The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-29 00:00:00

these two great-men, impelled I believe by nothing but
an earnest and disinterested desire to promote
the welfare of their several countries, and urged
en by the force of public opinion have brought
this great dispute to a close without, I believe, the com-
promise of the slightest point of honour, and which, if it
had been continued, might have involved these two great
nations, which have sprung from the same race, in a war
that would have involved the whole of the civilised world
in its horrors. A war which in the course of two months,
nay, of one month, would have proved more expensive
than the worth of the whole of the district for which
the contention would have been excited. This, then, I
have we brought, without the slightest compromise of
interest or honour either on the part of the American
Government or of her Majesty's Ministers, to a close
this great cause of dissension ; and this was
dime at a time when it was anticiputed by
the Government of this country that the dis-
pute in which the Government of the United
States were at that time engaged, would, in all pro-
babilty, lead to a war with Mexico. Notwithstanding this
anticipation, instructions were sent out to Mr. Paeken-
hare stating that her Majesty's Government had not
changed their intention in the slightest degree, and that
their desire for the settlement of the dispute was not in
the slightest degree altered. Mr. Paekenham was fully
in possession of the sense of his Government, and know-
ing their sentiments, he had persevered in the
spirit in which her Majesty's Ministers had always
acted, in bringing :this dispute to a termination.
Yet he wisely thought that an occurrence of a
war with Mexico was not one of those cases to
which we had adverted, and therefore most wisely
did he tender this offer of peace on his own dis-
cretion. (Hear, hear.) And let me observe that
before we were aware of those hostilities between
the United States and Mexico. Before we were aware
of the reception which this offer on our part would
meet with, we tendered to the United States
our good offices for the purpose of mediating
between them. Sir, I do rejoice that I had the
opportunity before surrendering power—(hear, hear)
—that I have the power of giving them the formal
assurance that every cause of quarrel between two great
and powerful countries is terminated with honour to the
British people.—(Cheers.) Sir, I think I have exe•
cuted the task which my public duty imposed upan
me. I hope I have said nothing which can be
misconstrued.—(Hear, hear.) I can say with truth
that her Majesty's Government, in proposing those mea-
sures of commercial policy which have disentled them
to the confidence of many of those who formerly
coinciped with them, were influenced by no
other desire than to consult the interests of
the country.—(Hear, hear.) Our object was to
avert dangers which we thought were imminent,
and to prevent a conflict which would have placed in
hostile position two powerful classes. The love of
power was net an object, for, as I have said before, I have
had not a doubt but the carrying of these measures
would be the termination of the existence of the Ministry.
Sir, I am not sure that it is an advantage to
the public that there should be such a with-
drawal of confidence from the Government for the time
being. I admit that the withdrawal of confidence by
many of our friends was the natural result of these
measures, and I do think that in proposing measures
of that nature, and under such circumstances, it is but
natural that Ministers should be charged with incon-
sistency. I believe, upon the whole, it is advantageous
for this country, and for the general character of public
men, that the proposal of measures of that kind under
such circumstances should entail that which is supposed
to be "a heavy blow and a great discouragement."
—(Laughter.) Sir, Ido not complain, I think that it
would be impossible to continue to maintain office under
such circumstances.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, I said before,
and I said truly, that in proposing these measures I had
no wish to rob others of the credit which is justly
dne to them, and I must, with reference to Hon.
Gentlemen opposite, as I say to ourselves, that
neither of us is the party which is justly entitled
to the credit of these measures.—(Hear, hear.)
There has been a combination of parties, and
that combination and the influence of the Government
has led to their ultimate success, but the name which
ought to be associated with the success of these mea,
sures is not the name
.either of the Noble Lord the
organ of that party opposite—(Hear)—nor is it to mine.
