The Press.
London, England, 1854-06-17 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

tection against the priests, as all secrets were revealed
at the confessional. He trusted that Lord Palmers-
ton had expressed the sentiments of the Cabinet, and
that his speech had converted even his colleague the
right hon. member for Southwark.

Sir W. MOLEBWORTH began a prepared speech by
some impromptu remarks upon the arguments of the
Home Secretary, which he said comprised nothing
but the stock in trade of the anti ballot controversy
already inflicted upon that house usque ad nauseam,
and declared that his own convictions remained un-
changed upon the subject. He then proceeded to
comment upon the evils which they were called upon
to cure, and the remedial measures that were professed
on different sides. Among these he came at length to
the conclusion that the ballot offered the only effectual
contrivance. Although, as he confessed, far from
perfect, it was nevertheless the best that could be
devised. To sustain this position Sir William Moles-
worth treated the subject logically, dividing corrup-
tion into its several classes, and pointing out the
phases of the disease in which the ballot might be
administered successfully, and those in which it was
likely to fail :
" Positive bribery may be divided into three kinds, ac-
cording to the period when the payment of the bribe is
made. The first kind is when the bribe is paid before the
elector votes, on his promising to vote, for the bribery can-
didate, whom I will call A. The second kind is, when the
bribe is paid after the elector has voted, and in consequence
of his having voted for candidate A. The third kind is,
when the bribe is paid after the return of candidate A, and
iu consequence of his return. The first kind of bribery,
namely, when the payment of the bribe is contingent only on
the promise of the corrupt elector, is rarely and never willingly
practised by skilful and experienced agents even with open
voting; for, when the bribe has been paid beforehand, the
briber has little security that the bribed will fulfil his • dis-
honourable engagement, and not sell his vote fur a second
bribe to the opposite party ; in fact, the briber has no se-
curity except such as may arise from a feeling of false ho-
nour on the part of the bribed, or fear of being reproached
for not keeping his promise. It is evident that the strength
of these feelings would be very much diminished, and in
many cases entirely destroyed, by secret suffrage. (Cheers.)
With the ballot corrupt electors would when they could
take bribes from both sides, and then vote honestly accord-
ing to their convictions. (Cheers and laughter.) For cor-
rupt electors frequently have strong political opinions, for
which they are willing to make considerable pecuniary sa-
crifices; and it is a well-known fact that corrupt electors
will oftentimes vote for a popular candidate for a less bribe
than for an anti-popular one. (Cheers.)"
Continuing his analysis, and exhibiting " Candidate
A. " as the agent in "or sufferer from " a variety of
hypothetical circumstances under the conditicins of
open and secret voting respectively, Sir W: Moles-
worth drew the conclusion that the ballot 'would
prove tolerably effectual against all corrupt influences
exercised on a small scale and by individuals. For
the grander manifestations of corruption or coercion
he found in it no hopes of immediate restraint, but
argued that under its influence a change in public
opinion might gradually be fostered which would
purify and assuage the whole system of electoral
immorality. Against intimidation, he urged, it would
present a more impracticable barrier. Reverting to
the address of Lord Palmerston, the right hon.
baronet denied that the vote could be considered a
trust in any sense which should compel the elector
to endure the ordeal of publicity; argued that no
analogy existed between the members of the Legis-
lature and their constituents in the matter of
voting; and declared that parliament could not
claim to have done its best towards stopping the cry-
ing evil which threatened to sap the foundation of
our representative institutions before it had tried the
great experiment of the ballot.
Mr. I. BUTT, in opposing the motion, stigmatised the
ballot system as novel and unconstitutional, and be-
lieved that it would destroy the manly spirit of the
constituencies.

Mr. Paimi remarked that members of clubs, the
benchers of inns of courts, and directors of the East
India Company, were elected by ballot, and insisted
upon the justice of extending the same shield to the
voters for members of Parliament. The speech of a
Cabinet Minister (Sir W. Molesworth) in its favour
marked an era in the question, and gave assurance
that however delayed the ballot would eventually be
carried.

Mr. KENDAII, entered into some details respecting
the last election for East Cornwall, to which Sir W.
Molesworth had alluded, deducing from the circum-
stances an inference against the ballot.

Mr. H. BERKELEY having replied,
Mr. MAOUIRE, amidst impatient calls for a divi-
sion, interposed a few remarks in support of the
motion.

Upon a division the motion for leave was thrown
out by a majority of 194 to 157-37.
BLOCKADE OF RUSSIAN PORTS.
Mr. iiORBFALL, on Tuesday, asked whether it was
intended to establish an effective blockade of Russian
ports in the Baltic, the Black and the White Seas,
respectively, or if any distinction was to be made
between them ?

Sir *hams GWA7[AY would endeavour to make his answer as
clear as his sense of duty would allow. Orders had been given

