On this page
-
Text (2)
-
796 THE LEADER. [Saturday,
-
IMOIJOIOM IN MALTA. Whejn we took Malta ...
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.
-
-
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.
The Week In Parliament. 31us8ia: Ministe...
America at once as our rival in the carrying trade of Europe . And , remember , you have now repealed your navigation laws . In 1793 you could , send out large fleets of merchant ships , under the convoy of ships of war , twice a year . You had the monopoly of the seas ; and it did not matter to you when or how your ships sailed , because other countries must wait / upon you for their supplies . But what would bo the case now , if you were to go . to war P If you were engaged in war with a maritime power , they would issue letters of marque to fleets of steamers , who could take refuge when they pleased in Stockholm or other neutral ports . Your insurances for freights would l'ise at Lloyd ' s in proportion to the risk of capture . How would your manufacturers—how would your numerous and wealthy colonies , consent to bring over their freights in English bottoms , when Hamburgers and Frenchmen
were not subject to the same risk ? llemember that the repeal of the navigation laws has thrown you open to the competition of the whole world in shipping , as in everything else . But I beg pardon of the House for having gone into these considerations . All I wish to say is , that 1 think the Government have done wisely in disregarding the cry of thoughtless men ; they have done wisely in not listening to the cry of the newspapers , some of which profess the democratic principle , as if democracy ever gained by war . The Government have done right , not only for the interests of the country but even for the interests , of themselves ; for if they should plunge the country into war , the shallow men who now cry for war would in less than six weeks call for the disgrace and the removal of the very Ministers who began the war . I have nothing to say to the Ministers . I do not blame them because they have
taken up a position to defend the Turkish empire . It is a traditionary policy they have followed , and unless they had public opinion with them , no Government could avoid doing so . All I say is , that I have no doubt they will soon get rid of the difficulties respecting the "VVallachian provinces ; and I congratulate them on having been as peaceable as the people would allow them to be . ( Cheers . )" Lord Palmekston made a striking comment on Mr . Cobden ' s speech : — " There is nothing so painful as to see a man of great ability labouring under an erroneous conviction , which ho knows to be contrary to the opinions of his fellow-countrymen , and which he is therefore afraid—I will not use a stronger term—openly to express , but which he endeavours to conceal and cloak by every species of device which
ingenuity can afford to the practised orator . If , sir ,, the honourable gentleman had stood here as tl ^ p avowed advocate of the aggressive and ambitious policy of Russia , as the defender of that system of policy which he pi'etends so loudly to denounce and condemn , I do not think , in the present state of the feeling of this House and of the country , that he could have dared to pursue a course more calculated to assist , to facilitate , and to defend the views he pretends to deprecate . ( Cheers . ) Why , sir , he said , —I never heard a speech so full of incessant contradictious ; he said at one moment , although he did not tell us exactly what he told the country on a former occasion , that Russia could bo crumpled up like a sheet of brown paper—( laughter)—but he told us that Russia was so weak , that she was
perfectly incapable of resisting any serious eixort on the part of this country , and then ho tells us that war with Russia would be infallible ruin to England . How does he reconcile the two statements ? At one time he tells us that Russia is a sort of barbarous power , composed of scattered dependencies and weak in her interior , and then ho launches out into great praise of St . Petersburg , and says that because St . Petersburg i . s a finer city than Constantinople , forsooth , [ Russia ought to be possessed of both . Tho honourable gentleman is a Froe-trader . He made a tour Hhrough Kurope . Of course he was received wherever ho went with that courtesy and civility to which his personal qualities so eminently entitle him , and ho fancied he had
