On this page

• Text (2)

  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.

  • 

    336 THE tEADEE. {Sa*urda y ,

  • 

    MR. CARDWELL AT LIVERPOOL. At noon, on S...

• 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.

    History Of Parliament. Another Debate On...

    and money-making was their sole object . Then the officers of the army of course were anxious for a new war , and for opportunities of distinction , and promotion , and a great conquest , to be followed by the creation of numerous lucrative appointments . This ambition for distinction and reward Was very natural , and no doubt led to great actions being performed . But this pressure by a large portion of the civil and " military services was not to be overlooked , for it might be very difficult to withstand . He thought that the annexation of any large portion of the empire of Ava would be a decidedly false move—it would draw off in that direction a great part of the resources of

    the Indian Government , and materially embarrass both the civil and military services . And entertaining these deep apprehensions he hoped that such papers would be produced as would throw some light on the cause of the war . No trustworthy officer appeared to have been sent to Ava to get at the truth of the various complaints . And for the small sum of 9001 . all the expense and danger of a war was to be incurred ! Lord Ellenborough then observed , that he looked with great suspicion on some of the persons connected with trade at Rangoon , and he had little faith in their statements of grievances . There was a certain Mr . Crisp , who , as soon as he heard that a war was impending , freighted a schooner with warlike stores and arms , which he sold

    to the Governor of Eangoon ; and when the Governor refused payment , he had the effrontery to go to the British commodore , and complain of his loss and injury , and request that his claim might be added to the bill against the Burmese government . The Governor of Rangoon , when he heard of this , offered a sum of 1001 . for Crisp ' s head , " and , " said the noble lord , "I confess I should not be overwhelmed with grief if he had got it for the money / ' Unless there were an imperative necessity it would not be wise or prudent to carry on these hostilities . Lord Ellenborough concluded with , these words —•

    "I have been given to understand that the service of the Madias army will be required for a totally different purpose , namely , the occupation of the territory of the Nizam , unless lie pays the tribute ; and no operations ought to be commenced in that country without having the whole Madras army at disposal . Again , Hy derabad is in the possession of Arabs , who will defend it with great bravery ; so that , unless we postpone these operations , we will be carrying on a war with a comparatively weak or divided force at the same time in places very distant from one another . I hope my noble friend will not think it inconsistent with his duty to lay upon your lordships' table such papers as will show upon what grounds the Avar was undertaken . ( Hear , hear . )"

    The Earl of Deeby complimented Lord Ellenborough on his extensive knowledge of the subject ; he was sure that he had not overstated the difficulties of the war , or the various objections to a large accession of territory to our already enormous Eastern empire ; but lie was sure that when the papers which were asked for had been introduced , that it would be quite clear that the Governor-General had spared no exertion to avoid hostilities . There was no apprehension entertained by the Indian Government that the war would be protracted ; the measures taken had been so prompt and ko vigorous that these hostilities would be soon

    brought to a successful conclusion . The demands inado-upoii the Government of Ava were just and moderate ; they had been met with indignity and insult . After several endeavours at conciliation , the Governor-General , with the unanimous consent of the Supreme Council , thought that no time should be lost in trifling , but that a blow should at once be struck in Rangoon and Martaban as should make an effectual impression of our power in the minds of the Burmese . But even then the Governor-General did not relax his endeavours to settle matters amicably ; ho hud sent a communicationnot to the Viceroy at Rangoon , but to the King

    , of Avn himself , stating that if the King would express regret for what had occurred , and comply with the original conditions , and the expenses of our expedition defrayed , peace should he concluded at once . But if those ' steps should not be successful before the commencement of the rainy season , it would then bo for the Governor-General to consider what would bo his duties and responsibilities in the moro serious and arduous struggle which would then bo forced upon him . No man wan more anxious than Lord Dalhou . sio to avoid war , and to avoid " h still greater misfortune

    — -the coinpulHory annexation of the BiirmoHU empire , ' Lord Bkaumont brought forward the question of tho foreign rcftigtuw in this country , and ¦ trusted tlmfc the Government would adopt the principles laid down by Lord ( . { jianviixb , and that it would refuse to piny the part of nn eavesdropper , dogging the heels of every foreigner Who arrived in this country , and departing from that hospitality which England )» " ! ever shown towards unfortunate exiles . The noblo lord also entered into the case of the missionaries recently expelled from Austria , and concluded by moving for papers relating to that expulsion .

