HANSARD'S PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES, IN THE FIRST SESSION OF THE SEVENTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, APPOINTED ΤΟ MEET 30 APRIL, 1857, IN THE TWENTIETH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA. FIRST VOLUME OF THE SESSION. HOUSE OF LORDS, THE Thursday, April 30, 1857. HE SIXTEENTH PARLIAMENT of the United Kingdom was dissolved by Proclamation on the 21st March, and at the same time writs were ordered to be issued for calling a new Parliament, which writs were made returnable on Thursday the 30th April; on which day the Parliament so called met for Despatch of Business. The PARLIAMENT was opened by Commission. The HOUSE of PEERS being met, THE LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House, That HER MAJESTY, not thinking fit to be personally present here this day, had been pleased to cause a Commission to be issued under the Great Seal, in order to the opening and holding of this Parliament. Then Five of the Lords Commissioners, namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR, The LORD PRIVY SEAL (the Earl of Harrowby), The LORD STEWARD (Earl Spencer), The LORD STANLEY of ALDERLEY (President of the Board of Trade), and The DUKE of ARGYLL (Postmaster General), being in their robes, and seated on a form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack, commanded VOL. CXLV. [THIRD SERIES.] the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know "The Lords Commissioners desire their immediate attendance in this House, to hear the Commission read." Who being come; The LORD CHANCELLOR said— 66 My Lords and Gentlemen of the "HER MAJESTY not thinking fit to be present here this day in Her Royal Person, hath been pleased, in order to the opening and holding of this Parliament, to cause Letters Patent to be issued under Her Great Seal, constituting us. and several other Lords therein named Her Commissioners, to do all things, in Her Majesty's name, on Her part necessary to be performed in this Parliament: This will more fully appear by the Letters Patent themselves, which must now be read." Then the said Letters Patent were read by the Clerk. Then the LORD CHANCELLOR said, My Lords and Gentlemen, we have it in command from Her Majesty to let you know, That as soon as the Members of both Houses shall be sworn, the causes of Her Majesty's calling this Parliament will B Pulman, Esquire, Yeoman Usher of the "Gentlemen, "The Lords, authorized by virtue of Her Majesty's Commission, desire the immediate attendance of this Honourable "House in the House of Peers, to hear the Commission read." be declared to you; and, it being neces- Then the Commons withdrew. The House was resumed. PRAYERS. The LORD CHANCELLOR singly, in the first place, at the Table, took the Oaths, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes. Certificate of the Sixteen Peers for Scotland delivered, and read. Garter King of Arms delivered at the Table of the House (in the usual manner) "A List of the Lords Temporal in the First Session of the Seventeenth Parliament of the United Kingdom." Ordered that the said List do lie on the Table. Several Lords took the Oaths. The Lord Kenmare took the Oath prescribed by Act 10th Geo. IV. to be taken by Peers professing the Roman Catholic religion. Accordingly, the House went up to the House of Peers. And the House being returned; CHOICE OF A SPEAKER. LORD HARRY VANE addressing himself to the Clerk (who, standing up, pointed to him, and then sat down) said;-Sir Denis Le Marchant: In conformity with the Message which the House has heard this day delivered through the Royal Commission, calling on the House to proceed forthwith to the election of a Speaker, I now venthe House with the view of inviting it to ture to present myself to the attention of who have served in former Parliaments, give effect to that gracious command. We, have been long accustomed to associate the name of Charles Shaw Lefevre with all our proceedings, and it had become a matter of routine, as it were, to propose his honoured name for the Speakership at the opening of every new Parliament. Now that he has retired at the close of the last Parliament from the Chair, a very heavy and grave responsibility rests on any Member who undertakes the task of proposing his successor. Mr. Lefevre was a man, Sir Denis Le Marchant, who united in himself all the eminent qualities that fit a member to preside over the deliberations of this House, and it will be difficult, though perhaps not impossible, to find any Member who combines so many and such fine qualifications for the office in his own On which day, being the first day of person. His lofty and dignified bearing, the meeting of this Parliament for the his equability of temper, his unquestioned despatch of business, pursuant to Procla- impartiality, his extensive and profound mation, Sir Denis Le Marchant, Clerk knowledge of all the forms and usages of of the House of Commons, and