Page images
PDF
EPUB

ance.

and bere he wished to be understood as marked by cruelty. But it was of great saying nothing which could be inferred to importance to the public how the sentence allude to the case of the borough of East of the law was executed ; for it might be, Retford-he had formed his opinion, and and often was, of consequence that such made his mind up, from the thousand cir- a mode should be adopted as might cumstances—some even minute ones- render the punishment an example to which were so often found in life to be the others. If, then, the House should desubstantive grounds on which persons were termine in its wisdom, that one of these often compelled to make up their minds offending boroughs should be delivered on matters of even considerable import- over to be dissected after execution, and

In the review of those circum- order the other to be hung in chains, no stances he could not exclude from his one could feel that the House had, in this mind the consideration, that the borough case, exercised towards the parties an act of Penryn was a Cornish borough, and of injustice. that Cornwall had forty-two representa- The House divided : For the original tives in that House : and here he would motion 213; Against it 34 : Majority observe, in answer to an appeal which had 179. The House then went into the combeen made to the House, by the hon. mittee. The preamble of the bill, transPresident of the Royal Society, in favour ferring the right of electing two members of the representation of Cornwall—let from the borough of Penryn to the town those persons whose interests were likely Manchester, was read and agreed to. to be affected provide in future that their Colonel Davies objected to the clause interests should be represented in parlia- by which the deposit for defraying the exment by competent persons. For himself, penses of the hustings, &c. was to be he should vote for the transfer of the returned to the successful, but not to the franchise of Penryn to a large commercial unsuccessful candidates. community, because he considered it a fair Lord J. Russell said, the object of the line of conduct to pursue, as the House clause was to prevent vexatious contests. had now two delinquent boroughs to deal If such a provision were not introduced, a with, and with propriety, therefore, could person possessed neither of property, adopt the principle of alternation in this nor a chance of success, might, by setting particular instance.

himself up as a candidate, throw the town Lord F. L. Gower said, that opposed into an uproar. as he had generally been, on the question Mr. Wynn disapproved of the clause in of reform in parliament, to many who had question. Either none of the candidates taken a part in the debate, he still thought should be called upon to pay any share of that, in the present instance, a case had the expenses incident to the election, or been made out for disfranchising this par- they should all defray them in an equal ticular borough. He felt it his duty to proportion. defend his right hon. friend from the Mr. Secretary Peel thought the fairest charge which had been made against him, provision under the circumstances would by the hon. member for Corfe Castle, who be, that no party should be considered described his right hon, friend as having qualified as a candidate, unless he was waited to make up his mind upon the prepared to defray his proportion of the question, until the case of the delinquency necessary expenses of the election; which of East Retford arose, so as to furnish he certainly was of opinion ought to be himself with an argument to aggravate the exacted from all the parties, successful as offence of the former delinquency. Such well as unsuccessful. an inference was unauthorized in fact, and The clause was agreed to. On the unjust to his right hon. friend. The clause limiting the number of days the cases of these delinquent boroughs re- poll was to be kept open, sembled very strikingly the cases of two Mr. Ross wished to knot why Manchespersons found guilty of offences, which ter was only to be allowed three days to poll, rendered them liable to the severest when other places were allowed fifteen. penalty the law could inflict. If, pur- Lord J. Russell replied, that Manchessuant to that sentence, they were doomed ter was a very populous town, and his to die, it was of little consequence to object was, by limiting the period, to prethemselves how that sentence was exe- vent those riots which frequently took cuted, provided it were speedy; and un- place at elections.

Mr. Huskisson said, there was scarcely that collision of hostile feelings which, on one clause in the bill which could be re-points of religion, is of all things most to conciled with the provisions of the general | be avoided. With respect to the proposed law regulating elections. In fact, the Declaration, and to the clauses accompanyprovisions of some of the clauses were so ing it, it was impossible for me then to inconvenient, that it would be impossible agree to them, having heard them on that to reduce them to practice. He therefore occasion for the first time, and being imsuggested, that it would be advisable to pressed with the feeling that it would be go no further with the bill at present. imprudent for me, on a question where the

Lord J. Russell observed, that he and interests of so many were at stake, to allow those who acted with him were anxious to myself to be concluded at once by any preserve order at the elections, and it was form of words. At the same time it appossible that they might have gone further peared to me, that the proposition of the than was necessary in the pursuit of that right hon. Secretary did not comprehend object. He could not, however, adopt any thing in its terms unsuited to the obthe suggestion of the right hon. gentle-ject which I had in view. The points to man, as it would be productive of delay. which I felt myself bound to look were,

