The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-05 00:00:00

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

In reply to Sir H. WILLOUGHBY,
Lord PALMERSTON stated that now el the estimates
would be proceeded with on Meaday.

THE STAMP ON PROXY PAPERS.

Mt. D. GRIFFITH rose to move that the stamp on
proxy papers used fm the purpose of voting in public
companies, mioaMions, and charities, being • tax which
impeded the exercise of franchise, might conveniently be
reduced to me peony. The hon. member clootseded that
this tax prevented the shareholders of railway companies
from giving expression to their wishes, and he mid that
be would not conceal the fact. that if he had sufficient
influence in the beam be would attack the system of votbm
by proxy gemmlly.
Mr. HAD seconded the motion.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said be
would at owe admit that this was a matter of secondary
importance so far as finance was concerned. It was a subject
which the house ought to consider with regard to its bearing
so the internal admioistration of joint stock companies is
this country. It was aka a subject upon which he was
glad to hear an expression of opinion from hoe. gentlemen
to that house who were connected with inch companies.
The hoc. member opposite had two distract objects in
view—nee was with regard to the reduction of the
stamp, and the other the • question of increased
facility of acorn to that stamp. With regard
to the substitntioo of a smaller stamp of another deoomitui-
Ron, he had no doubt that that would be attended with the
advantages to which the hon. gentleman had referred. But
he hoped the bon. gentleman and the house would permit
him to adhere to the usual and convenient rule, and reserve
anything he had to way on the subject until the period when
all financial manse were brought together for joint coon-
&ration by the house. He would take care to give the
matter his best consideration before the time when it
would be his duty to submit all his financial resolutions to
the house. (Hear, hear.)
The motion wee then, by leave, withdrawn.
THE TUSCALOOSA.

Mr. PEACOCAE stated that in wasequence of the papers
not haviog been as yet laid on the table be should postpone
his motion respecting thecapture of the Tuscaloosa.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the cause of the
delay in producing the papers wu that they were still is•
complete, her Majesty's government were anxious to lay
them on the table in a empire' form.
THE MASSACRE AT SOOCHOW.

Colonel SYKES rose to call the attention of the house to
the following resolution, reseed unanimously at a meeting
of the consuls representing European nations ■t Shangbas,
on the 16th day of December, 1863, at the
British Consulate, moved by Mr. Markham, the
British acting Consul, and seconded by Mr.
Keswick, Danish consul—" That this meeting, aa represent-
ing the whole (amigo community, views with unqualified
disaprobation the late proceediogs of the Tomei at Soo-
chow as an act of extreme treachery, abhorrent to human
nature, calculated to withdraw from the imperial cause the
sympathies of western nations, and the aid of the pliant
officers who have hitherto assisted them"—end to ask the
First Lord of the l'reauuzy, whether, with this renewed in-
stance of perfidy in imperial officials, it was intended by her
Majesty's government to pass unnoticed further violation of
the instructions of the Foreigo-offios to British autho-
rities in China, to be strictly neutral in the aril war which
bad so long raged in China.
Lord PALMERSTON observed that it was most de-
sirable that order and peace should be restored in China,
and for that purpoes a commission had been given to
Captain Osborn and Mr. Lay to organise a naval form, and
British subjects bad been permitted to enter the service of
China. The purpose, however, had not been answered,
and the orders io council had been repealed. Nothing
could be more worthy of condemnation than the conduct of
the Futai, which had been represented to the Court of
Nino, and it was hoped that adequate punishment would
be inflicted upon him.
After a few remarks by Mr. J. Wum and Mr. Kis-
AMID the subject dropped.
THE CONFEDERATE WAR VESSELS.

Mr. G. S. LEFHVRE called attention to the course
pursued by the agents of the Coufederate /States of America
a fitting out vessels of war and enlisting semen in the
porn of this country, in violatioe of the laws of neutrality.
He contended that the Confederates had for two years de-
literately violated intereatiorial law, commencing with the
ship Florida.. which clearly left this country as a commis-
sioned vessel of war to prey on the commerce of a friendly
nation. The Alabama was also undeniably • war vessel
bdore she wee allowed to issue from Liverpool for the
Confederate States without any attempt by het
Majesty's government to stop her. This vessel had not
adopted the course of sending her prizes in for condemna-
tion, bat burnt and destroyed American, and eves British
vessels. Before she left Birkenhead the Mears. Laird laid
down two steam-rams, which nobody had denied were in-
tended for the Confederate service. This was only part of
a plan organised by the Confederates, by which they would
be euabled to cripple Federal commerce. The Alexandra,
sod the Japan, which became the Virginia, were intended
for this purpose, the letter having escaped from Greenock.
The Confederate vessel chose to fly the British flag—•
flagrant violatioo of the law of nation'. Two other vessels
were built at Glasgow—the Pamper°, which was stopped,
and another which was sold to Denmark. The four ships
in the Confederate service had taken 187 vessels, and de-
stroyed property to the amount of three millions, and this
while they were, so far as building and manning were ooe.
oersted, essentially British weasels, and were, in feet, pri-
vateers. The Foreign Enlistment Act, however strictly
carried out, was ineffectual to prevent these breaches of
neutrality, and the Confederate government ought to be
directly told that this country would take special measures
to prevent them.

Lord FL MONTAG' controverted some of the positions
of Mr. Wens, sod dented that the government could have
seized the Alabama.

Yr. BAXTER dissented from this view of the law, and
approved the course taken by the government in reference
to the hoe rams.

Mr. P. TAYLOR urged the obligation of the strictest
neutrality on our part in the American quarrel, contending
that the conduct of the United States had been perfectly
just towards this country, while the Confederates subsisted
by the violation of our laws.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL mid that the accusation
against her Majesty's government was that they bad allowed
four vessels to escape from our porta. and to enter the ser-
vice of the Confederate States. He contended that in the
case of the Florida, step were taken to condemn her, but
she was acquitted by a proper tribunal. In the on.. of
the Alexandra action had been taken ; while in the cue
of the Alabama the government was occupied in collecting
evidence against her when she escaped, which was • mis-
fortune, but not one for which the governmeet was rupee-
slide ; for the government could not conceive that • vessel
of doubtful character should ever evade our law. As to the
Rappahannock, the government had no inform►tion about
her until she had actually escaped. He entirely denied the
saseition that these vessels were to be taken as essentially
British ships. Restated that the government intended to
make remonstrances against the breaches of neutrality by
the agents of the Confederate States.
The house wept into committee of supply pro forma.

. .
THE PENAL SERVITUDE BILL.
On the mooed reading of the Penal Servitude Acts
Amendment Bill,

Mr. ADDERLEY mowed its rejection. upon which
lengthy discussion ensued, in which the arguments for aid
agues, the measure which were adduced on the iotroduction
of the hill were repeated by Mt. Beech, Mr. G. Rudy, the
O'Conor Dou, Sir W. Miles, Sir G. Grey, Major Water-
house, and Mr. Moor.

Thi ameadmeat ens ultimately withdrawn, and the bill
read a mead time.