The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-02-17 00:00:00

lure be sitstained.

Lord Granville, declining to answer hypothetical questions
on English law, pleaded the general understanding that it
would he undesirable to discuss the. Alabama claims in the

present Btate of the negotiatlon,. 'the point flow raiea had

not, however, been twit sight of.

Lord uranmore called attention to the present state of
the Treaty. negotiations, and asked for the doctuneuts and

correspondence.
Lord Granville azain refused to be led into a discussion.
Ile consented to the production of the English Case, but said
it would not be etiquette to publish the American Case at

e
present.
Lord Malmesbury thought the Government unwise—first,
In having sent a ColllllliBl.l to Washington at all, and next,
in having selected impromptu diplomatists as its leading
members, lie could not consent that their lordships' mouths
should be closed for any length of time upon the Treaty and
the present negotiations.
Their lordships then adjourned.

In the llouse.of.Commons, a large number of private bills

were read a ilrA time.

Lord Otho Fitnterald, the Comptroller of her Majesty's
Household, appeared at the bar, and stated that the address
to her Majesty n reply to the Royal messane having been
presented, he was commanded by her Majesty to convey her
Majesty's gracious reply as follows —"lt thank you for your
loyal and dutiful address. I rely with confidence on your
careful consideration of measures which will be submitted
to you, an: I assure you of my sincere desire to cooperate
with you In your endeavours to promote the welfare of my
people."
Sir W. Lawson stated that on the 12th March, he would
move an humble address to her Majesty, praying that she
will take measures for withdrawing from all treaties binding
this country to interfere by force of anus in the affairs of
nations.

aWei'

---
Mr. Rand,; gave notice that on the 12th March he would
move a resolution to the effect that all future treaties be-
tween this country and foreign nations ought to be laid
upon the table of both Houses of Parliament before being
ratified, In order that due epportunity may be given for
the expression of the epinion of Parliament on such treaties.
The President of the Board of Trade, replying to Colonel
W. Patten, said that, in the opinion of the Government, it
would not he advisable to leave the Railway Amalgamation
Bills to take the ordinary course ; and it would be advisable,
before Parliament should be asked to sanction these bills, to
institute a preliminary inquiry into the question of the pub-
lic interests Involved in the amalgamations, and the question
of the practicability if protecting those interests.
Mr. Secretary Bruce, replying to Mr. MiLagan, said that
it was not in his power to undertake to deal with the ques-
tion of the Game Laws during the present session.
In answer to Mr. Barnett, Mr. Gladstone said that the
Thanksgiving Day would be made a Bank holiday by lavv for
the metropolis, and, hi answer to Mr. Dixon, he declined
to produce at present any despatch sent to Washington
since the publication of the "American Case." On the same
subject Mr. Otway apologised to the Attorney-General for
having imputed to him any blame for the wording of the
Washington Treaty, since he was informed that no portion
of that Treaty had been submitted to the Law Officers,
except the rules which were to govern international law
henceforth.
In answer to a long question from Mr. Mowbray, Mr.
Gladstone gave an equally long explanation as to the dr-
emnstapees of the presentation of Mr. Ilarvey to the Rectory

