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550 THE LEADER. ; [Satprday,
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THE WEEK IN PiSLIAMENT. PUBLIC BUSINESS....
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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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Aj/Cbqvj&H Thoroughly Used Up, The Engli...
quite « comfortable " here , as in France , for " mutual accommodation . " Prodigal are the orgies of the Court of Bastards at St . Cloud ; with such a restoration of the " Regency , " France may well laugh and sing , while Victor ^ ug ^| h _ ouse be comes a deserted tradition , aa 4 l ^ i ^» rtme almpfct begs his bread at publishers'do ors ' .
At the Cape , General Cathcartrfy ^ come , seen , and—will conquer when , he can . j ^ eanwhile he is very vigorous with l | i || mea ^ stiPiBi- —dealing 6 i | t Minie rifles , calling in allies , warning off rebels beyond the Kei , abandoning the policy of capturing booty , and hanging spies and traitors . We have yet to see the effect of this terrible policy .
Less terrible perhaps to the evasive T' blambi and fickle Kafir , than the rains which poured down upon Ascot course until the end of the third day , Ascot weeps like Epsom over the follies of the day ; the jockey is sick at heart , and the baffled better , like the disappointed party man , loses faith in our institutions .
550 The Leader. ; [Satprday,
550 THE LEADER . ; [ Satprday ,
The Week In Pisliament. Public Business....
THE WEEK IN PiSLIAMENT . PUBLIC BUSINESS . Mr . DlSRAEU , on Monday , replied to Sir James Graham ' s attack on Thursday last , He represented the state of the public business a * most satisfactory . He went through the list of measures , following the example of Sir James , and showed that , since Thursday all the votes in Supply , except nineteen , bad been agreed to ; and that the main of the bills alleged to be in so backward a state had since that daY been
considerably advanced . He was not prepared to abandon any of the bills except the Metropolitan Buildings Bill . The Whiteboy Consolidation Bill he should not press ; but , in the teeth of all the opposition of all the Irish members , he should resolutely insist on the passing of the Crime and Outrage Act . Having gone through the list of bills before the House , he wound up by a defence of the Government against the charge of bringing parliamentary government into disrepute .
"I declare , sir , that when . I examine the Government measures which have not yet passed , with , the most anxious desire to ask the House to support nothing which I do not suppose to he of the first necessity—with the most anxious deaire that the labours of this Parliament should not be prolonged—I do not feel myself justified , with the exception I have mentioned , m recommending the withdrawal of any of those bills . They appear to ( me necessary measures of high policy , and in such a satisfactory state of progress that all may be passed consistently with that termination of the session which we all now , anticipate . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir , I claim no credit to the Government for this state of the public business . I say that most
unfeignedly . It is a state of public business , in my opinion , satisfactory ; hut it is duo , and due only , to tho good sense and to the good temper of tho Houso of Commons . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) . And , sir , when I see the highest authority dilating with strong feeling , and expressing his great apprehension—saying , with all tho authority of Iris name in the senate of his country , that if we- do not take care we shall bring representative government itself into disrepute—for it will appear that wo cannot transact tho public business—I soy , sir , that I have drawn from tho sossion which is now closing a very different conclusion and a very opposito moral . ( Hear , hoar , hear . ) I would rather trace what has boon done this session , and the
