Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

5 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

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Rhannu

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LOJlDS-TUESDA Y. The wremony of opening the Session of 1872,-the fcwvrtk of the present Parliament, presented, but few features of interest. This, however, is usually the case, whn Parliament is opened by Commission, instead of feeing accompanied by the legal pomp which is insepar- able from the presence of the Sovereign The only symptoms by which any one accustomed to the usages of the House of Lords would have been able to distinguish the occasion from an ordinary sitting, were the presence of a number of ladies in the Strangers' Gallery, and on the Opposition Benches, and the circumstances that the brass fencing in front of the throne had been removed, and the throne itself, together with the chairs of state on either side, divested of their ordinary covering. The hour for the commencement of the proceedings was two o'clock, and it was only a few minutes before that hour that the benches began to be filled by their legitimate occupants. The Lords Commissioners who took their seats on the bench in front of the throne wore, as usual, their robes of scarlet and ermine, and the curious little cocked hats which complete their outward adornments on such occa- sions. The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Ripon, the Earl Bessborough, Viscount Hali- fax, and Viscount Sydney. Immediately the Com- missioners had taken their seats, the Usher of the Black Rod was directed by the Lord Chancellor to summon the Speaker and the Members of the Lower House to the bar of their Lordships' House for the purpose of hearing read THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN I avail myself of the opportunity afforded by your re- assembling for the discharge of your momentous duties, to renew the expression of my thankfulness to the Al- mighty for the deliverance of my dear son, the Prince of Wales, from most imminent danger, and of my lively recollection of the profound and universal sympathy shown by my loyal people during the period of anxiety and trial. I purpose that on Tuesday, the 27th inst., conformable to the good and becoming usage of former days, the bless- ing thus received, shall be acknowledged on behalf of the nation by a thanksgiving in the Metropolitan Cathedral. At this celebration it is my desire and hope to be present. Directions have been given to provide necessary ac- commodation for the members of the two. Houses of Parliament. The assurances of friendship which I receive from Foreign Powers continue to be in all respects satisfactory. I need hardly assure''you that "Biy endeavours will at all times be steadily directed to the maintenance @f these friendly relations. The Slave Tra<U»^id practices scarcely to be distin- guished from slave trading, still pursued in more than one quarter of the world, continue to attract the atten- tion of my Government. In the South Sea Islands the name of the British Empire is even now dishonoured by the connection of seqie of my subjects, with these nefa- rious practices, and. in one, of 'them the murder of an exemplary prelate has cast fresh light upon some of their baleful consequences. A bill will be presented to you for the purpose of facilitating the trial of offences of this class in Australia, and endeavours will be made to in- crease, in other forms, the means of counteraction. Various communications have passed between my Go- vernment and the Government of France on the subject of the Commercial Treaty concluded in 1860. From a divergence in the views respectively entertained in rela- tion to the value of protective laws, this correspondence has not brought about any agreement to modify that im- portant convention on both sides however, there has been uniformly declared an earnest desire that nothing shall occur to impair the cordiality which has long pre- vailed between the two nations. Papers relating to these subjects will be laid before you. The arbitrators appointed pursuant to the Treaty of Washington, for the purpose of amicably settling certain claims, known as the Alabama" Claims, have held their first meeting at Geneva. Cases have been laid before the arbitrators on behalf of each party to the Treaty. In the case so submitted, on behalf of the United States, large claims have been included which are understood, on my part, not to be within the province of the arbitrators. On this subject I have caused a friendly communication to be made to the Government of the United States. The Emperor of Germany has undertaken to arbitrate on the San Juan Water Boundary, and the cases of the two Governments have been presented to His Imperial Majesty. The Commission at Washington has been ap- pointed, and is in session. The provisions of the Treaty which require the consent of the Parliament of Canada, await its assembling. Turning to domestic affairs, I have to apprise you that, with