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had stated on » ptavious occasion , that I did not consider that * , abstractedly a » state of . war was a » sufficient gpouadfbr not proposing a measure of parliamentary reform , I stated that , there might be circumstances * such as these which occurred" at the commencement of the war in 1803 , which might so occupy the attention of every man , that it would he impossible to propose any measure of that kind ; hat I stated tWat E did not thmfc the- generalfact ? that fehis nation was engaged h * a- wa , r wi * h Russ » to be ^ suffioient reason for not proposing during the ; wac such . * measura of , infernal reform and internal improvement as I bads introduced . Sir , I sea . no reason to retract that opinion . I do not think . either that suit one present will differ from , that statement-, or
concertaialy under ordinary ciSxsumstances it would follow—that ' Here is a- Government proposing , a . measure which they think of essential importance—a measuxa which affects the representation of the country at large—in which great issues are involved ; and thev , admit themselves that they are obliged ! not to go to a division in . the coarse of the present session upon that measure . Their ¦ duty fir all * consistency should be to retire from the position which they' occupy ?' Bat here , again , a great dofey intervenes . * Tbss Mfoi&tere of the Crown have lately brought down messages ; to botft Houses of Parliament from . the Grown , asking for the support of Parliament to ther Grown afc the' commeqoemftnt of an arduous , and , it may be ^ a . very protracted struggles It . would hardly be . compatible with our doty—L may ? say , ifc would not be compatible with our duty—witbonta . case ~ of
dwiee > fu those who . looked up to bin * a * their gmkd Subsequently , Sir © rorgje &just exprewed the d- »« opinions . Jjorte Jocbltm and &otA fiim ^ 4 * 1 alike ^ preseed- theic high sense o& fh * oontlucfc , of ijOV ^ LJomu MEr ., DiMfcA . waT began * thmyn" ^ think-tiiat fee Majesty ' s Government hitv <*« rm > d at « aniinfrant& satisfactory ; cenelttsiom in thatwhicfctheit fewc < ionttnanicated : to the Boose' to-night , «* d > Ithink « hi » c * aa > $ 3 % isitohe . congratnlated-upon it .. Pam . not * tfaare&m ^ ditr $ PKd | te . indulge ioi those , sanBasma ^ which . & % Jiohife Lord ^ ticsinated oa this occasion ^ and if ' the , ooadAct , of . the , Gb >
yenunent . with respect to other . measures : wtiicbV ; I shalPalsi feel ifc { o be my dfcrtsy to oppose te influenced ., B y ' the foam feeiingf and regulated' b % the sanfe policy ^ 1 pftsmisfe ^ thi " ttpttfelijord ' tfcafrHe wilf experiencefrom * mean oppwttfb «> utttteRtjinFasW the pwsentf ocflasfcH . Bfe % aIfcBoTasH » sittfij anttM * 1 side * of tbwHouse } tisttaUrniWerJ-sllrittt frfe&e £ musing" my best efforts * ta vindicate * 1 &e afinian < £ m $ JriBnifa » 4- ( & % eflr $ )—> and ? to ? xas&ste tm ^ vaamMtrnMtkUk « & i «« M # l » - tawy p ^ ba KW ^ fiH * ,, ^ brniight fiww ^ ri by g * noblft LOrd < . I can . assure the * noble toed I , am Irtfr ^ diu * uosedlUfrnightyafter th p addwte ne . has mate , to : vj . < 9 wwitlt lany spirit of acerbity _ tjke couimof conduct % 9 fiasiadbon £