    Lord MAiMESBTTitY replied at great and tedious length . Two passages in his speech , however , are readable . The first describes vvhat he called a parallel instance to the arrest of an Englishman by the Austrian police , for which satisfaction had been asked and obtained . "If your lordships think such tithing could not have taken place in any other country than Austria , I will tell you what happened to one of my own household , last year , in Scotland . The person to whom I allude may not be known directly or intimately to any of your lordships , but to some he may be known indirectly—I mean my French cook . ( Laughter . ) In the free town of Glasgow this man ,

    one of the most quiet , inoffensive creatures I ever knew in my life , was forcibly seized by two policemen , and found himself in the same position as the English workman , for he could speak no English ; and the policemen and he of course could not understand one another . He was dragged through the streets of the town ; he experienced the desagremens of being taken to the station house , followed bv a crowd of boys , Who hissed and hooted him ; he was kept two hours in confinement , and , though at last released by the orders of a magistrate , one of the policemen said it served him right , because he was such a queer-looking fellow . ( Laughter . ) Now , if he had been a sensitive

    man , and not a French philosopher , he would have complained to his ambassador ( hear , hear ) , a long correspondence would have ensued between the French Government . and our own , a great deal of trouble would have been caused to both countries , and we don't know but that there the matter might not have ended . . (• Hear , ' laughter , ) To be sure , there might have been a little more civility shown towards ¦ ' this queer looking man , 'if he had been arrested abroad , but as to the reason of it , why , it might have happened to the noble lord or to myself any day ( laughter ) , and the occurrence took place in a country where freedom is as much loved as possible . "

    In a subsequent part of the debate , Lord Granville said he could see no analogy in the two cases , as the Englishman was travelling with a passport from Sir Stratford Canning in his pocket , and the French cook neither had , nor needed any such protection , and was simply arrested as a suspicious character . " * The other passage in Lord Malmesbury ' s reply relates to the policy-of the present government respecting refugees . ' ' - - " My lordsryou know what our laws are on this subject ; they have , been over- and . over again explained in both Houses of Parliament , and so long as I have the happiness

    to be one of Her Majesty s Government , and ot managing the Foreign Office , I declare to you that from no country in Europe , or in any other part of the globe , shall I consent to receive a demand that would change those Jaws . ( Hear , hear . ) I would not answer such a demand by any argumentative writing , or by any diplomatic despatch ; because I do not think the province of diplomacy extends to anything further than negotiation and conciliation ; but I would toll those who made such a demand , in a firm , but conciliatory manner , that it could not be complied with , and I would answer them as the first barons answered , 1 Nolumn leges Anglice mutari . ' ( Hear , hear . )" Lord Beaumont withdrew his motion . On Tuesday the Lords adjourned until the 19 th inst .

    336 The Teadee. {Sa*Urda Y ,

    336 THE tEADEE . { Sa * urda y ,

    Mr. Cardwell At Liverpool. At Noon, On S...

