The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-04 00:00:00

my TOniet,WAIS, why he had gout out, and ,I should have
no objection :that Ise-sliouldermaie Le 4!.taill, _which I think
he may, perfectly, conscientiously, and honouralay.doe_
Mr. PEEL—J.. admit that, it woad heertuire regular to
pass to the question for this night's .discussion, to which I
expected this evening would be devoteit. But .I:lnnst say.
that lam very far from being satisfied with the explana-
tion of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman,as.to theeirinci-
ples upon which the_peesent coalition has taken dace ; and
yet a proper explanation of these ,prineiples involved ques-
tions of the.greatest importance, and upon the explanation
given would depend the degree of confidence which could
be properly placed in the. present Administration. In com-
menting on the conduct of the Gentlemen who now sit on
the Opposition Bench, the Hon. and Learned Gentleman
has adopted the same tone of sarcastic remark which cha-
racterised his speeches-when he himself sat ou the Opp°,
sition side of the House. He has congratulated the Opposi-
tion on the new tone of asperity which it has acquired ; but
I muse. also congratulate the promptitude and facility
which he has displayed, in employing that tone of sarcasm
in favour of the Ministry, which he so lately employed
against them—eat least against the head of the present Mi-
nistry. I cannot help congratulating the Right Hon.
Gentleman on the facility with. which he has fellen into the
cant by which, as he himself used to say, the supporters of
the old Administration were so often tainted. But it is a
very grave question, whether these Gentlemen bad oat
abandoned their principles in the short space of a week,
and the subject ought to he treated with another temper.
I need not say that I feel no personal animosity against the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman. I never did entertain any
such feeling towards him, nor. do I now. But lam sorry
to say that our political differences are as wide as ever, if
not wider ; for he certainly has not as yet been able to give
me a full, satisfactory, and clear explanation of the prin-
ciples upon which he has contributed to form, and has
joined, this coalition ; and yet a full, clear, and satisfactory
account of these matters is, as every one must know, abso-
lutely necessary, before any one can venture to repose con-
fidence in the Administration, as at present constituted.—
What, for example, is to be done with the question of Par-
liamentary Reform ?.--(Cheers.)—ls it to be brought for-
ward in any specific form, and supported by the new friends
of the Government ; or is it to be postponed until all those
shades of opinion can be blended of which I have this even-
ing beard for the first time?--s-(Cheers.)—That question
certainly was with those Hon. Gentlemen a common bond
of connection; I do not say uniting every man in its sup-
port, but undoubtedly including so.niany.of them; that
from it a great Parliamentary. Party took their colours
and derived their name.. L should have, thought that
no Government-that hoped for the.support of Parliament,
would have countenanced so .essential a change. in the
constitution of the House as the_party to which 'allude
calls for.—(Loud cheers.)—lf these opinions be not coun-
tenanced by the new Government, on what principles,
then, I ask again, is the question of Parliamentary Reform
to be discussed ?—(Cheers.)....ls it to be left as the Ca-
tholic Question is ?_(Cheers from the Ministerial side. )
do not say this reproachfully, for I know I concurred my-
self in the arrangement with respect to that Question—but
I ask, will it be suffered to remain still.—(Loud cheers
from the Opposition Benches.)—These questions must pro-
duce the elements of discord in the new Administration,
unless, indeed, I am to gather, from what the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman has said, that. Parliamentary Reform
is also to be made an open question, though truly he was
not very explicit in his statements. These, however, are
points of the utmost importance. I have listened atten-
tively to the speech of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman,
but the satisfaction I have derived from the explanations he
gave, was so far from being complete, that it has, I confess,
only increased my anxiety, to hear something more of the
conditions on-which lie has agreed to support the new Go-
vernment. When I hear it stated, as one of the grounds
of this union; that his Majesty was abandoned by his former
servants, and that his very prerogative was_ so put in jeo-
pardy by their seeeesion, that my Right Hon. Friend (Mr.
Canning) had no alternative but to appiy to his political op-
ponents for their support ;' if, for the sake of argument, I
admit it to be strictly true that on that ground the coalition
was formed—that "its chief, nay, its sole object, was
merging every subordinate point to maintain the preroga-
tive of the Crown, why,- then; I ask, if that be the ground,
is it not declared so at once ?—(Chia.)--Why do they
not avow that to he the real reason ?--(Cheers.)—Why do
they not say that they will forget the Catholic Question
and Parliamentary Reform—that they findnhe prerogative
of the Crown in danger, and they have rushed forward
to defend it?—(Cheers.)—Why do they allow the first
places in the State to continue unfilled, like empty boxes
waiting for those who have engaged them.—(Cheers) ?
