The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-13 00:00:00

suffrae;e3 which will be thus forfeited, and the proposition
whieh I s'eall meke will I chiller not be one which will plesse
and satisfy the great body of the people. But you cannot
have this Bill 'ii disfeenchisernent if Parliament is dissolved.
You will still have Membere from St. Albano in this Free
Trajes Parliament, which you hope to aeseouble. Are you
prepared that the whole of the private busines, of the
session—every railroad and road Bill, every Bill connected
with private business, I doubt not Bills affecting many gen-
tlemen who are present—that all these should be swept away
and this year be a perfect blank in legislation? Ido not ob-
ject to it if you wish to make the sacrifice. But understand
what this sacrifice is (Hear, hear.) I know well the diffi-
culties which we have to encounter as a Government. I hear
that the late Administration, or their friends, perhaps, are
anxious that the country should give an immediate decision
on the subject of the relief of agricultural burdens. But
allow me to say that, so far as I am concerned, the issue shall
not be narrowed to mere questions of commercial legislation.
—(Cheers.) I shall ask the country to decide upon the policy
of the late Government in every respect and in every de.
pertinent. Upon that foreign policy which we attempted to
check two years ago, which we were defeated in doing, and
which the late Premier, only two months ago, virtually an-
nounced we were right in opposing. I shall ask the opinion
of the country upon the colonial policy of the late Adminis-
tration—(Great cheering)—the decision of the House of Cone-
mons upon which they escaped I will not say, but which
they evaded by the " local " militia.— (Cheers and laughter.)
I shall ask the opinion of the country upon that question of
law reform to which I have adverted. I will ask the
country whether they are in favour of the recommendation
of the Commissioners for the reform of the Court of Chan-
cery being carried into effect or whether they are not.
I will make the issue wide and multiform, and, whatever
be the character of the House of Commons which may
then be called together, that Parliament shall be one which,
at least, shall represent that decision of the people of Eng-
land not upon a single question, but upon all those peat
principles which should give a celour to the policy, and form
to the conduct of a strong administration.—(Loud and long
continued cheering.) Gentlemen, I know well the difficul-
ties we have to encounter, but though I confess our position
may be critical, I for one do not believe it is perilous. I
have listened to a great deal of bluster within the last
fortnight. That does not friehten me. I have read
tirades of resuscitated leagues. I shall leave resuscitated
leagues to settle their quarrel with the amalgamated engi-
neers.— (A laugh.) Confident myself that in taking office
we have at least resolved to do our utmost for the advantage
of the country, I shall feel that the conscientiousness of
that duty will at least sustain us during the exigency of the
day.— (Cheers.) And, Gentlemen, I can say that when
the Noble Lord who is at the head of the Administration
attested Providence in the Senate of his country, he was
influenced by no personal feeling in accepting the post of
danger which ho now fills. I also may express my hope
that, whatever may be the fate Of the Government, when we
leave office there will at least be, among all temperate and
impartial men, a sense that, however humble may have been
our efforts, we have endeavoured to do our duty to our
country, to our Sovereign, and to our God.
The Right Honourable Gentleman sat down amidst loud
and prolonged cheering.
Mr. BARRY, after same introductory remarks, asked the
Right Hon. Gentleman whether he or any other member
of her Majesty's Government had any intention, at present
or hereafter, either directly or indirectly, to place a duty
upon the importation of corn? Also, whether he was fa-
vourable to giving electors the protection of the ballot?—
whether the Government intended to introduce the militia
laws?—and, lastly, whether he or her Majesty's Government
had any intention of bringing in any measure fur the separa-
tion of the Church and State, or for the repeal of the pre-
sent laws affecting church rates?
Mr. DISRAELI, in reply, said—l have great pleasure in an-
swering this questions of the Hon Gentleman. When her
Majesty's Government intend to bring forward any Bill like
the Militia Bill, they will give due and respectful notice, as
is the custom, to Parliament; and I do think it would be
respectful if my Hon. Friend there should have the previous
information in this respect.—(Cheers and laughter.) With
respect to the question about church rates, I shall be very
explicit. I think there is one great objection to doing away
with the present system of levying church rates. If it were
abrogated, my Hon. Friend there would have nothing to
talk about. - (Laughter.) He has been making speeches
upon that subject upon each occasion that I have had the
honour of meeting him ; and really if church rates are abro-
gated "Othello's occupation will be gone "—(Cheers anti
laughter.) With respect to the ballot, I should like to
know, in the first place, from my Hon. Friend whether he
would recommend the ballot with the present constituencies?
