The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-26 00:00:00

IMPERIAL "PARLIAMENT.

• HOUSE OF LORDS, June 25.
The LORD CEIA.NCELLOR took his seat on the Wools
sack at Five o'clock. . .
Messengers from the Commons brought up the Salmon
Fisheries (Scotland) Bill, and the Brighton and Chiches-
ter Railway Bill.
OPENING LETTERS AT THE POST-OFFICE.
The Earl of RADNOR, rose for the purpose of re-
newing the motion which he had made the other even-
. ing on the subject of opening letters at the Post-office ;
and he really thought that, consistently with the argu-
ments which he had used the other evening, the Noble
Duke ought to consent to the motion. The principal
argument used against the motion was, that there was
no allegation that the power vested in the Secretary of
State of issuing warrants for opening letters at the Poste
office had been abused. Now their Lordships could .not
but be aware, from what had occurred in another place,
that accusations had been made that the power had been
used for purposes for which it was not necessary. and
no attempt had been made to disprove those accusations ;
and he felt that it was necessary that something should
be (lane to retrieveshe character of the country.—( Hear.)
He would: not enter into any argument as to the pro-
priety or impropriety of the existence of this power in the
hands of the Secretary of State of stopping letters, al.
though lie thought that it ought. not to exist, nor as to
the propriety of extending the power of these warrants
to the opening of more than one letter. He thought the'
law required that a separate warrant should be
issued for the. opening of one letter. He believed that
the law intended to confine that power to matters re-
lating to internal policy only. He did not believe that
that la* was intended to give the Secretary. of State the
.power of .stopping. letters at the Post-office, except in
cases where the personal safety of her Majesty, or the
well-being of the realm, was at stake. Now, no one
who had considered what had occurred in another place,
could entertain a doubt but that certain foreigners had
had their' letters opened and examined, out of no con-
sideration for the safety of the State of England,
or of her Majesty.—(llear, hear.) Petitions had
been resented to the other House from divers person.,
complaining that their letters had been opened and read
at the Post-office. One of these was a foreigner of cote-
siderable literary attainments, who was admired,- and
beloved by all who knew him, It was admitted that a
. warrant had been issued fur opening the letters of one
of these persons. Last nialit a petition had been pre-
sented with a similar complaint from another foreigner
that person had not beni mixed up in the politics of this
country, but he had, unfortunately for himself, been -!
mixed up in the liberal polities of foreign countries. lie
had taken refuge here, and had been well received ; but
Whilst . here he had been exposed to the having his let
ters examined and his secrets made known to those who,
if- they could not Wreak their vengeance on him, could
at least do so on his friends.—(llear, hear.) These cir-
cumstances had produced *a great feeling in the .
public mind of this country, and he (Lord R.) could not .I
help feeling shame, and disgrace fir his country, in
which which such conduct was tolerated.—(Hear, hear.) :
He could not help thinking that the Noble Duke who I
had done more to revive the character of this country !
than any one living, who was conspicuous for the gal- i
lantry, the straight-forwardness, and the open-hearted-
mess of all his conduct—(Cheers)—would not willingly
consent to make this country the police-office of every
petty. state in Europe.--(Cheers.) He hoped the Noble •
Duke participated in his feeling on this subject, and he '
would therefore renew the motion which he made the
other night, that an humble address be presented to her
Maie'reh.praying her Majesty to lay before their Lord-
ships clines of all warrants issued by her Majesty's Sc'.
crater). Of State authorising the opening of letters at the
Post-office.
The Duke of WELLINGTON was grateful to the
Noble Lord for the expressions he had uses with regard
to hiMself„-end was sensible of the kind feelings of the
Noble Lord towards him personally ; but as their Lord-
ships were aware he had a duty to perform to that
House with regard to motions of this description; and
his duty wae.to urge their Lordships to resist this mo-
tion as not consistent with the public interests or the
public security. Parliament had thought fit to entrust
the Secretary of State with certain powers to issue war-
rants for the opening of letters addressed to individuals
at the Post-Office. -Those powers had long existed in
this country, and had been exercised from -the days of
Queea Anne.. The Post-office laws had been revised in
the last year of his late Majesty and.the first yearof the
reign of her present Majesty, and an Act confirming
those powers had then passed. The Postmaster-General,
on taking office, made a declaration that he would cause
alfsletters to be delivered as directed, except when re-
quit ed by a warrant . from the Secretary of State to send
those letters to be examined, in accordance with that
ware eft. There could he no doubt but that power had
been confided to the Secretary of State, and he submitted
to the jr Lordships that the Secretary of State was bound to
exercise tliat power whenever his duty rendered it ne-
cessary•for, him so to do. Under these circumstances;
he was ..mere their Lordships would well consider before
they we tsl4 enter into any inquiry upon the exercise of
that pow ee,. They ought to have certain proof that this
power line* been used -for an improper purpose, before
they wades any inquiry upon the matter. With regard
to the disc iussion of that subject in another place, he did
not know , that there was any proof whatever that any
letter had :been openekexceptahat a warrant had been
issued for %the easening of one letter. He had no know-
ledge what ;ever on :the subject himself, and had no ac-
count wile ;ever to„giee upon it ; but he would submit to
their Lord 'efliip that unless they were convinced by the
evidence I More them that the power entrusted.to the
