The Press.
London, England, 1858-06-19 00:00:00

THE PRESS, JUNE 19, 1638.

stead of advising with the Lord Advocate, he w,.u!d
advise with his own Under-Secretary on Scotch law,
and it was clear that he would possess less int'orma•
lion upon the subject. The effect of the motion,
therefore, would not be that which the mover sup•
posed.
Mr. DUNLOP supported the motion.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed
that, in a matter which concerned the administra-
tion of affairs in Scotland, motives of economy
ought not to govern the decision of the house.
The question was whether the present system Wll3
wanting in the qualities of other branches of her
Majesty's service. He denied that there was any
deficiency of responsibility or of efficiency. The great
objection to the motion was that the house had
no evidence whatever that the people of Scotland
were suffering in any degree from the system as it
existed.

After a few observations from Sir G. MONTGOMERY,
Mr. BAXTER consented to adopt the amendment
suggested by Mr. Stirling, and the resolution then
stood in this form :

That, in the opinion of the house, an Under-Secretary
for Scotland should be appointed in the Home Office, to
perform a part of the duties attached to the office of Lord
Advocate.
Upon a division this resolution was negatived by
174 to 47.

POLICE Id IRELAND.

Lord NAAS, in moving for leave to bring in a bill
to make better provision for the police force in
Dublin and other towns in Ireland, acknowledged
that the police force was a fine and well-trained body
of men, who had conducted themselves, upon the
whole, well, but specified certain objections to its
constitution, more especially in Dublin and Belfast.
It was proposed to abolish the local police force in
those places, to amalgamate it with the constabulary,
and to establish one uniform police system through-
out Ireland. He specified the details of the measure,
including the expense, the manner in which it was
to be defrayed, and the provisions made for abolice
force for the smaller towns.

After some remarks by Mr. J. Fitzgerald, Mr.
Whiteside, Mr. Gropn, and Mr. Vance, leave was
given to bring in the bill.
Lor 1 NAAS bad likewise leave to introduce a bill
for the more effectual Administration of Justice in
the Police District of Dublin Metropolis.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved for leave to bring
in a bill to enable persons to establish their legiti-
macy by the judgment of a court of law, and also to
enable persons in like manner to establish their
right to be regarded as natural-born subjects of
Great Britain ; and to extend the jurisdiction of
the Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes. He
explained the object and tenor of the measure.
Leave was given.
Mr. 11191Lutorr obtained leave to bring in a bill to
secure the right of new trial in criminal cases.

The orders of the day were then gone through,
and the house adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—WEDNESDAY.
EDINBURGH, &C., ANNUITY TAX BILL.
Mr. BLACE, in moving that this bill be read a
second time, said its object was to remove an enor-
mous grievance, the tax being not only extremely
oppressive, but injurious to morals and religion, and
especially to the Church of Scotland. When the
tax was first proposed two centuries ago the grounds
of its imposition were reasonable, but what was
applicable at that day, when all were of the same
creed, was inapplicable now. He insisted that the
burden was not merely an oppressive one, but that it
was partial in its incidents, and that it forced con-
sciences. As an evil and a wrong it ought to be
abated, and although those who called int its re-
moval were not bound to provide an equivalent, the
bill proposed that seat•rents and church•door collec-
tions should furnish a fund, or the principal part of
a fund, as a substitute for this tax.

Mr. BAXTER seconded the motion, contending that
after the abolition of ministers' money in Ireland,
which was a mitigated annuity tax, Scotland was
entitled to be relieved from this burden.

Mr. BLACKBURN observed that Mr. Black, although
he had dwelt upon the grievance, had said little
about the bill, which was an unjust measure, coming
from the enemies of the Established Church, The
substitutes proposed as a provision for the clergy
were perfectly illusory. Seat-rents were objection
able in their character, and would not be paid ; and
church-door collections were entirely for charitable
purposes. He moved to deter the second reading
for six months.

This amendment was seconded by Mr. BUCHANAN.
Mr. J. B. SMITH supported the bill as founded in
justice.

Mr. COWAN likewise gave it his cordial support.
The tax, he said, was a highly aggravated and
intolerable church rate, in its nature unjust and ob-
noxious.

Mr. F. Scorn opposed the bill, considering that it
involved a principle subversive of Church property,
and destructive of the Establishment.

