The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LON DON, SATUR nA I
_MORN! NT(;, AUGUST 9, !Mt.

IMi'EItIAL PA RLIAMEN T.

displayed at the Colonial-office was more credi able to
the Government than the negotiators themselves. There
was just one point to which he wished to allude before
he sat down. He meant the application made by the
New Zealand Company for a loan of money on the
security of their land. He thought that the money
should be granted on public grounds alone, and that no
ionger delay would take place than was absolutely
necessary.
Sir R. PEEL did not think it would be n cessary for
him to give any assurance on the subject. Whatever
differences might have existed between the Government
and the New Zealand Company, the recollection of those
differences had not, in the slightest degree, influenced the
conduct of the Government. They had acted from a
sen a of public duty, and what had been done, he must
say, had in,t with the entire concurrence of his Noble
Friend (Lord Stanley). The public interest had been
the only consideration by which they had been influenced,
ind in the arrangement come to each party had occu-
pied perfectly independent grounds—there had been no
secret understanding. With respect to the future Go-
vernment of the colony he could give no assurance on
any point the fulfilment of which depended on Parlia-
ment ; but though he could give no assurance on the
matter, the Hon. Gentleman was, therefore, to draw no
unfavourable c, nclusion from that.—(Hear.)
ORANGE PROCESSIONS.
Colonel VERNER wished to ask the Right. Hon.
Baronet at the head of the Government if it was true
that Mr. Watson, a magistrate, and Deputy-Lieutenant
of the County Down, had been deprived of his commis-
sion for taking part in an Orange procession in that
county ?____

