Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 27th November 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 1135, Untitled Article

Page 1135
Page 11
11 of 24

On this page

  • Departments (1)
    • f&BtBXUft
  • Text (5)
  • Transcript

    • 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.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      F&Btbxuft

      f&BtBXUft

      Untitled Article

      Satttedat , November 27 . - jotished . The great debate closed last night ; d the Free-traders , pure and simple , were defeated f v an ample , and set on one side hy an overwhelming , Vority . Mr . Cobden and Manchester are beaten by fTe combined influence of the Peelites and the Leader ho has no party , but who seems to control all . In fact Lord Palmerston , as the Times says this morning , is ' Master of the Situation . "

      The adjourned debate was continued by Mr . Milker CibsoN , who denied that this was a question of want of confidence , the Government being entirely separated from it . The House shoiild take care not to place Free-trade on a basis which might slide from under it . The fact that food was cheap might not always be a fact but the question rested upon the right that men had ' to free exchange . He complained of Lord Palmerston ' conduct , in taking the question out of Mr . Villiers ' s hand . the

      Mr . Milnes Gaskell thought ^ hafc denial of the justice of the policy of 1846 was compatible witli an admission of the benefits it had wrought . The question was between a Government desirous to carry out our commercial policy , unn % d upon other questions , and a party which agreed upon no other question than that of Free-trade . Mr . Sidney Heebeet had been greatly disappointed at the course Government had taken at the opening of Parliament . The policy that had been adopted ought to have been stated in intelligible words . He

      animadverted upon the Government amendment , and censured its expressions , as not referring to the opinion of the country , which the House wanted to know . He should prefer Mr . Villiers ' s resolution , but that he thought there were words in it which it was impolitic to propose for the adoption of the other side . Generosity was the best policy ; and as a witty writer had said that the Jews could make few proselytes , seeing that their profession of faith began with a surgical operation , it could hardly be expected to bring over converts to Free-trade if we commenced with penance and the pillory . As regarded compensation , he distinctly asserted that it was out of the question , he having always considered

      the legislation of 1846 as the restitution of rights which the landed interest had unjustly enjoyed . The fame of Sir Robert Peel had been placed on a pedestal from which no counter-resolution of that House could move it . Having enjoyed that statesman ' s friendship , and sat hy him while he was accused in the foulest language of the meanest crimes ( loud cheers ) , he knew his character and his generosity . He would wish no antagonist humiliated . But if they wanted humiliation—for not words but deeds humiliated men—they had but to look there . ( Tremendous cheers , as Mr . Herbert pointed to the Treasury Bench . ) He should support Lord Palmerston ' s amendment .

      Mr . Hkntiy Djiummond explained to the House that Protection had been a creature of necessity , and hud grown up when the Anglo-Saxon wanted iron breeches made by resident manufacturers , and that unrestricted competition had been another necessity , and its adoption had begun at the close of the war , the repeal of the corn-laws being only the apex of that policy . Hut ho considered that Sir Robert Peel had given a

      blow to public confidence- in public men from which this generation would not recover . Mr . Miintz had thought the repeal of the Corn-laws a clinico between evils . But as he did not believo our present prosperity ( which was duo to the import of tf «> ld ) to be mainly attributable to that repeal , he should iiflinn no Hiu : h proposition . Ho would . support Lord I ' luiiKM-ston , but he begged to inform the ; House that the people were laughing at them .

      Tim Marquis of ( Jkankv'h reasons for not adopting either of the resolutions were threefold . He did not believe thai , the prosperity of tho country was as great ils it ought to be ; he did not believe that it was ut-( l'ihiital > lo to recent legislation and unrestricted conipe' ¦ 'lion ; and even if it were , he believed that such legislation was not stamped with the principles of unre" trictert competition . Mr- Kit / . kov said that he should feol himself wanting

      111 his duty to the memory of Sir H . Peel , whoso friend lln had been , and under whom he had nerved , if bo ''• 'Stated to record his conviction of the wisdom nixl i" » ti (; ( i oi" ( , 1 , ( , policy () f that , stat . csiniin . Bui , under lll (( < 'in-uinsf , uiices , lie suggested the withdrawal oi' Mr . Viiru .,- H * H motion .

      Mr . Kicndai-i ,, m a Protectionist , admitted the conl ( V 'ilineni of tho people , but denied thai it had been 1 'iodiKvd by Free-tm < le . Mr . Hi , ackiott would sooner hoo tho Free-trade rewlution curried , by a wniull than l > y a wham majority .