£ CXeers& Altliong ) i it ha * Seek my fate t » be alwatroy ^ poeitetojtbre xrofiTe EoEd ,., I % an , sa ^ mbatsmciB « rE ^ emw » on * fn tttik House has a rnbre-Keartftltf jMqrtit& ' nfe Ae ^ ribflft Eord .. ( 6 % eer » . ) r thinfr His charstrtw an * career ** pfti . ciaus ]^ e 3 sionffoTtft » H < taa » d ^ Sam ^ sam that the Memteraof tttoIf () Gte"d& ^ i * iMU » ' ! ritt aiwwvTj'oaarUh then * . ^ Ckmmh Whm&mt-m ^ vrMm htiei sits ^ Xanv aure ha will bo acaoBUjniuaiir by thfe ^ pipfciaf evser ^ member- 'of thia Hoose-- ^ e % » ar » i —«« df $ | tt | u ) c : ; Ulf mwmsr in which to-night h > : liaa ^ nia&Tjr& ^\«^«(! iN ^| £ e& Pj aikfDl , (» mmnnicaji 0 nr ^ t | herBMa 8 . iB uxeyerai . wisf ¦ wbtmJE oFtnenaliffeE oid ' . ''* - t * ^ ;! Ma ? . I&Maoii , then , woc 8 eaedtQ , aSowr % QlaboBate '
^ et ^ icjgjiw ^^ . ejreuwii ^^ m ^^ jsmm ¦ MMIttwL * tjnttti Hit tftlGtfc Mi ^ t . || ii » py || i » n 4 * ttTaffifl »« u ^^^ flf ^ rt ^ MiiBiilil * f c ; wh « a . l ^ kuateca- took' ^ Biee da , tasS ^ % ^ Kfett # i 3 ^» l < UB ^ inenaciag , ! t ] uuv , tha ^ are ^ iuMKj and t £ ^ w&ub ( ui . bill -w ^ b , < % oiH 0 » t , iik tJ ^ w ^ aLfflCM ^^^ yP ^ Bfc : H 3 f fr ^ eefe ^ qaavtOb iBSMiuater- thofr TV ) pn jpt ^^ aap ^ agJI ^ ipof £ th « ^ ermvn ^ ed ^ a «> % rjieau and , tl »« t » thefy weiafnafcuiiitw ^ < gwyia ^ l < tej ^ p | «^ , ^ I » roj } po 4 t » H to ^ thejjrea « r «; c ^ jTrfmHHry b ^ P"lii : > ff mifi yi ^ liiTi- tliir ^ li&feiwrttt . ' v ' r ,. " ' .- " ..,. i < . - Tbs ~ 4 ahavtfl > w-ajt ftTomffifTiiy ' ^ iipCj 9 iti ^* B ^ yjPtfe ^ i' ^' 'Hi f ^ i ^ visdieatioB o £ ' the ; GrflyernmgBt ^ ' oawfe , 6 puci '' J&jjpr JPlBKfOToi ^ . wiot eaDog ^ ssc ^ Ifor < hu 4 mc £ - < & « iCH )^ Jtoh » . ; . . ..,.. v . . . . "; -,,. , -.. ij' ¦ T& 8 B « DtiE > n . \ w «*) aw » e 4 Jte » i ^ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ , , . ¦ ^ ;
I ' . ' j ^ mm rtm s ^ waMmete ^ ' , V ^ v S& . GrLAa > sTd »> na xtttufe a Idbtf * of ' gp pr ) featen t | g ^ flnancialt statement , on Tuesday , rendered . imceffi | ttry , iix His opinion ,, By tne fact tfiatlte na ^ Tiat lltoi fiitbre > ir opportunity ; of maftrugr an acciitpte ^ tirfemiint"af We , i ^ omian ^ jfe ^ dftto ^ tl ^ wi ^^ M ^^ ° **« ' - > ' Hie laid ttie talance-dheeir on th © table , and inrfii ; tnaiithad' Bean hia intenti 6 fl to mat ^ ffirtateniettt Irespectmff its det * ilfl > but Mi Disraeli'tiad jrioyad I 6 r ^ more rniormatibn . on ; thd 8 ufject , a »( f ^ eraftrt ttb . thought it wouia 1 be bettex ta arQidy aff'topics of , d « t > ate , and to confine himself to rnattbr * of * ct .
