu come
et
ear
the.
presentre constitution of parties—that such a dissolution of
results it might have upon
will be most satisfactory to myself, and I know it will be
equally so to you" Lordships, if I take the short and sum- Parliament was not oely inexpedient, but that it would be
teary mode recommended by the I'ioble Baron, who has oc- most dangerous to the interests
Then, my Lords, I ask with a
cupied an hour and ten minutes of your time with a discur- hat face can any man or body
. of "yes" of men who had declared that dissolution was inex-
pedient—who had declared that
tna
them-
or "no" in reply; but although I hope not Co occupy so selves to conduct the Governneentwyhowehad advised the
much of your. Lordships' time as the Noble Baron has oc- Queen to send for me to undertake the duties of responsible
re unable
cupied in putting his question, I confess that I am net-pre- Minister of the Crown—with what face, or upon what pre-
mature dissolution of Parliament If
i
At the same time, my Lords, I shall be moat ready to give
pared to give him so brief and categorical an answer as that. text, I say, can any man, body of men, call for a pre-
or any w
condemned; or seek to embarrass that Government which
to the Noble Lord and to your Lordships such explanations they know, if they succeeded in
ich they themselves had
place.—(Loud cheers.) But the Nobledensftr
earveeoght plainly and simplyb
as are consistent with my duty, in regard to the course in- have the means of re-building, or
corn-laws
buildingoßy
aiwnrogen,
ought
said
dh-
ttanother
oat would
.uhn
on
oivotit
i
tended to be pursued by her Majeety's Government, as may
have been left in the slightest degree of obscurity in the
course of the observations which I had the honour to submit ttahisenpaernteicouflatrwequcoesetrisosn; oefitthh
to your Lordships a fortnight ago. In doing this it is not
now obtained office y the
necessary that.l should follow the Noble Lord—and I assure to
support havent declaredth osewho
that,eall themselves
v el
the Protectionist party,
him that I have no intention to do so—into the various ar-by which we have mounted to
hat
etnlade
tf salient 1
recommendlese
guments with regard to the policy of the corn-laws, office, and in that case he would be the last man to taunt us
the course which was pursued in 1846, the inci-
dents of burdens or of losses which fall upon the ward at the present moment, state
landlord, upon the tenant, or upon the labourer. And
I shall not be led by the Noble Lord, and I trust that • andwhich
Parliament,
ourselves declared
none of my Noble Friends near me will be led, by anything have • tention of re
that we no in commending to Parliament
which takes place hereafter on this subject, into a most until anther
erParliament has assembled,
hear.) I
--(Heare
fruitless and unnecessary discussion on the subject of the will ask the Noble Lord to look back
corn-laws —( Ministerial cheering.) My Lords, the Noble whena change of Government took andeto-
placteo the last occasion
Lord has certainly not done great justice to his clients ; be- In 1846 the late Sir R. Peel's Government in this country.
t was ejected from.
cause, although he commenced by stating that he should
office by adverse vote upon an
an important Irish question,
proceed to show to the House the various evils under which which was introduced and supported by the gentlemen who
these petitioners were suffering, the grievances which were
succeeded
Sir R. Peel in the Ministry- In 1846 a motion in
afilictiog them, and the anxieties which deprived them of otion to the policy of the then Government was carried
their repose both by night and by day, yet to the close of successfully against Sir R. Peel. There was the usual inter-
his speech not one single word was said about the pe- vening period between the fall of the old Ministry and the
titioners, and it was not until a question was put by my
formation
Noble Friend near me, that we even elicited from the Noble under the existing
precisely the same as circumstances, Lord
Lord who those petitioners were, or what was the founda- J Russellappeared in•the House of
. : Commons as First Mi-
tion of the question of the oble Lord. Well, now, the .ofthe Crown, and stated what those Bills lying on the
nister
Noble Baron was kind enough to allow me a sight this table of the House were with which he intended to proceed,
petition after he had given notice of it. I speak with every those'which he proposed
and what were to abandon. On
respect of the petitioners. I have no doubt they are men
that occasion Lord J. Russell was taunted by one of those
of the highest respectability, but undoubtedly in point of u . who is now supporting him_ _
Hon, Members the Hon. Mem-
numbers they are not exceedingly extensive.—(A laugh.) `e bet for Finsbury, and he was called upon by the House to
These, as the Noble Lord has stated, are petitioners who are
not confined to a single district, or a single township, but state the principles upon which he intended to
conduct his
the course which he intended to pursue in
a certain number of them I find are from the township of Government, and
measure. Now I commend to the
Snaith, and one or two others from adjoining districts. Well, regard to a articularp
, watt the vet
now. what is the numerical force of these petitioners who are attention of Noble Lords p
byP Lord J. Russell
clear and elabo-
in this state of unparalleled uncertainty? What interests rate answer made then
Minister of the c sell, standing in
do they represent? What great bulk of property has come the position of First
to put such rown. He denied
forward to, complain to your Lordships of their unparalleled the right of Parliament
the duty of
tislieuestions to him,
state of anxiety, the agitation into which the country is and he denied that it was
He declared Government to
thrown, and the total confusion of all agricultural affairs answer them.- (Hear,
Bear.)o answer that
upon those
wh ch arises out of this protracted uncertainty? Why, my questions he would give n
articular course i whatever. He refused
Lords, the petitioners are just 13 in number—(Laughter)— to pledge himself to, a p
and of those relating
regard to irn-
and they thus speak of themselves:—" The humble petition portant • measures of reform,
relating to the
of the undersigned owners and occupiers of land in the Irish Church. - (Hear.)
