The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-08 00:00:00

tention of Parliament, and it became them to assure her
Majesty, in reply to her Traci ais speech, that they would
devote their best attention, and show all zeal and energy,
in legislating for the good of the country. In conclu•
Bien, he begged leave to second the address.
The SPEAKER then put the question.
General P, THOMPSON said that as he was anxious
to appear without shame before his friends and consti-
tuents, he felt obliged to enter his protest against the
reference which had been made to the Chinese question.
He and those who coincided- in the decision of the ma-
jority of the defunct Parliament would not let the ques-
tion rest without bringing it again before the inquest of
the country. (Hear, hear, and laughter) All his con-
stituents, or a great number of them at least, believed
that the conflict arose from the voluntary act of an official,
and wore grieved to see that the Government wished to set
up the principle that what an official may do should pass
without remark.. His constituents were working men,
I and they wanted to know whether war was an instrument
to be at the disposal of every official abroad to drain out
their hard earnings to make fortunes for those offi-
cial, as into that the question resolved itself. They
considered the proceedings in that country were entirely
contrary to the national honour and dignity ; that the
spread of civilisation meant increase of smuggling, and
that the attack was piratical in itself, and contrary to
the law of nations. It would not become him to take
on himself the office of defending this great question ; it
was his duty to say there was a feeling in the country
which would not be quieted without further ex.-mina-
tion. He begged to thank the house for its attention.
, (Cheers and laughter.)
Lord R. GROSVENOR said he considered the vote
of the la e Parliament on China was in reference to our
past policy, and on this occasion he thought this ques-
ought not to have been introduced, and he should there-
fore abstain from entering on it. (Hear, hear.) He
thought, in fairness to the Government, that, having

just returned from the embraces of their constituencies,
the members should express to the Government the
feelings and wants of those constituencies, and it was for
that purpose he addressed the house on that occasion.
One of the subjects that interested his constituents was
a reform of Parliament, or, as it was stated at the hus-
tings, an extension of the suffrage. (Hear.) He agreed
with Mr. Cobden that as a matter of expediency a case
for the enlargement of the franchise could not be made
out, and at the same time ho did not think it was a ques-
tion of enfranchisement as between the rich and the
poor. Another subject occupying the public mind was
the annoyance of having so many reform bills—(hear)—
and it would be a very good thing if the noble 11rd at
the head of the Government would devisee moreelastic and
self-actiag reform bill than that under which they were
elected, so as to wake a little more equality of members.
He deprecated any attempt to introduce any alteration
relative to the franchise or the ballot, believing the Go-
vernment would introduce au ample measure of reform
next year, and give the house time to consider it well.
(Elear, hear,) There were practices adopted at elections ,
highly inconvenient ; and, after referring to his intro-
duction of confining county voting to one day, and abo-
lishing drinking, he said it was his intention at au early
period to introduce a bill to the house, prohibiting the
conveyance of elect irs to the poll, at the expense of the
candidate, and also to remedy the absurd and anornalotar
practice that existed of making candidates pay for the
expenses of the hustings. (Hear.)•Pass;ng to the Church
rates ; after expressing his regret at the exclusion of Sir
W. Clay, who had made the subject his own, he said
that he (Lord R. Grosvenor), it the Government did
not do it, should move on an early day to in-
troduce a measure on the subject. (Hear, hear.)
Reverting to Parliamentary reform, he suggested that
Chelsea, Kensington, and Hammersmith should be formed
into an independent borough. (Hear.) Tire equalisa
tion of the poor rates throughout, the metropolis was an
important question that would require tie immediate
attention of the house. (Hear, hear.) He conceived
the address was so couched that all could concur in it.
Mr. W. EWART alluded to the question of the ne-
cessity of the adoption of a Minister of Justice, and re-
gretted that amongst the law reforms mentioned in the
speech, no allusion had been made to it. He thought
in regard to reform, Government should lay returns
I befrre the house, showing the effect of reform on

