The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-21
Dissolution OF the British Ministry.
SIR r. PEEL'S GREAT SPEECH.
Hour o. Co.non., TvrspAr, yvsr 80.

Sir X. PEEL, at i've and half clock, entered the
house amid profound silence, and took his seat la
a few moments he rosa and spoke follows MIR,
Speaker: Sir feel il TO be my duty TO avail myself
Of the earliest opportunity Of notifying to this house
that In consequences of the position OF her Majesty
government, and especially in consequences Of that
vote 10 which the house the night OF Thurs
day last, by which they refused TO give 10 her Nj
jesty s-goyernmenI those powers which they deemed
necessary for tho repression Of outrage and the pro-
lection oflde IN Ireland her Majestys servants haS
felt II their duty 10 tender their resignation 10 graz
cious sovereign, The resolution 10 tender that re-
signauon was the unanimous resolution Of her Ma
iesty's servants, adopted without hesitation. Sir, II
| had any complaint 10 prefer with respect 10 the
course pursued by the house, this Is not the occa.
sion on which should venture 10 prefer Il. IL 10
impossible not 10 feel that that by which
great change takes places In the counsels of great
empire, affecting, for veal or wo, tho welfare OF
many millions OF the queens subjects, IN almost oil
parts OF the habiiabe gobeit 10 impossible not 10
feel that IL Is an important, might almost say, .
solemn OCCASION and II is not such an occasion that
one word ought 10 be said by minister, acting IN
homage 10 constitutional principles which can by
possibility revive controversies OF an acrimonious
character. Sir, such controversies would be wholly
unsuited TO the magnitude of this occasion, and |
must also say the proyocation Of any such conIp
yersy would be wholly al variance with the feelings
which influence me IN addressing this house
heers. These feelings would rather prompt me
10 acknowledge with gratitude the many occasions
on which, speaking Of the great body Of the
gentlemen on this side Of the house, at periods
anteeedent TO the present session, | and my col
leagues have received generous and cordial
support. These feelings also would rather
prompt me TO acknowledge with graituds
the occasions on which, from gentlemen op
posite, in oblivion Of party differences, her Ma
jesy's government have received for measures Of
which those gentlemen approved also, cordial sup
port, and trust, therefore, SIR that nothing will
escape me in explaining the course which her Ma
jestey's government have thought il their duty to
pursue which can run the risk Of provoking those
controversies which do depnecate. Sir, her Ma
jssty has been graciously pleased to accept that
tender Of resignation, and her Majestys servants
now only hold their ofieea until their successors
shall have been appointed Sir, said thai IL had
complaints to prefer this would not be the occasion
on which would prefer them but must also say
that did not propose those measures coDnected
with our commercial policy at the commencement,
Of this session without foreseeing that, whether
those measures succeeded failed they must cause
the dissolution OF the government which proposed
them and therefore, sir. rather rejoice that her
Majesty's government have been relieved from any
DOUBT by early decision Of this house. as TO the
course it would be their duty to pursue; for do
not hesitate 10 say that il that had been
n our favor, | would not have consented 10 hold
umce by suferanee or by the evasion Of any princi.
pie. Great cheering | believe it is not for the
public interest that government should remain in
power unable 10 give practical effect the measures
which they consider necessary for the public wei
fare and in the position in which her Maiestys gov
eminent was placed, by the withdrawal rhaps
the natural withdrawal--of the confidence Of many
of those who had heretofore given them their sup
port, do not think II probable that even If the vote
TO which refer had been our favor, her Majesty
government would have been enabled with credit
TO themselves and with advantage to the interests
OF Inc country, to continue in the administration of
public affairs. Long continued cheering.l Sir,
We have advised her Majesty to accept our resigsa
tons without adopting that alternative to which we
might have. resorted-viz: recommending to the
crown the exercise Of its prerogative and to dis
solve the present Parliament. We have pre-.
ferred the immediate tender of resignation.
TO the adoption Of that alternative Sir | do
not hesitate to say, speaking with a frankness
TVS government had failed in CARRYING, in all their,
integrity, those measures Of commercial policy which
II was my duty TO recommend, don't hesitate TO
say that there is no excrtion would not have made
IN order, If not TO insure their ultimate success at
least 10 give the country an opportunity of pro-
nouncing an opinion on the subject In that case
should have felt myself justified in advising disso-
luton, becau IL Y the continuance Of doubt on
such a subject wouid have been greater evil than
resorung TO a constitutional expression of opinion
by the people of this country. CHEERS. But there
is no necessity for a dissolution on this ground:
those who dissented from those measures ave with
drawn their opposition, and am bound to say it
was not factious or unseemy opposition, to them:
simply protesting against them, they have given
finally their consent to those measures and those
measures having passed into law do not feel should
have been justified, for any subordinate considera-
tion for the interest of the government merely in ad
vsing the exercise of the prerogative to which re-
fer, and dissolying the Parliament Hear. Be-
cause feel strongly this-that no administration is
u,hed IN advising the exercise of that preroga,ve
unless there be fair, reasonable prssumption-even
strong moral convicton-tba, after dissolution,
they will be enabled to administer the affairs of the
country through the support of party sufficiently
powerful to carry their measures. [Cheers.l | do
not think dissolution justfable for sthening
party. | think the power of dissolution is a great
instrument In the hands of the crown and that there
tendency to blunt that instrument if il be resort
ed TO without necessity. Though for the purpose
of enabling the country to decide whether we were
justified IN proposing those measures of commercial
policy which we did propose at the commencement
Of this session, do not think that would have been
sufficient ground fora dissolution. The only ground
for dissolution would have been strong presumption
that after dissolution should have had party
powerful enough in this House to enable US to give
effect practically to the measures which we nigh,
propose. Now, don't mean support founded on
q mere sympathy with our position on the mart of
those who, otherwise, are opposed to us; | do
not mean support founded on concurrence on
one great question of domestic policy, however i'm
portant that may be; | think we ought not to dis
solve without having full assurance that we should
have the support, not of those who differ from us
on almost all questions of public policy, agreeing
with us IN one but that should have the support
OF powerful party, united to US by general con-
currepce of political opinion Cheers. And I am
bound to say that in the general division of parties
and after all that has occurred did net en- terrain
confident hope that a dissolution of Parliament
would have given us that support. Hear, hear
must also say that after all the excitement which
has taken place, and after the stagnation of trade
upon our protracted discussions il did
appear TO- us that this was period when it would |
not be judicious to take such step. Upon these
grounds we preferred instant resignation to the al
tentative of dissolution. We were left in minori-
~ ON question connected with Ireland Now, | |
should lament, not merely because il is an Irish |
question, but l should most deeply lament il it
could be thought that the measure which we nro.
posed for the repression of outrage in Ireland was
an indication that her Majesty's servants held anv
different opinion with regard to the policy to be pur |
sued in Ireland from that which declared towards
the close OF the last session of Parliament. Hear,