Maxims and Opinions of Field-Marshal His Grace the Duke of Wellington Part 22

_No Compromise_.

My Lords, I must now advert to what has fallen from another n.o.ble Earl (Harrowby), who opposed the bill strongly last year, but who last night came to a different conclusion, and asked if there was no hope of effecting a compromise? and he particularly called upon me to come to such a compromise. My Lords, these n.o.ble Lords have been trying a compromise for the last six months; if they have made no progress in effecting a compromise, what encouragement can they hold out to me and others to follow them upon this occasion. We know the evils of this bill; we know that it will consign the country to evils from which it cannot recover. Agree to a compromise! Why, he has not been enabled to advance one single step from last October up to the present moment. He, and his n.o.ble Friends who act with him, have remained perfectly stationary. If this be the case, I hope that those who intend to act with my n.o.ble Friends, will understand that there is no more chance of compromise on the present than on the last occasion; and that if they agree to the second reading, they agree to a bill with which the country cannot be governed. I beg then that the n.o.ble Lords will look to the responsibility they take upon themselves, in giving support to this bill. The Government are now decidedly responsible for that bill--they are responsible for the election of the House of Commons, that pa.s.sed it--they are responsible for the excitement which caused these events--and they are, moreover, responsible for any evil consequences which may occur, if this House reject it. But when n.o.ble Lords change their sentiments, and are followed by many who voted against it last time, I beg them to recollect, that they will partake of a large portion of this responsibility, and that the country will look to them as responsible for whatever may occur.[17]

[Footnote 17: The bill was soon after carried by a species of compromise, Peers staying away from the division.]

_April_ 10,1832.

_Revolutions may be effected by Laws as well as by Violence._

The n.o.ble earl (Grey) yesterday challenged me with saying that this bill is revolutionary. What I have always said is, that it has a revolutionary tendency; and I think it has a tendency so strong in that way that it must lead to revolution. The n.o.ble earl has said there is no violence; but, my Lords, revolutions may be effected by laws as well as by violence. I know there is no violence. Why, my Lords, there can be no violence,--the King's Government and the House of Commons are leagued with those who call out for change,--and there can be no occasion for resorting to violence. But, my Lords, this is not the only objection.

One of the great and leading objections in my mind to this measure is, that it is one which goes to destroy that most invaluable principle of our existing const.i.tution, the principle of prescription, which sanctions the descent and secures the possession of all kinds of property in this country.

_April_ 10,1832.

_The Demagogue will drive the Gentleman from the Representation._

The n.o.ble Earl has told us, that men possessing property in these boroughs will continue to possess their just influence in them--that they will have political influence in the elections--that it will continue, and that it ought to continue. But I would appeal to your Lords.h.i.+ps, whether your own experience, in matters of this description, confirms the correctness of this statement? It is true that, in some of these boroughs, n.o.blemen possessing large properties in the neighbourhood will still possess a great and paramount influence; and, indeed, in some places, in consequence of the effect of the double franchise, the influence of the great proprietors in the vicinity may be raised greatly beyond what it is at present. But in those towns in general, it will be the demagogue, and not the n.o.bleman or gentleman of property, who will possess the influence over the elections there. The latter cannot command such an influence, unless through the means of a constant expenditure which it would be impossible for any one to support. The demagogue will obtain his influence by other means, and will ultimately drive the gentleman out of the field. I beg your Lords.h.i.+ps to observe what will be the effect of such a state of things in the const.i.tution of the House of Commons; and I beg to ask whether, with such men the representatives of those boroughs, it will be possible to carry on anything like a government or a steady system of policy, through the means of this a.s.sembly.

_April_ 10, 1832.