But the Noble Lord
ure relatin went further;
county of York " The Noble Earl near me has been kind for with regard to the meas
arkable toexpressions:—"
the Church of
enough to sum up the extent of the occupation of these yeti- Ireland, he used these T w
existing
ith the I do
tioners. One of them, no doubt a highly-respectable not say that I am satisfied
state of
farmer, occupies 500 acres of land; but the whole 13, things. I may desire to reduce the revenues of the
including that gentleman, own and occupy only to the Protestant Church in Ireland. I may desire
h in Ireland. I to endow
amount of 1,841 acres. I see that some of them are farmers, the Roman Catholic Churc
both tho retain the
some of them very respectable gentlemen. Mr. Langley is opinions I have expressed up n
o differentse questions; but
one of them; but amongst them I see Mr. J. Wright, the people of England entertain opinions, and I
the auctioneer at Snaith, and his occupation is 12 will be guided entirel in iny
course by the recorded
hear.) opinions
And I will not
acres; Mr. Pickering, the surgeon of Snaith, is another, of the people of land.—(HearEng which
and he occupies twenty acres of land.—(Laughter.) These, pledge myself as to the course
the now, hereafter,
then, are the petitioners who come before you on the present or at any time I will take
inupon
its integrityimportant and vital
occasion. Now, take the casss.of the surgeon or the auctioneer questions—the maintenance
—one occupying 20 and the other 12 acres of land. Take Church in Ireland and the endowment of the Roman Catholic
the auctioneer, who is a highly-respectable man, no doubt; Church."—(Hear, hear.) Now, these were the doctrines of
I dare say he has made some money in his business as an John Russell in 1846. These
were the doctrines in hie),
and W --
auctioneer ; and no doubt he has a snug little villa, shrub- the Opposition of that day acquiesced, letwillingly ac-
bery, and kitchen garden, with three or four cows ; and he quiesced. These were the principles; without. or hindrance,
lives very comfortably, not on his farm, but on his businessßussell and his Government upon which Lord John
as an auctioneer. What is the amount of wheat, I should office in the middle of a session of Parliament. These
like to know, which is grown by Mr. Jonathan Wright,. the were the principles upon which they were permitted to go
auctioneer of Snaith, which is to be deducted from his house, on to the close of the session without any factious interrup-
his pleasure- grounds, his kitchen-garden, and his lawn—the tions, and to, dispose of the business that was pressed upon
whole to be taken out of twelve acres of land? Yet that the immediate consideration of Parliament. My
justice
Lords, I
gentleman cannot sleep night nor day. He cannot rest for a ask for' no one measure, I ask but for i
siegle hour, oppressed as he is with his grievances, alarths, not to nire-or my colleagues—but justice to the great in-
and anxieties?—(Loud laughter.)- eHe cannot tell how to terests of our common cou , ntry.—(Hear hear.) I ask
estimate the value of his land; he cannot take a lease; lie not to be precluded from making the_ necessary financial
cannot agree upon the covenants which are necessary for arrangements for the public service. I
aask not to be pre-
conducting his cultivation and his husbandry, because he state of
eluded from placing this country in permanent.. .
