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1126 THE LEADER. [Saturday,
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THE PARLIAMENT OE THE WEEK. TjAST week, ...
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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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Ftlhe Free Trade Debate Has Had So Many ...
in gold and hope . The precious metal has been found in South Australia , hitherto supposed to be bare of the precious metal ; and the quantities sent in from the Victoria diggings wax in amount . Some twenty tonsave come , or coming to England . Discovery is advancing both in Central Africa and Arctic America . The Isabel has discovered at least one part where Franklin was not , and has all but ascertained that Greenland is insular . Overweg and Barth have extended the knowledge of Bornou and Begharme , and have discovered a new path for commerce to our allies in that wild and difficult country , where the Americans are already making way .
1126 The Leader. [Saturday,
1126 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
The Parliament Oe The Week. Tjast Week, ...
THE PARLIAMENT OE THE WEEK . TjAST week , the Opposition flung down its defiance , and the Ministry picked it up , meeting the challenge by substituting a resolution similar to that framed by Mr . Villiers , oninus the important affirmation of the wisdom and justice of the Free-trade measures of 1846 , 184-7 , and 1848;—in fact , a resolution amounting simply to an adoption of Free-trade policy , and reserving to themselves the task of carrying it out in their own manner . So far the field was clear for the combat , and both parties in both Houses have not been slow to engage .
The first skirmish happened in the House of Lords , on Monday . The Marquis of ClanmCabde , in rathor a prosy speech , wished to be informed as to the measures Ministers intended to submit during the session of 1852-3 . He also pointed out , that whereas the Premier bad promised that the financial statement of the Ministerial views should be made on the 26 th , yet the Chancellor of the Exchequer had , in another place , given notice of a motion embodying those views . Would Lord Derby inform the House of the way in which lie intends to bring the Free-trade question before thorn either before or after the 26 th .
Lord Derby was not slow to rise . But before he answered the question , he thought it necessary to recapitulate the circumstances attending their accession and continuance in office , bow he had stood pledged to refer the question to the country for decision , how the country bad decided adversely to him , how be had promised an autumn session for Parliament to close the controversy for ever , and how they were met for that purpose , lie bad resolved to be guided by the sense of the community at large ; the Queen ' s Speech showed bow Ministers had adopted that guidance ; and any ambiguity in the Queen ' s Speecli had been removed by his own speech on the address , find that of Mr . Disraeli in the other House . Language could not be
more explicit than that contained in those speeches . But he had not thought ifc right to rost upon a declaration only . They had announced that a full and detailed account of their financial and fiscal measures would be laid before Parliament on the 26 th . Ministers bad boon perfectly satisfied to rest until the 26 th , when facts , not words , would prove their sincerity . But a member of the Opposition had given notice of his intention to move an abstract resolution , couched in terms which " with honour and credit it was impossible that Government and its supporters could accede . " Ah a pledge for the future , ifc went no further than the amendment which , " for the purpose of recording the intentions and opinions of the House , " the Chancellor of the I'keliequer had placed on the notice paper .