Why, I ask again and again, do they not come down to
this House, and tell us frankly what are the principles on
which they have entered into this coalition ?—(Continued
cheering.) Their conduct, Sir, I repeat is net satisfac-
tory. It is not fitting to the fair dealing and =splines,
in which this country delights,— (Cheers.) It does not
accord with the principles-of the Constitution for one party
to unite with another, cm condition that there should be a
period of probation, in' order that they may determine
whether their principles of action will 'agree or not.—
(Cheers.) If it be a union of parties, why is it not so
publicly proclaimed? Why-is not the emergency declared
that has rendered this step requisite? If difficulties have
arisen, which strong and firm minds' are wonted to en-
counter, why are the public offices filled with fagacious
Ministers? In two months—the probable period when
the intended arrangements will be completed—the dangers
of the time will have passed away, and with them the ne-
cessity of this junction Will'have ceased, if it be founded on
the maintenance of thepreragative of the Crown.—(Cheers)
I am anxious to see the character of party men and of the
great parties in this country upheld. I should not be glad
certainly to see the great Whig party in affice.—(A laugh.)
They ought, I think to he excluded from power; but I
should he sorry to see their eheracter, as a party, lowered
and disgraced. But it will be tarnished if the principles
are not made known on which the 7,tnion has been
effected, and unless a satisfactory explatmeion of the
reasons why that union has been delayed—(Cheers, )--unless
a clear and perfect satisfaction be given on these poieta, I
than apprehend that the character of this party will not
for the future stand very high with the public. I ask
again why is this delay? Is :t that there are on the notice-
hock some inconvenient entries, which the Members of that
party know not, how well to evade or erase?—(Loud
cheers.)--What, for example, will they do with the notice
of the "Member for Bandon (Lord J. Russell), for the re-
peal of the Test 'and Corporation Acts? This is another
important question, which I suspect will e erlay the ma-
terial difference that exists between the opinion of those
Right Honourable Gentlemen, whom I had lately the
honour to have for colleagues, and their new allies.
If, after the Noble Lord has consulted with the leaders
of the Protestant Dissenters, he should be prepared to
move for any further concessions in their favour, I give
him notice that I intend to oppose him, And that I will
always do so, whether in or out of power. That, in-
deed, is a circumstance of little weight or consideration
to me. The most cursory view of my past career will
show that I have been actuated by no ardent desire of office.
When i lave accepted it, it has always been a personal
sacrifice to me. So fir as lam personally concerned, I
ran may truly that I care not whether I return or not. I
feel grateful for the confidence of the Crown ; but I am,
thank God, independent of it. My principles are not
changeable with ray position. I will adhere to them
a through good report and throughevilreport,"---(Cheers.)
_—lt is with these sentiments that I now say that the points
to which I have referred--Parliaomutary Reform, and the
motion, entered on the notice-book, for the Repeal of the
Test and Corporation Acts...and, still more, the Catholic
Question% have not been explained satisfactorily.,..(Hear.)
_..j will not deny that 'I observed. myself that, fancily,
there was between my late.colleagues end the Hon..Gen-
ttemen who have now joined,: them, on many snbjects, a
dm and cordial alliance.) But Ito proteste that if I had
been told, only the day before the RUM, that the Hon.
Baronet (Sir F. Burdett) would have offered himself to
the notice es this House the first night after, the, adjourn-
ment, in onlenne give his active support to a Government
still divided on ti,e Catholic Question--(hear, bear,)—if,
alter what I have heard the Members for Caine (Mr. Aber-
crombie) and for KnareshoroZ.,,gh (Mr. Tierney) say in this
House, imputing all the evils of Ireland to the existence
of divided Councils in the Government of that country,
which, they contended, prevented any firm or consist-
ent course of policy from being pursued towards it;
—if I had been told that now, or a few months hence
even, they would be prepared to give their sanction to the
support of an Administration still divided on the. Catholic
Question, I could not then have believed it possible.—
(Cheers.)—On the necessity of putting an end ,t.o that
system of a divided Government, the Resolution of the
ll.m. Baronet for the Relief of the Catholics was founded.
Let that House now look-at the sincerity with which these
principles had been acted upon. In the new Adneinittra-
tam, it is true, there is UG difference between the Home and
Foreign Secretaries of State ; but we Lave a Prime
Wit:Lister and a Lord Chancellor oppoeed to each other, enl
very recently in conflict on this very question.—(Cheers.)
—Hitherto we have had the two Law Officers of this
country united in opittioe. The present Administration
'nee been the first to disturb this agreement, and, by trans-
sierring the chief office to an advoCate of the' Catholic
Claims, to create a disunion where before it never existed.,
--(Hear, hear.)—Should his 3lajeity's- Attorney and
foli:itor-GenerOciow called on to advise the Crown on