L0RD JOHN RUSSELL'S SPEECH AT THE HUSTINGS.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 692, 1 December 1852, Page 3

LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S SPEECH AT THE HUSTINGS.

Lord John Russell was received with defending, unanimous, and prolonged cheering. The noble lord said — Gentlemen, I will not detain you very long to-day by answering anything that has been said by the gentlemen who have addressed you. I appear before you to solicit a re- ; ■newal of your confidence, and I do so having a very short case to state to you. I need not profess to you that I am a friend to religious liberty — (loud cheers) — because it was my fortune long i ago to propose the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, which injuriously affected the protestants dissenters; and I was successful in that proposition. (Cheers.) It is not necessary for me to tell you that I am a free tradei', because it was my good fortune to supportand see carried to a successful Issue measures of free trade — measures for the repeal -of those laws which made corn and sugar dear, and which were to the injury of the people at large, for the benefit of certain classes. (Loud cheers.) I have done so, sometimes out of office, sometimes in office, but I am happy to say I have ever Deen consistent and successful in my advocacy of free trade. (Loud -cheers, and the chorus, "For he's a jolly good follow/) Nor, gentlemen, is it necessary for me to say that I am a Mend to parliamentary reform, because in the year 1831 I proposed and carried the largest measure of parliamentary Teform that is a legislative act of this country. Now, gentlemen, I hold that these acts are far better than any professions that I could make. (Cheers.) Jt is said, to be sure, that because I have done these things — because I have been successful in that course — that therefore some other advocate of these measures ought to be chosen, and that you ought to discard one who has served you to the best of his ability. But it would neither be good feeling nor good policy so to act ; because any man who should be proposed in my place, professing similar principles, would expect that, if his exertions should he beneficial to you, he would likewise incur your disapprobation. (Hear, hear.) But, gentlemen, I have too much trust in your good feeling to doubt that I shall receive from you the support which has been accorded to me on previous occasions. (Cheers.) And now as to the future. With respect to religious liberty — the measure is incomplete, because there is still a class of our fellow countrymen, faithful and loyal subjects of her Majesty, who are excluded from office and from seats in parliament on account of their religion. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, I haye done my best to remove that disability ; but, let mc tell you, that is a question which does not depend upon me or upon any one advocate of the cause, but it depends upon the people, of England. (Loud

