The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-02 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORI)S.—FRIDAT, itt,T 1.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat at 5 o'clock.
INDIA.
Ear! of ALDENIAItLE, pursuant to notice, pre-
sent d a petition from birmingham. ',geed by the mayor,
tont, councillors, au rchscte, and otLen, praying that the
b 00..., is say measures for the future gover-ment of India,
would andish tie existing system of a double government,
sad establish a borne. adminktration appointed by the crown,
sad dlret-tly stymsible to the imperial parliament.
Etrl (MAN VILLE (who spoke in a low terse scram the
table) was understood to say that the govvenusent did not
wish to discourage diecussian on this important subject,
but it was rather :ate to be called anon to reply to such de-
tails as thwe referred to by the sable eerl, after the state-
ment whirl had been mole in another place.
INCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) ACT
CONTINUANCE BILL
The LORD CHANCELLOR brought up the report on
th s bill with ameadmints.
Lord ST. LEONARD'S moved an amendment limiting
the .4 ft to one year instead of two. •

the first or original cthstitution of feu and ground annual
r:ghts in Sc; theLd (not beieg a lease or tack for years), in
rinelderati.n only of any annual sum, payable in per-
petuity, or for any indefinite period, whether fee farm or
other rent: feu duty, ground annual, or otherwise,
where the annual sum thereby reserved, mewed, or made
paya,,:e sba,l not exceed lbs., 2s. bd. ; and where the sum
.hall exceed , and •hall not exceed 121., then kr evt ry
20s. or any fractional part of 201. of such annual sum, 2s. Gd. ;
and where the same shell exceed 12/. and shall not exceed
21/., then for every 40s. and for any fractional part of
40'. of such annual sum, ; and where the sum shall ex-
ceed 21/.. taco fu. every 41. sod for any fractional part of
41. A iaeli Athos', sum, 165."
Mr, Dus 1.01. and Mr. Kt:4I4AM heving expressed their
thanks fur the alteration, which would greatly contribute
to the improvement of the habitations of the poorer classes
in Se tl nd, the resolution was agreed to.
Tho CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
proposed to impose a tax of a penny upon scrip certificate,
°rebuts, in order that they might be used as iiro.ruments
in transferring the property. The duty was very mode-
rate, but a considerable sum might result from its im-

position.
Agreed to.
NEWSPAPER SUPPLEMENT STAMPS.
Tin CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had already made a general statement on the next resolu-
tion, he would therefore only state the two alterations that
had been made. In the first place, he had, through inad-
vertence, made the:proposal that the privilege of freedom from
stamp duty upon suppl.ments should be coolie ed to such sup-
plemeuts es were filled with advertisements only. But a very
slight cohsideration of the quest:en made it quite obvious
that the effict of that proposition would have been to neu-
tralise 11010 ft all the le neficial consequences of the boos and
to give to the measure a very invidious direction, making it
appear as a favour towards one or • small number of papers.
The proposal as it now stood was entirely irrespective of
NEW MEMBER. the question waether the contents of supplements might be
The Earl of Dalkeith took the oaths and his seat for the news, advertisements, or • mixture of both. The other
gouty of Ediaburate in the room of Sir John Hope,
deceased. The noble Erie; was introduced by Sir R. point was one in which there was a material change; in-
login and Mr. Lockhart. stead of the general removal of the stamp duty ou news-
PRIVATE BUSINESS. paper supplements, freedom from the stamp was given to
The British Electric Telegraph Company's, the Halifax what was now commonly known as a single supplement.
Waterworks, and the Ribble Navigation, Bills, were read It was not so much the removal of stamp duties from sup
a third time and passed. p:ements as the simple enlargement of newspaper space
CHORLEY IMPROVEMENT BILL.
Oa the third reading of this bill, By the present law the penny stamp only covered a uews-
Mr. W. PATTEN hoped the hon. member (Mr. 800- Paper having •• printed superficies on ono side, not exceed-
eerie) would not press his amendment to strike out the ing 1,531 square inches. He proposed to enlarge that
=sun compelling tin owners of factories and other similar apace by 50 percent., and raise it to 2,295 inches, leaving it
buildings to construct their chimneys of a certain height, so to the nartieseither to enlarge their eheet, and alter the
as to diminish the nuisance of smoke.
