The Earl of Winchilseaafter giving the above notice, went on to say, that being on his legs, he would take that opportunity of expressing the heartfelt gratification which he felt, and he was sure that he expressed the feelings of the great body of the community, at the honest, the eloquent appeal which had been made to the House the other evening, by a noble Earl, whom he did not then see in his place. (Earl Grey.) He sincerely hoped that the course of policy which that noble Earl laid down, both as to our foreign and domestic concerns, would meet the approbation of his Majesty's Government, and that it would have the good sense to adhere to the great principle of non-interference. An open, direct, and honest policy was most suitable to the honour of this country, most consistent with its interests, and most consistent with its character as the birthplace of liberty. In all that the noble Earl had said of our foreign policy, he cordially agreed. As to our domestic policy he must observe, that it was not by arming one part of the population against the other, that we could now ward off the danger which threatened us, or that the security of property and of the institutions of the country, could be maintained. If the people had grievances, and God knew they had — and if these grievances were not redressed, there would be no security for property, and their Lordships would live to see our excellent institutions overturned. The best and only security was to be found in doing ample justice to the people, and in relieving their distress, and for this purpose, an inquiry should be instituted into the condition of the great body of the agricultural labourers, who were loyal and faithful, but suffering very greatly. He could not restrain his astonishment at hearing the declaration made by the noble Duke the other evening, relating to Parliamentary Reform. The noble Duke thought our present legislature so perfect, that he stated—"that if he had to form a 197 legislature, he would create one, not equal in excellence to the present, for that he could not expect, but something as nearly of the same description as possible. He could give nothing more perfect, more capable of satisfying the empire, than the present Parliament." That was not his opinion. Moderate reform ought to take place, such as had been described by the noble Earl the other evening, with whose eloquently expressed sentiments he, most cordially agreed. If reform, moderate reform, did not take place, he could assure the noble Duke, that he would himself speedily witness the destruction of the best institutions of the country. He agreed fully with the sentiments of the noble Earl as to the degree of reform; he did not agree in the opinion that every man had a right to vote for Members of Parliament; he did not assent to the principle of universal suffrage, for the right of the people was, to have a good government, and that was the best government, which secured the interests, and gave the most satisfaction to the enlightened body of the people. There was no individual so well qualified to carry that reform into effect, as the noble Earl, and he hoped that a very short time would elapse, before the noble Earl brought forward some measure on the subject; and whenever it was brought forward he would give it his most cordial support. He was sure that the noble Earl would not bring forward any measure which was not consistent with the soundest policy, and not deserving general support. The present times were of no ordinary character. We were surrounded with dangers, and their Lordships would be blind to what they owed to themselves — blind to that situation of great trust in which they were placed, and they would neglect the duties they owed to their country, the confidence of which in the wisdom of Parliament had been much shaken, if they did not take some measures to win back the respect and confidence of the people. He firmly believed, that if ever their Lordships should become blind to the trust reposed by the Constitution in them, the Constitution would not survive. They must do justice to the people, and then they would have the people ready to support and maintain those laws which were necessary to the security and prosperity of all. He regretted very much that the King's Speech had not alluded to the 198 great pressure under which the peasantry of the country and the agricultural interest laboured; and he regretted that his Majesty had not recommended the House to take that interest into its consideration. He was going to return to that county with which he was connected, where he hoped that he should diligently discharge his duties, and he trusted that some noble Lord, or the noble Duke who brought forward a Motion on this subject last Session, would bring the condition of the agricultural interest under the notice of the House. An inquiry ought to be instituted into the situation of the labouring classes, that their Lordships might give them effectual and speedy relief. If that passage of the noble Duke's speech which related to parliamentary reform had been framed with a view of conciliating and gaining the support of the high-minded noblemen with whom he (the Earl of Winchilsea) was usually united, he could tell the noble Duke, that he might as well attempt to take high heaven by storm. The country was in such a situation, that it required the most efficient men in the Administration. The present Ministers were not in possession of the confidence of the country, and other individuals placed in their stations must rescue the country from danger. He firmly believed, that all the Protestant part of the community had no confidence in the present Administration, and could only place confidence in such men as the noble Duke (Richmond, we believe) and the noble Earl (Grey, we believe,) who had always acted consistently, and had never betrayed their principles and the confidence of other men, in a manner unparalleled in the history of the country. Such men possessed and deserved the confidence of the great body of the country. He implored their Lordships to consider the situation of the country, and place before his Majesty in strong but respectful terms, their want of confidence in his Majesty's advisers, and point out to his Majesty the necessity of placing the Government in the hands of men of more political honesty and integrity than the present Ministers, and more capable of discharging the duties of Ministers of the Crown. Such was their unpopularity, that he believed, were it not for the influence of their office, they could not find in the new Parliament, fifty votes to support their Administration. For the peace and safety of the country, he hoped ere long, to see another set of men in their 199 places, for they could not hold office, without endangering all the institutions of the country.
§ The Duke of Wellingtoncomplained of the noble Earl bringing forward such a series of remarks without any notice. It was not usual to make such attacks and such speeches without some intimation; neither was it usual for their Lordships to refer to what had been said in former debates. At least, too, if that were the case, what was referred to, ought to be stated accurately. The noble Earl had not represented correctly what had fallen from him. Such practices were not consistent with the usages of their Lordships' House, and he thought it would be much better if the noble Earl had adhered to the usual course of proceeding.
The Earl of Winchilseahad not, he believed, stated anything that the noble Duke had not said; at least he had no wish to misrepresent anything; that was not his intention, and it would only have been fair in the noble Duke had he stated in what manner he had misrepresented him. The noble Earl then moved, that their Lordships be summoned for Thursday next, when he should introduce the bill of which he had given notice.