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    giflgi 1848. THE NORn^y j^AR. 3

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    i mperial -prnsimuu

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    "" rTfollowing speech was delivered bj M...

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  • 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.

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    Giflgi 1848. The Norn^Y J^Ar. 3

    _giflgi 1848 . THE _NORn _^ _y _j _^ AR . 3

    I Mperial -Prnsimuu

    i mperial _-prnsimuu

    "" Rtfollowing Speech Was Delivered Bj M...

    "" rTfollowing speech was delivered bj Mr _O'Con-° the debate on the * Budget , ' on Friday 507 ntr ( J _& ' 25 t ' ) - _" _^ whicn , _frotn P ress oi * . _?«¦ we could not find space for . _jjfit _. Cl * . _q'Cokkoe said : The noble lord has com' ted jocosely and not unjustly upon the want of _jjnity displayed by the supporters of the hon . Cn ber for Montrose , while the noble lord may _con-•^ la . himself upon the perfect unanimity and _S *\ ]] tv by which his placemen and pensioner _^ g nx are bound together , and in their support of ? e * _c _ovemment . ( Cheers . ) The noble lord , he _l * t _^( _jer ] _, had not once touched the question under _rTcnssioni ' liad ridden off upon Ms Um P S j , vl-the Irish difficulty . He had hoped to have

    -d an explanation of the speech of the right hon . _Secretary for the Admiralty , from the noble lord speech in which sinking { und aud floating fund , "" nuance and stores , men and dockyards , had been fascinating ly j umbled by the right hon . secretary , * - In _Tu _$ _-e i _* difficult to understand what belongnd to eval expenditure , to the dead weight , to permanent taxation , or to the bill that we were called upon to , . ( Hear , hear . ) But the hon . member for Sheffield ( Mr Ward ) must rest assured that this _" trv _^ iU no longer tolerate such a jumble of its accounts from a paid servant . ( Hear , hear . ) The ohle lord should recollect that the honourable member for Manchester had told Mm that the present _W 2 S a middle-class government . If he reduced the

    expenditure to meet the income , instead of increasing _tJaeincome to meet the expendHure , lie Would have tha support of the middle classes and the working classes _vith bin . But by inflicting the tax he was about to levy , and the weight of which would fail upon the _niddle classes chiefly , in thefirst instance , but which thev would subsequently not only shove off their own shoulders , but ultimately would make a large profit of—it would press most heatily upon tke poor and industrious . ( Hear , hear . ) Let him explain the nature of the proposed system of direct taxation , fo order to prove that the pressure must eventually fall upon the poor . A manufacturer employing a thousand hands , and returning his profit on their labour at £ 10 , 000 per annum , would be compelled by this additional tax of two per cent ., to pay an additional £ 200 a vcar , ( Hear , hear . ) Ay ! but see the

    source from _whence he would draw-it ' . "Will this house believe that a reduction of one farthing per day from the wages of those 1 , 000 hands , will give the employer nearly £ 330 a year , or £ 150 a year profit npon the tax ? ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Well , but to go farther—where is the master who would not be able to reconcile his unprotected hands to the reduction of a shilling per week , to meet * sueh an infliction , and which would give hiia a profit of abont £ 2 , 8 ) 0 a year , upon the payment of a tax of _£ 200—and all crimped from the wsges of the poor , and abstracted from the _prefit of the shopkeeper . ( Hear , hear . ) The shopkeepine class was sn important part of the industrial

    community . They lived upon just profit , produced by fair competition , and that profit was increased or diminished in proportion to the ability of the _indnstrion 3 classes , to secure the necessaries of life . ( Hear , hear . ) Well , the deduction he _dretv from tiie opposition of the middle classes to this measure , _TO 3 creditable , generous , aud honourable , because thay preferred opposing their old friends , to beine placed in the odious aud unenviable position of being compelled to _makelossesgood out of diminished wage ? . ( Hear , hear . ) It was a . fact , that could aot be "denied , that the infliction of this tax would _cowpel the shopkeepers to pay it , not out of their profit ? , which were nil , hut out of their _remaining

    capital , whieh was daily melting away . ( Hear , hear . ) It would cause the middle and the working _dashes to unite for the first time , and their union would he against him . He objected to the manner in which Ireland was made use ot by Irish members in that house . He objected to the honourable member fBr Limerick telliHg the government that , if a ceitain policy were adopted , they tad only to whistle , in order fo get 200 , 000 Irishmen to fight the battles of this country . That was the manner in which the Irish mind had been always debased and destroyed , and for his part , he could see no chance of regeneration in England until Ireland was regenerated in the & sj instance . / Bear , hear . ) He felt gratified for

    the aid which had beea extended last year by thia eonntry to Ireland , but what , he asked , would Irish members be told if they had to apply for further aid to the people of England next year ? "Would they not be told ' you have since takeB another tax out of our pockets , and we are no Ion ger able to afford you relief ? ( hear , hear ) The noble lord told them that he had not made a warlike speech , but however that might be , neither he nor the right honourable gentleman , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , had certainly made a retrenchment speech . ( Hear . ) At a time when the industrial classes of this eonntry were selling everything thev had . in order thet they might keep out of the

    workhouse , was it right to tell them that thia was tbe very moment to increase the pay of the soldiers and ths rations of the sailors ? ( Hear ) , hear ) He would tell them that there were events passing around them that neither the noble lord nor he could shut their eyes to . The noble lord must be aware that the present state of France v _^ as not one which wonld warrant an _increase of ths expenditure of this country . ( Hear , hear . ) The sentiments expressed by the hon . mem . _bsr for the west riding ef Yorkshire on this subject had bis most cordial assent . That hon . gentleman had the confidence ef the middle classes of this conntrv _. aud he ( Mr O ' Connor ) oouldtell them , that

    if thi 3 tax was imposed he would also have the con-Sdence of a portion ofthe working classes , for having opposedit . ( Hear , hear . ) The noble lord felt ih = t he might rely _. en gentlemen en that ( the opposition ) side of the house , who might be led away in the present state of Europe , with a feeling that it was necessary to bare a stronjr government in tbis country . Bnt the people would not be satisfied . Since 1335 there had never been a division in that house against any proposed increase in the expenditure . As long as there was a farthing in the wallet the cry war , ' Let ns spend it ; ' but now the country was lesolved that there mast be retrenchment , and if the government 2 sked how they were to save the