of Ewehue.
Mr. Monk moved, with a few brief introductory remarks,
a resolution providing that when a bill from the Lords has
been 1d sitting days on the table and no notice has been
given for the second reading, it should be held to be dropped.
On an appeal, however, from Mr. Gladstone, he did not
press it; and after a long speech from Lord C. Hamilton,
and a short explanation from the Marquis of Hartington on
the grievances of certain magistrates of Dungannon, Mr.
Cranford brought in a bill to amend the Scotch Poor Law.
Mr. Sinclair Avtoun then called attention to the acquisition
from Holland of certain territory on the West Coast of Africa.
Objecting both to this mode of exercising the Prerogative
and to the transaction itself on its merits, he moved that no
further steps be taken for the conclusion of the Treaty
carrying out this acquisition until this House has hail an
opportunity of expressing its opinion on the policy of it.
Mr. stuatchleull Hugessen, on the part of the Colonial Office,
declined to discuss tile question of the Prerogative further
than to say that the usual practice had not been departed
frmn is this instance. The negotiation, which be defended,
did not involve any territorial cession. The Dutch were
about to leave the coast, nod were anxious in the in-
terests of civilisation to hand over to us the forts
they possessed there, anti the whole expense, which
would be for the fixtures and stores of the forts, would
be paid by the Gold Coast Colony. It was not intended to
force our protectorate on any of the tribes: but it was ex.
peeted that the transfer, besides facilitating and economiz-
ing the administration of our settlements and developing
their commerce, would promote peace anti civilization among
the natives.
In snow, r to Sir J. Elphinstone, Mr. Knatchbull Hugesseu
said that the only troaty.right we had coded in Sumatra was
the barren right of protetting against the acquisition
of more territory by the Dutch there : and Mr. Sinclair
Aytouri withdrew the motion.
Mr. Bruce, in bringing In his promised bill for the preven-
tion of certain contagious diseases and the better protection
of women, prefaced his statement by a sketch if existing
legislation on this subject and on the agitation it hati ex-
cited. To illustrate the working of the Act he quoted
largely from the Report of the recent Commission, add-
ing that, th• 'ugh opinions might differ on the balance
of their 'moat results, as to their physical operation in
the diminution of disease and vice there could be no
question. however, the Government had rehictantly come
to the con closion that it was impossible to maiutain in a
limited district the main principle of the Act—vie., com-
pulsory periodical examination, while it could not be ex-
tended to the whole country. And thishe held to be impose'.
ble in the present state of public opinion, of which the Acts
wentfariu advance. Under these circumstances the bill pro•
limed to substitute for the present Acts certain general strin-
gent provisions, which he explained, for clearing the streets
and preserving decency, for detaining diseased persons in
custody for other offences, for the more effectual protec-
tion of young girls and women, and for repressing gis.
orderly houses aud the harbouring of diseased women.
Mr. Bruce did not disguise his regret at having to take
what he evidently considered to be a backward step,
but the advantage of the Acts, he urged, were overbalanced
by the agitation which had been carried on, its flagrant
exaggerations and misrepresentations, and the distressing
spectacle of female modesty broken through by taking part in
these discussions. He hoped that the operation of the bill
would create a fund of experience which at some future
time might help to establish more ancient means of re-
pression.
A short discussion fellowed the explanation of the Bill, in
which Mr. Jacob Bright touched ou some of the most un-
savoury parts of the subject, described the first commence-
ment of this legislation SS an infamous Act," and based
Isis opposition to it on the principle of civil liberty."
This plea was ridiculed by Dr. Dalryrujile awl Dr. Brewer,
who eulogized the sanitary benefits of the Acts. Sir .1.
Pakington, Sir J. Elphinatone, and Sir J. Trelawny de-
nounced in strong language the timid, and unworthy policy
of the Government in abolishing Acts of whieh they approved,
and the latter sharply attacked Mr. Jacob Bright for his
prejudiced opposition to the Acts. On the other hand, Mr.
Slittord, Mr. Henley, Mi. Ryland., and Mr. Otway denied
altogether the sanitary sad mural benefits of the Acts, and
supported their repeal.
Bills were subsequently brought In by Mr. Taylor to repeal
the Game Laws, by Mr. WLagati to amend the Scotch Game
Laws, by Mr. Mentz to prevent the adulteration of food,
awl by Sir C. O'Loghlen to repeal certain religious disa-
bilities.
On the motion of Mr. Madatone, a Select Committee was
appoioted to arrange for the attendance of the House at
St. Paul's on the Thauksgiving Day, and the House ad-
journed.

