Commons Sitting of 7 May 1839

MINUTES.
Petitions presented. By Mr. HOPE JOHN
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STONE, from Kirkudbright, against the Repeal of the Corn-laws.—By Viscount DUNGANNON, from places in Cambridgeshire, against any further Grant to Maynooth College; and from Denbigh, against the Government plan of Education.—By Mr. LIDDELL, from places in the county of Durham, for Church Extension in Canada; and against any scheme of Education not founded on the Scriptures.—By Sir R. BATESON, from several places in the county of Londonderry, against compelling Presbyterian Soldiers to attend Divine Service in any but their own Chapels; and for appointing Presbyterian Chaplains to Presbyterian Regiments.—By Sir GEORGE SINCLAIR, from a place in Scotland, for the Repeal of the Catholic Emancipation Act.—By Mr. PAKINGTON, from Worcester, for Scriptural Education.—By Viscount INGESTRIE, Sergeant TALFOURD, and Messrs. BRISCOE, AGLIONEY, ELLIS, and M. PHILIPS, from a number of places, for a Uniform Penny Postage.

RESIGNATION OF HER MAJESTY'S MINISTERS.
Lord John Russell:—Sir, I wish to make a communication to the House, in consequence of what took place last night on the motion of the right hon. Baronet opposite, for the rejection of the Bill to provide for the government of Jamaica. Sir, it will be evident to this House, that that was a bill requiring more than ordinary support—more than ordinary confidence—and that it has met with less support and less confidence on the part of this House than that which has usually been given to her Majesty's Ministers. It has, therefore, become their duty to consider in what position they are placed with respect to that bill. It would undoubtedly be in their power to proceed to another stage of that bill, and again to ask the opinion of the House on the question; but we see no reason to suppose that the judgment of the House, upon a second trial, would be different from that which it has already declared. We might, likewise, with the support of the majority no greater than that received last night, send the bill to the House of Lords, and leave it to the House of Lords to deal with it as they should think proper. But this course, Sir, upon a bill which certainly vests in the Government here, and the governor and council of Jamaica unusual powers, would have the appearance of throwing upon the House of Lords a responsibility, which we do not think that we are fairly entitled to throw upon them, after the vote which has been come to in the House of Commons. It therefore seems to us, that there is no option but to give up the bill which we thought it our duty to bring forward. It is, then, a question whether, having brought forward a bill of that importance, we shall leave the state of affairs in Jamaica, in the West-India colonies, and in our colonies generally, in that state in which the ministers of the Crown ought not to be content

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to leave these colonies. It is obvious that in Jamaica the authority of the Crown will be greatly weakened by a vote of the House of Commons, giving, in effect and in impression, support to the contumacy, as I must call it, of the House of Assembly, against the proposition of the Ministers of the Crown. But it is obvious that the effect likewise will be, that with regard to the other colonies, where hitherto there has been, if not a ready and eager, yet an ultimate compliance with the wishes of the Crown, there will be a disposition rather to imitate the resistance made in Jamaica, than to persevere in the course of obedience which they have pursued hitherto. But there is this further question. It was our intention, and our duty, to have brought forward, within these few days, another measure relating to the colonies—relating to the important provinces of Upper and Lower Canada—the affairs of which required and still require, the most deliberate consideration of Parliament. It is evident that the measure with regard to Jamaica having been so opposed—having been opposed by such large numbers in this House, we could not calculate on that support which is necessary for the settlement of the affairs of Canada. Therefore, Sir, in continuing in the administration of affairs, not having, as we think we have not, a sufficient degree of confidence and support to carry on those affairs efficiently in this House, we should be exposing to jeopardy the colonial empire of this country, many of our colonies being, I will not say in a state of hazard, but in a state of uncertainty, concerning which, questions of considerable importance are pending. Hitherto her Majesty's Ministers have thought themselves justified in continuing in the administration of affairs, supported as we were by the confidence of the Crown, and by the confidence of the House of Commons. But, Sir, after the vote of last night, I do not think that we are entitled to say, that upon the great and important affairs of the colonies, upon which Government is obliged to come to a decision, we have such support and such confidence in this House as will enable us efficiently to carry on the public business. Sir, it has, therefore, become the duty of her Majesty's Ministers, on consideration of all those circumstances, humbly to tender their resignation to her Majesty. Sir, with regard to the course to be pursued to-night, it will be the course usual on those occasions. I shall move for a short adjourn-
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ment, in order to enable her Majesty to form an administration that may carry on the affairs of the empire. But, Sir, I cannot close what I now have to say, without expressing on this occasion, as I shall be ready to express on every occasion, and as I shall feel to the latest moment of my life, my gratitude to those who have supported the Government during the four years in which we have held the arduous situations in which we have been placed—and that, too, in no unimportant difficulties—in no circumstances of case or facility; but who have supported Government in such a manner, that although it had not at any time the confidence of a majority of the House of Lords, we felt it nevertheless consistent with our duty to carry on the administration of the affairs of the country. Sir, I say to those who have given this efficient support, and who have been always ready to show in this House that they were willing to do every thing in their power to promote the great principles on which we were agreed, I must again say, that I shall always feel the deepest gratitude. Sir, I will now only conclude by moving, that this House, at its rising, do adjourn to Monday next.
Motion agreed to. Adjourned.