The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-03-14 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

The House of Lords sat for only half an hour on March 5,
and read the Registration of Writs Scutlanci ;Bill a second
time.
In the House of ( minions, on the order for going into
committee of supply, Mr. Lefevre directed attention in
a lengthy speech to what he termed the failure of the negocka-
tion with the United States Government, for arbitration of
the A (abates claims.
Lord Stanley assured the House that tie was most anxious
to settle the dispute ; for England could have nothing to
gain by keeping the question open, but rather much to gain
by bringing It to a close and he believed that it was equally
the wish sett was palpably the interest of both sides to remain
on amicable terms. What we had to do wee to state our
case temperately end fairly, to do justice as fare, we could,
and to appeal to a corresponding spirit on the part of those
with whom we were in controversy. Happily, as the ease
now stood, the controversy was reduced to the narrowest
pastille limits. Upon all doubtful questions of fact and
law upon which the two Gove iiments could not conie to an
agreement they were of one mind, so far as this, that they
were prepared to abide the declaim of any impartial arbi-
trator; and the whole question at issue was whether the
English Government would consent to Include in the re-
ference the question whether we were right or wrong in
recognising the belligerents 1 But with regard to that
point, as at present advised, he Gould not for himself see what
bearing the two things had upon one another. No human
being could contend that at no time during the four years'
struggle the tonfederati s had not become entitled to the
tights and position of belligerents. If ever they were
belligererts they °met have been so from the time of the
battle if Bun Run, which took place in July, MR, and the
A hdemus was not built until the April following. In the
Interval they had maintained an immense force In the field,
awl had won several battles. Throughout the negociations
he had treated the question as one of international law, the
decision of which would be the creation of a precedent, and
the ground he had rested upon was that that was irrelevant
to the Inquiry ; that it was a question of policy and not of
legal obligation, and was, therefore, incapable of receiving
a legal solution. and that the United States them. •
selves, in the parallel oases of Hungary and Texas,
had declined all responsibility for adopting a course
Minder to that which had been taken by the British Govern.
moot. In recognising the Canfederatea as belligerents this
tiovernment had simply declared, on the I Ith of May, that
certain state of things was civil war. Sall this was no more
than a repetiten of what Mr. Seward hail asserted in official
document, laid before emigress nine, twelve, and sixteen
slays previously. If negociations had for a certain time been
mumended it should be recollected that the suspension had
not been the act of the British Government. They had
made their offer, and It had been declined. Political
parties, he knew, ran high in the United States. but
he could nut imagine that any party would be so reck-
less or Insensible to their own interests as to engage in a
quarrel, possibly leading to a great and costly war, for the
sake of enforcing in a particular way claims which it was iii
their power to settle, end possibly in their OWII favour,
without appealing to war. Even if negociatbms were not
resumed upon the Punier basil, the means of bringing about
at. amicable settlement would not be exhausted, Inc there
was still the alternative of a mixed commission, to which
the claims of each aide might be referred.
After sonic observations by Mr. W. Forster, Sir. G.
Bowyer, Mr. Sandford, and Mr. Mill, Mr Gladstone
expressed his satisfaction with the statement of the Foreign
Minister, and the spirit of equity he had timplayed in
treating the question. Ile had no doubt that the country
would endorse the policy that had been Tommie&
Mr. C. Fortescne inquired whether the Irish Reform Bill
was to he introduced 0111101111• y nod Mr. Disraeli replied
that the Scotch bill would be taken on that day, and the Irish
bill on the Monday following.
Leave was given to Sir W. Gallwey and Mr. Wyld to bring
in a toll to establish county financial b .ards; and to Mr. C.
Forster a bill relating to the Divorce and Matrimonial