does. not know whether we are not or are going to put he danger ot foreign invasion
internal organisation against t . . •
on a moderate duty on the importation of corn at some I ask you not_ to permit any-unnece ry sea interruptions to
distant and indefinite period. Why, to talk, 'of the post- the progress of public or private businesslor any interference
pouernent of the final settlement of this question for a with those useful law reforms which have been already
period. of eight, ten, or twelve - months, as interfering so ably sketched out, and upon which the hearts and the
.with all the 'operations of. agriculture, ' and preventing minds of the people are fixed.—(Hear.) I call upon you,
arrangements between landlords and tentwite; is—without my Lords—indeed, I ought to beg pardon of my Noble and
any wish on my part to deprecate or diminish the magni- Learned Friend on the bench below me (Lord Lyndhurst) in
tude and importance of an ultimate settlement—to attach an alluding to this subject, because the Noble and Learned Lord
exaggerated . and' fictitious importance to . that which the the other day, in dwelling upon these important questions,
Noble Lord alone demands, that is, an immediate and cate- made a most able and elaborate statement, in which he
gorical explanation of the course which her Majesty's Go- showed all the inconveniences of a dissolution at this period
vernment intend to pursue.. Why, in- the cultivation of a of the year. And lam conscious how incapable lam after
farm, do you not know. in March, and may you not know in such an eloquent and unanswerable speech to press those
November, what is to be the course of proceeding?—what topics upon your consideration, and to enumerate the evils
alteration in agriculture would be made by the postponement that must arise from a premature interruption of these pro-
of any declaration as to what is to be the import duty on a ceedings. If Noble Lards opposite, and Hon. and Right Hon.
quarter of foreign wheat P I presume that even at Snaith Gentlemen in the other House of Parliament, have really no
they do not sow their wheat in March or April, and that the objection to wait for the pronoucement of the verdict of the
cultivation of wheat in that neighbourhood will . not be country, I aska,shere its the anxiety—where is the alarm—
affected by a declaration now, rather than at the next where is the uncertainty that are said to prevail in the
harvest, of what are the intentions of her Majesty's Go- public mind as to the policy of the existing Government ?
vernmett, or, what is of more importance, the intentions ( Hear, hear.) I have already told your Lordships that in
of Parliament on this great question.—(Hear, hear.) regard to financial measures Ido not intend to make any
Does the Noble Lord suppose, either, that the impo- Proposition that could in any way disturb the present
sition of any such duty as could be carried by any GO- state of things. I tell you now, as I have told you before,
vernment would produce such an alteration in the refs- that the' next election must finally and conclusively decide
tions between landlord and tenant as materiallyeto interfere the course which we shall take, and that in the meantime we
with the arrangemeets which subsist between them as to shall not propose any measure that could call for such op-
rent and the covenants under which they hold their land? position as is now threatening us. I shall say no more; but
I have not supposed any amount of duty as being the duty if the business of Parliament be interrupted—factiously in-
that ought to be levied ; but the Noble Lord has taken the terrupted—in this House I have no fear of any such interrup-
sum of 75., or 55.,, indirectly referring, I think, to what was tion, and I trust that in the other House better councils will
said in a speech by a Right Hon. Friend of mine in the prevail—but, l'repeat if the
Government are to be inter-
county of Buckingham the other day. Now, lam not rupted by discussions upon mere abstract questions—if the
going to speak with regard to the amount of the increase of !lecessary measures waiting for our consideration are to be
price Which would be produced in the home market by any impeded in their -progreess—then, I say, the just censure of
Possible alteration of the duties on foreign corn. lam not wan cotentry must fall upon the heads of those who have tio
.going to re-open the subject upon which a Noble Earl oppo- wantonly interfered in preventing any government being
site put a question to me the other 'day, when lie contended carried on. But we are 'told that there is much anxiety,
that whatever increase takes place in the prise of corn or alarin, and uncertainty prevailing in the public mind as to
other articles in consequence of the imposition of a duty falls the intentions of her Majesty's Ministers. Where' ask,
not only upon the price of that which is imported, but upon are there any indications of such feeling? The country al3-
the whole amount of the produce of the country. What I pears tranquil, peeceable, and contented. —(Hear, hear.) Is
contended for then was, and what I contend for now is, that there a more accurate barometer of public apprehension than
whatever the duty may be, it is not the whole amount, but a the public funds at this moment? And yet will the Noble
small portion of that amount, which must be added to the Lords opposite point out a single moment during
price in consequence of the addition of the duty. Take a the whole period in which they held office when
the public securities
duty of 45., 55., or 75., or whatever you please—let us take, were so steady, or had
for instance, that with which we are the most familiar—a shown a greater tendency to advance than at this moment?