_Prophetic Contrast of the New with the Old System._

I know that according to the const.i.tution of this country, a member of the House of Commons when he goes there is a member for all parts of England, and not a representative for the particular town or place for which he is elected; he is in fact looked upon as a member for all the Commons of England. This was. .h.i.therto the meaning which was attached to the character of a Member of the Commons House of Parliament. But the case will be widely different should this Bill be pa.s.sed, and should Members of Parliament be subjected to a system of instruction on the part of their const.i.tuents. That system, however, already exists in parts of England, and more especially in the Metropolis, and in the Borough of Southwark. Your Lords.h.i.+ps will remember that an honourable and gallant officer, formerly connected with the n.o.ble Lords opposite, was obliged to retire from the representation of Southwark, last summer, because he happened to differ with his const.i.tuents; and also that a worthy Alderman was in a similar manner reprimanded by his const.i.tuents in the city of London, for a similar offence. What then, I would ask your Lords.h.i.+ps, is to be expected hereafter, should the system laid down in this Bill be established in this country? Why every member of the House of Commons would become the mere delegate of his const.i.tuents, instead of representing the people at large. It has been observed that such representatives would in every case merely consult the wishes of their respective const.i.tuents, instead of looking to the advancement of the interests of all cla.s.ses. I have before me a letter written by a gentleman to some of his const.i.tuents in this neighbourhood, in which he desires not only that the electors shall direct the votes of their representatives, and point out the course which they should pursue in parliament, but goes much further. The letter, which is directed to the paris.h.i.+oners of St. Georges in the East, says, "there ought to be an union formed in every parish between the middle cla.s.ses and the operatives,--first for the protection of person and property; and secondly, to be ready to express the opinion of the parish on any public measure, and in case the minister or the House of Commons are lukewarm in the cause of the people." The extract which I have just read is taken from a letter written by a great advocate of the Reform Bill, not for the sake of the Reform Bill itself, but because it would lead to something further. This letter affords a proof of the kind of system which will be put into operation with respect to the members of the House of Commons, should this Bill be pa.s.sed. Let your Lords.h.i.+ps, then, for a moment, compare the system this Bill would establish, with the system of representation which has so long existed in this country, and under which this country has been raised to such an eminence of glory, and power, and prosperity.

We have, under the existing system, the county representation, and the representation in cities and boroughs. The county representation consists princ.i.p.ally of freeholders, and the members for counties represent not only the lower cla.s.ses, but the middle and higher orders.

The representatives for the great maritime towns, and for the larger description of towns in the interior of the country, represent likewise the lower and middle cla.s.ses. The representatives for the pot wallopping boroughs, for the scot-and-lot boroughs, and for the single borough of Preston, where the franchise is vested in the inhabitants at large, represent the lowest orders of the people; and in this manner this borough representation represents all cla.s.ses and descriptions of persons, who have any thing to do with the business transacted in the House of Commons. Instead of this system, which has raised this country to its present elevation, we are called upon to establish by this Bill a system of elections which will be confined to one single cla.s.s of the community; and as the county representations will be no check upon this cla.s.s of persons, the voters in the counties being mostly of the same description, and as the united representation of Scotland, and of Ireland, will be a check upon them, such a system will tend at once to a complete democracy. This, then, is the system which we are called upon to establish in the place of that which at present exists, and under which all cla.s.ses and interests of the country are represented in Parliament, and it is under such a system as this that it is pretended the general business of the state can be carried on, and the government maintain sufficient power to preserve existing inst.i.tutions.

_April_ 10,1832.

_Popular tendency of the Old System of Representation._

I would call the attention of your Lords.h.i.+ps to the changes which have taken place in the government of the country during the last twenty years,--to go no further back,--and to the improvements which have taken place in what is called the popular sense. A n.o.ble friend of mine, last night, truly stated that the influence of the Crown was decreasing from the period of the revolution up to the year 1782; and that it has been still further diminis.h.i.+ng from that period up to the present time, till at last there are not more than fifty persons in the House of Commons holding public offices. In that period, and more especially in latter years, the influence of the crown in this respect has been greatly diminished. First of all, there has been a large reduction of all such kinds of offices; and in the next place, in consequence of the different const.i.tution and regulations of the customs and excise, and other public departments; and thus the influence formerly possessed by the Crown has gradually pa.s.sed away.

