The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-31 00:00:00

THE ADDRESS.

The Speech having been read by the LORD CHANCELLOR,
and afterwards by the Clerk at the table,
The Earl of FING AL rose to propose the Address to his
Majesty. The Noble Earl was throughout the speech but
imperfectly heard in the Gallery ; but we understood the
Noble Earl to crave at the commencement, the kind in-
dulgence of the House during the very few observations
he should hare to make. His Majesty commenced his Speech
by adverting to the state of foreign affairs, observing that he con-
tinued to receive from all Foreign Powers the assurance of
their most friendly disposition to this country. With respect
to the war in Spain, it was highly satisfactory to know that the
British Legion had not forfeited the name of Britons.—
Cheers.) With respect to Portugal, it appeared to the Noble
Earl that the course adopted by his Majesty's Ministers, was
without exception, highly creditable to them. His Ma-
jesty then adverted to the state of Lower Canada ; that was a
question of vast importance, but as the report of the Com-
missioners would shortly be laid on the table, the Noble
Earl felt it unnecessary to make further observations upon that
subject. His Majesty had next adverted to the state of the
law. Whatever differences of opinion there might be upon
that subject, he for one felt convinced that it was es-
sentially necessary that some reformation should take place.
No one deprecated more than he did the outrages that oc-
curred in Ireland, and no one was more ready than himself to
exert all the interest he possessed to further those reforms which
would tend to its good.—( Cheers.) With regard to the Cor-
porations in Ireland (continued the Noble Lord), he hoped that in
the present Session some remedy will be adopted which will have
the effect of reforming the abuses which, it is admitted,
exist in their present constitution ; the two countries are
united to each other, and the question is, whether the in-
habitants of one portion of this empire shall enjoy
the same privileges as those of the other, or whether
they shall be considered unworthy to "possess them.—
( Hear, hear.) The people of Ireland have exhibited no
disinclination or incompetency to manage their own
affairs ; and the Reform of the Corporations of Scotland
has increased the prosperity and industry of the people of
that country--they claim the same privileges, trusting for
the same results. My Lords, on the difficult and important
subject of Tithes, I shall not siow enter at any length—
the question has been already referred to in so many speeches
—but its importance is such that I consider the security of pro-
perty and the maintenance of tranquillity in Ireland depend up-
on the settlement of it. My Lords, the Speech of his Majesty
also refers to the subject of Poor Laws for Ireland, and
the nature and details of that question, I have had
an opportunity of learning as one of the Commis-
sioners appointed to inquireinto them.—( Hear, hear.)
He had strong and decided opinions, but it had been his most
anxious wish to avoid any subject that could by possibility tend
to create any dissensions upon the Address which was to be
sent by that House to the Speech from the Throne.—(Hear,
hear.) Nothing, he was sure, could be more gratifying
than to have an expression of unanimity upon that
subject.--( Hear, hear.) Before he sat down he trusted
that he might be allowed to express his earnest hope,
that this Session of Parliament would not terminate
without some at least of the measures recommended by the
Throne having been passed.—( Hear, bear.) They had de-
cided by the Act of Union that tie people of Ireland, as they
had shared in our dangers, should share in our prosperity.
England had commenced a course of generous parental po-
licy towards Ireland : and that policy, he had no doubt,
would be continued.—( Hear.) lie was convinced it was the
wish of the Noble Lord at the head of his Majesty's Govern.
ment to continue it. The representation of the people of
Ireland had been improved, the moral condition of the people
of that country had been improved, their power had been
increased; and he (Lord Fingall) was proud to be able to
stand in that House to make such an acknowledgment.
--(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") It was by following up
that course" of policy which had been so nobly begun, that
their Lordships would be enabled to preserve peace, and
to cause content to dwell throughout the land, and by so
doing they would further see England herself grow happy,
prosperous, and powerful.—( Cheers.) The Noble Lord
then moved the Address, which was an echo of the Speech.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then said the question was,
whether the Address should be presented to his Majesty in
the terms proposed.
