The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-04 00:00:00

providing that if music or banners be need the eandllate
shall forfeit the seat, and that in lien thereof a penalty of
1001. be levied.
The committee divided on the question that the wonls be
omitted—
For the motion
Against it . _ _ 73-21

Oa the question that the words imposing the penalty of
lOW. be added to the cl,.use,
Mr. LIDDELL moved that shillings be substituted for
pounds.
Mr. BARROW eoncratulsted the house that they had
adopted the principle of punishing the casulidate, instead of
the constituency ' • but locking at the bill in its present
shape, which would have the ellect. of preventing any candi-
dates coming forward, except those to whom accumulated
;smithies of lOW. was no object, he put it to the house whe-
ther they should go on with it.
Mr. AGLIONBY said proposing such an amendment as
this was playing with the house,
Mr. JAMES MACOREOOR submitted whether the bill
would be effective. lie had seen a big loaf, a locomotive
engine, a beer barrel, and a jolly full bottle, carried at an
election. Were they to prevent such things ? and yet, if
they put down flags, why not put down other emblems ?
What member had not heard the voice of the multitude
louder than any music, and were they to put down that ?
Ile admitted that this amendment was playing with the
house, but introducing such a bill at all was playing with
the house.

Sir J. I'AKINGTON reminded the house, that while
they were tdktng about tl Igs end banners they were, in
fact, probLging the session, and postponing business of
great importance. He hoped the amendment of the Lon.
member fur Hertford would be lost, and that the hon. and
gallant member for Cheltenham would then with traw the
bill. _ _

Mr. HALMS suggested whether they had not better, at
once, make the clause read thus—" Whereas, it is ezceed-
ingly dangerous aid expensive to be a candidate it an elec-
tion, be it enacted that the penalties will be so large and so
numerous, that any gentleman becoming a candidate shall
be regarded as having lust his reason." (Laughter.)
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the question whe-
ther the candidate would be liable fir the acts of his lignite
was a very wide one. His own impression was that he
would. (Cheers.)
Mr. PIIINN said that it struck him that the Attorney-
General had given an opinion wrier a misapprehension.
(Laughter.) A modification had been intr. (laced into the
clause since it had been Hest drawn, and now the paint
would have to be decided by the rules of common law, and
not by those of parliamentary committees, which were
somewhat different. It was impoasitee for any lawyer to
say what the decision of a committee might be, for different
committee had over and over again decided important
points in a diffaust manner in the very same way. He
thought, therefore, that the clause would tend to the salety
of individual members. He hoped, however, that sume
steps would be taken to reduce the lase of election commit-
tees to somethirm like order. (Hear, hear.) -
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL bad given his opinion
upon the clause as it onginally stood. It appeared that it
had since been altered, and ha agreed with his hon. and
learned friend. _ . .

.....
Mr. BARROW sapported the idea that the candidate
would be liable.

Mr. GEACIL mid that the bill would not prevent the
use of music and figs, and that the only sfict of the mea-
sure would be to promote litigation, which might he a pros-
pect pleasant enough to some bun. and learned members.
(A laugh.)
Mr. E. BALL was sore that music and fl.gs could
always continue to be used ; soil therefore, as he was a
poor man, and as he would be liable to answer fur the acts
of his supporters, he should prefer the penalty of 1130 s. to
that of 100/. Besides, what was muss 1 (A laugh.) Some
peiple contended that the finest musical instrument was
the human voice. (near, hear.) Besides, in his part of
the country the farmers had a peculiar way of whistling ;
and for anything he knew, they might choose to escort him
to the plearof election with a chorus of that description.
He supposed that he should then be charged with having
been accompanied to the bust rigs by • band of music.
(Laughter.) He trusted—and now he was serious (a
laugh)—that the matter would be postponed till the gene-
ral measure of reform promised by the government should
be brought in. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. PATTEN suggested that as this was almost the
last Wednesday they would have this session, they had
better not wane any more time upon a bill this nature,
(Hear, hear.) There was a bill of the right hon. gentle-
man, the member fur blidhurst, in which the country took
ten times as much interest. (Cheers.)
Mr. W. F. HUME moved that the chairman report pro-
gress, and ask leave to sit again this day month.
The committee thereupon divided—
Ayes 66
Noes 45-21

Colonel SIBTRORP—I rue to congratulate the country
on its good riddance from such trash. (Laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN then reported progress.
LUNATICS' CARE AND TREATMENT DILL.

The house went into committee on this bill.
The clauses up to II were agreed to.
The Chairman, on the motion of Sir J. Graham, rtportcd
progress.
NAVAL COAST VOLUNTEERS BILL.

This bill am read a third time and pas..ed.
SOUTH SEA AND OTHER ANNUITIES PROVI-
SION FOR PAYMENT, ke , BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (at ten
minutes to ses) moved the second reading of this bill.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY mast resit), object to proceeding
with it at Chit hoer.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER must press
the second readicg. There would be plenty of space fur
discussion upon the motion for going into committee and
upon the second reading; and—it was the 3rd of August.
(Hear, hear.)
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY must persist in Ids objection ;
end accordingly the bon. baronet pulled out a large number
of papers and prepared for a long speech.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would not,
of course, resist any further, tur ho was quite at the bon,
baronet's mercy; but he meat say it war a proceeding
which had very much surprised him. (Hear, hear.)
The second reading was therefore lilted for this day at
t se:ye o'clock.
THE MILITIA.

The SECIIETARYatWAKot;t;;ed leave to bring in
bills to suspend the ballot ; and to defray the charge of pay,
clothing, and contingent and other expenses of the disem-
bodied Militia in Cheat Britain and Ireland.
The house then rose at five minutes to six.
Mr. Hiodley has paired off with Mr. Briscoe fur the re-
mainder of the session.