Report of the public reception, and the speeches delivered at the dinner to Lord Durham, on Wednesday, 29th October, 1834 / Taken in shorthand by Mr. Simon McGregor.

  • McGregor, Simon.
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the public reception, and the speeches delivered at the dinner to Lord Durham, on Wednesday, 29th October, 1834 / Taken in shorthand by Mr. Simon McGregor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    crude and undigested measures. In the first place, we want mea¬ sures ; then we wish them to be well considered, and fairly brought forward, and not subjected to that mutilation and compromise, the ill effects of which I pointed out at a former dinner. (Loud cheering.) And, in alluding to that subject, I wish it to be clearly understood* that all I meant was, that we should not compromise with our ene¬ mies, not] that we should not defer to the opinions of friends. (Loud cheers.) There is no real reformer will not yield to the sense of the ma¬ jority, or to the sense of those whom he believes to be actuated by the same motives and intentions. (Cheers.) But what I object to is mutila¬ tion and compromise, for the purpose of gaining over an enemy who is it not be propitiated. I have alluded to the difficulties in which the Government is placed, and which gained them so much support in the House of Commons. One of those difficulties, which is of a very peculiar nature, and which I have not seen pointed out to the attention of the public, I will venture to call your attention to. We have a liberal administration, professing liberal principles, supported and maintained by an immense liberal majority in the House of Commons. That majority is returned by a liberal constituency ; and yet with the Government thus constituted, thus maintained, and thus sup¬ ported, they are surrounded, in every department of the State, by Tory subalterns. The patronage of the army and of the Church is exercised by Tories, for the benefit of Tories. (Loud cheers and laughter.) All appointments by bishops, by judges, by magistrates, and by lords lieutenant, are Tory. (Cheers, and a cry of “ Shame !”) The diplomacy of the country is composed nearly of the same per¬ sons, with very few exceptions, as in the time of Lord Liverpool, and is entirely Tory. In short, the inferior instruments through which the liberal measures of a liberal government are to be carried into effect, are anti-liberal. (Cheers.) How, I ask you, gentlemen, is it possible that such a system can work harmoniously or benefici¬ ally to the interests of the country?—(Cheers, and cries of “ No.” Far rather would I have a Tory government, acting avowedly with Tory agents—for then we should have our enemies before us, and not behind our backs—than I would have a liberal government, neutralized, checked, and thwarted by those who ought to be the main source of its efficiency. (Cheers.) Am I not right, then, in saying that Government is surrounded with difficulties ? On whom, then, should they rely ? I say they ought to rely upon the House of Commons, and upon the liberals of England—upon the people, who have once before borne them triumphant through all their difficulties. (Tremendous cheers.) And it is with a full conviction of this necessity, aud a full sense of the deep gratitude which they and we owe to those who stood forward, under most trying- circumstances, to afford them relief, and to support the liberties of the country, that I come to the toast that has been placed in my hands (Long-continued cheering). I am required by the stewards to give a sentiment in which I most cordially concur;
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