DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16873#0007
Vol. XLYL]
INTRODUCTION.
[JaNUAEV TO JuEE, 1864.
BMt
fall. Let that censure be as heavy as it may, it cannot be transferred to any
other quarter. We take it all upon ourselves ; and for my part I am per-
fectly willing to be responsible.’”
The declaration of the Noble Lord was received with much
cheering.
The Conference proved abortive, and the failure resulted in
resolutions amounting to a distinct vote of censure on the
Government being moved in both Houses. In the Lords the
resolution was carried by a majority of nine, but in the House
of Commons there was a majority of eighteen for the Govern-
ment.
The American quarrel continued to occasion trouble to the
executive in this country, and repeated appeals were made to
the Government against the enlistment of men for the Federal
army both in England and Ireland. Under the pretence of
emigration for peaceful purposes, many men left Ireland,
until accounts came from America, written by the poor dupes
to their friends here, exposed the real nature of the transac-
tions.
The seizure by our Government of some steel rams in course
of construction at Birkenhead for the Confederates, gave rise
to much remonstrance and oomplaint, and produced a lucid
statement of the law from the ATTOEifEr-GENEEAL.
PAGE
“ A question of no great constitutional importance, but
which brought to light a rather curious oversight of Parlia-
mentary Law on the part of the Government, was raised by
the leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, who
called attention to the distribution of Government offices, by
which five Under-Secretaries of State had seats in the House
of Commons, whereas, according to the statute law, four Chief
Secretaries and four Under-Secretaries, and no more, might
sit there. This state of things, Me. Diskaeli said, was un-
precedented. It had already been attended with incon-
venience, and its continuance might be productive of embar-
rassing and even dangerous results, in a constitutional point
of view. * * *
“ Loed Palmeeston admitted that the Government had
unintentionally, and by an oversight, done that which the
law did not authorise them; but the House must share the
blame, for it was the natural duty of an Opposition to watch
with a keen eye the conduct of the Government, and to pick
them up even before they fell.”
He then asked leave to bring in a Bill of Indemnity, which
should record that the law had been violated, and which the
Government had never intended to evade.
INTRODUCTION.
[JaNUAEV TO JuEE, 1864.
BMt
fall. Let that censure be as heavy as it may, it cannot be transferred to any
other quarter. We take it all upon ourselves ; and for my part I am per-
fectly willing to be responsible.’”
The declaration of the Noble Lord was received with much
cheering.
The Conference proved abortive, and the failure resulted in
resolutions amounting to a distinct vote of censure on the
Government being moved in both Houses. In the Lords the
resolution was carried by a majority of nine, but in the House
of Commons there was a majority of eighteen for the Govern-
ment.
The American quarrel continued to occasion trouble to the
executive in this country, and repeated appeals were made to
the Government against the enlistment of men for the Federal
army both in England and Ireland. Under the pretence of
emigration for peaceful purposes, many men left Ireland,
until accounts came from America, written by the poor dupes
to their friends here, exposed the real nature of the transac-
tions.
The seizure by our Government of some steel rams in course
of construction at Birkenhead for the Confederates, gave rise
to much remonstrance and oomplaint, and produced a lucid
statement of the law from the ATTOEifEr-GENEEAL.
PAGE
“ A question of no great constitutional importance, but
which brought to light a rather curious oversight of Parlia-
mentary Law on the part of the Government, was raised by
the leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, who
called attention to the distribution of Government offices, by
which five Under-Secretaries of State had seats in the House
of Commons, whereas, according to the statute law, four Chief
Secretaries and four Under-Secretaries, and no more, might
sit there. This state of things, Me. Diskaeli said, was un-
precedented. It had already been attended with incon-
venience, and its continuance might be productive of embar-
rassing and even dangerous results, in a constitutional point
of view. * * *
“ Loed Palmeeston admitted that the Government had
unintentionally, and by an oversight, done that which the
law did not authorise them; but the House must share the
blame, for it was the natural duty of an Opposition to watch
with a keen eye the conduct of the Government, and to pick
them up even before they fell.”
He then asked leave to bring in a Bill of Indemnity, which
should record that the law had been violated, and which the
Government had never intended to evade.