ss. duty on the import of corn—that is an addition of 4s. to Yet, according_ to the Noble Lord's statement, the country is
the present existing duty. Now, suppose the utmost pos- in a perfect Panic.—(Hear, hear.) Now the question of the
ruble extent of the augmentation of price in this country commercial and financial concerns of this country is not, as
consequent upon an increased duty of 4s. to be Is. 6d. or 2s. the oble Lord seemed to infer. a mere question of the impo-
a quarter, will any man tell me that to doubt whether that sition or non-imposition of a moderate duty upon foreign
amount would or would not be imposed, and the subsistence corn, nor is there any question raised as to the total reversal
'of' that doubt for some eight or ten months, could introduce of the policy of the late Sir Robert Peel as far as regards the
the smallest amount of uncertainty with re and navigation-laws, rd to the rela- imposition of a duty upon foreign corn, or the repeal of the
toes of landlord and tenant, and the permanent arrange- or any. of those great measures in the po-
ments between them? e• (Hear, hear.) My Lords, I ter- licy of which though Ido not concur, yet I do not desire to
wilily have seen a statement, and I read ,it with some sur- see reversed. I do think, however, that that policy has
prise, which was made by a friend of mine the other day, been carried to an unnecessary
and a dangerous extent. The
that he should take care to inform his tenants that if they Noble Lord himself admits that to one great class of the
obtainedduty upon wheat he should immediately put community they have occasioned serious evil, and that much
on half,aecrown,J, do not know. whether per acre or per injury hase been suffered by such class, in consequence not
quarter, upon their rents. Now I- do not think this is a very only of.th
of
but also the mode of adoption of the
generous course of proceeding. That gentleman is himself Principles ot free trade. My Lords, I think that other lute-
a farmer, and an extensive sheep-owner; and he is at this rests have suffered equally with the land, not to the same
moment canvassing the city of. Westminster upon the extent, perhaps,_d but in the same manner. But on that ac-
groupd of li p extreme liberal principles I—(Loud laughter.) count do I esire to go back upon all legislation of the last
Now, I confess that it appears to me the sheep are not the few years?o I recollect perfectly well at the time the
only, portion of his property which this gentleman seems measure r the
repeal of the navigation-laws was under
disposed to fleece.—(Renewed laughter.) But I believe discussion, Iwarned your Lordships against adopting that
the example he has set, or has announced his readiness to measure, and amongst cengst other reasons urged by me against
set—for Ido rot believe he would do it—is an example your adoptinge 1 said that whatever you did in reference
which would not ,be followed by country gentlemen gene. to the imposition of those duties, the principle of that
rally.—(Hear, hear ) I grant, however, that this question measure respecting the navigation-laws if once assented to
should remain in abeyance no longer than is absolutely ne- would be final andt. irrevocable, and you could never again
cessary.—(Cheers.) I admit that most frankly. But with hope to reverse it. Irepeat the same opinion now.—(Hear,
regard to the uncertainty—my Lords, there is a very large hear.) I .do I desire r
-° go back to the law of 1846 as
party in this country, as is well known, who have declared regards corn.
_ dod not desire to go back to the law of 1842.
in the most emphatic terms that it is not until the next tiled- 1 desire your Ler sbips and the country to consider—not
tion that that uncertainty should be removed—that at the by means of agitation—mot through the agitation
next election the question must be settled, and settled deli- of persons who, perhaps, make more noise than
nitively, and to that election they refer on their own part, they poSsess influence, who bring down large amounts
confident in the atrenghth of their case, but ready to submit of subscriptions upon paper, who have exercised and
to the judgment of the country should it be pronounced perhaps still exercise a . most dangerous influence upon a
'
against them.—(Hear hear.) So that whether the change Portion of the community, and who
may succeed by such
of Government had orhad not taken place, that uncertainty influence in creating local apprehensions ;—but I say it is a
as to the final deeishn"f ' the country, and of Parliament question which
.ought to
mibe considered by Parliament deli-
following the country, must have equally remained, but with berately and eeldiscussing,y not so much whether a
this difference, that in consequence of that change 'of Govern- mode of relief might not be adopted by imposing a moderate
went the period of the duration of the uncertainty will be duty upon corn, but whether you will apply your minds,
and the dissolution of Parliament, which might not to the reversal of our commercial system, but whether
diminished, might not be made in • '
have been postponed for a period of two years, in the ordinary such modifications
alleviate the
course of things—l trust I need not offer any apology for al- the blow andwhich
oiconfess injusticehave inflicted upon those
luding to it—must take place within a period of six or eight interests
eey suffered by our recent
months from this time.—(Cheers.) Therefore, my Lords, policy.—( hi -11 ) I have
ear, ear..announced frankly my opi-
sowith regard to the final nions upon this subject, and I believe m
far as uncertainty is concerned
is
with my colleagues coincide
' these views. I expressed
,the. period of that uncertainty
,
decision of the .