manner in which it has boon done , and I would rather employ it as an argument in favour of representative government—in favour , at least , of tho mode in which representative government is carriod on in this countrythan bring it forward as an argument which should lead the House to beliovo that tho reputation of representative government ia in danger . ( Hear , hoar . ) Sir , I will not dilate upon the f act that wo have b oon enabled to pass already through tho Houso of Commons thirfcy-eeven Government measures , twenty of which have now passod into laws and when I recal to tho Houso tho circumstances of tho session—that a change of Government took placeand party feelings woro excited which , undor such
, oircumetancos , naturally produced groat tlolay ot businoBS , and whon the fact ia remembered that I and my colleagues were only enabled on tho 1 5 th of March to assume our seats in this Houso—I say , I think it tolls vory much for tho good sonso and tho good temper of tho Houso that wo havq boon permitted to carry by their aid to , a conclusion so many important measures , and yet have not postponed that important' appoal to tho people , on which wo urO all agreed . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Sir , I remember somo yoara ago , when , J , qafc on the other side of the House , undor ' tho guidance and advice of that diHtinguitthed man , in tho lead
Xord Georgo BontJnck , and whon I took part of affairs , tor which I was not qualified , but by tho groat indulgence of my friends it fell to my duty to sum up tho transactions of tho longest session that Parliament ovor oxporioncod—lasting , I believe , for ton continuous months —which , concluded in Boptombor , 1848 . At that time thoro wore rumours abroad respecting tho unsatisfactory mode in which tho public affairs woro conducted j you woro told that tho accumulation , of buainoHB was intolorablo , and it was proved in a mannor that thrilled men with alarm ,, that roproaontativq government could no longor detd with tho affaire of tho community . It wao my
duty , after £ ca & ful JmaWa f ^ -all the motions and measures of that iggaarltaple faOBSipR , to vindicate the conduct and charactefip the ' Housp of Commons . Then , sir , it was my duty alsft to endeavour to prove that winch I gave my reason ^ lOT believing—namely , that it was to the weakness of t & l M inistry , and not to the inefficiency . pf the Hov * w « teJji » # * % » In-mantable state of affairs th ^ ti <* % Tierienced ^ Eowinfif *" v-Now , sklfl the present insM & ce ,: $
$ 0 hot th ^' it necessary to ascribe anything either / to th € ilfeakhess rf the J & iiistry or teethe inefficiency of thfl House of Coinmo ^ Si because I faaintain ; that the publi business was never lit a more satisfactory state . ^ Suy I ^[ aun no cr edit toe her ' Majestfa Minister ^ for thi » : ^ t ^»> but I may say & is most sincefefy for ttiem , that we ajttre endeavoured by sedulous attention to business tp merit the indulgence that we Have received from the House , and even from our opponents . "
It will be observed that Mr . Disraeli totally avoided any allusion whatever to the Maynooth debate , upon the dilatory character of which Sir James founded his charge . Government , he said , virtually adopts this motion , yet they either cannot or will not bring- it to an issue . Let them take care that they do not bring representative government into disrepute . Mr . Disraeli replied by ignoring the charge !
PASSING OF THE MILITIA BILL , „ . The order of the day for the third reading of the Militia Bill was read on Monday . Mr . Rich , an understrapper of tbe late Ministry , moved that it be read that Gay six months . He made a very long and a very dull speech against the bill . His main argument was * that an invasion was not probable j that if it were , a militia was an inefficient defence , and that the proper course would be to increase the standing army-He was seconded by Mir . MacKinnon , and supported by Mr . McGbegob , Mr . Hbaeiam , and Mr * Bwabt . Lord Haebt Vane and Sir Heney Vebney speaking for the bill . The debate was very tame , and all were anxious for a division * when Mr . Beekaii Osbobne roseand amused the house for above an hour .
