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Leader (1850-1860), 5th April 1851, Edition Country of 2, Page 3, April 5, 1851.] &!) * fLlftfret* 311

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      Parliament Of The Week. The Discussion O...

      ous . He proposed no such measure to the Government now . { Cries of ' Order . ' ) That power was granted on the ground of the then recent revolution in France . Since then , however , a great number of other revolutions had taken place , and there were , therefore , a still greater number of foreigners in this country . God forbid that he should seek to deprive them of the asylum they had found f rom the hospitality of England ; but it had come to his knowledge , and he believed that it had a perfectly goo d fou ndation , that combinations were at this moment going on between persons resident in this country as refugees and their friends abroad , and also with certain of her Majesty ' s subjects , for the purpose of making a dem onstration during the ensuing months , which would be imminently dangerous to the peace of the country . The

      question he meant to ask was whether any temporary measure to meet this danger was in the contemplation of her Majesty ' s Government ? 11 G . Gre y said the attention of Government had long been directed to this matter . He did not think the peace of this country was in any way menaced , but measures had been taken by the Government in the event of any insane attempt to disturb the public tranquillity to crush it on the instant . With respect to foreigners in this country concocting conspiracies against their own or any other foreign country , he could not too strongly state his opinion that such conduct was a gross breach of the hospitality extended towards them . Foreigners in this country concocting conspiracies against the tranquillity of foreign states were liable to fine and imprisonment . " The Jewish Disabilities question was brought before the House of Commons on Thursday , when Lord John Russell moved that the House should resolve itself into committee to consider the mode of administering the oath of abjuration to persons professing the Jewish religion . The question resolved itself into this —whether religious belief was to disqualify men from , the exercise of civil rights and political power ? He thought it should not , and therefore submitted his resolution to the House . Mr . Milneb Gibson called the attention of the House to the humiliating position in which it was placed with reference to this question . After what had passed the measure should have been introduced earlier ; and he hoped ,

      if it were rejected a third time m another place , the Government would take some decided step . Sir Robert Inglis and Mr . Plumptbb opposed the bill . The former reminded the House that " the Jews regarded Him whom we regarded as our Redeemer—as a crucified impostor . " Mr . Newdeoatci thought he could see a connection between this measure and Papal aggression . Pius IX . might well think it safe to adopt the course he had recently pursued when he saw the Government and one branch of the British Legislature ready to put an end to the last remnant which distinguished it as a Christian assembly . On a division the numbers were : — For the motion 166 Against it 98 Majority 68 In reply to Sir Robert Inglis , Lord John said he should be able to bring on the second reading of the bill on Friday week .

      April 5, 1851.] &!) * Fllftfret* 311

      April 5 , 1851 . ] &!) * fLlftfret * 311

      Chancery Reform. — Lord Lyndhurst Made A...

      Chancery Reform . — Lord Lyndhurst made an onslaught on the Chancery Reform Bill on Monday evening , in the House of Lords . He thought the bill would have been more properly introduced in that House , where lawyers Of bo high experience were to be found . He believt d that the Prime Minister waa himself ashamed of his inefficient measure ; and , therefore , selected the Commons for its debut . The whole profession viewed the bill with contempt . He condemned most especially the proposal to remove the ecclesiastical patronage from the Lord Chancellor to the Crown . Lord Brougham promised to give that cluuse his most determined opposition , but remarked that it was premature to discuss a measure while in so unsubstantial a condition as the threatened bill waa .

      THE STANLEY DEMONSTRATION . A grand Protectionist Demonstration in favour of Lord Stanley was made in the hall of the Merchant Tailors' Company , Threadneedle-street , on . Wednesday evening . The general belief was , that the gathering would be a formal inauguration of the noble lord as leader of the party , and that he and Mr . Disraeli would give an intelligible and unmistakable declaration of the policy and principles by which the Stanley party is to be guided . The large hall was brilliantly illuminated on the occasion , and the display of gold and silver plate in the room , with the other appendages of luxury , was equal to what

      took place in the same hall , at the grand demonstration in honour of Sir Robert Peel , in 1838 . The requisition to his lordship had been signed by 5 dukes —Richmond , Beaufort , Cleveland , Rutland , and Marlborough ; 8 marquises—Downshire , Drogheda , Ely , Exeter , Huntley , Salisbury , Waterford , and Londonderry ; 56 earls , 9 viscounts , 33 barons , and 199 simple members of the House of Commons . The requisition to Sir Robert Peel , in 1838 , was signed by 313 members , but , of course , the representative of the house of Derby surpasses the cotton spinner ' s

      son in the number of dukes , marquises , and earls . Mr . Baring , M . P ., who occupied the chair , proposed the usual routine toasts , none of which called forth any remarkable speech except " the Church , " which was acknowledged by Lord Hereford , there being no clergyman present . He assured the company that the great majority of the Church looked most anxiously to the sentiments that would be uttered that evening . If so , they would be grievously disappointed , as Lord Stanley said nothing on the subject which could give them much encouragement .