    pub' . k money , let them look to the placemen and the pensioners who were sitting behind the Treasury benches , who were ever ready to bring up the rear , and hovil at the bicli of the minister . ( Here Mr Trelawney , wbo sat immediately behind Lord John Russell , started precipitately from his seat and without taking off bis hat rushed from the Treasury benchC 5 , skipping across the officials , amid _tremendous laughter , until the hon . gentleman seated himself at a considerable distance in the background . ] There ( continued Mr O'Connor ) if my petard has cr _e-sted __* uch confusion in your rinks , what effect will the broadside of universal indignation have upon your corps . ( Hear , hear ; and laughter . ) He would remind the noble lord that tbe profligacy , prostitution , subserviency and treachery

    of _French officials , who howled at the back of the minister , and resisted reform , led to revolution , and the system was as _corropt in England . ( Hear . ) They _shsnld have reform , The eonntry demanded it . The people felt that what led to the straggle for reform in France , was the tampering with " the public money by the government . ( Hear hear . ) The people would oblke the noble lord , or whoever waB minister , to find out frora what quarter economy should come . The nofaie lord might ask the supporters of this amendreeni where economy was to come from . If _mhiisiers gave tbem their salarie ? , they might perhaps get an answer . ( A laugh ) There was a saying in Ireland , it is not fair to keep a doz and bark yourself " . The course pursued by the noble lord reminded him of the man who had orderd his servant

    to cot the tail tff a yonng _doi ; Hearing tbe dog barkirgtvery morning for some days after , he inquired the cause , and the servant said he was cutting _feffiis tail . ' Did I not order you to do that a week ago V said the master . ' Oh ye ? , ' whs the reply , ' bnt I _cutr-ffa joint every morning , _bfcaase I _TE 68 afraid , as the _dojisyoune / that he could not he : ir to have it ali cutoff at once . ' ( Laughter ) That was preri- 'ely the policy of the nob ' e lord in trying the extent to which the people could _bi-ar taxation —( hear , Lear)—i : e was cutting a joint , of our tail off every _niornins until , atlast , we would have no tailst aU . ( Great laughter . ) Wben this question rame before the public , it . would be hard to reconcile them _totbi : _lu-lief in their poverty that the _countryrequircd mo-c soldiers . It would be hard lo satisfy

    them tiiHt _sii thc _* e items of expeFditure were idno . ximi- and harmless . When tbey were seen in one hoik , the peop ' e would have a very _strong opinion as to the creatness of the amount , although , when thev _wt-re better able to bear it , they might not bave be _» n « o ready to Snd fault with the amount . He felt _sraieiul to thi- ; country for what hud heen done lor _Iri . hnd _, hut at . thesame time , as an Irishman , be sheuld deny that sn _ssiricultural country had any right _t-j _u-mef-r assistance as an alms to this country , while _England _waited her _agricultural produce , or that ihe _existence id a _itatinn shnuld be i _^ ft to depend on tiie _beceine letter of an archbishop . ( Hear _, hear . ) The neble lord might rest assured that while the _religion of the Irish people was made a charge agairst their , loyalty , they would be tempted to _Jel-k to _iinother country professing the same re-

    "" Rtfollowing Speech Was Delivered Bj M...

    _ligir n , that kid liberated itself , for relief , rather than to s couatry ef a difFsren ( religion .

    MONDAY , Feb . « . HOUSB OP LORDS The bill for enablin g her Majesty to establish diplomatic relations with the Court of Rome was read a third time , and passed after a short discussion . The other _busineiB was af a routine character . HOTTSB OF COMHONS .-Ock Relations with Fuses . —Mr Huire again roseand said—Sir , I with to ask a question other Majesty ' * ministers in connexion with the stat * of _afftire in France , where the gov » rnment that existed no longer exists , and a new government h «« been established . I wish , therefore , to ash her Majesty ' s ministers whether it is their intention to withhold altogether from any _interference with tha people of France , and to leave them at liberty to choose what sere of government they please ! I simply ask the question , if there is no _objectioa to _anjwsr it .

    Lord J . _Boisell —I have no objection whatever to answer tbe question ofthe hon . gentleman . We hare received , of _eonrie . the intelligence which la generally known to the public of the cnanee which has taken placa in France , and I can assure tha house—indeed , I should hardly have thought it necessary to declare itthat we have no intention whatever to interfero with the form of government which the French nation may choose for themselves —( loud eheers )—or in any way to meddle with the Internal affairs of that country . ( Renewed cheering . ) CHARGE OF . BREACH OF PRIVILE GE AGAINST FEARGUS O'CONNOR , IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS .

    Mr J . _O'CosHsiLsaid , _heross to discharge a very painful duty . He had to complain ofa breach ofthe privileges of that house , in the shape of an invasion of the freedom of the tribunal for the trial of contested elections . The breach ef privilege to which he referred , consisted of an article in the _Nobthkbs Star newspaper of last Saturday . Tha * article contained imputations on tha right hon . gentleman the Secretary at War ( Mr F . Maule ) , aa chairman of the committee of selection , and on him ( Mr O'Cennell , ) bv name , he beine : therein aceused of

    _beinrj the _deadlv enemy of the hon . member for Nottingham ( Mr F . O'Connor ) . So far aa regarded himself , he could assure the house that he would be prepared to treat the charge with perfect indifference . Bat he considered that ia his perssn an attempt was made te overawe merafeers of that house , which , if allowed to pass by unnoticed , might be fatal to the freedom and deliberation of election committees . He _begeed leave , therefore ,, to move that the paper ia qeestkm be laid on the table , and thit the pa ? 8 ngc which he complained of be read . The article was then read by the clerk : —

    Mr J . _O'Coxraii then proceeded to say , that ha believed he was bound by the forms of the house to submit te it a motion ; and he would do so as a matter _» f form , in order that he might have au opportunity of statin ? , that in his belief neither the chairman of the selection committee , nor the chairman of panels , nor himself in particular , need care much for the attack that had been made oa them ( hear ) , ft appeared to hirai however , to be desirable that the public shonld be made acquainted with the mode in which election committees were appointed . He had to state in the first place , that the right hon . gentleman , the Secretary at War , had no more power in the committee ef selection than any other member of that committee ; for he could only co-operate with a majority of the committee—that majority consisting of four ont of six

    members—in selecting the committee that should try any particular election , aad ia __ fixing a day for the commencecent of its proceedings . He had to _observe in the next place , _ that if there were any objection against any particular member being appointed to serve on a committee , that member might be ehallensed for cause , althoogh a member could not be struck off as special jurymen could- be struck off , without cause shown . He did not mean to trouble the _honss with any further observations npon the subject . Bat a 3 a formal motion would be necessary , in order to give the houso an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon the matter , if it should think proper so to do _, __ he begged leave to move thatthe printer and publisher of the _Nobihebx Star newspaper be summoned to appear at the bar of the house .

