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312 THE LEA ESAtyRp^Yy
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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 Ballot. Mr. Beekeeey Brought On His ...
observations had been made , that he claimed them as his g alitical capital—it is an American phrase . ( " Oh , oh , " b'm the Ministerial side of the House . ) Mr . Walpole : The honourable gentleman shall not put me out . ( Ministerial cheers . ) That the words I have mentioned were the words used I firmly believe , for they were taken down at the time . If they were not the words let them be retracted . ( Cheers . ) The honourable gentleman unquestionably went on to quote the identical language of the noble lord at . the head of the Government ,
which language dj . d not contain the expression used by . the honourable gentleman —( cheers)—but , on the contrary , it amounted to this , that the occupying tenants of the counties and the landlords of the counties had a mutual regard and good will for each other , and that that influence was exerted by the landlords over the tenants . ( Cheers . ) These were something like the words quoted from the noble lord ' s speech , but they did not contain the allusion I have noticed , that he said , or even intended to say , that the tenants were political cattle . ( Cheers . )
This little duel being over , Mr . Walpole stated the usual Tory objections to the ballot , including the now famous " New York case , " about which so much noise is made . After Lord Dudley Stttabt had spoken for the motion , the House divided , and there were—For the motion , 144 ; against it , 246 . Majority against , 102 .
TENANT EIGHT . Mr . Shakman Ceawtqbd moved , on Wednesday , the second reading of the Tenant Right ( Ireland ) Bill . An immense number of petitions ( 109 by Mr . Crawford alone ) were presented in support of the bill , and not one against it . He stood there as the messenger of a nation , asking the assent of the House to a measure to which that nation had given its assent . " The principles of the bill were very simple . The preamble stated that the practice in Ireland had been to let land to tenants at will , or on short leases , without any written agreement , without suitable buildings for residences or barns , or without sufficient allowance being given
in consideration thereof , or any allowance for expenses to be incurred in draining . and otherwise improving the land . The preamble then went on to recite the custom of tenant-right , whichhad been practisedin the northof Irelandfor anumber of years , as a protection to the tenant for labour and capital expended . The bill did not propose to introduce the custom of tenant-right where it was not already established . It onl y proposed that where that right had been used and established , the valuation should be made according to that custom . The real object of the bill was to provide full and fair compensation for-the labour and capital
expended by the tenant , and by the expenditure of which increased value has been given to the land ; and it provided that that increased value should be assessed according to the tenant-right custom , where that custom had existed . Those enactments , however , were accompanied by two provisos for the security of the landlord . The first was that no landlord should be required to pay compensation if he were willing to continue the tenant at a rent agreed upon , or awarded under the provisions of this bill ; and next , that no claim should hold good unless the increased value of the land could be shown .
There was one point of detail which was quite open to consideration—namely , the tribunal to which the decision of disputes should be submitted . His proposition was , that in case of a f & ilure in tho arbitration , the matter in dispute , if under 100 ? ., should be referred to the assistant barrister and a jury , and if above 100 ? ., to tho judge of assize and a jury . That , however , was a point which was quite open for discussion . There were two other clauses in the bill to which he wished to call the attention of tho House . The 10 th clause provided for tho adjustment of contracts made previous to the repeal of tho corn laws , because ho thought it only fair that there should bo a power of re-adjusting such contracts . ( Hear , hear . ) That clause , however , was not an essontial principlo of the bill , but lie considered it a most useful adjunct . Tho 13 th and 14 > th clauscB were not inserted originall y tho bill , but had been added at tho pressing solicitation of many
gentlemen greatly interested in tho subject . The 13 th clause was framed for tho purpose of preventing evictions for a limited time , and the 14 th was inserted for tho purpose of effecting an equitable adjustment of arrears . It would bo for tho House to decide whether these clauses ought to bo inserted , but l » o thought the mass of tho people of Ireland roquirod somo protection of this sort . ( Hoar , hour . ) Tho best protection of landlords' rights was for them to do justice ; and their rights would never bo safe unless tho tenants' rights were justly protected . His object wan to da justice to both parties , and to promote the liappincHs and prosperity of tho people in general ; and , believing that the bill now before tho Houmo would tend to effect that object , ho now begged to move its second reading . ( Cheers . )
Tho motion was seconded by Sir I ) . NoEitllYS . Mr . Nai'Jusk , the Attorney-General for Ireland , met the bill half-way ; agreed with the principle , 'distinctly affirming that " compensation ought to bo given for unexhausted improvements ¦ " . criticised tho details rather sharply , and then briefly nroniificd a bill on the Hubjcct , framed und forwarded by the ' Government . Tho whole drift of Mr . Napier's Bpccch wont in favour of tenant-right , as n meusuro necoHnnry for tho protection of occupiers ; lie oven insinuated that tho present race of Irish lan dlords were not as good an they might bo , by stating that good landlords " could not bo mode by Act of Parliament , " and that without cooperation
between Irish landlords and Irish tenants , nothing could be done . But he neutralized all his admissions by laying down the maxim that no enactments ought to interfere between the owner and the occupier re ? strictive of the conditions of free letting of land . Our free commercial policy must be maintained , and parliamentary interference with contracts studiously avoided . And he clenched his speech by insisting that the- ' remedy for Irish , misery and Irish ' grievances lay in making " the . , a terror ' , to evil-doers , " and in " putting down the Kibbon conspiracy / ' with one hand , while , with the other , somo mysterious benefits in the shape of simplified and consolidated laws relating to landlord and tenant , were % dealt out by the Government .
