The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-23 00:00:00

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but when .we take 'into consideration the vast in-
terests we have in --the East, the importance
of such a 'consummation cannot be overlooked.
I will now draw attention to a subject, respecting
which her Majesty has had the happiness to obtain
the co-operation of a powerful ally in pacification—
I allude to the war which has long existed in the
states of Rio de la Plate. These states were ori-
ginally dependent, as your Lordships are aware,
and in achieving their independence differences
have arisen to make a war, which has been one of a most
sanguinary nature, and one which has been characterised
by great barbarities on both sides. The result has
been a great interruption to commerce and trade, and
considerable inconvenience not only to her Ma-
jesty's subjects in this country, but also to merchants
of all the world. It ought, therefore, to become, for
every reason, desirable to terminate it France, in con-
junction a ith this country, has determined, and we have
every reason to hope, as the Goeernments of both coun-
tries are perfectly disinterested, and have no ob-
ject of their own, or any desire to interfere with
their internal relations, that their desire to establish
independence rsay be successful. I also hope, my Lords,
the freedom of commerce may be restored, and that
there may be no obstacles in establishing it on a firmer
basis. Your Lordships are aware that, in the course of
the last year, a convention was agreed upon between this
country and France to restrain the slave trade, and your
Lordships will be glad to learn that it has been brought
into immediate execution by the active co-operation of
both parties. Feeling as I do upon the sub-
ject of the slave trade, it may be comparatively easy
for me to dilate upon the horrors attending it ; but, as I
know your Lordships do not require to be roused, and as
I k-sow every information has been afforded on that
subject, I shall refrain from doing so. Neither do I
feel it necessary to enter into any historical account
of the efforts that have been made by this country to
abolish the slave trade. It was at one time considered
thst this country could not devote so much attention to
the subjeot, and that we ought to assert our own mari-
time rights, but I am glad to hear that so ardent
a desire now prevails vs abolish this obnoxious traffic.
But, my Lords, notwithstanding this, the feeling still
exists, and, therefore, it must be satisfactory to know
that Franca is now, for the first time, actively co-
operating with us for the suppression of this trade. My
Lords, we must all join in that wish which has been ex-
pressed by her Majesty, that the cordial
understanding which subsists between her Majesty
and her powerful allies may continue; and we
may also now hope that the statesmen of both nations
will seek not to rival one another, but be actuated by
no other motive than that of benefiting mankind. It
may be said that we have purchased this co-operation
rather dearly by the sacrifice of the right of search,
which has hitherto been held as essential to the real
carrying out any treaty for the suppression of the
slave trade. But when I know that the French Govern-
ment are assailed upon this point for having given way,
and that they are accused of having established a new
right of search, as prejudicial as the former one, the
conclusion I have announced is the only one to which I
could come. For myself, I believe that a
practical method has been discovered for putting
an end to the traffic in slaves. It must be
a subject of congratulation to your Lordships
that the negotiations have been entrusted to the hands
of two men—the Duke de Broglie and Dr. Lushington—
so ably calculated for the purpose. We cannot hope
for an immediate suppression of the slave trade, but we
may expect that, by the vigilance of the united
cruisers of France and Great Britain, an effectual
check may he put to this dreadful traffic. My Lords, I
now proceed to that part of her Majesty's speech re-
specting our relations with the United States of
America. Your Lordships will, I am sure, cordially
join in the regret expressed by her Majesty that the
contlictitiss claims which exist remain unsettled, and
I am sure you will cordially approve of the
stops which her Majesty may take to bring
to an amicable conclusion the differences which exist.
Speaking a common language, and of a common origin,
I hope the negotiations will be attended with complete
success. The progress of the negotiations may be at-
tenled with disadvantages, but they will be, I have no
doubt, ultimat:ly overcome. My Lords, a Noble Lord
has carried on a successful negotiation on a former occa-
sion, and I hays no doubt but a similar successful
termination will be come to on the subject which
at present threatens the peace of this country. My
Lords, permit tile to express my confidence that in his
hands it will he brought to an amicable conclusion. I now
come to that part of her Majesty's Speech which an-
ra maces that some increase in the estimates of the army
and navy are necessary ; and in doing so, permit me to
say that it is necessary that such should take place to
protect the increasing and widely extended :commerce
of this great country. Such will be necessary for
the pr.aection of our commerce, and will
bs required to guard also . the interests of the
national honour wherever it may be endangered.