Considering the discussiou . wWcrx nacl occtrpW * tHe ^ fiociBairBMfr . or- tfte . eteovig ; ' h&'&&& $ w j ^^ brfetfX An exaaaiinsticw ^ of (^ ^ laswel'rafefet w ^ caa > bow tliat tliera wag an iticincuse of'tMiftlfti oc ^ wn ^ lie Bad estimated on the etll of Marcn ; bntthiirdM W axise from any su ^ Btantiaf cHattge ^ of cHTTinis stances * , one portion of the- exceittf arFsag ; from- itt ? - ^ oaxo ^ tax , ana tno qnestlojt Yiefaig' oah /; one oftaife time of money arriving at ttte Excn ^ Uer ^ and ^ tro . other pprtion ^ as from , the Customs Tevemie , £ aBra ^ an easceptionaT catjse— -the atitiicfpHtedt redaction ' qf the ; tea duties * The excess" of income tfverr ^ xpenfi ^ on
£ uB 3 i was 3 » 524 , pO ( W . ' ^ tile 6 th , of B ^ Crtni ne Tmb estimated the . surpfixs- at' 2 , 8 ^ 000 ^ , titafc » r * r « i ^ Wtt jwMdfc he showed ; he p ^ Jpoied * that thd p ^ 8 tt # aurrjlua atiould' be taken at 3 ^) 00 , 000 ? . The remOt Jwaa satiBfactory , as in ^ ba ^ lve of « K < s crjwditibnr off ( trade and industry , and' of tne peogtfef , the mow so jthot" trade must have suffered some contraction-, er " a $ leaabl retaadatibn of progress , bY politic *! «^ 2 S ^ 'Moreover ' , last year we had remitted HjpottflOOR ^ m xtaacesi and kid o ^ others ; but , while tha fdroier operation , that of relief ,, kad : entlrei ^ tato eflfect , . tlte receipts from the latter had only , pawtrallycomte in . He- then adverted to tne state of tite !**«* & ¦ balances , aad said that on the 5 tft ° * ^ P ^» 1853 , there was in the Exchequer- T $ 39 ttfKgpE , while on , the same date , in 183 S J ^^ _ T *™ 2778000 / . ^ or a decrease of 5 , OW ; 0 OOt l ana : » e
, , slxowed , how this sum had been applied , iftlttroaL slxowed , how this sum had been applicd ^ iftjfltfm , ^ a much larger amount , in paying- off' fftfl « 8 qggiW »|^ v ^ advances foi pubUc worka and Ted S ^ mW 3 ^^ / j / C \ V unfunded debt . He entered , into ai * ' K ^^ BSf ^ BBiJB ^ - r ^ V ^ the subiect of the deficiency blllfc ; itigpr |] JH ^^ fS ^^ imi ^ - ' move the false knpEession on tfce , BBfaWJilWvffFJf * ilium " •'* well-informed persons , that thfcse ; *§ P / f ^ Sg HPfe \ M ^' accommodatiion given by tfce Bttnfc W * KmKSK § K ^*^ * " ^ meoit , and proved that they were a WJ ^ ffmSBK ^ -j j £ , ing when certain charges becamQ iSy ^ Sro ^ . Sr ^ fi S . * > . "" sta-ted tliat , having taken legal acfv ' TOar J 9 ^^^ f ^ ; j'C ' competency to do so , lio had tateri raotjSM ^ [' Mte _^» r ^» regulating the mode , of issuing ttWsser DuTB 7 ~ fcw * ^ thereby , Instead of tlio amount bettig ^ 5 ' , 860 , O 06 ^ ., it had been reduced ,, ud to tfao greicedtnff day , to
tee greatest necessity ; to shrink from tiie ¦ posts which we occupy , and to decline that ? responsibility which belongs to the warm- - wiiicir we have engaged , aad tirtne manner of carrying : it on-, apon which wwhave delibWatedi . "Such , theiii being the case as regards tma-Befiwm ^ Bi l ^ and asi cegards . the position * of the liowgromentf £ roay / B * asked , and lam ouit » ready togiv *; my aaBwer to > t * artPq « esi tion— - ** How stands the canse of reform ^ itBelf ; after wfaatyoa have sow stated '? ' Sir r the firet tbintg I should say ia , that ttoe Government of ILowt : Aberdeen adopted tfcer pledge wliioh . they gave in all sincerity , that they ** e reaidytei aiidw by that pledge ^ , and that thtey . holdu themselves ^ as boundi tit * thw principles of a . reform or tl »* represent * -
