The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-27 00:00:00

house ; and considering the great differences of opinion
that prevails in this house with regard to the provisions
of the measure, and considering also that it is not the
duty of her Majesty's Government to call on this house
to bestow time and attention on a measure on which they
were not likely to come to a just and satisfactory con-
chs:ion the Government have come to the opinion that
it would be snore consistent with the public interests in-
volved to refer this bill to a select committee of the
house. I hope the suggestion will be adopted by the
house, because the matter cannot rest in the state it now
is, either with justice to the towns concerned, or with
satisfaction to that public Investigation which the subject
requires, and which inquiry, I believe, can best be con-
ducted by a select committee of the house. Under these
circumstances, I ask the house to allow her Majesty's
Government to withdraw the bill now before the
house, in order that the subject may be investigated
by a select committee. (Hear.)
Mr. DISRA.ELI—I have heard with satisfaction the
declaration of her Majesty's Government. After the dis-
cus4on of last night, when the alarming character of the
bill before the house was beginning to be understood, and
when its propositions, in themselves so alarming, were
supported by the member of the Government to whom
their advocacy was intrusted in a speech more calculated
than any other to which I have ever listened in this
house to disturb and alarm the public mind—(cheer')—
and to unsettle that confidence in prescription which
has hitherto been one of the most considerable sources of
the stability and security of property and order in this
country, I felt it my duty to impress upon the house
the expediency of coming to a speedy conclusion, and of
not postponing to the day then proposed by the noble
lord, a decision which I am sure would have been awaited
with great anxiety by the public, and the delay of which
T thought would be injurious to the public interest.
Therefore I hear with great satisfaction that, the noble
lard has thought fit to withdraw this measure ; and,
remembering the debate which took place last
night, remembering that, although the amendment was
moved by an hon. and learned friend of mine on this side
of the house, no character of a party controversy was im-
parted to that discussion, I think it will be a 'source of
great satisfaction to the public that the discernment of
the House of Commons should have prevented what
would have been the injurious consequences of the crude
and thoughtless projects which were about to be carried
with so much facility, and to be exempted from full and '
mature consideration. I cannot quite understand the
view which the noble lord takes of the position of the
Government with respect to this measure—projected,
but now withdrawn. I understood the noble lord to say
that her Majesty's Government would not have felt
justified in bringing forward this important and com-
prehensive measure had they not given to it all the
consideration which so important a project required--
(cheers)—but before he concluded his observations I
was at a loss to understand to what points the Go-
vernment had addressed this consideration. The noble
lord says that the bill is divided into two parts. The
first refers to the subject of passing tolls ; the other—
and the noble lord spoke of it almost as a secondary part
—refers to local and differential dues, according to the
noble lord a more complicated portion of the business.
i No se, sir, no one who has read the bill can suppose that
the subject of passing tolls required very deep or pro-
longed consideration by her Majesty's Government.
That subject is one that has been much considered, that
has been thoroughly understood, and with which the
house has long been, I may say unanimously, prepared
to deal. 1 myself. nearly three years ago, proposed to
the house a measure on this subject, which even at that
period of great party excitement was received with
general favour. Under these circumstances I cannot
think that the great consideration said to have been
given to this subject by her Majesty's Ministers was de-
mended by that portion of the subject which refers
to passing dues. If not, it must of course follow
that the profound consideration for which the noble
lord took credit in the name and on behalf of the
Government must have been directed to that portion of
the bill which relate, to local and differential dues. Yet
we find them dislodged from that position also, for it
appears from the speech of the noble lord that upon all
circumst times connected with local rates and differential
dues the Government were in a state of hopeless igno-
rance till they had heard the debate which took piece in
this house last night. (Hear, hear.) It is but natural to
suppose that the Board of Trade must have de.vot,d the
ninq minute and careful attention to this subject. The
department is now represented in her Majesty's cabinet.
Recently it was not so ; but at the present moment it
is personated in the Cabinet, and we have now before
us the fruits of that happy consummation. (Hear, hear )
The Board of Trade being represented in the Cabinet, it
follows that the Government must have had at their
command the most authentic and authoritative informe-
tion on this subject to assist them in that elaborate con
s'deration to which the noble lord refers in so triumphant
a tone. (Hear, and laughter) It is but reasonable to
conclude that they must have had rapid access to the
most trustworthy sources of information ; yet we have
the authority of the noble lord himself for the statement
that it was only a few hours ago, and upon the very eve
of the debate, that the position of two of the most hen'
portent cities and posts of the kingdom with reference
to local and differential dues was for the first time made
known to the Government. (Hear, hear.) What, then,
becomes of the deep consideration—the profound and
ample consideration-- (a laugh)—which, according to
the first Minister of the Crown, this que-tion received at
the hands of her Majesty's Government before they felt
authorised to introduce it to the notice of the house ?