I now come to the next part of her Majesty's Speech, in
which her Majesty calls upon Parliament to take such
measures, in the present state of many districts in Ire-
land, as may be efficient to meet the exigencies of the
case. Her Majesty regrets that she should be compelled
to allude to such a painful subject, but the
state of matters are such as to ask your assistance for
securing a measure to meet the evil complained
of. Your Lordships will have observed in the
public journals, as well as we have learned from
other sources of information, the necessary reports in
reference to this matter, to which it will not be necessary
for me to do more than allude ; and from those, I am
sera, and feel confident. that you will sympathise with
her Majesty in reference to this state of things ; and I
also ass I certain that you will take her Majesty's recom-
mendation Leo your most serious consideration, with
the 01.,,j -ct f deciding upon such measure as will effect
a settle:llc- t of this state of things, and bring
ab the happiness and security of this country, giving
our fellow-subjects there an efficient remedy. Her Ma-
jesty has also brought under your notice the disease that
has affected the potato crop ; and on that subject I am
sure your Lordships will share with her in the anxiety
on account of the great failure that has taken
place in that, which has become an important
noce,sary of life. Failures in the potato crops have
been known before, but never one so fatal nor so exten-
sive in its operations. It not only visited this country,
but also other countries, and is not only more destruc-
tive than any former visitation of the kind, but also dif-
ferent in its nature. No part of the country has been
excepted, but England and Scotland are not so far
affected as some other countries of Europe. I must say,
ho acre:, that had England and Scotland alone
been visited, perhaps we could have proceeded—
trusting to the known industry and character of
the people—to have met it by ordinary means, but the
state of Ireland was such—the ravages of the disease in
that country had been so great, as shown by the ac-
counts received—as to prove that some extraordi-
n 'ry remedy was necessary to meet the evil. Your
L,r,lships, knowing these disastrous state of things, will,
I am sure, feel deeply gratified that her Majesty, with
her usual care for the welfare of her people, has suggested
measures to mitigate the evil; and her Majesty, in the
emergency, has gone to the full extent of the powers of
the Crown in order to do so. I feel confident that you
will cheerfully co-operate in carrying forward this good
work, so as to provide a remedy not only to avert the
present evil, but also to provide fir any future seasons of
scarcity that may arise. I now come to that part
sit her Majesty's Speech in which there is brought
un''er your notice the prosperous state of the revenue,
and the general improvement of the country, and they
arc instanced as sure symptoms of the success of past
pica-Aires respecting commerce, and recommend-
ing Parliament to take into their earliest con-
sideration whether the same principles may not be
carried out with benefit to the country. And,
my Lords, this part I approach with great timidity,
having so little experience of Parliament, and having so
lately become a Member of your House ; I therefore fe
it presumptuous in me to express any opinion
subject, feeling confident that I should thresor 13w tight
upon the subject, and fearing that might arouse
party feeling by bringing on a premature discus-
sion on a subject which the -.4morsit of Lordships
y your
would consider more fit;:ine txs be disposed of at another
and more proper hoar)—and one which. I
have no d0,..0.n,
when her Majesty's servants shall
make Ig.."down their views respecting it, may be dis-
euSsed with the utmost unanimity, I- feel confident you
will congratulate the Sovereign and the country on the
prosperous state of the revenue and of the interests of j
the country, and that every Noble Lord, whatever may
have been his opinions heretofore respecting the mea"
cures alluded to, will now rejoice that they have in:
creased the wealth and the resources of the country,
and undoubted evidence that they have produced these
cffocts wilt be laid on the table of your Lordships.—
(Hear, hear.) I feel quite certain, also, that when you
do take into consideration the measures which will be
proposed, you will do so with a disinterested
desire of -deciding in the way which will be most
conducive to the interests of the empire.—(Hear, hear.)
My Lords, having now addressed you to the best of my
humble agility---(Hear, hear, and cheering)—on the
insissal topics of her Majesty's Speech, I hope that
y total inexperience of Parliamentary business, and it
being the first time that I have had the honour
Lhis sitinresge, sini nia
g.so illustrious an assembly aa
not have been betrayed into any
expression whichltmeymightawaken a feeling of disappro-
bation in the hers of this House. Having touched
subjects to
up )n these
the best of my ability,
1 therefore thank 'you foarttoyelalur consideration while I
have tres sassed on your
and, with your per-
mission I will read the words of the Address. (The Ad-
dress was then read ; it was merely an echo of the
Speech.)
Lord DE ROS then rose to second, the Address,
and said, I ant much obliged to my Noble Friend for
the able manner in which he hag moved for
the
Address, and I shall not, therefore, Occupy your
attention at any length. I shall commence by paying a
just tribute to the Emperor of Russia, for the honour-
able manner in which he has assisted her Majesty's
Government in establishing peace. It is a distinguishing
festure of his country; the manner in which he en-
coureges the arts and science,; and he himself has been
distinguished in his efforts to assist her Majesty's. Go-
vernment. With regard to the convention of the King
of the French as to the slave trade, I concur with my
Noble Friend that it will be the means of preventing
great barbarity and many horrors, and will promote a
noble emulation between the two countries. With re•
teilet- •the iOrfon question, my Noble Friend has
fZeUs Paa. opinicsn -se which I also concur, via., that
isea'lt't-61'A:tuttYaon t side of the water may do to
sspeernese .4
eon the two countries, the good
' st
e, se:Ase , and the knowledge that their
.3,!_irase--7: 4
with ours, will enable her
‘, ) r7rt to come to an amicable
74 at,ir the increase of the army and
ss • . vious to your Lordships that the
du , .an bo t. of the colonial servicestrn too hardly on
next topic aT are on the in-
crease, an. it would not be
fair to
our soldiers and sailors there. The in her
,