tion as unon t&e first day \ whem they 0 entered ofRt » . With-regard to ^ any more specific pledge ^ Kcan'only say tiiat ! the Gabinefe wliich adopted ^ this reform * tneasure see no ^ reasoiu to changes their opinion witai re ^ arditothse principles involved : ! in tliat-measoi « fwidirega « dito > tb * g ^ nerral soope > aadohjeot : which ; it h « S'iamew « - * -ti » iti they consider ; themseives ^ iia . v&o ^ , as ^ nuch appro vingiofv this m « asnre as whm < they firstibwraght it fitrwaudL 1 h « y caa therefore ^ only s « yv whe » the aggor-Cunity present * itaeiSi , whfdl they wonld' be raostiwiltffiyto ttngbracey of agpdn bniiging fbrward x \ Mh ror ? theref «* rai'Of tie representatioa of ; tire people *—when RarikKnent caw pro > ; perbjpatten * toitii » aubjec * ^ tttat theyrw 4 flbe . r « ad ^ tovbkitiR that measorai fo » w « rd * --taife they wilU be ready toTWmiFit
fotwaffliiwith' aik thai weigh * o * » Govwnawnt—aactendawr vomr to gas&i& Of ooursev t do not-me « iuthat thiuo * s » wiw . feibna which h » vB beenmad&upon tlieawatgr ^ thafcwiwhiww brenj ^ xt forward ; siraoid nott receive our- atteotioiv ^ -thatt ttts T 3 iodiiicatioft . o £ details shottidrnofe be-. d « dy considered . UtlbieJ that meaante ^ agauti ^ redaoedv . Itrwouia bwwmng to ^ n « i > eld ? de- theCabAietfroin > fcKat : <» nsiieratiaa . 1 thinfetvo aboll'i ill represent tiie-peoplee atlwgB ^ and not ^ pay doe-defeitnortb gublte ; opinion ^ if we do not adopt sack b > coarsen £ C / iJt * t * S Bat to ) the-principle ; of tkis-ffleasxra ^ wei are ' readjc toWnd : mivselvesv and ; the Oovemmest renwinsi ** when it wwflrBtr conetitntedr ~ s ) Govemnteat based : upon- thv prepomti of * j r « foran in th «; representaticn ... Sir ,, tiie curcumstuicw > area
new- —they ar * nnpreeBdentedi A . Gtomtnmenfc entesittK upen a-w » og tll » ntagnttndBiofi tiiafc int » wtfckwi ka « ftjastt ettteredj , aad . at the sanl * jtamw joropa ^^ wineaOTCrff amtodttjf >* as wghavopTopttseA . fbE agHeafcigtth » jepwea > aiiloauditthi > people ,, I beltot * i » a ease : thatlhas aotf ooou « red ^ not' tko ^ cob > - sfiitutiooal bisto « y o £ toie-cavnMsfi Weare booa&toooirsider oar owa sense o £ duty in the coarse tta * = we * an ' - " N « w ^ . siryniay I topuniitted * t » l » f some &vpm # 4 &mi leference ^ not only to > the GfOvernmeBt , r Safe to > inTovmpiMU > taon as the organ , of the GJorermnent in . tbi »> Hoiwe f&tei coarse that I . have jnslpnopasedi 13 « aposed taaUr thaav w « a >> pans of taunt and sarcasm which the ragktt honourable
afixvtlemen . QMr . Pisraoli ^ wiaom' t se * opposite knows- w w « ll l how to use ; They are : tbe Me weapoasxrf- oppositlenu- It liave been long . nsankto . eh « m Midi : tnwt that E should 1 nott complain , if those weapons vnera wielded ^ -withn oven Wore thwrn the * skill ; and dexterity which wo Have hitherto wit 3 a « ssedl But , sir , it is- a- difrereat thing ; withi ragcnkto 4 hoB « who ^ supporting th « pceseat Government ^ are attach « d ^ amoti earnestly attached ' , to reform ; in Parliament . Witte respect . tor them , I m « Bt say , while' the statenaentithatl have > just made may bo open , to suspicion , * thafe tliat suspicion' cans hardly be eotcrtiuteed without , weakening ,, and it * £ u « d » --sbpoying ^ my position as tbe organ of . th * Government an « thfei House . U It have , dion * [ here Lordi John appeftced- to bet
overcome with , emotion , when . loud , and prolonged- cheering ) arose front all parts of the House . Eta at length proceeded ,. at first ] with faltering accents]—— -If ft have aoa » anything ) far the cause * of reform , I trust toot I may be doserving ^ some confidence .. ( CAaera- ) At all event * , I feel tttatl if'I ! hnve not that confidence ] ,, that . I can lie of no use to < thei Ci'own or to < tbe country , Aild that ! csoi > m \ lbBgar hoki twy present : position . ( Jten&atid aheeesi ) . Sir , thesd aro- tinMB ) of no oraiuavy impocfcanceijj and the' questions wh «« h-flveryi man-.. ha » . now to solvej for Inoaself : ore qjaestaoa » of ^ thw trtmostl difficulty , and anxiety . I bav » endeavonredr to arriv-e at thatj cooclusiou which , I beii « vei , obe < ther best for the interests'of thtei Qirowaand . of the country ; and I tcuat that I shallb » supported in the course' whica I have taken :, " { hovd' cnVk continued cheerx )
