The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-25 00:00:00

(the concomitants of material wealth; and, as instances,
he might point to New Zealand, to South Australia, to
Port Phillip, and New South Wales. As regarded the
colonies generally, if they relied upon statistics, they
would find that during the last ten years they had ad-
vanced greatly in everything that conduced to material
prosperity. The Hon. Member then adverted to the
great measures of public policy which the Legislature
had recently sanctioned, and the effect which they had
had upon the colonies, and said that the colonial
policy of the empire was distinctly to acknowledge the
gradual extension of self-government. He had endea-
voured, generally, to state his reasons for opposing, the
measure proposed by his Honourable and Learned
Friend, and he thought he had assigned reasons which
the House would approve of, and that it would not give
its assent to the Bill. He coincided in much that had
been said by his lion. and Learned Friend, and nothing
could confer greater honour on the country than to have
the principle of self-government extended to the colonies
so soon as it could be extended with safety, and in every•
hing identifying them with that empire with which they
had divided their strength.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. C. ANSTEY observed, that a more complete, and
at the same time a more unintentional misrepresentation
of the objects of the lion. and Learned Gentleman, the
Member for Sheffield, he had never known, than that
made by the Hon. Gentleman the Under-SE cretary for
the Colonies. The lend question was at the bottom of
the opposition at the CoLanai-office, and for his own
part he felt that the objections made ought not to have
been offered until the Bill went into Committee. He felt
that he should be wanting in his duty if he did not give
the measare every support in his power.
Mr. MACGREGOR regretted he was compelled to differ
nbctw.
a)iirtttnhera
dsoh l
Sheffield
r ehti ou
as t usha
hreinaht buecle
jdamunsaeratinaidecsd Learned
taue
s:tewiest
etehreho Fr y
er
fecperornenocpwetoi
the
ntenehedd
d Westtt
ahhtseeh e
mode yloecdoe .Member
Indies,
ol
regardedd
self-government possessed by the people of that colony.
He could nut see how the riots, which took place in
Montreal, could be charged against the Colonial-office,
because they had a perfectly free Government of their
own. It was brought about, not by the French Ca-
nadians, but occasioned by party feeling, for the ma-
jority for the Bill was formed of those elected by the
British race. The only period since 1830 when any-
thing was done against the feelings of the Canadians,
was when Lord Stanley was Colonial Secretary, who,
with good intentions, no doubt, did very foolish things;
but since that year, with the
exception thus given,
the Colonial offiee had discharged its duty y with kind-
ness and conciliation. He regretted to be obliged
to oppose the Bill of his Honourable and Learned
Friend, but he did so because he believed it to be im-
practicable.r. N E Mr. VDEGATE, in reference to what had been
said of the conduct of Lord Stanley while in the Colo-
nial-office, would only say, that if his administration of
the affairs of that office were compared with that of Lord
Grey, he need not fear the comparison. With regard to
the Bill itself, he should vote against its introduction,
because he believed it would be productive of great mis-
chief.,
Mr. WYLD should give his vote for the proposal of
the Hon. and Learned Member for Sheffield. He be-
lieved it would not in any way whatever interfere with
colonial legislatures, but tend, in a great degree, to ex-
tend their colonial empire, and particularly that portion
of it on the north-west coast of America.
Mr. AGLIONBY said, that he had heard with much
concern that her Majesty's Government intended to
oppose the motion. The House should give leave to
bring in the Bill on the general principle that good go-
vernment was necessary for the colonies. They would
then ba able to make themselves masters of its provi-
sions. Whatever might be the result of the motion, the
House and the country should feel deeply obliged to the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman for bringing it forward.
He urged upon the Government to give free institu-
tions as early as possible to New Zealand.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he thought it necessary
to state shortly whet he conceived to be conclusive ob-
jections against the motion of the Hon. Gentleman. His
Bill, if sanctioned, would bind them to govern all the
colonies, of different races, and creeds, and climates,
upon one fixed rule. But they should remember that
these nations and races had institutions of their own,
which in many instances they had no right to interfere
with. If the Colonial-office acted wrong, upon the dis-
covery of the error it might be immediately rectified.
But only fancy the inconvenience of having an Act of
Parliament for every power and authority that cir-
cumstances might render it desirable to exercise. The
contingencies of Canada had occupied much of the
attention of the late Lord Durham,' and he concurred
with those best informed on the subject, in the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman's scheme of a legis
lative union between• Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova
Scotia. And further, how could Parliament legislate on
certain fixed principles for colonies, without consulting
the colonists themselves? They must be guided in co-
lonial legislation greatly
by
thought thew'ishpersopoefr,thwe
ocuoildoninsotsi,
themselves, who,
if they
allow Parliament, in many cases, to put their rules, if
any should be laid down, into execution. Thel-lon.
Member for Cockermouth (Mr. Aglionby) favourel the
motion, but how (lid he deal with it in regard to the
colony of New Zealand, with which he was more inti-
mately connected? He was satisfied with the mode of
proceeding there, and hoped that the principles now
being acted upon might be carried out. The circum-
stances of that colony required one mode of government,
and the circumstances 01 other colonies required a dif-
ferent mode of treatment. To imagine that one mode of
government could be applied to all colonies was quite
illusory.
