The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-06-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.- TUESDAY.

On the order being read for resuming the debate upon
the Representation of the People Bill,
Lord J. IiUM,EI.I. rose and begun by observing that
it vat impossible for the Government to accede to the
amendment moved by Mr. Mackinnon (to defer legisla-
tion till the result of the CCIIMIS could be obtained),
which would postpone a Reform Bill to an indefinite
time, and lie trusted it would not be persisted in ; but
he hail a further statement to make. It being apparent
from the recent division that 260 members desired the
postponement of this Bill during the present session,
the Government had thought themselves bound
seriously to tastoiiiler the position of this question
and what wax their duty to the House and
the country. If they were not of opinion that
they could succeed ill carrying the Bill through both
Houses during the session, it would be Wlle and
culpable to go into committee, this being the 11th of
June, and there being tiO or 70 amendments to be
discussed, which must take considerable time ; and
there were other important questions, supplies for the
China war, and for fortificatimm, which must be con-
sidered during the passage of the Reform Bill through
the committee. Then the question arose whether the
extraordinary measure might not be resorted to of
prolonging the session. But the Gorer 1111 l ent were of
opinion that there was not the earliest demand whicil
would justify them in taking such • course, and they
had come to the conclusion that it was not their duty
to proceed with the Bill this session. They were
persmiled that • reduction of the borough franchise
was required for the futlire mfety of the State and the
imororeinent of the representation, and it was their
intention at the earliest opportunity to introduce another
Bill. tie was not, lie said, disconcert' when lie
recollected that other measures of importance had unore
Rom once to be postponed. The hi-nt Reform Bill bail
been successfully opposed, but no one would now think
of restoring the disfranchised boroughs ; and in the
111111/111 way lie was convinced that when a measure passed
for e:tending the franchise, no one would think of
disturbing the settlement. In conclusion, he asked Mr.
Mackinnon to withdraw his amendment, and lie would
then, lie said, move that the order for the committal of
the.Bill.be . .

Mr. MACKINNU;, in acquiescing in this request.
remarked that he thought Lord John would be better
employed in managing our diplomatic relationi tli•n in
aittiug night after night in discua.ing the Luill in com-
mittee.

Mr. DIARAELI said he thought the Government had
taken • wise and not an undignified course ; it was
iouch better, out of regard to the progress of public
business, to make up their mimic at once to abandon the
Bill than to wiute more time in committee. He
reminded the House that, if the Bill was withdrawn, it
was not through any suocesaful opposition, or opposition
1' nr hid. ff.•...il to a bona fide amendnient of the
representation of the people; the real cause of the delAy
51AA0 how the tioverninent having undertaken other
measures of ouch magnitude as to render the progress of
the Bill morally impossible. He acknowledged that
they had acted with perfect honour towards the Oppo-
Sition aide of the HU,114. from whom they would receive
every aid in the conduct of the public business.
Mr. BRIGHT said, although the announcement given
by Lord John Haasell was received with much regret
in he Mr. Briglit'a) ne•glibourliousi, he did not blame
him Cr the cour,e he had taken.
. . _

Mr. NLwrigui...g declared that, if the country fran-
chise were reduced iu the manner proposed by this Bill,
he should not he satisfied with what would be an
instlequate representation.
Mr. JAM EA complained of the imperfect forrn in which
the Bill hiel been introduced ; in particular, of the
absence of a system of registration. In his I pinion the
Government ought to go on with the Bill, and if .hey
persevered it might be carried.
Mr. GRIFFITH addressed the Howie amid many inter-
ru ot ions.

