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    554 THE DEADER. [^^

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    ELECTION MATTERS. ME. DISBAELl's MANIFES...

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    Arrest Op Mr. Feargus O'Connor. Mr. O'Co...

    face . It is a painful and difficult question—whether , if a man would do such an act after the warning he had just received , he can be a free agent . I should say that he is not . To call upon the hon ; member to make another apology after what tookjplace last night , really appears tp . be a waste of "time . ( Hear , hear . ) Then again , supposing the hon . member should say that he will not appear in his place" in obedience to otir summons , what are we to do in that case ? I am of opinion that it is necessary for the House to take decisive measures at once , not only for our own sakes , but also for that of the hon . member himself . ( Hear . ) : ¦ ¦; _ .

    _ Mr . B . C . HrLDYABD thought it would be a perfect farce to request the presence of Mr . O'Connor , and tell him he must make ah apology j and he therefore moved that Mr . Feargus O'Connor be committed for contempt to the custody of the SergeantTat-Arms . The Spbakee . —It is perfectly competent to the House to take the course suggested by the hon . member for Whitehaven . It is usual , when a charge of misconduct is

    made against an hon . member , to hear any explanation which that member may offer . On that account I suggested that the hon . member for Nottingham should be ordered to attend in his place ; but if the House should be of opinion that the offence which the hon . member has committed is flagrant and culpable , and admitting of no apology , it will be competent first , without directing him to attend in his place , to order him to be committed to the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms .

    Here Mr . O'Connor re-entered the house , and took his seat oil the front Opposition bench , where he indulged in some irregularities , which elicited cries of " Order . " Mr . Ansxey suggested that his seat should be sequestered . Mr . Agmonby considered that Mr . O'Connor was not a free agent . " If an order for the hon . member ' s commitment would

    have the effect of placing him under the care of medical attendants ( hear ) , and the protection of his friends , I would not hesitate to assent to it ; but , if otherwise , it would be abhorrent from my feelings , believing as I do that the hon . member labours under an aberration of intellect ) to consent to his being committed for contempt . I think that while providing for our own protection and the maintenance of the dignity of the House , we should use Our power with due regard to humanity . "

    Some further conversation followed , and , as Mr . Waxpole was speaking , Mr . O'Connor again entered , and , walking up the House , placed himself on the left of the chair , and addressed the Speaker amid cries of " Order ! " and " Chair ! " "Under these circumstances , " said Mr . Walpole , " I think it my duty , without further debate , to move that Mr . Feargus O'Connor be committed to the custody of the Sergeantat-Arms , for disorderly conduct and contempt of this House . " ( Hear , hear . ) Sir J . Paxingtoi * . —I have no hesitation in saying that I feel it my painful duty to second the motion .

    At this moment Mr . O'Connor escaped ; and the motion was instantly agreed to . But he had the start of the Sergeant-at-Arms , and after drinking some brandy at the bar of the lobliy , he went down into Westminster Hall , whither he was followed by a few gentlemen , some of whom were magistrates , known to the police . The constables on duty , therefore , acting upon . the information which they then received , told Mr . O'Connor that his presence would soon bo required in the House , and that lie must not quit the Hall ; on receiving this intimation he began to howl so loudly and vehemently that a considerable crowd soon

    assembled . At this spot Mr . O'Connor remained for a few minutes , in the course of which the Speaker ' s warrant for his committal was made out . Armed with this authority , Mr . Clcmentson , the Deputy-Sergeant , accompanied by several officers of the House , proceeded to Westininstcr-hall , took Mr . O'Connor into custody , and removed him without any resistance to the rooms of Mr . Gossct , the Assistant-Sergeant . In a little time those chambers became filled witli nieml > ers , anxious to learn the particulars of the arrest . Their presenco seemed violently to excite Mr . O'Connor , who called

    them ruffians , villains , murderers ; at times shouting furiously , * at others groaning most heavily , and occasionally giving expression to his feelings in tones of triumph and rejoicing . After a short time the gentlemen who had crowded into Mr . Gosfutt ' s apurtinont were induced to withdraw , and Mr . O'Connor wns left in the care of five officers . Hut in Icbh than an hour from that time , when Mr . O'Connor hnd been somewhat calmed , ho wan removed to the prison rooms in the upper story of the building , towards the -river front ; and the wholo of these proceedings were completed before the adjournment of the House .

    A large proportion of the Members , and almost all the officers of the House , believe , from the extreme cunning which ho manifestB , that his madness iH feigned , or at leaat that he is sufficiently sane to bo considered a responsible agent ; while , on the other hand , those accustomed to persons of unsound mind are not aurpriBcd at his artfulue ^ , and think the sooner ho is placed in a lunatic asylum tho butter . Two medical gontlomon were , on Thursday , called

    in to visit Mr . O'Connor . They both agree asto . " . the state of his mind . His conduct during the interview led Br . Tweedie "to infer unsqundness of mind , and to fear that , unless restrained , Mr . O'Connor may become dangerous to himself and others . " In like manner , Mr . Lawrence is" of opinion that Mr . O'Connor is of unsound mind , and not fit to be at liberty , nor capable of managing his owni affairs / '

    554 The Deader. [^^

    554 THE DEADER . [^^

    Election Matters. Me. Disbaell's Manifes...