The name which ought to be and will be associated with
the success of these measures is the name of a man who
acting, I believe, from pure and disinterested motives—
(Cheers)—has with untiring energy by appeals to reason
enforced by an eloquence—(Hear, hear)—the more to
be admired because it was unaffected and unadorned—
(Hear, heat.)—that name which ought to be associated
with the success of these measures is the name of
Richard Cobden.—(Tremendous cheering.) Sir, I now
close the address which it has been my duty to make to
the House, thanking them sincerely for the favour
which they have shown to this last act
of my official career. Without referring
that the power which I have held for the period of five
years will be surrendered into the hands of another
without complaint, with a more lively recollection of the
support and confidence I received from lion. Members
on both sides of the House. I shall leave office I fear
with a name severely censured by many Hon. Members
who, on public principle, deeply regret the severance
of party men—who deeply regret that severance, not
from any interested or personal motives—(lleac, hear)—
but because they believe that the existence of a great
party is necessary to the maintainance of a powerful an
influential Government in this country.—(hear, hear.)
I shall certainly retire severely censused by many ho-
nourable men, who, from no interested motives, have ad-
hered to the principle of protection, as important to the
welfare and interests of the country. (Hear.) I shall
leave a name execrated by every monopolist who, from
less honourable motives maintains protection for his
own individual ends—but it may be that I shall leave a
name sometimes remembered with expressions of good-
will in those dwellings which ere the abodes of men
whose lot it is to labour and to earn their daily
bread by the sweat of their brows ; that is a name re-
membered with expressions of good will when they shall
recruit their strength with abundant and untaxed food—
(Cheers) the sweetened, because it is no longer leavened
by a sense of injustice. (The Right Hon. Baronet then
sat down amidst immense cheering which lasted for
several minutes. The cheering having subsided,
Sir R. PEEL again rose, and said that he had re-
ceived a communication from the Noble Lord who was
charged with the formation of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, and he hoped the House would unanimously agree
with the earnest wish expressed by that Noble Lord
that the House at its rising do adjourn until Friday next.
Lord PALMERSTON rose, but from the number of
Members leaving the House his opening observations
were but indistinctly heard. He said—Sir, I
will abstain from entering upon any discus-
sion bearing on party differences, or repining
to party disputes—but still I must be allowed to say,
that, therefore, it is not to be understood that I subscribe
to every thing he has stated in the course of his
address.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Honourable
Baronet must not be led away by the feeling
which has been manifested by this House to-night, or
by the assistance he has received in the carrying of the
measures he has recently submitted, that we agree with
the policy his Government has previously pursued.—
(Hear, hear.) A different opportunity will be afforded
to the present one, when I will enter upou that dis-
cussion. For the present, I wish to state to the House
that if I abstain from following the Right lion. Baronet
in the consideration of all the topics connected with his
five years administration, I must not be understood as
agreeing with him in the policy he has pursued.—(Hear,
hear.) There are many parts of the policy of the Go-
vernment with which I cannot agree, though I acquiesce
with the general recommendation of the House that the
discussion of them should be postponed.—(Hear, hear.)
But there is one thing in which I do agree. I agree
that the Right Hon. Baronet has shown a proper and be-
coming deference to constitutional principles.—(Cheers.)
I think the Right Hon. Baronet is right in his opinion,
that the present would not have been the proper occa-
sion to have advised her Majesty to exercise her prero-
gative sltancidusitesoadgirveiededwiithn
is onno rational t iwo neak
ica ajor
probabilityit3
that a dissolution or general election would give a 79
dissolvingw h where
r e
a lire
Government e se.
him,gat v e
that in
n
quite agree with him in the opinion that it
iints party,rlain e tnht a:a n idt w rheesnt s
=Jo_
to pursue the course which her Majesty's
there only
iGs illy,
Irr nes mai: tn haveg pursued. Sir, there are some parts
of the Right Hon. Baronet's speech which gave
me the greatest pleasure. I was glad t° hear
from him those principles which he
announced as those
by which the Government of Ireland should be con.-
ducted. I was indeed glad to hear from the Right Hon.
Baronet that equal rights, political, civil, and municipal,
should be awarded to Ireland, in the same proportion as
they were bestowed on England ; and .1 was glad
to hear from him that differences of religious
opinion should not debar the employment of men in
political situations, for which they are otherwise duly
and properly qualified. Were I disposed to treat the
speech of the Right Hon. Bart. with different manner,
I might make a few passing remarks, or express my
regret that these opinions and sentiments had not been ,