The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-11-16 00:00:00

THE ADDRESS

The house having resumed, the Earl of DONOUGHMORE
moved the address to her Majesty in reply to the speech,
and the motion was seconded by the Marquis of BATH.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, after alluding to the
loss which the country had sustained in the death of the
Duke of Wellington, said he could have wished that the
speech had contained a less vacillating and faltering decla-
ration as to the commercial policy which the Government
intended to pursue. 1 hope, however (continued his lord-
ship), we may be justified in inferring, from this absti-
nence from all positive statement of the future policy of
the Government, that they now entertain the opinion that
not only has the legislation of late years been attended
with the happiest effects, but that it is their intention to
pursue that legislation in the same spirit and upon the
same principles. If they should adopt this course, then I
have no hesitation in saying that they will be entitled to
the support of every man in the country who has been the
advocate of free trrde ; and they may depend upon it that
support will not be withheld.
Lord BROUGHAM said the most appropriate tribute
which we could pay to the Great Duke would be to follow
his advice and strengthen our national defences. _

The Earl of DERBY, having paid a graceful tribute to
the memory of the late Duke, and touched on the various
topics in the speech, addressed himself to the state of the
country, and expounded the Ministerial views and inten-
tions on the subject of the existing commercial policy. He
and his colleagues, on taking office, said they would ap-
peal to the country before proposing any change in the
commercial policy recently adopted. That appeal had
been made, and he had no hesitation in saying. that, with
regard to the imposition of any duty on corn and provi-
sions, not only was there a large majority of members re-
turned to Parliament opposed to such a measure, but

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many of that majority were from agricultural districts, op-
posed, whatever might have been their original opinions
upon the subject, to the re-imposition of any artifi,int

letter the

restriction upon the introduction of
opinion which had been expressed
he saw that a recurrence to a protective policy
was impracticable ; and, although practicable, it was
not desirable to re-open the controversy. " On the
part, then, of myself and of my colleagues, I bow to the
decision of the country, and, having so bowed, I declare,
on their part and on mine, that while desirous to the ut-
most of our power to mitigate that unavoidable injury
which the adoption of the policy to which I refer has in-
flicted, and must inflict, upon important classes, I do not
adopt it with any reserve whatever. I adopt it frankly, as
the opinion of the country, and honestly and fairly I am
prepared to carry it out as the decision of the country."

It would be improper for him on that occasion to enter in
detail upon those measures by which the injury he had
alluded to might be mitigated without interfering with
free trade but he had the satisfaction of stating, that if
that house and the country would have patience to wait
one short fortnight, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
prepared to lay before the house those measures which
Her Majesty's Ministers were of opinion should be car-
ried out.

The motion was agreed to. Lord Redesdale was re-
appointed Chairman of Commitees, and the House ad-
journed.
FRIDAY.--in answer to questions from Lords Lynd-
hurst and Brougham.
The LORD CHANCELLOR stated that on Thursday he
should state the legal measures which it was the intention
of government to propose, although he could not promise
to introduce them in the present short session.

The Duke of MONTROSE reported that their lordships'
address, in answer to the speech from the throne, had
been presented to her Majesty, who had been pleased to
return a most gracious answer.

The Loan CHANCELLOR read a message from her
Majesty, recommending their lordships to take into con-
sideration at an early period the necessary measures for
the funeral of the Duke of Wellington.
The Earl of DERBY ease notice that on Monday he
should move for a committee for that purpose.

HOUSE OF OF COMMONS

THURSDAY.—The House met at one o'clock, and
having been summoned to the House of Lards to hear
the Queen's speech, the Speaker attended by a number
of members proceeded thither.
On their return the usual sessional orders were put and
agreed to. THE ADDRESS.

Lord LOVAINE moved the address to her Majesty, in
reply to the speech, and in referring to the important part
of it, he acknowledged the large measure of prosperity
which prevailed in the commercial districts, and was ready
to admit that the commercial policy of recent years had
contributed to that prosperity. Still much loss and suf-
fering had been entailed by that policy upon a large, in-
dustrious, and influential portion of the population ; and
he had yet to learn that the House of Commons would
turn a deaf ear to the claim for relief which the sufferers

possessed.
Mr. C. EGERTON seconded the motion

Mr. C. VILLIERS complained that the House was not
informed whether the first minister had abandoned his
opinions, and that it had no assurance that it was not
intended in any way to alter or modify our late commer.
cial policy. Upon this subject the speech was vague, and,
he might almost say, deceptive; whereas tie House was
entitled to a distinct declaration, whether our future policy
was to be that of Protection or that of Free Trade. He
gave notice that on the 22d instant he would move a
decisive resolution on the subject.
After some remarks from Mr. HUME,

Mr. Secretary WA LPOLE denied that either evasion or
exception was intended. The passage had been worded
with the view of preventing a warm and heated discussion,
and to avoid the necessity of an amendment. If it was
the wish of gentlemen opposite to move an amendment,
Ministers were ready to take the discussion now. They
were prepared to make a declaration of adherence, and,
more than that, to submit the measures they deemed it
desirable should be carried.