persuaded sill Europe that there was no system to bo adopted but that of Kree-trade . Now ho says the efforts of tins country in favour of tariffs havo signally failed . I should lileo to know , then , what has been tho result of his Kuropean tour P Sir , our wars worn never waged for tho sake of tariffs . Such warn as those wo carried on in Spain and Portugal were undertaken for higher considerations—for tho maintenance of tho constitutions , the liberties , and tho independence <> f nations , anel of that balance of power which , however tho honourable * gentloirum may treat il ; with contempt , because lie ( Iocs not ficein to understand it , all men who havo boon worthy to give council : ) to nations havo considered to bo a principle , tho assertion n . n < l maintenance of which was ensoul ial fo the liberties
and tho well-being of maiilcind . ( Chews . ) Then tho honourable gentleman , with all his Kroe-traelo partialitiesand no man lias probnbly in his own country done ; metro for thei asHtM'tibn ojiel practical enforcement ; of tlie > se principles than him , and 1 am tho last man to wilhholel my tribute of aoluienvlcelginont for the groat services which have been rendered in ( hut respect by thei honottralilo gent . lojnan- NOesnis entirely to forget his principle when ho compares tho coniniere'iiil cystem of Russia with that of Turkey . Why , does he * not know , and if he * eloeis know ,
why d <«! H ho attempt to withdraw the attention <> 1 tho public from it , that the commercial system of Russia is eminently restrictive anil prohibitive , while the commercial HyHte ' m e > i" Turkey in the most liberal that e > xisf , n in any country with which we havo commercial relations ? Then he nays it is quito immaterial , in a ' cemnnoirinl point of view , whotlieiv tho Turkish empire belongs to Russia or not , ms then * was no commerce * on the I Hack Se'n . before the time * of tho HiiiprcsH ( JiiMieriim . I . never hoard ni'ginuenliH loss raltiiilateel to support the conclusions to which he wishe-d to elruw the niinels of his hearers . 11 is not true
that , th « commcre > o of Turkey is immaterial to Uuh country . It is very material to this country . Turkey has internal resources which ( end every year to wake our commerce with her more and more valuable . " <» says of Turkey : ' You are patchinir i ( , up . You are now yielding fo tlie > vulgar prejudice ( which ho ndniittod was traditional ) with
regard to maintaining the'independence of the Turkish empire ; but it is a rotten fabric , and cannot last—it is sure to fall to pieces . The Turks must be expelled—that is to say , the Sultan , the Government , the army , and the 2 , 000 , 000 of Mussulmans who inhabit European Turkey ; but who are only encamped in Europe . You must get rid of them , and it is high time to consider how you shall dispose of their territories . ' This is a strange doctrino , I must say , from a person ; who has always maintained the necessity of leaving foreign countries to decide' as to what should be their own mode of government . I do not at all admit that Turkey is in the state of decay which the honourable gentleman represents , and that the
maintenance of the integrity and independence of Turkey is not an object not only desirable , but worth contending for , and capable of being effected . The honourable gentleman has been wholly misinformed as to the state of Turkey during the last thirty years . I assert , without fear of contradiction by any man who knows anything on the subject , that Turkey , so far from going back during the last thirty years , has made greater progress in improvements in every possible way than any other country . Why , compare it now with what it was hi the reign of the Sultan Mahmdud . If you consider it with regard to the system of Government , as bearing on the interests of the inhabitants , and connected with the defence of the country , with regard to
the army , the navy , the administration of justice , the promotion of agriculture , and the diffusion of such manufactures as the people have ; take its commercial system ; take its religion ; I venture to say that , in all these respects , Turkey has made immense progress during the period which I mentioned ; and so far , therefore , from going with the honourable gentleman in that sort of political slang which is the fashion among those who want to partition and devour Turkey—so far from talking of it as a dead body or an expiring body , or as so enfeebled that it cannot be kept alive , I am convinced of this—that if you will only keep out of it those who wish to get into it—if you will only leave those who are in it to deal with it in the way in which they are now dealing with it , I will venture to say that , as far as the seeds of dissolution are