The supporters of the measure were Mr . E . B . Roche , Viscount Castlereagh , Mr . J . Geeene , Mr . Vincent Scully , Mr . Keogh , Mr . Geattan , and , condition * ally , Mr . Osboene . Its opponents were Sir J . Emeesou Tennent , Mr . Whiteside , and Mr . Conolly . The supporters of the measure asked that it should be read a second time , and either referred to a select committee , or discussed and modified in its details by a committee of the whole house . These propositions were met by fiery attacks from the two Irish Tory members opposing the bill , one of whom applauded the tenant-right system as practised in Ulster , but objected ,
one to its extension by act of parliament , while the other denounced the entire principle . While they were debating respectively , the house grew impatient for a division , for the hand of the dial approached closely to six o'clock . It was suggested that no division should take place ; and after Mr . Whiteside ' s acrimonious speech , Mr . Butleb moved the adjournment of the debate , which was negatived . It wanted but ten minutes to six , when fate intervened in the shape of Mr . Conolly , who , denouncing the bill , with one eye on the Speaker and one on the clock > managed to continue until six , the hour of adjournment , arrived , when the Speaker rose , and the house adjourned .
ailNISTEBS WILL BE BROUGHT TO BOOK . The House of Lords was unusually well attended on Thursday , as if the members anticipated that some interesting questions were to be put to the Premier . Lord Derby , however , was absent ; and . the Earl of Malinesbury hastily and _ prematurely moved an adjournment , — himself leaving the House before the question could be put by the Chancellor . The Lords met at five , and adjourned at a quarter past ! Subsequently , in the House of Commons , Lord John Eussell beckoned Mr . Disraeli from his seat , and held with
him a private conference ; after which the Chancellor of the Exchequer communicated with some of his colleagues , and then left the House . Later in the evening it transpired that Lord John Russell had arranged to interrogate the Government closely last night as to their intentions relative to a dissolution of parliament . Should the replies not be satisfactory , tho Liberals will , it is to be hoped , unite to take positive steps for bringing the present unconstitutional " Government of a minority" to a proper sense of its position and responsibilities .
FOREIGN EEFUGEES . Apparently for the purpose of giving Lord Palmerston au opportunity of making a speech , Mr . Monckton Mixnes moved the following resolution on Thursday : " That this House has observed with regret , in tho correspondence respecting foreign refugees laid upon tho table , a menace on the part of a friendly power to visit upon unoffending British travellers its displeasure at that exercise of tho right of asylum which is agreeable to tho laws , the customs , and tho feelings of tho people of Great Britain , and which in recent times has afforded rofugo and security to parsons of various nations without any distinction of political opinions . "
Tho famous or rather infamous Schwnmsnberg despatches , and tho shower of notes generally from foroign courts during tho last months of 1851 , rejecting the toleration of conspiring refugees in this country furnished Mr . Milnes with materials for n speech . He especially dwelt on thoinsulting note from Prince Sch warzenborg , threatening retaliation upon English travellers for the HuppoHod injuries inflicted on Austria by the presence of Joseph Mazzini and the enthusiastic reception of Louis Kossuth , Ho pointed out how tho lan < guugo of tho continental Governments changed when
Lord Derby acceded to office—the Austrian Minister expressing his " greatest satisfaction" ait that event , and our Foreign Secretary , Lord . Mulnieubury , reciprocating the joyful feelings . His motion , lie said , hud a twofold object : first , to give protection to British subject yiu foreign countries ; secondly , to assort tho right of England to grant an asylum to foroign rofugeoH . Tlio motion would likewiHe jmvo its uho in showing foreign Governments that despatches such an that which Prince Schwarzonburg sent to Lord Mnlinesbury were not acceptable to tho people of this country . Lord Dudley Stuaiu seconded tho motion , opening his speech by un attack on tho Government .