With the influence of the Crown, then, thus diminished, if a Bill of this description should pa.s.s, to make such an extensive change in the const.i.tution of this House, it would be impossible to carry on the government of the country. But there has also been another most remarkable alteration with respect to the const.i.tution of Parliament within the last four years. In the year 1828, the Test Act was repealed; and this I beg your Lords.h.i.+ps to recollect, that the effect of the repealing this Act was immediately to bring into operation a large body of electors, who must of course have had considerable influence in subsequent elections. Again, in the following year, the disabilities of the Roman Catholics were removed, which made another important difference in the const.i.tution of Parliament. Has sufficient time been given to those measures to ascertain their effect? Is it not reasonable, is it not right, that we should try the effect of those measures on the const.i.tution, before we proceed further, before we adopt a measure which will effect such extraordinary changes as this proposed Reform Bill?

There can be no doubt but that those measures to which I have alluded, must have had considerable effect in the elections which have since taken place, and more especially when any measure of Parliamentary Reform has been adopted, of the same extensive character as that contemplated in the Bill.

_April_ 10, 1832.

_Gradual Reform Recommended._

There can be no doubt that there is a general desire in the country,--- I do not deny the existence of it, for it is stated in all the addresses and all the pet.i.tions on the subject;--that there is a general desire in the country that some Reform in Parliament should be taken into consideration, to do away with the abuses in the system of elections of Members of the House of Commons. Without enquiring into the cause, if the fact be as I have stated, which I believe no one will dispute, it is the duty of Parliament to proceed steadily and gradually in making amendments in the representation. We should consider maturely every step that we took,--we should not proceed all at once to do every thing, we should go on gradually and deliberately; and thus in process of time, we might arrive even at the measure which has been recommended by the n.o.ble Earl at the head of his Majesty's government; but this must be in process of time. After a considerable length of time had elapsed, and after we had maturely considered every step that we had taken, it would be only after we had done all that, that we could adopt a measure to the extent of that recommended by the n.o.ble Earl. This we must do, if we desire to maintain the venerable monarchy under which the country has flourished for so long a time. The effect of this measure, if carried now, will be to establish such a government as exists elsewhere, (in France) which the n.o.ble Earl has described as a government which no man could think fit for the administration of affairs in this country.

_April_ 10,1839.

_Effect of Agitation on Business_.

I believe that as soon as this Bill was proposed, and as soon as the excitement which it occasioned was apparent, all expenditure of all descriptions ceased,--men ceased to lay out money in great enterprises--and those who expended their incomes to the full amount, began to consider whether it was not expedient to make provision for a future day, for a period of trouble and difficulty, which might be antic.i.p.ated from these changes. It is to these circ.u.mstances that I am induced to attribute the want of commerce and trade in the country. If your Lords.h.i.+ps look to the situation of our neighbours it will appear that the same causes have produced precisely the same effects, and that these causes have proceeded further amongst them, than they have with us, because they have existed for a longer period of time. Among them popular delirium has been carried nearly to its full extent; among us it has only begun. I particularly complain of the system of agitation which now prevails in England, for this reason, that it falls upon the poorest and lowest cla.s.ses of the community. The expenditure of the rich gives comfort and ease to the middle cla.s.ses, but it gives subsistence to the poor; and it is for want of this subsistence and comfort for the lower cla.s.ses, that agitation has been carried to such an extent.

_April_ 10, 1832.

_Military Force will be required to Govern the Country if the Reform Bill is carried._

The n.o.ble Viscount, one of his Majesty's Secretaries of State, who spoke yesterday upon the subject, admitted that he did not expect that the Reform measure would relieve any of the distresses of the country. It certainly does appear most extraordinary, that a Minister, particularly a Secretary of State, should say of a measure, which he is supporting himself, and which he knows must have such extensive consequences as the measure now proposed, that he does not believe that it will tend to relieve any of the existing distresses of the country. But I say not only that it will not relieve any of the distresses of the country, but, on the contrary, that it will deeply aggravate them. But let us go a little further, and see whether this system is good; and whether the system of cheap government, which it is to introduce, is likely to produce good to the country. And here, again, I would wish to call the attention of your Lords.h.i.+ps to what is pa.s.sing in another country. If your Lords.h.i.+ps will take the trouble of examining what has pa.s.sed in France in the course of the last two years, you will see that, during that period, that country has expended 50,000,000 l. sterling beyond its usual expenditure. Its ordinary Budget, notwithstanding every description of saving that could be made from the Civil List, and in other establishments, which have been cut down as low as possible--still its ordinary Budget exceeds the Budget of the former reign--the extravagant reign of the Bourbons--to the amount of 10,000,000 l.

