MR. VERNERsaid, that having heard a rumour that there was a wish to close the debate that night, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether any opportunity would be afforded to Members of northern constituencies in Ireland to express not only their own opinions, but also the opinions of their constituents?
§ MR. DISRAELISir, one of the most difficult duties devolving upon an individual occupying the office I have the honour to hold is to attempt to regulate the conduct of a debate in a manner which will give satisfaction to both sides of the House. With regard to the present Question, first of all it presents itself to me as affecting the feeling of the Government, and then as regards the sentiments of the House. The Government have obtained what they wanted—that the opinion of the House should be taken upon a distinct issue; and we shall offer no obstacle to the conclusion of the debate. At the same time, it should be recollected that it is a question of great constitutional importance, upon which Gentlemen on both sides of the House—especially if there be a prospect of its being submitted to the consideration of the people generally—reasonably wish to express their opinions. I therefore have to consider the reasonable requirements of both sides, and have no other wish than to adopt a fair conclusion, and it remains for the House to express to me their general view of the subject. I regretted last night to see that reference was made to the circumstance that the debate was chiefly maintained by Gentlemen who generally do not take part in discussions. Although it is a necessary consequence of our Parliamentary constitution, and the mode in which business in this House must be carried on, that generally discussion must be confined to a few what are called leading Members, yet there are questions which sometimes arise, like the present, on which it is not fair that the 1463 discussion should be confined to those Gentlemen only. I am most anxious that Gentleman on both sides should feel their interests have been as fairly consulted as is possible. I shall be happy to have an understanding on both sides of the House that Independent Members shall have an opportunity of expressing their opinions, and that the debate should not be continued on one side or discouraged on the other more than would be advantageous to the reputation of the House.
MR. GLADSTONESir, it will, doubtless, be for the convenience of hon. Members that they should have some idea as to what is likely to be proposed in the course of the evening; and therefore, as I may consider that the Question of the hon. Member for Lisburn (Mr. Verner) has some reference to what fell from me last night, I beg to assure the hon. Gentleman that there is nothing further from the intentions of those on this side of the House—though we are desirous of allowing the other Public Business to go forward as soon and with as little embarrassment as possible—than to force any decision upon a question of this kind. In what I said last night I was governed a great deal by the observation I then made, that, although we heard many very interesting and important speeches, yet they turned more upon the conduct of the Government, of the Liberal party, and of myself than upon the character and case of the Irish Church. I hope that in the discussions that are to come there will be a disposition to place, on each side of the House, the best construction on the motives and proceedings of the other. And, anxious as we are to have no part in extending the debate, the hon. Member need not be the least afraid that I or any Friend of mine will attempt by a bare majority to suppress the expression of opinion.