The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-31 00:00:00

WANT OF. CONFIDENCE IN MINISTERS.

Sir J. Y:iIJIYER, in proposing a resolution " That her
M kjesty's Government, as at present constituted, does not
possess the confidence of this house," stated the reasons that
induced him to undertake that task, and said that none could
fail to see that the present discontent and aspect of affairs
originated in the system pursued by ministers during the last
few years. Those ministers, he contended, had encroached
more on the patronage of various departments of the govern-
ment than any who had preceded them. He referred to the
misconduct of ministers at home, and concluded by saying,
that he would leave to others the duty of entering into the
administration's mismanagement and neglect abroad.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON' seconded the resolution, and
affirmed that government did not possess (as it ought) moral
influence over the country. This was shown in many ways,
and in none, more strikingly than in the recent affairs at
Newport, where the leader of the mob was one who had been
appointed magistrate by Lord John Russell.
Sir GEORGE GREY resisted the motion, in a speech of
great eloquence and ability. He defended his colleagues and
associates with infinite spirit—in a manner, in fact, which
justified the exuberant gratitude with which the ministerial
ranks received his clever declamation. The speech, how-
ever, was, after all, only a piece of ingenious special plead-
ing :—it was less a defence of whig policy, than a skilful
attempt to inculpate the policy that must, according to his
assumptions; be pursued by the conservative party. Sir
George maintained, that the speeches of the mover and se-
conder contained. nothing new, with the exception of one
single topic. That one topic was chartism. All the other
matter might have been adduced at any period within thek
last five years as affording grounds for withdrawing from
ministers the confidence of the House of Commons. To the
consideration of the causes of chartism, therefore, after some
dallying with minor topics, Sir George Grey proceeded to
address himself. He denied that chartism was caused by
any tampering on the part of ministers with popular passions.
When conservatives alleged that the reform bill was carried
by agitation, he would have them recollect that the reform
bill was not carried by the present ministers; and that,
moreover, Lord Stanley and Sir James Graham were entitled
to their full share of the praise or blame of that measure,
and of the methods by which it was carried. The.real cause
of chartism, according to Sir George Grey, is to be looked
for in the agitation against the new poor law ; and that agi-
tation, in the right hon. baronet's opinion, was fomented
exclusively by conservatives. The conservatives, therefbre,
in conformity with the reasonings of Sir George, are the
authors of chartism. The proof adduced was, that, in his
late canvass for Southwark, Mr. Walter received " the aid
of the incendiary, Oastler." This exquisite specimen of
logic was hailed with delight• by the treasury benches.
Sir George Grey dilated, moreover, on the vagueness of the
motion before the house. Why, he asked, should Conserva-
tives shelter themselves in generalities as to the nature of the
policy by which they would, if in office, govern the country ?
The cause of the adoption of these generalities he declared to
be, the• divisions. n the Conservative party—divisions proved,
as he alleged, by the recent debate on the question of privi-
lege, and by the views expressed during his late canvass at
Devonport by-Mr. Dawson on the subject.of the corn laws.

Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET confined himself to the sub-
ject of the chartists. The rule said to have been acted on in
Frost's case bad not been observed in others, •for instance, at
Bristol, where Lord John had disregarded the recommenda-
tion of the town-council. The appointment of Frost to the
magistracy had had great influence in encouraging the out-
break. His political character was the same both before and
and after his appointment, being twice marked by the repro-
bation of the judges. The fact was notified to Lord John
Russell, and the verification of it offered : yet the appoint-
ment went forward. The facts could be proved, if it were
desired, at the bar of the house. Another great cause of mis-
chief was the circulation. of Vincent's newspaper in the dis-
turbed parts of Wales. Nothing had been done to suppress
it; and even now the feeling caused by it had not been put
down. An irritation prevailed which must mar the pros-
perity of those districts for years. Unless you put down se-
dition and blasphemy, you might appoint special commissions
from time to time, but you would not obtain tranquillity.
The people had seen agitation rewarded in Ireland, and they
thought it would succeed in England.
Mr. HAwEs entered into statistical and commercial state-
ments to show that the country was in a prosperous condi-
tion. They consisted chiefly of returns, exhibiting an aug-
cleated consumption of exciseable articles, but the augmenta-
tion did not appear to be greater than the mere increase of
population would account for.'
Mr. COLQL'HOUN met him upon his statistical and com-
mercial grounds, and then proceeded to general topics. In
speaking of the removal of Mr. Boulton, the chief justice of
Newfoundland; whom the governriaent Sacrificed on the,plea
that he was too much of a politician, Mr. Colquhourr ob-
served that they had not been so cautious when they aired
the chief barony of Ireland to Mr. O'Connell. He objeCted
also to their appointment of Mr. Shiel, not, however, on the
ground-of that gentleman's religionsdent_of his political sen-
timents. Sir G. Grey had talked about disunion among
conservatives, but on what questions were the existing ca-
binet agreed ? On ballot? on corn laws ?on extension of
suffrage ? They used to talk of referring everything to the
people ; would they now give the people a chance by a disso-
lution ?
Mr. GIEBORNE, who came next, attempted humour, but
'broke down and stick fast several times. He attempted
likewise one of those broad panegYrics on Sir Robert Peel,
which, for the last fortnight, haVe been the fashion with the
liberals, as if they had the presumption to believe that he
could be bought by their praises to endure their alliance.
_ Mr. D'IrsEA4LI observed that ministers having last spring
acknowledged, by their resignatiOn;that they had not then
the confidence of the house, ought to explain what had hap-
pened to earn it for them since. The country wanted a strong
government, but the whips admitted that they could not form
s.yro were
pathy not
one, and even made it a merit that they constituted a middle
severity,government
strong
the
party. .Strong
butStr oa
the influential clases, and the support of tht people:, But
the support the Whigs obtained was only that of the new
strong r on measures,,
a s u res
boroughs and the new corporations, created by themselves.
Their allies in the house dealt with them as a late jury had
done with its prisoners—found them guilty, but recommended
them to mercy.
Sir H. r-ERNEY, Mr. EWART, and Mr. WHITE, of Sun-
derland, all followed on the ministerial side ; and then the
adjournment of the debate was moved by Mr. Litton.
The remaining busines' was disposed of ; the report of the
resolution for the grant of a sum not •
exceeding £30,000 to
was received and agreed
Prince Albertto, and a bill ordered
to be brotieit in accordingly, and the house adjourned.

petition Rutland,
HOUSE sai,---16i—Tim
The House
of Lords -..,,:cDS.—IVEDNESDAY.
did not assemble this day.
would
othink lit.
Mr.
tookSE hisCl F
seat C I‘
forl M-- S . —WEDNESDAY.
from Lincoln, pray-
ingL
for
rd i
nS t
jAutii
rDyl, O
intoi n
thepresented
wl e t h progressear there of S
would be no objection
tion of such remedy as the house might Socialism, and the adop-
prointment
objection
Lord ASHLEY asked
Treport ?
to lay before the house the factory cornldiobneearn3
Mr. F. MAULE answered that there
to produce it when it was ready.
Lord INGESTRIE wished to know whether the a
of the magistrates, recommended by the majority of the
town council of Lichfield, would be persevered in.
Mr. F. MAME stated that, as yet, only one gentleman
had been appointed.
WANT OF CONFIDENCE IN MINISTERS.
the adjourned debate was then resumed, on the resolution