sterling; and, including those laws for two years, there is the extraordinary expenditure of 50,000,000 l. in that s.p.a.ce of time. To say, then, that popular excitement tends to cheap government, is monstrous and absurd, and it is impossible for any man who regards these facts to arrive at that conclusion. We are called upon to adopt a system which is to lead to these results. I ask, then, whether such a system can be more effectual in this country, than that under which we have so long prospered? I ask, whether the Civil Government will have more power--whether it is possible that the Government can be carried on with a smaller proportion of the army? I beg your Lords.h.i.+ps to observe the transactions which have occurred at Paris within the last two years, and you will see that, while Louis XVIII, and Charles X. were able to maintain the peace and tranquillity of the capital with a gendarmerie of from 500 to 1000 men,--since the period of the revolution of July, 1830, the Government has not had less than 60,000 once a month put into requisition to maintain the peace of the city. I say once a month, upon an average, not to exaggerate the facts; being convinced that upon not less than twenty-four occasions the army has been under arms.

If the system now proposed to your Lords.h.i.+ps is adopted, will any man tell me that it will be possible for any Government to be carried on, as the Government of this country has. .h.i.therto been, by a civil power, aided by a small military force? In the course of this last summer, events of a fearful character occurred, nearly at the same time, in this country and in France. I allude to the disturbances at Bristol and at Lyons. The riots at Bristol were put down by ninety men, as soon as an officer was found who would employ the force entrusted to him. But what happened at Lyons--were the disturbances there so easily quelled? The events at Lyons--a larger town, I admit, but not much larger than Bristol--required 40,000 troops to be brought against the town, under the command of a Marshal of France, the present Minister-at-War, and a Prince of the Blood, before tranquillity could be restored. I entreat, then, your Lords.h.i.+ps to consider well, first of all, the causes of this difference,--to see that it is the sovereignty of the people that you are called upon to establish in this country,--and whether it is possible to carry on the civil Government of England, as it has. .h.i.therto been, under such a Government as you would establish, if you pa.s.s this Bill.

_April_ 10,1832.

_Fiscal Regulations for the Extinction of Slavery not defensible._

I can hardly bring myself to believe that any Government can think of forcing the Colonies to adopt Orders in Council, by holding out, at once, promises and threats; by saying that those Colonies which adopted them should not pay taxes, and that those which did not adopt them should continue to pay them. Did any man ever before hear of taxes being imposed, for any purpose whatever, excepting to supply the necessities of the State? If taxes be necessary for the purposes of the State, in the name of G.o.d let them be paid; but, if they be not necessary, they ought not to be imposed at all, nor allowed to continue.

Parliament is not justified in imposing taxes for a specific purpose of punishment.

_April_ 17, 1832.

_West India Property not to be Sacrificed to the Fancies of Abolitionists._

It is really desirable that this question should be well understood in this country. West Indian property is as much ent.i.tled to protection as any other property which exists in Great Britain. Pet.i.tions are sent up from all parts of England, praying for the immediate abolition of slavery; and the execution of that measure is urged as a duty inc.u.mbent upon us. Those persons who take a part in these proceedings, forget the enormous amount of property belonging to his Majesty's subjects which is involved in the question; and it is necessary to bring back their attention to the consequences which will result, not only to the colonists, but to the public, from the annihilation of that property, by the prosecution of any of their fancies respecting the abolition of slavery. In truth, it is absolutely impossible to derive any advantage from that property except through the medium of slavery; and through slavery alone can the individuals interested in the occupation of that property be sustained in life.

_April_ 17, 1832.