What I want to know from the Government is, what por-
tion of this measure received their consideration ? I want
it to be proved to the satisfaction of the house that sny
portion of the bill was so favoured. (Henn) In the in•
terests of representative government and for the sake of
the reputation of her Majesty's Ministers, I desire that
they should be vindicated from the suspicion of having
launched a measure of this vast importance without at
least considering the bearings of the case, and without
taking the trouble to acquaint themselves with the pro-
bable consequences of their project. At present we are
at a loss to understand whether the Government has any
thoughts whatever on the subject. We have no informa-
tion to lead us to believe that any of those circumstances
which are now referred to as being peculiarly " anoma-
lous " and " disturbing" in their projected legislation of
last night had ever occurred to the Government before
the di-cession of yesterday evening. But let us now
cons:der what that proposition is which is pnibahly de-
s'gned to cover the retreat of the Government, and to
induce the belief in the country that Ministers only com-
mitted the mistake of adopting the least expedient. of the
alternatives which it was their duty to accept. We are
now informed that Government are of opinion that a
select committee of this house should thoroughly inves-
tigate the subject. But if the subject has been already
thoroughly investigated—as we are assured it has been
—by the Ministers, what necessity can there be for the
House of Commons to undertake the duties of the Cabi-
net, and to do that which a e had a right to expect would
have been performed by the responsible Administration
of the country ? What is the use of the Cabinet—what
advantage results to the Sovereign or the nation from
having Ministers, if these Ministers, plunging with rash
precipitancy into a subject they have not cared to master,
first bring forward a crude and immature measure, and
then, recoiling from the consequences of a public debate,
admit that they are not able to deal with the question,
and call on the House of Commons, in the shape of a
select committee, to fulfil the duties of the responsible ad-
visers of the Crown ? (Cheers.) And yet it was no light
or trivial proposition that the Ministers ventured to re-
commend to the adoption of the house. They have
brought forward a measure which has alarmed every
possessor of property in the country. Was that a Itght
sronosition ? Ought such a proposition to have been
made without grave deliberation ; or, having been made,
is it to be endured that the Government should not be
prepared to accept the responsibility of their id-advice in
a matter of such moment ? They have recommended the
house to deal in a most seminary manner with the Mu-
nicipal Reform Act —a measure of comparatively recent
enactment, and one which has re-eivA the support
and sympathy of great masses of the population.
Was that a light proposal, or ene of insignificant im-
portance ? Wiil it be said that it is the duty of a select
committee of this house to usurp the duties of the
Cabinet, and to superintend the legislation of the
em-
pire ? For my own part I pledge myself to no par.
ticular course on the subject of the noble lord's pro-
position, but as far as present circumstances afford
the meane of arrivieg at a judgmeat. it appears to use
that the suggestion to settle this question through the
medium of a select committee is little less &ejection:
able than that process of direct legislation which the
Goverraneut has been compelled to relinquish. In such
a proceeding I can only see the alarming characteristics
and the disturbing consequences of the bill which the
noble lord has been obliged to withdraw. The noble
lord tells us that what is needed for the satisfactory
treatment of this question is ample information ; but
there I differ from him. We are already in possession
of all the information that we require. Every one who
has attended to this question knows all that he need
care to know about it. What the country comphedue of
is, that you have attempted to deal with property you
had no right to touch—(hear, hear) ;—and this being so,
yon clearly can have no right to bring the holders of
such property before your select committee. But I will
say no snore upon the subject, for I can only treat this
as a proposition with which the noble lord seeks not
ungracefully, it may he, to cover his retreat_ I cannot
believe that, after mature deliberation, the Government,
remembering all that has occurred with regard to this
question, will feel that they would be doing their duty
to it, to themselves, or to their c ;entry, by proposing
to refer this matter to a select committee, Having said
so much on tine paint, it remains to offer a few remarks
on another subject—the general conduct of public af-
false in this house and in another place. (Hear. hear.)