The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-02-24 00:00:00

Empatai Vartiament.

HOUSE OF LORDS, THcitsnay, FEB: 19.
At half-past one the (lour* of the house were opined, and B.
a,few noble lords attended in the body of the house. The gal-
lery was nearly empty throughout the proceedings. At two the
Lord Chancellor entered the house and took his seat upan tat
woolsack. About thirty-six peers were present, with four of the
Irish bishops, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and
the Bishop of Hereford. The Lori Chancellor then proceeded
to a crimson bench between the throne and the woolsack, with
the Archbishop of Canterbury,
.in fall canonicals on his. right.
Tathe right of his grace wls Lord Wharucliffe, and on the left
or the Lord .Chancellor vNre the Earls of Rosslyn and Jersey.
The lay commissioners were in their peers' robes. •
•The Lord CHANCELLOR then rose and addressed the house,
and said that his Majesty not thinking fit to'be present at the
opening of the present parliament had caused letters patent to
be passed under the great seat, entrusting the lords commis-
sioners now present, and several other lords therein mentioned,
to attend the oppening of parliament, and for that. purpose to
do alt things necessary in his name, as would appear more fully
by the letters patent, which would be read to the house.
The clerk then real at the table the letters patent appointing
certain lords, or any three or more of them, to open the present
parliament iu his ilajesty's name.
The letters patent being read,
The Lord CHANCELLOR then addressed the house, together
with about thirty of the members of the commons who were pre-
sent below the bar. His lordship said that he had it in com-
mand from his Majesty to declare to them that as soon as the
parliament had been duly opened, according to the letters
patent, his Majesty would declare to them in person the cause
of his calling the parliament tokrether. It was however neces-
sary that a speaker of the House of Commons should be first
chosen, and his Aialtisty hoped that the gentlemen of the House
of Commons woald retire to the place where they were to act,
and there proceed to choose some proper person, add to present
such person to-morrow in that house, in order Mat his Majesty
might 'express his approbation of the person elected.
The common's then bowed and withdrew.

Prayers Were then real by the Bishop of Hereford.
• The Lord Chancellor then beft the commissioners' bench, and
took the oaths et the table.

The clerk then read the roll, or return, of the peers of Scot-
land nominated to be lordi..presentatiVes in the present par-
tiatnetit.

The oaths were then administered at the table to the lay
peers pr sent, commencing; With the Duke of Cumberland.
The bkhops present then took the oaths and retired to their
bench.

At three o'clock the htiuse adjourned to the following day.

ROUSE OF COMMONS, THURSDAY, FEB. 19.