The 'elect committee of last session, to inquire into the
duties performed by the British army in India and in the
colonies, was re apt ointed, on the motion of Major Anton;
and the select committee on Home of Comm°ke arrange-
ments was nominated by Mr. Ileadlam, after which the
House adjourned.
In the House of Lords, on March 9, the Duke of Argyll
gave notice that on Friday next he should call the attention
of their lordships to the inconvenience which has arisen
through the rate-paying clauses of the Reform Act, and
should at the same time make some observations on the
remarks of the Premier on the question of Ron,rin.
The Duke of Somerset moved lore return relative to Iron
ballast sold from the Roan' dock) anis Agreed to.
The Registration of Courts ;.4cotlailiP Bill passed through
committee, and their lordships adjourned.
In the House of Commons Mr. Ward Hunt took the oath
and his seat upon being re-eleeted for North Northampton-
shire, on accepting the ohm of Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The right how gentleman was greeted with a general cheer
as he advanced to the table 0 be sworn.

.„
Mr if. Lewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Dejiartment whet her, ashad been publicly stated, either the ,
government or the chief commissioner of police hail infer-
maims previously to the commission of the crime of a
design to blow up or otherwise attack Clerkenwell Prison.
and, If so, whether there was any objection to state what
precautionary or preventive measures were taken iu collie.
quence.
Mr. G. Hardy replied that on the 12th of December infor-
mation was received that it was intended to rescue Burke,
In custody at tile Clerkeuwell House of Detention, by blow-
ing up th• wall The right hon gentleman narrated the
details taken by the authorities as they have appeared in the
newspapers. It did riot strike those who had received the
Information that the attempt was to be made to the manner
in which it was made.
Lord Stanley explained, at the invitation of Mr. Osborne,
that the appointment by the Chinese Gevernment of Mr. I
M'Leavy Brown, assistant Cidnese Secretary of the Engliah I
Embassy in China, to the poet id assistant colleague of Mr. I
Burlingame, the new Chinese anibassador, had been made
with the concurrence of the British Minister in China. He
was not aware what were the inetractions given to Mr. ,
Burlingame ; but if that gentleman arrived in this country,
as it was presumed he would, duly accredited as the repre-
sentative of the Government of China, he should be pre- i
pared to negeciate with him on all matters affecting the
miereets of the Chinese empire.
The Scotch P.eform Bill having been rtuived on the second
reading by the Lord Advocate, Mr. Hadfield proposed. as an
amendment, that the bill be read a second time that day six
months, en the ground that he was opposed to increasing
the aggregate number of the House of Commons, and that
additional seats ought to he provided for Scotland by means
of the disfranchisement of the smaller English boroughs.
Mr. Bearden having seconded the amendment, Sir W.
Scutt spoke in support of the second reading, and thanking
the Government for proposing an increase in the scotch
representation, suggested that that increase should be
carried still further hy three additional seats being conferred
upon the nurchs, thus getting rid of the invidious distinction
which at preeent existed between town and county.
Mr it Cochrane concurred with the hon. baronet in think- I
Inc that seven new members for Scotland was an inadequate
number but he was not inclined to lock a gift horse in the
mouth, and was thankful for small mercies As to increasing
the number by the disfranchisement of English boroughs,
there was not the remotest chance of any such measure
being carried in the face of the violent opposition which a
proposal of the sort would be sure to evoke. His advice to
the Scotch members, therefore, was, not to throw away the
present bill without being sure of getting a better.
Mr. Smollet gave his support to, whilst proclaiming his
dislike or, the bill.
Mr. 3PLaren regarded the proposed extension of tile fran-
chise as satisfactory, but pointed out what he considered
defects in several portions of the scheme. These, however,
could be remedied In committee, anti for that reason he ap-
pealed to Mr. Hadfield to withdraw his amendment.
Mr. Moncreiff inquired whether the Government adhered
to the proposition they made with respect to additional
members for Scotland, or intended to concede ally larger
number.
Sir J. Fergusson ,in the temporary absence of the First
Lord of the Treasury said that he was not sufficiently
acquainted with the intentions of the Government on this
point to return an explicit answer ; but he reminded the
honse that when the bill was introduced, his right hon.
friend stated that the number of additional seats was not
fixed upon any arbitrary rule, and that it was rather for the
members from Scotland In point out the places which they
considered to require separate and additional representation.
If abetter distribution scheme could be set before the i 1011313
by hon. members, it hail never been asserted that the
details of the measure wear not open to amendment is this
respect.
Eventually, Mr. Hadfield withdrew his amendment, and
the hill was read a second time.
The Sea Fisheries Bill passed through committee.
The Railways ,Extension of Time, Bill was read a third

