CHOICE OF A SPEAKER. (Hansard, 14 June 1831)

Mr. C. W. Wynn
then rose and spoke as follows — In pursuance of the command which we have just received from Royal authority, and also in the exercise of our own undoubted right, I now rise for the purpose of asking the House to exercise that most important of the privileges possessed by the 74 British House of Commons, and the most necessary to the proper performance of its functions,—the selection of an individual to preside over our proceedings during the ensuing Parliament; a privilege which, as it is one of the most ancient, so it is in many respects one of the most important which this House can exercise. When we consider that the person whom we may select for that high office is called upon, not only to preside over the debates of this House, but also to become its organ, the organ of the Representation of the country, the organ, therefore, of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to their Sovereign upon many occasions; when we consider that, upon those, and other important occasions, when the sense of this House is to be pressed, it must depend upon the person whom we select in what manner that sense shall be expressed: when we reflect upon these considerations, I think there are few who will differ from me in thinking that this is among the most important privileges which we can be called upon to exercise. And, Sir, if it be important at all times, it is peculiarly important at the present moment, when we are called upon to enter into the consideration of changes and alterations greater than any which the history of Parliament can present. I do not state this with any view to give an opinion on those proposed changes and alterations, but whether they be or be not desirable, it is equally necessary that they should be examined and debated with attention, with patience, with temper, with disinterested feelings, and upon the undeviating principles of public duty. At a moment when a degree of excitement and irritation prevails, almost without a parallel in the annals of the country—at such a moment every one must feel that it is of still greater importance to select a fit person to enforce the orders of the House, and to maintain its privileges, privileges which we hold, not for our own benefit, but for the advantage of our constituents. For in nothing can those constituents be more interested than that the order of our debates shall be preserved; that no undue haste shall occur in our proceedings; that measures shall not be forced improperly through the House, but that they shall receive that full consideration which the orders of the House have provided for them. For this purpose it is beyond all things important, that the person whom, we select should be 75 possessed of a high and independent character; that he should be one from whom impartiality may be expected on all occasions; who should have ability to lay down the rules of the House; who should have firmness to enforce those rules against any individual attempting to contravene them; and who should, at the same time, have that courtesy which we have for many years experienced—informing the unexperienced, and putting them in possession of those rules and orders which they might otherwise unintentionally violate. Sir, beyond all these, there is another qualification which I hold to be of the greatest consequence, because without it all others must be vain. I mean that we should select a person who has the thorough confidence of the House; and one who by experience has proved that he deserves it. High and important as the office of Speaker is, he possesses no authority whatever but that which he derives from the confidence and support of this House. To none can that confidence and support be given with equal satisfaction, with so little hesitation, as to a person who has, usefully and advantageously to his own credit, and to our benefit, filled that situation now for fourteen years; to him who has already been five times selected by the House to hold that high situation, and who has each time received it with an increase of our confidence and approbation. Upon these grounds, Sir, I should not feel it necessary to detain the House longer than simply to move, that the right hon. Charles Manners Sutton do take the Chair of this House; and I am convinced that I only echo the general sense of the House when I express my wish that he may continue to occupy that situation as long as his health will permit. There is one circumstance, however, peculiar to the right hon. Gentleman, which I think it would be very unjust towards him to pass over; I mean the manner in which, during the last two years, he has shown his readiness to devote several hours of the day, even whole days, to business which the indulgence of the House has usually allowed the Speaker for rest, in consideration of the fatigue arising from the execution of his duty. Mr. Manners Sutton has been the first to call upon the House, on more occasions than one, to give him an opportunity of devoting that time also to the service of his country. I have already adverted to the peculiar circum- 76 stances of the present period. I cannot also overlook the quantity of business which we were obliged to leave undone at the close of the last Session, from the great and momentous question which occupied us during the whole of our sittings. In order effectually to get through that business, it is essential that in choosing a person to fill the Chair of this House we should select one who has that zeal for the honour of the House, and that zeal for the public interests, which will induce him, instead of thinking his usual and ordinary labours too troublesome and oppressive, to call upon the House to devote additional time to the discharge of our duties. Such a person we have in Mr. Manners Sutton. I cannot reflect but with satisfaction, that it is now fourteen years since I had first the opportunity of testifying, when the nomination of the right hon. Gentleman first took place, my sense of his fitness for the high office, and of predicting to the House, that if they elected him, they would experience from him that union of firmness and courtesy, which I think they will all agree with me in saying he has shown, during the whole of this long period, he most eminently possesses.

