The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-08 00:00:00

THURSDAY.

In reply to Mr. Ricans),
Mr. S. FITSZZSALD stated that the notice for the
tenuination of the Treaty of 1844, in reference to the
State Dues, between the United Kingdom and Hano-
ver, was given to the Hanoverian Government on the
14th of August last, and that the notice had not, in fact,
been withdrawn.
Mr. T. Dust:ones moved that, whereas this House
lisa upon two occasicaus resolved "that any person j,ro•
(easing the Jewish religion may henceforth, in taking
be made a standing order.
r e
tei
net:m:l bring
un gA
Ti
in amßo
vi 1.41 to.
up r osvi d Itnleuintdtinhoe
the oath prescribed in an Act to entitle him to sit and
vote in this House, omit the words, ' and I make this
declaration upon the true faith of a Christian,'" leave
lotion that it be • standing order, "That no resolution
under the provisions of the Act 21st and 22nd Victoria,
cap 49, shall be moved in this House, unleisi at least
one day's notice of such resolution shall have been
oft:reirt'a reisong•
previously given in the votes." He observed that the
two resolutions referred to bad been hastily adopted,
and that it was due to the character of the House not to
act in this matter with precipitancy.
Mr. Id.tuas, concurring in the object which Mr.
Dunoombe had in view, pointed out the practical ditß•
culties in the way of the course he proposed to take,
which was calculated to renew painful conflicts.
Mr. itrsrixes having spoken against the motion,
, and Mr. BYZU and Mr. COXISIMAN iu its favour,
The CHANCKLLOR of the IiSrIIZQULR said be very
',melt regretted that the proposition should have been
made as it might lead to a misunderstanding with the
other House. Had it been in the power of the House
of C4)1111111101111 to change the resolution into a standing
as it was open
order Le should have been ready to agree to the change ;
ti'uotion, namely,
but he had been advised that this was impossible. He
year.
Sir G. GSZY denied that there had been any com•
t°t6lhi:Ltuhleditsaceliouirtaeugoinhbtjeltop°:re-o"thpeatin'eamthoeriei'dgiarr'unaenanl gement of last
pact not to reopen the subject. His doubt was whether
it was worth while to go to the House of Lords to ask
its concurrence in the conversion of the resolution into •
standing order of this House.
original motion, with Mr. DUSCOMBZ.S omment, was
Decal ved.
Ultimately, the amendinent was withdrawn, and the
Mr. W•LPOLZ then moved that a select committee be
appointed to consider and report upon the best mode of
earrying into elect On peevish:me of the Aell 21st and
22nd Victoria, cap. 49; which was agreed to,
Mr. MITCHELL moved a resolution, that the duties em
foreign and colonial wood should be repealed, urging as
grounds for the repeal, that this tax upon a raw material
was contrary to the policy initiated by Mr Robed peek

that it wu a protecting duty in favour of Canada, that
it was most unequal, and that it proa.ed severely and
unfairly upon the ohipbuilding trade.
The motion was Wconded by Mr. FICNWICIL, who eon.
donned these duties as unjuat in principle and injurious
to trade.

Sir S. intencovx observed that • resolution of this
kind, expressed in ouch general terms, would be eon.
sidereal as meaning that, if not immediately, at .4
early day, these duties should be taken off. It was the
practice of the House, however, before considering
questiona of the reduction of taxes, to look at the esti-
mates, and the relation of the revenue to the expendi-
ture. These duties produced loot y.ar £554,0U0, and, if
they were condemned, similar claims would be made,
and the Chancellor of the Exchequer ought not to have
his hands thus tied. He suggested objections to the
proposal upon its merits, contending that no special
caw had been made out that justified the motion.
Mr. Wit.soN said, however objectionable these duties
were, he could not vote for their repeal without know-
ing the state of our finances; but he protested against
some of the doctrines propounded by Sir S. North.
cote. . .

Mr. flunsox supported the motion, insiating that
these dutien gave an undue advantage to fon-igners.
Mr. I,Aitorciung believed that if the raw inaterial,
timber, could be cheapened, it wou!d benefit greatly
many intermits ; but lie could not vote for an abstract
resolution for the repeal of a Jaye until he had heard the
financial statement of the Government.

Lord H. VANE suggested the addition of words to the
resolution limiting its effect, and
Mr. MITCHELL proposed to add, at the end of the
resolution, "as soon as the revenue admits of it."
The CHANCELLMI of the EICHEsiCER said this addi-
tion made the resolution still more objectionable, as it
pledged the House to repeal these duties, which lie
should be happy to see repealed, but was not in his
rower to hold ort any expectation of his being able to
abandon them. . . .