At an early hour all the avenues, leading to, the Houses of
Lords and Commons were crowded with persons anxious to
witness the ceremony of the opening of parliament. At 12
o'clock• the doors of the House of Commons were thrown open,
and in a few minutes the body of the house, and the galleries,
were filled with members. '1 he house preseuted a scene of the
greatest animation and excitement from this period up to two
o'clock; groups of members were collected in every quarter
discussing the important subject which had occasioned the un-
usually large assemblage of members at the opening of a session.
Mr. Alderman Wood, the senior city member, appeared in
his robes of office,- and on taking his seat to' the right of the
chair, was loudly cheered.
At a few minutes past two, Sir Augustus Clifford, Gentleman
Usher of the Black Rod, entered the house, and proceeded to
the table. The members immediately rose and uncovered, and
the house was then summoned, in the usual form, to hear his
Majesty's commission read in the House of Lords. The clerks
and several members, among whom we observed Sir It. Peel,
then left the house, and-returned in about five minutes. The
clerks having resumed their seats at the table,
Lord F. EinttToN rose and said—his Majesty having pointed
out to them their preliminary duty, he now rose for the purpose
of making a motion, which, if it it met, as he confidently trusted
it would, the approbation of a majority of that house, would
carry his Majesty's pleasure into effect, and would do so, as he
(Lord F.) conceives, in a manner best calculated to secure and
promote all those great interests which could be in any manner
affected.b7 the object .J* the present discussion. (Hear, hear.)
At no period in the history of the country, under any circum-
stances, pabli.: or otherwise, would the importance of selecting
a person to fill the chair require so much grave consideration.
Os every occasion, a question like the present was one of seri-
ous responsibility, but in the present circumstances of the coun-
try, when they were alt aware that teal house was about to enter
on a field of discussion of vital importance to every interest of
the state, he felt that they should look, narrowly and closely,
to the qualifications of the individual to whom they were accus-
tomed to look for guidance ant advice—(hear)—tor the main-
tenance of their high privileges and constitutional indepen-
dences-for the due control over the fervor and excitement of
discussion, and for the wise exercise of that influence, which
they were wont to -concede to the individual whom they would
call to the chair, and which, with its attendant honours and
emoluments, was no more than an adequate compensation for
the, toiland sacrifice of time of the individual who competently
filled it. (Hears) In addition to that mass of circumstances
which 'at any time must make the qualifications of the indivi-
dual matter of such. interest and importance, he cool I not but
remind the house that a great pub:ic calamity had added great
weight to the ordinary qualifications for that station—qualifica-
tions more difficult to be found than talent or temper—more rare
than patience—and less frequently to be met with than candour or
education. In these instances there was but one 'individual whom
he could point out as experienced in that particular office.—
And he need scarcely add, that it was the object of his motion,
therethre, to place that individual in the chair, and he must say
that if-any circumstances existed which would deprive the
house'of the opportunity of securing the services of that indi
vidual, he could scarcely conceive a more legitimate subject of
regret, than that any circumstances should exist which would
prevent their avallisa themselves of the talents tried ability, and.
experience of one who was competent, above all others, to carry
into their new locality the usages, the laws of common conve-
uiense,•and the salutary traditietis of that house, and when he
looked to the lamentable hialux in documents and records
which that catastrophe had occasioned, the house could not but
acknowledge the acquaintance of that individual on whom they
founded their best hopes of reparation. I confess that with such
feelings I grudge him that ease and that retirement which so
,many years of public service have so well entitled hint to de-
mand. I could almost grudge him those very favours of the
crown and those honours which he might receive elsewhere, but
which are incompetent with the situation I propose he should
fill. I feel, after what I have said, that it is little more than a
matter of form that I should speak the name of Sir Charles
Manners Sutton. (Great cheering on the ministerial side or
the house, but perfect silence ou that of the opposition.) That
individual, who I believe for a period of upwards of eighteen
years has fill's:if the chair, in a manner which I believe seven
successive and unanimous votes of the House of Commons, and
this invitation to re-assume the chair, prove the house's appre-
ciation of his discharge of his duties. (Cheers.) It would be
idle in me, as well as painful to my right hon. friend, were I to
attempt to describe, after a fashion of my own, the grounds of
itist•eulogy and-approbation of which upon a reecnt occasion,
he was the object, more particularly when there are many here
present much inure competent to impress their opinions of his
merits upon this assembly. But public attention haS been al-
ready called to this subject, and with peculiar force and justice,
in the speechss of noble lords and honourable gentlemen upon
a recent occasion, expressing their high approbation of my right
Iron. frien.l and which is the inure fore ible as emanating from
individuals who are, I believe, opposed to him on political
grounds. I lay, and I think I am right, snore stress upon this_
circumstance, because I feel that he who relies upon the support •