Mr. GLADSTONE said that he should vote for the
motion, although he had opposed a Committee of In-
quiry into colonial affairs at an early period of the ses-
sion. As to uniformity in dealing with the colonies, he
concurred with the Noble Lord in what he had said.
But as to interfering with privileges, it was not because
a Bill should be laid upon the table that Parliament
would forego its right of judging. Their colonial policy
was susceptible of great improvement, and he thought
that it would be a valuable aid to good government to see
the Hon. and Learned Gentleman's notions embodied in
a Bill. Much of it might be found impracticable, but he
should like to see what his plans were. They would go
forth to the colonies, and in the interval between this
and the next session of Parliament, they might have an
opportunity to consider them, and they would probably
come back to them in the shape of very valuable prac-
tical sugeestions.
Mr. VERNON SMITH said he by no means disap-
proved of the whole of the Bill which it was asked to
lay upon the table, but as he concurred in opinion with
the Noble Lord (Lord John Russell) that it would un-
settle the minds of the more distant colonists, and pro •
duce a prejudicial effect, he should oppose the motion.
There existed in the colonies the utmost jealousy of the
Imperial Government, and to lay down rules for their
guidance without consulting them, would call forth their
most determined opposition. With respect to giving the
colonies constitutions similar to our own, the theory was
plausible, but unless they had the same elements in the
colonies, such a constitution would be clearly inapplicable.
He could not sit down without thanking the Hon. and
Learned Member for Sheffield for bringing forward this
Bill, because, though he might fail in the present instance,
yet it would draw attention to the subject, and the more
this was done the greater benefit would result to all
parties, and the more certain would be the ultimate at-
tainment of the object in view.
After a few words of explanation between Mr. HAwEs
and Mr. GLADSTONE.
Mr. ADDERLEY said that with respect to the plan
of the Hon. and Learned Member, at least with its
great centritl principle, he could not concur, nor did he
think it would be successful if applied. It came from
the United States, and he thought we were at present
too apt to copy from the United States, without taking
into consideration whether the examples were applicable
or not. At the same time, he admired the eloquence
and ability with which the question had been brought
before the House, and hoped the Bill would be allowed
to be laid on the table, in order that the Hon. and
Learned Member himself might see where it could be
amended, and in another year produce a more effective
measure. The Hon. and Learned Member had the sub-
ject at heart, and ought not to be discouraged.
Mr.
El B TinCg would
rights,replied—The
interfere
bu
twtiothp
existing
tsNoblehtienmg Lr:iong rhd
lucid
s assumed
t xis
order
where-
as what he proposed to do was as much as possible to
m sintain
and confirm them by an Act of Parliament. The colo-
nies witn which he proposed to deal were all in the same
position; and all he asked was, that they should deal
with them upon some fixed principle, in order that when
persons left to settle in them, they might know under
what kind of institutions they were going to live.--
(Hear, hear.) Before be sat down he must enter his
solemn protest against one statement which had been
made by an Honourable Member, that England had too
many colonies, and ought not to seek their extension.
On the contrary, he thought that on the broad surface
of the globe there was ample room for extension, and
that England could not create too many happy com-
munities.—(Cheers.) The man who contributed to the
spread of our liberal race, of our liberal institutions, of
our language, our literature, and our civilization, would
be conferring a blessing upon the world. With some-
thing like that object in his mind, he bad brought the
question under their consideration, and thanked the
House for the attention it had given him.—(Cheers.)
The House then divided, -when there appeared—
For the motion ••• ••• ••• 73
Against it ... •-• ••• 116
Majority against the motion ...._43
Mr. FREWEN moved for leave to introduce a Bill to
empower justices of the peace to unite parishes into
districts, and to appoint a surveyor of highways to each
district.—Agreed to.
EXCLUSION OF STRANGERS.
Colonel THOMPSON then moved, according to no-
tice, That this House will take into consideration the
rule or practice whereby strangers have been excluded,
, on the motion of any single Member, with a view to
alter the same ; so that a motion for the exclusion
of strangers shall be made and seconded, and ques-
tion thereupon be put, as is the practice with other
motions." He did not mean to detain the House, at
i that hour, by any lengthened remarks, nor was it
requisite. This was a question that ought to be taken
up immediately. There was, in his opinion, no diffi•
, culty about it. The difference between the wrong and
the right was palpable. He would be very happy t,
dive up his motion, if any lion. Member would show
him a single case in which the privilege would be abused,
or lead to any injurious results if exercised under the
, regulation he proposed. For his own part he hao
imagined every possible case, even to the verge of th,
I romantic, without being able to see any valid reason
) against his motion, and he hoped that some Honourabh
Member, of more experience than himself, would attempt
to show the House what harm could arise from its
adoption. lie had a strong impression that they should
do everything in their power to keep up the reputation
Of the Horse for wisdom, gad if that was the only legia-