On this page

• Text (1)

  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.

  • 

    Untitled Article

• 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.

    Untitled Article

    from the press or other quarters , and withdraw his motion , as his doing so might tend to the peaceful settlement of the question . Sir Geoege Geey had drawn a precisely opposite inference from , that of <¦ Mr . Disraeli ; as to the course taken by Government , and he urged the withdrawal of the motion ) Mr . Httme and Lord D . Stuakt having taken the same ' view of the desirable course , Mr . Layaed withdrew his motion .

    BTJSSIAN OBSTfiTTCTION OF THE DANUBE . On this subject , closely connected with the foregoing , Mr . Liddeel asked some questions . Had the Government inquired into the state of English ships detained in the Danube through the imperfect navigation of the river ? and in the event of hostilities with Russia , would a force be sent out to prevent those ships falling into the hands of hostile powers ? Lord Paxmeeston ' s reply was charactaristic in its clearness , liveliness , and tact .

    "The recent obstruction of the navigation of the Sulina channel of the Danube has been caused by the accidental circumstance of the waters of the river having overflowed and spread over the banks , and so far diminished the force of the current as to increase the quantity of mud on the bar . This particular inconvenience is temporary , and will no doubt cease when its cause Has also ceased ; but I am bound to say that , for many years past , the Government have had reason to complain of the neglect of the Government of Russia to perform its duties as possessor of the territory of which the delta of the Danube is composed , and to maintain the channel of the Sulina in an efficient

    navigable state . ( Hear , hear . ) It was my duty , when . Secretary for Foreign Affairs , to make frequent representations to the Russian Government on the subject ; and Russia , although she always admitted that it was her duty to do so—admitting that which we asserted—that as Russia thought fit , by virtue of the treaty of Adrianople , to possess herself of the mouths of the Danube , that great watercourse and highway of nations , leading into the centre of Germany , it was her duty-fo see that that great

    highway was maintained and made accessible ( according to the treaty of Vienna ) to the commerce of all nations . ( Hear , hear . ) Russia never disputed that statement , and she asserted always that she was employed in using means to remedy the grievance . The grievance was this—that while th ^ ese mouths of the Danube formed part of the Turkish territory , there was maintained a depth of 16 feet on the bat , whereas , by the neglect of the Russian authorities the depth had diminished to 11 feet , and even those 11 feet were reducedtoa smallandnarrow channel from obstructions

    on the side , from sand-banks , and from vessels wrecked and sunk , and allowed to remain there , so that it was difficult for any vessel to pass , except in calm , weather and with a skilful pilot . ( Hear . ) We were also aware that there were local interests that tended to thwart what we believed to be the intentions of the Russian Government . In the first placo , there was rivalship on the part of Odessa , where there existed a desire to obstruct the export of produce by the Danube , and to direct it , if possible , by way of Odessa . ( Hear . ) There were also those little local interests which arise from the profits that bargemen and lightermen , and persons of that class , make by unloading the steamers that come down tho Danube , so as to enable thorn to pass the

    bar , reloading them again outside the bar . These local feelings and interests must have obstructed , without their being aware of it , tho good intontions of tho Russian Government , for they always promised they would tako the most effectual measures . They said they would send a steam-dredge to carry away all the obstructions on tho bar . Tho stoam-dredgo camo , and tho steam-dredge worked , but in two hours it was always put out of gear from some accident or other —( a laugh)—and they were obliged to go back to Odessa for repairs . ( A laugh . ) Wo recommoncled that tho Russian Government should pursue tho method by which tho Turkish Government kepi , tho channel clear . That method was a very simple ono . They required every vossel that wont out of tho Danubo to tack to their stern a good iron rako , and b y that moans tho pasof sixteen

    sago of each vossel kept tho channel clear , a depth foot boing constantly maintained . ( Hoar , hoar . ) I understand that , in addition to tho representations I mado when at tho Foroign-oflieo , constant , and omphatic representations have boon made to tho Russian Government on this Bubioct , and I hopo that that Government , while they break through those trammels which hitherto scorn to havo imported their proper action , will sec that it is o positive duty which they owo to Europe to maintain froo and opon that passage which , by forco of arms , they obtained , and which they boliovod themselves justified in retaining by tho treaty of Adrianoplo . ( Hoar , hoar . ) Mr . LiBBEiiii directed tho attention of tho noble lord to tho second part of his question , which ho had not answered . Lord Palme kston "gain rose and

    " J approhond tho question of tho lion , gonlloj . nnn relates to vohhoIh whieh " "hro now confined within tho Danubo and tho KuatJim territory ior want of wutnr . Ji by any misfortune , which I cannot anticipate , war should ariHO between thifl country and Russia , it would not bo cany lor a Brit . ioh fillip of war to got , up to those voshoIb without ¦ water . " ( 'Lnughtor . ) OTCn 1 > OOKYAKI > INQUIRY : MOKE DRAMATIC mHVLAYfl . Tho doings of tho Derby Ministry in the matter of U , o dockyard promotions wore broug ht ; before tho Houho on Tuesday evening . It led to u long mid noisy debate and to many divwioriB-tho Opposition merely obstructive , and tho imlopomlont Liberal members urciug on tho inquiry .