In the If ouse of Commons, February 14, Mr. Niaguire gave
notice that on Monday next he should ask whether there
was any truth in the report that the Government hail entered
Into negotiations with the directors of Irish railways, and
whether it was their intention to propose any measure to
Parliament relating to them.
Mr. 0. Morgan moved the second reading of the Burials
Bill, and stated that although this was the third time upon
which he had brought forward this measure, there still
existed some misapprehension with regard to it. It was
generally supposed that the churchyard belonged to the
clergyman, whereas it was really the property of the
laity. The exclusive use of the Burial Service of the
Church of England at the burial of the dead had Its
origin, not in any legal enactment, but simply in the
fact that at the time when the practice began
there was no Dissent in England. Having cited
instances in which it was alleged that clergymen had refused
to read the burial service over the bodies of Dissenters, he
adverted to the objections which were raised against the bill
which he proposed. The suggestion of a separate burial
ground for Dissenters in each parish he deprecated as
involving an enormous expense and great inconvenience.
It was said that the bill would give riae to inde-
corous scenes, and that occasion would be taken for
the delivery of addresses against the Established Church
in its own churchyards ; but there was a provision in the
present bill which provided that no service should he used
which was not of a religious character. Ile reminded those
who maintained a continued opposition to the measure that
upon them would rest the responsibility of keeping open a
question which ought to be settled, and which could never be
settled in any other way.
Mr. /Arley moved as an amendment that the bill be
read a second time that day six months. The mea-
sure involved the whole question of discistablishment,
for it was impossible to detach the churchyard from
the church itself. l'he right of a parishioner to burial
in the church was a right held under certain well.known
awl definite restrictions. The service of the church
was performed partly within and partly without
the walls of the church, and Nonconformists would
consider it a grievance if they were deprived of the
opportunity of conducting their services in like manner.
Another grievance would he created if, in stormy and incle-
ment weather especially, Nonconformists wore not allowed
to hold their service in the church. The feeling of Noncon-
formists, as manifested by a recent meeting at Manchester,
was that this bill was only a step in the direction which they
desired to go, and they would he satisfied with nothing less
than perfect equality in the use of the church buildings.
The bill really created snort grievances than it would re-
move, and the best way of removing the difficulty would
be to adopt the suggestion that public cemeteries
should be established in those parishes where they were
needed. The estimate of the hon. member that it would
Involve an expenditure of ten millions he believed to lie
exaggerated tenfold. In many parishes there were already
public cemeteries, in which distinct portions were set aside
for members of the Church of England, Boman Catholics,
and Nonconformists, thus showing that it was the general
wish of the community that there should be such dis.
Unctions. lie suggested that the whole question should be
poetponed until Al r. Miall brought forward his 'notion in re-
gard to disestablisliment, so that the two might be taken
together.

After remarks from several hon. members,
Mr. Beresford Hope said that until the representatives of
Nonconformity:. In the House disclaimed the resolutions of
the Nonconformist conference at Manchester, it would be
wasting words to any that this bill was not the first step
toward. the Concession of the church as well as the church-
yard. If the bill were passed the major part of the programme
laid flown by the Conference would he conceded and having
granted equality In the use of the church for the burial
of the dead could they hope to resist the demand for equality
Is its use :or performance of the marriage ceremony ? In the
background stood the hon. member for Bradford with his
moti for the disestablishment of the Church, and
If dir establishment should follow, the Church would
not Ife allowed to go out in undisturbed possffssion of
her property. Ile ululated that there was a grievance
in the refusal of certain clereymen to read the Burial
.f rvf, o over persons who had received only Dissent-
{ 41{11 .0. tut such cases occurred from ignorance of
of lb4l{{{rch ; and lithe authorities of the Church
received permission to take the subject into consideration
they would so define the la* that no such eases would occur
In future. Ile warned hon, members against kindling in the
Church, by repeated attacks upon her rights, a flame which
neither the present nor the nest generation could quench.
Mr. man said that Dissenters by this bill simply claimed
a right and asked for no concessions 'the Church was a
national Church, and the churches and churchyards be-
longed to Dissenters equally to members citho Church, The