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PARLIAMENT. HtSTOUY OT THE WEEK. On the ...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Greek Question Is '• Settled ; " Yet...
it will be by dint of Republican patience . Dismissals from office and from the National Guard , of those who express their opinion ( however moderately ) on the unconstitutional character oi the electoral law ( a law which according to the National will disfranchise nearly five millions of Frenchmen ) , —repression of the press , carried to the length of withdrawing the printer s license , and bringing before the correctional police even a woman who lent her newspaper to a friend , —restitution of monarchical officers , superseded at the revolution , in order , as General d'Hautpoul naively expresses it , " to evidence the value of dismissals
pronounced par la rivolte , " '—such are the measures by which the friends of " order " would excite a premature insurrection , to give pretexts for despotism . The Paris garrison is increased to 150 , 000 men ; Conservative journals publish schemes for flanking the barricades ; the Voix du Peuple and the Rtpublique are stopped ; the Legitimists prepare their new law ; every day adds fuel to the heap under which the fire yet lies smouldering . The few Republican journals which yet exist are divided in policy . The issue seems most dubious . Whether the people will come out into the streets or confine themselves to a refusal of taxes on the
declaration of their disfranchisement , is a question none pretends to answer . But the determination cannot be long adjourned . Affairs remain unaltered in Italy . At Rome all is yet quiet . But not even the shadow of a reform may tempt the most willing to believe in the probable continuance of the " reforming" Pope . Piedmont is said to be arming , in dread of Austria , who is not content with the limited freedom of an Italian kingdom , contrasting with the bastinado at Rome and Milan . As if more strongly to mark the difference between Turin and Vienna , the Archbishop
of Turin is convicted for contempt of the civil authority ; while the Austrian clergy , in virtue of regained privileges , are reestablishing the system of confession-tickets , in order to distinguish the true believers . Popular feeling seems , however , to be much the same in both countries , preparing silently another overthrow of Power . Two new Congresses are sitting in Germany ; Prussia with the pettier Princes at Erfurt , Austria , with the larger at Frankfort . The one will end in the aggrandisement of Prussia , who is quietly abresult
sorbing her allies ; the other can only m a reestablishment of something like the old Diet of 1815 , which Prussia will join when the time comes . For there is no difficulty in the way , except the ambition of Prussia and a pretence of care for Germany ; both of which will disappear in the face of any real movement of the German People . Of that no sign is yet apparent . The Danish question is likely to be settled as might have been expected , —Prussia altogether deserting the Duchies ; nay , if necessary , aiding Denmark to recover thern . of his forces
The Czar is really withdrawing some from the Danubian principalities ; but he revenges himself by concentrating 80 / 000 men on the frontier of Bessarabia , to be ready for whatever chance or Lord Palmerston may throw in his way . Russian and Austrian agents foment the Bosnian insurrection , which is growing too strong for Turkey . The revolt in Samos has again broken out . Internally and externally the Ottoman Empire in Europe seems doomed . The Porte would seem aware of this , directing now her main care to the Asiatic provinces , as though she built her policy on the words of Rescind Pasha at one of the late ministerial
conferences : — " If they will not let us remain in Europe , we shall go to Asia . " In Spain men are speculating on the chances of the Queen ' s accouchement , which is " likely to be attended with danger . " In Portugal , even the Professors of the University at Coimbra petition sigainst the new law to crush the press . The opposition throughout the country is unanimous ; and the position of Costa Cabral is becoming every day more difficult .
170 &F)E $Lc Attet. [Saturday,
170 & f ) e $ LC attet . [ Saturday ,
Parliament. Htstouy Ot The Week. On The ...
PARLIAMENT . HtSTOUY OT THE WEEK . On the proposal that the Australian Colonies Bill he read a third time , on Monday evening , Mr . Gladstone moved the following resolution : — 41 That this llousn , adverting to the numerous provisions of the Australian Colonies Government Bill which require tho interference of the authorities at hnmc in the future regulation of the affairs of those colonies , and desirous to reduce ns far as possible the occasions for nucll interference , and to piano tho political institutions of the Raid colonies upon the basis most , likely to be permanent , will not give its further sanction to that bill until there shull have been afforded to the governors ,
Parliament. Htstouy Ot The Week. On The ...