The House divided upon the motion as amended,
which was negatived by 133 to 77.
Lord Mstnean moved for a Select Committee to
inquire into the laws regulating the sale and consump-
tion of excisable liquors in Scotland. The Act, called
Forbes Mackenzie's, be observed, seemed to have very
much the character of those severe sumptuary laws
which defeated their own object ; from some of its pro-
visions, much of the evil of which lie complained
appeared to arise, and lie thought their operation was •
fair subject of Parliamentary investigation. He read
statistics of drunkenness, in different towns in Scotland,
and statemente as to the stimulus which the Act had
given to the illicit trade in spirituous liquors, and to the
demoralization consequent upon excesa. He was ready,
he said, to leave the apjointment of the com-
mittee to the Committee of Selection, or any impartial
body.
Sir A. AGNEW moved, as an amendment, an Address
to Her Majesty, to appoint a Royal Conimisaion to carry
out the said inquiry, which, he considered, would be •
more expeditious and inure satisfactory mode of con-
ducting it on the spot.
This amendment was seconded by Mr. FINLAY.
Sir G. Glut" was glad to understand that the Govern-
ment consented to this inquiry, although lie did not
concur in the denunciation of the Forbes Mackenzie
Act. As to the mode of investigation, he saw no.
reason for departing from the usual and universal course
adopted in such inquiries, which was by a committee of
that House. . . . . .

Mr. C. Buccs preferred a commission. The inquiry,
be observed, should be a continuous, not an interrupted
inquiry, and circumstances might occur to interrupt the
labours of a committee. .

The Loup ADVOCATE thought that a Royal Cow-
niission would better conduce to the explication of this
que.tion ; at the sasue time he did not doubt the imp's..
tiality of a committee of that House. He did not wish
to exprewi any opinion as to the Forbes Mackenzie Act.
On the one hand there was a number of complands
against it; on the other there were those who were
favourable to its working. It was therefore den:Riga
that the truth should he ascertained by an inquiry.

Sir T. E. CoLula, PDX E preferred a ie.. unuittZe..
Mr. WiLoox called attention to the expense of a
Couimission, especially if it was to be a roving Com-
inision, visiting small towns an well an large villages and
rural diatrieta. .

Yr. HARDT marled TATiOUII reasons why he thouglA
a Comm....ion preferable to a Parliamentary rem
mime. _ _ _

Mr Boxtru. Lord J. STCART, Mr. E. ELLIE% Lord
: or, mad Mr. KINNAIRD spoke in f of a Coop

7-* ILLIL ied motion for the appointmext of a Royal
. agree.d.to.

Mr. Bt. IT,X moved lota select committee to inquire
into the condition of the West Indies, ad the best means
of promotir.g immigration into them. He adverted to
the present condition of the West Indies. What brought.
the proprietors. encumbered with debt, to the ground,
lie said. was the enormous fall in the price of sugar ;
the crash came ; the estates passed into other hands, and
the ri-ult had been that the islands were rising into
prosperity. which, he insisted. was owing to the negroes
more than to immigrants. He wished to have an in-
quiry into the question whether emancipation was •
success; whether or not the negroes were sunk into •
state of ignorance or barbarism. The other question was
that iif immigration. He was willing to take it for
granted that immigration was needed; but be wished
to have an inquiry into the system upon which it should
be conducted. He indicated the points to which the
attention of the comiuitte ought to be directed with re-
ference to the conveyance of coolies from India, and
suggested an inquiry whether a perfectly free immigra-
tion was not practicable.
Sir E. B. Lri-ri)3 appealed to statistical facts, which
demonstrated the powerful impulse given by the
i 11111 l igration of coolies to the prosperity of the colonies
into which they had been introduced, and the benefits
acquired by the coolies themselves. He asked whether
with such facts before us, it was humanity to arrest the
system. He read returns of the mortality among the
immigrants. in order to chow, he said, the exaggerations
which had deluded many And prepossessed them against
the system, and lie disputed the assertion that it enabled
the planters unduly to beat down the wages of the
negroes. He could not, lie said, assent to the motion in
its present form ; and he proposed that Mr. Buxton
should either wait for the production of papers that had
been moved for, or, if he preferred a committee, to
, wieldy and limit the terms of reference,
Ltnoteli VIM said lie could express almost a coin-
plete coincidence of opinion with Sir B. Lytton, and he
hoped Mr. Buxton would not invite the House to enter
mAin an unnecessary and, it might he, a miecheviows
inquiry, which would he exceedingly offensive to many
venous in the British West Indies. The question
whether free labour can conipcte with slave labour had
been successfully resolved in our colonies.
I After sonic remarks by Mr. eRObIILET, Mr. C. Foe-
, restos. and Mr. EWING.
Mr. BUXTON withdrew his motion.
Sir S. NORTHCUTT obtained leave to bring in • Bill to
repeal the 32nd section of the County Courts Act, 9th
and 10th Victoria, chap. 95.
On the order for the third reading of the Marine Low
Amendment Bill,
Mr. Hive made • strong protest against the merest
lint, upon a division, the third reading WWI carriwi by
137 to 89, and the Bill then passed.
The House, after some further business, adjourneL at
• quarter to '2 o'clock.