Mr. Sugden thought it would be ad- that the Dissenters should not be restrainvantageous to postpone that and the re-ed from the expression of their religious maining clauses, until the other two bills opinions; that they should not be molested were brought before the House.

for retaining them; and that they should Dr. Phillimore admitted that the sug- not be prevented from teaching and inculgestion would have been a good one if cating them to others. In these respects, they could be sure that the other bills after deeply considering the Declaration would pass; but as they could not be proposed by the right hon. Secretary, I feel sure of that, it would be wrong to make bound to say, that I do not find that it the present bill depend on remote con- imposes any restraints on the religious tingency.

liberty of individuals. It merely restrains Mr. G. Lamb thought the machinery of them from exercising any influence which the bill was altogether too cumbersome. they may obtain, by virtue of any office to He did not see why, if it should be de- which they be appointed, to weaken the cided to give the franchise to Manchester, Established Church, or to subvert its legal they should not subject the elections in that rights and privileges. I therefore am of town to the same general laws which af- opinion, that it would be extremely unadfected other elections.

visable in me to propound or maintain any Lord J. Russell consented to withdraw objection to the Declaration which has been the clause, as the sense of the committee proposed. On the contrary, I feel that it appeared to be decidedly against it. would be extremely wrong in me not to

The bill, with the amendments, was admit it into the bill as a very essential then reported to the House.

means of pacifying the country on this

most important subject. In making this CORPORATION AND Test Acts Re- opinion known, I cannot but think it due PEAL BILL.] On the order of the day to the right hon. Secretary to declare, that being read,

as far as I have observed his conduct on Lord John Russell said.-In rising to this bill, he has been most anxious to move that the House do now go into a bring the question to such a point as may committee on this important bill, I feel prevent the conscientious scruples of any it necessary to say a few words. When Dissenter from being affected, and as may it was last under discussion, upon the satisfy the Church that it need apprehend proposition of a right hon. gentleman op- no injury from the admission of Dissenters posite, seconded by the right hon. Secre- into civil offices. Viewing the Declaration tary for the Home Department, for insert- in this light, I shall offer no objection to ing a Declaration in it, to be taken by all the clauses of the right hon. Secretary; Dissenters on their entry into office, I and I trust that when they are inserted agreed to the principles on which they into the bill in their amended form, they rested it, not because I thought it either will render it acceptable, not only to this necessary or important, but because I be- but to the other House of Parliament. lieved it to be likely to render the bill more

The House then went into the com satisfactory to all parties, and to prevent | mittee. On the second clause being read,

a

Mr. Secretary Peel said, the only ob- not close without our having every quesjection which I have heard urged against tion satisfactorily arranged, with respect to the course which I recommended the Dissenters from the Church of England. House, on a former evening, to follow, Lord Nugent said, that the proposed arises out of this clause; and I am inform- Declaration was one of the mildest and ed that it appears to some persons, to give least offensive that could have been dethe king a power to dispense with this De- vised: and that the right hon. Secretary claration. "My opinion is, that it gives no merited the thanks of the country, for the such power: at any rate, I know that I manner in which he had acceded to the did not intend that it should. The ques- proposition of his noble friend. There was tion, as far as it refers to this point, is not one point, however, which he wished to without its difficulties. By the law as it suggest. He thought that the office of now stands, any one who enters into the privy councillor was one which subjected king's service, or receives the king's wages, the holder of it to taking sacramental or acts as his menial servant, is compelled test. to take the Sacramental Test.