, Henry Verney had made a very warlike speech Not content with voting for the third reading , said Mr . Osboene , the ho-ourable gentleman called upon Ministers to put the Martello towers in order—to produce the swivel guns which had' been laid up since the last war , and then they mig ht laugh to scorn the French invasion . ( Laughter . ) He defended the Peace Society , and observed that taxes had not been raised to carry on wars , but wars had been raised to carry on taxes ; and that our most expensive luxury was a successful general . ( Laughter . )
"But at the same time he drew a distinction Between armies raised for the purpose of aggression , and armies for the purpose of defence ; and he would submit to those gentlemen—if there were any such-r-who doubted tho lawfulness of defensive war , that in the Utopia of Sir Thomas More , though he depicted a society in all the enjoyment of perennial happiness , detesting war , despising glory , and prohibiting ahkelawyers and soldiers ( laughter)—neither allowing Martello towers nor briefs in Chancery—yet even he did not debar the natives of his happy island from tho use of arms , nor from defending themselves when they woro attacked . Now , he could not imagine that any body ,
either in that houso or out of it , would bo more Utopian than the Utopians themselves . ( Great laughter . ) Ho must say , for himself , that he could not look upon tho present state of tho continent of Europe with satisfaction , filled , as it was , with gigantic armies and with reactionary rulers at tho head of those armies . It might bo very well , though ho could hardly follow tho honourable baronet tho member for Bedford through his medley of Martello towors , rifles , and Louis Napoleon ( laughter)—it might be very well for the honourable baronet to say that lie had confidence in Louis Napoleon . Ho ( Mr . Osborno ) did not wish t o say anything that would trench upon the feolinga
of tho most fastidious Frenchman , but he could not say that lie shared in tho hon . baronet ' s confidence . Ho thought it was natural that a man who was raised to power by the military order should act in accordance with mih \ tary prejudices . And after all , what did tho hon . gentleman say P I have confidence in Louis Napoloon , but for all that double your army—increase your rifle corps—man your Martollo towers—get roady your swivel gum—but still I liavo great confidence in Louia Napoloon . ( Laugh * tor }" Ho criticised tho military estimates , and naked for more information . Thon riding oiF to tho address of Mr . Difcraoli to tho " confiding farmors of Buckinghamshire , who wero his constituents , " he said j — " Tho right honourablo gontloman proposed to raise tho militia by giving a bounty , which it was clear would oporato most unequally in different parts of tho country . In tho rural districts it would doprivo tho farmer of a groat deal of labour , probably when ho most wanted it , whilo iii i , ho manufacturing districts , whoro tho bounty would bo of no avail , tho Govornmont ; muni resort to tlio ballot , a proceeding contrary to the ' genius of tho epoch / which no statosmrw ought to disregard . ( ChoerH and laughter . ) Ho dofiod her Majosfcy ' s Ministers tlioniHolvos , though ho admitted that thoy woro aotivo reoruits , to acquire a knowledge of their profession in twenty-ono days . Ho admitted that tho noblo lord at tho hoad of tho Govornmont had shown much skill in performing a rnthor difficult evolution—namely , changing his front in tho prosonco of his adversary . ( Hoar , hear , and laughter . ) lie admitted also that tho right honourablo gontloman tho Chancellor of tho Exchequer was very flkilAu in light infantry movomoKtff
and that he Jift $ shpw ^ that fcnew how advanco and retreat in thi bt | agOTi $ he right honourable gentleman the SefereJa ^ ry fcW $ p * Hojihe Department was rather slowin his iq | i | gi $ en ^ fe * fc no doubt he would soon improve and as fo 1 rthfe , 1 ^ 6 u ^ able and learned gentleman the Solieiter-Generat i # ;^ ai attj ) ld soldier ( great laughter ) , would serve ; un ^* atoy officer , and give fire any where . " Hd deified t ^ ftt a good soldier could be made in tweniy ^ oriq ^ y | -r- ^ ' . ' ¦' - ¦'' . ' ¦ : ¦ _ ¦;• ' " - . ' • ¦ ¦ '"' " Hq was 4 stonifihed that the Chancellor of the Exche . qvier should : h $ f € | Bought to imitate ^ not Mr . Pitt but
Poisjpejf fpS Gr ^ at , Who . vainly bbasted that he could raise legioii ^ l > y stampingvjjwth his fodt * \ The right hon . gentleman seemed to imagine that he oquld act as Pompey thought he could , butne ( Mr . Osbolfno ) ' cautioned him that he was more likely to fall to the level of the famous hero in the farce , and that when he had got his 60 , 000 inen 5 he would have to say , ' Begone , brave army ; don't kick up a row ! '" ( Great laughter . )
He wound up by an unmeasured tirdde against mi-Utiam general ; and by declaring thai our best defences were our " wooden walls' * and volunteer corps . A few words from the Solicixob-Genebai , and Mr . Peto brought this dry discussion to an end . The House divided * and there
were—For the amendment , 148 j agauist it , 220 . Majority , ? % . The bill was thereforeread a third time * On th . e motion of iilr . Thobueivy , a . proviso was added to clause 18 , exempting-any ^ meniber of the senate of the tJniversity bf London , any examiner , professor , tutor , or lecturer of th 0 said university , or of any college , school , or institution connected with the said university , under the provisions of any charter thereof , any student of any such college , school , or institution , duly matriculated in the said university , and actually receiving education in any of the said colleges , schools , or institutions , and any resident member of the University of Durham , from all liability to serve or provide a substitute for the militia .