very few exceptions,\Ireland has been free from serious crime. Trade in that part of the kingdom is active, and the advance of agricultural industry is re- markable. I am able also to congratulate you, so far as present experience allows a judgment to be passed, upon the per- ceptible diminution of the number, both of the graver crimes and of habitual criminals in Britain. GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS :— The principal estimates for the coming year have been prepared. They will at once be laid before you, and I trust that you will find them suitable to the circumstances of the country. The state of the Revenue affords favourable indications of the demand for employment, and the general condition of the people, indications which are corroborated by a decline of pauperism not inconsiderable. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN Your attention will be invited to several measures of acknowledged national interest. Among these there will be Bills for the improvement of Public Education in Scot- land for the Regulation of Mines for the Amendment of what is known as the Licensing System, and in relation to the Superior Courts of Justice and Appeal. In particular a bill having for its main object the es- tablishment of secret voting, together with a measure re- lating to corrupt practices at Parliamentary elections, will immediately be presented to you. Several measures of administrative improvement for Ireland will also be laid before you. There will likewise be laid before you, legislative pro- visions founded on the report of the Sanitary Commis- sion and you, My Lords and Gentlemen will, I am con- fident, again apply your well known assiduity to that work of legislation which, from the increasing' exigencies of Modern Society still seems to grow upon your hands. And I shall continue to rely, under Divine Providence, alike pn the loyalty of my people and on your energy and wis- dom, to sustain the constant efforts of the Crown to dis- 'Ifharge the duties, to uphold the rights, and to defend the honour of the Empire. Their Lordships re-assembled at five o'clock. Earl STANHOPE gave notice that on Thursday next he would move for papers on the subject of the appointment of Sir R. Collier as a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and that on the Thursday following 10 would move a resolution to the effect that the House fcfs seen with regret the course pursued by the Govern- "%nt in carrying out the provision of the statute of last session, and. that in its opinion the elevation of Sir R. CoUier to the Court of Cemmoa Pleas for the purpose only of giving him a colourable qualification to be a paid member of the Judicial Committee, accordingly, were acts at variance with the spirit and intention of the statute, and of evil example in the exercise of judicial patronage. The LORD CHANCELLOR then read the Queen's Speech, and Earl DELAWARE rose to move the address in reply to Her Majesty's most gracious speech. Having joined most cordially in the expressions of sympathy which were ac corded to Her Majesty and the Royal fatally during' the recent illness of the Prince of Wales, and in the con- gratulations which have been tendered by the whole nation on the recovery of his Royal Highness, the noble earl announced his satisfaction at the assurance contained in the speech of the highly prosperous condition of the country. He also referred to the amicable relations exist- ing between England and the other great powers of the world as matters for congratulations and with re- gard to ths Alabama convention, while he believed he was only expressing the general opinion of the country in asserting that the claims which had recently been put forward by America, were utterly inadmissable, at the same time he thought there was reason to hope that the question at issue would eventually receive a satisfactory solution. Speaking of domestic subjects, he alluded to the Ballot as an important measure that would ere long engage the attention of Parliament, and suggested that if the necessary concessions were made, the result would be highly beneficial to the working of a most important part of the constitutional machine. The noble Earl also passed in reviewthe other topics I efelred'to in the Speech, congratulating the House on the prospect it held out of improved legislation for the protection of persons em- ployed in mines, and of a measure dealing with the Licensing laws. Viscount POWERSCOURT seconded the Address, and in doing so severally dealt with the topics referred to by,the noble Earl who had preceded him. The Duke of RICHMOND said it was not his intention to move an amendment to the Address. He congratu- lated the House on the recovery of His Royal Highness, and on the widespread expression of loyalty which the event called forth. With regard to the paragraph re- lating to the Alabavia Question, he expressed his regret that the Government had not taken greater care to pre- vent the possibility of such a state of things as decribed. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The House reassembled yesterday, and as early as one o'clock numerous members were in their places. Mr. Childers entered the House shortly before two o'clock, and took his seat on the second seat behind the ministerial bench. The Speaker took the chair at ten minutes before two, by which time there was a very full house. The first member of her Majesty's Government to put in appearance was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and for sometime he had exclusive possession of the ministerial benches. The right hon. gentleman was soon joined by the ministerial whips, Messrs. Glyn and Adam, and the Attorney-General for Ireland, and Mr. Stansfield was to be seen in the body of the House. Shortly after two o'clock the Usher of the Black Rod appeared at the bar, and summoned the members to attend in the House of Lords, to which the' Speaker, together with the majority of the hon members pres'ent, at once repaired. ■ On the return of the Speaker, the sitting was suspended. The House resumed at four o'clock. Mr. Watnev took his seat for East Sutrey, Mr. Bates for Plymouth, and Colonel Hogg, for Truro. On the motion of Mr. Noel, a new writ was issuedsfor West Cheshire, in the room of Mr. J. Tollemache resigned. Mr. GLADSTONE gave notice that on Thursday he should move for the appointment of a committee on the business of the House, and should introduce a bill to provide for the Eecognition of Deans and Canons. Mr. BRUCE gave notice that on the 12th he would fering in a bill to amend the Acts relating to the Regulation of Mines, and on the 13th for the Prevention of pertain Contagious Diseases, and the better protection of wonien. Mr. W. E. Forster, will on Thursday move for a bill to amend the laws relating to the procedure at Parliamentary and Municipal Elections. Among the notices, which were very numerous, was one by Mr. D&ON, who, on March 5th, will ask for leave to bring in a 11 declaring that the provisions of the Edu- tion Act are ineffective, and its working unsatisfactory. The S PFAK ii having read the Queen's speech from the Chair, Mr. STRUTfvmoved the address in reply.' The hon. member was sure Nat'tlie House would most cordially reciprocate the heartfelt thanks'and joy Her Majesty at the recovery of the Prince of Wales, and the gracious manner in which the Queen had acknowledged the loyalty and sympathy which the illness of His Royal Highness had called forth from all classes,of her people. He expressed an earnest hope that the common relations between France and this country, which had conferred such great advan- tages on both, would not be lightly disturbed; and re- viewing at some length the negotiations with the United States, he declared his firm belief that the favourable prospect of at last removing all differences which had so long impeded the friendly relations of the -two countries would, by the prudence and forbearance of both Govern- ments, be essentially realised. Having further acknow- ledged the satisfactory declaration of the speech with re- speafto Ireland, he concluded with the expression of his belief that the measures promised by Her Majesty would be found satisfactory, and that the House would cordially co-operate with the Government in passing them into law. in Mr. COLMAN in seconding the address, also bore testi- mony to the universal loyalty and sympathy which had been elicited by the illness of the Prince of Wales, and was especially glad to find that the speech from the throne, gave so satisfactory an assurance of the differences with the United States being amicably adjusted. -He was also rejoiced at the indications which showed thk substantial prosperity and the commercial activity of he country, and after passing in review the chief topics of the speech, expressed his earnest belief that the measures promised by the Government, especially those relating to the Ballot and Sanitary affairs, and the licensing system would be cordially welcomed both by the House and the country, and that the defects of the Education Act, which had given so much offence to the Nonconformists, would be satisfactorily remedied without affecting the great benefit which that Act was likely to confer upon the country. The1 address having been read from the chair, Mr. DISRAELI, who was received with' cheers from the Opposition, criticised the conduct of Her Majesty's Go- vernment, who for the last six months had been per- petually before the public vindicating themselves and their policy. He must protest against that system. Par- liament was the proper plaee for such vindications, if their policy was capable of being defended, but for his own part he regarded them as a confession of weakness and a con- sciousness that their policy and acts required a great deal of explanation, for lie had reason to believe ample oppor- tunities would be soon afforded. On many points the American Treaty was open to serious objections, es- pecially the expost facto interpretation of the law of nations, and he regretted that during the course