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1178 THE LEADER. [Saturday,
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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
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On Tuesday, the Queen opened the third S...
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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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1178 The Leader. [Saturday,
1178 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
Imperial Parliament
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
On Tuesday, The Queen Opened The Third S...
On Tuesday , the Queen opened the third Session of the piesent Parliament in person . An unusually fine day filled every avenue with unusually large numbers of people , and there was a considerable " rush" even at the ladies' galleries . The Queen entered the House of E > ords ^ bout £ ltelf-past . twqsvled "by Prince Albert , and silwid & il b ' y the Duchess ? of " Wellington ; the Earl of Aiferdeen bearing * tlie sword of State , the Marquis oij Winchester theeoap of maintenance , and the Marquise of LansdownetftHe crown . On taking , her seat on ; the Throne ,
lierrMftjesty gave diiectiott ^ that tlfc ^ Commons shcntia be summoned . A . little'delay tooK place in consequence , but in a few minutes the rushing tramp of " the faithful" was heard along the corridors , and the Speaker made his appearance at the bar , attended , by the Sergeant-at-Arms , and'followed by a disoKLerljf throng of the znembeiSj the Ministers present betag . r I > ord - Ji Bussell and Sir William Molesworth . Order being in a few seconds restored , her Majesty , in ar-clear voice , which was distinctly heard all over the house , read the following speech , which was handed to her by the Lord Chancellor : —
'' Mt LOBDS AND GeNTLEMBIT : " I have called you together at this unusual period of the year , in order that , by your assistance , I may take suckarteasures . as will enable me to prosecute the great ¦ war in which we- are engaged with the utmost ' vigour and effect . Ifaia assistance ^ I ; know will be readily given ; for I cannot doubt that you share my conviction of : the- necessity of sparing no effort to augment my forces » ew engaged in . th * Crimea . Tie exertions : tliey have made , and the victories they have obtained , are not exceeded-in-tte brightest pages of our history , and have filled •• me ' with admiration and'gratitudes " Tfaes hearty and . efficient co-operation of the- brave troops ,, of my ally , the Emperor of : Use French , and the glory acquired , in common , cannot fail to cement still more closely -the union , which happily subsists between the two nations .
"It" is witTi satisfaction I inform you tlat , together ¦ with : the Emperor of the French , I have concluded a treaty of alliance with the Emperor of Austria , from which I anticipate important advantages to the common cause . - " I \ heave also concluded a ; treaty with the United States-of America , by which subjects of long and difficult discussion have been equitably adjusted . " These treaties will belaid before you . " Although' the ; prosecution of the war will naturally engage your chief ; attention , I trust that other matters of * gr « at interest and importance to the general welfare wiB ' no ' t'be-neglected .
" I ' rejoice to observe that the general prosperity of my subjects remains uninterrupted . The state of the revenue affords me entire satisfaction ; and I trust that by your wisdom and prudence you will : continue to proraote th « progress of agriculture ,. commerce , and manufactures . * " Gentlemen of the Hottsb of ., Commons : " In . the estimates which will be presented to you , I trust yoiwillflnd that ample provision lias been made for the . exigencies of the . public service . u Mx Lords and Gentlemen :
' I- rely with - confidence on your patriotism , and publit spirit . I feel assured that in the , momentous contes *' . in which we are engaged you will exhibit to the world' the example of a united people . Thus shall we obtain the respect of other nations , and may trust that by the blessing of God we shall bring the war to a successful ' termination . " The Queen having them returned the copy of the speech to the Lord Chancellor , bowed , and loft the Hoaso . '
THE ADDUCE ® 8 ; . Tltoliords re-assembled at fire o ' clock , when the J > u 3 se . of IiEEj > 3 . made the customary motion , of an address , to the throne . As usual , this matter of ceremony was well . received ,, and Lord * Ashbvkton ( in the absence o £ Lord Abipgdon , from indisposition ) seconded the motion . TOe , Earl of PteftBY tJlen courteously explained that if We Ijad ' had any intention of offering opposition ; lie" BKouiaj at' all events , have given the Government time for explanation . They had done his friends and ! himself injufttico by anticipating' any opposition . It < was . no tlmo now to . discuss- whether
th « -wan might have been avoided or not ? the nation was > engaged in tho-war ,, and . was urging * the Gtavemnttnt to carry it on with vigour , He rejoiced in the different tone of the present speech from the Throno compared with the last . Then the war was considered a Blight matter , and Parliamentary Itoform ¦ was proposed as the principal event , in order to produce a groat moral effect , and to show how little the war 'was * regarded . Now , Ic mddecin matgrd lui waa fully alive to His position . Of other measures contemplated fbyr > had been brought' forward , because the : poonlo would hear ofi nothing but the -war . Ho did not Jsnow what wore the •' other matters of groat interest and , importance "— -probably tho Cabinet did not—but whon her Maiegty ' 8 * . Govwnna © nt > pronosed