Thomas Parliament, his intimate acquaintance with. Erskine May, and Henry Ley, Esquires, the private business which occupies so Clerks Assistant, attending in the House, much of the attention of Parliament, his and the other Clerks attending, according readiness to afford information to every to their duty, Charles Romilly, Esquire, Member who sought his advice upon any Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in Great point-all these constituted a union of Britain, delivered to the said Sir Denis qualifications difficult to equal and which Le Marchant a Book, containing a list of it is impossible to excel. The character the Names of the Members returned to of the Speaker of this House necessarily serve in Parliament. exercises an important influence over the proceedings of the House, and therefore the greater need is there of care in the selection. In former times that inde House adjourned at half-past Four HOUSE OF COMMONS, Thursday, April 30, 1857. Several of the Members repaired to their seats, A Message was delivered by James pendence of character and that firmness | time, been unconnected with official life, of purpose which could alike resist the has devoted his mind to the private busiblandishments and frowns of the Crown ness of the House, and has made himself seemed to be primary qualities required in master of all the details of Parliamentary the Speaker of this House. In these law and usages, it does appear to me a days, no doubt, it is essential that we fitting testimony to render to such a man should choose a man who will stedfastly to elect him our Speaker. Do we want a uphold the privileges of the House; but precedent for such a course? We find in fact and reality we entertain but slender that the brightest example of a Speaker apprehensions of failure in any Speaker in our time stood in precisely similar cirin that respect; and there are qualifica- cumstances. Mr. Charles Shaw Lefevre tions, which, in modern times, stand for- was chosen from among the county Memward with greater prominence as qualifica-bers of England. He was out of the tions for the Speaker of this House. We sphere of the legal profession or official ought, in choosing a man for that high career, and a more successful example of office, to select a man of high character, a Speaker could not be found in modern of accomplished mind, of dignified and times, or perhaps at any former period. commanding exterior, courteous in demea- I have, therefore, the greatest pleasure in nour, and removed from all party bias, proposing that Mr. Evelyn Denison, the and one who will on all occasions on which Member for North Nottinghamshire, do reference is made to him decide with equal take the Chair. In doing so, I may justice and according to the law, forms, perhaps in some degree be influenced and usages of Parliament. But this is by private feelings; but, at the same not all. The magnitude and importance time, I should not venture to propose of the private business which is now brought my hon. Friend as a fit person to before the House, and the multiplicity of be elected to the Speakership of this the rules and regulations laid down from House if I did not feel convinced that time to time for the despatch of that he unites in himself, in a superior degree, business, render it absolutely necessary the external, moral, and intellectual qualithat we should choose a man of long Par- ties which we ought to look for in our liamentary experience, practically cogni- Speaker. Under this impression, and zant of those rules and regulations, ready having served in former Parliaments with to apply them to every emergency, firm to him, I feel convinced that he possesses guard them from being unduly relaxed, all the requisites for this important posiand yet, at the same time, with a mind tion. He has sat in Parliament for a not unduly prone to adherence to anti-long series of years as the representative quated rules and practices, but of view of various constituencies. He was at one sufficiently large to suggest alterations time elected a Member for the very imwhenever the growing business of the portant constituency of Liverpool, the country requires and experience proves second commercial town in the kingdom; that alteration may be beneficially adopt- he afterwards represented a county coned. It appears to me that we have stituency; and subsequently a smaller in this House a Member who unites constituency, and was thereby enabled to many, if not most, of the qualifications devote much of his time to the private required in a Speaker; and many who business of this House; and he now renear me and who have observed the presents a large commercial and agriculParliamentary career of my hon. Friend tural district, and is thereby placed in a Mr. John Evelyn Denison, the Member peculiarly favourable position for underfor North Nottinghamshire, will recog- standing the wants both of town and nise in his character the possession of