§ Mr. Huntpresented another Petition from the Westminster Union, in favour of the Poles. The petitioners stated, that having witnesssed with pain that the Emperor of Russia had for some time past, been waging an unjust and iniquitous war against Poland, they sent a memorial to Lord Palmerston, requesting the interposition of Government for the protection of that country; and they complained, that the noble Lord had treated their memorial with the utmost contempt, not having condescended to make any reply to it. They contrasted the noble Lord's uncourteous conduct, with the urbanity manifested by Earl Grey, who returned an answer to the memorial presented to him by the Birmingham Political Union, and concluded by praying the House to address his Majesty to dismiss Lord Palmerston from his Councils. He trusted this petition would not be objected to.
§ Viscount Palmerstonbegged to assure the members of the Westminster Union, that it was not from any feeling of disrespect towards them that he had declined to inform them of the intentions of Government, with respect to the war between Russia and Poland.
Mr. Humesaid, that this was a question of the utmost importance. He had met, no individual who was not anxious to know, whether Government intended to take any measures in behalf of the suffering Poles. He was not desirous of interfering in the affairs of other countries. On the contrary, he thought that England had interfered too much already, and had paid dearly enough for it. But having seen Government interfere on behalf of a Power which, he thought, did not require our assistance, it did appear a fit question to be asked, whether Ministers had interfered in any way, by remonstrance or recommendation, in behalf of the unfortunate Poles, who were struggling for their independence. He reminded the Government, that there were treaties existing, by which they were as much bound to see justice done to Poland, as to Belgium—he alluded to those treaties by which a Constitution was guaranteed to the 931 Poles. There was nothing which the people of England more desired to know, than whether Ministers, if they possessed any influence, had employed it, in order to put a stop to those horrid scenes of bloodshed, which were passing in the north of Europe. He certainly did not desire the noble Lord (Lord Palmerston) to give any answer which was inconsistent with his duty; but he wished to know, whether any thing was to be done for unhappy Poland?
The petition laid on the Table. On the Motion that it be printed,
Mr. Humesaid, that he concluded from the silence of the Government, that they intended to do nothing for the Poles, but allow them to remain at the mercy of Russia. He begged leave to second the Motion for the printing of the petition.
§ Viscount Palmerstonassured the hon. Member, that his silence did not arise from any disrespect to him; but he had understood, that the hon. Member did not wish to press an answer, if it might be inconvenient for him to give one. He could not, consistently with his duty, give the hon. Member those explanations which he desired; but this, at least, he would undertake to say, that whatever obligations existing treaties imposed, would at all times receive the attention of Government.
Mr. O'Connellhad observed with regret, that while great sympathy was shown by that House for the king of Holland, none was manifested for the Poles; and yet the conduct of the king of Holland, of which so much had lately been said, could not be vindicated. Never had a revolution been more owing to the despotism of the government, than that which had lately taken place in the Netherlands. The king of Holland had filled his gaols with people, and his scaffolds had reeked with the blood of his subjects. For such a monarch, sympathy was shown by that House, while not one word had been urged in behalf of the Poles, who were struggling for their independence, their country, and even for their existence. Their Constitution had been wrested from them by tyranny and the perversion of treaties. He knew, that the people of England felt indignant that they were so much impoverished by the interference of their government in the affairs of the Continent, as not to be now able to interpose in a commanding manner on behalf of a brave and glorious peo- 932 ple, struggling for their freedom. He hoped that their struggles would prove successful; but if they did not, either the despotism of Russia would become stronger, or France would render herself more powerful, by gloriously assisting the Poles before their struggles were over. She had already added to her influence, by actively interfering in behalf of Belgium, and the result might be, that she would again extend her boundaries to what had been called her natural limits. He should regret such an event; but he should prefer it to seeing the horrible domination of the king of Holland re-established over unfortunate Belgium. If France, having gained this increase of territory, were to possess great activity, there might, perhaps, a second time, be a dominion in Europe of a military character, which this country would not like to submit to, and yet would not be able to resist.
Sir Robert Inglisobjected to printing the petition. It assumed, as a matter of course, that the war now waging between Russia and Poland was most unjust and iniquitous on the part of Russia. He did not complain of any Member making such a statement, but he protested against the House being made to adopt that language, by printing and circulating the petition. He also objected to the printing of the petition on another ground, but of minor importance. He did not think, that the House ought to give their sanction to the statement of the petitioners, that "they constituted the most, indeed, the only useful class of his Majesty's subjects."
Colonel Evanssaid, that he had given notice of a motion on the subject of Poland, and his object in bringing the question forward would be, not to draw premature disclosures from the Ministers, but to elicit, from enlightened Members of the House, who were independent of the Government, declarations which would give support to the liberal cause throughout Europe.
§ Mr. George Robinsonsaid, that he was disposed to allow of the greatest latitude with respect to the presentation of petitions, even when they were as absurd as most of those which the hon. member for Preston was in the habit of bringing under the notice of the House; and which he believed, no other Member would undertake to present; but he did object to such petitions being printed. The object of printing petitions, was to give information to Members. Now he would ask the House, 933 whether the last petition presented by the hon. member for Preston, conveyed any information to Members? He thought, that the printing of the petition, would occasion useless expense, and tend to encourage the presentation of other petitions equally absurd.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, he could not subscribe to the doctrine of the hon. member for the University of Oxford, that the House, by ordering a petition to be printed, made themselve parties to the sentiments which it expressed. At the same time, he thought, that the objection of the hon. member for Worcester, to the printing of the petition before the House, carried with it considerable weight. The petition certainly conveyed no information to the House. With respect to the printing of petitions, much must depend on the discretion of Members who presented them. A Member should not call upon the House to order the printing of a petition which was perfectly useless. As, however, there existed no very strict rule on the subject, he would suggest, that it would be better for the hon. Member to withdraw his Motion for printing the petition, than for the House to declare, that it should not be printed.
§ Motion for printing the petition withdrawn.