    The first manoeuvre was made by Mr . Disraeli . When the Speaker called on Mr . Keating to bring forward the , motion of which he had given notice , Mr . DiSEAEti interposed between him and the chair , pointing out that '" at this hour of the night" ( a ' quarter past ' eleven ) Mr . Keating should not imake an ex parie statement . " But , " added the objector , " with regard to the administration of the Admiralty , I cannot refrain from observing , that I should be prepared to appeal to the fleet now at Spithead as a proof of the efficiency

    with which that department of the Admiralty was conducted . " Shouts of " order" met this interjected defence , and Mr . Keating at once protested against it as in Us ^ lf an ex parte statement . Mr . Diseaeli , hqv ^ S ^ fr , persisted in speaking , hinting that to enable him to make such observations , he would move the adjournment of the House ; but the Speaker decided that he could not do so , Mr . Keating being in possession of the chair . Thus stopped , Mr . Diseaeli confined himself to asking Mr . Keating , was it " fair" to bring on his motion at such an hour ? Mr . Keating said he

    would adjourn it if Lord John Russell would give him " a day" for the discussion of the motion . Lord John Rttsselx . said , that the Government business was so pressing , that he could not assign any day within a short time . Mr . Keating therefore proceeded with his motion . The report of the Committee necessitates an expression of opinion by the House ; for that report—a most able analysis of the evidence—does nothing but report facts . The motion now proposed has not been framed in any feeling of personal hostility to any individual ; it is directed exclusively against the system . Mr . Keating

    then gave a history of the reforms in the Admiralty commenced in 1847 , and detailed the perversions of patronage by Mr . Stafford and the late Board . He quoted largely from the circulars'issued by the former Board , to prove that they earnestly desired promotion for merit , and then stated in detail and at great length the manner in which Mr . Stafford interfered with the course of that promotion . During ^ liis speech , the Opposition tried every way to stop the speaker and drown his . voice .. Cries of " Divide , divide , " met him at the very commencement of his statement . Then , loud conversation on the back benches was heard ; but Admiral Beekely promptly interfered , calling Mr .

    Conolly , member for Donegal , to order for his noisy interruption , on which Mr . Conolly attempted to speak , but was silenced as disorderly . As Mr . Keating proceeded , the cries of " Divide , divide , " rose to a storm of interruption ; and when Mr . Keating mentioned tho promotion of unworthy persons , Mr . Bookee rose to order at the imputation . " The honourable and learned gentleman , " he exclaimed , " broadly states that individuals of blemished character were promoted merely for tho sake of political purposes ! " Mr . Keating retorted , that the Secretary to the Admiralty had himself admitted this before the Committee , and concluded by proposing the following resolution : —

    "That , referring to tho report of tho select committee on dockyard promotions , and the ovidonco upon which it is founded , thin House is of opinion that , during the administration of tho lato Board of Admiralty , tho patronage of dockyard promotions , and tho influonco of tho Admiralty , were used and exorcised for political purposes to an extent and in a manner calculated to reflect discredit upon that department of tho Government , and to impair tho efficiency of the service . "

    Sir John Pakington stepped forth an leader of the Opposition , and moved tho adjournment of the debate . Amid " loud cheers" from his party , he assumed a tone of great indignation . Mr . Keating " may bo learned in the law , but he has a very limited sense of justice . Not even his short cxperieuco in the House cun excuso the gross impropriety of the course ho has adopted . Ho has brought forward charges when he knows it is physically impossible to answer them . Ah a member

    of the late Government , I do not shrink from tins quoHtion : I nm prepared to contend that the Board of Admiralty , as constituted under Lord Derby , is entitled to tho gratitude and not to tho censure of this Houhc . ( Loud derisive shouts . ) If I had had time , it would havo been iny duty to tako grave exceptions to tho report of tho Committee ; it ban n tone of bitterness and severity not borne out by the evidence . It throws out ; sarcasms and insinuations more difficult to deal

    with tlmn , direct nccutuitioiiH . But the report and this motion really attack the Duko of Northumberland—yet never was u human being ihoro anxious to benefit tho Horvico than tho Duko . The minor appointments of tho navy have been always in tho hands of tho Admiralty , and the administration of that great department , docs not depend on the appointment of caulkers , joiners , sawyers , and smiths . Loudly praising tho Duko for his diupomd of patronage irrespective of till political influences , Sir John concluded by repeating Inn claim " to the gratitude of the country . " Mr . DlBltAJCivr interposed , objecting to Sir John ' s proposition . Ho hoped his right honourablo friend

    would not persevere in his motion for adjournment , but allow the House to come to a decision at once . He then launched out in more praise of the Duke of Northumberland . l "in the brief space of ten months he protected your forts , defended your coasts , and manned your navy . " . The man who has done such deeds cannot be crushed by factious opposition * ( Loud cheers . ) Lord Seymour " warmly defended the report of the Committee from the imputations of Sir John Pakington , who had not even attempted to show that it was contradictory to the evidence .

