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tices at Elections Bill. Well, then let us | Well, I do not think that geological knowlook at the machinery by which this Bill is ledge in this country is too extensive-and to be worked out. The Commissioners a present of maps should be encouraged are to hold courts of inquiry on the spot. rather than be repressed. But if Bodmin They are to proceed in the gravest manner and Bolton are to be omitted, why should to put an old man and woman to the rack not Sligo and Lancaster? Some person, about a glass of brandy and water and a it seems, threw the names into the lion's slice of mutton, or a pint of half-and-half. | mouth in the same manner, and why were The Commissioners are to come down from they permitted to remain? I think it is London, open an inquiry in the market- highly objectionable that this Bill should house, or other public building," with not have been reprinted, and an accurate great expense and great solemnity, about schedule of the intentions of the Governa plate of mutton and a glass of beer. ment put before us. I think, too, that we And then the unfortunate old man and ought to have some more formal notice of woman that have accepted this treat are a measure to disfranchise the people of to be frightened out of their wits, and to England. [The SOLICITOR GENERAL: It be obliged to travel several miles, it may was three times on the Votes.] On the be, to be tested about this awful corrup- Votes! Why, not one Member in fifty ever tion. And then, says the Bill, the Com- sees the Votes. I think that a notice of missioners must publish the notice of such so important a character should have been investigation in some newspaper in general given in a more solemn way. I will ask circulation. This awful affair about the the House whether so important a matter old man and woman having the slice of ought to be treated in so flippant a manmutton and glass of beer is to be made the ner? I think, too, that the whole argusubject of all this parade, all this exposure ment of the hon. and learned Gentleman and judicial paraphernalia. But this is not (the Solicitor General) was unworthy of wild hypothesis-this is the dry substance himself. The Government ought to have of an Act of Parliament brought forward come forward with a clear statement of by Her Majesty's Solicitor General; and what they intend. It is not altogether these are the instances selected to justify that these two boroughs, in this flippant his legislation. Now, I ask the House, manner, are taken out of this Bill of pains can anything make legislation more farci- and penalties; but what will be the effect cal; and is it possible that the House of produced upon the public? You call upon Commons can for a moment lend its sanc- the country to sanction what is, at the first tion to such conduct? Had it been straight- sight, one of the greatest invasions of the forward and stupid legislation, the House constituent privileges that can be contemmight have tolerated it. But it was stupid, plated, and you hold out to the country and at the same time subtle-and so ma- that you have not ventured to take the naged, that hon. Gentlemen who sat on step until after the most matured investithe other side of the House, if they sup- gation, and the deepest and wisest counsel. ported the Government-may escape the But what does the Crown officer say toimpending disaster. This admixture of the night with a frankness that does him lower motives of Parliamentary life, and honour? Why, that the Bill was prepared such pretended purity of legislation, will in a haphazard manner that names of not be lost upon the country. We are now boroughs were flung across the table of told as suddenly as their insertion was pro- the House, and that he inserted them in posed, that two boroughs are to be omitted this black law-that an hon. Gentleman, in this black list. I want to know why not now present, over the green table, said, Sligo and Lancaster, neither of which are if you insert such a borough, why not inin the printed schedule, have not been also sert such another borough-and that the omitted by the hon. and learned Gentle- Solicitor General, in order to show that man (the Solicitor General) along with there was no such thing as party feeling, Bolton and Bodmin? Why are their names says he is ready for anything, and takes to be retained, and Bolton and Bodmin left the first name which is thrown over the out? And why should Bolton and Bodmin table, and inserts it in this Bill to disfranescape with impunity? I should be sorry chise the people of England. After the for our legislation to be annoying to the strange confessions of the Solicitor General learned Doctor opposite (Dr. Bowring), or to-night, the Committee, I think, will do to the hon. Gentleman who gave such well to take a little more time for considsplendid maps to the borough of Bodmin. eration, before it proceeds with this Bill.

We ought to move that you, Sir, report position, exclaiming that in sparing Bodprogress, in order that the Government min we could only be acting from corrupt may come forward with a measure more motives; that he would not have thought matured and better founded. The hon. of omitting Bodmin and Bolton, if the and learned Member's proposition ought to Members for Bodmin and Bolton had not be sanctioned, not only by the evidence as been supported by Government; and so init exists, but by their own counsel; and I ferring that all supporters of Government hope the Government will not attempt to had nothing to fear. Now let the House take a course which, as regards the people observe the tact with which this was of England, is the most important that managed. Had Bodmin been retained in they could take, without a little more schedule, what an outcry we should have thought and consideration for the public had! The hon. Member for Dorsetshire rights and public opinion. That the Go- would have taken up the cry-Government vernment may have the opportunity of pur- were acting most unjustly-here was a suing that course, I move that the Chair- great case of hardship: a borough disman report progress, and ask leave to sit franchised for a couple of slices of cold mutagain. ton and a glass of brandy and water. now came the stratagem-now appeared the obvious advantage of leaders of Opposition marching different ways-one Gentleman very indignant at the insertion of Bodmin-the other Gentleman very indignant at the omission of Bodmin. The hon. Gentleman the Member for Buckingham

