The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-14
REFORM IN ENGLAND.

J.
REFORM IN ENGLAND.
We give below speech delivered by Mr.. GLAD
STONE in the House of Commons, on February IS
in reply to Mr.. D1sRAEL1, who had been brough
out by a question by MIR. AYRToN. We omit Mr.
D1sRAEL1's speech, as It's purport can be readil.
inferred from MIR. GIADsToNE's remarks:
SPEECH OF MR. GLADSTONE.
Mr.. Gladstone said: am prepared to bestov
that charitable construction on the motives OF the
Government for which the right honorable gentle
man has made an appeal, and think that the bes
mode of doing so is to avoid all reference, OF what
ever kind, with respect to the motives Of the Gov
eminent. We IRE here embarked in a common
cause. think my honorable friend who received
just credt'fro the right honorable gentleman fol
the spirit Of his observations so far justified II
the course he has taken, inasmuch as he endeavor
ed give expression to the feelings generally enter
tanned in the House that we are placed in apostior
of considerable embarrassment. As understand
the case, there are in the country and in the House
various currents Of feeling with respect to the sub
ject OF Parliamentary reform. Some ofthese currents
are In opposite directions, and tend tH neutrallze
one another Some are desirous OF extensive entran
each other but venture to say there is one power
full anu prevailing feeling which, think, preyades
nearly the whole immunity united, and Which
likewise is reflected faithfully and generally within
these walls without reference to political OPINION
and that is strong and earnest might venture
to say an absorbing and overpowering-. that
we should now, within the limits of this session,
arrive at length at legislative settlement Of this
question. There being that desire in the House
and the country, it follows that what we wish for
o1rIo NC 1T,ofSn mt nrfH
question should be settled, if possible. by those
in power. It is wholly out Of the ability and
capacity of any set of mon to conduct the deIbera-
tions of this House to real and satisfactory issue
uuless they be che responsible advisers Of tho
Crown. AS far as am individually concerned, i
have expressed my perfect Willingness and earnest
desire to cooperate with the present Government
for an efectual and, above all, an early settlement
Of this question. What we are anxious for is that
the Government should avail themselves of this
favorable state Of feeling, and take all steps to con-
duct to practical effect this disposition so gener
ally prevailing in the House. The Government
have presented resolutions on the subject of re-
form, and I, for one, have stated perfect willing
ness-supp 1 am bound to say. my own
strong opinion that such was not an e1pedient
course-to accede to the mode adopted by the
Government, and to take no objection on general
grounds to the course Of proceeding by resolution.
:fhe right honorable gentleman the Chancellor Of
stating in efect-for do not pretend to quote his
words-that had the Government submitted their
Intentions with respect to reform in the shape ct
q bill, they might have been met, as on former
occasion, BY the invidious selection OF some one
point from among the provisions, and Thereby
their general and comprehensive scheme might
have been by no very legitimate process got rid of
in this House. My honorable friend endeavored to
convey to the Government the assurance that
there was not the smallest probability OF such
oTko Io4 foc foil
the right honorable gentleman, as well as
from my honorable friend, cannot help 'ex-
pressing my strong belief in conformity with
his. Sir, Of course it would be presump-
tuous in me we're ] to undertake to bind
any gentleman in this House, far less any body Of
the members of this House, by the expression Of
:an opinion OF my own beyond the limits stowhieh
my personal communications may have extended !;
but, ut the same time, the circumstances Of this
case are so clear, and they have assumed charac-
ter so historical that can hardly think they leave
q doubt .onSphe mind Of the Governne enta or the
right honorable gentleman for the apprehension
he has expressed, and which he has stated led him
to the conclusion he has announced. The right
honorable gentleman adyerted on former evening
in terms Of disparag and censure to the pro-
ceedings Of 1859. Lam not bound to defend these
proceedings further than to say do not think they
merited the kind of. censure bestowed upon them.
That, however, is immateral except 30 fur as to
guard me as to what have further to say.
The proceedings Of 1859, whether prudent or
not would in my opinion have been perfectly
justiisble had they been taken by Par
lament that had its heart and its mind
earnestly set on; legislating for the purpose Of
Parliamentary reform. But, now, with the light
that experience Affords it is impossible to regard
the proceedings OF 1859 without including in our
review the proceedings Of 1860; and taking the
operations OF these two years as one operation
taking the strong and decisive measure adopted
in 1859, together with lame and unsatisfactory
completion Of it IT ILL., CO. am certain cannot
misrepresent either the public sentiment or the
Of the powerful party that occupies these benches,
when I say that these proceedings cannot be re-
peated. Therefore, the reasons assigned by the
right honorable gentleman for the course he has
adopted have sdsappeared; and undoubtedly it
would have been 70 me matter Of great gratitica-
lion had the right honorable gentleman been dis
posed to accede.to the suggestion offered to him
In no unfriendly manner by the honorable member
for the Tower Hamlets. From what he has stated
fear he lis not disposed to accede that suSges-
may be, I do not Withdraw from any assurance
to entertain the method Of procedure BY resolu-
ions, but must observe that at the present mo-
ment we are placed in q peculiar position, espe-
cially with reference to peculiar point: we are
greatly desirous Of prompt proceedings, and
another request was addressed to the right honor
able gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer
of much more limited character than that which
from my honoroble friend the member
for the Tower Hamlets;it was that We might be fa-
vored upon the earliest day-upon day earlier
than Monday next-with those additional e3plana-
tions to which tho right honorable gentleman has
referred and which he calls the explanations OF
the Government resolutions which are due to the
House. Sir, T won't SO far bring into question the
orders of this House as to make single obsorvc-
ton en- the character of the resolutions themselves
AS to their being general or precise as to their
being declarations Of principle VI Of practice, what
they may or may not be; but this must observe,
that upon the comparatively narrow point raised
by the request have Just referred to, we are ln
On. Monday last the right. honorable gentleman
gave us an explanation Of tho resolutions. The
right honorable gentleman most properly recog-
nized the ParliaIaentary rule that measure OF
such character cannot be advantage con-
ment Of its principle BY the Minister Of Grown.
He proc5edea in the same manner as does every
Chancellor Of the Exchequer upon, the somewhat
analogous question Of the financial statement OF i
the year. Ho submits the financial statement, but
ment until future day; or if for financial reasons
the affirmation is asked Of any particular pcoposi-
ton, it is always considered mere formal affrma-
,tion, and its merits remain open to further con-
sideraion. That principle is well established. we
thought We had received the statement OF the right
Government on. Monday last, and We thought we
should be in o position. on tho 25th to proceed
with their discussion but we find now s"s.
not to-day is:only, but on g. previous occa.
sion, on Friday-that we have. not yet
tho full explanation Of. the" right honor
able gentleman. We are in possession OF one
moiety OF that expanation and the other ,moiety
Of that explanation is to be delivered on the very
1ay on which We are to be invited to consider the
resolutions Therefore, sir, it appears to me that
it was with consistency and propriety that my
honorable friend, the member for Leeds, suggested
that as time is admitted to be of suoh value in this
matter and as the principle is recognized that the
ministerial explanations Of q plan or proposition
House before mombers are called on to vote upon
il, the right honorable gentlemen would at least