    ELECTION MATTERS . ME . DISBAELl ' s MANIFESTO . The Chancellor of the Exchequer has issued the following address to the electors of the county of Bucking * ham : — . " GrEHTiiEitEir , —I take the opportunity of returning to the county to inform you that , on the dissolution of Parliament , which may be shortly expected , I shall again solicit the distinguished office of being your member , an honour which , you have twice unanimously conferred on me . " The occasion is critical , and it is as well to disentangle from the misrepresentations of ignorant or interested persons , what is really at stake . " In 1842 , Sir Robert Peel , at the head of the Conservative party , converted a considerable and continuous deficiency in the public revenue into a surplus , by the imposition of an income tax , which also ' permitted him greatly to mitigate our tariff . :. '_' " These measures realized all the success which the Conservative party anticipated from them * . In the course of four years 7 , 000 , 000 ? . of Customs-duties were repealed , without materially diminishing the revenue derived from that branch , and no domestic interest in the country

    suffered from the change . _ " The principles on which these alterations were effected were the removal of all prohibitions , thereduction of duties to such a scale as admitted ' fair competition' with domestic produce , and the free admission of all raw materials . , « I had the satisfaction of voting for these measures in company with those gentlemen who now honour the present Government with their support . " Since the four years , closing with 1845 , during which the Conservative party carried these wise ; and beneficial measures , two great changes in our commercial system have taken place—the free introduction of foreign corn and of slave-grown sugar . .... not ori

    " The first of these arrangements was ginally contemplated in the commercial policy of Sir Eobert Peel , for he opposed the repeal of the Co rn Laws wi thin a few months previously to his abrogating them . When he recommended their repeal it was to meet an emergency ; and he stated to Lord George Bentinck , in my hearing , that he believed that repeal would not mat eriall y affect the prices of agricultural produce . " The admission of slave-grown sugar was not approved of by Sir Robert Peel . " These two measures , unlike the preceding ones , have occasioned severe suffering among the producing * classes which they affect . The distress of tho agricultural classes

    has been admitted , announced , and deplored from tne Throne , under the advice of a Whig Ministry ; and the consequences of the alteration of the sugar duties wore So disastrous to our free-producing colonies that , within two years after the passing of tho act of 1840 , a Whig Ministry also found it necessary to modify their own measure . " The sufferings of the agricultural and colonial classes have arisen from their being thrown into unlimited competition with the foreigner on unequal terms with tho rest of their fcllow-subiects . Those unequal conditions rosult in great measure from tho peculiar imposts and tho vexatious regulations to which our agricultural and sugar-producing industries are subject . of

    " Tho same- precipitation which attended tho repeal tho protective duties on jcorn and sugar accompanied tho repeal of tho navigation laws . Even tho proposers of that measure now admit that' tho shipping interest , exposed to severe rivalry , is subject to burdens and restrictions -which impede its prosperity . ' " This is the Ianguago of the Minister who himself repealed the navigation laws , and yot loft tho burdens and restrictions which impede tho prosperityof our mercantile marine . This opinion will be found in the recent address of Lord Uohn Russell to his constituents . That address deserves tho attentive study of tho shipping interest . " Her Majesty ' s Ministers would consider those burdens and restrictions with a view to thoir romoval .

    " Tho farmers hitherto have been tho persons who havo boon most injured by tho repeal of tho Corn Laws , but the diminution of rent in Groat Britain is greater than if ) generally supposed . In preparing tho financial statement for this yenr , it was officially represented to me , that I must contemplate in estimating the produce of tho Income Tax , a diminution of rent not much loss in amount than 6 , () 00 , OOOZ . sterling . Practically speaking , in this country , rent lias become a return for tho capital invested in tho improvement of land . Laws to secure a return for such investment are not for a moment to bo toloratod , but laws which , by imposing unequal taxes , discourage that investment , are , irrespective orthoir injustice , highly impolitic ; for nothing contributes more to tho enduring prosperity of a country than tho natural deposit of its surplus capital in tho improvement of ifcu soil . Justico to tho land , in all Bystoms of finance , is equally tho interoHt of the proprietor and tho farmer , but it is also equally tho intoroat of tho community . " Thoro is no portion of the United Kingdom that has Buffered more from tho procipitato repeal of the corn laws than Ireland . The claim of that country to tho consideration of Parliament is irreuistiblo . " Tho time has gono by when tho injurios which tho great producing interests enduro can bo alleviated or removed by a rcourronco to tho laws which , previously to