    Here the Speaker inquired who seconded the motion . andn _» one appearing for a considerable time , he declared that there was no seconder , when the hon . member for Paisley , Mr Hashe , fiew ta the reseue , and seconded the motion . As a breach _' of the privileges of tho House of Commons is considered a matter of the gravest and deepest irap 6 rt _, when Mr O'Coxkoe _roso there was a death-like rilence . He said that as _proprietor of tho _Nohteers Stab newspaper . _he wished to say a few words in reply to tbe observations of tbe hon . member for Kerry . In former cases of complaints against that paper , he had suffered in person ; and that waa the first time that the printer or publisher bad been Bade in anv way answerable for anything that

    had appeared in its eolumns . He would now justify that article by precedent , statute law , and experience . He believed that many members of that house had spoken of election committees aa being unfair tribunal * , because tbe members of those committees generally decided according to their political opinions . He had himself been canvassed for an election committee , and he had on one occasion been denounced for voting according to hia oath in favour ef a Tory candidate , while all the other _metnbars of the committee had voted _according to their party predilections . So ranch for precedent , which justified Mm in the conclusion that party bias set all other obligations aside . The hon . genthman was wrong wh 6 n he said that there was a , right of

    _ohallenge for cause shown against any member ef a cammittee . There was no snch thing . There was a right of challenge on account of relationship , or because a member had himself been petitioned against . But there was no right of challenge for cause . If there had been such a right he should have challenged the right hoB . gentleman the Secretary at War , and the hon . gentleman the member for Kerry , ( Mr M . J . O'Connell ) in consequenee of a personal quarrel he bad had with that hon . member . Now what was the praetice , if he , ( Mr _O'Conns-r _. ) was on trial for his life , > nd if the Secretary at War ,, or the bon . member for Kerry , was npon his jury list he wou'd not waste his peremptory challenges -upon exceptions to these two jurors , but he would

    make his objection upon canse , and in both cases he _^ would show _suffiiient eaus 9 to justify tbe * court in setting them aside , and the house should understand that this wise _provisian ofthe law was as protective of the delicacy of the joror as ofthe interest of the prisoner , as it was ant at all unu'ual for a juror te object to himself on account of bias , and he felt assured that that bias oa the part of the hon . member for Kerry was sufficiently strong to hare justified sneh an objection . lie had dealt with the questions of precedent , Iaw , and ex nerience , and he would now answer the sneer caused by his appeal to the country for funds to defend his seat . He had had a taste of previous committees . He was an independent member . He did not buy

    his constituents snd he would not sell them ; and being a public Fervant , he neither felt it , _ner thought it , to be his duty to defend a seat whieh he held for the public benefit . He did not deceive his constituents or the country npon this point , nor was he going to _pauperis himself , if those for whom he strangled did not consider his position worth defending ; and as to thev ' _-sneer of the five farthings a man from the Land Company , he begged to tell that house , that since that Company was incorporated he had never travelled a mile , or eaten ameal . at the expense- ofthe fund * , but had spent nearly £ 1 , 000 out of his ownpocket on behalf of that Company ; and that he had rever through the whole course of his life

    accepted pay , gratuity . _» r compensation for any service he had performed . He had before declared to his con stituents , that as he would derive no personal benefit from a seat in that h < uise , he wou'd not defend it at his own expense . He had sat in threeparlisraents without havine given offence to anyone ; and if he had done anything to hurt the feelings ofthe bon . member for Kerry he begsed leave to express his regret . ( Hear , hear . ) He had certainly written th _» article in question under a feeline of some irritation ; and he could not fo * rget that he had formerly been unseated by an election committee for want of qualification , at a time when he conld declare on his oath that he had £ 5000 a year and that he did not owe any man a farthins

    Mr M . J . O'Connell said he conld assure the hon . gentleman that he had not broaght that matter under the notice of tbe house bn account ef anything that had been done to hurt his feelings . He had not brought forward the subject on personal grounds . The hon . gentleman and he had had a difference , but it was not on that account that their intercourse had ceased . If an apology had been needed from the hon . gentleman , the apology he had offered would have been accepted . But he could assure the hon . _uentteman that no apology waB required . He boped that tbe notice that had been taken ef that matter would prevent the repetition of similar attacks on the members of election _^ committees . He did not , of nurse , mean to press his motion . The motion was then withdrawn . The Budget . —An _immenfe number of petitions having been presented against the propose * Income T 8 T ,

    Tbe _CaiKCELtoa ofthe EiCBECOEE then rose to move the order of tbe day for the Committee of Ways and _Jf » an » , _ondfn so doing entered more fully Into tbe finan . cial state ofthe country tban Lord J . Eussell bad done when he made his statement . The _exceBB of expenditure ovtr income in tbe year tn < iing 5 th January was £ 5 _, S 5 G 000 . But out of the expenditure they should deduct £ 1 , 525 , 009 ' nounvd for Irish _distrew , leaving the actual _ocess of expenditure ov < _r incime at about £ 1 , 400 . 000 . Tbe £ 450 , 000 of China money , retained in tbe _commitBariat cbest for tbe C _^ _ffi-en-ar , would be received _tbin quarter , so that if the ordinary income of the current quarti r wonld equal the ordinary expenditure , this turn mi _^ ht bs fairly deducted from the expenditure of the year ending 5 th April , 1818 , when tho eice _« of _expenditure over income for the year ending on that day , would be reduced below £ 1 . 000 , 000 , an excess which he thought was not greatly to be wondered at when the

    "" Rtfollowing Speech Was Delivered Bj M...

    _eircurngtsnoeB of ths eonntry for tho past year were consteered . Many hon . _gantlemen called for reductions , an * some to a very large estent . But he begged them to remember that the revenue was divisible into two distinct parte , over tbe amount of one of whioh tbe house had no control . Tbe charge for the funded debt was £ 37 , 778 , 000 , and that of tho unfunded debt £ 752 , 809 , making the whole charge for the debt 528 . 530 , 00 * . The charge on the consolidated fond was £ 3 , 750 , 000 , and that for supply lervico £ 3 , 65 » 0 Q 9 , making , with the interest on the debt , tbe whole sura not susceptible of redaction , and over which tbe bouse had no effective control , upwards of £ 36 , 000 , 085 . Tbe estimates for _effective services for the year , and over which the house had a control , did not exceed

    £ 18 , 153 , 600 . When honourable members , therefore , _taltcsd of reductions , it wonld be as well for them to remember tbat these reductions could not ba made npon fifty millions , but upon abont eighteen millions , which were alone _required for effective service . He would be vary glad if a reduction of expenditure could be effected , but he hopod that they would not set to vtoris reducing- it in » reckless and thoughtless manner . There were two portions of the expenditure in which reduction might he effected . It wae possible to reduce the expenditure upon our array and navy forces , and to make reductions in tbe miscellaneous estimates , bnt the events whioh had recently occcurred proved that It would be inexpedient in them to recede from the pro . _posal , as to our military forces , made by Lord John