of the negotiations Parliament could not constitutionally in- terfere. Mr. GLADSTONE would at once declare that the Govern- ment was ready to submit to the most searching investi- gation upon the points which had not been raised ih the debate, but with respect to which hotices had been given, and in regard to which he himself and the Lord Chan- cellor had been subjected to the most unmerited vita- peration. So far from shrinking from inquiry he was rejoiced that Mr Cross had given notice of calling attention to the alleged evasion of an Act of Parliament for which he would afford every facility, and had little doubt that he could satisfy the House that the Act had not been evaded, but that its terms as well as its spirit had been complied with. He expressed his gratification at the re- sults of the illness from which the Prince of Wales, had so happily recovered, which had shown so powerfully the unmistakeable feeling and sympathy with which the people regarded the central institution of the country, a feeling which, had been re-echoed from every portion of the vast empire over which her Majesty reigned. He jus- tified the statement in the Queen's speech, with respect to the diminution of serious crime in Ireland, which he was glad t) say was general, and which we were now bound to acknowledge, as it was their painful duty'to call attent on to tin serious state of one locality in particular. He would not now follow the right hon. Gentleman, and anticipate d e debates on the Ballot, but he could not have expected that the Government after the experience of last year, would be so simple as to postpone it until a later period of the Session. He main- tained that the paragraph relating to the American negotiations was unassailable and but little faulty in character, considering the time, the circumstances, and that it was the Government who represented England in the correspondence, not, he hoped, the controversy, who put it forward. Beyond this lie couldbear testimony to the feeling and judgment of expression which had always characterised the conduct of the right hon. gentle- man on this matter but in spite of his criticisms he must point out that his impressions of the debate in the' House of Lords were not shared in either by Earl Granville or by I.ord Cairns. And further he would maintain that at no time had the Government ever given the slightest coun- tenance or admission to these claims the impractical and ceivable character and amount of which had not been un- duly exaggerated. He fully admitted that the Govern#nent was solely responsible, and thanking the Commissioners for their ability and assiduity, he freely admitted that no blame could be imputed to them. Whatever blame there was belonged to the Government, and the question was did the Government deserve it. He would admit that upon any ctmstriiOtion 0; the Treaty early concessions were made to the United States, which.he would maintain the Government were justified in making. L'ocrkirg at the amount of the interest at state, the feelings of the people of England, ind the importance of placing the relations between tie two countries upon a per- manent friendly footing, it was a great concession to assent to arbitration and even more to account for the ex post facto iiterpretation of international, law, and still more than that to forego the claims of Canada on account of the Fenian attacks which they might well have insisted should be referred to arbitra- tion with the Alabama claims. It was still greater con- cession to refer the expenses of the navy occasioned by the Alabama to arbitration but the Government was willing to tell the world that it was prepared to make every concession short of the national honour to establish friendly relations with America, and to set an example which might well be followed by other nations of liberal, but of honourable concessions for the benefit of future generations. The Government was ready to give every explanation of its conduct, but they were not going to plead that they unwillingly made a mistake, or to rely upon a possibility of a doubtful interpretation to make unworthy threats, but to maintain that the state- ment of the Queen's Speech was the only fair and un- mistakeable interpretation of the Treaty. They could, if disposed,refer to the pre pof, terous character of the demands, which of itself proved their absurdity, for they wer I such that no people in the last extremity of war, in the lowest depths of national misfortune, with the spirit of the people of England would ever submit to (cheers.) In conclusion he stated that the Govern- ment would maintain its position with firmness, but with the utmost friendliness of feeling, and he enter- tained the most sanguine hope that this course would be readily reciprocated. After a few complaints of Mr. O'Reilly and Sir John Gray of the omission of any reference to Education in Ireland from the Queen's Speech that address was agreed to. The House adjourned at 7.20 p.m.

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