time and passed
The Metropolis Subways Rill was read • second time.
The Lord Advocate brought in hills to improve the system
of registration of writs, the procedure in regard to eccleslas
Heal buildings and glebes, and for the consolidation of titles
to tend In Scotland.
Sir W. Ilutt re-introdueed his bill for the better audit of
railway accounts, and a hill was brought In by Sir S. Northcote,
to enable guaranteed Indian railway companies to raise
money on debenture stook after which the House ad-
journed.
The House of Lords sat for a very short time on March
10, and the business disposed of was of no public interest.
In the House of Commons Mr. Fordyce asked the Lord
Advocate whether, in consequence of the great deficiency of
house accommodation for agricultural labourers in Scotland,
he will consider the expediency of extending "She Labouring
Classes' Dwellings Act, 1566" to entailed properties, and
grant facilities for obtaining permanent building fees on
such properties.
The Lord Advneate said a bill was under his considera-
tion referring to the latter part of the hon. member's ques-

Nfr. Maguire, In a lengthy speech, abounding with passages
of fervid declamation, brought on hie motion, that the
House of Commons resolve itself into a Committee, with a
view of taking the condition and circumstances of Ireland
into immediate consideration. Deprecating at the outset the
treatment of the question In a party or sectarian spirit, he
went on to sketch in the gloomiest colours a picture of the
political and material condition of Ireland, comparing the
country under the first head to Poland or a province of
Turkey, and asserting that as far as Constitutional liberty
goes the Irish have just now as much as the subjects of
the Emperor of Morocco or the King of Abyssinia. Pro-
testing against the comparison between the years 1861 .
and 156 i, from which it had reeently been argued
that Ireland Is flourishing, for in the former year the
country was but just recovering from the famine, he drew
what he held to he a jointer parallel between IS:Ai and 1861—
from which he showed that there had been a large falling.off
in the live stock of Ireland, that the acreage under cereals
had diminished, and that the productive power of the
country had gone hack The reasons for this was that the
farmers, by reaeon of the insecurity of their tenure, had lust
heart, and had begun to hoard their money rather than put
it Into the land They had begun to despair of the wisdom
and honesty of Parliament and of statesmen, and discontent
was rapidly growing into disaffection and alienation. Three
feelings had their root in the memories of past misgovern.
ment and penal legislation, on which Mr. Maguire
dilated with much warmth of indignation, maintain-
ing that the system of misrule had been in part
continued down to the present day. As Instances of
this he referred to the laws directed against the trade
of Ireland, the fraud and corruption by which the
rnion was carried, the failure to keep the promises made at
that time, and the delay of emancipation and other remedial
measures until they could only be refused at the risk of
revolution. Of the present eauses of discontent Mr. Maguire
dealt first with the land laws, the injustice and iniquity of
which lie illustrated trona the records of eviction cases, arid
discussed the numerous Land plus offered to Parliament, all
of which, though good In some Ronde, failed in this, that
they contained no security if tenure. The Imel question, he
asserted, lay at the riot of Fenianiem, and without the sym.
pathy of the tenant class the conspiracy woeld speedily col-
lapse Protesting strongly that hit desire was not to injure
the landlord, but to protect the tenant against being swept
out of the country, he pressed the Government specitifully to
explain their views on this que.stidn. Panning to the Church
question, Mr. Maguire emphatically refused for the Catho-
lic bishops and priests any share in the Church revenues, or
payrneet by the State, and declared that nothing short of
disestablisliment and the disendowment of the Kstanlish-
went, which they regarded as • hedge of conquest, would
satisfy the Irish people. Ile rejected, therefore, entirely
Lord Russell's plan. Touching next cursorily on other
suggested panaceas—such as education, Royal visits, and
emigration, on the last he remarked that, with the em-
bittered feelings and the desire for vengeance which the
emigrants carried away with them, the Dish difficulty was
not got rid of by being transferred to the other side of the
Atlantic But the panacea which lie ...melded in an
impassioned peroration was to do justice, tO legislate for the '
Iri,h people as they would legislate for themselves and
this alone he predicted would produ.2e a better state of feel-
ing, and would rectors the prosperity of the country.
The motion having been seconded, Mr. Neate moved, and
Mr. D. Griffith seconded an amendment which declared that
the constant recurrence of impracticable resolution'', and
the proposal Or sliggestion of extravagant awl impossible
remedies, are the great Obstacles to the restoration of peace
In Ireland, and to the presperlty of the Irish people. The
proposition, however, was withdrawn as soon Ili made to
give place to the amendment of which gir F. Ileygate had
given notice
There was • loud call for Lord Arthur Clinton, whose
amendment stood first on the paper; lint, owing to lils not
rising OD the C.161{61013 of Sir Maguire's slim ch. the nob'e
lord had lost hie position in the debate, and sir F. ileygate
proceeded to move that, before the consideration by the
11ona, of aondituticand changes iii tile ISM and lnintutto