557

some time ago to the admirals, both in the Black Sea and in the
Bailie, to institute a strict blockade of Russian ports, and he had
every reason to believe that. sin It blockaded had been instituted.
With respect to the Danube, the Goveniment had received in-
formation by telegraph from Admiral DUllligel that the Danube
was blockaded, and notification, in consequence, would appear iu
the Gazette that evening. They had nut yet received from Sir
Charles Napier notification of the details of blockade in the
Baltic which would justify any similar notification, but he had
no doubt., de facto, that blockades existed. He need hardly state
that no distinction would be made lu respect of foreign verse's.
With regard to the White Sea, he had already stated that, in
conatlitence of counnunioations pending between the French
and English Governments, no order had yet been sent to block-
ade that sea, but he had reason to believe that a reinforcement
of the French spinuiron WAS about to be sent, and orders would
be sent to institute a blockade in the White Sea also. (Hear.)
OXFORD UNIVERSITY BILL.
Lord J. BussELL being restored to his place in the
House of Commons on Thursday, the Oxford Univer-
sity Bill was brought forward for recommittal. During
the recess the bill had been reprinted, the numerous
and important amendments effected in committee
upon its earlier clauses were properly inserted in the
new copy, and the modified clauses which tiro
Government intended to substitute for the latter sec-
tion of the measure appended at the end.
When the bill came on some comments were made
upon its new aspect. Mr. WALeoLE spoke in tenni!
of approbation of the changes that had beep intro-
duced. Mr. HORSMAN said that the right hon. mem-
ber might well be satisfied, since they had mainly
been adopted upon his own suggestions. Several
ultra-reform advocates complained that the measure
had been emasculated, and rendered merely perms--
sive. 1.,0rd J. RUSSELL and the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER confessed that it had become a complete
changing from the bill they had intended and tried
to carry, but said that the only alternative lay be-
tween taking it as it stood, or none at all. Parlia-
mentary majorities had decided upon certain modifi-
cations, and whatever their private opinions might
be they must make the best of them. Sir W. HEATH-
COTE consented to accept the alterations because he
was assured that they rendered the measure more
satisfactory to the university itself.
Clauses up to 30 bad been already discussed and
amended, and were now successively presented,
tnerely that the committee might see and approve
their own work. They were agreed to with some
trifling verbal alterations.
Progressing into the undiscussed portion of the
bill, the committee were occupied from five o'clock
until midnight in getting through two clauses, 81 and
32. When these had been framed into acceptable
shape and agreed to the chairman was ordered to
report progress.
BILLS OF EXCHANGE BILL.
This bill passed through committee on Monday
night after some strenuous opposition, commenced
by Mr. Hume, to the proposal it comprised fot
rendering foreign-drawn hills of exchange liable to
the stamp duty. The hon. member contended that
this new impost on that class of bills would imperil
the practical monopoly which England now enjoyed
of the monetary business of the trading world. It
Would destroy the profits of capitalists, fetter the
operations by which capital was made profitable, and
ultimately drive the article out of the country to other
markets where it was more liberally treated.
Much confliction of opinion was manifested on this
subject among the representatives of the banking and
capitalist interests in the house. Mr. WILSON met
the objections argumentatively, and the CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER finally threatened to throw the
whole bill up if this point were carried against him.
He designed, he said, to alleviate the stamp duty on
bills drawn upon inland transactions, and could not
afford the sacrifice unless reimbursed out of the
foreign branches of business. Upon a division the
clause was adopted by a large majority, the numbers
being—for 173, against 110-03.

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN PRISONS.
In committee of supply on Monday night a debate
turning upon a comparatively insignificant item, but
involving questions of great importance, and result-
ing in a serious defeat of the Government., was
inaugurated by Mr. St'oosEn. A vote of 371,0331.
was proposed for the maintenance of Government
prisons and convict. establishments. The vote in-
cluded a charge of 5501. for the special services
Roman Catholic priests in prisons, and the dis-
allowance of this item was urged by Mr. Spooner,
who observed that the vote was proposed this year
for the first time, and that, it contravened the
Protestant spirit, of the constitution. He did not
dispute the right of allowing Roman Catholic
prisoners the ministration of priests of their own
faith, but contended that their services should not
be recognised as forming a part of the prison
system, nor be paid for out of the public revenue.
Lord PALMERSTON justified the grant proposed, ob-
serving that many Roman Catholic convicts were
constantly in the prisons, and ought to be furnished
with the means of religious instruction and moral
reformation. The principle had already been
adopted in the Millbank establishment, and it was
his object to eztend it through all the convict prisons
where it was required.

558

Mr. SCHOLEFIELD also supported the vote, the op-
position to which was, he declared, prompted by
narrow-minded prejudice.
Mr. NEWDEOATE argued that the grant implied a
national sanction of the Roman Catholic religion, and
in practice would compel the prisoners in gaols to
attend mass.
Mr. DRUMMOND objected upon principle to any
State provision for religious purposes, except in be-
half of the State religion. That principle having,
however, been too frequently infringed to be now in-
sisted upon, he thought it but just that the violation
should be made universal and every one admitted to
the pnvileges which it was now sought to extend to
the Roman Catholics.
The amendment was supported by Mr.ADDERLEY;
by Mr. CROSSLEY, who deprecated all State provision
for the support of religious sects ; and by Mr.
HonsFALL, who remarked upon the inconsistency of
maintaining an established church, and yet support-
ing priests whose doctrines were entirely opposed to
those recognised by the establishment.
Mr. W. J. Fox also could not support the vote.
The Roman Catholic Church performed ministerial
services which deserved full recognition, but was
degraded by this attempt to become sharer in the
pittance accorded by Government for the performance
of its exalted duties.

The grant was supported by Mr. J. BALL. It was
opposed by Sir J. PaiumixoN, because it favoured a
single class of dissenters ; and by Mr. HADFIELD, be-
cause it impugned the voluntary principle.
Mr. LUCAS, in defending the vote, commented at
much length upon the conduct of the advocates of
voluntaryism. They refused to receive State provi•
sion, but, he insisted, left undone the work which
that provision was designed to accomplish in the
prison establishments.
Mr. MILES declared that the question involved the
practical denegation of our national Protestantism.
Some remarks from Mr. Mum., and a reply from
Mr. SPoosEn, closed the discussion. On dividing
the amendment was carried, against the Government,
by 158 votes to 130 ; majority, 22. The vote,
diminished by the 55W. in question, was then
agreed to.