The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-29 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY.

Mr. (luirrirlt moved the second reading of the High
Sheriffs' ENIKIINCS Bill, Mr. S. Bourn ACCUlllillig the
motion.
Mr. S. lisri CT pointed out certain lenor the Bill
to which he tke, but assented to
the memo' reading.
The Bill was reaAt a second time.
I'm the order for the second readins of the Elinhurgli,
Lc., Annuity-tax Bill, inc v.l by Mr.
Mr. C. Itituot, with the view of stopping the further
progress of the measure, mused to defer the second
reading for sit lts.
Mr. ll.txrtit supported the Bill, which was caIINI for,
he mild, by the great majority a thu ratepa)crs in
Kliiiburgli and Montrose . . . . .

slr. BLACKBURN opposed the Bill, eliaracteriting it as
a A outrageous measure, which, as Lir 414
was vitteermal, would take the propertv of the church
and provide no sulistitue fur WIMt it took away.
Mr. 1101ISMAN observed that the same principle which
hail been applied hi Distwntent hi England would apply,
awl should be applied, to Dissenters iii Scotland. The
objecti to tin INII weitt to the details, to which there
might be valid object' : but they were for comiilerte
tiim iii the tee. The House NILS now only asked
to affirm the principle of the Bill, and to acknowledge
that there witx a grievance which deserved ita cousitlera.
Both

After sonic remarks hy Mr. STEUART,
The liinu•AliViicATK laid, on this question he
tioliiiittssl, not only that the opposition to the tax was
not founded upon any improper motives, but that the
motives were conscientious ones. It was impieuilile for
him, wlwn he took Isis present office, to shut his ryes
to the fact that this was a question with which, not-
withstanding its difficulties, it was necessary to deal.
and he prepared • Bill which he had endeavoured to
bring under the eintaideration of the thiverninent, and
he was now enabled to say that they had aswiitisl to its
general principle. At the saute time, it still revireill
further consideration on his part. With reference to
the Bill before the !louse, lie was not prepar,sl to assent
absolutely and unqualifiedly to the principle of total
abolition of the Annuity•tal without knowing in what
way a substitute was to he provided. He agreed that
the tax was levied in a most unfortunate way ; but the
principle was Inked up with the question as to a subAti-
tute, and the Bill proposed the total abolition of the
tax without making an adequate proon for the minis-
ters. Ile could not, therefore, assent to the second
reading of the Bill.
Mr. MACKIK opposed the Bill. M' tens money in
Ireland hail nut been abolished, he observed, without
providing • sufficient substitute.
Mr. said, if the descriptions of this tax given
on both sides were correct. the House should look fa-
vourably upon any proposal for its abolition. Edinburgh
possessed sufficient resources to provide stipends for its
ministers ; why then, lie asked, should the House con-
tinue the discussion of tins oluestion when they must
come ultimately to the same conclusion as regarding
Ministers' Money and Church-rates?
Mr. S. EsTcoURT acknowledged that every one must
come to the same conclusion, that this tax might to be
put an end to ; the only question was in what manner it
should be done. After the announcement made by the
Lord-Advocate, why, he aaked, should they read •second
time a Itill the provisions of which those who supported
it did not approve
Mr. &tics: and Lord De NCAX spoke in favour of the
Bill, and Mr. Iti.aca having replied, upon a division the
second reading was carried by 2111 to 1711.
Mr. Ifittuiiiitv ml the second reading of the Poor
Relief (Ireland) Act Amendment Bill, the object of
which, lie said, was to clear up and settle the law re.
Reeding the registration of pauper children in the Irish
17nions, which regulated their religious instruction.
The mot was seconded by Lord .1. ltiroWNE.
Mr. I ii. MAN opposea the Bill. The question was, lie
sail, whether the fitablisheil and acknowledged law of
the land al Id he altered her the pretence of restor-
ing harmony in boards of guanhans. lie moved to defer
the second reading for six this.
Lord NA AS WO lie thought this was a matter which
ought to be settled, hut that the mode proposed by the
Bill was not the right one.
After stone further discussion, the debate was inter-
rupted buy the clock : the other orders Were then disposed
of, and the Mouse adjourned at ten ininutsni tot o'clock.