After some discussion the further consideration of the folding as they pleased, or if they chose to retain what was
clause was adjourned accordingly. now the maximum sire, to permit them to rriut
The Banbridge, Dublin, Newry, and Belfast Junction a supplement, —in fact, imposing upon them no
Railway Bill, which had been ordered to lie on the table, limitatiou whatever as to the employment of that apace of
was considered and ordered to be re-committed. 2 '495 inches, except the single limitation that they must
The Llanelly Railway and Dock (No. 2) was con- '
sidereal and ordered to be read a third time. not distribute it into more than two separate pieces of
DEVON AND DORSET RAILWAY BILL. paper, which of course bad reference to the evasion of the
Mr. BECKETT brought up the special report of the cons. law by parties who might wish to make use of the stamp
mitten upon this bill. They found that the preamble had for purposes not:intended. Thus an enlargement of 50 per
not been proved, and theiothought that there should be one cent. wee given to newspaper space, in lieu of the proposal
uniform gauge between odon and Exeter. to remit the duty on supplements. The effect would be to
The report and the evidence were then ordered to be laid
allow the publieatieTl of single supplements without stamp
on the table.
PUBLIC BUSINESS. duty; but when they passed the limit of 2,295 inches, •
PLYMOUTH ELECTION COMMITTEE.—THE further duty of Id. would be payable for each 2,295 inches
FURTHER INQUIRY. achioional, or id. for each moiety of that space. (Hear.)
Mr. AGLIONBY said he had been instructed by the
Committee which had re-assembled for further inquiry into Mr. BRIGHT said he thought the question before the
the alleged corrupt practices at the election for Plymouth, committee was the advertisement duty, and not the sup-
= make the following report of the resolutions which had plement duty.
been unanimously adopted by the committee:— The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said this
" That a general belief appears to have prevailed at was so • but as the connexion between the two subjects was
Plymouth—both previously and after the election of '
waited to place clearly before the committee
members to serve in parliament for the borough, in 1852
so close, he w
that it was not illegal for a candidate or his agents to obtain, the alterations he proposed.
or promise to obtain situations or employment for electors, ADVERTISEMENT DU I'Y.
who had previously pledged their votes. On the resolution for reducing the duty on all advertise-
" That acting on that assumption, Mr. Charles Mare,
meats to Cel.,
one of the candidates, or his agents had, in many instances.,
promised, and, in several, obtained situations and employ. Mr. M. GIBSON moved to substitute the following
meat for various voters or their relations, both during the words And that all duties now chargeable on adver-
canvas', and after the election, as well in the dockyards tisements be repealed, in accordance with the resolution of
at Devonport, as in Mr. Mare's own establishment. this house on the 14th day of April last." After the de-
" That the prevalence of the stove impression, and the
practice in accordance with it, exercised much influence in tided expressly-. of the opinion of the house, by a deliberate
procuring the promises of voters who had not previously resolution—not a surprise, not an accident—(hear, hear)—
pledged their votes, and in securing the performance of but an express:on of opinion f _irly obtained from various
such promises. parties in that house, that the advertisement duty ought to
" That numerous applications were made to the candi-
be repealed,—he had fancied that the government would
dates and their agents, and that Joseph George Church-
yard appears to have been the person principally concerned have bowed to that decision, and would have settled the
in receiving such applications, and in promising to obtain question by simply repealing the duty.
Intents. That it was admitted by Mr. Churchward, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed
appointments. That
that in addition to above 20 places which he the amendment, contending that the new supplement
resound in Mr. Mare's own establishment, he might have duties would be a greater advantage than the total repeal
made daring the election, 30 or 40 applications for deck- of the advertisement duty. The advertisement duty was !
yard appointments, and that he obtained 25. (Great sea- • tax on trade and not on knowledge. The paper duty
station.) also was, in his opinion, impolitic, and ought to be re-
" That the circumstances of the ease are not such as to muted as soon as the revenue could bear the Ins, which
=dace the ormissittee to recommend a further inquiry by i't could not do in the case of the advertisement duty.
eommiellea ; but they desire to call the especial attention Mr. COBDEN said the right hon. gentleman should rot
of the home to the medicine of the act of the sth "ad oth have :nixed eel the supplement duty with that of the duty
Viet, cap. 102, and to state their opinion that the powers on advertisements. NO one had asked for a repeal of the
therein contained see totally inadequate. (Cheers.) That duty on supplements. The hon. gentleman strongly ani.
much trouble and large costs are necessarily incurred in the =adverted on the conduct of certain newspapers which had
investigation of cams similar to that in which the committee been foremost in advocating the repeal of the corn laws,
have been engaged, with little chance of discovering the and which, nevertheless, were now doing in their power
bath (Hear, bear.) And that no such inquiry into to retain the last shred of protection which the advertise-
bribery and corrupt practices can be efficient unless COO- meat duty afforded them.
dueled on the spot and with large power of compelling After some conversation
witnesses to answer questions, giving them an indemnity, The house divided—
as provided by the into( the 16 & 16 Vie., e. 67." For Mr. Gibson's amendment 99
NAVIGATION OF THE DANUBE. Against it 199
Mr. LAYARD said that having sew a statement in the
publisizEthas asessais had arrived from the East in pri- Majority for the government lO
vase Se Obi ant that the navigable mouth of the On our return to the gallery.