of Ireland, it was both just and expedient to inquire into
the causes of alleged discontent and the best mode of
remed) tog the same. ltepl)ing to the assertions of
Mr. Maguire, the hon. baronet contended that the
member for Cork, in describing the material con-
dition of the country, had indulged in some exag-
geration. and that whatever might be the depressed
state of trade and agriculture, it was due to ex-
terual causes rather than to any Inherent fault in the
laws Cr institutions of the country lie also defended the
landlords of Ireland, and especially the London companies,
from the attacks directed against them by Mr blaguire ; but
assured the house that so far as the proprietary classes were
concerned, they were willing to ac,ede to a full inquiry into
the laud question, to agree to a measure on the subject, and
to settle once for all the point what the compensation to the
improving tenant should be. If the house would be success-
ful in dealing with the Irish difficulty, he urged that above
all things careful consideration was necessary, and that rash
or precipitate action should be avoided.
Mr. flows-in seconded the amendment.
Lord A. Clinton next moved his amendment, which u-as In
the form of a series of resolutions.

.....-....-. „.
The Speaker, oil the conclusion of the noble lord's speech,
intimated that as there was already an amendment before
the House, that of the noble lord could not be put unless the
other were withdrawn.

--31;-..0—iini;u—e—,;;I:n.; Was to have seconded Lord A. Clinton's
amendment, spoke lu support of the views which it ex-
pressed . . _

r The Earl of Mayo, remarking that he had only to tell
plain, unvarnished tale, and reply to some of the statements
which had been put forward by gentlemen who claimed to
represent the people of Ireland, at once proceeded to
dispose of the assertion that to British legislation was
to be traced the exlstence of the Fenton conspiracy.
. .

