The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-07-13 00:00:00

ATURDAY, JULY 13,

IMPERIAL PARLIAIViE 6T,

In the Moore of Lords, July 5, which was very folly at-
tended, alters Division on the Great Southern and Western
kallway (Ireland) Bile
The Commons' Alnerelments to the Leta' Amendment,
CO the Ballot blfl were considered.
Lord Ripon gad that the other House had adopted the
nciple of the Scrutiny Clause eut of deference to their
lordships, but had thought it right to take further securities
for the maintenence of Secrecy.
The Duke of Richmond said that the Commons' Amendment
would euable the vote to he better ttaced, steles this carried
sat his own view, he should offer ne opposition to the
Amendment.
The Lords' Amendment ter the Scrutiny Clause as amended
by the Commoes Was then agreed to.
Lord Ripon then reeved that their lordebit," do rot Insiet
rar the word " secretly," which relsed the question of the
Optional leaned. Ile strongly appealed to them not to insist
Upon cli Amen:intent which deatroyed the whole character of
the bill. It would have been better to throw out the measure
on the second resoling than to adopt an illusory Ballot, which
IS. out the heart of the bill.
The Duke of Richmond. In recommeeting their lordships
to insist upon their Anuaniment, disputed the assertion of
Lord Ripen as to the feeling of the country by quoting
South-te eat Yorkshire and other election, against the re-
turns for North-West Yorkshire and Tamworth, which had
• been relied upon by the Pres iden tof the Ceuitell. lieliet her that
the great bulk of the country was not in tavolir of secret I
voting, he declared that the majority might not to he coerced
by the minority. Under the bill as it MOW those who wlehed
to vote secretly could have as much secrecy as they pleased.
The Amendment which their lordships hail adopted on his I
reconunendation had been brought forward with due thought
and deliberation, and he asked them to give those who wished
to vote openly an opportunity of doing Po
The Duke at Northumberland hoped, as he had not an
opportunity on former occasion, of voting on any of the
amendments, that he might be permitted to say a few words
In explanation of the conduct he intended to pursue on
this eueject. Ile was by no Means disposed to lock upon
the Ballot with favour. On the contrary, he thought it
would destroy a serum of responsibility, and leave the elec-
toral body to the manipulation of electoral agents, who,
by means of secrecy, would exerciee pernicious ineurneea.
But he regarded a Ballot Bill ria a necessary consequence
of the Act lately passed for the exterseloe of the suffrage.
There was nothing In the bill to prevent a man from an-
nouncing how he intended to Vote and how he had actually
voted, and under an optional liallot the utmost presehre
would be put on every voter to ascertain how he halt voted.
Ile would be tortured in every way, and when the wilertu.
state man had had a confession wrung froen him he would
be liable to the violence which was sometimes indulged In
In large towns. Under these eireunestatces, he could not
concur with the noble duke behind him in insistieg on the
amendment, lie should be one of the last to recommend a
pusillanimous course, but he saw no disgrace in retreating
from an untenable position. Their lordships ought to have
the courage to acknowledge their error if convinced that
they had made one, while they should be equally determined
to uphold anything which they believed to be just. (lieu,
hear.)
The Deka of Marlborough recommended their lordships
to Meat upon the Optional Ballot.
Lord Grey net that he Intended to support the Amend
meat which limited the duration of the bill, but their lord-
ship' would be cutting the ground front under them ou that
question unless the Ballot were tried in a form and manner
satisfactory to its advocates.
After remarks from Lord Reseal, Lord Penunce, and Lord
Ifarrowbv,
toed Granville, alluding to the Impatience manifested
by some Opposition Peers, said that this clamour for rot
early Division showed that noble Lords were keenly aware
of the importance of the occasion. Jo answer to the
Duke of Richroornia charge agate,: the Premier, of
having sneered at the House of Lords, he said that last
year the Ballot Bill was postponed because they were
told that It was impossible to discuss it in less than three
weeks or a mouth. Mr. Gladstone had, therefore, a right
to advert to the fact that the bill had been got through and
materially changed in the course of a single evening. he
could hardly conceive that their lordships went,' place them-
selves in opposition to the other House om a question sued..
tog the procedure at elections. Doubting whether it was
consonant with true Conservative feeling for that House to
declare that the House of Corranons was not the correct ex-
poneet of the feeling of the country, he intpreseively
cautioned their lordehips never to take a stand against the
other House unless their ground was much firmer than it was
Upon the, question.
Their lordships eivideol upon the question that they In-
sist upon their Amendment, when the Contents were 138
snot the Not Contents 157, being a majority in favour of the
Government of 19.
The next Division was taken upon the proviso enteling
Parliamentary.ailed Scheel' to be used for peffing places.
The Archle.hop York pointed out that the. Privy Council
grant depended upon results, and thet It might be attended
with loss to the schools to interrept the studies. The Duke
of Richmond agreed that some compensation should be given
for the time lout by the !cholera, hut thought it would not
Ire worth while to take a Division against using the Schools.
Lord ealishury thereupon moved to add we,ti that auy ions
of fees or Parliamentary grant should be made good.
Their lordships divided, when the Amendment was carried
agsinst the Goverrunent by Ile votes against 67.
Lord Ripon then moved that their lordships do not bullet
