The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-20 00:00:00

TIIE QUEEN'S SPEECH,

Tho LORD CHANCELLOR► then read the Speech,
which has already appeared in a former edition of The
Sun.

Lord BrIOWNLOW said that in rising to address their
lordships' house he would claim their kind indulgence. Her
Majesty had submitted many important subjects for their
consideration, but the foremost in impot taucl it seemed
was the Abyssinian question. He would upon this subject
advert to the fact that Mr. Rassam had been sent by her
Majesty to the King of Abyssinia to demand the captives,
and they had actually been delivered up to him, and only
awaited the season to arrive to pursue their homeward
journey. When Mr. Rassam waited upon the King and
was asked what had become of the prisoners, he said they
had started on their homeward journey. So faithless was
the King that he sent after the captives and compelled
them to come back to captivity, and when this was done
he made Mr. Rassam write a letter, which being delivered
by Mr. Flad, caused English workmen to be sent under
the direction of Col. Merevrether ; but the latter very
wisely would not allow them to proceed into the country,
but informed the King that the artisans and presents
would be forwarded when the prisoners were liberated.
After a great deal of equivocation, it was at last intimated
to King Theodore that force must be used to obtain pos-
session of the English prisoners in his territory, and after
great reluctance on the part of her Majesty's Government
au expedition had been sent to that country. With regard
to her Majesty's relations to all foreign nations it appeared
that nothing could be more harmonious. It was also men-
tioned in her Majesty's address that a most calami-
tous disturbance, termed Fenianism, had given a
groat deal of trouble, and was most vexatious, but with
regard to it he was very sure no English loyal subject had
anything to do with it. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord
then adverted to the other points in the address—the ex-
tension of the franchise, cattle plague, &c.—and concluded
by moving that an humble address be presented to Her
Majesty.
Lord H YLTON, in seconding the motion, said that the
Abyssinian question had long been a vexatious question
before the public. It had been often agitated that an
expedition should be sent to Abyssinia, but it had not been
done until the present Government came into office.
Even then every means was taken to effect the
end aimed at without resorting to hostilities ; and
now when it became impossible to do otherwise,
although a great tax would be placed upon the naval and
military forces, yet he believed our Anglo-Indian army
would maintain its ancient renown, and that every aid
would bo given from every department of the Empire.
(Hear, hear.) With regard to our relations with foreign
nations, it was gratifying to know that the Emperor of
the French had expressed himself our firm ally. He trusted
that her Majesty's Government would be firm in deal-
ing with the hopeless and fruitless conspiracy which had
been alluded to in her Majesty's Speech, and that all would
bo done which could conduce to the peace and security of
English subjects. He would only glance at the clause
which had stated the probability of introducing a measure
of Reform for Scotland and Ireland, but after the large
measure of last year in England he had no doubt such a
bill would be carried. The bills to prevent bribery
and corruption at elections and for the educa-
tion of the people were most important ones.

Having alluded to several other features in the speech
horn the Throne, he concluded by seconding the Address.

Lord RUSSELL said that there was no doubt about
the propriety of calling the Parliament together for the
purpose of discussing this most important expedition to
Abyssinia. There were two questions, however ; one was
whether there was a cam belli against the King
of Abyssinia, and of this he had no doubt;
and the second was, whether it was advisable
to send such a large military force to that coun-
try. Of the bravery of our troops, and of their doing their
duty, he had no doubt, but what weighed upon his mind
was that the climate and the difficulties of obtaining sup-
plies should first be cleared up. He had no doubt that the
means of ascertaining these facts had been taken by the
Government. He thought it impossible the Government
should not consider the outrageous conduct of the Sove-
reign of Abyssinia to their fellow-subjects, according to
every principle of international law, to be a cause of war.
But as to the Eecond question, if he felt any doubts, they
had been suggested by Lord Stanley himself, who had
stated a great many difficulties in the way of the expedi-
tion. Having no interest of their own to serve, the Go-
vernment were, no doubt, correct in the course they hail
taken, but he should suspend Lis judgment until he knew

