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    532 THE LEADER. _ . _ _ _ _ . _ [No. 428...

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    Imperial Parliament. » ¦ ¦ - ¦ . ¦ 3fo?I...

    convey- to the House and to the country that our two countrymen were not freed by the exertions of the present Government . The noble Lord is wrong in the statement he made to the House . Both men were prisoners -when we acceded to office ; and . the first thing we did on coming into office "was to communicate -with Mr . Lyons , to apply to the Government of Naples , and to interfere on behalf of our countrymen . The noble Lord says that one of them ( Mr . Watt ) had been freed , and was under the care of the English consul . How was he freed ? Why was he freed ? What-werethe conditions of his freedom ? That unfortunate man , under the treatment he received , and in consequence of the neglect of the noble Lord and his Government , was affected in his

    reason i and , on the application being made by the English Consul , who behaved throughout these proceedings with great spirit and humanity , he was permitted to leave his dungeon and . to enter an . hospital or lazaretto ; but the condition was that the instant bis health revived he was to return to his imprisonment and to take hia trial . ( Hear , hear . ) As I had the satisfaction of announcing to-night , la answer to the question of an honourable and learned gentleman , these two English subjects have left their prison , free and without conditions . " ( Cheers . ) Pursuing his analysis of Lord Palmerston ' s speech , Mr . Disraeli said that his assertion that certain persons had endeavoured to excite a war between Naples and

    Piedmont was founded on no slight evidence . The noble Lord had endeavoured to discredit the financial measures of the present Government , and had placed in opposition to its Budget the one which had been prepared , but happily not brought forward , by the ex-Ministers , which the great principle seems to have been ( as revealed by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer ) an increase of the income-tax . . Then , with respect to India , his observations at Slough were -with , regard to confiscation and the consequences of confiscation . " The consequences of confiscation are vengeance , and of vengeance massacre ; and I say that confiscation , vengeance , and massacre are the aggregates in the climax which makes me prefer the superior policy of mercy . That is the statement I made

    to any constituents , and I said— 'I leave it to you to choose between the policy which we recommend— a policy of mercy , of religious toleration , and of respect for property- —and the consequences of the Proclamation of Lord Canning ; which policy , being one of confiscation , must lead to consequences directly the opposite . " ( Hear , hear . ) To that statement I now adhere . " With respect to the question of a cabal , the noble Lord bad defined that word to mean only a small party ; but he ( Mr . Disraeli ) had always understood it to mean " secret society of conspirators . " He did not allude to any party in the House of Commons , the proceedings of which are public . He was certain he never talked of a cabal in that House . There might be members of the cabal

    there ; but he was sure there were members -who had no seats in the House . He wished to know the meaning of these repeated attacks on his speech , and whether that was to be an adjourned debate . He took it for granted there was not to be a division ; divisions were no longer fashionable . ( Cheers . ) The noble Lord , the member for the City of London , had said that the object of his demonstration on the previous Friday night was to put the Liberal party of the country in an intelligible position aa opposed to the Government . " If the noble Lord the member for the City is a Liberal—if he sympathizes with the Liberal party—he was justified in showing to the country that there is a great Liberal party with ¦ which he is connected , and in contrasting their opinions

    • with those held by the occupants of the Treasury bench ( Hear hear . ) But I do not see how anything of this can apply to the noble Lord -who lias addressed us tonight , because I cannot perceive that in sentiment , or feeling , or interest , there is anything incommon between that noble Lord and the great Liberal party . ( Hear , hear . ) I must take tlio discussion on Friday night and the present discussion together , for it ia only from the combined observations made on both occasions that I can understand the scope of these movements , I understand that questions are soon to arise whieh . are calculated to test the character of the liberal opinions held by the noble Lord . Tho great Liberal party in this house are in favour of vote by ballot . Are the noble Lords

    the member for tho City of London and the member for Tiverton in favour of that measure ? ( Hear hear . ) The great Liberal party sure in favour of tho total abolition of church-rates . { Hear , hear . ) Are her Majesty ' 8 late Government in favour of that measure ? ( Hear , hmr . ) The great Liberal party are ia favour of tho measure of tho honourable member for Surrey ( Mr . Locke King ) . Ato her Majesty ' s lato Government in favour of the new Franchise Bill of that honourable member ? ( Hear , hear . ) All I know is that they opposed it on principle , and offered grave arguments to influence tho

    opinion of the House in opposition to it . ( Hear , hear . ) The groat Liberal party profess to be in favour of economy . Were her Majesty ' s late Government in favour of economy ? ( Hear , hear . ) It is my painful duty to know -what has boon done in that reapect by tho late Government , and I must say that a more extravagant , reckless , and profuse Government I never knew . { Loud oheera . ) The . great Liberal |> nxty aro in favour of tlio publicity of documonts . Aro Jicx Majesty's lato Government in favour of tho publicity of documents of importance ? There never was a Government in this country

    that exercised so much reserve in affairs of state as her Majesty ' s late Government . ( Hear , hear . ) The only charge against her Majesty's present Government is that they produced a public document ; but no one could ever say of us that we intercepted a letter . ( Loud cheers . ) There is another subject on which , the great Liberal party have shown great interest—that is , the conduct of the Executive Government . They demand that the conduct of the Executive Government should be temperate and moderate . Bub what has been the conduct of the late Executive ? It is the first