    The house then divided on the motion for adjournment , which was thrown out by 95 to 79 . Sir T . D . AoiAND moved the adjournment of the house . Mr . LABOTTCliEEE and others loudly protested that this question should be fairly discussed . Lord Paxmerston assented , and suggested Tuesday next , if Mr . Ball , who had a motion on malt , would give way . Here Mr . DiSEAEl / l became sarcastic and defiant . The course which this debate has taken lias not been , perhaps , bo satisfactory as was expected by honourable gentlemen opposite . ( Cheers . ) There are great complaints made of much , injustice , of statements being made that must be answered ; but no such talk was there when tho great statement was made at midnight —( loud cheers)—with the moral conviction on the part of the honourablo

    and learned member for Reading ( Mr . Keating ) that no opportunity could be given in this session of Parliament for proceeding with the inquiry ; and with ill-concealed triumph on the part of bis friends and supporters , whose sanguine cheers accompanied that manifesto of spitefUlness —( loud cheers)—although , they knew that not a single member of the late Government would have an opportunity of making a remark . ( Cheers . ) I will not myself countenance any attempt to delay the decision of the house on the main question ; and if honourable gentlemen opposite choose to sneak out of the position in which , they havo placed themselves —( continued cheering)—before the house and the country , we challenge the decision on this resolution , which they have ' ' not ' . dared to challenge . ( Loud cheers ;)

    The gallery was cleared , but no /' division" took place , tts all the members present went into the lobby , voting against the ^ StjjDurninent of the house . Mr . J . G . Phillimoee then moved the adjournment of the delate , but his . motion was rejected by 98 to 70 . Mr . Dbummond now struck in with a characteristic amendment . He proposed to strike out the latter part of the resolution , and insert instead the following words : " It appears that during every administration of tho Board of Admiralty patronage and influence havo been used and exercised for political purposes ; and that the report of the committee on tho Chatham election states that there is no instance of an election at that placo in which a Government candidate was not returned . "

    Mr . Beenal Osboene objected to tins bridge for the late Admiralty , and commented sharply on the course of the debate . Considering tho high character and standing of tho honourable member for West Surrey , he should hardly havo stooped to be mado a bridge of escape for the lato Board of Admiralty . For , since tho truth must bo spoken , it is not tho Duko of Northumberland and tho lato Secretary for tho Admiralty who arc on their trial ; it is tho character and conduct of this house . Wo deputed a select committee , composed of members of both aides of tho house , to oxarnino into tho truth of certain allegations ; they mado their report ; and then tho lato Secretary for

    tho Colonies comes down at two o clock in tho morning-, deprecates a debate , moves an adjournment which ho votes against ; , and takes that opportunity of bringing forward egregious charges against the select committee . J will not say a word against rny predecessor at this Admiralty ( Mr . Stafford ); I think ho has boon ill-used by his party ; they mado uso of him , and then , whon they found ho could not bo of any further use to them , they throw him over , and fell down and worshipped tho Duko of Northumberland , who they hope may yet be of service to them . ( Hear , hear . ) At least I believe that ; will be tho opinion of tho country to-morrow . Tho laL ' o Chancellor of tho Exchequer has used tho words " sneaking out . " Ho has on many occasions shown himself u great proiiciont in that

    art ; but I ask him , if ho do not wish to sneak irom this debate , to use the little influonco ho may yet exorcise with his party to bring this matter to an open discussion . 1 hopo ho will uso Ins influence with tho honourablo ' member for Cambridgeshire , who , I believe , is still one of his ihw followers —(" hear , hear , " from Mr . Ball)—to give up Tuesday noxt ; i ' or this purpose . IjoI ; not honourable gentlemen opposite week to avoid ( his diHcussiou by tho sneaking amendment of tho honourable member for Went Surrey . 3 Jy so doing they will not whitowaHh tho character of tho Duke of Northumberland , but will damage that ; of the hoiiHo in tho oyoH of all honourablo men . ( Cheers . ) Lord Palmkkbton , on being appealed to , expressed his opinion on the ( situation .

    " Honourable gontlemon opposite may wish to got adiacuHtiiofr'Oii the " main quotation at this hour of the morning , but will that bo lair either to thomwelveH , tho house , or tho country P I think a division , under present eircuintitancoH , would bo unsatisfactory to t , he country , and would not preclude the resumption of the debate , i ' or it , would bo in tho power of any honourable gentleman to bring forward the motion in another shape . I therefore trust , that , for the nako of the dignity of the bonne , I ' or tho reputation of honourablo gentlemen opposite , as well as on account to what is duo to the subject itself , that tho dobato may bo now adjourned . ( No , no , and confusion . ) An appoaf has beon mudo to mo to allot a Government day , upon which

    Untitled Article

    ^ jm 9 , 1853 ] THE LEADER . 651

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 9, 1853, page 651, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1994/page/3/