Legislatures , and people of the said colonies an opportunity of considering the provisions of the measure as they ' stand , in conjunction with the several proposals varying from them which have been submitted to the notice of the House . " He contended that the whole scheme was drawn up , not in accordance with , the political wants and wishes of the colony , but rather to promote certain party interests in this country . He developed the objections to -which the bill was open , and to which it would be open in the eyes of the colonists , under the following heads : —That it permitted , and even required , the constant interference and review of the authorities at home in the local affairs of the
colonies ; lhat it authorized the creatron , at the requisition of two colonies , of a General Assembly , to exercise a legislative power over all ; that it bequeathed , as the last act of imperial legislation for the colonies , a constitution which intrusted the great work of colonial legislation to a single chamber in each colony , and that chamber composed in part of Government nominees . Mr . Roebuck seconded the amendment . Government had derived no lesson from the recent history
of our colonies , which taught that disputes must continually arise between colonies and the mother country , against which , the bill contains no provisions . Lord Grey had quailed under his difficulties ; he had shirked his duty ; he had abdicated his power , and thrown upon others the responsibility which his own position entailed upon himself . He had felt that the Australian colonies should have double chambers , but he did not dare to propose it to the House ; and by this lame , impotent , and disjointed measure he had cast the responsibility upon the colonies . Mr . Hawes contended that the colonies were very well satisfied with , the proposed bill , and would be much , disappointed if it were postponed for another year . The constitution was a most liberal one , and was
chiefly opposed on the ground that there was not a double chamber . That , however , the colonists could create for themselves , if experience should convince them that such a change was advisable . Mr . Evei / yn Denison , Mr . Francis Scott , |\ Mr . Simeon , and Mr . Adreivley supported the amendment ; Mr . Aglionby , Mr . Anstey , Mr . Stanford , and Mr . Macgregor supported the bill . Mr . Hume opposed the amendment , because he thought the bill -would enable the colonies to escape from the trammels of the Colonial-office , which had hitherto proved so injurious . The House having divided , the amendment was negatived bv 226 to 128 .
Several other amendments were afterwards proposed , but the only one which came to a division was that of Mr . Denison ; who moved the insertion of a clause , with a view to give to the legislature of each colony the management of the waste lands within the limits of the colony . After a short discussion it was negatived by 222 to 32 . The bill was then read a third time and passed . The question of Protection was brought under discussion in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening by Mr . Gkantlky Berkeley , who moved for a committee of the whole House on the acts relating to
the importation of foreign grain . Lord John Russell was reported to have admitted to a late deputation that much suffering exists , and that the suffering was partly attributable to the recent change in our commercial laws . To mitigate this distress the landlords were told to reduce their rents , but he maintained that no reduction of rent would lessen the distress , and even if it would , Government had no right to call upon private individuals to meet difficulties which , have been caused by public legislation . The
distress was not a question of rent . If the landlords were to reduce rents in . proportion to the fall in the price of produce , they would be ruined . Mr . Cobden had promised them an increase of wajjes , but instead of that , the wages of the agricultural labourer had been reduced to Gs . a week , while the profits of the farmer had been swept away altogether . In the county of Suffolk alone the loss to the farmers was said to be no less than £ 3 , 000 , 000 . He wound up a long harangue by moving the resolution of which he had given notice .