    Russell . To that proposal the government must and would adhere . If any reduction could be made In the miscellaneous estimates , he would be happy to make them . But he would deceive the house if he left them t « suppose that he thought such reductions oould be made within the year . If reduction was to be made , it should be made " , gradually and not on the spur of the moment . The utmost sxertlons ef the two committees lately agreed to , would not _eaable thera to propose to the _honsa any great practical reduction within the year _, whatever they might bo able to suggest for a subsequent period . The right honourable gentleman then adverted to the estimated income for the coming year , which Lord John Russell bad aet down at £ 51 , 250 , 1100 . Deducting this from the estimated expenditure , the deficiency for

    ths coming _ytar had _hetn set down at £ 3 , 200 , 080 . How was this to ba _madt up ! Under existing circumstance ! he believed that they would not be justified in bating recourse to a new loan . Nor could they propose to re . verso _tlse financial policy of the house fer the last Bix years . If , instead of looking to direct taxation , thoy re . _entcled direct taxes , their policy would be denounced as that of retrogression . They therefore proposed to renew the income tax for a limited term , five years . If it were renewed at the present rate , the deficiency above alluded to would _tsis ' _. ifbutfora short time , To meet it whilst It lasted , they deemed tbat it would ba unwise to impose any tax that would occasion any dermgtment in trade , such for instance as a per centage upon existing taxes . Ho regarded the increase of the income tax as

    the easiest and _mostlegitimate mode of piovidin j for the temporary emergency . Should the tax be continued be . yond the temporary emergency , it was a tax which Irelend , ai well as Great Britain , should pay . In the present . state of Ireland , however , It wonld b » unwise and inexpedient to eitsnd it to her now , They hod proposed , therefore , the renewal of the income tax for fire years , with an increase of two per cent to it for the first two years of that term , by which time they had hopsd that the extraordinary expenditure would bave ceased . Be had been asked if he would guarantee the withdrawal of the additional impost of two per cent , at the end of two years , to which he had replied that It would be very unwise to make any Buch promise . What might he the necessities of this _cauntry

    before two years were expired-. what might be its condition and policy in the course of a few months ! How long was it since an honourable gentleman recently re . turntd from France ( Mr Cobden ) had assured them tbat the French had no object to serve by revolution . ( Land snd prolonged _chesrlng from . the Opposition and partly from the Ministerial benches 5 ) Such had heen the proposals of the government . He certainiy could not say that they bad been well _reoelved . From all quarters , botb of tbe bouse and country , they had received nnequi . vocal demonstrations of the popular disapproval of tbe proposed increase of two per cent , to the income-tax . He himself _thought that tbe Ministerial preposition was a wise one , although , in consonance to the public feeling , it was not bow the intention of tke government to _prets the resolution which involved an addition to the income-tax . ( Loud cheers and langhter . ) It was not wlte to attempt to force on an unwilling House of CommoB 8 an umpopular tax ,- He proposed , then , that the

    expenditure of tbe _Caffire war and for Davy excess should be defrayed from the balance in the Exchequer for the present year . That would reduce the excess of expen . dilare over income for the coming year by frora thirteen to fourteen hundred thousand . pounds , which would rudnce , with the existing estimates , tbe contemplated de * ficiency by frem a _minion and a half to two millions . The balances in the Szcheqner were very higb , and if they were te rely on high balances for , tbe time being , they mast enable him to keep np the ordinary average revenue , so tbat in three or four years the revenue aud expenditure would be brought into a state of equilibrium , This be would not be able to do unless they consented to the renewal ofthe income-tax at its present amount for a period of three years . He begged the house at tbe same time f « understand that ha left it open for the _government to propose such an Increase of taxation , la some shape er other , as might be necessary to equalise thi- income with the expenditure within the year .

    Mr _Houe observed tbat his mind still remained unchanged as to tbe injustice sn 1 inequality of the tax . If the bouse consented to it , there would be no reduction of expenditure . They should now reduce tbeir military force , and show France that she had nothing to fear from us . Hr Osboxne said that it was not so much to tbe amount as te the principle efthe income tax thatthe _iudusrrions classes objected ; He would divide tbe bouse on the principle of the tax . Mr Caedwell asked the Chancellor of theErchequer , seeing that his statement varied in soman ; particulars from that of Lord John Russell , to postpone the further _consideration of it to a future period . The Chancellob ' _oI the Exchiqubs complied , being willing to postpone the committee till Friday night , te give time to consider . Mr Gladstone , Sir H . Verney _, and Mr Francis Baring addressed a few remarks to the 1 suae .

    The CnmiCEbhou of the _Excnidosa . in reply to a question from Mr Gladstone , explained , that he proposed to take the vote for the Caffre war and the naval excess ont efthe unappropriated balances ofthe Exchequer , which oa the 5 th January last amounted to £ 8 . , 000 , and whieh would amount to £ 7 , 000 , 600 on the 5 th of . April next , wben these charges were dtfraye _^ . Mr _Waklbt . said that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had been shuming over his money bags ever since the failure of tbe budget , and he bed found In consequence that he had ia a corner tome odd balances , out of which he could pay ell the demands at present made upon him _.

    Baring the last administration ofthe Whigs he had des . cribed them as gentlemen made of very squeezable ma . terlals . The screw h * d been applied to them . againtbey had yielded considerably , and in so doing had acted wisely . They mast yield _mtre ; for tbe English public was resolved not to accede to the financial projects of Ministers . He asked Lord J . Russell to postpone the discussion for a month , and In the interim , to revise tbe whole subject ef expenditure and taxation , in order to see whether be conld not give the country some real and substantial _relitf , He doubted now whether the proposition to continue the present income tax for three years wonld be received kindly by tbe public .

    Mr Cobden excused his false prophecy with respect to & revolution in France on tbe ground that be bad not been prepared for tbe insanity of a minister and the madness of a king . He charged the government with covert hostile intentions towarde tbe French people . Lord J . Rcsssix deprecated a discussion of the budget when tbe question was adjourned , as most unfair . With respect to Mr Cobdon ' s unsuccessful prophecy , Lord J . Russell cald—The hon . member has tried to excite a suspicion that I was not sincere in tho deelaratioa I made this evening , and tbat I would be indnced by some coteries and clubB to assume a hostile attitude towards

    France - , but I reiterate my declaration that it is not the intention of tbe government to interfere in any way whatever with the settlement that France may think fit to make with respect to her own government . We , as close and friendly neighbours , only wish that the _instl . _totions Fiance may adopt shall tend te her own prosperity . England did not hesitate to perform those duties ot hospitality and friendship which bave gained for her the title of asylum of the unfortunate ; and these duties I for one will never consent that England should refuse to perform . ( The neble lord's declaration was loudly cheered .