concerned , there are many countries in Europe that would not bear a comparison with it . Turkey is just as likely to go on as it is in improvement , if you can keep other people ' s hands out of it , as some other countries to which the honourable member referred . Turkey has no Poland and no Hungary . ( Cheers . ) If I ever heard a speech trying to injure a Government , by , opposing the course of policy which it recommends , ' likely to damp the proper feeling of the country in supporting that Government , it is the speech of the honourable gentleman . I am happy to say it is the only speech of the kind we have heard tonight , and I trust it will not mislead anynf those persons beyond the limits of this country who would be likely to
be misled by it . ( Hear , hear . ) I hope the language of that speech will not excite abroad feelings that might be likely to mar the efforts of her Majesty ' s Government to settle these affairs in a manner satisfactory and honourable to the country ; and I trust the great preponderance of good sense and proper feeling which the discussion of this evening has shown , will prove to all Europe what is the fixed determination of the British Parliament , and what are the feelings of the British nation , that although there may be persons who may possibly wish to see Russia , extend her power over Turkey , that is not the wish of the British nation , and that the Government of England , supported by the people of England , are determined to
persevere m their intention to maintain tho independence of that country ; its maintenance being essential both for political anel commercial reasons . We do not mean to go with the honourable gentleman into a re-arrangement of the Turkish empire . We do not pretend to dictate to the Bulgarians , the Sclavonians , the ( 3 reeks , and tho Mussulman , who shall bo their sovereign , or what shall bo tho form of their government . It has been the privilege of this country to give advico to tho Turkish Government with a view to those ! internal improvements which , on tho one hand , strengthen Turkey , and on tho other hand , contribute to the prosper-ity and happiness of tho people under tho rule of the Sultan . I am happy to say our suggeistions havo been attended with tho most beneficial consequences , and wherever our consuls reside , and our
arrangements extend in the different provinces ) of the Turkish Empire , we have neon tranquillity enjoyed , justico better administeml , oppression cease , and those benefits extended which it is tho anxious object of tho British Government to promote in that country . I am convinced that , if this system is pursued— -if England , united with France , will sny that Turkey shall not belong to Russia or any other power , that dictum will be enforced ; anel I am convinced thai , if no sovereign power shall endeavour to destroy Turke . 'y , Turkey has in itsolf the elements e > f life nnel prosperity—mid that our policy , so far from being so objectionable as the honourable' member has endcavemrcel to prove , is a sound polieiy , one which meicts with the approbation of the ' j country , anel one which it will be ; ( lie duty of every Cjovernnieuli to pursue , " ( Loud cheer * . ) After a few words from Mr . Daniiy Kiovmour , coiitfminiating the llemso thai ; tho Ministry had " one nobleman of English spirit , " tho discussion ended .
796 The Leader. [Saturday,
796 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
Imoijoiom In Malta. Whejn We Took Malta ...
IMOIJOIOM IN MALTA . Whejn we took Malta from the French , in . 180 i ) , were materially aided by the inhabitants . In return , we pledged ourselves to protect ; tho religion of the country—the Ronmn-oiitholic religion . I <\> r thin object if ; \ uis necessary to maintain the e > lel Maltese lawn , lay ing novoro punishments em any outrage or insult towards tho Ronian-eaUiolio worship . The olel criminal laws worn consolidated in JBH 7 , hut the operation e > f the code has boon delayed , and nlteratioiiH in it aro now being considered in tho Colonial Office . Tho now code
forbids the publication of books against the Roman catholic religion , makes " insults" to clergymen highly penal , declares blasphemy against the saints a criminal offence , and . even an " insult , " committed without in . tent to profane , is still punishable . Mr . Kinnaibd called the attention of the House to the intended estab . lishmenfc of this new code , and pronounced at ' fit to come from the , Duke of Tuscany or the Emperor of Austria , not from a British colony . Every Protestant
member of the House had sworn that the Romancatholic worship is blasphemy . He moved " that the proposed criminal code is opposed to the civil ri ghts and liberties of her Majesty ' s subjects , and that an humble address be presented to her Majesty , requesting her to take these facts into consideration , and not to sanction such a code until Parliament shall have further considered the subject . " The motion was seconded by Mr . Thomas Chambers .