upon their Ameteltnent limiting the duration of the bill to
the year 'See. Ile argueol that it was Prost Unnecessary
sad undesirable that a temporary charaeter should be given
to such a measure.
Their lordahips divided, when there appeared—For 'inlet-
bog on the Lord. Amendreeut, 117 ; Against, ; Mejoeity
agaiust the Government, 59.
Lord Ripon, on what is called the "illiterate Clause,"
moved that their lordships do not insiat upon the Amen I.
merit. It was easier and sloe temptation would be ereater to
make a false declaration Were the Returning Officer than
before a el agintrate.
Their lordships divided, when there appeared—For the
Lords' Antenolmeut, 80 ; Against, 77; Majority against the
Government, 31.
Certain conseopiential Amendments were agreed to, and a
committee was appointed to draw up reasons fee insisting
on the remaruing Lords' Amendments, and their tote:ships
adjourned.
In the House of Commons, Mr. Cardwell, In reply to Mr.
Dimsdale, said there was nothing arising out of the state of
the harvest or the convenience of the Auxiliary Forces Pe
cause a change in the dots originally fixed for the DID=
Manceuvres.
He added, in reply to Colonel Pmeiree, that the reports of
the Inspecting Oaken with retard to the efficiency of the
Militia were most satisfactory.
Mr. Vance gave netice that on Monday he would ask the
Attorney-General for Ireland questios s es to the alleged Wes-
pennon by the Roman Cathodic Archellshop Italfere id a
Roman Catholic priest from his sacerdotal Mitetions. who
had been warned previously, when git Mir eelolenee in the
Galway election inquiry, that if he IiSYC 'evidence in favour of
Captrein Trench he worild be suspended.
Mr. Gladstone in &neweo to questions from Sir T. Batmen,
Which he said formed a very effective speech, stated that
there had been no special measures taken by the GoVernment
with regard to the protection of the effigy of "Litrillv "
Whatever was done for the effigy of Llndon was done mien
swore inforniations sent to the Government beforehand; aed
stating that the forthcoming demonstrations were dangerous
to the public peace and the object had not been to do any
honour to the memory of Lundy, but to preserve the public
peace. With respect to the elegy of Mr. Justice Keorh,
there had been no attempt to Imre it its the place where the
effigy of Lundy was found.
Mr T. Batesou said it was publicly burned in the city of
Derry.
Mr. Gladstone was told that it was not. No infermtion
load been rent to the Government with respect to apprehen-
sions with respect to the burning of Judge le eogh's effigy, nor
bad there been any case in which warning load been given to
the Government upon the subject. The Government had
used every exertion for the purpose of preventing those
proceedings. They instil:del proeeedings against the pieties
concerned in them; they had in many cases obtained prude h
meet to be inflicted upon thou peenr so arid they had is
that moment various pro esecutions pending for the some
mirpou. The efforts of the Government had been made
all along to preserve the peace and too prevent outrage
of any kind in connection with die painful matter. As to
the last part of the question, "whether at this late period
lie will take proper steps to protect this learned judge from
further insult and outrage, in order to maintain the dignity
and indepenolenee of the judiciel bench," he deelined to
answer it. If hie hon. friend hail a charge to bring against
the Government let him pluck up his cotirage and bring his
charge, and not frame his op:tether+ hi a manner to convey
the charge.
Sir T. hiatesono To aceommodate the right hon, gentle-
man he would move the fellowieg day for a return of the
places iv which the police were eucceeeliil in rem ehting the
learned judge trout being burned in effigy.
Mr. Gladsteme ; If the hon. gentleman wants information,
"et him move aleo for a return of persens punished or now
under proaecutiou.
'the Chancellor of theie,Exchequer. in answer to Mr.
Uouckton, said the dents non Joy which a farmer was lined £5
foT evasion of Horse Duty by gratuitously conveying four
Intends born market was not against the letter of the Act of
'Parliament, but it had Melly s appeared to him that where it
was shown in such oases that the service wan rendered gra-
tuttonsly, it would Ire better that the prosecution should not
take place. (Hear, bear. Ile would endeavour to obtain
mitigation of the penalty. (Hear, hear.)
The House then went into Committee of Supply On the
Civil service Estimates. In Class 7, the vote for repaying vi-
Governor Eyre the costs of his defence (a4,13e) gave rise
to a lively rllsetOrdon, which busted until clem upon
midnight. to proposing It the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer said he •as f °lnkling a vendee given by the
previous Government, by which, he 81)00. he and his
colleagues were bound, its urged the tinportaece of con-
tinuous goverriment, so.l polote.l out how much more ex-
pensive the Public Service would be if the element of un-
certainty were introduced, and it one Government were held
to be at liberty to reverse the undertakings of its ',re-
deemers.
Mr Bowline, who took the leaden epposing the vote, went
at great length into the whole story of the deal:des rebellion,
and into the correspointlems between Mr. Eyre and the
Colonial 'eke, maintaireng that am promise had been given
by the late Government, and that, if there had been, the
present Govemmeet Were riot b 0113.0 by It, since Mr. lyre
had rot fullilled um conditions attached to the promise.
Se pointed ens, too, that these costs had already been paid
by private sulneriptions.
A lengtheeted diaeussion followed, and on a dis isles, the
vote was caerieol oy • majority of 113-243 to 130.
e The Adrairalty and War t Mice Rebuilding Bill was with-
lawn, tend several other tills haviiig been forwarded a stage,
SAC liense adjourned at live minutes past two o'clock.