Lord SUFFIE LD said he rose to second the Address
which had just been moved. The Noble Lord had entered
so minutely into the details of the Speech from the Throne,
that be should content himself by aiming at a general survey of
its contents. If the condition of a country was to be
the test of the wisdom of its rulers, it was to that test he
would refer. In his opinion the state of England never was
so prosperous (including both the individual and the general
welfare of the country) as it was at this moment ; and there
was no one who would not admit that that policy which pro-
duced the greatest happiness and comfort was the best
policy of all countries.—( Cries of " Hear.") The industry
of this country never was employed so beneficially as it had
been for the last few years. The causes of this were various.
The triumphs of agriculture bad produced almost a mono-
poly to the growers ; and our machinery had enabled the
British manufacturer nut only to compote with foreigners,
but almost to put the competition of foreigners out
of the question. —( Hear.) Another auxiliary to this happy
state was coming into full play in the exercise of the
new Poor Laws. No doubt many Noble Lords present
had read the report on this subject, and had been de-
lighted to find how materially, by the New Poor Laws,
the poor rate had been reduced; and to what an
extent a spirit of tranquillity had been diffused through-
out the provinces._—( Hear.) Industry and independence had
been substituted for indolence and a:ms, and a moral sense of
propriety for a state of degradation. If their Lordships
would investigate into the advance of manufactures and com-
merce they would find it might wish truth be affirmed that
they had been alike active and steady. There was no less
cause of gratification if their Lordships would turn to that
which was the source of the State itself, viz., the revenue. The
accounts showed a surplus of two millions and-a-half
above the total of the preceding twelve months. Figure,
therefore showed the increasing state of comfort and happi-
ness of the country. Ile felt bound also to allude to that
which every Noble Lord must hare listened to with sine re
gratification, viz.—the removal of the cause of unceasing
agitation—Tithes.—(Hear, hear.) In his, opinion, the corn-

mutation of Tidies had done more than any thing
else to 'Ping about tlanlttillity and happiness, because
it had tended to remove that discoetelit sod disquiet which had
lent; ,
existed between the pastor and the people ; and abould
distenlef:a Nit the payment or dues, the justice
of which they oonolenti8iot1); dlsptited, arid from which he
could not but think they ought to ,tle rOietti, this kingdom
would then inherit all that any Government cetild beatoisa,
universal religious peace.—(Cheers.) In this cursory tieo,
he feared it could Dot be denied that lie had rather
depicted the state of England aad Scotland, than that of the
Sister Island, because, although he had been delighted to bear
the Noble Earl on Isis left say the evils of Ireland had been
much removed, yet undoubtedly they still existed, and to a
considerable extent. He certninly could not but think
that those evils arose out of a refusal to place Ireland
on an equality with England.—( Much cheering.) This was
her demand, and lie could not but think that it was a de-
mand most reasonable and most desirable. Let Noble Lords
look to the National Association. That Association de-
manded Municipal Reform and the abolition of tithes. It
was matter of consideration, whether their Lordships ought
not to look to the absolute necessity for the people of
Ireland resolving themselves into such a concentration,
of force. The Orange Society bad been put down—the
Catholic Association had been put down,—but, he would ask,
where was the machinery--where the national sympathy that
would enable them to put down that which might truly be
called the National Association? That Association was only to
be solved by the most substantial exercise of justice.—( Cheers. )
turn the scale to whatever side they might, justice alone would
sustain the public opillion, which in the present height of in-
telligence was the true clement on which any Govern-
ment could exist.—( Cries of " Hear, hear," and cheers.)
If their Lordships turned then to Catholic Emancipation,
if the stern conviction of those the Noble Duke and
the Right Honourable Baronet who were then at the bead
of affairs was that it was it was impossible to resist the national
will, he would say let their Lordships profit by that example.
It wos not in the power, of their Lordships or of any assembly
in this country to have the current of public opinion. It st as
true great reforms had taken place, a great part of the Irish
hierarchy had been extinguished, and he trusted thnt their
Lordships would learn wisdom by what had taken place, and
accede to the voice of the country.—( Loud cheers. )
It was impossible to resist the public feeling, if
alley did so it would be a contest in which all the
justice was on one side.—( Cheers.) There might be diffe-
rences on that subject, but still justice was due from that
House to the country.—(Loud cheers.) Upon the sub-
ject of Poor Laws, there could be but one opinion.