country constituencies. He has also acthese different qualities. Without any quired a very intimate knowledge of the disparagement to other hon. Members-mode of conducting the private business for I am ready to admit that many Mem- of this House; and knowing this, I enbers might be found on both sides the tertain a certain conviction that if the House with qualifications of a high order House ratifies the proposition which I am -I may be permitted to say that when a Member, during a long Parliamentary career has combined those high moral and intellectual advantages, has, at the same about to make, the experience of the future will prove the wisdom of their choice. I have the greatest pleasure in proposing "That John Evelyn Denison, esquire, do take the Chair of this House | though I may be travelling a little out as Speaker." of the ordinary course, I will take the liberty of suggesting, on this very important occasion, whether we might not carry into effect a plan which was discussed some few years ago for shortening the speeches of our Members? I would appeal with great respect to the leading Members on both sides to commence important speeches at five or six o'clock, as soon as the private business is over, rather than wait till ten or cleven o'clock, keeping us here out of our beds. I beg pardon of the House for having mentioned this subject, but it is one of so much importance that I would appeal to those Members who have it in their power, to do all they can to shorten the length of their speeches. I do not feel it necessary to add anything to what has been said by the noble Lord as to the qualifications of Mr. Evelyn Denison for the office of Speaker, except to say that if he be elected I have the utmost hope and confidence that, when he vacates that Chair, he will leave behind him as high a reputation as his predecessor has done, Mr. Shaw Lefevre. I beg to second the Motion that Mr. Evelyn Denison do take the Chair. MR. THORNELY: I rise for the purpose of seconding the Motion that Mr. Evelyn Denison do take the Chair as Speaker. No doubt the position of Speaker does require a gentleman of much experience in the business of this House. The Speaker of this House ought to be intimately acquainted with the mode of conducting business; he ought to be a man of great patience and great sagacity, and especially of strict impartiality. Mr. Evelyn Denison has occupied a seat in this House for nearly thirty years; and having watched his conduct since I have had the honour of a seat in Parliament, I know that he has given great attention to the forms of procedure of this House; that he has been a member of more Select Committees than almost any other Member of the House, and that he has very frequently indeed presided as chairman. I have the utmost reliance that, with his long experience in the House-with the attention which he has given to the business of the House-he has all the qualifications to make an excellent Speaker. The private business of the House has most enormously increased of late years. The wealth of the country has increased, and its distribution in railroads and other public works is very great indeed. When I first came into this House, some twenty years ago, Private Bills were considered in Committees of some forty or fifty Members, many of whom voted without having heard a word of the evidence. We owe it to Mr. Abercrombie and to the late Speaker. Mr. Shaw Lefevre, that these Private Bills have been put on a very different footing. We have now a Committee of Selection, which is understood to have a good knowledge of the qualifications of most of the Members. They select a Committee of five Members, who sign a declaration that they will not vote upon any private Bill unless they have given attention to the evidence. In this way there has been the greatest possible improvement in the mode of getting through the private business of the House; and I am convinced that if Mr. Evelyn Denison be elected he will continue suggesting further improvements in our procedure. Thus, though much may be done by the Speaker, yet there is much which must be done by the Members themselves; and The House then calling on Mr. EVELYN DENISON, MR. EVELYN DENISON stood up in his place and said: Sir, I return my grateful thanks to my noble and my hon. Friends who have introduced my name to the House in terms, indeed, far too flattering-in terms suggested by the partiality of private friendship rather than by any qualities to which I can pretend to lay claim. I offer my respectful acknowledgments to the House for the manner in which it has been pleased to receive the mention of my name. It is calculated to afford me much encouragement and support. But when I think of the business of this House, increasing year by year— when I consider the importance not only of maintaining the rights and privileges of the House, but that the position of the House itself in the framework of the constitution should be carefully