Nook Meshed up by the authority of Russia, Mr. CRAUFURD was on his legs, urging that advertise-
aad that 370 nets, principally British, laden with corn, manta in or upon vehicles ought to be taxed equally with
were not able le parses their voyage is consequence, he advertisements in newspapers.
wished to know ff the goverment had tee:teed any official Mr. HUME regretted that the government had not felt
Monodies of the fact. justified in proposiag the entire remission of the tax, which
Lord J. RUSSELL said that no information to the effect he believed was one of the greatest impediments to trade
mentioned by his hon. friend had embed the government that now existed. He held in his hand an American
which they could lay on the table of the house. An so- paper containing some thousands of advertisemeuts. In
east, however, had arrived from one of the British eon- each column were advertisements having reference to a
eels is (net place, that the ordinary course of the Danube different trade. There was half a column devoted to piano-
wee impeded, but it was not said that the Rosen= had forte-makers, and another half column to coffin-makers.
end any means of ,topping the navigation of that river. (Laughter.) He thought that on this question the governs
(Hear, hew.) sent were acting contrary to all their ppreoofessel principles ;
IMPRISONMENT OF COLOURED SEAMEN. and be hoped that, considering the eloawer of the divi•
Os the motion of the adjournment of the house till lion, they would still be induced to remit the tax.
Meaday, Mr. M. GIBSON said the right host. !madman had not
Mr. FRENCH said he wished briefly to all attention answered his question as to how the duty on advertisemerts
of her Majoste's government to a statement reported to in books and pamphlets was to be collected. The question
have been made by the noble lord the Secretary for the was a very simple one. He wished to know when the duty
Colonies, "That successive law officers of the crown had was to be paid, to whom it was to be paid, and where it was
given their opinion, that the state of South Carolina was to be paid ?
justified in imprisoning, as they now do, coloured seamen, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought
subjects of her Majesty ;" and to inquire whether, in tholet that to the right hon. gentleman's simple question he had
future relations with that state, her Majesty's government on a former occasion given in equally simple answer. He
are prepared to admit the legality of them proceedings. stated that there was no intention to levy any duty on ad-
He %indented that the Secretary for Foreign Affairs had vertisements which were not chargeable with duty already.
declared also that the opinion of the law officers of the He said that the liability continued the same, and
grown was, that the proceedings of the state of South that the person to whom, and the plan where, the
Carolina were not illegal. If sash • statement were made duty was to be paid would also be the same. With respect
and founded on fact, it would have the result of doing away to what fell from the hon. member below him (Mr. Cato
with the effect produced by the dissensions on this subject turd), he was happy to say that the government was about
in both houses of parliament, and with the remonstrances to put an end to what were termed advertising vans, and
which were made by her Majesty's government in teemed he believed that they would expire amid a universal jubilee.
to it. He could not but believe that there must be either (Cheen and laughter.) It was also intended to do away
a mistake in what the noble lord said, or that he "had *him. with what the French termed 1 h 0011144 afieAs—that is, the
self fallen into some error. He knew he could not ask to man who walked about surrounded by placards. (Laughter.)
have the opinions of the law officers of the crown laid on Mr. M. GIBSON wished to have more explicit informs-
the table, but be was desirous of knowing what course her Lion on this subject. He had that day presented a petition
Majesty's government were disposed to pursue in respect to from the booksellers, who were in a state of great alarm as
this matter to the wording of the resolution, end therefore he hoped
Lord J. RUSSELL said he should decline to enter into that the resolution would state explicitly what were the in-
the question of law in respect to this matter. But the sub- tentions of its framers. To make t wording of the
jut was one on which great difficulty existed. (Hear.) resolution clear as to an omission which already took place
He could not say what might have been the opinion given in practice, and to avoid all cause of future litigation, he
by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, but he had no doubt should move the omission of the words " pamphlet or lite-
that there was no justification on the part of the state of nary work."