A Poor-law would resue thousands of families from starvation,
and place them out of the reach of want. He was sorry to
have detained their Lordships so long. He would only say
that the voice that had been so loudly echoed throughout
the county ought to be attended to, and great re-
forms should take place in the conditions of the State.
It is therefore, my Lords, because I consider that the policy
recommended in the Speech of his Majesty to be pursued will
conduce to the happiness of the subject, that I willingly and.
with pleasure second the address which has been proposed.—
( Cheers.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON—My Lords, it is not my
intention in rising to offer any opposition to the Address which
has been proposed by the Noble Earl. My Lords, I must say
that I have seldom heard a speech from the Throne, or lis-
tened to an Address which I consider to be less liable to oh
jection—( Ilear)--and it is most probable that I should
say but a few words on this occasion, if something had not
been alluded to by the Noble Earl, who moved the Address in
an able speech, (which I hope will induce him frequently to
address your Lordships),—( Hear,)—but more particularly
by the Noble Lord who seconded it, likewise in a speech which
manifested considerable power ; but both the Noble Lords
have thought proper to dwell at considerable length on
the subject of the tranquillity of Ireland, and more par-
ticularly the Noble Lord who last addressed your Lordship's
House, has been pleased to attribute the establishment of a
tain body called the National Association of Ireland, to which
much of that tranquillity the Noble Lord has stated is due
to injustice done to that country by one of the branches of the
Legislature.— ( Hear.) Now, my Lords, as one of the majority
of this House, of whose conduct the Noble Lord complains,
must defend it from the charge of injustice—(Hear)—indeed,
my Lords, I must say that it is a most surprising circumstance
—one unknown in this country until the present time, that
there should bo established in any part of his Majesty's
dominions an Association of the existence of which the lega-
lity is doubtful, and that there .should be founded the justifica-
tion of that proceeding—founded, I say, on the proceedings of
one of the Houses of Parliament.—( Hear, hear.) That, my
Lords, I say, is quite a novel mode of proceeding, and against
it I feel myself bound to enter my protest.—( Hear, hear,
and cheers.) We were told, my Lords, in the last
Session, in his Majesty's Speech, of the tranquillity
of Ireland. In that Speech the tranquility of Ireland was
noticed and applauded ; and at the very time at which it was
delivered from that throne, this association was in existence
in that part of the kingdom. It then existed, my Lords,
and its author boasted that it had been established with the view
of securing for it and taking possession of the Government.
That Association, which agitated the question of the repeal of
the Union, was the cause of the disturbances in Ireland, and
yet Noble Lords could come down to Parliament and state, as
had been done to-night, that the country was in a state of
comparative tranquillity. He did not call on the Government
to put down that 'Assocsation, although it was a course
which might bs expedient for them to pursue ; but what
he asked was, that things should be called by their true names
--(Hear, bear)—that where there existed an Association
which formed committees, which raised money by its own
authority, and named agents for the purpose of carrying into
execution its decrees, he asked that that state of things should
not be called tranquillity, but a threatening of destruction of
property. They knew to a decided certainty that at that very
moment there was one description of property which could not
be protected, hut was annihilated, and that a clergyman could
not appear without incurring the risk of being murdered.
That was the tranquillity which had been boasted of in the last
Session of Parliament, and which Noble Lords on the
part of the Government had thought proper to repeat to-
night. With respect to othes parts of the Speech, he could only
say that when Ministers thought proper to bring forward the
various messures which his Majesty had been pleased to an-
nounce would be brought under the consideration of Parlia-
ment, he should give them his best attention. He wished,
however, to say a few words upon Foreign affairs, and
more particularly with relation to Spain.—( Hear, hear,
hear.) It was well known to their Lordships he was
one of those who had objected to the original treaty
that was made, and also to the additional articles which
regulated the Cortes.—( Hear.) But he could not now dis-
approve of the execution of those treaties by another, nor
refuse his assent to the propositions contained in his
Majesty's Speech, or in the Address which had been
moved, in answer to his Majesty's Speech, that the measures
which his Majesty had adopted in consequence of these trea-
ties had been properly carried into effect. They had seen a
good deal of discussion between his Majesty's Government and
other members of the alliance, on the subject of the execution
of that treaty, and he must say, as far as he was able to form
a judgment of the treaty, for literally he knew no more than
what was in the treaty itself ; btt lie must say that that treaty
had been executed as far as he could judge by all the parties to it.