more of the grounds on which they had acted. Ho was

glad to observe in the speech that the expedition was for
the recovery of the prisoners, and "for that alone." He
then adverted to the other portions of the Speech, and
expressed his pleasure that no apprehension was enter-
tained by the Government of any disturbance of the peace
in Europe. With respect to the events in Rome and Italy,
he referred to an article in the Convention of September
which he thought was likely to give rise to complications
—namely, the article giving the Pope power to raise
foreign troops. Serious difficulties might arise from this
provision, and he considered all these interventions in the
internal affairs of other countries injurious to the interests
of Europe and inconsistent with the principles they pro-
fessed. With regard to Fenianism he thought very cul-
pable negligence was shown in Manchester in not pro-
perly guarding the State prisoners, and it behoved the
Government to see that there was no laxity in the admi-
nistration of the law. Lord Russell then made some ob-
servations upon the forthcoming Reform Bills for Scot-
land and Ireland, and offered some stringent criticisms on
the speeches made by Lord Derby on the subject, re-
marking that it would be much better he should show
that his measures were calculated to conduce to the public
benefit rather than that he should merely inform them that
he was about to take two further leaps in the dark.
Lord lIARDWICKE was of opinion that the expedition
against the King of Abyssinia was necessary to the main-
tenance of the national dignity.

Lord CARNARVON dwelt strongly on the many diffi
culties that would have to be overcome in a war with the
King of Abyssinia, and expressed a doubt whether such a
campaign as the country had embarked in was the sole al-
ternative that presented itself. He spoke highly of the tact
and ability of Mr. RasEam in the management of wild races,
but thought he did wrong in accepting money from the
King of Abyssinia, as it placed him in a false position as
the accredited envoy of her Majesty. Mr. Flad also was
an excellent man, but was not the person to be entrusted
with a grave and delicate mission. There was nothing,
however, now left to be done, but to go on as vigorously
as they could with the war which had been commenced.

Lord HOUGHTON, referring to the relations existing
between France and Italy, said he could have wished that
the words in the Speech with regard to the early with-
drawal of the French troops had been omitted, because
they assumed that it would lead to a solution of the Italian
question. With respect to a Conference of the European
Powers, he hoped that before her Majesty's Government
disposed of that matter, whenever it should be referred to
them, they would seriously consider that the Papal ques-
tion was territorial as well as religious.
Lord LYVEDEN regarded the Abyssinian Expedition
as one of the most formidable misfortunes that could have
befallen the country; and, in order to show its necessity,
the Government would be required to give a further ex-
planation of its policy than was contained in her Majesty's
Speech. Before any money was voted it should be clearly
stated what limit would be put on the operations of the ex-
pedition, and how those operations would be carried out.
Earl of DERBY—My lords, in the first place I have to
return my sincere thanks to my noble friends who moved
and seconded the Address to the Crown in answer to her
Majesty's gracious Speech; and if I am to make any dis-
tinction it is due, I think, to my noble friend (Lord Brown-
low) who, for the first time, addressed your lordships,
and who, in the course of his observations, exhibited
a clearness and accuracy and knowledge of the subjects on
which he treated which are to be found only in those who
aro in the practice of speaking. (Hear, hear.) I only
hope, my lords, that we shall more frequently hear him in
the debates of your lordships' House. (Hear, hear.) .1
have next to express satisfaction at being able to infer,
from the language held by the noble lords who have ad-
dressed your lordship, that there is no intention of inter-
fering in the slightest degree with the unanimity with
which your lordships are prepared to vote the Address in
answer to the Speech from the Throne. But there were
some observations which it would be impossible for me to
pass over in silence, and upon which I must beg the indul-
gence of your lordships to make a fe iv remarks. I understood
he noble earl to say tha; he is not disposed to offer any
oljection to the policy of her Majesty's Government i❑
extheetion with tho expedition, while at the same time he

reserved to himself the liberty of dealing with the que:-:
lion on a future occasion, and expressing any opinion

which he may form upon more mature reflection. -I
can

assure your lordships that there never was a decision to
which a Government came with more reluctance, or with

a greater sense of its imperative necessity, than the deci-

_ .
Mon which her Majesty's Government took of despatching
an expedition to Abyssinia, and that that decision would
not have been taken if they had not the firmest conviction
that the time had arrived when any other course would
have been unworthy of the Government of this country,
and would have seriously detracted from the estimation
in which we are hebl, and would, in point of fact, have
exposed us to the well-grounded complaint that we
allowed her Majesty's subjects to remain in unjust cap-
tivity, and her Majesty's Crown to be insulted with im-
punity by a semi-barbarian. (Hear, hear.) The noble
lord Wow the gangway (Earl of Carnaryon) expressed an