    Mr Disraeh said that , as we live in an age of revolution , we had , of course our share of _revolutionary Ministers ; for , witbin one week , we had a Prime Minister proposing one budget , a Chancellor of the Exchequer a Becond , and an intimation given that , before long , a third would be propounded . We had now a seven years' trial of tbe new principles of commerce and finance , which were to furnish , not simple millions , but hundreds of millions , and add more wealth to the couatry than ell Potoni ' s mines ever produced ; and jet we were _puaxled how to obtain a miserable two mUlions . The people of England had to test Mr Cobden as a judge , not merely of tbe policy which would fill a Treasury , but also of the policy which weald secure the happiness and independence of nations . In the one case he stood forwarl as tho supporter of national bankruptcy ; in the other , he pointed as a model of

    perfection to a revolutionary nation . What he most deplored was that we had heen told that we ought to accede to tbe present bud get on account of external circumstances . He lamented that Louis Philippe _l-arl fallen . He wae a great prince , a great gentleman , and a great mao . ( A roar of laughter followed thia oraculaT annunciation . ) Whatever might be his faults to hi * people , to England and Englishmen be had ahrajs shown a _sympatliisini ; attention ; and of this characteristic nothing could deprive him—that he had been for seventeen years the securer of the blessings of pence . He deplored tbat any Minister should bave assumed . ib a contingency that war would occur between En-land and France . What had occurred in France _vta _^ an additional reason for not passing the income-rax . Tbe inoome . tax was a war tax , and ought not to be enacted in a time nf peace . Mr Bright and Mr _Bankes made a few observations ,

    "" Rtfollowing Speech Was Delivered Bj M...

    Mr 0 Connor stud : Sir , I shall not pretend to say what influences have induced the right hon . baronet to surrender bis second budget , but I aro happy to learn , from him and his supporters , tbat public opinion has at length begun to operate upon the judgment of this house ; and , sir , although an unpractised financier , and although it is not my duty to point out the blunders of the financial minister of the country , yet , sir , being challenged to the encounter by the right hon . baronet , I undertake to prove , from his own financial statement , that whatever temporary increase he is entitled to call for to pay his _out-standing bills , that the country , from bis own showing , is entitled to a permanent reduc

    . tion of taxation to a large amount . —( hear , hear)—and from memory , sir , and without a single note 1 shall endeavour to follow tha right hon . gentleman through his complication of incidental and casual expense and permanent taxation . He had only to observe that the noble lord and his colleagues had split on the old rock , namely , an empty Exchequer . The country had more , than once seen that when the Whigs turned into office with a full Exchequer such had been their lavish expenditure , that before they had been long in office they had been obliged to come upon the country for more . He had come

    to the conclusion that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was looking for a permanent taxation in order to meet an incidental want . The right bon . _gannnTnnn _? _S _^ u "M aB 6 reg _^« deficiency of £ 2 , 900 , 000 , which he reduced to £ 1 , 400 000 by taking credit for the balance in hand of £ 1 , 500 , 000 on _[ accowit of Irish loan . He is also bound to give eredit for £ 460 , 000 in the Commissariat chest at the Cape as applicable to the expense of the Caffre War —that reduces his necessity to £ 1 , 000 , 000 m round numbers ; and then , presum _. ing that the house will not grant tbe half million for the enrolment of a militia , tbe increased naval

    and ordnance estimates , this reduces the right hon gentleman ' s demand to -5500 , 000 . ( Hear , hear . ) Aud now , as against that casual demand , for the payment of which , he says , national faith is pledged , and being challenged to the contest , I proceed to show , firstly , tho sources from which permanent reduction may be _mate ; and , secondly , the proper source from whence to draw for the immediate call . The right hon . baronet , always yielding , always pliant and submissive , and easily coerced by the house when any addition is to be made to the salaries of placemen , pensioners , and idlers , has , and I think unguardedly , stated t' e numerous instances in which he has augmented the salaries of

    the non-effective force , or , in other words , tbe idlers , at the' request of parliament . And from this I shall be enabled to deduce a great , a startling and irrefutable fact ; because the right hon . gentleman went on to tell us that the military service had , within thia period of pressure , been " increased by 35 , 000 men ; and , taking credit for economy , he told us that the expenditure for the management of the affairs of that augmented service now . was £ 620 , 000 a year less than it would have been under the old system . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Well , then , if such was the case , that such a reduction had been made in the management of the affairs of the employed , was it fair that an addition should be

    made to the _Balanes of the idle and the unemployed ? ( Hear . ) Perhaps , sir , tbis is the reserve which furnishes to the government the largest amount of support , and consequently , receives the lion ' s share of patronage . But let us apply this rule to the case of the mechanic , the operative , and the tradesman . Does their idleness in time of famine and distress secure for them the increased sympathy of the right hon . baronet ? ( Hear , hear . ) But , sir , he has told us that those salaries are based upon national faith . ( Hear , hear . ) This I wholly deny . It may be that those salaries , in their original form , were based upon national faith ; but their increase stands upon the" whim , the caprice , and the

    necessities of government ; and therefore , in times of general distress , the increase consequent upon this parliamentary sympathy should be lopped off , and the salaries should stand upon naiional faith . That ' s one item of retrenchment constituting the large amount admitted , but not stated , in figures by the right hon . gentleman . Well , sir , the next item was , in round numbers , £ 27 , 700 , 000 interest upon the funded debt , and be ' tween £ 700 , 000 and £ 800 , 000 interest upon Exchequer biHs reduced for the March account frora 3 d . to 2 _| d . interest , leaving the June bills for the present untouched , but upon which account however we are entitled to take credit for a sixth of the half of the interest upon

    Exchequer Bills , presuming that those falling due in June will share the same fate as those due in March ; and , in round numbers , sir , presuming that those Exchequer Bills are equally distributed over the two periods , and if the interest on the June bills is reduced , that will leave a surplus of one sixth , or a halfpenny in threepence of the interest upon those bills , which in round numbers would be £ 60 . 000 to the credit of the Exchequer . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , nr , I am following this statement without a note , but yet correctly , and to the farthing-. Well , sir , to show the incapacity of our finaneial secretary , the right hon . gentleman made a blunder of