Lord MELBOURNE was glad that it was not the inten-
tion of Noble Lords opposite to move any amendment to
the Address. Although the Speech had met with the appro-
bation of the opposite side of the House, yet he had no
doubt it contained topics that would hereafter create
great subjects of difference, to meet mhich it was his intention
to bring forward measures in the course of the present Session
The Noble Duke had agreed with the statements in the
Speech, that with bnt few exceptions, tranquillity reigned
in Ireland—( Hear)—one subject which called forth the
observations of the Noble Duke was the establishment of the Na-
tional Association in Ireland. No man had viewed with
more regret than he did the existence of that Association,
He did not think that the grounds on which it had been stated
to have been built, justified its erection.—( Hear, hear,
and loud cheers.) He could not help saying proceedings
had taken place in that association, of which he could not,
for one, approve ; but he must in justice say, that
their proceedings were open as the day ; and no
concealment whatever of what they had intended had taken
place.—( Cries of " Hear, hear," and cheers.) He had no
doubt the Noble Duke would admit that Ireland, as well
as England had been in tranquillity during the vacation.
Hear, hear, hear.) If any disturbance of tranquil-
lity had taken place, it was to be ascribed only to the
exertions of the Noble Lords on the other side.—(Great
cheering.) One Noble Lord opposite had raised his voice
most loudly in discussions on the subject.—(Loud
cheering.) It had been said there was great re.action in
the country.—( Cheers.) Neither he, or those connected
with him, were awere of that thing.—( Cheers.) If such
however was the case, let those in whose favour that
opinion was supposed to have changed, try by every
means in their power to make it answer
their purpose.—( Great cheering.) He recommended the
Noble Lords opposite not to be deceived by their own shouts ;
they had very often been deceived in their estimate of
numbers, and no doubt they had been so now.—(llear. )
With respect to the principles which the Noble Duke has
stated of the impossibility of forcing a Government upon
Spain—the impossibility of interference with the inter-
nal affairs of Spain, he entirely coincided.—( Hear, hear.)
His argument was, that his Majesty's Government had acted
on those principles of non interference. They knew very well
that revolutions in Spain had taken place—revolutions attended
with all those losses and ruin to individuals which the Noble
Duke had detailed, but those revolutions had been owing to
the internal state of that country, and not to the interference
of the British Government, as the Noble Duke would infer.
The ruin and losses had been owing to the war
unsuccessfully carried on, and continually ending in
failure. There was nothing under which a country was so
impatient as that. It was impatient enough under a foreign
yoke, still more under a civil war, as the Noble Duke very
well knew. Success in Spain depended upon the operations
of the army of the Queen, and all the resolutions and changes
that had taken place had been owing to the inefficiency of her
forces by which the war had been carried on.---( Hear. )
He had oily to repeat again, with respect to Spain,
That there would be no indisposition to afford every informa-
tion to their Lordships on this subject, and when She Noble
Duke should be in IA possession of that he felt persuaded
the Noble Duke would think better of the policy pursued by his
Majesty's Government than he seemed at present to think.
There were no other objects embraced by the Noble Duke in
his statement ; and therefore he had only to express his satis-
faction that there was do difference of opinion with respect to
the address to be presented to his Majesty.
The question Ives then put from the Woolsack. and tle
presentation of the Address was carried unanimously, and tl.e
House then adjourned to Thursday.

T E LONDON GAZETTE

THIS EVENING.

CROWN-OFFICE, ...lA's. 31, 1437.
Itsatrom 'RETURNED TO SERVE IN VHS PRESENT PARLIAMENT.
13oltocan or MALTox.—The lion. William Thomas Spencer
Wentworth Fitmilliam (commonly called Viscount Milton), in
The room of John Charles llamsden, Esq , deceased.