Lond Fgagov Raid he had heard Lord J. Russell's an•
nouncement with diaappointitient and dismay. If ever
there bad beena iioVer 1111 l ent whose role minion was
to carry • Reform Bill, i. was the present, arid li was
unable discern in die res.-ions assigned by Lord John
any good ground fur withdrawing the Bill.
Mr. Gaßoa:ilt thought that the conclusions of he two
members fur klarylebutie were onjuat and .ingeneroun,
and that Lord John Reuel, was no. responaihte for
giving up die Bill ; the r aponsibility rested upon that
Muse, which was offering • preiniem to out-of-door
a;„itation. There ail not been • fair stand-up fight
open the lineation, which had been got rid of by a
apecies of Parliaiuentary assa-d-ination, and there had
been no other course open to the Govern ~ent than to
drop the Bill.
Mr. HiIItMIAN, after remarking that the strongest op-
position offered to the Bill ;lad come fro the sup-
porters of the Government, entered UpoU an elabora.e
Justification of the count.) lie had taken upon this ques-
t;on, and 1.1 the causes whelk lad rendered the present
attempt to legisl.ite r on it abortive._

Mr. ANGEKSTYJN deeply regretted the course wbicli
the Government bad thought fit to pursue.
Mr. SLANEY Wm of opinion that the Government,
under the circumatances, had taken the right course.
The discussion was continued by Mr. R. Isogo, Mr.
W. E. DCYCOUBE, Mr. WAHNIIII, and Mr. WHALLUT.
Ultimately, it Amendment being withdrawn, the
bill was also will draw I.

OTTEAALs AGAINST TEI PERSON.
The SoLICIT))11-HENCIIAL, in moving the second
reading of the Off:flees against the Person Bill—one of
a aeries of Bills which had passed through the House of
Lords—gave a history of the scheme of conaolida‘ion and
amendment of the law embraced in the Bills (which
assimilated the law of England and Ireland), and a
sketch of the labours of theme who had been employed
in the endeavour to reform the criminal law.
M. WHITESIDE suggested certain amendments of the
Bill for consideration in the t'orntnittee.
. .

Mr. COLLIZU doubted whether the right mode bad
been hit upon. He was of opinion that the proper mode
WAS to consolidate and expurgate the statute law, civil
and criminal, as • whole ; and that, under • Board
who, sble attention was applied to the subject, it might
be done in two or thr • years.
Mr. .11CM•no• objected to enactments in the Bills
that where, in his opinion, not merely matters of detail.
Mr. A KTON wished for a statement of the existing
law, that the House might know what were the altera-
tions made by the Bills.
After some remarks by Mr. GIORGI and Mr. W.
Dwane,
The Arromers-Gmtintat, with reference to what had
been suggested by Mr. Collier, said be hoped, before the
session closed, to lay before the House • measure fur
expurgating the statute law,. which would be • step to
its consolidation and oodilkataou.

The fill, after some further discussion, was read a
second time, as woll as the following : the Malicious
Injuries to Property Rill, the Coinage Offences Bill, the
Acceasories and Ahettora iII, the Forgery Bill, the
Larceny, Lc., Bili, and the Criminal Statutes Repeal
Bill.

The Highways, Roads, lec., Bill, and the Tithe (20m-
mutation Bill were likewiae read a aectind time. _

Mr. WIIITINIDE noived the second reading 11 the
Landlord and Trii•nt (Ireland) (No. 2) Bill, which, he
said, consolidated all the Acts constituting the existing
Law on the subject.
After a very irrief diveussion, the Bill was read a
second thee.

Th. adjourned debate on the amendment, moved by
Sir J. WALSH, to defer the aeened readiny, of the Tenure
and Improvement of Land (Ireland) Bill for six mouths,
WIP tl, en remuied.

The o'l/omit:nln said the Bill, no (area regarded the
interesls of We tenants, was usehdei ; but he should vote
for the second reading, in in-der that all uppor,unity
tnig., be afforded for amending it in the committee, and
making it a &ono fide tuesaure.
Mr. LoNuriew sai4l be knew Ireland as well as the
O'llonogliue, and could state that the best feeling was
growing up betacen the landlord and the tenant, and
that the emigration was not caused by the conduct of
landlorls. Ile approved the princiiiles of the Bill, the
machinery of which, however, arluiittted of improve-
ment.

Mr. WiIITINIDE explained in detail his objections to
the Bill, which, in Lis opinion, never could become
law.

After annie observations from Mr. BLAKE, and • brief
reply by Mr. CARDWELL, the amendment was negatived,
the Bill was re d a second tittle, and afterwards cum.
mitted pro forma.
Other Bills were forwarded. ml, some further busi-
n,ss having been disposed of, the lluuse adjourned at •
quarter to 2 o'clock.