Lord Jour: RUSSELL thought it desirable that the
address should be allowed to pass without amendment.
With regard to the statement in the speech on the subject
of free trade, he. participated in the disappointment which
had been expressed by Mr. Villiers, and rejoiced at the
course he intended to take on the subject.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said that, with
regard to the suffering interests referred to in the speech,
it was the determination of the government to take such
claims and similar claims into consideration, and endea-
vour to mitigate the injury occasioned by the recent
changes ; and he believed that every thing that was rea-
sonable could be done without disturbing the principle of
unrestricted competition which ministers recognized in
the speech, and which they were prepared to adhere to.
" Neither I," continued Mr. Disraeli, " nor have my
colleagues, any intention to propose any policy which will
give artificial prices, or attempt to give what the hon. gen-
tleman on the other side has mentioned as compensation
for the losses which have been occasioned by the changes
in the legislation which_has regulated the commercial in-
terests of this country ; but what we do say is—and I will
state it as distinctly as I can succed in expressing myself,
with none of those cloudy words for which the noble lord
has given me credit—that we think those commercial
changes have been effected without at the same time a
change, a corresponding change, in our financial system ;
and I say, notwithstanding what the noble lord has
asserted, and the sympathetic cheers which he received
from one of his late colleagues, who was certainly ac-
quainted with that branch of the subject, that it is our
intention, believing that a proper revision of our taxation
has not taken place, to put before this house a policy that
will place our financial system more in harmony with our
commercial system." He would not put any obstacle in
the way of Mr. Villiers' motion. He would not mention
so early a day as that named by Mr. Villiers; but he sub-
mitted that it would be far more convenient, far fairer,

and, he thought, more satisfactory, that the government
should, in the first instance, have an opportunity of plac-
ing their policy before the house. Mr. Disraeli thought
he would be able to make bis statement on Friday, the
26th instant.

Mr. GLADSTONE said that as regarded the commercial
policy, he thought that much had been gained from the
discussion. He confessed that the paragraph in the
speech had excited in his mind disappointment and dis-
satisfaction. He thought that, under the circumstances,
Government would have acted wisely if they had given
the house a distinct declaration in the Queen's speech on
the subject of our commercial policy. thus placing the
question for ever beyond dispute. He would not ask
individual members of the Government to avow their con-
version. He asked that they should be persons who
unequivocally and finally agreed to abandon the proposal
to return to protection. More than that he would not
ask, with less the house could not honourably be content.
After some remarks from Mr. NEWDEGATE, Mr.
CHRISTOPOER said he bad not changed his opinion on
the subject of protection, or of the injury slaw

id by the
agricultural interest from the repeal of the corn laws, but
the verdict of the country had been given, and he was
ready to bow to that decision.

Mr. COBDEN advised Mr. Villiers not to postpone his
motion. If Mr. Disraeli was sincere, he had only to
second Mr. Villiers' motion, and the question would be
settled. He denied the injury alleged to have been sus-
tained by tne agricultural class.

The debate was further prolonged by remarks from Mr
all, Sir John Shelley. Lord Palmerston, and Colone

Sibthorp, an(
FRIDAY.—The speaker took the chair at four
o'clock. ELECTION PETITIONS.
Petitions complaining of undue election returns were
presented by Sir B. HALL, from Bridgenorth, by Mr.
GLADSTONE, from TaTistock, and also from Great Yar-
mouth. ALLEGED BRIBERY AT DERBY.

,e motion was fina

y agreed

Sir A. J. COCABURNT.—.I have to present a petition
from Derby, signed by many electors of respectability,
complaining that at the last election systematic bribery
was resorted to there to secure the return of Thomas
Berry Horsfall, Esq., and alleging that the Right Hon.
Major Beresford, a Privy Councillor, a member of the
Government, Secretary at War, and a member of this
House, was a party to such bribery, and had himself
procured, through one John Frail, an agent to be sent to
that borough for the purposes of such bribery. sir, I
give notice, that on Monday next I shall move that this
petition be printed with the votes, and that on Friday,
the 19th, I shall move that it be taken into consideration,
with a view to an inquiry by a select committee of this
House, or in such other mode as the House may deter-
mine