§ Sir M. W. Ridley
I am sure that I only express the unanimous sentiments of the House when I second the motion which has just been made by my right hon. friend. If there were any hesitation on the subject, I need only refer to the statements and arguments of my right hon. friend, to show that Mr. Manners Sutton possesses in an eminent degree the qualities which qualify him to fill the Chair of this House. It is perhaps, somewhat singular that when the right hon. Gentleman was first called to the Chair of this House, I was one of those who opposed his appointment, and I actually seconded the nomination of my right hon. friend, who has on the present occasion nominated the right hon. Gentleman. I trust that from this circumstance the House will perceive that in the present proposition neither my right hon. friend who makes it, nor myself, can be actuated by any other motive than the conviction which the experience of fourteen years has produced; and the justice which we feel due to the talents and the zeal of the right hon. Gentleman, and which compels us to come forward and offer our humble tribute of gratitude, and express that respect for the right hon. Gentleman which must be cherished by 77 the whole House. As has been well observed by my right hon. friend who preceded me, the interests of the public depend materially on the choice of the person who is to fill the Chair of this House. It is an office which requires an intimate knowledge of the law and constitution of Parliament, an independence of party feelings, and freedom from private animosities. It is most material that we should have an individual presiding over our proceedings who has the firmness to check whatever might impede the progress of the public business on the part of others, and who can himself promote that progress by his knowledge and his learning. Were I only addressing those Members who sat here during the late Parliament, I should rather refer them to their own experience, than presume to recommend Mr. Manners Sutton from mine. a The experience of those who have witnessed his qualifications must be amply sufficient to induce them to wish to continue that right hon. Gentleman in the public service. a But to those hon. Members who are now sitting in the House for the first time, I may perhaps be allowed to say, that in acceding to the motion of my right hon. friend, they will be not only doing an act of justice to the immediate object of it, but they will confer a benefit on themselves. If a perfect knowledge of the constitution and laws, and a thorough cognizance of the proceedings of Parliament—if the greatest urbanity of manners—if the utmost readiness to give up his time to public objects—if these, or any of these, be essential qualities in the Speaker of this House, I can assure the new Members present, that a very short experience will show them, that in the right hon. Gentleman they have a constant, a steady, a sincere adviser, who will enable them to transact their business in a manner most conducive to their own credit, and to the benefit of their constituents. It would be idle and absurd for me to detain the House longer upon this subject. I will conclude, therefore, by saying, I so perfectly agree with all that has fallen from my aright hon. friend who preceded me, that I think the House would be guilty of the greatest dereliction of its duty to the public, if it were to let the opportunity slip of again securing the services of the right hon. Gentleman in question, by declining to accede to the proposition which has been made by my right hon. friend.

§ Mr. Manners Sutton
I hardly know how to address the House on the present occasion. After the terms in which my appointment to the high situation of Speaker of this House has been proposed by my right hon. friend, and my hon. friend the member for Newcastle, and after the manner in which the House has been pleased to receive that proposition, I cannot but be sensible that any expression of gratitude on my part must fall infinitely short of the feeling which I entertain. If, in expressing my deep obligation to my right hon. friend, whose parliamentary knowledge and experience certainly entitle him to be considered as a high authority on all matters that come under the cognizance of Parliament, and of the qualifications of the individual called to preside over our Debates, and whose constant attendance in his place, and unwearied attention to our proceedings and privileges, render him so fit a judge of the propriety and efficiency of the manner in which the duties of the Speaker of this House may have been discharged; if, also in expressing my obligation to my hon. friend, the member for Newcastle, whose high character, and whose station in the country, entitle his opinions to so much respect; if, under such circumstances, and in the pursuit of an object of hon. ambition, I may for a moment forget how much I owe to the partial estimate of my right hon. and hon. friends, and how little I can pretend to on my own merits, I hope the House will pardon me, and that it will not attribute my conduct to self-sufficiency or arrogance. I have had fourteen years' experience of the high office to which it is now proposed again to raise me. I well know all the difficulties attendant upon the discharge of its duties, so forcibly described by my right hon. friend; difficulties frequently enhanced by the suddenness with which the performance of some of those duties is called for. But I have also found, that whether those difficulties are of a complicated nature, resulting from circumstances requiring deep and patient investigation, or whether they arise from some unforeseen emergency of the moment, whoever has the honour to fill the Chair of this House, may confidently rely on its support and protection. I well know from the experience which I have had the advantage of enjoying, that all which is required from the person who fills that Chair, is an honest, a strict, an 79 assiduous, and an impartial discharge of the duties of his situation. I well know that if he so performs his duties, he will receive the reward of the approbation of the House; and, if it shall be the pleasure of the House again to place me in their Chair, I assure them that every exertion of my mind and body shall be devoted to the service of the House and the country.