    £ 400 , 000 , wben he stated that the interest upon the funded _debtjwas in round numbers , £ 28 , 800 , 000 . whereas it is but £ 28 , 400 , 000 ; he gave us the amounts correctl y enough , £ 27 , 700 , 000 interest on the funded debt , and £ 700 , 000 interest on Exchequer Bills , but he made the two sums amount to £ 28 , 800 , 000 instead of £ 28 , 400 , 000 , and I , for one am not prepared to vote away the money of the people upon such wholesale miscalculations of a minister , whose duty it is to be correct to the farthing . ( Hear , hear . ) I shall now follow him through his labyrinth , and see what his admissions amount to He admits that in the estimates for the naval

    department , that large , very large , sums are due for works that have been performed in ihe dock yardsbuilding steamers , building stores , and paying workmen ; indeed out of the £ 7 . 600 , 000 of navy estimat es presented b y the ri g ht hon . the Secretary for th '' Admiralty , he showed us that no more than £ 4 , 300 , 000 was justly chargeable upon that account , and £ 1 , 300 , 000 for the dead weight , leaving a surplus of £ 2 , 000 , 000 for the payment ofthe bill , as the right hon . gentleman called it , and the current ex penses of the year . Now , that was another large margin to justify permanent reduction . ( Hear , hear . ) Then the right hon . gentleman informed us that the substitution of percussion locks for flint and

    steel locks to muskets was a tremendous expense , which , however , he did not name ; but as I must suppose that we shall not have another change , I may naturally conclude that this is another item of incidental expense , butplaeed to the account of permanent taxation . ( Hear , hear . ) Then we come to the adoption by the government of expenditure on account of lighthouses , amounting as the right hon gentleman has informed us to no less than £ 220 , 000 a year , which he ( Mr O'Connor ) contended should be a local tax —( hear , hear)— -and when seen in the general estimate | in _juxta-position , with £ 150 , 000 for

    educating a whole nation , the wonder , the marvel , and astonishment of that house , should be that the people of England , now surpassing all other nations in sagacity and political knowledge , should have so long tolerated such a reckless expenditure of tbeir money . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Next came the expense of substituting the long range for the short range cannon , which he presumed would not again be reduced to its original dimensions , and which may consequently be placed to " the account of incidental and not permanent expenditure . ( Hear , hear . ) But , sir , the right honourable baronet introduced these

    _warlike improvements with a flourish . He told the house that the improved science of war led to those improvements . What , then , while the science of war , of slaughtering , and murdering , and all other sciences , are rapidly hurrying on to the gaol of perfection , is the science of leg islation alone to stand still ? ( Hear , hear . ) He had now shown that the expense of the Caffre war was incidental ; that the sunk capital for dock-yards , increased stores , and other works was incidental ; that the long cannon and percussion lock was incidental ; the payment of cost of lighthouses was unjust ; that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had made a blunder of £ 400 , 000 and a slip of £ 60 , 000 ; and , therefore , he had made out his case and defied contradiction , that while £ 500 , 000 was all thai was required to pay the bill , he had shown a

    margin from which the country had a right to demand a large _permanent reduction of taxation , ( Hear hear . ) But he would go still farther , and if we were not to be eternally legislating for posterity without reference to the wants , the comforts , or the wishes of the existing generation ; and although not paid for performing the duly , he would show the right hou . gentleman a source from whicii he might draw enough to pay his bill , and leave a surplus of four millions , and he begged the attention of the house to this particular portion of the subject . Thwe was included in our funded debt £ 3 , 000 , 000 per annum in the shape of long and terminable annuities , which would expire in 1859 aud ' 60 , and one million per annum paid on account of life annuities , and with which latter stock he ceuld not well deal ; but if he chose to purchase up one quar-

    "" Rtfollowing Speech Was Delivered Bj M...

    ter of & million of the long terminable annuities , at the present market price which was eight years purchase , the sum he should pay would be £ 2 , 000 , 000 , while if he choosed to make that small amount of a quarter of a million per _aunurn ' _permanent , instead of expiring 1859 and ' 60 , he could at the present price of stock realise six millions and a half , leaving him two millions to pay the holders , half a million to pay his bill , and four millions to add to the Exchequer , thus entitling , the country , from that source and other sources which he had shown , to a large reduction of permanent ttixation . ( Hear , hear . ) But , says the right hon . gentleman , a government cannot deal with the affairs of a country as a . private gentleman

    deals with his establishment . Sir , I deny that the rule does not apply , because a private gentleman , if he is wise , will cut down his establishment according to his ability to meet expenditure , and so should the government ; while , upon the contrary , all former precedents prove that the greater the distress of the nation the greater the demands of the government . He ( Mr O'Connor ) was by no means a convert to the opinions of the right hon . hart , the member for Tamworfcb , when he stated that it was the desire and the policy of all governments to pare down expenditure to the lowest point , and that it was a fallacy to iuppose that increase in taxation was the desire of the government , while on the contrary , their interest was in keeping it down to the lowest point that the

    necessities of the country would permit . Now he , ( Mr O'Connor ) denied this because one fact was worth a bushel of arguments , and they had the unbroken and irrefutable fact as admitted by every preceding ministry and confirmed by tho present that taxation bad gone on increasing in the same ratio in which poverty , destitution , and want increased . ( Hear , hear . ) But the right hon . baronet loved to deal in plausible precedents , and so did the house . One hon . gentleman got up and read a postscript from the letter of a friend of great capacity and undoubted talent , of whom the house , or the world , had never heard before , and we were asked to pause ere we legislated in the face ef such philosophy . ( Hear . ) Another hon . gentleman informed us of what one dead man said , what . 'another dead

    man thought , what another had written , and another had done . And they asked us to be guided by those dead men's lucubrations , who were no authority when living , and whose opinions and notions were drawn from the sluggish mind of an unenlightened age , governed by boroughraongering legislation . ( Hear , hear . ) Were these the sources , he would ask , frora whence precedents were to be drawn to govern the active mind and genius ofthe present day ? Wbat had a great authority ( Lord Flunkett ) , told them , one of their Chancellors , upon the passing of the Reform Bill ? Why , that all antecedent history was an old almanac . And he ( Mr O'Connor ) told them that henceforth they must draw their prece .

    dents for the government of the excited genius of the country from the electric telegraph , steam navigation , and the flight of railways ; from the printing press , the penny postage , and the penny stamp upon newspapers * , from the invention and improvements of mechanical power and other sciences , which had disinherited man from his natural position—in short , from those electric sparks which were now communicating an interchange of opinion between man and man , thus concentrating' thought—and not by the opinions of the dead . If the precedents relied upon were good , and if they were to be governed by dead men , let them henceforth meet in the _grave-yard , and sit upon the tomb-stones . ( Hear , hear . ) He

    would now call the attention of the house to a branch of the subject , adverted to by the hon . member for Manchester . ' That bon . gentleman , in order to prove tbe value of free trade , told us tbat within sixteen months , three times as much of our manufactured goods had been taken by the Americans ; but he ( Mr O'Connor ) would be glad to learn how much less wages the operatives of Lancashire and Yorkshire , who produced those goods , received for the large amount of produce . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Now , that was the whole question , and that constituted his ( Mr O'Connor ' s ) reason for opposing any additional tax upon the middle classes , because it was invariably shoved from their

    own shoulders to those of the producing class . ( Hear , hear . ) As to the question of Free Trade , which had been introduced into the discussion , he ( Mr O'Connor ) , never flinching from the position he had occupied out of doers , would now undertake to prove that free trade increased the horrors of famine by increasing the price of food , and that , but for free trade , wheat , which stood at 110 s . the quarter , and touched 120 s ., would not , under the sliding scale , have reached 80 s . a quarter . ( Hear , hear , and cheers from the Protectionists . ) Tes ; but he could answer that cheer presently , by showing them wbat , under those circumstances , their _position would have been . If free trade had not been .