them , he would answer for it that they would receive due consideration . After referring at some length to -tfete French / alliance , he suggested that some high military hoffeare sKottld be conferred on General Canrobert . WitH Tesppet to the conduct of the war , he said Gaarernmenfc . was too late in the declaration of war—tooJSrte in regarding the passage of thePruth as a casus . ^^ li —too late in sending our troogs to the Blaefc'Seti—^; oo complaisaot'to Russia in -not ' sending ourflfeets ttx- 'co-operate ^ rith those of Eranceu'at the progaar time »—too late ia entering the Blacks
SeaandSumxng ihmot preventing the massacre of . Sihope . An & Iwhen "vse did go to » war , -what was thai course pursued brjythe Government ? - ' On the . 6 ttt » Marchj 1854 , a ^ flsw days before the-declaration off war , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , knowing that the war was imminent , took an increased vote for something iii ^ 10 v 0 ea . mea ; i « : theaxfiry , aiidaisoa ^ numbe rrin the navy , and his calculation of the increased expenditure consequent on the war-was , as . be stated , the sum of 1 , 250 , 000 / . —that being the estimated expense , at 50 / . per man , of transporting 25 , 000 troops —where ? To meet the Russians ? To defend
Constantinople ? Nothing of the sort . To take them to Malta—and bring them back again . ( Laughter . ) Their ideas on the subject were soon altered . On the 19 th of June last , Lord Clarendon explained that we were not going to protect Constantinople , but to settle for ever the question of Russian supremacy . The Government avowed this , and provided a grossly inadequate army ; which had never received anything , like reinforcement . The country was able to supply every conceivable requisite , and" yet the army had suffered fearful' privations . At the latest moment winter elothing and ; provisions had been , sent to the Crimea , but they were . ; sent in the mismanaged Prince , and all were lost . He asked if Government
did not inow that the captain of that vessel had not beenpreviously found utterly incapable- ? Th & inde--cisipn of the . Government in . fixing the meeting of Parliament was inexplicable . It was- summoned two days earlier * with , no apparent reason . The news of the battle of Ihierman was scarcely sufficient . The most splendid fleet ever known has been quite unsuccessful . And why ? Because it was too powerful for the Russians to come out to meet , and of too deep a draught 1 of water to allow them to get near enough to Cronstadt . The result was that our fleet in the Baltic has all along been condemned to a . state of'ignominious inactivity jreminding ^ qne ; of the story of' the duel between Sir Richard Strachaujand X-ord Chatham— ; . . " I ^ ord Chatham ,- with Jbis sword undrawn , * Stood waiting for Sir Richard Strachan , Sir Richard , longing to be at bini , . . Stood . waiting ; for the Earl of Chatham ^ "' With respect to the Austrian alliance , he was simply glad to , find her Majesty appeared pleased with it . He . believed that the occupation of the Principalities by . Austria had done great damage , as it had practically-rendered Omar Pacha ' s army useless by controlling its movements ; and that being the case , he thought expressions of satisfaction would simply mean an easy Tray of getting over the address . As yet , nobody knew the terms of the alliance . The noble earl then-concluded with an eloquent " address " to the soldiers . ^ in the Crimea .
The Duke ef' Newcastle then made a long and elaborate reply , with the intention of showing that the Earl of Derby was entirely wrong in his facts' ; he admitted a . few mistakes had been made , but submitted that tlio accidents which had happened could by no means ha . ve been avoided . Earl Grey reiterated his well-known opinions . The Earl of Hakdwioice thought that Government had not at flrst understood the case . A strong reserve should have been maintained . The Earl of Carlisle politely praised the bravery of tho troops , ; and ; assured the Government that they would go on well—in the long run .
Tho Earl of Adbbpeen , —My lords , I should be sorry to detain your lordships at this late hour for any length of time ; but I feel bound to make a few observations in reply to the complaint of the noble earl opposite . Ho saidthat this war was undertaken , in defence of tho liberty of tho Turkish empire ; but , lie added , you have changed the whole character of the wary and this expedition to Sobastopol has [ removed you from the possibility of obtaining what you * desiroj Now I humbly bog > to iretnind tho noble
earl ; that if there be . on « : point * more than -another morei vital to , then safety and independence of the Turkish otnflire , and more clearly injurious to the power of Russia , it , is . , tho destruction of the fort of Sobastopol . Having . driven the Russians out of the p Priucipalitiea , the next object of tho war , which lovcrybody must have had in view from its very { commencement ; and which we could only have Worn restrained in by a doubt , of its prnotica * biliby , was - the attack and destruction < of' Sobnstopol . Notwithstanding the eager desire and expectation with which this country viewed the flrst land-* Tina it ) aUoRothor Incorrect i but -wo have Klvon , hi another part of'our paper , n correct : voralon , with whloli wo have boon fawowed by a correspondent .