    MR . CARDWELL AT LIVERPOOL . At noon , on Saturday , the Ainphitheatre at Liverpool , a building which can accommodate four thousand persons , was densely crowded in every part with inhabitants of the borough , who came to hear from their representative , Mr . Cardwell , an exposition of his views on the present state of public affairs . Mr . Cardwell , accompanied by Mr . Joseph Ewart , the other Freetrade candidate , and several of his friends and supporters , was received on his appearance " on the boards " with deafening cheers , all the company rising . Mr . G . H . Lawrence occupied the cliair , and briefly stated that the cause of their assembly was to debato the

    question whether the representatives of Liverpool in parliament had steadily persovored in maintaining the Free-trade policy matured by Sir Robert Peel , and whether that policy was to bo preserved and extended . Mr . Cardwoll was received , on coming forward to address the meeting , with loud cheers : he said that ho was sure that in rendering nn account of his stewardship he should receive the most considerate attention . It was for the electors of Liverpool to decide whether they would ratify by the result of tho coming election the commercial policy , introduced under the auspices of a great Minister whoso loss was universally deplored , by which the poorer classes were relieved from those burdens which pressed upon their subsistence .

    " Gentlomcn , " said Mr . Cardwell , " you have been told by tho head of tho present Government that , in his opinion , articles of necessary consumption for tho people uro tho proper subjects for taxation , and that ho did not understand why tho food of the people—bread—should bo mado an oxcoption to that rule . ( Ilonr . ) Now , gontlomon , wo , the representatives of tho people in parliamont , entertain a different opinion ; and now tho appeal is mado to you , and y ou are told in tho plainoafc languago to ratify the conduct of your representatives , and the attompt shall not bo made ( hoar , hoar ); but return to parliamont Mioho who are in favour of protection , and tlie wishon and tho opinions of tho Government will bo carried into afloat , and tho yoko of protection will bo ivguin laid on your necks . " "( Cries of " Never , " and " Hoar , hoar . " ) Tho groat argumont of tho Protectionists is , " Wo -will encourage native

    industry , and protect it from the forei gner . " lie "Would tell them who had encouraged native industry , and who had made the foreigner pay . In the year 1842 ' less t han 60 , 000 , 000 ? . worth of manufactures were exported ; in the year 1851 the exports amounted to nearl y 75 , 000 O 00 Z ( A pp lause . ) Who paid for that 50 per cent , increase of British industry ? Those manufactures were not sent abroad for nothing ( cheers ); but the foreigner paid the English artisan for his labour in an imm ense inc rease of those articles of consumption which had ' made so manv homes comfortable and happy . If they had reduced the price of bread , had they not left the labourer more money in his pocket to expend in tea , although it was true thnf

    they had not < yeb directly applied the Free-trade policy to tea . The consumption of tea had increased notwithstanding the high duty , but what might be expected to be the increase when the principle of- ^ Free-trade was carried out with regard to that important article . The Free-trade policy l - blesses him who gives and him-who takes . " ( Cheers . ) " It compels the American to send his cotton to Manchester , and greatly benefits Liverpool , through which it passes ; and , at the same time , it enriches them in other ways , and makes them feel to us a debt of gratitude , and fills their hearts with thoughts of peace , and makes them our honourable rivals in the warfare of commerce , inst ead of being our enemies in the conflict—I hope now almost

    forgotten—the conflict of war . ( Applause . ) It-had been said that the return relating to the amount of tonnage for which Mr . Cardwell had moved in the House of Commons had been " cooked" ( laughter ) , because it did not correspond with some other return . " Now , gentlemen , I don't think this kind of imputation very refined in taste ( hear , hear ); but allow me to tell you this , knowing that Freetrade Ministers were accused of ' cooking' returns , I took this very precaution——I moved for my return over again , after the present Government came into power ( hear , hear ) , and the return from which I quoted is signed by the present Secretary of the Treasury ( Applause ); and therefore I would recommend those who speak of it being

    ' cooked , ' to go to their own friends , ana ask , ' What kind of pickle has been put into the dish ? " ( Laughter and cheers . ) In the year 1849 the tonnage was 8 , 162 , 000 tons , and in the year 1851 it had increased to 8 , 535 , 000 tons . Mr . Cardwell then proceeded to defend himself from a charge of having deceived the committee who had managed his last election , on the subject of the navigation laws , and he proved very clearly that he had never given any pledge to oppose their repeal . He then returned to the question of Free-trade , which was for the present the most important point . Whatever objections might be made against him as a candidate for Liverpool , the real objection at the bottom was that he was resolved to preserve and extend