of a party might possibly receive the opposition of those whose
political sentiments agreed with his own, and I belieVe that ,•
from such casual ci rcurnstances au individual might be elected,not
because he was the most competent to discharge his duties at the
time, but because he was supported by the good will and par-
tiality of those who, perhaps unconsciously to themselves, might
trona party motives be induced to sup-port him. This is not the
nature of the tit.e of my Right Han. Friend, but I can adduce
arguments in his favour far superior to any I can use. I hope I
shall have the permission of the house extended to me while I
call its attention to some extracts from the debates which took
place upon time occasion of the lest election of my right hon.
friend to 611 the chair, debates which do honour to the candour
, and intelligence,- and undoubtedly to the sentiments of many
honourable geutlemen on the other side of site house. I will
first refer to the speech of my noble friend and relative (tire
member for the West. Riding of Yorkshire) who expressed the
highest•opin ion of my right himourable friend as one who had
most faithfully discharged his duties, and was most competent
to perfirimm them—as one who had dignity without pride, urba-
nity without servility, and as one whose sentiments were ex-
hibited in :he whole line of his offieial conduct. 'file proposi-
tion.which I have to make to the house is that it will appropriate
its especial and highest services to that individual who has great
experience iu all those valuable attainments so essentially tie=
cessary.for the fulfilling of the high office. That gentleman
was followed by the hon, baronet, the member for Westmins-
ter, who after supporting, asked the question, which some hon.
members present may thiok might he answered now, but which
found no response at that home—the question of Qua ritupera-
vit ?—(Great cheering.) The question was then found to be
without a response; and it may even now be difficult to an-
swer; fir I cannot but think that .every bon. member in the
house has too much good sense to appeal to it by vituperation.
leanoot believe that I shall hear teat seecies ssf vituperation
here. - I think the Only question will rather be—Quis
dttris e.yt.—(Cheers.) The hon. and learned member for
Dublin; in Opposing the claim to place my right hon.striend in
the chair, in giving his resistance to that motion, cannot be
cltirgett with inconsistency fur that; but he concurred with
those who had preceded him in the great personal qualities or
that tight hon, gentleman' to fill so important an office. I have
a right, I think, tetvesssiderahe opinion of that learned mem-
ber, aisle the fitness of Sir Charles Manners Sutton, as an ex-
tremeh strong one. If the allusions I have made to the expres-
sions that were used by hon. members at the last ejection of
Speaker contained anything invidious in their nature or up-
lineation, 1 should at once,stop from continuing' my (potations.
farther proof of the eminent qualities of Sir Charles Man-
ners Simon, there is the speech of an eminent and distinguished
individual, who has been taken from this house by a domestic
fondly calamity—( Hear, hear, hear)—the late Chancellor of
the gxehequer, who stated that he thought the house could not
but admit that Sir Charles Manners Sutton's qualifications pre-
eminently entitled him to fill the high office of Speaker, and that
there was no person in the house who was so capable of tiding
it.—(Cheers.) Those are not the testimonies of private frienu-
ship or paitia'ity, nor time consequences of any undue deference
on the Rat of my right hon. ft mend to any party or section of
party in the house or in the couutrv, but they are the testimo-
nies not only of private friends, but of hououratne adversai its.
Theyeare what I ma-
y call the verdict of a jury upon his abili,ies.
From this great occasion or the tned:ing of the house, it becomes
us to appro.:tit the election of a speaker with calm deliberation,
and seleetnue who, on account of his tried ability and expei ience,
is most adapted to conduct the business of the house with that
judgment and discretion with which it has been ( Hear,
hear.) I do regret that it has become imperative ou me to
address you on this yiestion, or that it should not meet with
that unanimity-which think it so well deserves. Ido reeo et,
fox my own part, that these circumstances should be likely to
place us in oiiposition to mammy hon. gentletti^n with whom I
have been on terms of the greatest intimacy. and whom I know,
esteem, anti regard sit much not as I conceive on one of those
.questions of groat political interest, or of great political discus-
sion. but one ou which, I lament to think, that their energies-
should le lavished and abused, and that it may thereby tend to
the collision of parties for whom I entertain marked feelings .of
friendship and respect. (Hear, heal.) At the same time, 1 do-
not think, that I shall have to hear au)* of those motions which
imply opposition against the motion which I have time honour to
submit to the house, founded on any of these charges of notori-
ous absurdity which have remit' their way into circulation in
other quarters, and which, for the last few dams, have been be-
fore the attention of the public. Ido not think that I shall
meet with any of those absurd calumnies which have found their
way into notice from publications such as time " ri or of
Fashion," and sonic others which I do n,it feel myself called
upon to nacre—some of those publications, which gaiu their
mysterious infcrinaiims by tracking out scenes of private life,
and reducing them to these purposes which they understand so
well. I do not think that I shall have to emit radict any of th4;se
unfounded imputatianssor that the opposition which will be raised
against my right honourable friend will place its claims on such