He is re

Mr. Peel.—He is covered by the annual lieved, however, from that compulsion by bill of indemnity. the Annual Indemnity act. If that act were Lord Nugent.--Exactly so: a privy not to be passed, he would be under an councillor would be compelled, unless he obligation to take the Sacramental Test, were covered by the act of indemnity. If however menial the office might be in that were the case, then he would be called which he served his majesty. If I am on to make the proposed Declaration. Asentitled by the Test and Corporation Acts suming, then, that a privy councillor was to call upon every person who enters his both to take the sacramental test under majesty's service to take the Sacramental the old bill, and therefore liable to make Test, I am entitled, by the proposed act to the Declaration under the present bill, make every person who would now be there might be cases, and those not excompelled to take that test make the pro-treme ones, in which a man, not nicely posed Declaration. Now, in many cases, scrupulous, but only properly conscienthe performance of such a ceremony would tious, might find the Declaration to be at not only be superfluous, but absurd. For variance with the oath which he had taken instance, what could be more useless and as a privy councillor. The oath which a absurd than to make a man, who is going privy councillor took, bound him to adto enter upon office on a foreign station, vise the king according to the best of his make a declaration that he will not, by discretion, and to observe, keep, and do virtue of that office, attempt to subvert the all that a good and true councillor ought privileges of the Church of England ? It to do to his sovereign lord. Now, cases would be difficult to specify in words all touching the disposal of church property the cases in which it would be imperative might arise, in which the Declaration, that the party should make the Declara- which bound him not to employ the intion, and equally difficult to specify the fluence of his office to weaken the church cases where an exception to that rule establishment might be in direct opposiought to be allowed. The object of this tion with the oath of a privy councillor, clause was to enable his majesty at his which bound him to advise for the king's discretion to specify those offices in which honour and the good of the public. It it would be necessary to exact the pro- might be supposed in such cases by conposed Declaration. The object of it was, scientious men, that the Declaration was not to dispense with the Declaration en- to supersede and ride over the oath which tirely, but to allow his majesty to name they had taken. He did not know whewhat officers should and what officers ther the right hon. gentleman would make should not be called upon to make it. any exception in this clause on behalf of This is all that I have to say on this sub- privy councillors; but it did appear to him ject at present. I will, however, repeat, that, as the clause now stood, it might that I am satisfied with the security which excite some uneasiness in the minds of this Declaration offers. I am not prepared persons of tender consciences. to make any alteration in it to please the The clause was agreed to, and the House wishes of any party. All that has passed resumed. since I proposed it, confirms me in the sanguine hope that the present session will

[ocr errors]

HOUSE OF LORDS. in enforcing demands with which the

Porte had not hitherto been disposed to Tuesday, March 25.

comply, no one would contend that a most TURKEY AND Russia.] Earl Grey, material change had not taken place in seeing the noble Secretary for Foreign the situation of affairs between Russia Affairs in his place, would ask him a ques- and the Porte, since the commencetion on a subject of the greatest import- ment of the present session ; when the ance. He had hitherto abstained from Speech from the Throne stated, after saying one word on the present situation speaking of the occurrence at Navarino, of affairs in the east of Europe, not because that notwithstanding that action, his mahe did not feel the utmost anxiety with jesty “still entertains a confident hope respect to the determination of ministers that this untoward event will not be fólrelative to the state of affairs in that lowed by further hostilities.” Now, that quarter of the globe, and the possible re- hope could not be said to exist, if there sults which might issue from that state of was a declaration, though short of a dethings, but because he had been fearful of claration of war, authoritatively and offiadding, by any thing he might say, to the cially made, expressing any intention difficulties in which he was too sensible which would make a speedy termination ministers were placed on that subject ;- of the state of peace inevitable. He theredifficulties of such a nature, that one false fore wished ministers to state, as far as step might risk our being involved in a they could consistently with their duty, general war; and he was not prepared to whether he was to understand by those pronounce with any confidence, even now, words, that there had been no change in that with the most cautious policy, we the relations subsisting between Russia should be secured from that calamity. and the Porte, to diminish that hope of Under the influence of that feeling, he had the continuance of peace, hitherto abstained from saying one word The Earl of Dudley said, he was exon that important subject, wishing that tremely anxious to give their lordships ministers should be allowed time deliber- and the public all the satisfaction that he ately to examine the situation they were could consistently with his duty, on that placed in. The same feeling would have most important subject to which the noble induced him to pursue on the present oc- lord had alluded; but he trusted the noble casion, the same conduct, if there had not earl would be satisfied when he told him, been made very recently, under the highest for the present, that certain intentions had authority, a statement, which, if correctly been announced on the part of Russia, reported, could not be too speedily con- which very much diminished the chance firmed; but which, if otherwise, ought, in of maintaining the existing peace between order to obviate the inconveniences which Russia and the Porte. Government, howmight follow, to be as speedily corrected. ever, had as yet received no accounts of The statement he alluded to was to the those intentions having been carried into following effect ,-“ That ministers had effect. That the hope of maintaining received no information of any change peace between Russia and the Porte had having taken place in the relations exist- much diminished since his Majesty's ing between Russia and the Ottoman communication was made to their lordships Porte, or any declaration of war between on the first day of the session, there was those parties.” That there had been no no doubt; but no account had yet been actual declaration of war, either communi-received of peace having been actually cated to his majesty's ministers, or in fact violated. issued, he certainly believed ; but he could easily understand, that short of a declara