Mr. GLLPIN supported it.. Thi.; tax, he said, could
he defended only by the old arguments in favour of
church rates and ministers' money.
Mr. C. BRUCE spoke against the bill, the passing
of which, he said, would be equivalent to the con.
demnotion by Parliament of the principle of as
Vaa•allslieUvrtalnt,

Sir T. E. COLEBROOKE, though disposed to relieve
the city of Edinburgh from an exceptional position,
was not prepared, on the other hand, to place that
city in a better position than any other city of Scot-
land. This was an attempt at a compromise, th
terms of which might be adjusted in the committee,.
The LORD ADVOCATE observed that the question
resolved itself into this—whether the equivalent for
the tax proposed by the bill was adequate and ample.
It was agreed on both sides that this was a most
nnfortimate mode of providing stipends for the clergy.
He considered that it was an inexpedient mode, ar d
no man would rejoice more than he at any measure
being devised that should have the effect of abolishiug
this obnoxious tax altogether, consistent with the
providing a sufficient equivalent. He referred to the,
attempts made from the year 1835 at a compromise
which had been defeated, he said, mainly by those
who did not desire to part with a grievance for a
mere mitigation, but whose object was to inflict a
permanent and fatali blow upon the interests of the
Established Church. This bill absolutely abolished
this tax ; it did not propose, as former bills did, to dis-
tribute the charge over a wider area, and to take away
the exemption of privileged classes, so as to make it
fall lighter, but to abolish it altogether. He then
proceeded to examine the expedients by which this
bill proposed to supply an equivalent fund for the
stipends of the city clergy. The surplus of seat rents
would afford but a scanty supply ; creditors had
securities over them, and the legal existence of the
rents was a subject of litigation. If the church.door
collections were diverted from their present charitable
objects, what probability was there that they would
remain at their present amount? He showed that
the aggregate fund would greatly reduce the stipends ;
but it was not merely the amount of the fund to
which be objected, but the want of security. He was
no enemy to the abolition of the tax, if it were com-
muted for a real equivalent ; and if he could only see
his way to a satisfactory settlement of the question,
nothing would, he said, be more gratifying to him
than to propose such a settlement, but not upon the
terms of an absolute abolition without an adequate
equivalent.
Lord DUNCAN supported the bill, and
Mr. HORSHAM recommended the Lord Advocate
to take warning from the fate of church rates, the
incidents of which, and of ministers' money, con-
trasted favourably, he observed, with those of the
Edinburgh Annuity Tax. He was prepared to vote
for the second reading of the bill, the principle of
which had been admitted in the case of church rates
and ministers' money. A grievance was acknow-
ledged, and the assent to the second reading would
not commit the house to the mode and amount of
the equivalent, which were matters of detail.
Upon a division, the amendment was carried
by a single vote, the ayes for tho then second read.
ing being 129 and the noes 130. The bill
.is
fore lost.
The County Management Bill was read a second
time.
On the order for going into committee upon the
Registration of County Voters (Scotland) Bill, Mr.
G. DUNDAS moved to defer the committee fur six
months.
After a short discussion, this amendment was
carried upon a division by 108 to 9(1; so this Lill
is lost.
On the order for the second reading of the lusu-
ranee and Assurance Institutions Bill,
Mr. SHERIDAN desired to postpone the second
reading until the 7th of July ; hut
Mi. HENLEY recommended him to withdraw the
bill altogether.
This suggestion not being adopted,
Mr. E6TCOURT moved to defer the second reading
for six months.
when tho
a continued
quarter
to to
six
0
amendmentM r . 1a
until
debate stood adjourned. B%elaokCk, UP°ll
this
The remaining orders were then gone through
without debate, and the house adjourned at ten
minutes to six o'clock

HOUSE OF I.ORDS—Tiluismy.
SLAVE TRADE.
The Bishop of OXFORD presented a petition from
St. Mary's, Jamaica, complaining of the continued
violation by the Government of Spain of the treaties
by which that country is bound to suppress the slave
trade to the island of Cuba, and praying that measures
should be taken to compel Spain to fulfil the con-
ditions of those treaties. He described the engage-
ments Spain had entered into, at different periods,
to suppress the traffic, notwithstanding which it was
still continued ; the importation of slaves was co°.
demned by public opinion in Cuba; but the Captain-

the island and other Government officers
profits by it, and the trade continued in
lust public opinion. Those profits, he
even shared by persons standing near
__ Spain itself. England was bound by
)ligation to compel the performance of the
treaties ; it was an act of duty to the West
lonies, who, by the equalization of the duties
slave-grown anger, had been exposed
competition. While they suffered Cuba
slave-importing country there would
the peril of this country coming into
collision with the United States of
Spain should be compelled to do for
Portugal had done for Brazil, where the
had been abolished ; as a question both
interest, England was hound not to
treaties with Spain to be treated as a dead