ronites. It was then further suggested, that permis-
sion should be given to the populati. n in the mixed dis-
tricts to retire to the districts where their respective Go-
vernors ruled—the Druse population to go to that dis-
trict where the I)ruce Governor ruled, and the Maro-
nite population to retire to the district of the Ma-
ronite Governor. —( Hear, hear.) And it was
also proposed that whereas this emigration might cause
great losses to both portions of the population these were
to be made up by the Porte. Now the five great Powers
were unanimous in that plan, and when they were
unanimous on any subject it was to be presumed they
were right ; and whatever it might be, of course they
were sure to be successful in carrying it out. When all
these Powers, therefore—England, Russia, Prussia,
France, and Austria—had concurred to recommend such
a plan, it must be an agreement founded on right, and one
which, of ceurse, would be very easy of execution. It
was quite, evident, therefore, that if the different parties
had emigrated—if the compensation which had been pro-
posed. had been made—if the two Governors had been
appointed—and if, in short, every point of that arrange-
ment had been carried out, the peace of Syria would
have been attained, tranquillity would have been estab-
lished on a permanent basis, and the integrity of the
Turkish empire would never have been jeopardized.
That plan, however, was never carried out. Up to the
present hour no step had been taken to carry it into
effsct. Pretence upon pretence had been resorted to,
and every expedient was exhausted to delay its execution.
Two Turkish officers had indeed been appointed, whose
duty it was to enterinto the requisite arrangements. They
summoned the people to decide upon their claims, and
instead of deciding upon them at once, they referred the
matter to constantins p!e. In short, they interposed
every delay in their power to retard and prevent the
execution of what had been proposed. The result was
intrigues of all kinds. The family of the Emir Beschir
thought the arrangement was anything but an advanta-
geous ore for them, and of course they threw every ob-
struction in the way. It was needless for him to recite
the cruelties of this tyrant ; but it was quite a common
practice with him to torture by plucking out the eyes,
and when one of his victims cried out too loud, he
ordered hire to have his tongue split. This family
exerted themselves to the utmost to delay these arrange-
ments, and it was natural that they should be desirous
to do so. Great intrigues were naturally to he expected,
when their interests were so much bound up with the
existence of that state of things which these plans were
des'gned to remove. In addition to the obstruction of
the Maronites, their clergy also interested themselves to
delay the preparations. They, of course, knew that
their influence would be greater with the existing state of
things, than with any change that might take place. All
these parties had an interest in the continuation of the
disturbing influences that were at wo, Ir. Now the
Porte had no interest whatever in carrying out the
proposed arrangement. But it was not to be expected
that a Government like Turkey should act in accord-
ance with its interests in such cases. All its officers
had different interests, and there was not one of them
who looked upon a movement as one where the interests
of his country might be served, but rather how his own
private purposes might be promoted. That was the
calculation of the Turki•h officers. So that in conse-
quence of the factions of the people themselves—in con-
sequence of the opposition of the clergy, end in con-
sequence of the obstructions which the Turkish officers
created, every difficulty and delay was thrown in the
way of the arrangement proposed being carried into
effect. The Turks, it was quite apparent, did not wish
to put an end to these disturbances. In fact, they en-
couraged them to strife with the view of weakening
both parties, but especially the Maronites. The Druses,
after the former were subdued, would become easy
of manegement. In this state of things the contentions
still continued. The Maronites, stimulated by the Emir
B schir, though disarmed by the Druses, procured a
fresh supply of arms. Great numbers of both parties
assembled together, conflicts ensued, and the whole
country was a prey to civil war. That state of things.
however, came to an end. A convention afterwards
took place between them, but no step had yet been
taken to bring out a permanent peace. The five Govern-
ments, and especially the British Government, did not
take those prudent and energetic means which they
should have done under the circumstances. There was
one British officer, Colonel Rose, of whose conduct,
zeal, and energy in these transactions, he could not
speak too highly. This officer was appointed during
the time he (Lord Palmerston) held the seals of the
Foreign-office. He thought his conduct deserving of
the greatest praise. The advice which he gave often
prevented those disastrous occurrences which occasion-
ally took place, and preserved the Turkish Government
from those disgraces which their conduct nut unfre-
quently brought upon them. He had, on one occasion,
preserved the lives of from 700 to 800 Maronites,
who, but for him, would have been cut off.
to a man. He (Lord Palmerston) did not think that
Colonel Rose was so well supported as he might have
been led to expect. In the dispatches that were sent
out, frequent approbation was, no doubt, made of his
conduct, but he was entitled not only to receive appro-
bation for his past conduct, but also to receive special
instructions as to the course he should pursue in future.
He (Lord Palmerston) thought that the British Govern-
ment did not show that energy which it did in former
times to put an end to these differences. Any one must
know how such a Power as Turkey managed its affairs.
It was not, however, by side negotiations or mystified
diplomacy that she ought to be dealt with. That would
never do. They must come to the point with her, and
he thought the allied Powers were entitled to press on
that Government in the strongest possible manlier, and
to have asserted in a more energetic manner than they
did the necessity of a speedy compliance with the
arrangements which had been unanimously agreed on.
If they had done so, he (Lord Palmerston) had no hesi-
tation in saying that many of the events which took
place would never have occurred. And unless some
vigorous steps were resorted to, they must expect a con-
tinuance of them. Some interested parties might attempt
to show that the Turkish Government were not in fault,
and that it had not the means of preventing these con-
flicts, and others again said, that it would be far better
if Syria was completely independent of Turkey ; but he
agreed with neither party. On the sth June, of the
present year, a dispatch was received at the Foreign-
office from Colons 1 Hose. This dispatch gave the clearest
and best developed view of the causes ef the late disturb-
ances that it was possible to do. He referred them
principally to the intrigues of the Beschir family, and
the differences which arose from the mixed population.
This, however, might have been collected from the dif-
ferent dispatches which he had from time to time sent
hc,me. Now, that dispatch was received on the sth
of June, and what was the dispatch sent out the
day following (the 6th of June) by the Secre-
tary of State to Sir Stratford Canning ? " The
present state of affairs in Syria was of such moment-
ous importance as to cause the deepest concern
to her Maj, sty's Government" (and very naturally they
should). " Measures, however, were then under con-
sideration, with the object of arresting the progress of
those untoward events." Now, it was naturally to be ex-
pected that some instructions should be sent out to their
ambassador that he either separately, or conjointly with
the other ambassadors, should take some steps to put
an end to that state of things. But what was the con-
clusion ? He says, " Until the result of these affairs
was known, and a clear insight obt,insd into their
nature, her Majesty's Government were unable to come
to a certain conclusion as to the course proper to be
adopted." Greatly must Sir Stratford Canning hale
been assisted by that dispatch. He (Lord Palmerston)
contended that a clear insight had been obtained into
the causes of those events, and when a correct state-
ment of the case had been made to her Majesty's Go-
vernment, they ought to have been provided with a
remedy for them. All this had been already communi-
cated to them, and he thought they bad shown
great torpidity in the way they dealt with
the case. He had no hesitation, therefore, in
saying that a part of the responsibility of
these calamities fell to the share of the Government.
He thought it was a subject of the greatest importance.
It belonged not merely to a great English interest, but
to a great European interest. He thought that the in-
terests of Europe were involved in the integrity of the
Turkish empire. He would not enter into the question
whether these evils might not be obviated by the change
of government in Syria, and substituting for a Turkish
a civilised and Christian Emperor. But they must deal
with the kingdom as it at present existed, and with cir-
cumstances as they were now found. If the
stronger powers of Europe would only combine
with the Turkish Government, and assist her to
maintain the integrity of her territorial possessions, that
power would soon be resuscitated, as every thing
during the last few years had shown the empire to be
increasing in social and moral civilization. The treaty
of the Dardanelles, signed in July, 1341, by England,
France, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, implied an aban-
donment by those five Powers of all selfish views and
interests in regard to Syria, to consolidate the domi-
nion of that province for the benefit of its population.
Considering, therefore, that the present disturbances in
Syria affected the tranquillity of the entire Turkish
empire, and that the tranquillity of the Turkish, empire
was intimately connected with that balance of European.
Power, which, in a great degree, preserved the peace of
the world, he had felt it his duty to state that he thought
her Majesty's Government had not shown that active
energy which the circumstances of the case required,
and he trusted when they next met, at the commence-
ment of the ensuing session, those disturbances would
have ceased, and that the stipulations of that treaty—the.
due execution of which would have prevei'ea the late
serious disasters—would have been practically carried
into effect, and thus render unnecessary that perpetual
inteference of our Ministers and officers with the Sublime
Porte, which was inconsistent with our national honour
and international usage.
Sir R. PEEL said he understood the Noble Lord to admit
that, on reference to the official papers, he found that the
five Powers had acted together in cordial co-operation
to carry out the stipulations of the treaties of 1839 and
1841 ; that they were not actuated by private considera-
tions, that they had given advice to the Porte, which if
acted upon would have been for the benefit of Syria as
well as the entire Turkish empire. The only complaint
the Noble Lord made was that the five Powers were not
very energetic iu enforcing these conditions upon the
Porte. But interference on such a question was very
delicate. There was the difficult and conflicting, if not
contrsdictory position, in which the Powers stood to rs-
concile and overcome. They were to require from the
Porte a ratification of those conditions into which the
Turkish empire had solemnly entered, and they'
had to fulfil the object they themselves had agreed to-
gether to effect, viz., the maintenance of the integrity and
independence of the Turkish empire. This latter the
Noble Lord might have suggested as a reason for not
strictly insisting on the performance of the treaty.
When Syria was delivered over to the Porte in 1839 and
1840, it should have been well considered, that such rule
was precarious if not dangerous. He did not wish to
enter into the question of the policy that dictated such a
, course—he did not wish to discuss the motives or dispute
the expediency of so signal and serious a step ; the