"I know not , of course , what views umy be in the contemplation of llio . se by whom that motion has boon brought forward . If the intention wn to overthrow the present . (« o \ -eminent , before the period at which tlit ;_ y should have bad mi opportunity of developing and explaining their policy , I only hope thai ; in ( , hut , ease tho honourable gentleman who moves tin * resolution and the heads of those various sections into which the opposition in the . Mouse of Commons is divided , bavo well considered the full amount of Hie responsibility which they have taken upon thotiiMi'lvcs---that they have considered , not how ( Jhoy may combine the largest , amount of force for the purpose of overthrowing ( lie ( lovcminent , but that , they have considered the interests of the country ; and whether , if thai , Government be overt brown , they have among them tho materials of concert , of unity of action , anil intention , ivhich is necessary to form another Govornment , and to preserve tho country from tin ; inconvenience of a inininlerial interregnum . 11 may be that they have no intention of taking upon llieinselvcs Ktieb a responsibility , or of necking to overthrow the < Jovornuiont ; and ifthai . be so , thon , ¦ considering Mint , ( his motion ( ran do nothing towards ntlirniing- ( hit principle further than we are ready and willing to iillirni that , principle ourselves -then , lay lords , I Hay that if it be not , intended to overthrow , but only to weaken and discredit the ( Joverninent , by forcing upon . y ^^^ ^ ., ffir ? N them a ninolution in tenon offeiiHivo to them and tlieir if # fCo ' w-JUf ^ x- ' ^ Supporters , and if that bo the only intention which < ho ? + [/(& ^ ~ M ~ ' ^/ i Z . V *> v »*»* H have ) in -view , 1 liavo then groat confidence in tho t ? " ^• fr ^^ C ^ T ^ 'i P *' outm <> f Commons and in the country thai , they will not * ¦ tiSWv ^ AK ^ viiisTn * » > ffUiclion or support a proceeding , whim , if that bo itfl in-JO ^ wfi * t 2 l JL RBHl-c ^ W 2 BP ; 3
tention , must be putely factious , and , if it be successful , must involve very serious difficulties to the country . " He concurred in thinking they had met to decide the controversy ; Ministers would stand or fall by the measures to be proposed on the 26 th ; but he had no intention of submitting any measures to that House before Christmas . Lord CiiANKiCARDE replied ; ridiculing the idea that Ministers as good asf the present' at least could not be found . » ¦ '
Lord WoDEHGtTSE was rather severe upou the conduct of Lord Derby . He had said that the resolution of the Opposition was factious . Was the noble lord in a condition to make that charge ? If Mr . Villiers was factious , what ought to be said of Lord Derby , from whom , on account of his equivocal conduct since 1846 , it was thought necessary to extract pledges for the future not usually demanded of Ministers of the Crown . Obviously , and he had peculiar means of knowing , the agriculturists expected compensation ; so that if the amendment , which does not affirm the justice of the Free-trade measures , be adopted , instead of closing the controversy , we only enter on a new stage .
" When the noble earl applied the term ' factious' to the conduct of those opposed to him , lord Wodehouse would remind him ( without any intention of imputing motives ) that his own conduct since 1846 would bear that interpretation as well as that of any man in the country . When they considered the way in which he broke up the Ministry of Sir Robert Peel in 1846 , and remembered his declarations year after year to the farmers that he would stand by protection , and then saw the manner in which , when he was called upon to take office in 1851 , he declared that he would bow to the feelings of the country , he thought his conduct might be as fairly stigmatised as ' factious' as that
of any public man at any time in this country . Considering the immense amount of abilities which all were perfectly aware was concentrated on the Government benches in both Houses of Parliament , but particularly in that , he must say that he thought it was extremely remarkable that they so seldom heard the sweet voices of the noble lords opposite . It was curious that the noble earl opposite should in debate take it upon himself , not only to reply to the speech of the noble lord who might have immediately preceded him , but also to the speeches of all the noble lords on the opposite side of the House who had spoken before him in the course of the debate . "
Tho Earl of Derby : I shall not , my lords , answer the speech of the noble baron . I do not think it necessary to make any observations on the terms , the language , the tone , or the good taste of that speech . My lords , my conduct has been before the public for the space of , I am sorry to say , now nearly thirty years , and I am not now going , in answer to the speech made by the noble baron , to defend my conduct against imputations which I feel to be utterly unworthy of him . That the noble baron will
give me leave to think myself the best judge of , and that I do not think I have to learn from him tho mode in which my personal honour should be defended . I wish to say one word in explanation to my noble friend the marquis opposite . I am sure he will acquit me of having endeavoured to interrupt him ( the Marquis of Clanricarde assented . ) I merely wished to place tho discussion , which I thought might be protracted to a considerable length , upon a footing which would save the order of this House .