IIOUSE OF COMMONS. tion of war there might be a change in the relations existing between two powers

Tuesday, March 25. not less material than if war had actually East RetroRD DISFRANCHISEMENT taken place. If measures had been entered Bull.] On the motion of Alderman into-iftreaties had been broken—if troops Waithman, William Leadbeater was called had been assembled and placed in hostile in, received the following reprimand from positions, from which they might actand the Speaker, and was discharged : if a declaration had been made to minis- “ William Leadbeater, you are now ters of a determination to act immediately I brought to the Bar of this House in order

a

to your being reprimanded, and then dis- before the House, the number of inhabited charged. The offence for which you houses in England, Wales, and Scotland were committed to his Majesty's Gaol of in 1801, was one million five hundred and Newgate was for attempting by gross seventy-five thousand two hundred and falsehood to obstruct, and, if possible, to thirty; in 1811, it had increased to two defeat, an examination in which this million one hundred and one thousand House was engaged; an attempt as un- houses ; and in 1821, to two million four availing and as scandalous in itself as it hundred and twenty nine thousand six was insulting to this House, and subversive hundred and thirty houses. The amount of its privileges.

of duty paid in England, Wales, and Scot“ In your Petition you express a hope land upon insurances from fire, was that the time during which you have been 547,845l., which covered property to the imprisoned in Newgate may be considered extent of about 400,000,0001. sterling. as an expiation of your offence. I know This sum might appear large, yet it was, not upon what grounds you entertain such in fact, small, compared with the real hope. This House can, and in pity to amount of capital invested. According your wife and children will

, release you to the best calculation, 400,000,0001. from further imprisonment, but the expia- sterling was not more than one third, or tion of your offence must depend on your one fourth of the property in England, future conduct. By honesty, industry, Wales, and Scotland, liable to be destroyand integrity, you can alone hope to ed by fire. The petitioners were unanimobliterate that stain from your character ously of opinion, therefore, that if the duty which you have yourself inflicted on it, were reduced to one half, insurances and to become a support instead of a dis- would be greatly multiplied, and the grace and burthen to your family. I am revenue increased; that it would be follownow to acquaint you, that you are dis- ed, in short, by the same results that had charged from further confinement." attended the reduction of duty upon wine,

coffee, and other articles; while private DUTY ON INSURANCES.] Mr. Alder- losses and distress would thereby be man Thompson rose to present a petition greatly avoided. The Royal Exchange from the Insurance Offices of London and and London Assurance Companies also Westminster. It was signed by Iwo dealt in marine risks, the duty upon which, chartered companies—the Royal Exchange in 1814, amounted to not less than and the London Assurance—and by fifteen 485,0661., which had been gradually reother bodies of the same kind, which had duced, . until, in 1826, it had fallen to been established with a capital of many | 219,6291. The cause of this diminution millions. They contended, that the rate was very obvious—that Insurance Offices of duty on Fire Insurances had sensibly had been established on various parts of affected their progress, and lessened the the continent, and in the United States of amount of property that would otherwise America. The premium in London upon have been insured ; they confidently a policy from London to Calais, was 5s. believed that a reduction of the duty would per 1001., and upon 10,0001. the amount increase the practice of Insurance, and of premium would be 251., and the duty thus indemnify the country from any loss upon it no less than 121. 10s. Bullion in the revenue. The duty amounted to a was the great article of commerce between tax in some cases of one hundred per cent. London and Calais, and as there was no The subject was of vast importance, not corresponding duty in France, what cost only to the petitioners but to the public at here 371. 10s. for the insurance, might large; and when it was stated that an in- there be done for 25l. The same proporsurer to the extent of 20s. paid 40s. duty tions were kept in the insurances to Holupon his policy, it would be obvious how land ; the premium being 7s. 6d. per cent much it must obstruct insurances, and the and the duty as before 121. 10s. On a effect was, to increase the destruction of voyage to the United States, the duty was property and the loss to individuals, 21s. per 1001., and the duty upon it especially in the middle classes of society. twenty per cent. The hon, member then The duty first imposed in 1782, amounted read a letter from a large manufacturer of to ls. 6d. per cent.; in 1798, it was in Birmingham, complaining that the heavy creased to 2s.; in 1804, to 2s. 6d.; and duty operated most grievously upon all in 1816, to 3s. According to returns / shipments to the United States, and was a

[ocr errors]

a

« PreviousContinue »