But

LORD JOHN RUSSELL said, that he could not but admire the tactics which on this occasion were pursued by the hon. Gentleman. They were quite new, exceedingly ingenious, and might be found of great use, if not in promoting the public welfare-if not in attaining any measure useful to the State-at least in embarrass-shire talked of this Bill as brought in to ing the progress of measures which might have such objects in view. He had heard it lately made a matter of regret that there was not at present a leader of Opposition in the House-a leader who might in some degree control, and be responsible, for the conduct of the party who followed him. But although that was the state of things which existed in former days, he could not but observe that Gentlemen opposite had now found a better plan. They had two leaders of Opposition, who it appeared were to adopt two different lines of policy. His hon. and learned Friend, the Solicitor General, yielding, it might be, too soon and too easily to suggestions from the other side of the House relative to Bodmin, presented an opportunity for the new school of tactics to be displayed. First, then, got up the hon. Member for Dorsetshire, one of the leaders of the Opposition, and he considered that Bodmin had been inserted in the schedule on far too light groundsthat there had not been sufficient evidence adduced to justify its appearance there at all. The hon. Gentleman was supported in that view. The general sense of the House appeared to be with him. There was no charge against the sitting Member -the charges which were made against the electoral body were confined to a few persons. Such being the case, his hon. and learned Friend consented to leave Bodmin out of the schedule. Up immediately started the other leader of the Op

produce the effect of the last scene in a melodrama. If it were a melodrama, certainly both the hon. Gentlemen the Members for Dorsetshire and Buckinghamshire played well their parts, having settled beforehand that one hon. Gentlemen was to be indignant at the insertion of Bodmin, while the other was to be indignant at its omission. He thought that in bringing forward this Bill, and asking the consent of the House to it, the only fair ground they could take was, the assertions of the different reports of Committees appointed by the House. The hon. Member for Oxfordshire said that they ought to have pursued a different course; and he begged the Committee to consider what would have been the case if they had taken that course. Was his hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor General to have gone through the evidence in each of these cases, and without attending to the report of the Committeewas he to have carefully weighed the value of the evidence of every witness, and have determined how much criminality attached to each? If they had come forward and had said, "We have gone through the evidence in the case of fifteen boroughs; we do not rely on the reports, but we have made up our minds that, as to twelve of these boroughs, there is sufficient evidence, and that as to three there is not"-only conceive what a case the hon. Member for Oxfordshire would have had to have followed through all the evidence. He

would have said, "They proceed entirely | would redound to the character of the House that they should show themselves ready to investigate the cases and adopt such measures; and he was sure that hon. Gentlemen who had given as much oppo

party measure of the Government, would find themselves, by maintaining the character of Parliament, as much gainers as any other parties.

on party grounds. I will show you on the evidence of John Brown and Thomas White, you ought to have inserted this borough, and omitted the other." It would have lasted the hon. Member for Oxford-sition to this measure as if it had been a shire, with his ingenuity and readiness in picking holes and taking an advantage, for a whole year; and they would have been sitting on this Bill till Christmas. If they had fallen into that trap, he was quite sure MR. HENLEY said, that in this disthe hon. Member would have delighted in cussion they had had tragedy, comedy, the torments he would have inflicted on and melodrame, and it would be well if them, and he knew not when the hon. at last they did not come to farce. The Member would have let them out of it. noble Lord had said that there was a He thought they had taken a far better private understanding on that side of the course in saying they would go by the re- House to take a particular line; but did port of the Committees. From nothing it not occur to the noble Lord—he was sure which he had heard to-night, or on various it would to the country-that no Gentleother nights (and they had had somewhat man, or set of Gentlemen, or human being, long and not very amusing discussion on could have imagined that the Government this subject), had he been at all persuaded would take the course it had done. Was that it was not right in Parliament to pro- it very hard to conceive that on a question ceed and carry a Bill of this kind. His affecting the rights and the franchise of impression was, that after the number of the people of this country, that the GoCommittees they had had sitting this year, vernment would have put places into the and the number of those Committees who schedule of the Bill without examination, had declared that, in certain cases there and then without examination put them were practices which had prevailed, not out? In the whole history of Parliament, only in late elections, but in many former such another instance could not be found. elections, either of bribery or treating, he The noble Lord found fault with him (Mr. thought it was due to the country that Henley) because he wished the evidence there should be some further investigation; to be looked to; but that was the natural and that Parliament should have before it course for any one who wished to come to the means of carefully considering what a correct conclusion. But the operation measures they should adopt on this sub- of the Bill, after all, was like hanging a ject. If they shut their eyes and said man first and trying him afterwards. Was they would take no further proceedings, it not a fact that both the Committee and they would throw great suspicion on their the Commission would commence their conduct. His belief was that they had labours with a foregone conclusion? He taken the fairest method of investigation-contended that they were not in a position the most impartial mode of investigation by requiring the Committee to be formed like Election Committees; and if these Committees thought it advisable to have the examination on the spot, then to have a commissioner named by the senior Judge who appointed the revising barrister. He believed that was at least an impartial course. These boroughs, as he had said, were taken out of this general mass, on account of these reports being made; and when they were asked what course they should pursue after these reports were made, he must say that must depend on the nature of the evidence and the opinion of the Committee. At all events, he thought that, by this strict inquiry, they would show they were ready to condemn these corrupt practices. He believed it