ing in the Crimea and its immediate consequences mistaken as they have been—a mistake in which all Euxoppsshared at the time—still I think that there axe goodBgroamls to hope that success will attend our eflbi * fc 3 and * . I totally disagree from the noble earilin tlfi & king'tliat the prospect of peace will be dimihishtstfby . that success . Quite the contrary ; I feel satisfied tbatt nothing could contribute so much to the proBabilityof obtaining those terms of peace which rnjjjfnobletfriend near me has alluded to as thesjgfml-o £ rthe success which I should hope we may aehievte ii & this undertaking . The noble earl also r ^ feraedatoatH & r mentfoa of the treaty with Austria imtbVspeecH , and said 4 hat he was unwilling- to
express satisfaction at a treaty of the contents of which he was ignorant ! and whichVmigJit bind us to terms of a higmy . objectionable nattrre , such as would not be sanctioned by the people of this country ; and he talked of . our . supporting . Austria ^ in Italy , Poland , and Hungary , and denounced any such object as a part' of tha .-t engagementi The noble earl may make himself perfectly easy upon that score , as no engagement of such a description either exists or ever entered into our minds . It is unnecessary , however , to say this , as I presume that your lordships do not think it possible that we should have made such an engagement ; but the noble earl ' who snpke in the
« arly evening ( Derby ) did ' ^ notj . I . thinks correctly understand , the import of the . seatenee in the-Address . We do not propose that the -House should express * any satisfaction- at the treatj ; . We propose only that the House should learn wit ^ satisfaction ' that her Majesty has made- a ; treaty from wlrielishe anticipates important advantages . That is- all the satisfaction . It-is-TO & that-weare satisfied ^ iiTrtil-we learn what it is , but that , we . learn with satisfaGtion that the Queen has ; errrtered into a treaty frbrn whidb she anticipates advantage . Now , my lords ; I ' tMnk that you may safely express as : much'satisfaction as that without committing yourselves to * a particle of satisfaction with the treaty itself . of
The Earl of Derb ^ . then pointed ths moral the evehingj by , saying : The phrase , as interpreted , then , is , that we are exceedingly glad that' her M & jesty and her Majesty ' s advisers approve the treaty which , they have made . ( -A / aa ^ ft . ) The Address was then agreed to , and'tbe House adjourned at 12 o ' clock . The House of Commons assembled on . Tuesday at a quarter to fonr . After several newwrits had ; been ordered , ' the customary Address was moved ; ' The Speakek having read'the Qaeen ' s . speech , 1 ' Mrt Hi HEmBBBT-proposed the usual nrotion for an AVidres 8 i . Mr ; R Levbson CrowEit . seconded the motion * in a graceful speech , calling for * unity ? in the House as it is in the nation ,, it- being , not only , strength to . ourselves , hut discouraging to the enemyj .
Sir J * PakingtMi rose early ,, but had no desire to criticise what he had heard . He was glad that the Queen's speech contained nothing to which he could take exception ; However , he subsequently- made n long speech , which was very similar to that of Lord Derby ; - Mr . Sidney Herbert then replied in an elaborate speech , which , of ' course , occupied precisely xtie same ground as . that of-the Duke of Newcastle . Mr . Lay Ann then ,. rose . He supposed Ministers yveie sincere ,, but nothing could bo done by a Government holding sucli different opinions . Everything-had been , mismanaged- He himself had warned them that Varna was unhealthy , but the troops were sent there to dieiby
disease . Doubtless the moral effect of their presence was good . Regarding Sevastopol , if'it had been taken by a coup cle main , did they intend to retain' tlie Crimea ? if a regular siege -vras anticipated , in . either case , pro * vision forwintor should have been made ; aa it was , » they were left to obtain supplies from the' country . Tents might have boon taken , had not ; themeans of carriage been neglected . Everything olso which waB to the advantage of the army had been sacrificed by similar errors . lie was of opinion tliat the Austrian alliance -would only ; lead to fresh , difficulties . It wtw . impossible to carry , on war on such a principle , and the moment Russia saw the capture of Sobaetop . ol was inevitable , she would withdraw tho troops from it , leave some , perhaps , at Perekbp , and send the rest into Abia . They imiafc ' contlftcf tho war-by means of Poland . They might- depend upon ifthatifc
was in Europe they- must tftk « advantftgo of' Russia ) in Asia it was . useless to attempt it . H « i asked what was tho principle of economy which i had ; been adopted in currying on tho wot ? ' It waa < to do . everything on the Hinalleet : eealo at the greatest expense . ( Cheers md laughter . ') Ho liatf scon a letter from ( Liverpool describing tho way in which tho Governments took up vcbbcIb there , nnd tho way thoy throw away money . "When pressed by difficulty , and by public opinion being cxr pressed agauiHt them , and whon thoy had become desperate to keep tliolr places , they rushed into every measure of expense . Thoy engaged ships , and contracted for horse-boxes to take tho cavalry ) and incurred tho groatfcBt possible expense , but the result was ' that tWoy lost 200 horscH , winch woro thrown ovorboatu at a moment whon cavalry was of tlie utmost > importance to . thorn . Ho wwned them , not to waste tba- resourcoa . of tlw
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 16, 1854, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16121854/page/2/
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