    Free-trade . "I must now allude to another great performer on these boards ( laughter)—a more important person than those to whom I have lately alluded , I shall speak of him with great respect , and shall not say a word calculated to touch his private feelings ; I allude to Dr . M'Neile . ( A storm of hisses and hootirigs , mingled with cheers . ) It was on the 20 th of January that Dr . M'Neile made a speech , in-which he desired the electors of Liverpool to get rid of Sir Thomas Birch and myself ; and he ended his speech in . these remarkable words : — ' In the name of sound religion—in the name of Christian honour —in tho name of tho Xord we love —(' Oh , oh , ' and some confusion ")—wash your hands by every constitutional art the

    within your reach of this most infamous nuisance on face of our fair country- —this endowment of the church ot Home . ' ( Oh , oh ! cheers and hisses . ) Would you have believed it , that a fortnight afterwards and a few days , having in the interval received a letter from Lord John Manners , giving him just as unsatisfactory an answer upon that subject as it was possible I could give , ho desired tho Constitutional Association of Liverpool to sign a requisition to Lord John Manners . I say now , is it their religion , or is it protection , that is the real reason ot these proceedings ? ( Cheers . ) As regards tho question ot Maynooth , Lord John Manners was every bit as Dadas . JL was . As regards other matters , tho sentiments oi . Loru John Manners arc well known ; and they differ from mine ^ w » ™^*> vx -. r iwi -r-irLW ^ nn * win f ¥ t \ t * a OfWWit ^ O ^ OiA lVltll tllO CllUrpH OI

    England . Well , now , on these points Dr . M'Neilo differs from Lord John Manners ; and as I am tho opposite ot lord John Manners , I prosumo ho agrees witn mo . ( Laughter and cheers . ) But Lord John Manners was an " exemplary Protectionist , " and therefore Dr . MMeiio allowed his protectionist principles to compensate lor uw Tractarianism . Was it then Protection or Protestantism r " But I have my Protestant opinions , which I shall never diminish , and I shall novor attompt in any dogrco to explain away . I have formed my Protestant opinions witnm tho bosom of tho English Church , and I married vntwn tho bosom of tho Scotch Church . I had tho hand ot go fi . ; , » nrialiir » nf TV nhnlmnrs . that moat eloquent cnamp '" friendshiof Dr . Chalmersthat moat oioquun * " »» " * -

    p , of tho Protestant faith , and I toll you that before A £ Chalmers would hnvo told a political club to sign * " - / L t nition to a Tractarinn candidate , ho would have saia ,, my right hand forgot hor cunning ; lot my t ° £ n c " * V to tho roof of my mouth . ' ( Loud cheers . ) T ^ f ^' Efc tlomon , lot mo return to that which I hope is «»« s "" J of paramount interest with you . ( Cheers . ) Win yo , will you not , surrender tho blessings winch Freo-tnuie ¦ given you ? " ( Loud cries of "No , no , novor neyer . / Lot if ; bo observed that the . question now stood M" *"* iflfl Froo-lnUlo policy is to bo rovorsod , if it can . U " .,, ot of " Novor ? ' ) ^ hc Government only say they w » " t ^ Protection if they can . But how wore «» " ?** h ' ' t ] mt Hv tho voice of tho people P Is it small constituencies 1

    nro to carry it P Xord Derby says , " J * o , " inn I will the groat constituencies will support mo , ( Ui " " t rovorso Frco-tr . ulo . " Well , now , gont omen , n . fe ^ Minister was dining with his constituents , » na ' ^ k this expression-he said , " Tho Exo wi " ™ ' 3 * ill from tho sea to tho walls of Tivorton *«« " fg ^ W bo able to rovorso Froo-trado . " Well , that lowj ^ ^ flows in its usual courso , and still goes down w m Now lot mo a 8 k you what the govern does f *««

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 10, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_10041852/page/4/