    carried , the importers of grain would have bought and sold with the day ; they would have adopted the farmer ' s maxim of quick sale and light profit ; they would have sold directly to the miller instead of to the speculator , the monopoliser , and the _forestalled because those who were obliged to speculate in the duty , as well as in the raw material , would not have undertaken that hazard of sacrificing their capital upon the chance ot increased duty , consequent upon diminished prices . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) And thus , we should have had demand and supply equalled—whereas , only having to speculate in the price of the commodity , and not in the duly , led to a scandalous amount of

    speculation on famine , the necessity of renewing bills , and , eventually , to a diminution of price and loss of capital , consequent upon the glut , occasioned by tt _large supply being thrown upon the market at once to meet the demands of the bankers . Now , this , he contended , led to the derangement in the money market , and led to famine in the midst of abundance through unrestricted speculation . ( Cheers . ) But the hon . member for Manchester asks what we would have done without that corn ; he ( Mr O'Connor ) replied that they would have had it at 80 s . or . 70 s . as freely as at 120 s ., because other nations were able to spare it ; England was the richest market and able to take it *

    but its price abroad was naturally ruled by the price at home consequent upon the famine , for let it not be supposed that any brought to this market , with risk , freight , and insurance stamped upon it , would have heen again re-shipped . But now he would answer the cheer . Suppose upon the other hand'that the opposition to free trade had been successful , and that the measure had not passed , and that wheat had ranged from 80 s ., 70 s ., or even 60 s . a quarter , what would have been the power of the " free traders over au excited , _fa-mishing , and unemployed people . ( Hear , hear . ) Why , sir , the people of this country , if free trade had not passed , would never have learned that the promised blessing would

    have amounted to 120 s . a quarter ; and if under restriction it had stood at 80 s ., 70 s ., or even 60 s ., the free traders would have been enabled to persuade the people that if their measure had passed the price of wheat would have been much , very much lower ; whereas the high price took the charm off free trade , which , had it been otherwise , Parson Spencer , the perpetual curate of Hinton , might , according to his promise and threat _^ have led on a starving phalanx of unemployed operatives , whose belief would have been confirmed that had the measure passed they would have had cheap bread and plenty of employment , and they would have raised the famine howl before your doors . Then , instead

    of coming to this house for the amendment of your Game Laws , and an alteration in the laws of Primogeniture , Settlement and Entail , they would have in * vaded your every institution , and have demanded the surrender of those privileges which tbey have now permitted you to enjoy , in the hope , mind , that you will henceforth use them for national benefits instead of individual enjoyments . ( Hear , hear . ) Hence , sir , I arrive at the conclusion , that the right hon . baronet , the member for Tamworth , although reviled , denounced , and deserted by the landlords of the country , bas been their saviour , their protector and emancipator , * and never was there in the history of politics a more unjust , ungenerous , or fatal

    desertion of a leader , who , as I have shown , saved the landlords from their own folly and from the inevitable vengeance of their opponents . ( Cheers . ) The hon . member for Buckinghamshire spoke ofa paltry £ 3 , 000 , 000 , but it was only in the sense in which it had been used by the Chancellor of the Exchequer , who was accustomed to deal lightly and jocosely with round numbers ; but kc the house see what this three millions would have done , —it would have given £ 6 a year to half a million of his ( Mr O'Counor ' s ) starving countrymen ; it would have given

    £ 12 a year to 250 , 000 starving Spitalfields weavers and English operatives ; thus , if properly applied , allowing five to a family , it would have given _^ to two millions and a half of Irishmen , or to twelve hundred and fifty thousand Englishmen , more than they can earn ' , in the year . ( Hear , hear . ) As the subject of Ireland had heen introduced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer , he ( Mr O'Connor ) hoped that the threatened necessity of England , which promised the extension of the Property and Income Tax to Ireland , would operate upon the susceptibility of

    "" Rtfollowing Speech Was Delivered Bj M...

    those pliant honourable Irish mem hers who followed in the tail of the ministry , whether h « led them to the new lobby or the old . ( Cheers . ) This was what he always expected , that the slavish precedent established by Irish members would one day inflict a wound upon their own country . That was fu ' _s ( Mr O'Connors' ) reason for opposing a tax upon the middle classes ef this country , in order that hp may be at liberty to oppose such an infliction upon his own . And for the same reason he would _oppose any additional tax being laid npon the landed interest of this country , because he hoped to see the

    landlords giving up their useless and anomalous privileges , in obedience to tbe requirements of the age , and once more becoming the natural patrons of their natural clients , bound by the mutual ties of protection and support . He had visited and examined wore estates than any man in England within tbe last three years , and in the discharge of this duty he naturally inquired into the character of landlords _. and he found that adding the relation ef landlord and tenant there was scarcely a bad one to be found . He turned to where he commenced his operations , in Hertfordshire , and there he was surrounded by the tenants of the brother of the noble lord at the

    head of the government , and by the parishioner _^ of another brother of the noble lord ' s—one faithfully discharged the duties of the landlord , and the other amiably discharged the duties of a clergyman . ( Cheers . ) He then turned to Worcester-hire , where he was now _engaged , and he asked any honourable member who doubted the value of the landlord elass , to take a walk or a ride with him through the estates of the honourable member for Worcester , ( Mr Ricardo , ) and he would show him schools" for the instruction of the children of the peasantry

    that did honour to the honourable gentleman , and such as would not be found or permitted for tbe instruction of the operatives in the manufacturing districts . Well , then , this was a class whom he would write to the correction of their own abuses , in the hope that the real " market for industry may be opened . He would now conclude by exposing the delusion attempted to be practised by the Chancellor of tbe Exchequer upon the house and the country . He had asked for more , much more than be was aware would be granted to bim . If he had asked for tbe increase of the Income Tax and tbe