Lord Wodehouse withdrawing any expressions considered as personal , and Lord Derby accepting his explanation , coi hided this fight of the advanced guard . j ^ Followir .- ; ; tho special debate in the House of Eorti ^ i , « Mtie ~ * .. c regular battle in the Commons on Tuesday night . It was opened by Mr . Vli . lxfais , who moved the following r ^ lutions : — " That it is the opinion oT "if |*^ XToubc that the improved condition of the country , and parffaularly of the industrious classes , is mainly the result of r .-rSnt commercial legislation , and especially of the act of l & lft , which established tho freo admission of foreign corn , anil that that act was a wise , just , and beneficial measure . \
" That it is the opinion of this Hoi | 3 ft . £ ha t the maintenance and further extension of tho p *> l | i £ jf of Free-trade , as opposed to that of Protection , will b * JOT Jgnablo the property and industry of tho nation to 1-AufThe burdens to which they are exposed , arid will moot jcontributo to tho general prosperity , welfare ) , and contentment of the people . "That this House- is ready to take inte its consideration any measures consistent with the prineil > l < , * s of those resolutions which may bo laid before it by ho ? Majesty ' s Ministers . " ' '
Mr . Villiern pointed out the position of the Houno in respect of the great matter beforo them . 1 \ b it had not been thought proper to move an ainondinof ; t to the Address , he bad risen and given notice of his intention to move the present resolutions . The pimigr . apb in the Queen ' s . Speech had caused universal di- ( satisfaction . ( Opposition cheers . ) Instead ol" finding soti * etiring like an official intimation of the Government un < in'tho groat matter , they found nothing except , what had twOfe justly called an unworthy evasion of ( ho whole matter . , ( Cheers . ) Terms were used purposely to be not respect ) \ xl to the House . ( Ohoh ! from tho Ministerial benches . ) "Isay
, that most advisedly . " ( Ob , oh ! and counter cheei ' 8 . ) We all know what la meant by the expression , " I Wt . >««©& ' - in its wisdom . " When any one wants to satimNi ™^ g House , ho refers in a Hnoering tono to its " wiwk % »»* ( Ironical laughter and counter cheers . ) Did Mii > iHt « vM suppose Mint paragraph would bo satisfactory to tho ll . ou « u iy Thoso who ( lid not consider it satis factory , however , were callpft " factious" by the Premier ; and on this account ho required a diatinct and positive declaration . Ho had boon uttked to waive bin proposition , in ordur that tho Chancellor
Why shoiild he implicitly trust that Government ? Ho could he gather its intentions from the inconsistent speech ™ of its members ? As to converts , they were no converts af all ; they were merely acting from necessity . They did what they called " bow to the decision of the country . " A mor convenient course could not be conceived ; because to us a coarse expression , it was " heads I win , tails you lose " ( Laughter . ) If you are successful , we bow to the decision —if we are successful , we adopt our own policy . At all events , we remain in . ( Renewed laughter . ) ^ _ .,
of the Exchequer might propose certain measures Nnor he knew noHuiig of those measures ; they had nothfn „* do with thepurpowfbr which they had me ! J TheTtt been dissolved ; the Mmister had been tried by his cJvmttt and found wanting . Was it an answer to the verdWZ the country to Bay _ If this will not do , we have gotiome thing eke—we have got such a wonderful colleague tW he can produce a measure satisfactory to everybody n tain medical practitioners said similar things Hew * " perfectl y astonished that his resolution should be- cohRi ? JE ^ * " £ * ™ *? uP et tn « & overnmenL
Mr . Villiers then showed how Ministers privately still held to their old opinions ; how , respecting those opinions the whole country had decided ; and why was the House of Commons to be the only place where such a decision could not be come to ? He must persist in pressing his resolutions . The amendment showed a great advance in . Ministerial views . What was the difference between tho two ? Merely this , that the former designated the repeal of the corn-laws as a just , wise , and beneficent act and the proposers of the latter considered that factious . ' Just before he came into the House he had heard that Ministers might resign if beaten . He had not the smallest desire to