Expressions of sympathy and respect were given from all parts of the House . Six Edward During commended Lord John for gallantly redeeming , hia pledge by proposing the bill , and for hia display of moral courage in withdrawing a measure which circumstances beyond his control riad rendered it improper to press . Wv . Hume , with reluctance , concurred in the course adopted , but he expressed his perfect eoufldence hu Lord John , There was no alternative to that course . It would bo disastrous
cither it Ministers resigned or dissolved Parliament ; , yet if thuy pressed the bill and met with defeat they must do oiLher the one or the other , Mr . Buwairr criticised the bill , and lectured Lord John on the necessity of giving more electoral power to the great towns , if he would evoke their support in favour ofl hi » next bill . Mr . LAUOUcniiuia could not refuse to luinself tlio gratification of Htating that Lord . John , had that day not only takon a coutho dictated by the soundest policy , but cue which , iuapiced frcali coa ^
sider that , it is impossible or inexpedient during a state of war to bring forwai'imeasures-of internal improvement and reform , including , such- a ~ measure as L have mentioned .. I stated likewise that I thought that during , a period ; of war it was aeeassacy to- impose great burdens on the country , and that if thes * were classes' whielfewere fitted to- have the elective ^ -anehise ,, sod which had it not—which were entitled to it but did not enjpy it—that if they were ; to hear these burdens , it was far from being unfitting to . admit thenvto this franchise . ( C / teers . ) Sir , _ from neither of these opinions do 1 see any reason to recede ; but when war was declared , it was to b& considered by the Government whether or no at this particular time vre should proceed with the second reari - ingof the Befonn . BUL
"N " ow , it isnot to be disguised that * Befertn Bill of any « ttenaive-nature whatever a * tac& » nrany interests ^ vrouodBmany prejttdices ^ loaes mwjy friends *; if tiB StrpamofretbxiuiBJslog gish , the w « eds = of self-interest and . prejwdice ^ embafer ass a&d com ^ leteiy choketitr . QCAeersi )< How , sicy . we-hav 9 . had . t 0 look . at . tlle prospect o € our , being , able , toe caxrv . UieEefbrna Bill . iiL . tHe present state of public opinion both in tins House and iii the country . I think it wilt fie generally owned" that , while tlrere has been : an iridisposifion nt the meiftfipre of tnis House , so far as' % cottlcL coffectrtheiropinionsvon whatever sideof the Htettsetliey sa ^ to-und ^ rtafce ^ thw cortsrdferationof this questfibn ^ ther # &u ^ b * enin ' t 6 * coutttryv nnfcdisi ^ ppoba tion ot tile niettsuiwthat-we > proposecf , tot an indifference as to its being imraediatefe urged forWnlw ( j ^ Aaerst ) I colw it
lect tbisnict , fir 9 tra ) on \ , the abaorbing ^ interest , wfeichl is evident , the p » ple ^ of thiscoaiitE ^ tate / invtio war tliat ias sow beguur—an , intsraat which io * ( juictened by tteir feeling in favour of the power which ia attacked , andlaaaihst the aggressor in this war . I collect it ,. secoHdl y ^ rront-toVabBence of manifestations ia favour of ' reform . bypBtitians presented to tins- House . I thSafc there hare not been moretnan ^ eleven petitions of the Kiwi presented 1 to ^ thte-Bbttsft 1 , atrf- not more thau four are in ftvonr of tbe naeasure that is- b * ft ) f » the House . Now , e&ci as T have'said , I : d& not think this iaito be attribatei to dSsapprobatiott of the measutB ^ of the Govern-Bient .. ( € 5 fe « er * i ) f Si ^ £ tr t& t can learn ^ applying and asking in * many quarters * , the ; judgment gassedv oa that mea » - sure is one o £ . approbation * . It has been considered thatiit extends- very largely ,, but not unduly , the franchise to the