and exactly preserved, I might well shrink from the responsibility which must attach to any one who has a considerable share in its management and guidance. I shall be at a disadvantage in being placed in immediate contrast with a right hon. Gentleman who filled that chair for so many years in a manner which gave universal satisfaction. I shall, however, have the assistance of be a matter of well-founded pride and that distinguished Gentleman, as I have gratification to any man in the land to had the benefit of his example. And, find himself placed as president or di under his immediate supervision, the rules rector of that which I am not saying and practice of Parliament have been di- too much in affirming to be the greatest gested and arranged by a Gentleman who and noblest representative assembly in now sits at that table (Mr. Erskine May, the world. The position which you now the Clerk Assistant) in a manner which occupy is one of the highest to which cannot fail to afford material assistance a commoner of this country can aspire; to all who shall succeed to that chair. If I and from every consideration-from rerightly interpret the wishes of the House spect for your character and a knowledge it would not become me to intrude longer of your eminent qualities-I am glad to upon them my doubts and hesitations. I find that the House has made so wise and shall content myself, therefore, with ex- proper a choice. But, Sir, in congratupressing my high sense of the distin- lating you upon the dignity to which you guished honour which it is proposed to have been raised, I cannot shut my eyes confer upon me; and falling in with her to, and I am sure that you have not dissuggestion of my hon. Seconder, and con- guised from yourself, the difficulties of the tracting my address within the narrowest arduous position which you have now aspossible limits, I submit myself, with all sumed. You will have, however, to aid duty and respect, to the will of the in the performance of those duties assistHouse. ance which I now see before me, to afford The House then again unanimously call-you advice and counsel in any difficulty ing Mr. Evelyn Denison to the Chair, he was taken out of his place by the said Lord Harry Vane and Mr. Thornely and conducted to the Chair. you which may arise with respect to the proceedings of this House. But, Sir, you have duties to perform, unconnected with the deliberations of this House, of no less Then Mr. SPEAKER ELECT, standing on importance to the public service, and the the upper step, said, "I beg to be permit-proper discharge of which will no less ented once more, from this Chair, to offer my respectful acknowledgments to the House. In carrying on the business of the House I shall not so much rely upon any power of control which may be vested in myself, I shall rely rather upon the good feeling and right-mindedness of every Gentleman composing this assembly-upon their spirit of forbearance, and upon their determination to carry the deliberations of the House to a successful and profitable issue. I freely dedicate to the service of the House all the strength that shall be granted me and all the faculties of my mind, and I confidently rely on the cordial cooperation of the House and on its generous support in giving effect to its rules and its orders, and in performing the various important duties which the House has this day imposed upon me." And thereupon he sat down in the Chair; and then the Mace (which before lay under the Table) was laid upon the Table. VISCOUNT PALMERSTON then said,. Mr. Speaker Elect, I cannot forbear saying a few words to congratulate you most sincerely upon finding yourself in the high and exalted position in which the decision of this House has placed you. It must title you to the approbation and gratitude of this House and of the country; and with regard to the discharge of these duties you have for your guidance the lights of those who have gone before you. Your two immediate predecessors have both ably fulfilled the duties to which I am now referring. Mr. Abercrombie, now Lord Dunfermline-who filled that chair too short a time for the public good, having unfortunately been early compelled by illhealth to retire-Mr. Abercromby devoted his able and comprehensive mind to the improvement of our proceedings, which in his time so much required amendment. The memory of his good services exists in the minds of all those who are at all acquainted with our Parliamentary arrangements, and his name will long occupy a place in the list of those who have filled that Chair as one of the most eminent and the most entitled to the gratitude of the country. The Speaker who succeeded Mr. Abercromby, more fortunate in the duration of his tenure of office, was able to accomplish greater things, and I trust, Mr. Speaker, that you, in the performance of your duties, may equal the merits of Mr. Shaw Lefevre; it would be flattery to tell any man living that it was possible |