cheers.) I feel assured that if the people of England bond a larjje majority to the Ilou^c of Commons to remove all religious disabilities, there will no longer be any obstacle in the way. (Loiul cheer, and chorus of "lip's a jolly good fellow" repeated.) Gentlemen, w ith re&pcct to free trade, I need say but very little. There is no oho of the late members for the city of London, and no one of the present candidates, who is not favourable to free trade ; and more than this, throughout the country the protectionists are ] eady to give up the battle. (Lond cheers.) Like the garrison of a besieged place, they are about to muster their force for the purpose of laying down thor arms. (Cheers and laughter.) I know that it is proposed to make some sort of a capitulation before those arms are piled, and we must look narrowly at the terms of the capitulation.. (Hear, hear.) I say, for nmelf, that I shall vote for relief to no particular class ; but that if the revenue can afford relief, I think it should be given to the i body of the community at large. (Loud cheers.) My belief is that that great part of our fellowcountymen who are engaged in the pursuits of agriculture — and a most deserving and respectable part they are — can find their best advantage in that which is for the benefit of the community. (Cheers.) And this is not a mere theory, or a mere sentiment ; because we all know that the agriculturists are employed in raising food ; and the more people there are that can eat, and the more money that they have to buy that food, the better it will be for the agriculturists. (Loud cheers.) I believe, therefore, that no one will come forward in the new parliament to say that the people are suffering from the cheapness of bread, and that they have got a plan to add something to the price of the loaf. (Cheers and laughter.) Indeed, I doubt whether they will even propose to make our sugar dearer; but if they do, I don't think that those who like to have sugar to their tea will be apt to countenance the attempt. (Cheers.) I now come to the question to which I have already alluded — the question of reform of parliament. (A Voice : " Ami of the corporation.") I declare here my opinion, which I have declared in the House of Commons, that there ought to be an extension of the suffrage. (Loud cheers.) I believe likewise that in proposing the Reform Bill, as we did, in a great emergency, there are defects which require to be remedied in that act ; and I, for my part, shall be ready to consider any proposition with a view to give the people a more complete representation. (Loud cheers.) It has been said by the son of the present prime minister (Lord Stanley) that the proposition I made to parliament when I was in office was intended to subvert the principles of the Reform Act which I had introduced. I utterly deny that statement. (Cheers.) It was intended to carry into more complete effect, and to give additional vigour to, the principles of that act. (Cheers.) Now, with respect to the charge which has been made against me, that 1 have committed various errors in my political life, if it were not for detaining you I might say something in answer to those critiques ; but I must rather prefer to say that no doubt, in course of a long political life with an infirm and fallible understanding, I have committed many errors, and to throw myself upon your indulgence. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, my object, if elected to the new parliament, is to remove the remaining religious disabilities, and to take care that the oath for members of parliament shall be one and simple — the same for persons of every religious faith — that religious faith shall no longer be a disqualification — (loud cheers) — and that as there shall no longer be an oath kept for the purpose of excluding Jews, so no longer shall an oath be main- j tamed which, in its terms, insults and injures the \ Roman catholics, (Loud cheers.) I am for ; giving to persons of all faiths equal rights. (Enthusiastic applause.) With respect to free trade, J I think I have only to say that that commercial policy which has been law for ten years, and which has given us a reduction of twelve millions of taxation, with but little loss to the revenue — that that system which luu> enabled the people to j e! 'j°y greater comforts than they ever did under the system of protection, that that system ought to be carried out in its spirit. (Loud cheers.) I say likewise that when that question lias been settled I shall be ready to consider the question of the further extension of the suffrage and the modification of the places that are to return members. (Cheers.) [A voice*: "No popery."] I hear the cry of "No popery." My principle upon the question is very clear — I never would allow any interference with the supreme independence of the crown and of the nation ; but, on the other hand, I would never punish any man for Ins religious opinions. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, I will only say further that my votes are recorded, and my conduct in parliament is known to the world ; and that I will willingly abide by your decision. ( Enthusiastic applause. ) Mr. Beimoch wished to put a question to the noble lord. If any measure for the further reform of parliament should be introduced next session, would he support a clause providing 1 that the votes should be taken by ballot \ (Cheers.) Lord John Russell — I have already given my opinion upon that subject in parliament. lam in favour of publicity in all proceedings. (Cheers.) 1 think our courts of justice ought to be open, and I think that our discussions in parliament ought to be open ; but I think that if you resort I to sccresy in voting for members of parliament, there would be an equally good argument for excluding publicity from their proceedings. (Cheers.) lam awai eof the many evils that has been brought upon individuals; hy the free exercise of their franchise, but I don't believe that those evils would be cured by secret voting. On the contrary, I think the/c would be a secrefc inquisition into every man's vote, and that, instead of being- punished for openly voting, a man would still be liable to be punished for his secret vote. (Cheers.) Mr. Bennock begged next to ask the noble lord how far he would extend the suffrage, and whether he would shorten the duration of parliaments. (Hear, hear.) Lord J. Russell. — With regard to both these questions I must ask for your indulgence. With respect to any measure that I may bring forward, or that I may support in parliament, I have first to consider what is the best for the country ; and I have to consider next what other men will support, and what I have a chance of carrying. (Cheers. ) If gentlemen, lam fit to represent you I am fit to be entrusted with a discretion on these subjects ; and I would advise you, rather to choose some man whom you can trust and rely \ upon his judgment and honesty, than to choose an automaton in the hope that you may be able to direct the wires by which it is moved. (Loud cheers,)