Secretary of State. for., the Home Department had been
abused, the y taught to resistthis motion, and ho therefore
could not c prtsent to the motion.
The _Eat fi of TANKERVILLE said he had in his pos-
session ele puments which proved that the practice of
opening lei viers at the Pust-office was of frequeatoccur-
rence.' Ho; had in his possession warrants which had
been issued ; for opening the letters of all foreign Minis-
ters' of eve try rank and grade. Those warrants were
issued: by: the Right Hon. Charles James Fex. The
same:kiiid of warrant was also issued With respect to the
letter's of I ord George Gordon. 116 (the Earl of Tan-
keryille) th ought this was a power which ought to be
exercised"! ee the Government.
Tho. Mai quis of CLANRICARDE said their Lord-
shipsmust have felt interested in the statement which the
Noble Earl .:had just made. Front what his Noble Friend
had stated, Alt would appear that the affairs of the Poste
offiecewere not regulated as they ought to be; for lie had
detest that 'de had in his possession documents of im-
portance, -ettiair di ought, properly, to have remained in the
Post-office. :it would be remembered that the case to
which the Nioble Earl had referred was one which took
place.at a ti ate of war, when it was absolutely necessary
for the Gove 7:went to make themselves acquaintedwith the
corresponds. ace of all foreign Ministers. But in the present
case, the indi widual respecting whose letters the warrants
had been issued was a private individual, and had never
beeu .engage 4 in any way against the peace of thiseciuntry. ,
In the case of Lord George Gordon the exercise of such
a power wag necessary, because the times were disturbed,
and the petite.. of the country was endangered... It was
said this was at matter of confidence in the Goveanment,
but they weree also told that the Minister ache on his
Own responsibi lty. What was this responsibility if," when
a matter of WS 4 kind became known, the Minister stood
upon. the confidence that must be placed in the Govern- .
Inent:!.-(kle ir, hear.) If any Cabinet Minister got- up
and declared upon his own 'knowledge and his. own cre-
dibility that *here was anything dangerous to the Go-
vernment of ahis country going on he would believe
him. ~(Heare hear.) Ile was of opinion that such a
powier ought to be placed in the hands of. the Govern-
ment ; but when it was deemed necessary to open it let-
ter it ought to,. be signified to the person to whom the
letter . was addressed, and there was no reason why a i
Government should be ashamed to do this if there was
justegroUnds for opening the letter.—(Hear, hear.) But
it was country to all honour and justice to intercept a
mart by ,having a watch over his correspondence.—
(Ilearehear.) He hoped his Noble Friend would make
some .motion on the subject, either fur a Committee of
Inquiry, or
.for the particular warrant. The people of
thiacountry would have no confidence in any Govern-
ment
that would resort to the hateful practice of opening
Letters which passed through the Post-office.
The Earl of TANKERVILLE explained.
The Earl of. lIADDINtiTON admitted that there
was- nothing which ought to be so sacred as private cor-
respondence pas-sing, through the Post-office, and no
Minister could tike a wore fearful responsibility on
himself than by rashly, or lightly, or without necessity,
-seesching any letter passing through that department.—
(e-tear, hear.) It sseneed to be admitted, on all hands,
sheet this power was necessary. and, indeed, it must exist
ine„ "'very country which had a Government at all.
vitae a the Government, the country, or the Crown, was
endat .gereds such a power was absottitely necessary, and
was admitted by all. But lie would. go further than
that) 'Who seemed to think that anything which occurred
abtoad- could not be a legitimate object:4hr the exercise
of such a power. Ile could conceive plots and cabals
taking place on the continent of Europe, of . which this
country was made the centre of correspondence, the
emit of . which 'Dios be to involve the world in a war,
and this country amonAst the rest, Ile held, therefore,
that it was a power that must be vested in the Secretary
ol..Stste. -Douhtloss, the power was an odious one—
a most unpleasant one for
a Secretary of State to, hold ;
but, from its very form and nature, it was one, regarding
the execution of which -tits disclosures could be made.
Their Lordshis, in his opinion, could not wisely or
prdperly interfere with a confidence which, it sheltie be
reeollected, was not a Veluatary and a free, but is necessary
coctidence. And he ventured to assert that there was no.
thing in the character of the present Government to call
for or to justify any such interference. Of course, it,
might occur that a Secretary of State was misinformed
oe imposed upon, but whether his Bight Hon. Friend
(Sir J. Graham) had been so or not he could not say,
ler he knew no more of the matter than the rest of their
I.Ordships. He trusted the House would nut sanction
the motion, hut, by negativing it, assert the confidence
which, in all such matters, must necessarily be placed in
the Secretary of State.
;T,ord CANIPBELL said, if any Member. of the
Government had only come forward and asserted, on
his own . personal responsibility, that the interference
complained of had been necessitated by circumstances, ha
should have been satisfied.—(Hear, hear.) But no one
did this. The Noble Lord who spoke last admitted that
be was totally unacquainted with the circumstances of
~ „thy cage, and other . Members of the Government de-
' .o,me lto4Wainy satisfactory answer to the complaints
' .. . , • fit,,, For his (Lord Campbell's) parts hes
---- - s • ' z -,.. ~-lirettlesag open of a letter, and the - breaking
;:es s, • , s s' . , . • '
.•. ee,.e„ee •le kould see-no difference. - .
7 X-=-Yes, it is much worse.
(
~...,,,,,-ee ,
.•.e
*1‘,..'...:.,i' t. • : L—True ;it was worse. The breach
1c - ~ • . u!,,,,
~,,
~,-,
.- e rater, from the socresy which neces-
es 4. ]e ~ ,4tes,,en. the transaction. Seeing that no
,litteaumstences was made
erovbfftitseniblea thought by the
saidsentAlor."cOnsiderativn Pain'tma. fte.ie Case had been
and inquiry. There were
two foreigners Who &Glared that their letters had -beam,

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