Pointing to Australia and other colonies where inMaenee
numbers of Irishmen were settled, he challenged con-
tradiction when he said that among them the Meade feel-
log towards England which characterised the American-
Irish was nowhere to be found. This was even the
case with Canada, which was in the immediate neighbour-
hood of the Fenian organisation, and where the Irish portion
of the colonists were ri,,,st loyal to the British Crown. In
Ireland, also, the feeling of disloyalty and dienffection was
confined to a lower class than any who had taken part in
previoua disturbances, whilst the nmvement was directed by
ines whose chief distinction was that they had held subordi-
nate offices in the American army. Further, it was not in
the agricultural distrcta, bet in the large towne,
and especially those in the south of Ireland, that the
mass of the people were tainted with Fenian principle. In
fact, the real strength of the conspiracy lay not no this, but
on the other side of the Atlantic ; and he believed that if the
connection between America and Ireland could only for a
short time lie out off. Feulantern would totally disappear.
To the assertion thet the land of Ireland bad at one time
belonged to the peasantry he replied that at every sac-
COMMIX./ COlififealioll the ancient possessors of land had in.
variably emigrated, sad that none of their descendants were
left in the country. Finally, he combatted, at considerable
length - quoting numerous statistics—the statement that
Ireland in a decaying country, and showed that during the
present generation there has been a great increase in the
acreage ander cultivation from 13,000,000 to 15,4,4i,000
aeres`, in the value of live stock (from 1:21,000,000 In 1841 to
x." 00,500,000 in 1880`, and in other agricultural produce.
There had been a steady rise in rents and in the rate of
wages, the roads had been greatly improved, railway
communication had been extended, and more than
£10,000,000 had been advanced from the 'Treasury for
improvement purposes. As further tests of the im-
preying condition of the country he cited the in-
crease of the consumption of beer and spirit., and of the
deposits in the Joint.iltock Banks, and laid considerable
stress on the general diminution of crime.and pauperism.
and on the large extension of education. The increase of
tohnage in the Irish ports had been greater than in any other
part of the United kiugdoni, arid, frees his own experience,
he disputed Mr. Magnire's assertion that the country towns
of Ireland were decaying. Ile canvassed next the various
plans put forward,—especially those of Mr. Bright, 3lr.
Mill, and ST John Gray—for the creation of a peasant pro-
Printery, denying first of all, on the strength of French,
S.laS, and other Continental countries, that this would be a
Con,ersative class imbued with any particular respect for
the rights of property. If the a;ricultural classes of Ire-
land had been deeply tainted with disaffection, he would
admit the necessity of a strong remedy, but this
he disproved by applying the teats of emigration, agrarian
crime, and the records of Fenianiste. Only two and a-half
per cent, of the emigration had been contributed by
the agricultural class agrarian crime hail sunk from
1,000 cases in 1844 to ST In 1566, and of the 1,100 mem
arrested under the suspension of the Halmos Corpus only
twenty-four got their living by the land. But all these plans
for the createin of a peasant proprietary would lead to the
old system of subdivision from which the country had
formerly suffered so deeply. Pasalng on to the policy of the
future, Lord Nlayp, after discuesing briefly the provisions
and the fate of lagt year's measure, intimated that he would
next week brim; In a bat which, besides providing an easy
means of securing compensation for improvements, would
increase the leasing powers of limited limners, and would
also contain provisions for the encouragement of written
contracts. This last announcement was received with
considerable cheering from both sides, but a further
statement that it was proposed to institute a solemn
inquiry into the relations of landlord and tenant
provoked Mime laughter on the Opposition benches.
But he justified the project by the ignorance anti
misconception, which prevailed, and the misstatements
which were made, and he asserted that without fuller infor-
mation the question never couhl be completely or satis-
factorily settled. In addition to this, ou Monday or Thurs-
day, he would bring in the Irish Reform Bill, and he hoped
504,11 for the Conanissiou to which the subject hail been
referred was expected to report before Easter; to subnatt a
measure for the more efficient management of the Irish
Railways. The question of education was next touched on :
and, first, auto primary education Lori Mayo said it had
been referred to a Royal Commission, which probably would
speedily be able to suggest modifications of the present system,
removieg all objections, anti setting the controversy at rest for
ever As to the University question, it was not intended
to disturb the existing arratigements of Trinity Col-
lege or the Queen's University; bat as neither of
these histituttons commended themselves to the great mass
of Irish Roman Catholics, it was proposed to confer a Charter
on anew Catholic University, the organisation of which he
explained at length. Parliament would be called on to fur-
nish an endowment for this University, but for the present
no endowment would be asked for Colleges in connection
with it. Finally, Lord Mayo dealt with the Irish Church
question, which he reminded the House was now being
iuquired Into by a Commission appointed at the instance of
Lord Russell, That Commission would probably report
in the course of this Session, and the Government, there-
fore, held it to be impolitic to deal with this question imme-
diately. That there was any pressing haste he denied, for
if the Church were overthrown to-morrow there would
not he a Fenian the lees, nor had anybody yet suggested
feasible mode of disposing of the revenue. But neither on
this nor on the land questton could a satisfactory settlement
he obtained by confiscation Policy and pistice might de-
mand the equalization of Church establishments in Ireland,
and Protestants were not disinclined to consider any fair
proposal for that purpose. But it must be done, not by a
levellieg but an elevating process, and the destruction of
the Irish Church would not conciliate one enemy, while it
would alienate many friends. Having spoken close upon
three Miura and a half, Lord Mayo concluded by impressing
on the House the gravity of the occasion, and emphatic
warnieg against rash acid precipitate measures.
The debate, on the motion of Mr Borman, was ultimately
adjourned until Thursday ,March
In answer to Mr. Gladstone, Lord Mayo Bahl the Govern-
ment, as at present advised, opposed bath the motion sad
the amendment.
Colonel Barttelot and Mr Ayrton obtained Select corn.
mottoes to bemire into the Malt Tax and the asseesment of
local rates in England and Wales, after which the House
adjourned.
-