Mr . Frederick Peel argued against it . Malta is a Roman-catholic country , governed by an . elective legislature . That legislature had thought fit to adopt the code . Its punishments are certainly severe ; but in former times they were still more harsh , and the code has mitigated many provisions . Every one will admit that there is Criminality in acts which outrage religion , which go to offend some of the most deeply , seated and purest feelings of the human heart , and
which , of course , in a corresponding degree , tend to endanger public peace and tranquillity . And , in Malta , all religions are equally protected from insult . Mr . Hume followed up this defence , by stating that , in Malta , the Roman-catholics am the most numerous , and should be treated as the dominant party . Mr . Isaac Butt , Mr . Newdegate , and other Protestant members , warmly protested against the code . In retort Mr . John David Fitzgerald denied
that Roman-catholics held the opinion that princes excommunicated by the Pope could be deposed by their subjects ; The debate , which was becoming warm , was closed by Lord John Russeix . He stated that we are bound to-protect the Roman-catholic religion and its doctrines , but , as some words in the new code might be misinterpreted , it would be well to give them further consideration . There seems no necessity for the special definition of the rights of the Roman-catholic church ,
as the general provisions of the code make penal every offence against religion . The law officers of the Crown would be consulted , their opinions would be sent to Malta , and , if the authorities there would make the alterations suggested , the Crown would then assent to the code . By this means we should secure every possible respect for the Rom an-catholic religion , and , at the same time , the fullest religious liberty . This pro * mise satisfied all parties , and Mr . Kinnaird withdrew his motion .
REFORM OF THE STATUTES . The Lord Chancellor brought up the report of the Commissioners on the consolidation of common law , nnd stated what had been done by the commission . There are three ways of reform suggested . One is to take all the statutes on a particular subject , and bring them within erne act by condensation and simp lification of language ; another plan , too , is to combine with the revised statutes on a subject tho common or unwritten law on the same ; and a third is to make a comp letely new digest of tho law on each class of subjects . Specimen statutes on each of the principles have been
prepared . In addition , each Commissioner has be a sked to supply , in writing , a plan for tho consolidation of the statutes , and to draw up u digest of one Branch ot the statute law . These hints and specimens will bo considered by the Lord Chancellor , and bo being responsible , will oxereiso bis discretion in choosing the final plan . The new statutes arc to bo clear from " repulsive long sections nnd formal enactments . " I" " stances of the utility of consolidation have already appeared . Eight years age ) there were passed certain acts known as Railway Consolidation Acts and Land * Clauses Acts , for consolidatin g into one act all t » e < ; " actmontH that used to find their way into u railway I "' - Taking the quantity of printed pages in those acte > and the number of acts which havo since paused ,
incorporating all those clauses , the result ; was that tlicr « had boon a saving in printing of 11 . 0 folio \> W | U oaeh copy of eae : b Railway Act . And inasmuch «» 1000 e : opie ; s . are printed of each , and that th « y wcr " printed over twice in tho shape of billn ; nnd * in "" "'"'!' as the acts which passed did not constitute nbovo onefourth of thoKO which w « ro brought ; in us 1 > ill » > an < wero finally le > st ; , tho saving which has boon oflected «> y those consolidation acts is enormously great . "'" ' " should nee , thoroforo , whether they could not '" W ' the sainei principle in a variety of other mutters . J j ^ laws relating to tho duties of magistrates H » ° ul « l ' ^ put into ono iu : f ; . Again , there aro t ) io laws re » "'in » to tho national debt . Tho Chancellor of the Kxoluxi" " linn «« d that it is troubloBorao beyond measuro for p e *
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 20, 1853, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20081853/page/4/
-