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

-4. -IL

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proposed by Sir J. BULLER, declaratory of want of confi-
dence in the Ministers.
Mr. LirroN commenced the discussion and entered, at
smile length, into the conduct of the government respecting
Ireland, which he contended encouraged sedition in the
country.

Mr.'DENNISTOUN followed, and declared that there would
be no satisfaction until a larger number .(if the people were
admitted within the pale of the constitution.
Mr. PAR ER supported the resolution, and condemned
the lax conduct of the government in allowing seditiOns
meetings and speeches, and the circhlation of the most libel-
lous and flagitious. publications without making any efforts
to check either. —*- .

Lord H °WICK (Earl Grey's son) availed himself of the
opportunity to explain why he no longer had " the honour
of being a member of her Majesty's administration." He
said that in May last he and his colleagues tendered their '
resignations, because they did not think they had such an
amount of confidence in that house and with the public us
would enable them to carry on the business of the country
satisfactorily ; and that,-when called on to resume office, he
overcame his reluctance (arising from national questions
being se! injured by party warfare) with difficulty, and only
in consequence of tine kindness of her Majesty. But it was
then thought, and"avowed, that, at the end of the session,
there Must be such changes in the administration as would
give it, with the country, increased strength, power, and
stability. He thought the changes ought to manifest to the
country that, however ready to promote reforms in legislation,
they would resolutely maintain the present constitution of the
House of Commons. He heard of the proposed changes only
two days before the end of the session, and, so far from carrying
out his views, he thought they could only have the " opposite
effect," as showing that the Government countenanced un-
defined expectations of further changes in the constitution."
Not considering that a wise and safe course, he deemed it his
duty to tender his resignation in consequence, and it was ac-
cepted. He repeated most earnestly that he was against pro-
pounding now any further alterations in the representation,
and contended that any proceedings, as well as the changes
in the administration, that led to the belief that the govern-
ment is not resolutely determined to maintain the present
constitution of the house, cannot fail to encourage perpetual
commotion, and, if the work be gone on with, " to the sub-
version of the constitution."
Sir JAMES GRAHAM commented with consummate
ability on the various self-contradictory positions assumed
by Lord Howick. Rarely, indeed, has a more effective
speech than that delivered by the right hon. baronet, been
heard within the wails of Parliament. Sir James undertook
to meet Sir George Grey's demand of the previous evening
for matter of inculpation against the Government ; and most
amply did he fulfil his undertaking. Sir James starting
from the point assumed by Mr. Gisborne—that ministers are
entitled to the confidence of the country for their conduct in
reference to the tithe-question and the reform bill—proceeded
to show, on the evidence. of -Ministers themselves, and of
their firm adherents that in reference to the very questions
adverted to by Mr. Gisborne, never bad public men so utterly
disgraced themselves as the members .esent Cabinet
have done. Sir James recited the :yen to the
world by Ministers on the subject • propriation
clause. He recited their contradictory pie. : • •n the sub-
ject of ballot, and of the corn laws. He ex ibited their
abandonment of a 1 principle in connection with their legis-
lative plans for the government of Canada and of Jamaica.
He exposed the utter baseness of their open-question policy.
He pointed out the encouragement direct and indirect which
Ministers have given to chartists and repealers. He showed
how utterly they have prostituted the patronage of the
country.
Mr. MACAULEY undertook the task of replying to the
right hon. member for Pembroke ; and if a worse speech
than Mr. Macauley's ever was delivered on any subject
whatever, we venture to express our unaffected pity for those
who may have listened to it. Mr. Macauley's speech was
curiously, elaborately, irredeemably, bad. It was not sim-
ply stupid ;—it was not simply inappropriate. It was con-
ceived in the vilest imaginary taste. It was poor, feeble,
vilely affected in matter. It was a tissue of impertinence to
the matter in hand, from beginning to end. To bring into
full relief the peculiarities of this execrable composition, it
was delivered in a style redolent of the conventicle.
Lord POWERSCOURT rose and moved the adjournment of
the debate until next day.
After some other orders of the day had been disposed of,
the house adjourned at one o'clock.