      They must distinguish between the true and false Freetraders . Colonel Sibthoep had been reminded by the three resolutions of the three cross roads in which the criminal of old was buried , and should not support either . Mr . Wajrner supported Mr . Villiers ' s resolution , believing it framed with patriotic intentions . Sir James Graham , after some observations on the inconsistency of Ministers , said that he bad endeavoured to frame his resolution in the temper and spirit which

      Sir R ,. Peel would , had he been alive , have displayed , and with that Christian forbearance for which the departed statesman was so remarkable . He was not surprised that , on the whole , gentlemen opposite were disposed to reject a declaration , that a policy against which they had so long struggled was wise and just . He was as earnestly opposed to any idea of compensation , and should resist it as strenuously , as any member in that House . But painful as it was to him to vote against Mr . Villiers , he should feel it his duty to support Lord Palmerston ' s amendment .

      Mr . Phixipps , amid the noisy impatience of the House , was understood to oppose the resolution . Lord John Russell hoped the debate would be brought to a close that night . After commenting on the previous proceedings , and alluding to Lord Palmerston as having relieved gentlemen opposite , and caused disunion on his own side , he said that both sets of resolutions were very well framed , and went to the same purpose , but that he could not vote against those of Mr . Villiers ; although he should have voted for Lord Palmerston ' s had they come first in order . , He did not see why he should make his vote dependent on the feelings of gentlemen

      opposite , who , however , he thought were more sensitive than circumstances demanded . Defending the " odious epithets , " and referring to his own efforts to prepare the way for the repeal of the Corn-laws , he expressed his apprehension that the signal for a fresh struggle had been held out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer , in the announcement of compensation , or relief . He begged , for the sake of the landed interest ^ that no special favour might be asked for them ., but that any boon of remitted taxation might be large and general . The admission of agricultural distress , in the Queen's Speech prepared by his own Government , was expressly meant to show that he intended no specific relief to that interest . The Chancellor of the

      Exchequer ' s argument , that his party had never sought to reverse the Free-trade policy , was ingenious , but deficient in truth , and he had led the farmers to believe he meant to restore protection when he meant nothing of the kind . He would not judge Lord Derby harshly , but he seemed to have misconceived the constitutional position of himself as regarded the question of Freetrade , and also that of his subordinates , who had taken opposite sides at the elections . The Chancellor of tho Exchequer had been a faithless supporter of" Protection ; it was for tho House to take care that he was not so faithless to Free-trade . He had no confidence in the professions of the Ministry , or in the conversion of many of their supporters . The battle was not over .

      Mr . Secretary Walpole said that the only question was , whether tho legislation of 184 G should be pronounced strictly wise and just . Ho had himself voted against that legislation , and he could not apply to it the proposed description , though admitting that it was beneficial to the great body of ( he people . Lord John Russell had assumed that Government was going to give compensation to the landed interest , an hypothesis he would eventually find totally unfounded , as the liimnciiil measures of Government would be based on

      the policy of unrestricted competition . Alter a warm tribute to the Earl of Derby , he replied to Lord . John Russell ' s charge of double principles by reminding him that the commercial policy was not the only or the most , important bond of the party who had been compelled to take ofliee . If they bad not the confidence of ihe country they could not . and would not retain their places ; and be disbelieved that unworthy motives

      aciimtcd tho majority of public men in desiring ofhee , for which the having abandoned cerium opinions was no disqualification . He deelared that ho would adhere to the policy of the Corn-laws on the same ground thai tho NtanehoHt Protestant would adhere to Uio Kinanei ' - piitiou Act , or the sturdiest- Tory to the Keforin Act . Hut Conservative principles were the ( Jovorninont bond of union , and by currying them out they should best serve the country .

      Mr . Co hi . ) hiv expressed Inn long-rooted suspicion ol Lord Pidmerston , and advised tho " juveniles" not , to follow him . If the division should result unfavourably for tho Free-trade cause , the country would attribute it to Lord Pal incision . After u sketch of Corn-law history ( continually interrupted by the impatience of the House ) , he charged ihe landlords with being tho cause of tho mischief which wight have occurred to tho

      farmers since the repeal , by deluding them with the idea of Protection ; and he taunted them ^ with their cowardice in bowing to a resolution framed in opposition to their opinions . Several members rose , but the clamour for a division became uproarious . At last Mr . Isaac Btttt was permitted to be heard . He protested against Mr . Cobden ' s dictatorial tone , and declared , that the resolution was intended to record the triumph of the Manchester School , which sought Jacobinically to achieve its objects by appeals to the fears of Parliament . He would vote for no resolution which should foreclose his claim to compensation ; but professed his confidence in Government .

