The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-01 00:00:00

pursuing a course of a dangerous character—(Hear, hear)—to
which my speech gave no encouragement whatever.—(Hear, hear.)
Tints, Sir, the whole misconduct of the Government during the
late distu bed period, extending over two years, has been that two
persons have been appointed to the Magistracy, whom some
gentlemen think ought not to have been appointed, and that
some speech has been misinterpreted.—(Hear, hear, hear.)
Now, even if I acknowledged myself to have been snore
to blame than I do in these transactions, I do not think
that they would form a ground for asking the House of Commons
to demand a change of Government.—(Hear, hear, hear.) I have
still the same belief I have ever had in the efficiency of the law. It
is possible that this Government—it is possible that another Go.
vernment may be obliged to adopt more severe preceedings and to
come to Parliament for aid. But my belief is that it will not be
necessary—(Hear, hear)—and I have a thorough reliance on that
Constitution which has buoyancy to ride over every wave,
and stability enough to withstand the rudest storras.—(Cheers.)
Now in regard to olive questions I am of opinion that in such a Go-
vernment as ours, and yet more especially when every Member has
constituents, to whom he is responsible—(Hear, hear)—it is impos-
sible, whatever may be the inconveniences—to avoid open (pies-
tions.—(Hear, hear.) And it seems to me unjust in the highest de-
gree to charge upon the present Government the blame of a system,
which, for the last fifty years has been adopted in this coun.
try—(Hear, hear, hear)—by Mr. Fox, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Burke,
Lord Melville, and Lord Castlereagh—(Hear, hear, hear)—
who with many others have belonged to Govern's-set-its iu which
the most important questions were allowed to be " open ques-
tions." Is the present Government to be exclusively censured,
because they have adopted the same plan ?—(Hear, hear.) I can
conceive, if the laying it down as a theory—which I believe
however, your would never be able to carry into effect.—(Loud
cries of " Hear, hear." and cheers.) That there should be no
open questions in a Government, but I must say that
why, really to bring it forward, and for four nights to urge it as a
charge against the Government. That they have followed the
course which other Governments have fallen a subject, no
doubt to ; the same risks and the same ii.convenienees
doss seem to me as a matt r of indictment and charge,
to be a very extraordinary proceeding.—( tlear, hear, hear.)
At all events it binds those who make the accusation, and who laid
down this intl..xible rule, never at any time to depart from it.--
(Cheers.) Be the accidents of the Stag• what they may—be the for-
tunes of the empire what they may it is impossible for those who
lay o.vn such a rule, if th y were to accede to the office of the present
Government, to depart frost that rule, n hatever may be the exigen-
ces of theaffairs ofthecountry.—(Hear.) There have ‘)e n certain
times when persons composing a Government would not have done
their duty if v• .y had not consented to open questions. Much
obloquy was thrown on Mr Pitt ; but supposing a war against
France against a most formidable character, and that Mr. Pitt re-
quired the talents and assistance against Mr. Dundas. That Mr.
Dundas was a man in wham he thought he could place reliance in
carrying on the affairs of the country. I do say that when every
thing was at stake, and the affairs of the empire were in peril, he
was right in allowing Mr. Dundas upon the question of the Stave.
trade, to take an opposite course to himself. I say in the same
case of danger, during the last war when, in 181:1, other persons
applied to, were unable to form a Government. I think then, that
those who undertook to carry on the war, were justified in making
an open question of Catholic Emancip: tion. That was
a course full of danger—(Hear, hear.) I think that course
was continued too long, but I have often heard, and can well believe
it to be the case, that those who were most in favour of the Catho-
lic claims found a great difficulty, having adopted that plan in tell-
ing my Lord Liuetpool that the time must come when they must
break up the Government. But as the Right Hon. Gentleman
now, with his strong opinions on this subject, with his sense of
the difficulty, will he say that in any Government in which he
shall act, he is absolutely determined there shall not be open ques-
tions. There was ape sari holding office under him, who declared,
I believe, alter that Government dissolved, that if there Lad come
on ti.e piestio:: with regard to the Education Bill for Ireland pro.
posed by the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Lancaster
(Sr: Henry Hardinge) that he should have thought it his duty,
though in office, to vote against the Government. Ido not know
how the Right Hon. Gentleman would have acted on that o rcasion,
but I de think, that if that party whom I now see before me is to be
denominated a party, there are many of them holding strong and

conscientious opinions of that kind, who, if that party were in office,
it would neither be just to the party or the country that he should
be perpetually excluded. I do not believe that you can go
on for a course of years without a difference of opinion
arising. I believe that even on one point, what has
been made a charge against us, namely, the Corn laws,
I believe that even upon that question there might be a diligence
of opinion. I make no reference ro Mr. Dawson, but I find others
who dittir from the Right Hon. Gentleman Why, the Noble
Duke mentioned by the Right Hon. Gentleman—l man the Duke