BROUGHAM strongly urged the Government
influence with Spain on this question. It
impossible, by the vigilance of any squadron
.t of Cuba, to slop the traffic ; but by
end to the system of corruption under
Governors of Cuba enriched themselves
• the landing of negroes, the difficulties
country and America, arising out of the
the right of search, would he obviated.
r in which negroes were obtained on the
,frica, and conveyed to Martinique, under
free emigration, should also be borne
any communicat'ons n•i the subject with
)ment of France. The inhabitants of
. right to complain of the continuance
J trade. That the cultivation of sugar
increased by the unnatural, forced, and
in Africans was a cruel addition to the
planters.

nALAPISBURY regretted that the sub-
excite the interest in other countries
England, which was not suppor ed in
'le extent that conld be wishe 1. Evety
Government hail endeavoured to induce
its duty on the question ; and they had
ilod, for Spain opposed to such efforts
most difficult force to overcome—that
resistance. He had endeavoured to
.11 civilizAd countries some agreement
means of verifying the nationality of vessels
Aping slavers, and had strongly repre
United States that if an obstinate ad.
prosent declarations on the right of
persisted in the American flag would be
Ind prostituted to the worst purposes.
tat sending our squadron to the Cuban
Instead of keeping it on the African coast,
mistake. The slave trade increased
L portion of the squadron was with-
le coast of Africa at the beginning of
war. England and the European
always supported Spain in defending
any hostile invasion ; but if Spain con-
;how such an utter want of principle awl
thuds to this country, instead of taking
they would leave her to suffer the con-

CARLISLE advised caution in any mew•
suppress the slave trade, but believed
which had done so much to effect it,

consent to a retrograde policy on the

ODEHOUSE expressed a similar opinion. He
Aber the policy of interfering with foreign
iginally a wile one, but having begun
not be precipitately abandoned.
attributed the decrease of legitimate
fries, and the revival of the traffic in

tly to the condnct of the Governments
the United States. In dealing with
power, he advised proceeding with the
'lion and forbearance. That a great
'ranee should become a gigantic slave.
(most too disgraceful to be believed. He
rising of the slaves on board the French
.heir captors, but hoped Liberia would
it into the quarrel.
ABERDEEN described the instructions
!he English naval officers acted ; they
toned by the American Government, and
not recently been changed be could not
how any outrages could have been
He believed there would be no ditfi•
tug to a satisfactory explanation on the

of HannwicKE though it possible the
have exceeded their duty, and might
(together free from blame in the matter.
le further conversation the petition was
lie on the table, and their lordships

OUSE, OF COMMONS—TIMISDAY.
INDIAN RESOLUTIONS.
house,!at the morning sitting, hiving resolved
committee upon the Government of India,

General of the it
made large pro&
defiance of that
believed, were ev
the throne of Si
every obligation
Spanish treaties
Indian colonies,
on free and ale
to an undue com
to continue a al
always exist the
dangerous colh
America. Spail
Cuba what Portt
slave trade had I
of right and ini
suffer its treaties
letter.
Lord BROUOII.I
to use its influen
would be impossi
on the coast of
putting an end I
which the Gover
by bribes for the
between this eon
exercise of the r
The manner in v
coset of Africa,
the name of free
in mind in any c,
the Government
Jamaica had a ri,
of the slave tract,
should be inerea'
infernal traffic in
burdens of the pl
The Earl of M
ject did not exc
that it slid in En,
its eff►rts to the c
English Govern
Spain to do its c
signally failod,
what was the mo
of passive ream
obtain from all c
as to the means
suspected of heli
sented to the Un
herence to the pi
search were peril
dishonoure I and
R. thought that
waters, instead
had been a mi
greatly after a p
drawn from the c
the Crimean wi
States hat alai
Cuba against an:
tinned to show f
We ingratitude
her part, they I
seqiiences.
The Earl of C
sures taken to si
that England, wl
would never con:
question.
Lord WODEIIO
doubted whether
States was origir
it, it should not I
Earl GREY atl
trade with Africa
slaves, entirely t
of France and U
the latter power
greatest caution
empire like Fran
dealer was al MOS
justified the risir
Ship against thei
not be brought it
"'he Earl of A
under which the
were sanctioned
if they had not I
understand hoe
committed. Hi
cults in coming i
matter.
The Earl of l
officers might ha
not be altogether
After some fu
ordered to lie
adjourned,
HOUSE
I
The house,!at
itself into a com n