      Lord Stanley , in the outset of his speech , referred to the dinner given to Sir Robert Peel , thirteen years ago , when so strong a muster of the Protectionists took place , but he took care to remind his friends that , strong as the Conservative party was in 1838 , they were not able to drive the Whigs from office till 1841 , when the general election gave " a majority of ninety-one in favour of a constitutional , Conservative , and Protectionist policy . " From that time up till 1846 , he gave his aid to Sir Robert Peel , in his

      * ' wise and judicious relaxation of the commercial tariff . " As "for the repeal of the corn laws , and the other great measures carried by Sir Robert Peel , the noble lord escaped from committing himself regarding them by " drawing a veil over that unhappy period , " and the events which ended in the dislocation and final separation , he feared , of the great Conservative party , built up bs the right honourable baronet . After paying a tribute of praise to the memory of Lord George Bentinck , he

      said' The great question which all classes are now beginning to ask is that which with marvellous foresight the Duke of Wellington long since put—How is the Queen ' s Government to be carried on ? You know well , my lords and gentlemen , the state of parties—you know that in the House of Commons we are a large minority indeed , but we have a considerable majority against us ; and I confess that , constituted as the present House of Commons is , I see no escape from the position in which we are placed , whoever may hold the reins of power . The position of a weak Government , menaced by a majority who cannot combine for any useful purpose , but who can combine to destroy the aims of the Government—I hold that such a position is dangerous to the statethat it may be fatal to the public welfare when the

      Government of the day is obliged to catch at support here , and to angle for a stray vote there , and to concede this point , to waive that measure , and vaguely to promise distant schemes — ( Vehement cheering which drowned the remainder of the sentence )—and , in the hope of staving off an adverse motion from its own supporters , issuing an illegal commission to inquire into the Universities , while they dare not bring forward any determinate motion . That is a situation in which a weak Government is placed , and that is the situation of the present House of Commons with respect to any Government which may hold the reins of power for any considerable time to come . The remedy is in the country alone . This great nation will not long halt between two opinions ; the country will show in whom they will confide , and what is the policy they are determined to support . " He then took up the question of national prosperity , nrt aHirmed by Ministers , and pointed to the evidences of distress on every side . Fanners paying their labourers , not out of profits , but out of capital ; tens of thousands of industrious men , women , and children flying from their homes and tvanaporting their industry and capital to a foreign and a rival country ; the great falling off in the tonnage of British shipping , and a corresponding increase in that of 1 ' oreignern ,

      ness , and nothing but cheapness . And we forget that in making all articles cheap , we benefit one , and only one class of consumers—those who produce nothing themselves , but who have the advantage to possess a fixed monied income . We are raising the value of money , and enhancing the heavy and pressing burdens of the National Debt , which no other country could support ; and increasing the pressure of thos e taxes , which , however they may be diminished , are borne with increasing difficulty by the community whose capital is constanly decreasing . ( Loud cheers . ) While this depression has been caused by hasty and ill-considered and violent changestrue principle and statesmanship points not to

      , a hasty reversal of all that has been done , but to check the downward course of that policy , to watch the symptoms which have taken place , to modify the effect of those measures which have had greater consequences than ever their authors contemplated ; and prudently , discreetly , but at the same time firmly and determinedly , to apply legislative relief to those whom our legislative action has injured . How that relief may be afforded this is not the time to say . My honourable friend has complimented me upon a former occasion with having frankly —as it was my duty to do—and openly , stated to the

      country the general course of that policy which I thought it my duty to adopt . My views show that there would be no more likely means of remedying agricultural distress than by imposing a moderate duty upon foreign imports ; which certainly though moderate would check the unlimited importation of those articles , and would obtain from foreigners , in accordance with the policy of all other nations , contributions to the revenue of this country—( cheers )—thus enabling us to take off the taxes which now press heavily and immediateiy upon the springs of our domestic and national industry . ( Reneived cheers . )"