to go further with the Bill that night; from the conduct of the Government it was more and more apparent that they ought not to proceed hastily. He thought the proceedings of to-night would go far to satisfy the people of England that Members of this House were inclined to "strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." The very hair on their head seemed to stand on end at hearing that a poor unfortunate devil had got a glass of beer for his vote; and yet when an hon. Member got up and complained of their inserting his borough in the schedule, though he had supported the Government for the last three months, that instant the borough was taken out of the Bill.

DR. BOWRING said, after what had passed, he could not consent to Bolton

being withdrawn. He denied that the Government could have been influenced to withdraw it from party motives; for his hon. Colleague invariably voted against Government, and he gave them by no means an unqualified support. But he courted inquiry, and he was sure if there were vile and corrupt people among electors, it was for the interest of all parties that they should be exposed.

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COLONEL THOMPSON: This comes of "that same giving back." A stratagem of war, of course a blameless one, is played off upon us from the opposite side of the House. Resistance is made to putting two boroughs into the schedule; and when the Government concedes the point, it is told it was because the Members roughs voted on their side. to get out of this position, is vernment side of the House to insist on coming to a division, and then their constituents will know what every man supported. The tendency of leaving these boroughs out of the schedule, is plainly to give ground for maintaining that treating is not bribery. Bribery is admitted to be a sin; but treating was never prohibited. The distinction is taken from that chaplain to Newgate, who said, "If you will drink, let it be punch, which is a liquor nowhere spoken against in Scripture.' This side of the House knows full well, that treating operates against the purity of election as well as bribery, and that the object of both is the same, to give the decision of elections to the longest purse. The only way for the independent Members on the Government side to clear themselves, would be to go to a division. The Committee divided on the question that the Chairman do report progress :Ayes 35; Noes 116: Majority 81. List of the AYES.

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List of the NOES.

Abdy, T. N.
Adair, H. E.
Adair, R. A. S.
Anson, hon. Col.
Armstrong, Sir A.
Armstrong, R. B.
Bagshaw, J.
Barnard, E. G.
Barron, Sir H. W.
Bellew, R. M.
Berkeley, hon. Capt.
Berkeley, hon. C. F.
Blackall, S. W.
Bowring, Dr.
Boyle, hon. Col.
Brocklehurst, J.
Brockman, E. D.
Brotherton, J.
Brown, W.
Buller, C.
Bunbury, E. H.
Buxton, Sir E. N.
Callaghan, D.
Christy, S.
Clay, J.
Clay, Sir. W.
Clements, hon. C. S.
Cobden, R.
Cowper, hon. W. F.
Craig, W. G.
Dick, 'Q.
Douglas, Sir C. E.
Duncan, G.
Duncuft, J.
Ebrington, Viset.

Dundas, Adm.

Elliot, hon. J. E.
Fagan, W.
Ferguson, Sir R. A.
FitzPatrick, rt. hon. J.
Fortescue, hon. J. W.
Fox, W. J.

Gladstone, rt. hon. W. E.
Goulburn, rt. hon. H.
Greenall, G.
Greene, J.

Grey, rt. hon. Sir G.
Grey, R. W.
Grosvenor, Lord R.
Hawes, B.
Hay, Lord J.

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Hayter, W. G.

Headlam, T. E.

Baillie, H. J.

Heald, J.

Bankes, G.

Houldsworth, T.

Howard, P. H.

Benbow, J.

Jolliffe, Sir W. G. H.

Hutt, W.

Wyld, J.

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Jervis, Sir J.

Bentinck, Lord G.

Miles, W.

Kershaw, J.

TELLERS.

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Mullings, J. R.
Napier, J.
Neeld, J.

O'Brien, Sir L.
Sibthorp, Col.
Taylor, T. E.
Urquhart, D.
Verner, Sir W.
Waddington, H. S.
Wodehouse, E.

TELLERS.

