The Sun. — 1858-03-06 (London, England)

COCKERMOUTH.  The election for this borough took place in the Court Hcuae on Wednesday, when, as we announced yestere day, Lord Naas was re-elected without opposition. ' His LORDSHIP, on coming forward to return thanks, said—The new Administration has come into power under circumstances of a very peculiar nature. The House of Common' came to the decision that the acts which Lord Palmerston had performed were not worthy of the occasion, and that he had made such a mistake es a British Minister ought not to make--a mistake that it was necessary to mark with instant condemnation. Some time ago a fearful crime was attempted to be committed in France. When it was found by the French people that the persons who made this abominable attempt had hatched their scheme in England—and he was sorry to say that more than one Engishenan was implicated in it —it was not to be wondered at that strong sentiments were expressed. Addresses were presented to the Erne peror by colonels of the French army in terms most of: ' feneive to the English people. The Secretary of State for the French Emperor, in a despatch which was published and laid on the table of Parliament, expressed himself in terms which certainly showed great ignorance of the state of things in England, and made statements which were certainly incapable of proof. In that despatch Count Walewski asked if English legislation ought to serve to favour the designs and manoeuvres of political assassins. He (Lord Naas) believed the law of England was strong enough to cope with such dangers, and that on the statute book there would be found a law relating to conspiracies to murder sufficient to deal with Each cases; a law which would be found sufficient to punish such attempts, and if it were not sufficient, he was sure there was no man in England who would object to its being changed. But he believed it would be found that there was a sufficient law, and that ere long it would be put in force. Well, the government received that dispatch. Although he did not believe it was ever intended as an insult to the people of England, or that it was ever thought likely to arouse Lill-feeling, yet he contended that the statements made were at variance with the truth, and demanded from those entrusted with the government of this country an explicit and decided answer. The government received that dispatch on the 25th of last month, and up to last Friday no answer had been sent. They were told that there was a verbal cone■ munication with Count de Persigny, the ambassador of France in this country, but that was Lot the way to an. surer such a dispatch. Those insinuations were neadein. open day, placed on the face of a state paper, and that record ',Wiest for ever. But ou the other hand no counter statement, no contradiction, ne remonstrance passed on the part of England ; and it must have appeared to the great bulk of the persons in this country and of Europe that the English Government were not able; to answer the assertions made in the French despatch. Now, this question was brought before the House of Commons. A resolution vas wo, ei as en ameadmenit to a bill which was before Parliament, called the Con. 'piracy to Murder Bill, but it had very little to do with the bill, and was pointed entirely to the condemnation of the ministry for not answering the despatch. It was introduced by a gentleman with whom the Conservative party had no feelings in common, but it was introduced in a speech of very great ability. The defence of the Government was weak ; they evidently bad none to give, and the Government were defeated by a majority of 19. Now, that being the case, Lord Palmerston next day placed his resignation in the hands of the Queen. Her Majesty immediately sent for Lord Derby, and asked him to form an administratior. He could not but believe that a government called >a er these circumstances to preside over the affairs of the country woull receive Lair trial from the people of England. At the conclusion of his lordship's address an elector queotioned him on the ballot and representative reform. In reply, Lord Naas said he was opposed to the ballot, but thought it a fit stbject *. inquiry. He would pledge himself to no plan of reform until it was introduced into the House of Commons and fairly considered and die' cussed.