The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-26 00:00:00

TENANT RIGHT IN IRELAND.

Mr. Sergeant SHEE obtained leave to bring in a bill
on the subject of tenant right. In bringing up the bill
some merriment was created at the expense of the hon.
and learned gentleman, in consequence of his want of
knowledge of the proper forms observed in bringing up a
bill for which leave had been obtained.
ADJOURNED DEBATE.

The order of the day for resuming the adjourned debate
was then read.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
perhaps the house would, in conformity with what he had
already said, allow him to withdraw the amendment of
which he had given notice.
The (Government) amendment was then formally with-
drawn.

Mr. BRIGHT took the opportunity of correcting an error
which had got abroad in some papers, when he referred to
the Lord Advocate's going to Lisburn. He was reported as
having said he went there under the protection of the
Marquis of Londonderry, whereas it should have been the
Marquis of Hertford.
Mr. GLADSTONE said that he understood the issue
now before the house was the resolution, and the amend-
ment of the noble viscount (Palmerston). That amendment
had not, however, yet been laid upon the table of the
house.

Lord PAT.M-FIRSTON then formally moved his own
amendment :
" That it is the opinion of this house that the improved
condition of the country, and especially of the industrious
classes, is mainly the result of recent legislation which has
established the principle of unrestricted competition, has
abolished taxes imposed for the purposes of protection.
" That it is the opinion of this house that this policy,
followed, maintained, and prudently extended, will best
enable the industry of the country to bear its burdens, and
thereby most assuredly promote the welfare and content-
ment of the people.
" That this house is ready to take into its consideration
any measures consistent with those principles, which, in
pursuance of her Majesty's Speech, may be laid before it
by her Majesty's Ministers."
Mr. BOOKER resumed the adjourned debate. He said
he could not give Iris acquiescence to the amendment in the
terms of the noble viscount (Palmerston). He regretted
the course adopted by Government. The speech of the
right hon. gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
the other night was a most masterly exposition of policy.
He was a member of that country party which he always
understood to be bound together by a principle—that prin-
ciple he always understood to be protection to British in-
dustry and capital. He had always adhered to that prin-
ciple, and now he was called upon to recant the opinions
of his whole life he hoped he might give a reason for the
hope that was in him. He approved of the legislation of
1842. The" subsequent years to 1845 were years of great
national prosperity. In the year 1846 there was the wildest
speculations ; in 1847 there was a collapse and convulsion
which shook the commercial world to its very centre. That
took place under the boasted system of free trade. The
year 1848 and 1849 exhibited great agricultural depression,
unknown in this country. They suffered to the extent of
millions. That was under the boasted system of free trade.
That continued until Providence opened the immense
stores of metallic wealth, and so Providence, and not the
recent legislation, had produced the present prosperity.
He felt that the battle had been fought, and that they had
been fairly beaten. But the discovery of metallic wealth,
unexpected as it was, had produced, far more than recent.
legislation, the comforts the industrious classes were en-
joying. Feeling this, he could not support the amend-
ment of the noble viscount, yet he did not wish to embar-
rass Government, and he should, upon questions of their
general policy, have his unreserved support. He was de-
termined to oppose the resolution. (Hear.)
Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE said, that the supplemental
debate which had just taken place was one of the most
irregular that ever occurred in that house, and he hoped it
would not be made a precedent of in future. (Hear.) His
right hon. friend the member for the Tower Hamlets (Sir
William Clay) was a most gentlemanly man—(a laugh)-
-

a man of fine and susceptible feelings. The resolution had
jarred upon his feelings. His

resolution

Was sickbed o'er with the pale cast of thought."

Laughter.) But if he brought these susceptibilities into
that house, he would be more fitted to weep over the Sor-
rows of Werter than to debate in that house. (A laugh.)
But to the situation in which they stood at that moment.
He had no hesitation, on reading • those resolutions, as to
the course which the house ought to adopt ; nor did he
think the country would have any hesitation. This was
not a question of words. (Hear.) The resolution was the
foundation of the policy of Sir Robert Peel enunciated in
1842, and completed in 1846. Now, he -was one of those
who considered what was wise and just and right, and not
what was agreeable to gentlemen on the other side of the
house. He was much surprised at the amendment of the
noble lord the member for Tiverton (Lord Palmerston),
but he was still more surprised at the speech in which it
was conveyed. Some people were not surprised at the
noble lord, who, as he was a sort of wet nurse of this ad-
ministration, they thought it not unnatural that he should step
in and pat it on its back—(laughter)—and vidminister a mix-
ture of his own concoction. (Renewed laughter.) He took
exception to the terms of his speech ; sure he was that
people who sat on that side would feel that his sentiments
were more united with the Treasury Bench than with gen-
tlemen on his own side of the house. He had a great ad-
miration of the noble lord, and he had proved that feeling
by his acts, and he, therefore, felt that bLe had a right to
express his honest sentiments on the present occasion.
The noble lord went too far when he said that such a
course was creditable to the ministry. It -might have been
a politic course, but he must dissent from :his assertion that
it was creditable. (Hear.) When he said that the hon.
member for Manchester (Mr. Bright) we,,: making this a
party question, who, he would ask, for six: long years made
this a party question but the noble lord as Id his colleagues?
He thought that was a little too much a 'hen he said that
the conduct of the Protectionist party wa s creditable. The
noble lord had chosen to make an ame: cidment which by
breaking up the united opinion on that :k d'de of the house,
it was very natural that his movement f tiliould be looked
upon with a certain amount of suspicion. But if
he was surprised at the speech of the nobl J 3 lord, what was
his surprise at hearing that delivered by b e Proteus of the
Administration. He could only charactt t rise it by saying
that the audacity of assertion was only equalled by the
fluency of the diction. (Hear.) He' at ? peared to have
taken a redoubted French author for his gri i de. (Laughter.)
He slid not allude to M. Thiers, but ti' b 3 French gamin,
rewho, when he was asked what was the sec r at of his success,
iterated—audacity, audacity, audacity. (Loud laughter.)
ell:deb:Al asserted that neither Lord Derb: r nor himself had
rather
ia
veined to reverse free trade. (Hear, 2 lean) He would
intimater that he was a Free-trader • but, if he was,
he Was
history of th heavy in the carnal part. . Ye had got
last six yearke protection party and their ( muse during the
apology for ,_,ethat reminded him very : a such of Hume's
upon
as
an
apology for the Protectio party, or rather
free trade. whaaltdl not, he said, end savour to reverse
there no house in Itozaß there no witation ? Was
-steet taken fc a- the purpose of
disseminating tracts
was the first movementof atror of ote,ction ? What
he hoped the house would beargallg • laugh.) Now
chawincet am, for this must
be a night of quotations. The
of the Exchequer and the Earl of Derby said, they °r,
aeve, encouraged
hear.)
,Now,
agitation. (Hear, fox what was the