In the House of Lord., July St, the lA-trd Chancellor pre-
'rented the report of the select counuitteu on the Appellate
Jariaelfctlon Bill.

The Marquis of Salisbury said teat in consequence of the
state of business in tho House of Commons no could it
hope to bring the Limited Owners Improvement Bill to a
•auceessful Issue this year, and he would therefoee withdraw
it on the understanding that elicit it was brought forward
next scuba, it should at once be read a seecnd thee and re-
ferrol to a select committee. In doing in be took the
opportunity of replying to some criticisms that had been made
on the bill since it was last before the Ileum.

After some ronversatio, with regard to various points of
the measure, the order was discharged.
The Local Courts of Record Bill was read a second time.
Lord Morley explained the provisions of the R., gistration
of Births and Deaths Bill. The Bill readers comonsory the
registration which is now permissive. Ile stated that at pre-
sent a vast number (.1 births were entirely unregistered, out
two Arilect Committees of the other House had newt, d
that the registration of both births and deaths shoul ii,,
enforced under penalties. Such a law was in operi.tion hit,
in r, cotland and Ireland.

The Bill was then road a second time.
The Infant We Protean.. Bill was t,od a third a and
posed.

Lord Middleton c died attention to a letter written by Lord
Granard, I,rd-Lientenant a Leitrim, rani read loy the
chairman of an indignation meeting held in Dublin on the
,24th, of June, in which the writer charged Mr. Justice
Keogh with having in his Galway Election judgment in.
dulged in scurrihnui invective and insulting imputations
against the Homan Catholic clergy. Accusing Lord Granard
to his face of grave dereliction of duty in pn judging the
case before an accurate report of Mr. Justice Keogns re-
marks had been published, he asked whether the Govern-
ment intended to remove Lord Granard from the Lieu-
tenancy of the county?
- - - -

Lord Spencer said that the 1 h.oeromrt 11,1 N.
grave and important judicial functioue to
until the whk,le of the case ivaa before them they Lould OO
prees no opinion either in regard to the judgment Itself or to
any language used to regard to it. While he declined, there-
fore, to give any opinion upon Lord Granard's letter the
Govenduent had taken meseures to vindicate the law, and
every precaution would be adopted to protect Mr. Justice
Keogh in iii,Margiug Ida judicial duties.

Lord Granard stated that he had written the letter in hit
private eapaeity, and under feelings of great indignation
after reading the newspaper report.. Ho frankly admitted
that he had acted prematurely, although, when the proper
Wee anived, he should be prepared to enter Into the whole
fablett.