CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. (Hansard, 4 February 1851)

§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNE
said, he was desirous of taking that, the earliest, 48 opportunity of stating to their Lordships that he had received a communication from the Earl of Shaftesbury, that that noble Earl, from his age and infirmities, felt himself unable to continue to discharge the duties of the office of Chairman of Committees of their Lordships' House. He was sure their Lordships would all feel sincere regret for the circumstances that would deprive them of the services of one who for so many years had laboured in that office, and had ever shown in the discharge of the duties attached to it so much attention, ability, and independence. Upon a communication of this nature, and with regard to the appointment to an office so materially affecting the interests of the House and of the public at large, he was extremely desirous rather to take the sense of the House, or even a majority of their Lordships, than to enter upon any discussion as to the choice of a person intended to fill the situation now vacant. Fortunately there were many noble Lords in the House who were well qualified to discharge the duties of the office in question, and in the selection of any noble Lord to fill it he would be guided by the sense of the majority of that House.

LORD STANLEY
said: I am sure that every Member of this House must bear in grateful recollection the long services of my noble Friend the Earl of Shaftesbury, as Chairman of the Committees of this House; and I am sure that we must all share in the regret expressed by the noble Marquess, that his advancing years and increasing infirmities have compelled him to resign an office which he has so ably discharged. I concur with the noble Marquess on the importance of finding a fit successor to the office. There are many noble Lords who possess the necessary qualifications to succeed the Earl of Shaftesbury, who, during the long period of time he has held this office has acted with such unvarying firmness and integrity in the discharge of duties most essential to the character and well-being of this House, most essential to the interests of the country at large, and in the discharge of which, to a man of unscrupulous disposition, there were opportunities of serving individual interests without any apparent dereliction of duty. He must say this for Earl Shaftesbury, that it was impossible, under any consideration of personal or private interests, to induce him to consent to that which was injurious to the public, and inconsistent with the rules of the House. No matter what interests 49 were involved—no matter how high might be the station of a person by whom a Bill was presented, if it contained anything which was not in accordance with the rules of their Lordships' House, no temptation whatever would have induced Earl Shaftesbury to swerve for one moment in the consideration of that Bill, one hair's-breadth to the right or to the left. I believe there may be many of Your Lordships competent to the discharge of these important duties with equal zeal and equal integrity, and with equal firmness in resisting demands and importunities which may be made upon him; but what I now say will not be considered offensive, when I express an opinion that there is one Member of the House who, from his antecedent career, and from his high character, is pre-eminently qualified for the office. It is of no trifling importance to your Lordships that the office now placed at your disposal should be conferred on one of those who have already fitted themselves for the discharge of its duties; and that an office of such great importance, and such considerable emoluments, may be given to one who will diligently practise the duties he is about to enter upon. The private business of this House is most important, and if it be understood that functions so important as those of the Chairman of the Committees of the House will not be conferred upon motives of party, but will be given to those Members who have devoted themselves honestly to do the business they have to perform, you will encourage many Members to fit themselves for such laborious duties as those of this office. Having stated the qualifications I consider necessary for this office, I will introduce to your notice one whom I consider not as a candidate with whom any question is likely to be made, but who will meet with the approbation of all the Members of the House. But my duty is not to commend my noble Friend, but to propose to the House, with the consent of the noble Marquess (the Marquess of Lansdowne), who has intimated that it is not his intention to offer any objection to the appointment, one of the Members of this House, who, I will venture to say, will discharge the high duties of the office with firmness, impartiality, and good sense, and who also, by an experience of more than fifteen years, during which he has been, I may say, the assistant of the noble Earl who has now vacated the office, and I am sure I must have the concurrence of your Lordships, when I propose that Lord 50 Redesdale be appointed Chairman of the Committees of the House for this Session. I am sure that I can propose no one who possesses higher qualifications, and whose appointment would reflect higher praise on the discrimination of your Lordships.

§ The DUKE of WELLINGTON
said, that some years had elapsed since it was his duty to consider of the person whom he should recommend to the House to succeed to the important office so long and so ably filled by his noble Friend, who he was sorry to hear was no longer able to perform the duties of Chairman of Committees. At that time he earnestly recommended his noble Friend (Lord Redesdale) to attend to the private business of the House, with the view of qualifying himself for undertaking the duties of Chairman of Committees. He was happy to see that his noble Friend had devoted himself, during so many Sessions, to the performance of those duties, and had qualified himself in every degree for their performance. He should several years ago, if it had been his duty to propose a person to that office, have recommended his noble Friend. He was happy to find that he had been proposed now, and he sincerely believed their Lordships could not make choice of a person more capable of the performance of those duties to the satisfaction of the House, and with reputation to himself.

§ The EARL of HARROWBY
said, that having taken some interest in the canvass for the office from the affection he entertained for his noble Friend, he was glad to take this opportunity of expressing his strong sense of the perfect fitness of his noble Friend for the performance of its duties, He had long paid great attention to the private business of the House, he was distinguished for his strong sense of right, his I independence was unquestioned, and he had I an excellent understanding. On all those grounds he heartily concurred in the appointment of his noble Friend.

§ The DUKE of RICHMOND
had attended to the private business of the House for twenty-three years, and would detain their Lordships with a few remarks with regard both to Lord Shaftesbury and Lord Redesdale. He had seen attempts to influence Lord Shaftesbury in matters relating to private Bills, and he invariably followed what was a very good plan, for he always answered, "I shall do no such thing." he kept the attorneys and agents in very good order; for when they once got a good dressing from Lord Shaftesbury, they 51 never made any such attempts again. He had had an opportunity of knowing that Lord Redesdale had been of the greatest possible service for the last twelve or fifteen years in the private business of the House. The business of Committees had very much increased of late years, and had risen in point of importance also; and it was necessary to watch parties to private Bills, and see that they did not insert clauses in them which were contrary to the statute law. He was sure Lord Redesdale would carry on the private business of the House most efficiently; at the same time he must express his regret that Lord Shaftesbury had found it necessary to retire.

§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNE
entirely concurred in the proposal which had been made, knowing, as he did, the ability of the noble Lord, his integrity, and his consistency.

§ LORD REDESDALE
said, it was his duty to return their Lordships his thanks for the honour they had done him in appointing him to this office, and the manner in which the appointment had been made was deeply gratifying to him. He had received on this occasion the support of those with whom he had been connected in that House; and he had also received the support of those to whom he had been politically opposed. He could say that, though from certain circumstances the contest for the office at one time had assumed the appearance of a party character, nothing had been done by him to give it such a character; indeed, he had endeavoured to avoid such appearance, because he felt it ought not to be a question of party. If there was one thing more satisfactory than another in this appointment, it was that it would be a precedent for the selection of a Chairman of Committees from those noble Lords who had devoted themselves to the private business of the House. He could only add that no exertion should be wanting on his part in the discharge of the duties of the office, and he hoped so to order the matters intrusted to his charge, that the character which had been given to the conduct of the private business by the management of his predecessor would be fully maintained by him.