see the right honourable gentleman displaced . ( Laughter . ) " I do not deny that the First Minister is a great authority upon what ought properly to be called ' faction . ' ( Laughter . ) He has been , as he said last night , thirty years before the public , and the public have had the opportunity of witnessing his conduct during that period , and I do not in the least doubt his authority on such a subject . ( Renewed laughter . ) But it still is possible for a person to be singleminded in his object , and to have but a single purpose in what he does , and it may be possible also for a person to be ready to abandon every principle and every party for the sake of power . ( Laughter . ) But I really
care very little whether any credit be given to my statement or not , and do you know , that I really believe this great country would survive even if so great a calamity as the resignation of the present Government should befal it . ( Laughter . ) I should be sorry if it did occur , but I have heard of such things before . ( Laughter . ) I never yet knew a Government that was in power which was not supposed to be without a successor , and I have never seen other persons succeeding them who , within one mouth , did not have the same thing said of them . I am not disposed to attach so much importance to any Government as some people do . I have seen four or five
Governments since I have been in this House , and , so far as I have been able to judge , there has been a very strong family likeness in all of them . ( Laughter . ) This country generally does not suffer much by changes of Government . Those who succeed to power generally do that when they are in office which they opposed when out . ( Renewed laughter . ) My opinion is , that no great genius is required to carry on the Government . All the important parts of the duty of the Government are performed by public servants , of whom we hear but very little ; and it must be either a great want of j udgment , or some great defect in capacity , when any Government becomes sufficiently disabled to be displaced . ( Laughter ttatethat in
and ironical cheering . ) I beg , however , o s , making this motion I have no conceivable object in displacing tho Government . I do not act as a partisan on the occasion . ( Cheers , and cries of ' oh , oh . ' ) If it should happen that any honourable gentleman doubts my motive , I shall , however , bo quite reconciled to it . ( Cheers . ) If I might offer a little advice to tho right honourable tho Chancellor of the Exchequer , I would advise him , it my resolution is carried against him , to do no such thing as" resign . He should rather be thankful for it , as it will enable him to proceed in tho course which he appears desirous of adopting . ( Cheers . ) The right honourable gentleman appears to bo now entering upon a career o usefulness , and 1 would not have him deterred by t »<>
novelty of his position from proceeding in that career . ( Laughter . ) Ho appears now to take very much in same views of matters of commercial legislation as -nos whom be formerly assailed and denounced , and with n groat talents , which would seem to be available lor <»¦> purpose , I should be very sorry to boo him removed lrom tho ofiiee which be fills . ( Cheers and laug hter . ) Referring to the famous Freo-tmdo budget speechoi »; spring , and pointing out the signal and rapid advance < Ministers mum they had been in oflice , Mr . Villiers went great length into statements to show how very boiient . ^ to tho country J'Yee-trado had proved . H « ' ml . ' chiefly reforred < o a great mass of documents showing , said , the unexampled prosperity of tho country , '' ' tenan ¦
manufactures , or agriculture . . Landowners , - •» . ' and labourers bad never been better off . As to ¦ M « ' M Jon ant-en of the farmers they were not , those oi lost I i <>'_ ^_ They always asked that a low othor things should u - ^ tied -law of distress , the law of Hottloment , teiian , h ^ and the gauio laws -but these were questions " '' ; , ( l discussed in that Mouse oh fanners' questions . , \ tt sympathy with tho farmers - ( ironical cheers ) -- »<> - )) ih | 1 ( . ho time come when they imiihI . 1 >» consideml ino ¦ they have been . ( Cheers . ) " I cannot , help tliini ^ , £ , ( . . . ) the ' farmers have been a very ill-used elasn . w { j Political capital has been ina . lo out of Ul <> 1 !" ( llH „ ' ^ l ,, l . " do not , know imy class of people who have heenn ^ (( Jhoors . ) Tho " fanners had boon grossly ^ ^ ; viH | d " friends" und nover more than latterly . VV Im *~ ntly tfipuUl bo afHrmod wan , that tins prosperity ol u »> , J ( 1 WiU owing to tho Free-trade uiouauroH , and iiol b « nd emigration . \ i
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 27, 1852, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_27111852/page/2/
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