The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-05 00:00:00

MEETING AT LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S

A large number of the supporters of the Whig
Ministry assembled this afternoon, by previous appoint-
ment, at the official residence of Lord John Russell, in
Downing-street. It was estimated that not less than
200 Members of the House of Commons were in at-
tendance.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL opened the business of the meet-
ing by depicting in glowing language the position in
which his Government was at present placed, making a
special reference to the existence of the Protectionist
Opposition, which he characterised as a powerful and
compact body, which acknowledged for its leader
an experienced statesman, and whose aim appeared
to be the reversal of the present commercial
policy of the Government, a policy which had
produced so much benefit to the country, and which was
likely still further to increase the happiness and welfare
of the people. From the exertions of that body (if suc-
cessful) either of two evils would result—either protec-
tion would be restored, or the country would be thrown
into a disastrous state of agitation, to repel
the efforts of the opponents of free trade. Under
these circumstances he had called them together
for the purpose of seeking a continuance of their
support, and of asking them to forego all differences
on minor questions, in order to seal the success of the
commercial policy which they advocated in common.
The Noble Lord then adverted to the Papal question,
and said that, while adverse to any unnecessary le-
gislation, he Alt bound to go on with the
Ecclesiastical Titles Bill in a modified form. The
plan proposed by Lord Stanley did not meet his
assent, as by referring the subject to a Committee, which
might last possibly for two years, the feelings of acri-
mony which prevailed would be prolonged. This he
thought most undesirable, and therefore was induced
to dispose of the question at once. With regard to
financial arrangements, he said that the Cabinet had
not met since their return to office, but he hoped
at the meeting of the House on Friday to be able to
make a statement on that subject, which would
be satisfactory. His Lordship concluded by asking for
a continuance of that generous support which had been
given him for the last two years—not for the personal
object of keeping himself and his colleagues in office,
bat for the sake of securing that which they all had at
heart—the welfare and prosperity of the country.'
Messrs. Greene (Kilkenny) and Ouseley Higgins, seve-
rally remonstrated strongly with the Noble Lord on his
determination to persevere with the Ecclesiastical Titles
Bill, which they pledged themselves to oppose, even at
the risk of the Noble Lord's Government.

Mr. Sharman Crawford, The O'Gorman Mahon, and
Dr. Power (Cork). followed in a similar strain.

Mr. Bernal o.bornP next addressed the Noble Lord,
and expressed his intention of supporting the Govern-
ment, concurring, as he did, generally in his policy, but
entreated him to except Ireland from the operation of
the Ecclesiastical. Title. Bill.

Sir De Lacy Evans spoke in a similar spirit.

Lord Ebrington, Colonel Rawdon, and several other
Hon. Members afterwards spoke, and the spirit which
pervaded the meeting (with the exception of the dis-
sent of the Irish Members present) was one of strong
confidence in, and attachment to the policy and princi-
ples of the Noble Lord and the Government.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, March 4.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woo:
sack at Five o'c!ock.

PETITIONS.
Lord L ANESBOROUGH presented a number of
petitions from various Irish counties complaining of the
Papal aggression, and praying their Lordships to take
steps for its suppression.
Lord WODEHOUSE presented a petition from Nor-
folk praying for the establishment of county financial
boards.
The Duke of ARGYLE presented a petition from
Edinburgh praying that the African squadron may
not be withdrawn, and praying their Lordships to take
more effectual steps for the suppression of the slave trade.
PAROCHIAL ASSESSMENT.
Lord VIVIAN presented a petition in favour of an
improved system of parochial assessment.
Lord MALMESBURY thought that the present law
of parochial assessment was a most substantial case of
injustice. A Committee had been granted by her Ma-
jesty's Government in the course of lust session, and he
trusted that the present session would not be allowed to
pass without some measure being introduced on the
subject.
TRANSPORTATION OF CONTICTS. VAN
DIESIAN'S LAND.

Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition, nume-
rously and respectably signed, from Van Dieman's
Land, praying for the discontinuance of the trans-
portation of convicts to that colony. He wished
to call their Lordships' attention to the terms of
this petition, which contained in it an imputation of
bed faith on the course pursued towards the colony by
her Majesty's Government in this respect. Some 17
years ago, owing to various representations, her Majesty's
Government had determined on discontinuing to send
trananorts to that colony for two years, and at the opening
of the session of 1848 Sir W. Dennison announced to the
Legislative Council that even after these two years had
expired the system of transportation would not be re-
sumed. The petitioners stated that not one of the
pledges made by the Government had been fulfilled; that
even before the lapse of two years transportation to the
colony had been resumed, and that under the existing
circumstances the enormous amount of convict
population was not only destroying the best
hopes entertained of the moral improvement
of the colony, but driving out of it the free population
and free emigrants, and lowering the rate of wages as
compared with other colonies. The petitioners concluded
by stating that in consequence of the persevering in-
justice of the English Government to the colony,
they had no reliance whatever in any pledges which
they might make. By the last returns it appeared that
more than half of the population of Van Dieman's Land
were convicts, and he (Lord Monteagle) feared that the
disturbances which took place at the Cape of Good Hope
might have their example elsewhere. Indeed, at present
there was every disposition evinced in New South
Wales to establish a kind of league for the purpose
of rendering the introduction of convicts into any
part cf that great colony utterly impossible. An
opinion had been given by several eminent judges
to the effect that the abandonment of transportation
as a secondary punishment would be attended with
great danger to the administration of criminal justice.
If.resistance was an alternative likely to arise, it was an
alternative that could be foreseen and prevented. No
less than 27,000 convicts bad been thrown upon Van
Dieman's Land alone, and he put it to their Lord-
ships whether that was either right or proper.
—(Hear, hear.) He had now performed the
duty he had undertaken, and as the subject he had
brought under the notice of their Lordships was one of
considerable importance, he hoped it would not escape
the attention of her Majesty's Government.—(Hear.)
Earl GREY did not think it necessary to detain
their Lerdships with eny lengthened reply to the ob.
servatiens of the Noble Lord who had presented this
petition; but the Noble Lord had repeated a statement
which he made last year, namely, that there had been a
breach of faith on the part of the Government with re-
gard to sending oat convicts to Van Dieman's Land.
—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Now, he begged at once
to contradict that allegation.—(.Bear, hear.) All the
dispatches which had been laid either before the House
or the Colonial Legislature distinctly stated that it was
not intended entirely to abolish transportation, but, on
the contrary, i: was intended to continue it in a limited
degree, and he thought some parts of those dispatches
taken singly might lead to the impression which the Noble
Lora appeared to labour under, yet when taken as a whole
no one could form any other conclusion from them
than that Government proposed to adopt a system
which should compel the convict to suffer the greater
part of his punishment at home, and which ultima'ely
contemplated his transportation to some distant colony
such as Van Dieman's Land.—(Hear, hear.) He had
represented that in this country, where there was an
excess of labour, that if his system were adopted,
those persona would be a benefit instead of doing an in-
jury to the state, if a place were provided for their employ-
ment. The returns had shown that the system which he
had adopted had been profitable to the whole state. His
object and that of his colleagues was to send con-
victs out to colonies where their labour was required.
The result had proved that the notions entertained
by her Majesty's Government were correct. The
object of the Government was to make a dif-
ference in the fate of the convicts, in order
that, instead of sending a number cf convicts
out at once from a state of restraint to perfect li-
berty, for which they would naturally be unfit,
an intermediate state should be provided, by
which the convicts might learn habits of tem-
perance and order. The result had shown
that they were correct. It was true that an
address had been voted by the other House of Parlia-
ment, in which, as he thought, his Noble Friend the
First Lord of the Treasury hd • udentiv con-
curred. But hea Impr •
had been fallyeffe ein
effective might any that their plan
its operation. In New Zea-
land the test eenclo
had b closely y applied, and the effect was
to show that no laboure_ had been so valued as convict la-
bour. That it was compulsory
less
effective on that account.
Y was true, but it was none
count. The labourers had
invariably proved honest and industrious, and had been
a material assistance to the colonY• This wuaosva matter
at, as the object of
to be looked the
was to render a benefit to th e whole ernmenotf
en ilenciea.—(Hear, hear.)
the colonial dep
Then, from
the reports respecting Australia, he could say that out of
1,618 convicts sent to that colony only 40
were ever
brought before magistrates, and of these only 10
had been convicted of any offence greater than that
of petty larceny. He could cite Other instances.
He was persuaded that the inhabitants of New South
Wales would see that it would be for their advantage
that convicts should be again sent to that colony. lie
agreed they ought not to be sent to Sydney or the large
towns, hut it would be for the advantage of the colony
that they should he sent to the immense sheep-feeding
downs; and on a division which tool: place in the
Sydney Legislature as to the propriety cf receiving
convicts, the numbers were equal, and it was only the
casting vote of the Sneaker which decided
the question, and when the Legislature should
be divided, there would be but little doubt but that the
73,01, district would he in favour of receiving con-
NIEWSPArgt 3 every inhabitant of that district wished to have
p_. e fly tsge of convict labour. The latest accounts
•fe,7 Velvet' from Van Dienaan's Land proved that
1 :,, , . ----4 ;Wc was rising from the depression and©r which
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