_Speech explaining the Negociations, in May, 1832, for the formation of a Tory Government on the principle of Moderate Reform._

My Lords, I have the honour to present to your Lords.h.i.+ps a pet.i.tion from the inhabitant householders of Cambridge against the Reform Bill; and, as this is the first time I have had occasion to address your Lords.h.i.+ps since I have been charged by his Majesty with a most important commission, I conceive that your Lords.h.i.+ps, or, at least, some of you, may be desirous that I should avail myself of this, or some other early opportunity, to explain the nature and termination of the transactions in which I have been engaged; and I confess, my Lords, that having been exposed to extreme misrepresentation, and having been vilified in the most extraordinary manner, in respect of these transactions, by persons in another place, who, with the exception of their conduct in this instance, have some claim to be considered respectable, I am anxious to take the first opportunity of stating to your Lords.h.i.+ps, and the country, the nature of the transactions in which I have been engaged, and the grounds on which I have proceeded. Your Lords.h.i.+ps will recollect, that in the course of the last week--I think it was on Wednesday--his Majesty's ministers informed your Lords.h.i.+ps that they had offered certain advice to his Majesty in reference to the important subject of the Reform Bill; and, as his Majesty had not thought proper to follow that advice, they had considered it their duty to tender their resignations to his Majesty, and which resignations his Majesty was pleased to accept. His Majesty was graciously pleased, on that day on which he was so left entirely alone by his ministers, to send for a n.o.ble friend of mine--a n.o.ble and learned Lord (Eldon), who had held a high place, as well in the service as in the confidence of his Majesty, to inquire whether, in his opinion, there were any means, and if so, what means, of forming a Government for his Majesty on the principle of carrying into execution an extensive reform in the representation of the people. Thus it appears that when his Majesty had the misfortune of disagreeing with his servants, respecting the advice which had been tendered to him, he happened to have had so little communication with other men, and was so little acquainted with their opinions on public affairs, that he felt it necessary to send for my n.o.ble and learned friend, who was out of the immediate line of politics, in order to obtain his a.s.sistance, and to seek for information at his hands. My n.o.ble and learned friend came to me, and informed me of the difficulty of his Majesty's situation, and I considered it my duty to inquire from others what their opinions were, because, I confess to your Lords.h.i.+ps, I was equally unprepared with his Majesty for the consideration of such a question.

Upon inquiry, I found that a large number of friends of mine were not unwilling to give confidence and support to a government formed upon such a principle, and with the positive view of resistance to that advice which was tendered to his Majesty. Under these circ.u.mstances I waited on his Majesty on Sat.u.r.day, and submitted to him my advice. That advice was not to re-appoint his late ministry, nor was it to appoint myself. I did not look to any objects of ambition. I advised him to seek the a.s.sistance of other persons well qualified to fill the high situations in the state, expressing myself willing to give his Majesty every a.s.sistance, whether in office or out of office, to enable his Majesty to form an administration to resist the advice which had been so given to him. My Lords, these were the first steps of the transaction; and if ever there was an instance in which the Sovereign acted more honestly by his former servants--if ever there was an instance in which public men kept themselves most completely apart from all intrigues, and from all indirect influence--using only those direct and honourable means of opposition, of which no man has reason to be other than proud, this is that instance. And when I came to give my advice to his Majesty, instead of advising him with a view to objects of personal ambition, as I have been accused of doing upon high authority,--I gave that advice which I thought would best lead to another arrangement, and I stated that I was ready to serve his Majesty in any or in no capacity, so as best to a.s.sist him in carrying on a government to resist the advice which had been given him by his late ministers. And here, my Lords, I beg your Lords.h.i.+ps to examine a little what was the nature of the advice which was tendered by his Majesty's ministers to his Majesty, which his Majesty thought proper not to follow, and which I considered it my bounden duty to enable his Majesty to resist. I do not ask any man to seek any further explanation of this advice, than that which was given by the ministers themselves. It was neither more nor less than this. The Government, feeling some difficulty in carrying the Reform Bill through this House, were induced to advise his Majesty to do--what?--to create a sufficient number of peers to enable them to carry their measure, to force it through this House of Parliament. Now, my Lords, before I go further, let me beg you to consider what is the nature of that proposition? Ministers found, in the course of last session, that there was a large majority in this House against the principle of the bill.