      Mr . Gladstone , in answer to an appeal Mr . Cobden had made to the friends of Sir R . Peel , said that tho reason why they would be found voting for the amendment was , that they believed that vote dictated by a regard to the principles of justice . Tho language on which Mr . Cobden replied as a bar to compensation was totally unequal to bear that interpretation . Those who should vote for Lord Palmerston ' s amendment would accept the Free-trade policy because believing its maintenance for the future to be wise and just . Mr . Villifirs ' s resolution was of a character which

      Parliament had never adopted ; and the speaker referred to the course which had been taken in rejecting a similar motion made on the subject of the Appropriation Clause . After an eloquent tribute to the memory of Sir II . Peel , and to his services in repealing the Cornlaws , Mr . Gladstone urged the repression of any desire to trample on those who had resisted manfully , and been defeated fairly . Mr . Newdegate retracted some language he had used out of the House in reference to Mr . Cobden , but expressed his indignation that a new agitation had been threatened by that individual .

      Mr . Vjiliees , in his general reply , offered some explanations as to his share in promoting the resolution , and said that every one of the parties in the House who had imputed an unprecedented or unworthy character to that resolution , had previously declared that it was quite unexceptionable . He could not understand how any Free-trader could oppose it who had not ulterior

      . Lord Palmerston and Mr . Gladstone gave some explanations in reference to Mr . Villiers ' s remarks as to their knowledge of the resolution , denying his implied imputation . Tho House divided , and the numbers were—For Mr . Villiers ' s resolution - - 256 Against it 336 . Majority against it - -80 Another division was taken on tho amendment , and the numbers were—For Lord Palmerston's amendment 4 G 8 Against it < ) 3 Majority for it - —415 The House adjourned at two .

      Early in the evening , in answer to Lord John Russell , the CiiANCJoriLOit of tho Kkcuhqitkh said that Friday next would bo the most convenient day for his financial statement .

      Untitled Article

      'The return of M r . W . J . Fox at . the approaching election for Oldlium is now regarded as almost , a certainty . The only doubt , has arisen from tho possibility of I ho intimidation which is expected from the morn violent adherents of Mr . IL ' eald , tho other candidate , acting to prevent ; soino of Mr . Fox's supporters coming to tho poll . Meanwhile , an application which was made to the magistrates of tho borough on tho subject of tho recent disturbances of public order , and tlic ^ appointment , of about < 1 ( X ) special constables , has chocked those , violent exhibitions ol' party feeling which , took place previously . 11 . is probable that tho writ , will

      riot bo issued until the new register , by which tho Liberals are considerable gamers , conies into operation , on tho 1 st of December . Tho contradiction which recently appeared in tho Times ol' Mr . Fox ' s authorship of tho letters of ' ¦ A miens , " during tho recent , dispute between tho master engineers » u-l their workmen , bus gained that , penile mail several new adherents , although there are not wanting persons who still behove him to be the ' author . 'I'he general impression appears to bo that the election will take pl / tco between Ihe ittb and Mth of December . 'Flu ; majority for Mr . Fox will , it is estimated , bo about TOO . -- I ' imea , thin morning .

      Untitled Article

      According to present , arrangements , if the weather provo favourable , a grand review will take placo in the course of noxt week in llydo-purk , in tho presence of the distinguished oilicers who came over to this country to bo present , at , tho funeral of tho late Duke of Wellington . The Duko of Cambridge and Lord Kuglan , accompanied by a considorablo number of oHieers attached to viirioim foreign services , who attended the fuiiornl of the Duko of Wellington , visited the Roy id Arsenal at Woolwich yesterday , and went over the diil'ereiit departments of tho establishment . Thoro has boon a desperate utlVay with poachers on tlio estate of Lord Ilawko , Womer » k y Piu ' k , uour Doucuutor ; throo moil liftYO toon shot .

      Untitled Article

      jjoVEMBEft 27 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . 1 ^ 5

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 27, 1852, page 1135, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1962/page/11/