Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/369

 did produce, an impression that they were the determined friends and advocates of what was understood 88 protection to the industry of this corptry (bear, hear, hear); and while he said that their subsequent measures had been in many respects useful and not pernicious, that was no ground of confidence in then on the part of any party, for it could Dot be denied that they had, by declaring against our course of policy, carried the election of 1841, and having thus obtained office, bad proposed measures, which he admitted to be beneficial to the country, but at the same time opposed to those declarations. (Hear, hear.) As the right honourable baronet had raised this question of confidence, this was his (Lord John Russell's) answer. But if the honourable baronet, the member for Essex, after what he had said, should take the course of the honourable baronet the member for Devon (Sir J. Y. Buller) in 1841, and move a vote of want of confidence in the government, he (Lord J. Russell) should hesitate before he agreed with him in that motion (hear, bear); for what he had to consider now was how they were likely best to carry into effect those measures which were most favourable to their principles. He say very well that if those who now sat on the opposition benches were in office, and were to propose liberal measures, they would be opposed by the bonourable baronet, the member for Essex—very consistently, no doubt; for the honourable baronet had not intimated any change in his opinions—they would be opposed by the honourable baropet and his friends, and by those now in office, and be defeated. Therefore, desiring to see measures in conformity with those principles he had declared, and endeavoured to carry when in office, carried into effect, he felt that his better course was not to vote with the honourable baronet, the member for Essex, in favour of such & motion, if proposed, against the present government. These were his opinions, not only as to the general question of import duties and these resolutions, but as to that of confidence in the government. He thought if those whig principles he and his friends advocated were to be carried into effect, they would, under present circumstances, be more likely to be carried into effect by the present government than by their opponents. (Hear, hear.)"

When the House went to a division, there appeared:—

The House again divided on the previous question, when the ministers' desire to prevent Lord John Russell's reso-