      In conclusion he adverted to the Papal aggression question , and stated—in much the same terms as he did in the House of Lords—the course which he he would have taken had he been in power . What he deprecated was hasty legislation on so grave a subject . He would have proposed a measure which would secure and extend the civil rights of the Roman Catholic , while it would secure to this country " the independence of its temporal concerns from the control of any spiritual hierarchy , or from subjection to any foreign pontiff . " He know nothing as to what course Government intended to pursue . This he did know , however ,

      that" In introducing this measure Lord John Russell laid a basis broad enough for an Egyptian pyramid , wide enough to repeal not only the act of 1829 , but to renew the penal code ; and that upon this mighty foundation a superstructure was reared of microscop ic dimensions , a superstructure which has excited contempt not unmingled with irritation ; and microscopic as the measure was at first , it is now to be more microscopic still . " Nothing more definite was stated by Lord Stanley as to what course he would pursue , were he to become Prime Minister , but that he will " go steadily forward in the path of well-considered improvement , offer a bold front to revolutionary changes in this country , increase the stability of the Church , the security of our Protestant establishments , and promote the happiness of all classes . "

      Mr . Walpole , M . P ., proposed " The Duke of Richmond and the House of Lords . " The Duke , in returning thanks , praised Lord Stanley as " a good husband , a fond father , and a tried friend ; and those qualifications were worth a host of men who spent their time in poring over blue books . " Lord Stanley , in giving the next toast— " The House of Commons" - — -said he was at a loss to select any individual to couple with the toast , but if it would not be thought invidious , he would join with the toast the name of his honourable friend on the left—Mr . Disraeli—whose talents for conducting a party had been proved on many a well-fought lieUl ; and whoso weight , ability , and eloquence , were the admiration of his friends and the terror of his enemies . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . Disraeli , in returning thanks , confined himself chielly to a description of the position which the Protection party held in the House , and a eulogium upon the liritiuh constitution : — " The chitf duty of the party of which they were members , both in the House of Commons and without itn walls , wan to support those institutions of the country which embodied the great principles of power and protection , of justice and of order , of liberty and religion . ( Hear . ) If there were no longer in J'lnglaiid that nympathy with those institutiona winch hud made England great , they would fail in one of the noblest , causes which had interested the feelings of men , and if they succeeded they would fullil one of the noblest duties Unit could fall to the lot of the subjects of any state . ( Loud cheers . )"

      in our own ports ; a reduction of 100 , 000 balew in the quantity of cotton contminod last year , an cuaipurcd with 184 ( 5 , notwithstanding the great increase in the quantity of cotton goods exported , and tho not less significant fact that the total amount liable for the income tax on trades and professions , which had increased from £ . ' 54 , 000 , 000 to £ 60 , 000 , 000 between 1814 ami I HI 3 , Ivan decreased from £ ( 50 , 000 , 700 in 1847 to £ 64 , 800 , 000 in 18 , > 0 : —

      " These are symptoms which prove that our apparent prosperity is hollow and deceitful , mid that in tho midst of our prosperity we art ; hIowIj eating into our capital , and diminishing the meant * by which our annual burdens arc to be borne . Wo me now in tho pursuit of

      cheap-Tiuj Budokt . —Sir Charles Wood sfatcd on Thursday he would bring forward liin financial statement on Friday evening , when he would take a formal vote , to bo subject to the decision of the House upon the motion of Mr . Herrieo respecting the income tax , which he suggested might be conveniently taken on bringing up the report of the committee on Monday next . IIkfuhai , to Buii y Dinhicntkuh . — In the House of Lords , on Thursday evening , the Duke of Richmond presented a petition from , the mayor and town council of Chichester , complaining of tho conduct of the Reverend Mr . Kenrick , who had refused to read the burial service over the body of a dissenting clergyman , and who had also refused to read the burial service over a woman who had committed suicide , although a

      coroner's jury had found that hIio was insane when she committed the uct . AH this wan contrary to law , and , if the reverend gentleman had conscientious scruples preventing him from acting according to law , he ought to resign inatcad of acting la opposition to it . Some conversation followed as to the defective state of the law regarding tho correction of clerks . In one cuho a bishop , now on the bench , had been severely mulcted in an amount of coats which he might , not bo uble to pay without injuring himself and ftimily . The Bishop of fjondon uuid it was hia intention at Home future time to introduce a measure , on that head , but that he will not oniiK before the House during tho present buhhiou cither Uie Church DiaoipHne Bill , or tho Eoolemaaticul Appeal AribuniuB Bill .

      The Kplscol'aii Manil'ksto. Humour Has B...

      THE KPlSCOL'AIi MANIl'KSTO . Humour has been busy during the last fortnight with the announcement of some wonderful declaration to bo issued from the Jerusalem Chamber , or nome such gathering place of the bishops , which wan to throw oil upon tho troubled waters , and smooth down all ecclesiastical Htrife from York to Canterbury . The marvellous document which made its appearnneo on Wednesday is not likely to effect much improvement in tho ( - 'lunch . It will satisfy neither the one party nor the other . The addreHH commences by stating that the following archbishops and binhopn commend if- to ( he . serious consideration of the clergy

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 5, 1851, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05041851/page/3/