Colonel SiBTiionr , Mr . Plumpthe , and the Marquis of GuANiiY supported the motion ; Mr . Archibald IIastik , Mr . Slaney , and Sir B . Hall opposed it . Mr . Mitchell endeavoured to show that there was no reason to apprehend large importations of grain , so long as prices continued as low as they now are ; and Mr . Sandaks , although he declined to vote for the motion , declared his belief that the natural price of wheat will range "between 30 a . and 40 s . Mr . James "Wilson endeavoured to show that prices were about to rise both here and on the Continent . He pointed attention aNo to a vory remarkable distinction between the s » uiU » ving of the present period and the suffering the country had witnessed in former times : —
" lie was satisfied that every dispassionate man must admit , that whereas at former periods the main part of the suffering was undergone by the working classes , the main portion of the . suU'erinc now depressing us was borne by the middle classes of society . Nor was this sun ering confined to the farmers nlono ; it had overtaken many other classes , although he did not ajjree with those who attributed that distress to free trade . Surely
honourable gentlemen opposite could not overlook one great , one enormous cause of this distress , in the frenzy which in 1845 and 1846 so carried away every class of the community , agriculturists , shopkeepers , and all , that scarcely any person in any county could be pointed out who had not suffered severely from railway speculation . (* Oh ! oh ! ' ) He did not apply the observation merely to the agricultural classes ; the railway mania was not confined to them , for the middle classes at
Liverpool , Manchester , and all the large towns were quite as much or more engaged in it ; and he could not blind himself to the fact that this was one great and patent cause of that suffering which honourable gentleman opposite laid to the charge of free trade . { Bear , hear . ) He held in his hand returns from the secretary of the Stock Exchange within the last few days relating to the nine chief railways of England ; and what was theresuit ? That whereas in 1848 no fewer men than 147 , 000 men were employed upon the railways , there were now not quite 45 , 000 so employed , so that upwards of 100 , 000 men , or more than a few years ago were employed in the w : iole cotton trade of the country , were thus thrown
out of employment—( hear , hear )—that , whereas in 1846 , upon these nine lines there had been expended £ 51 , 000 , 000 sterling , the net income upon which in that year was £ 2 , 700 , 000 , there had been now expended upon these lines £ 102 , 000 , 000 sterling , the net income derived from which was no more than £ 2 , 500 , 000 , or £ 200 , 000 less than in 1846 ; so that 51 , 000 , 000 had in the interval been expended by the community , from which the owners realized absolutely no return whatever . { Hear , hear . ) This was a fact which , in his opinion , of itself explained a very great deal of the distress under which our middle classes were suffering . "
Mr . Herries supported the motion . He could not understand why Lord John Russell should have any objection to an 8 s . duty now , seeing that he imagined it would be beneficial to the community in 1840 . Sir Charles " Wood taunted the Protectionists with their want of unity . They did not seem to know very well what to ask for . One was in favour of a fixed duty of 8 s ., another thought that would not
be sufficient , while a third recommended that nothing should be done till Parliament was more enlightened upon the subject , as there was very little prospect of any change being effected while it remained in its present mind . He ridiculed that notion that the present low prices were owing to the abolition of the Corn Laws , by showing that in 1835 , under the sliding scale , the price of wheat was 4 s . or 5 s . lovrer than it was in 1849 . He showed , too , that the price
of wheat was rising . By the most recent from New York it appeared that wheat there was 44 s . a quarter , which , taking the freight into account , would make the selling price in this country little short of 52 s . He admitted the existence of distress but denied that it was general , and quoted returns to show that pauperism was decreasing both in England and Ireland , and that the number of commitments for crime was also very much diminished . The prosperity of the revenue , which still continues to show symptoms of improvement , and the increase in our exports were additional proofs of the satisfactory condition of the country .
Mr . Disraeli said they had heard a great deal about the improved condition of the labouring classes , as exhibited by poor-law and criminal returns , but he would remind them that very great distress might exist in the country without its having yet reached the labouring class . He contended that we acted unwisely in allowing free imports from foreign countries which met us with hostile tariffs . By a judicious regulation of our Customs duties , throwing a portion of our taxation on the foreigner , we might have got rid of all our Excise duties . He concluded by saying that , although he did not approve of the course taken by Mr . Berkeley , he should vote for the motion , as he agreed with it in principle .
Mr . Cohden said it was absurd to enter upon such discussions on the price of grain as those they had been listening to . He was not one of those who regretted that corn was cheap . The people of this country had a right to get corn at the market price of the world , and so long as they could get it at that price he was satisfied , let it be 35 s ., 40 s ., or 45 s . As for talking of free trade as an experiment , it was simplv absurd . That matter was now fairly settled . If
pauperism had diminished , if crime had decreased , if trade and the revenue were improving , and if bullion still flowed into the Bank , notwithstanding the enormous imports of foreign grain , it was folly to talk of free trade being a failure . In conclusion , he taunted the Protectionists with their proposal to agitate for a dissolution of Parliament , and warned them that a dissolution , under present circumstances , wight lead to the discussion of much more serious questions than the Corn-law .
After a few remarks from Mr . Duxxk , Mr . Newdegate , and Mr . Berkeley , in reply , the House divided , when the numbers were : — For the motion , 18-1 ; against it , 293 ; majority against ,
114 . Lord Brougham , adverting to the departure of the Trench Ambassador on her Majesty's birthday , begjjca to know whether it was owing to any cause ot a serious nature . The Marquis of Lansdowne : There can be no doubt that the sudden and perhaps unexpected absence of tne
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 18, 1850, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18051850/page/2/
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