    1846 , protected them from such calamities . The spirit of the age tends to free intercourse , and no statesman can disregard with impunity the genius of the epoch in which hi lives . But every principle of abstract ; justice , and every consideration of high policy , counsel that the producer should be treated as fairly as the consumer , and intimate that , when the native * producer is thrown , into unrestricted competition with external rivals , it is the duty of the legislature in every way . to diminish , certainly not to increase the cost of production . . "It is the intention of Her Majesty ' s Ministers to recommend to Parliament , as soon as it is hx their power measures which may effect this end . ' " One of the soundest means , among others , by which this result may be accomplished is a revision of our taxation . The times are favourable to such an undertaking ; juster notions of- taxation are more prevalent than heretofore

    powerful agencies are stirring , which have introduced new phenomena into , finance , and altered the complexion , of the fiscal world ; and the ; possibility of greatly relieving the burdens of the community , both by adjustment and reduction , seems to loom in the future . " But nothing great can be effeeted by any Ministry unless they are supported by a powerful majority in Parliament . Our predecessors were men who , for personal honour and administrative ability , need not shrink from a comparison with any bod y of individuals qualified to serve her Majesty ,- but they were never sure of a Parliamentary majority ; hence much of their unsatisfactory conduct . They were justified , from the broken state of parties , in their Continuance in office , which thejr never evinced any unworthy readiness to retain ; but it is far from desirable that such" indulgence should become a chronic weakness of our constitution .

    " In the brief period during which we have held the reins , although placed in a position of great embarrassment , from the impossibility of at once appealing to the country , we have introduced three measures , which it is hoped -mil soon hecome the law of the land . One is a measure of internal defence , which , it is believed , will soon prove both popular , economical , and efficient : the second would [ confer on an interesting and important colony a constitution founded on the rig ht principles which should govern dependencies ; the third will at length achieve a complete reform of the Court of Chancery .

    " There : was a fourth measure which we proposed . Two petty borou ghs , long infamous for corruption , had been justly and wisely disfranchised . We recommended to Parliament that these forfeited seats should be transferred ta two of the most important communities of the country , distinguished not only for their vast wealth and teeming population , but by all the enduring elements of national greatness . A combination of Parliamentary sections defeated ^ on a technicaL pretext , this wise and generous proposition , which wouM have added strength and lustra to the House of Commons , and hayd asserted the popular principle in a manner consistent with that maintenance of classes which becomes a free and ancient Monarchy , and which is the best security for order and liberty .

    " The time of the House of Commons has "been much occupied of late by a discussion , whether the management of the Roman Catholic College of Maynooth requires investigation . Without prejudging the question , Her Majesty s < Ministers have felt it their dut y to support such an inquiry . We have been anxious subdue the he at of religious controversy , and to deal impartially with all Her Majesty ' s , subjects whether in communioir'with the Church of Eomc or the Church of England ; but we cannot sanction am opinion now in vogue , that since the act of 1829 tho constitution of this country has ceased to be Protestant . By the Act of Settlement , our form of Government is that of a Protqstant monarchy ; and it is our belief that tho peopra of this country are resolved so to maintain it , not only in form , but in spirit . ¦

    " Various schemes have been devised for the extension and improvement of tho education of the people ; ana among others , a measure was proposed by an intelligent community , during the present session of Parliament , tothe principles of which we conld not accede . Ine oniy principle in tho present diversity of religious opinion wineir seems to be just , is that of encouraging the voluntary oltorw of tho several religious bodies by grants ofpublic | money *" proportion to tho extent to which those efforts have Dee « made . In asserting for all this universal right , we . claim of sacred truthttaat

    for tho Church , the national dopository , tho freedom of her efforts in the cause of cduoatidn slioum not bo fettered by regulations and restrictions wlncu are not required to afford security for a duo app lication ot tno public funds . .. . " I have touched , gentlemen , on most of . thei topics wlucu now engage tho attention of tho country . They are w » moan issues . Tho country will havo to decide whothor " will maintain a Ministry formed on tho principles ° * ^ ° " ' am-viifcivn nroffross : whether it will terminate tor over , uv

    just and conciliatory moasuros , tho misconceptions . wu havo too long prevailed between producer and con « u " ; ' and extinguish tho fatal jealousy that rankles » otwooft town and country ; whether our colonial empfl-e s '"»' maintained and confirmed ; whether tho mator , ., ^ , L mont of Ireland shall at length bo secured ; whether sue alterations as timo and circumstances may a PP ° ^ ° imonrt and require m tho construction of the llouso ot Lo ™™ Z j Bhall bo mado in that spirit of revolution winch has o **™" the civilization of Europo , or in the spirit of o » r pew » . though not democratic , institutions ; whether tho ^" { of England shall still remain a national Church ; whotuer tho Crown of England shall still bo a Protestant ^ " - " I beliovo that tho county of Buckingham is not doubt on those heads , and therefore I appeal to . you w confldonco for your aupport . I cannot vw with th ? , paw and tho BtatoHmon whom , for so many generations , J havo sont up to Parliament , but I will P 1 oml 80 o 7 ° J | iat if on my own part and on that of my eolloaguea , w » public opinion ratify tho choice of our g ™* 10 ""^?^ ?„ ' wo will oamoetly endeavour tUafc tho honour and tuo

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 12, 1852, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12061852/page/6/