An important motion was then made by Mr . Wiliiam WrtxiAMS , to omit the whole of clause 18 , and thus to abolish the power of conscription * A division at once ensued :- * For the omission of the clause , 142 j against , J 87 . MaJQrityTor , the chiuse , 45 . A proviso , moved by Sir Db Lacy EyaSS , at the end of clause 35 , tp the effect that it shall not he laWr iUl to order the ballot , except in time of actual war , or imminent danger of war , was rejected by 178 to 82 , and the bill passed .
SUSPICIOUS llSTTEENATIONAL CONYENTtON . ' ¦ The House of Lords yvas the scene of a very singular proceeditig on the part ' of the Derby Government , on Tuesday night ,-4-a proceedirig which demands the closest attention from the country . Lord MAXMESBtTBT moved the second reading of a hill , modestly entitled , Surrender of Criminals ( Convention With France ) Bill , It is noticeable , that , in making this motion , Lord Malmesbuay did not , as is usual , state , in detail , the provisions of the hill , but confined himself to an account of the unsatisfactory relations at
present subsisting between England and France , as regards the extradition of criminals . But he did nllude to one part of the bill , which excited great suspicion . Promising- that a convention had been made in 18 < t 3 , he continued , — . . " This now convention extended the number of enrnea fbr which the mutual surrender of criminals was to oe made , and contained somo provisions by which semir y was given that no surrender should bo domanded ot ponu-<> ii . l nffYmrWs nrminst tno French Government . It conbreacn
tAinod an article by which it was provided that no of a municipal or political law should be deemed a sujhaww cause for demanding tho surrender of the party who « au been guUty of it . Ho must say this in favour of thei present Government of France , that it J » ad mot him with grca frankness and openness on this aubject , andhp wa 8 * !^^ * by tho French Ambassador to declare that to any provision which tho wisdom of Parliament or tho ingenuity at w » legal profcesion could draw up to prevent tho euj-ronjwr « i more political offenders , his Government would givo willing consent"
. . , ,. The Earl of Aberdeen warned tho Minister ami tho House of the great difficulty of the eubject , while n « admitted the desirability of providing for the extra tion of offenders . At prcaont , foreign prisoner * wer protected by tlio law of thi « country . "By thoprosont bill nothing was required F 1 " 10 ^ tablishmont of tho identity of tTio individual f ""^' ,., ^ ,. entertained somo doubt whether the " . 'flto" }^ ° . ( « 8 ^ ivo \ ncr lAantUv w / ih irvmt : but Wttfl it fittlllfi UW W ° } $ \„„
should have no other protoctionagainst npprqbMiBi « i tho production or nonproduction of tho inandat » ar ^ whicli , in point of fact , waa no P ™^ * !) * ' " ^ bation doubted whether Parliament would give , » ta appr »» irod and sanction to tluit provision of tho bill w ^ " * ^ nothing but tho French lettet of accusation to warnu apprehension of the alleged criminal . ' j-flwent Tho bill had reference to » omo twenty dl" ^ offences , and applied to all bucu offences , ™ l ™* VL since 184 , 3 . Ho could uot boo tUo propriety « wanM D tho law retrospoctivc .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 12, 1852, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12061852/page/2/
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