•
In the House of Commons, on March 11, Mr. Hardy, in
reply to Mr. Monk, stated that the separate portions of the
report of the Boundary Commissioners was being prepared
U quickly as possible.
Mr liardcastle postponed his Church Rates Abolition Bill
for three weeks.
Mr. Hubbard moved the second reading of hie bill for the
Regulation of Church Rates. Ile wished, most heartily
wished, to see this question settled, and with that view
would leave his bill in the halide of the House with the hope
that it would be referred to the same Select Committee as
the bill of Mr. Gladstone.
Sir S. Northeote believed that the Mouse had now deter-
mined to deal practically with this question For hia own
part he felt that the existing system was a satisfactory one,
but he could not conceal from himself that it was distaste-
ful to the great body of Nonconformists, annt it was a point
whether the advantages of the system are worth the odium
and discontent which they excited. Several compromises
had been suggested, and they were now embodied in a prac-
tical form, and he hoped this bill and that of Mr. Gladstone
would be considered together, in the hope that from one or
the other they might at hat arrive at a settlement of the
question.
Mr. Newdegate put in a claim for a similar consideration
of his bill for the commutation of church rates. Ile would.
however, follow the course taken by Mi. If ardcastle, and
postpone his bill to the same date as that of the Min gentle-
man. At the same time he must express his decided objec-
tion to the bill now before the House, which In his opinion
embodied the essence of sectarianism.
Mr. Itarileastle had postponed his bill on the noderstand-
ing that the saine course would be pursued with the bills of
Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Newdegate, so that the field should
be left clear for the consideration of the plan of Mr Glad-
stone, which he was prepared to adopt in its present shape.
Ile would therefore move that this bill also be postponed for
three weeks.
Mr. ileresford Hope complained that Mr. Ilaril,stle was
unwilling to allow even the opportunity of considering auy
alternative compromise on the part of the Church.
Mr Gladstone said it could not be wise to refer bills
founded upon opposite principles to the same committee.
Me principles on which the clauses were founded ought to
he settled on the second reaming and not in committee.
He could not. therefore, agree to the suggestion which had
bees made, for he was not prepared to throw upon the com-
mittee a responsibility for which it was ill fitted, arid whieh
properly belonged to the House now.
Mr. Walpole recommended the postponement of the second
reading.
Mr. Hubbard consented to the course proposed, and the
eecond reading was postponed to the Bth Aped.
Theseoond reading of the Church Rates Commutation
Bill wan also postponed to the Bth of April
The Artisans and Labourers Dwellings Bill was read a
.conil time alter slew observations from Mr. If. Lewis and
Mr. Powell. The HOUSe then adjourned.