Disraeli, B. Newdegate, C. N.

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Disraeli, B.

Dodd, G.

Mullings, J. R.

Somerset, Capt.
Taylor, T. E.
Waddington, H. S.

Napier, J.

Newdegate, C. N.

Neeld, J.

Sibthorp, Col.

TELLERS.

Hobhouse, T. B.
Henley, J. W.

House resumed. Bill to be re-commit

ted.

UNLAWFUL WAR-MAKING. MR. URQUHART rose to postpone until Monday his Motion relative to the expenditure for diplomatic agents abroad.

Sir DE L. EVANS would take the opportunity of reminding the hon. Member for Stafford, that he had on a former occasion spoken disrespectfully of General

House adjourned at a quarter to Two D'Aguilar, Colonel Brotherton, and Briga

o'clock.

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2a Militia Ballots Suspension.

dier General M'Doughal. He thought the hon. Member was not justified in speaking in such terms of disparagement of those who served their country, by serving in the armies of her allies.

MR. URQUHART: Mr. Speaker, I will assure the hon. and gallant Member for Westminster, that he is perfectly correct in the statement that he has made re

Reported.-Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction; Loan Societies; garding myself: he has hit the right nail

Highway Rates; Bankrupts' Release.

3a and passed:-Trustees' Relief; Paymaster's Offices Consolidation.

PETITIONS PRESENTED. From Salford, and Stalybridge, in favour of the Adoption of a System of Secular Educa

tion.-From Wakefield and Gloucester, for the Reduction

of the Warlike Expenditure of this Country. From Barford and Arnold, for the Repeal of the Law of Settledependent Order of Odd Fellows, and Order of Foresters, for the Extension of the Provisions of the Benefit Societies Act to these Orders.-From Members of the Gloucester Temperance Society, for the Enactment of Sanitary

ment. From the Members of several Lodges of the In

Measures. From the Parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields,

for Improving the Sanitary Condition of the Metropolis. -From the Counties of Cumberland and Cork, and Colony, of New South Wales, that no Bill may be

passed, that will have the effect of Diminishing the Electoral Privileges of the Inhabitants of New South

Wales.

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20 Militia Pay; Sheep, &c., Importation Prohibition; Sheep, &c., Contagious Disorders Prevention; Out Reported.—Turnpike Acts Continuance; Money Order Department (Post Office); Metropolitan Commissions of Sewers; Poor Removal (No. 2); Boroughs Incorpora3o and passed:-Court of Justiciary (Scotland); Criminal Law Administration Amendment; Registers of Sasines, &c. (Scotland); Fisheries (Ireland). PETITIONS PRESENTED. By Mr. Newdegate, from the Elec

tion.

tors of Derby, for the Issue of a Writ for that Borough. -By Mr. Forster, from the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in favour of the Marriage (Scotland) Bill. By Sir J. Y. Buller, against the Copper and Lead Duties Bill.-By Mr. Clay, from the Committee of the Hull Guardian Society for

the Protection of Trade, for an Alteration of the Law respecting County Courts.-By Viscount Morpeth, from

the Township of High and Low Bishopside, Yorkshire, in favour of the Poor Law Union Charges Bill.-By Mr. Spooner, from the Guardians of the Aston Union, Warwickshire, for Repeal of the Poor Removal Act.-By Dr. Bowring, from Members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Bolton District, against the Provi

dent Associations Fraud Prevention Bill.-By Mr. Frewen, from the Parish of Salehurst, Sussex, to take the State of the Turnpike Trusts into Consideration.

on the head. It is precisely the part I have taken in the affairs of Greece, that is the origin of those conclusions which the hon. and gallant Gentleman says I have been so persevering in placing before my countrymen. He will recollect that these circumstances occurred in my early life; but they are the key of my future conduct. It was the share I had in that war, and the instinct of its injustice, that first led me to investigate this great subject; and when I did discover the delusion under which I had laboured in common with my fellow-countrymen at this particular time, I did feel myself oppressed with a load of shame and guilt, and I have been impelled unceasingly to labour to awaken others in like manner, and thereby to recover the sense of law and right among a nation from whose breast within a single generation it has utterly passed away. The hon. and gallant Member seems very needlessly sensitive at once, and contemptuous in reference to certain epithets which I have used, and which he chooses to say, and says justly, apply to myself no less than to those in reference to whom I had used them. But if I remember correctly, and if I have read aright, discussions which took place in former years in this House, the hon. and gallant Gentleman was not merely characterized as a Pirate, but as a Condottiere; consequently if the hon. and gallant Gentleman now says that he is indifferent to such an allegation as coming from me, I am not at all surprised. The words which I have uttered here have not been uttered for the first time, nor has the picture which has been drawn the merit of originality. These charges have been asserted repeatedly, without exciting the hon.

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