" The Government , by the avowal of their own leader in the House of Lords , were in a minority in the Commons , and it was extremely doubtful whether they were not also in a minority in the Lords . As for the people the Government durst not appeal to them , ( ironical cheers from the Ministerial side . ) The noble lord at the head of the Government ^ in order to avoid doing that was driven to violate the assurances he had given in his place in parliament ( cheers ) , and to back out of his engagements ( cries of "Oh , oh ! " and " Question , ! " from the Ministerial side ) j though the Souse of Commons , upon the faith of those engagements , had consented to vote the supplies . ( " Question . " ) Gentlemen on the other side did not like ' to hear disagreeable truths . "
As the cry of " Question" continued , he justified his remarks by insisting that there existed a feeling of strong sympathy between the Austrian Government and the present British Government . The papers on the table proved a conspiracy of kings to frighten England into yielding up refugees . Quoting the words of the Lite Lord Holland , who said" In all times , and according to all history , if ever anything mean , oppressive , or treacherous was to be done , Austria was the party put forward to execute it . " And when taken to task for these words by Lord Liverpool , he would not retract them , but , on the contrary , repeated that , —
" There never was a Government that had uniformly displayed more meanness , more severity , and more injustice than the Austrian Government . " He hoped the House would sanction the resolution as a rebuke to the political despots . Mr . Walpole put in the Government defence . He read a string of extracts from the foreign despatches , and of replies by our Ministers to show first , that the conduct of the Government of this country , late and
present , had upheld and maintained its dignity ; second , that the foreign Courts had misunderstood , very naturally , our laws and regulations with reference to foreign refugees , so different from their own ; and , third , considering that this misapprehension had been more or less removed by the representations of the late Government , and the conciliatory tone employed , and that more amicable relations now existed , that it was inexpedient by an abstract resolution to revive feelings of dissatisfaction which had disappeared .
The present Government were quite as " determined as any past government to maintain the rights of asylum" in this country with regard ito refugees . After Mr . Anstey had insisted that the conduct of Austria towards English travellers was systematic and deliberate , riot adopted in the heat of passion , and that it had not changed , Lord Palmeeston rose to make the speech of the debate . "He thought Mr . ' Milnes had done right in bringing under the consideration of tho House a question of great importance in regard to our own law , our international relations , the rights of British subjects abroad , unfi tlio them
obligations of the British Government towards . Mr . Walpole , he observed , had addressed great part of bis speech to one branch only of Mr . Milnes ' s argument—the duty incumbent upon the British Government to afford protection to foreign exiles ; and did not express the determination of the Government to enforced pr otection to British subjects travelling abroad . With regard to the transactions to which the papers related , some allowance , ho remarked , ought to be made for tho sensitive anxiety which some of the continental Governments expressed last year in regard to the proceedings of foreign refugees in this country . Unaware of tho license given to free discussion in this country , those Governments bad also conceived an exaggerated notion of tho effects of the Exhibition . In a conversation with Count Waloswski , ho haa
explained tho extont to which tho law of this c ountry allowed of interference with foreigners . Ho had likewise endeavoured to convince othor foreign ambassadors when they made representations to him upon tho subject , tuftc their apprehensions as to tho mischief that could bo done by tho refugees wore extravagant . And hero ho was very malicious . With that simplo candour which ho knows so well how to assume , Lord Pahneraton repaid his foreign friends for their share in his fall , by making tho ^ ° { wl ^ statement of the mode ho adopted in arguing with tliem on their anxieties . " " I took tho liborty further of stating to those persons that I thought they greatly exaggerated tho danger to vo approhonded to any foroign country from tho presence > foroign refugees hero . Why , Sir , I think there is notninj , in which . opinion goes so far boyond fact , as in tho nowo » that refugees can effect unv considerable mischiql in u
country irom which they have boon alienated . * [] ir they to do it P In tho ' nrst place , it ifi said that by «> " £ miHsivcf ) and letters , and proclamations , they may ox pinna of insurrection . Well , but tho effect of fi cause utponds very much not merely on ' tho cause itseli , l > uc un condition of tho thing on which that cause i « Jo ° l *! ^ A single spark will explode a powder-magazine , an blazing fagot will burn out harmless on a lur « P » 'f 0 ' * ( Hour ) If a countr y bo in a stato of suppressed h ^ "" . dificontont , a very slight indication may augment Miai ^ content , and urojluco an explosion ; but if tho cou"P ^ . fl well governed ,, and tho people bo cpntont cd , tuon »«» and proclamations from unhappy rtifugfios will 1 ) 0 oh k'HB as tho torch upon tho turnpiko-roiul . ( ChoorH . J it ¦
It did appear to him , that , at one timo , w . " ' ¦" , '„ tontion oi' tho Austrian Govornmont to rotanai . o i ^ British travoltam , bocauso thoii-Government < nu » what tho Auatriau authorities know thoy could not tg £ do ; und , tlioroforo , Mr . Milne . s did right m callma ; "JJ tontion of tho llouoo to such a menace . Lord X «» " >"
312 The Lea Esatyrp^Yy
312 THE LEA ESAtyRp ^ Yy
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 3, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_03041852/page/4/
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