    Government that ever carried on a war -without the sanction of Parliament , ( flea ?* , hear . ) And if I look to the other great branch of the Executive—the exercise of patronage—is it not notorious that their exercise of patronage has outraged all the sense and spirit of the country ? " ( Cheers . ) Mr . Dbraeli concluded by saying that , whatever differences tliere might be in that House and in England between the great Conservative and Liberal parties , there is one bond of union : " both are resolved on this—that , not only there , but throughout the country , they would not any longer be the tools or the victims of an obsolete oligarchy . " :

    Sir Georoe Gbkt denied that there was anything unfair on the part of Lord Palmerston in demanding explanations of gross imputations ef misconduct cast upon the Administration of which he had been the head . It was humiliating to see a gentleman of Mr . Disraeli ' s talents driven to such unworthy shifts , and attempting to explain away indiscretions in such a manner .- —Sir John Pakinoxok entered his protest against what appeared to him to be a most unpardonable waste of the public time , and against the unfair use made of the language of Mr . Disraeli . The passage in tlie speech at Slough regarding out relations with France when the late Government quitted office was substantially correct . He was in a position and at liberty to say that on more than one occasion the late French Ambassador to this

    country , Count Persigny , remonstrated against the policy of this country , and stated , in plain terms , that if it was not changed it would be impossible for friendly relations between the two countries to continue . —Lord John Eussell could not agree that these discussions were a waste of time . When Supply was asked for , it was the proper time to call for an explanation of the meaning of imputations made by a member of the Government . The explanations given by Mr . Disraeli were unsatisfactory , and the wlole policy of the Government , oscillating between Toryism and Radicalism , was of a nature to perplex and dissatisfy the country .

    Mr . Whiteside said the noble Lord , tlie member for the City of London , had complained that the present Government sometimes went too fast , sometimes too slow ; probably he best liked tlie pace of an old constitutional Whig , ( JLaughter . ) Some persons , however , thought that the noble Lord was occasionally himself scarcely fast enougli , for sometimes he did not move , at all . ( Afore laughter . ) The letters of Indian newspaper correspondents showed that the events which had occurred subsequently to the issu « of Lord Canning's Proclamation had justified to the fullest extent the judgment formed of it by Lord Ellenborough . The late Premier had spoken of the Chancellor of the Exchequer ' s after-dinner speech ; but other persons spoke after dinner as well as that right hon . gentleman , and

    many present would remember a speech made last November at the Mansion-house , when the noble Lord the member for Tiverton challenged the whole of Europe to fi ght with England . —Mr . Kinglake made a few observations to the effect that the liberation of the English engineers was owing to tlie despatch of Lord Clarendon before quitting office , and not in consequence of any steps taken by the present Government , which had shuffled on the subject . —Thi 3 view of the case was contradicted by Mr . Seymour Fitzqekald , who , quoting the facts of the case , contended that the late Government had neglected tho engineers for nine months , and that-Watt was not released on bail until after the accession of the present Administration . — -The subject then dropped .

    THE BOARDING OP AMERICAN MERCHANT VESSELS . Mr . Lindsay called attention to tlio news in the American papers , that American merchant ships had been fired into , boarded , and examined , and their papers overhauled by an Jinglish boat ' s crew , on the south coaat of Cuba , and ia tho Mexican Gulf—a circumstance which was causing an immense excitement against Bngland throughout tho United States . He asked whether the information was true , and , if so , by -whoso orders tho transaction had occurred . —Mr . Walvoik said that tho answer should bo given on tlio following day , after tho Government had notice of tho intention to ask tho question . —Mr . Darby Gnitria'K rccallod an old conversation relative to the pension of Cantillon , for tho purpose of showing that tho part talcen in it by Lord Pulmcraton was not borno oat by tho official documents published in the Moniteur .