(Cheers ) The change of the relief of the farmer, without any
extended but diminished.— • serious difficulties and
being incurred
not
has not taken place upon any expenditure by the and
Government, remember,
of the land. And Igo thrown upon other classes, a moderatecountry,
impositiori
question connected with the subject.
d ought to be as short as of duty would produce a large
further, and say that the perm
made to the country thereby enable other taxation to be taken revenue, and
possible, and that the appeal to be would hardl off.—Hear, hear.)
ard for the great intrests That such a duty y produce an appreciable
ought to be made as early &se reg B I
at say furthers,
that . effect upon the price of food, and that it would thereby be
of the country will permit.—(Hear.)no challenge, no diffi- the most just, economical, and for
the country the most
so far as it depends on me, no taunt,
and no mortification to advantageous mode of affording relief.—ru
(Hear, hear.) But
tufty to. which I may be subjected,
me to recommend to at the same time I think that that is a Proposition which no
which I may be exposed, shall induce
however Minister should bring forward unless be
,s,
of Parliament,as sure of its
my Sovereign that that dissolution
place one hour being called for not only by a large majority in Parliament
anxious I may be for the decision, shall take
t interests bu also by the concurrent opinion deliberately
expressed
sooner than regard to these great and paramount
look throughout the country.— (Hear, hear.) But,
Lords, I
renders necessary.—(Loud cheers.) Let me venture to
that that is only one portion of a great my
which her say
back for a moment to the circumstances under
it is the duty of the Minister who feels
and question—l say
thinks with me
Majesty's present Government have assumed the Noble Lord . ,
carefully to deliberate
was good enough to so have taken u on them—power. I to devise and
calculated to alleviate upon such measures as
would correct the es Tension and P have assumed the he thinks best
a large portionof
the injustice, and to
responsibilities and thedutiesinn' ffi say'H
hear.) The mitigate the distress, of the country. But,
of o ce.—( ear,
late Government fell by no (Cheers.) I say, that in taking into consideration the course which the
Least of all, did the adverse motion of ours.—.
Government. ought to pursue under such circumstances they
3' fall by any adverse motion involvingas was suggested by the
the question of protect'Noble Lord MVO-
ton to the landed interest —(Reiterated are bound -not,
months befo • -
cheering.) Patiently and steadily we • from site, to fling down some re a definite and fixed
have abstained
pressing that question in the sha e of proposition as to the precise mode of operations which for
the attention of Parliament (dear
hear,)
protection upon .
Lord five or six months to come may give rise to angry agita-
willear.) The Noble Lor
not, I think, venture to say tha't from ion but to commend the cause of the suffering interests,
posits to him in this House, or from those who sit op- t
t • advocates, but to the calm, deliberate sense of
those who sit opposite not to cer tun
e They should
to his party in the etheL, the-late-Gave (Hear., . ascertain the deliberate
_ rnrnent had been the country.—
encountered by it factious opposition orthe credo upon the question,
.and upon such base
by a desire to eject sense of p
them from office. By 'what did they fall which they propose as remedies for the
?, fell by those measures
their own internal weakness.—(Cheers.) The They • ]aimed of, even though, abstractedly, and in
ey fell b their ev-13 comp
confessed and notorious inability to conduct the business ''
be Government might not think
them
the country.—(Loud cheers.) They fell by the of their. own mind, .t
desirable that could be framed, yet such as
absence of the most
their friends.—(Hear, hear.) They fell by having qu r feel they could ~ carry into effect with the general
relied' with their colleagues.—(Cheers) They fell by -theira concurrence of- they
Parliament, and without raising any angry
inability to muster 130 gentlernen in the House of Commons feeling. e apprehend that this lsa much more statesmanlike
to give them support upon a question which they declared course than that which the Noble Lord opposite suggests—
to be fatal to their existence.—(Great cheering.) My Lords, namely, that of introducing a preposition for the purpose
it was under these circumstances that we were called upon of bei negatived, and then. hastily appealing to the
to assume office; and I for one, and I thank my- Noble electors for the purpose' of obtaining the judgment of the