The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-04-16 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS -TITESD

Sir 11. Straocy moved a resolution—" That the
establishment of Sailors' Homes has been to conducive
to the benefit of stamen, and, consequently of so
great national importance, as to he deserving of the
support and encoursgement of the Legblature." He
suggested that an annual contribution to the supporta
these establishments, which had conferred a benefit on
the country and won the confidence of the sailor, might
be made from the Merchant Seamen's Fund.
. .

The motion was seeouded by Admiral Waloott.
Mr. M. Gibson said he concurred in a great portion
of Sir H. Stracey's speech, and in the benefit derived
from Sailor's Howes, but thought it much better that
these institutions should be self-supporting, or aided by
voluntsry contributions under local and private contri-
butions under local and private management. He must,
therefore, meet the motion by a negative.
Mr. Henley and Mr. Lindsay were of opinion that to
sub:4lli= these institutions would do more harm to thou
than good.
After a few remarks by Mr. Kinnaird, Captain Jervis,
and Lord C. Paget, who concurred with Mr. Gibaonas to
the impoliey of sustaining Sailors' Homes by Govern-
ment aid, the motion was negatived.
Sir G. Bowyer moved a resolution, " That, on any
division, when the House is in Committee of Supply,
so soon as the voices have been taken, the doors be
closed immediately after strangers have withdrawn."
Sir G. Lewis opposed the motion, though lie believed,
if carried, it would be advantageous to the Government
for the time being. The rule of the !louse was that no
member should vote unless he was present when the
question was put.
The motion was opposed by Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Bass
and Colonel French.

Sir 0 Bowyer desired to withdraw his motion,
which was, however, negatived.
Mr. Lowe obtained leave to bring in several Bills
for confirming certain behemes of the Charity Coimuis-
sionera.

TkC /louse adjourned at 20 minutes to 1 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY.

In the }louse of Commons,
Mr. flames moved the second reading of the Borough
Franchise Bill. In tcplying to objections, he urged
the extreme difficulty of carrying through • great and
comprehensive measure of reform, and adduced
examples showing that it was practicable and useful to
deal in detail with separate branches of the law, and
even with distinct matters of Parliamentary reform.
He met other objections founded upon the assumption
that this was • question which khould be left in the
hands of the Government, and upon the alleged apathy
of the country upon the subject, insisting that • time of
calm woe especially favourable for its consideration.
To the evidence of capacity for political trust in the
working classes derived (coin their education and read-
ing habits, he added proofs of their providence and
temperance, and of the moral result in the diminution
of crone; and lie maintained that they would be inde-
pendent in the discharge of the trOst.
The motion was seconded by Mr. W. D. Seymour,
who argued that the Bill was simply a return to the
first principle of the Constitution, and a necessary sup-
plement to the Act of IKI2.
Mr. Cave moved the previous question. He did not
propose, lie said, to negative the principle of the Bill,
because the admission of the working classes to the
franchise had not been objected to by his side of the
House. Whatever might be the abstract merits of this
measure, it was not, in his opinion, presented in a form
which ought to command the concurrtnce of the House.
Mr. A. Smith seconded this amendment.
_ _ _

Sir J. Rainsden observed that the motion and the
amendment raised two distinct questions—first, as to
the abstract merits of the measure ; and, secondly,
whether it was expedient at the present time, after the
determination of the Government not to attempt the
question of Reform this Session, is determination which
had been generally approved. He thought the conclu-
sion at which Mr. Cave had arrived, recommended it-
self by considerations of consistency and common sense,
and that to adopt the motion for the second reading
of the Bill would be practically to affirm that legislation
on this subject was possible and desirable, and that the
Government were wrong in not undertaking it. He
should, therefore, vote for the previous question.
Mr. Lawson supported the Bill, appealing to the
Liberal party to show by their votes that this was
really the people's House.
Mr. Black spoke in opposition to the Bill, but to a
very impatient House.
Mr. Stanstleld supported the Bill.
The House having divided, the previous question,—
that the question, " that the Bill be then read • second
time," be put, was carried in the negative by 245 to
113. The question was therefore not put.
After some further business,
The House adjourned at ten ininues to 6 o'clock.