people , and it has also Been considered that , with regjttd to any penalties of dis&ancnisement it' may contain , whether that disfranchisenretit is carrSsd too for , or not fir enough , or whatever maybe t&e" m « asure of ife , it has at- least oeen applied fairly , witlioflftt any reg » td to-pasty interests ^ Of feelings r and Cnat ' tb «» ef 4 r * 'th © Go « rnmentimeasatei 9 at * least worthy of comme&dtttioa . in - t * at jsspect .. Whether or mot its particulac proviaiona axe all well , woven together , or whether every on « o £ its elkuses ia . t& beappnoved—upon that I thiak . neither the-Souee nor the country is at present able to give an-opinion , from , that want of attention to its detaik * which t have , alceady mentioned ., and that absorb ' r
ing interest in tile war to which I have already alluded . Sir , I cannot but think , and th « Government have come to the same conclusion , that it would be unwise in us * , whether as regards' the- general interests of the country , or whether as regards 1 the interests 1 of reform , on the part of those who wish to see the 1 promotion of refor » if we were to pves 8 ' th « second reading of this bill ; I &el ' and evecy one , I think , mast feel , that there is great force in an observation which was made by the right honourable gentlemen opposite , the member for Buckinghamshire , that it is highly inconvenient that there should b > e a bill before the House containing provisions for the disfranchisement of seats for which , members
are present in this House , and who are constantly voting , and that there should be no decision come to by ttie House whether that' proposed disfttmchisement should be approved ov disapproved—whether _ it should be carried itito effect' or be rejected . I' ana not " at ail : disposed to diminish ) the weight of that objection to any postponement of this measure . I think likewise that it la a great disadvantage that her Majesty should havo been twice advised ^—and I must confess that I myself have been one of the advisers' in both instances—that her Majesty should have been advised to propose fco- her Parliament that measures for the improvement of the representation should be considered b y Parliament , and that in neither instance in the session in which that proposal is maxte it should be taken seriously into- consideration by Varliinaent . And 1 own that 1 cannot accept an excuse which baa been mode for the course that I am
now declaring myself ready to adopt oa the pait of her Majesty's Govern » ent , namely , that the Government having matured a measure—having prepared its details , and laid it upoa the table of the House , their part is accomplished , and their pledge has been fulfilled . I cannot but think that ir » all ordinary circumstances , having proposed nuch a measure , the Government would b « bound , not only to lay it on tho table , bufc to do their utmost to enrry it , and , therefore , I should be sorry if it were supposed thut we evaded any plod ^ e t luit wo have mii . de upon thtyt or any isiniitur irround . liut tneat aa those
inconveniences aru , 1 mutttsuy that- L think any otlior course would havo beon attended with greater evila , and with more palpable difficulties . Wo could hardly propose the second reading of this Reform l ? ill at thm time without declaring our intention if defeated upon that measure , either to resign our offices at once , or to advise the Crown to proceed to an immediate dissolution or" Parliament . Hat I ' cannot but think tliat either of these courses would , at tho prosont lnuincnt , ho attended with grent danger . " Well , a ' u \ but then it imiy be said thut it follows—and
Untitled Article
April 15 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 33 t
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 15, 1854, page 339, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2034/page/3/
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