Now, my Lords, what is the ordinary course for a minister, under such circ.u.mstances, to pursue? My Lords, it is to alter the measure, to endeavour to make it more palatable to that branch of the legislature which was opposed to it. Such is the usual course; but, in this case, the minister says "no. I will next session bring in a bill as efficient as that which has been rejected." And what did he do? My Lords, I have no hesitation in saying that, notwithstanding the opposition of this House, he brought in a measure stronger and worse than any of the measures before introduced; and this measure he wishes to force upon the House by a large creation of peers. How many peers, it is not necessary to state--it has not even been stated, by the n.o.ble Lords opposite: it is enough to say, a sufficient number to force the Reform Bill through the House. It is only necessary for me to state the proposition. If this be a legal and const.i.tutional course of conduct--if such projects can be carried into execution by a minister of the crown with impunity--there is no doubt that the const.i.tution of this House and of this country is at an end. I ask, my Lords, is there any body blind enough not to see that if a minister can, with impunity, advise his Sovereign to such an unconst.i.tutional exercise of his prerogative as to thereby decide all questions in this House, there is absolutely an end put to the power and objects of deliberation in this House--an end to all means of decision; I say, then, my Lords, thinking as I do, it was my duty to counsel his Majesty to resist the following of this advice; and, my Lords, my opinion is that the threat of carrying this measure of creation into execution, if it should have the effect of inducing n.o.ble Lords to absent themselves from the House, or to adopt any particular line of conduct, is just as bad as its execution; for, my Lords, it does by violence force a decision on this House--and on a subject, my Lords, on which this House is not disposed to give such a decision. It is true, my Lords, men may be led to adopt such a course, by reflecting, that if they do not adopt it, some 50 or 100 peers will be introduced, and thus deliberation and decision in this House be rendered impracticable; or men may be led to adopt it with the view of saving the Sovereign from the indignity of having so gross an alternative imposed upon him. But I say, my Lords, that the effect of any body of men agreeing publicly to such a course, will be to make themselves parties to this very proceeding, of which I say, we have so much reason to complain. The only course of proceeding at this eventful crisis, worthy of the men with whom I have the honour to be connected, was to advise his Majesty--was to counsel his Majesty--to resist the advice which had been given him, if he could find means of carrying on the government of the country without acceding to it. But this part of the transaction, my Lords, requires particular explanation upon my part--his Majesty insisted that some "extensive measure of reform" (I use his own words) "in the representation of the people" should be carried. I always was of opinion, and am still of opinion, that the measure of reform is unnecessary, and will prove most injurious to the country. But on the last occasion when I addressed your Lords.h.i.+ps,--in the committee on Monday se'nnight,--I stated my intention to endeavour to amend the bill in committee, and to do it honestly and fairly. Still, however, I thought that, amend it as we might in committee, it was not a measure which would enable the country to have a government capable of encountering the critical circ.u.mstances and serious difficulties to which every man must expect this country to be exposed. This was, my Lords,--this is, my opinion. I do not think that, under the influence of this measure, it is possible that any government can expect to overcome the dangers to which this country must be exposed. But my Lords, this was not the question before me; I was called on to a.s.sist my Sovereign in resisting a measure which would lead to the immediate overthrow of one branch of the legislature--a measure which would enable the ministry to carry through this house the whole bill unmodified, unimproved, and unmitigated. I had then, my Lords, only the choice of adopting such part of that bill as this house might please to send down to the House of Commons, suffering the government hereafter to depend upon the operation of that part of the bill rather than upon the whole bill, or else of suffering the whole bill to be carried, and the House of Lords to be destroyed. My Lords, my opinion is not altered; no part of the bill is safe; but undoubtedly, a part of the bill is better, that is to say, less injurious, than the whole bill; and, certainly, it must at least be admitted that it is better than the destruction of the const.i.tution of the country by the destruction of the independence of this house. Under these circ.u.mstances, my Lords, I gave my consent to a.s.sist his Majesty in forming a new government. I know many may be of opinion that I should have acted a more prudent part if I had looked to anterior circ.u.mstances, and if I had regarded the opinions and pledges I had given, and if, placing my attention exclusively upon the desire of acting a consistent part in public life, I had pursued a different course, and refused my a.s.sistance to his Majesty, I should have done better and more wisely.