South Carolina for imprisoning any persons—whether Mr. NEWDEGATE said he bad voted with the governs
coloured or otherwise—subjects of her Majesty. (Hess, mint in the recent division with the intention of noosing at
bear.) When he said that they were not justified, he meant the proper time, that the whole of the advertisement duty
that there was no moral justification on their part. should In retained, but retained his objection to the neap-
(Hear.) With regard to the remedy to be obtained, re- val of the tax upon supplements, which he looked upon as
pelted remonstrences had been made on the subject, a premium to those papers which had established their po-
but great difficulties arose from the peculiar constitution of 'Rion to the injury of those which had not. (Hear, hear.)
the United States. (Hear, hear.) The government could He only wished that the right hon. gentleman's anxiety to
only deal with the government of the United States, not preserve the balance between dirt ct and indirect taxation
having any diplomatic relations with the separate states had been exhibited a little earlier in the session.
which composed the Union, and the general power of Mr. HUME approved of the alteration proposed by the
legislating in the United States was limited in respect is right hon. member for Manchester.
the individual state'. The consequence of this state of The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
things was, that the government of the United States de- the letter from Dublin muat have been written under a
elated it wee impossible for them to °serrate the law in misapprehension, or the revenue officer mast have exceeded
the state of South Carolina without giving rise to serious his duty, es it would have been premature to act on a rico-
differences. It was suggested that the only wsy of obtain- laden which was still in the hands of the committee. He
lag redress was to put in force the treaty regulations with apprehended that about the operation of the law there
foreign states; but that was • very serious question. (Hear, could be no manner of doubt. The intention was to
bear.) He could only say that her Majesty's government, charge all periodical works, but he admitted that the
feeling fully sensible of the injustice and oppressiveness of wording of the law was open to criticism The practice,
this law of the state of South Corolios, would use every however, was clear ; and if the right hon. gentieman
effort, bounded by discretion and the law of nations, to ob- wished, he was willing to alter the resolution for the pnr-
tain its abolition. (Cheers.) pose of making the law equally so.
Mr. HUME said that the question was a very important Mr. BRIGHT said that the resolution as it stood was
one and also a very clinical. one to deal with in consequence manifestly absurd, because it proposed a tax for which
of the peculiar constitution of the United States. He con- there was no legal mode of collection. He would suggest
oared in the opinion that the proceeding was an illegal the postponement of the clause. The whole proposition was
one, because the question should be considered on the untenable, seeing that the house had already by a much
general principle of the liberty of British subjects, and not larger majority than the present, decided for the abolition
the circumstance that a man was black or white. (Ileac, of the tax. The right hon. gentleman knew that three-
hear.) Good feelings now existed between the two go- tomtits of those who had voted with him, entirely
dis-
%remnants, and he thought that the government acted pro- agreed with him in opinion, and that but for the 40
perly in endeavouring to arrange the matter by friendly members connected with the government, who would
and amicable communication. (lieu, hear.) vote for Is. 6d. or Gd., or, in short, anything
CUSTOMS AND STAMPS ACTS BILL. they were asked, he would on the present occasion
The house having gone into committee on this bill, have been left in a minority. (Heat hear.) The rigid
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that hon. gentleman was too acute a men to believe that the re-
to the first resolution he was about to propose he did not would suffer from the total abolition. He (Mr.
anticipate any objection. In deference to the wishes of the Bright) trusted that on the bringing up of the report his
people of Scotland he proposed that the feu duties in Scot- night hon. friend would agree with the house to abolish the
land should be placed on the same footing as other convey- duty, and forliimeelf he would promise that he would do
ances—that was to say, that they should commence at everything permitted by the forms of the house to procure
2s. 6d. and =mad on t same scale as other conveyances. the abolition of the tee.
The right hon. gentleman then propelled the following no Sir J. V. SHELLEY thought the argument put forward
solution :—" That from and after a time to be specified, in against the removal of so paltry • sum as this advertise-
lieu of the stamp duties now-payable on the following deeds meat duty involved preposterous, while so much money
or instrumento, there shall be charged and payable thereon was being torn.fooled away at Chobhana. (Oh, oh) .
the stamp duties hereinafter set forth, that is to say —Con- Mr. NEWDEGATE regretted that the Chancelnr of
mance of any kind or description whatsoever, in Eneland the Ear4irquer dcnse to sun-ince so much ol the
et Inland, sad charter disposition or neglect, containing duty, for winch he got so little thanks.

Lord CAMPBELL opposed the amendment.
Their lordships divided.
Foe the amendment 3d
Against . 13-9
.

The renjrt was naiad, and agreed to.
The Snap Duties Bill %as rend a second time.
'the 3l,tlttious Injuries (Ireland) Ell wan read a nand
time.
The Public Works Loma Bill was read a second time,
after some cbsenations from Lord Stanley of Alderley.
The other business haciug been disposed of, the house
adjourned at ten minans tu seven.

HOUSE OF COMNIONS.—FRITAT, iris 1.
The 8 took the chair at a quaver before four
o'clock.