educational and other questions, and allow the country
an opportunity of expressing an opinion thereon, as
the basis of a new reform bill. (Cries of " Question,
question.")
The hon. gentleman had no sooner resumed his seat
than cries of " Question" arose from all parts of the
house. No member appearing disposed to continue the
discussion, the Speaker after the ivies of two or three
minutes began to read the terms of the motion, but he
hid not proceeded beyond the first few words when he
was interrupted by
Lord PALMERSTON, who said,—The house, sir,
seems so little disposed to go into any discussion upon
the various subjects to which the Speech relates that I
certainly shall not take upon myself to do so ; but refe
rence has been made to one or two points upon which I
feel it is necessary for me to say a few words on the part
of the Government. I would first allude to the topic
mentioned by the hon. member for Dumfries. An Ad-
dress was moved and agreed to last session with respect
to the establishment of a Department of Justice. The
question was brought forward by the right hon. gentle-
man the member for Dublin University. Wo stated at
the time that it was a subject full of difficulty as regards
the mode in which the proposition should be carried into
execution, and in that opinion I am sure the right hon.
gentleman himself will concur. I can only say, therefore,
that we have under our consideration the best means of
accomplishing the object which the right hon. gentleman
and the house had in view, and 1 trust we shall be able
to propose to the house some arrangement which shall
effect the purpose contemplated in the address. Sir, I
agree with the noble lord the member for Middlesex
that, considering the shortness of the period during
ing which Parliament can sit in the present session—
(hear, hear)—considering also the great importance of
the many practical mea-ures of improvement which we
have indicated in the Speech, and which will be propos-
ed to the house, it would be highly inexpedient to en-
gage in discussions upon the large and sweeping ques-
tion of a change in the representation of the people in
Parliament, because such discussions could not by any
possibility lead to any conclusive result in the present
session—(hear, hear)—while it is quite obvious that
discussions begun in one session and continued to ano-
ther, could only unsettle the minds of men, and give
rise to anticipations which would embarrass those who
on a future occesion might have to propose measures to
the house. (Hear, hear.) But, Sir, her Majesty's Go-
vernment quite admit that it will be their duty during
the period that will intervene between the conclusion of
the present session and the beginning of the next to take
the subject into their fullest and most deliberate consi-
deration. (Cheers.) It would be unsuitable in ine, at a
moment when the Government have not had an oppor-
tunity of giving to the question the consideration which
is due, to say anything with respect to the details of
measures to be proposed in a future session which would
imply anticipatory conclusions, which, by fixing the Go-
vernment upon one point or another, might lead after-
wards to embarraesment if the result should not coincide
with the expectations excite l, and which at all events
would interfere with the freedom of our deliberations in
the meantime. (gear, hear.) It will be, however, I be-
lieve, the duty of the Government in the ensuing recess
to give the matter their most serious and anxious
consideration—(hear, hear) and I hope indeed I
ass confident—that at the beginning of next ses-
sion we shall be able to propose to Parliament
some measure which will be calculated to satisfy
the just expectations of any parties, and to correct
any defects which may exist in the present Reform
Act, as well as to admit to the franchise
those classes of persons who at present are excluded from
' it. More than that I trust the house will not expect me
to say at present. (gear, hear.) If this house has confi•
deuce in the present Government they ought to show it
by exercising forbearance, and by not pressing in this
session for any declaration upon particular points in re-
ference to representative reform. If this house has not
sufficient confidence in us to wait until the next session
for the production of measures upon a subject requiring
the gravest consideration, then it had better say so, and
at once place the administration of the affairs of the
country in other hands. (Hear, and a laugh.) lam glad
to be able to congratulate the house, as her Majesty in
her gracious speech has done, upon the prospect which
the condition of Eurepean affairs at present holds out of
a continuance of peace. I trust that the animosities en-
gendered by the great conflict in which a part of Europe
was engaged for two years will give way to the more
peaceful rsla'ions and intercourse which have succeeded
that war, and that the great Powers who were engaged in
that contest, feeling that their interests are identified
with the maintenance of good relations with each other,
will cast into oblivion all those sentiments of hostility
which the conflict for a time may have created, and
1 permit them to be replaced by feelings of good will and
friendship, as more beneficial to all countries. I trust,
too, that all the great Powers of Europe will discover
that freedom of commercial intercourse and a develop-
ment of the national resources form not only the best
system of policy for the interests of their particular
coon• ries, but that they also create a link of union with
other countries which otherwise might occupy an adverse
position. The more a government developes the resources
of a country, while with one hand it increases its powers
of self-defence, on the other it creates a daily increasing
bond of interest, which is so connected with the main-
tenance of peace as to dissuade any government from
the prosecution of an unjust or unnecessary war.
(Hear, hear.) There was one other subject to which
my noble fsiend alluded, upon which 1 must say a
word. I refer to the question of church rates. That alto
is a subjeet, as the house in aware, which abounds with
practical difficulties. However, the subject is now under
the consideration of her Majesty's Government, and I
hope we may be able to propose some measure which
will get rid of the difficulties at present existing. I hope,
however, the house wi I not expect us to introduce any
measure mail we have ma le up our minds upon the mat-
ter, but I can assure them the suhject is under consicisra-
Lieu, with an anxicue desire to frame a measure which
may be satisfactory to a'l parties. lam not aware that
there is anything further with which I have to trouble
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