!MUSE OF LoieDs, .lug. 8

The: House sat to-day shortly after tvo o'clock, fi:r
the purpose of enabling the Lord. Chancellor and Lord
Campbell to give judgment on several cases that have
been heard before them durL,g the present session.

THE SHINNERS' COMPANY p THE IRISH SOCIETY.-

JUDGMENT.

The Lord Chancellor and Lord Campbell gave the
judgment of their Lordships in this case, which was
argued before their L3rdinips some time since upon
appeal from the decision of the Master of the Rolls.
Their Lordships affirmed the decision of the Court below.

Sir R. PEEL said it was perfectly true that Mr. Watson
had been dismissed from the commission of the peace,
and also from the office of deputy lieutenant. In 1837 an
address from Ireland, numerously and respectably signed,
had been laid before the late King, praying that steps
would be taken to discourage and put an end to Orange
processions. In answer to that the King returned an
answer that every measure woul 1 be taken to carry out
the desirable object sought by that address. Having
been informed that the gentleman referred to had not
only walked in an Orange procession, but signed reso-
lutions agreed to at an Orange meeting, which resolu-
tions were unconstitutional and highly improper, the
Government considered it their duty, in consideration of
the previous assurance of the Sovereign, to discharge
Mr. Watson from the official appointments he then
held.—(Loud cries of" Hear, hear," and cheers.)
THE FISHERIES.

Captain PECHELL moved for a return of all Bri-
tish and French fishing vessels that have been seized or
detained under the provisions of the Act for carrying
into effect a convention with France concerning the
fisheries, with the dates ;of such seizure or detention,
and the amount of the penalty incurred or paid, with
the time of detention in each case ; likewise, a return
of all British fishing vessels that have been taken into
ports of France since 1839, for breach of the oyster
fishery regulations, with the amount of the penalty in-
curred or paid, and the time of detention in each case.
—Agreed to.