    continuance of the Income and Property fax for two years , he was aware that the infliction would have been refused—that would have amounted in round numbers , with the proposed increase from 7 d . to Is ., upon one class , _tofabout fourteen millions , whereas , he now proposed the continuation of the present Property and Income Tax for three years , which , in round ' numbers , would amount to sixteen and a half millions , thus rewarding our opposition and the country ' s resolution by an increase of two millions and a half above the amount we have rejected —( hear)—while the right bon . baronet had forewarned us that he would watch the period of pliant yielding to come again to the house in an opportune season and ask for au additional vote to

    pay his out standing debts . Did the Chancellor of the Exchequer suppose that he could come down after a short time and demand another increase in taxation ? Let the hon . _gentleman beware that he was not _obliged to come sooner than he expected for something of another kind . If government seriously intended not to interfere with the affairs of France , let them show that although ' they wished to preserve peace they were in a condition to go to war , but let that condition depend upon the conviction cf the industrious classes , that peace was won ' ' preserving . He begged the noble lord not to mistake the calm attitude of the people of England to an acquiescence in grievances . He was sorry there were not more competent gentlemen at the head of the

    monied department , to give a more satisfactory explanation of our expenditure . The day ofieraporising was gone . We lived in new timas , and required new men to govern us . Before he sat down , he would call upon the hon . member for Montrose , who had upon the last occasion deceived both him ( Mr O'Connor ) and the house , and he would tell that hon . gentleman , that a wavering , temporising policy , was not the way to unite the people or gain credit for himself . ( Hear , hear . ) He heped that this time he would divide the house , and give the country an opportunity of distinguishing between their friends and their enemies ; consistency was an important ingredient in a representative of the people , and he for one would not consent to he made a fool of .

    Col . Sibthorp _. Mr Mun » _s Mr Mitchell , lord Dudley Stuart , Sir R . _IngUs _, and Mr _BUckstone , made a few remarks , Mr Hobshan gave notice that be should persist in his _amendment for a more equitable assessment of the

    in-Come tax . The debate was then adjourned to Friday . The _JeiauStock Companies Bill rras read a second time . _TrjESDiT , Feb . 29 . HOUSB OF LOBDS . —Tbo Loan _CnAncttzon propoted a resolution , which was seconded by the Duke of Richmond , expressive of the thanks of tbe house to th » ir late clork _assistant , Mr Birch , on hia resignation , wuioh was agreed to , as was also a motion for granting to that gentleman a retiring pension of £ 2 , 000 per annum . The Earl of _Auckland , in reply to the Earl of Malmesbury , slated tbat tokens of approbation and rewards had been forwarded , to bo _conferred through tho Bey of Tunis , on all persons conocrncd in saving and as . slating the surviving portion of ihe crew of H . M . ' _s late ship ATcnger , thrown on tbe African coast .

    The Marquis » f Claneicabdb , in answer to the Duke of Richmond , said that be bad good reason for _beliering tbat tbe rumoured destruction of tbe India mail was falee . He bad M . Arago ' s authority for stating that it reached Pails on the 27 ih , and after some delay In that oapital , for which neither the postal authorities nor the provisional government of Franca were responsible , it was forwarded ou in the usual manner . M . Arago also stated that every effort would be roads , ha twin ? now at tho head of tho postal department in France , to ensure the speedy and safe transit and _dellrery of letters passing into and through that country . Earl Gbbt , in an explanatory speech , moved the second reading of tho New Zaaland Government Bill , which motion , after somo _shserrations from Lord Stan _, luy and the Earls of _Tfaldegrave and St Germans , was _aeroed to .

    HOUSE OF COMMONS —Mr _Debdes reported , from tba Lancaster Election Committee , thatUr Gregson was not duly elected . A . new writ was ordered to be issued , _FaBi . 'cn HBPOBtic—Mr MoyoKTON Miiwss , —I am desirous to know , sir , whether the provisional gorernmant established at Paris has made any formal communication of its existence to the foreign powers of Europe . Lord _Palmbbstom . —I have reoeived this morning from L ird Nermaaby a copy o ! a communication which was made by if . Lamartine . who is minister for Fereign

    Affairs In the provisional government , —a _copy of a communication made by him , I think , to all tbe foreign ambassadors at ParU , announcing tbe formation of the present provisional government and declaring at the same time that tha new forms and institutions wbich havo beea adopted by France will make bo alteration in tho position of France In Europe ; and tbat the Fronch go . vemment will display tho sams loyal and sincere desire of maintaining tbe most amicable relations with all powers who may , like France , determine to respect the independence and rights of nations . ( Cheers . )

    _Iaisu Poor Law—Colonel _Duhkb _mevedfoia select committee to inquire into the working and efficiency of tbe Poor Law in Ireland . The _honourabla and gallant member contended that tbe _IriBb Poor Law was a cempleto f ; uluvo , and urged the necessity of lessening the area of taxation . Mr _O'Flahertj seconded tho motion . Mr _SacKuotiD oppoaed the motion . Sir G . _Gbey , although he admitted that some defects wero found in the Irian . Poor Law , could not consent to the appointment of tbe committee , because he thought it would have a most mischievous effect , inducing the belief that the Irish poor could not look to the luff for support , but that a grant from Parliament eauld nlone relieve them . The law _migbt require Borne alteration after due experience of its operation ; but te create the Idea that it would immediately he repealed or greatly modified , which the appointment oi a committee of the : House of Commons would do , would be productive of < great mischief .

    An Irish debate then _follewed , in which the principal speakers were Mr Fox , Colonel Cono'ly , Mr J . P , Max . well , Mr Fltzstephen French , Cnptain Jones , Mr Fagan , Sir J , "WaUh , Mr S , Crawford , Major Blaekall , the Mar . _quis of _Kildoro Mr Hume , and Mr Aglionb y _, who , aa English members , made an application to the governmint not to refuse this committee , which had bten called for by almost every Irish member who had addressed the house . Sir W . Someevilid argued that , as the Irish Poor Law was not yet actually in forc » , and as , therefore , tho materials of inquiry were not ready , it would be premnture to appoint a committee of the House of Commons . Mr S _. O'Beieh spoke tn favour of the motion . Mr Laboucheek likewise spoke in opposition to tbo motion

    , . , _ . Lord Lwoom _considered that the Irish members bad bean badly treated by the government on this occasion ; but , notwithstanding that the Irish members generally seemed _desirsus of this committee , he was himself ohliged to vote against it . Mr _WAKisr censured the ministers for opposing the _wishes of the Irish members wbon they were all _unantcious . The unanimity ofthe Irish members was a phenomenon , and ought to produce an effect . He asked the government to consider In wbat an awkward plight It would be ltft , If tho English members wero to walk In a body out of the house , and to leave them to deal with the Irish _metabera by themselves . The English

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 4, 1848, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_04031848/page/3/