MR. SULLIVANMr. Speaker, inasmuch as a question of Privilege needs to be brought before the House at the earliest possible moment, I came down this afternoon intending to call attention to a breach of Privilege in the alleged language of a Member of this House in reference to other Members of the House as to their conduct in the House; but, as I find the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Portsmouth (Sir James Elphinstone) is not in his place, I can only in his absence give Notice that on Friday next I shall call attention to the 543 following language, as a breach of the Privileges of this House. In a speech alleged to have been delivered by Sir James Elphinstone, M.P. for Portsmouth, one of the Lords of the Treasury, at the annual dinner of the Garioch Farmers' Club, near Insch, East Aberdeenshire, on Saturday, the hon. and gallant Member is reported to have said—
Five or six Members of the House of Commons had set all the actual Executive Government of the country at defiance. The obstruction, too, had been conducted with a degree of ability and pertinacity that made it certain that, if it was not curbed, the affairs of the country would be absolutely brought to a deadlock. It was perfectly impossible that five or six ruffians should be permitted to bring the Government of this great Empire to a standstill. There were certain things which it was possible to tolerate, but this was a matter which it was impossible to tolerate any longer. Not only did they propose Amendments to a variety of Bills, but to measures which did not involve Party questions.I have, Sir, endeavoured to communicate with the hon. and gallant Member; but I find he is out of town, and I now beg to give Notice that on Friday I shall call attention to this matter as a question of Privilege.