THE SPEAKER OF THE REFORMED HOUSE OF
COMMONS.
MR. MANNER S S UTTON, having been refused a Peerasre by the • King, acting under the advice, of his Whig Minister,. is evidently manceuvering to get himself -re-elected Speaker. His paramount claims to this distinction are strongly advocated. in the John Bull: of last Sunday. The Morning Post, it seems, not being in the secret, or conceiving the election of an old Tory to be hopeless, has pointed out Mr. CHARLES WYNNE as a proper person to fill the chair. The Post probably considers a Trimmer to be better than a Whig or a Radical. For our own parts, we prefer a Tory to a Trimmer ; but there is no necessity for choosing either. We have been aware for some time past, that the partisans and employes of the late Speaker were striving to ascertain what chance there was of his re-election. For this purpose, they have invented a story of the King having requested him to resume his former office. We suppose that few persons of the commonest discretion have credited this absurd tale. No one, of course, knows better than his present Majesty, that one of the most indis- putable privileges of the House of Commons, is that of electing their Speaker; and that Royal interference in the exercise of this privilege, whether direct or indirect, would be as unconstitu- tional as indecent.
But then, it is urged that we shall save the late Speaker's re- tiring pension by re-electing him. This argument is hypocriti- cally used. The persons who advance it care nothing about saving the nation 4,000/. a-year. Their object is to annoy the Reformers, by placing in the Chair a leader of their party, who, they imagine, may thwart some of the most useful working members by insist- ing upon the observance of old forms, which are really productive only of delay and embarrassment. They want an auxiliary in their efforts to retard improvement in the working of the House of Commons; and they expect to find an efficient one in a Tory Speaker. Still, we admit the force of an economical argument, by whomsoever it may be used. There is room for retrench- ment in the enormous sum of 59,282/. which is now annually paid to the different officers of the House. We would save the 4,0001_ per annum in this way. But we should consider it very bad eco- nomy to place a foe to improvement in the office of Speaker, merely for the purpose of savine. 4,000/. per annum. We are told by the fain Bull, that Mr. -.',ENNERS SUTTON is C'an ill-used and neglected servant of the country ;" and that; " by the unanimous decision of its Representatives, he has ful- filled the important duties of his high office in the most admirable manner."' Now, if Mr. SUTTON had retired, as he stated he was about to do, and had not been again thrust forward in this way, we should never have brought his qualifications as Speaker into question. But since such very great stress is laid upon the pre- eminent talents which he displayed, and men of all parties are called upon to sink their political dititreaces and re-elect him, we think it right to remind the public, that better evidence of his extraordinary worth and ability should be required, than a com- plimentary resolution to an old servant,—a remarkably plausible and agreeable man,—who solemnly professed his intention to re- tire from the stage. We all know how easily such resolutions Under such circumstances are passed. As at the last appearance of an old actor at Drury Lane, all applauded, they scarcely knew. why, and no one hissed. It is true, that with performers on the boards, the announcement of a last appearance is often merely a manceuvre to cheat the public out of a good benefit; and the old. favourite soon reappears. But the Speaker of the House of Com- mons ought to be superior to such stage-tricks. BuaRE reminded former Speaker, that he was " the first gentleman of England.- Now we wish Mr. Al .INNERS SUTTON would recollect that " gen- tlemen" must sometimes give way to men of business ; and that although he mie-ht be an admirable Chairman of an assembly four-fifths of whose members had little except their" gentility" to recommend them, it by no means follows that he is the right man o occupy the same post in the Reformed Parliament. It will also be remembered, that he formally announced his resignation him- self. The Boroughmongering Parliament expired, and its Speaker became defunct at the same time. No one ever dreamed of his coming to life again; but thought that he had made an appro- priate and final exit. His pension was voted under this impres- sion.
We call upon the admirers of Mr. 'MANNERS SUTTON to state what lucid decisions on disputed points of Parliamentary practice he has given—what improved regulations for the quicker despatch. of business be has introduced—what reforms and retrenchments lie has recommended and carried through in his own peculiar de- partment? We are willing; to allow, that Mr. MANNERS SUTTON was re- gular in his attendance, and conciliatory and dignified in his de- meanour. But all this is mere acting, and may coexist with lamentable deficiency in higher qualifications. There are many men upon the stage who could soon acquire these agreeable arts. It requires no great share of intellect to take a prodigious quantity of snuff, to chat agreeably with men of all parties, to cry" Order at the Bar I" in a sonorous voice, or even to mystify a really diffi- cult point with well-rounded periods signifying nothing. Surely 6,0001. per annum during his tenure of office, and 4,0001. on his retirement therefrom, is a sufficient reward for such services and. qualities as these. Yet we are told, forsooth, that Mr. MANNERS SUTTON iS aim ill-used individual ; and as the King declines making him a Peer, the Commons must unanimously reappoint him their Speaker. If such be the disposition of the new Parlia- ment, farewell, for the present, to all our hopes of' amendment in their hours and method of transacting the business of the country. In every point of view, it would be difficult to imagine a more in- auspicious commencenient of their labours,
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