Mr. BARRY stated that he would certainly recommend the
ballot to the existing constituencies, for he was acquainted
with his fellow-farmers, and knew that not one in a dozen of
them ever gave conscientious votes. There was not a man
among them who dared to go against his landlord.—(Oh, oh,
and great confusion.) If the ballot was given to the present
constituencies, he believed they would soon have a very dif-
ferent kind of Parliament. (Addressing Mr. Disraeli)—l
have now answered the question; have you any further
question to put to me ?—(Laughter. )
Mr. Disitszet—lt is rather an unusual and certainly a
somewhat Irish style of doing business when the Honourable
Gentleman asks me a question, to ask me whether I
anything else to ask him.—(Laughter.)
Mr. Banal., with considerable warmth, said—allow de;
sir, to observe that I came forward here with the view of
eliciting a plain and honest declaration of what your inten-
tions are. lam not possessed of talents or abilities equal to
yourself, but I trust I am possessed of as much honesty and
integrity. All I want from you is a plain and simple answer
to a plain and simple queetion.— (Cheers, and some confusion.)
Mr. Barry then retired, and no further answer was given
by Mr. Disraeli.
Dr. LEE then stood forward, and in an address of consider.
able length went through the various articles of his political
creed. He stated that he was a member of the Protestant
Alliance, of the Peace Society, the Peace of Nations Society,
the Bond of Universal Brotherhood Society, the Ocean Penny
Postage Association, and the Aborigines Protection Society,
and cordially concurred in the various beneficial objects which
those associations had in view. In addition to these princi-
ples, he was in favour of the extension of the suffrage to fe-
males whose husbands already possessed the franchise,or who
were possessed in their own right of " forty-shilling free-
holds," and he had no doubt whatever but that they would
exercise the privilege equally as worthily as those who were
now well plied with beer, and brought up by the" Man in the
Moon" to the poll. There could be no doubt that such ladies
as Miss Herschel!, the astronomer; Miss Barbauld, Miss
Strickland, Lady Lovelace, Miss Martineau, and a number of
other accomplished and talented ladies, would exercise the
franchise quite as purely and independently as many of
those who now possessed that right.— (Cheers and laughter.)
He regretted the scene which had taken place in that
court between their respected High Sheriff and the Lord
Chief Justice, and cordially trusted that the noble and
memorable reply of the High Sheriff would cause his Lord-
ship to see and regret the error into which he had been led.
He trusted that upon the occasion of the next assizes for
the county he would take the opportunity of again bring-
ing his chaplain with him, and he believed that Lord
Campbell would not again dare to interfere with him on the
subject.—(Cheers and cries of " Question.") If returned to
Parliament he would endeavour humbly and faithfully to
carry out the principles to which he had referred, and
s rive also to promote the interest of all classes. (The
speaker was frequently interrupted by the remarks and
questions put to him by persons present, and retired amid
considerable cheering from his own immediate supporters. )
The Hlcie SHERIFF having then called for a show of
hands, declared the majority to he in favour of Mr. Disraeli.
After consulting for a few moments with his friends, Dr.
LEE stated that he delined going to the poll, and the High
Sheriff accordingly declared Mr. Disraeli duty elected.
Mr. DISRAELI then said—l return you my most sincere
thanks for having a second time sent me to Westminster
your representative in Parliament. I have
unopposed as
afros y had occasion to express to you in much detail the
views which animate me and the Administration of which I
am a member, and it would be presumptuous on my part if I
were again to trespass upon your attention. A long time
will not elapse before you will again be called upon to exer-
cise the great privilege which you have been summoned by
your respected High Sheriff this day to fulfil, It is my
belielf that when that general appeal is made by our Sovereign
to the country, those who now advise her councils and are
responsible for the administration of the country will receive
such support from the community that they will be able, with
an augmented majority, to bring in those measures which in
their consciences they believe will terminate that strife of
classeewhich all must deplore.— (Cheers.) I shall appeal to you
upon that occasion with confidence, remembering that upon
this, as on previous instances, you have returned me unop-
posed, and because I have a right to infer from such a display
of confidence upon your part that you have admitted that
I have humbly endeavoured to do my duty to the people of
the county of Buckingham.—(Cheers. )
• Mr. Disraeli then moved, and Dr. Lee seconded, a vote of
thanks to the High Sheriff, which having been replied to by
that gentleman, the croe d dispersed.
The Right Honourable Gentleman then, headed by a band,
was chaired in triumph through the town, and upon returning
to the hotel where he was staying proceeded to a dinner
which was attended by between 200 and 300 of his supporters,
and which was presided over by W. Lowndes, Esq. Upon
the removal of the cloth, Mr. Disraeli addressed the cone•
pany, but his speech afforded no further information as to
the intended policy of the Government upon the important
subjects which now agitate the public mind.
Mr. Disraeli, accompanied by his wife, immediately after
the dinner returned to London by an early train.