    Tho Houso tlion wont into Committee of Supply , when several Miscellaneous Estimates wore agreed to ; and , somo routino business liaving been got through , an adjournment tool ; placo nt lialf-pnst twelve o'clock . ' i \ icsday ) June 1 st . this aovERNMnsr . and lord canning . In tho House op Loui >» , in answer to jm inquiry by Lord Guanvilxic , with refureuco totbe telegraphic

    despatch to Lord Canning said by Mr . Disraeli to hav been sent after the resignation of Lord EUenborouirh the Earl of Derby said that the despatch wa 3 a personal communication , in which the Government informed Lord Canning of the change that had taken place in the Government by the resignation of Lord Ellenboroiieh . the regret of the Government that Lord Ellenboroueh ' a despatch had been prematurely published ; and the determination of the Government to give lum the most cordial support in tlieir power . The message likewise

    expressed a hope that in practice it would be found that the policy of Lord Canning would not differ from the policy recommended by Lord Ellenborougli . The telegraphic message was a private communication , and it was impossible to produce it . There was no objection to produce the vote of confidence passed b y the Court of Directors ; but , as papers of that kind are sent direct from the Court of Directors to the Governor-General and not through the Government , there was no covering letter from the Government sent with it .

    PATROXAGE OF THE SEE OF DURHAM . In answer to Lord Ravkxsvobth , the Earl of Chichester said that a scheme for the redistribution of patronage attaching to the see of Durham , in such a way that a portion cf it shall augment the patronage of the sees of Ripon and Manchester , is under the consideration of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners ; but it is not yet decided on . TUB CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER ' S Sl'EECH AT

    SLOUGH . The Earl of Clabendon , pursuant to notice given on the preceding night , called the attention of the House to the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Buckinghamshire dinner . He commenced by giving a flat contradiction to the statement of Mr . Disraeli that , when the present Government acceded to office , the country -ivas in imminent danger of a war with France . At the moment he ( Lord Clarendon ) quitted the Foreign Office , tie . relations between France and England were as cordial and confidential as they had been at any previous period . The Conspiracy Bill had been introduced by the late Government , not at the dictation of France , but on the advice of their own law-officers ; and the principle of the bill had been highly approved of ly

    Lord Derby when in opposition . As to the Cagliari , the late Government had been kept in a state of ignorance as to the facts up to a late period . The engineers had not been neglected : it was owing to the strong remoastrances of the late Ministry that their friends and the consul lad been allowed to see them . Mr ; Disraeli ' s attack on Lord Canning was ungenerous , and t ? ie repeated offi cial misrepresentations of his policy in India were ^ calculated to confirm the worst opinions of the enemies of this country . The accusation ' that thepresent Government is opposed by a cabal should be explained , and Ministers ought to release the corps diplomatique from the charge implied . His lordship concluded by disavowing any wish to embarrass the Government in making these remarks .

    The Earl of Derby said lie was prepared to defend all the main points in Mr . Disraeli ' s speech , lie then gave , with respect to the peace and war question , the same explanation as that given by the right hon . gentleman himself the preceding niglit in the other House ; and asked whether the peril of a war with France , in case Mr . Milner Gibson ' motion were carried , was not held out to deter members from voting in favour of it . The preservation of peace was to be attributed in a great degree to the sagacity and good feeling of the Emperor of the French , who , having a more intimate knowledge of Englishmen than most natives of France , had abstained from pressing claims to which he felt the English Government could not accede . As regards tho Catrliari ,

    very slight concessions had been obtained by the late Government , while the engineers had been liberated owing to tho exertions of tlie present Cabinet . A claim for indemnity had now been made , and Minidterd were determined to support it . Lord Clurendon had forborne to make any allusion to the graphic but true description given by Mr . Disraeli of the break-up of the Opposition on Mr . Cardwcll ' s motion ; or to touch on tho linancial policy of the Chancellor of the Exchequer . For himself ,-he ( Lord Derb y ) would not enter into tho question of the cabal , but would pass to the consideration of tlio

    Indian policy of tlio Government . That policy is one of moderation and clemency as opposed to the violence counselled by some of those by whom Lord Canning is surrounded . He wns not prepared to defend every phrase in tho speech of Mr . Disraeli ; but , though some of them might deserve a passing notice from those who disapproved them , tho lute Government was not justified in criticizing so severely and repeatedly any indburotiun committed by a member of tho present Government in " post prandial oration . More had been made of the incident than w « s consistent with the dignity of l ' arliament .

    Lord Granvillk objected to , nnd Lord Mai-mknuukv dofended , tho speech ; and Lord Stanmoy ok Ai . iji-: iii . ky , roferring to tho question which had been put by the |> i' « - ccding speaker , as to whether her Miijesly ' H Into ( i <> - vornment would , on the rotiromont of Count Poi-Hitfny , have procoodsd with tho Conspiracy Bill , . said he hail no hesitation in Htatin ^ that they would have done *" ) and quite as little hesitation in expressing liis op inion that they inuat , in persevering in tlmt courtjo , have ru-

    532 The Leader. _ . _ _ _ _ . _ [No. 428...

    532 THE LEADER . _ . _ _ _ _ . _ [ No . 428 , Juyg _ 5 , 1858 .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 5, 1858, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05061858/page/4/