The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-11 00:00:00

yr
duction of the corerepondeece on this subject between the been charged with an act derogatory of his char
then gave notice that he should this day move for the pro- a:ad.:Me
first
the
time the
botimweugatriiyha7brafeeenrpoufthOiss
tnii..ll
postmaster-general and the postmaster of Harborough.
JAMAICA. malpractices unworthy a representative body, its rely kadw
the imputation
stated that his noble friend Earl Grey had not intimated to it could possibly be understood. lie knew fe, ,say
him whether he would produce Sir C. Grey's recent despatch to make charges of this kind ; but it was difficult to cubed
Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to Lord o..l3ENistieg, hesitation in denying
•individuals it was probable that the noble earl haps with a little brief authority, to impug inelivideer
onmpeurrisse
from Jameice but as the contents of that document might tiate them. It was also easy for a government, d
less upright than themselves. His father, and wee ...tit
would refuse to produce it.
FISH DIET —POOR LAW UNIONS. hers of his family, had exercised the duties of
Mr. WYLD asked the first commissioner of the poor law amongst his neigbours—he had followed their exallwpi
throughout the pone law unions on one day in the week ? tended that to send down commissioners to keel'. into.
whether he had any °ejection to the institution of a fish diet ample—end if this was to be denounced as breve., het
Mr. C. LIU 1.1.1e1t &aid that provided there was no ueerior proceedings was nothing Ins than inquisitorial teeldt
object concealed behind the proposal, he should not object, and he would tell the noble lord (J. Rusw.ll) that,
always on condition that enourrh was given, to the institution of such an inquisition, he would persist in the peree,e'res._
of a fish day once a week. This, however, was a matter of such acts as Christian charity anal hospitality re 07,,,,,
within the competence cat the boards of guardians, who had The noble lord havieg stated that refetehments might e,
lib, rty to alter their justifiably given on the occasion of a meet,' ef
NAVIGATION LAWS. tion, on what ground could he charge him' ;.,,-;
The house on the motion of the President of the Board of Sibthorp) with acts of bribery because he had
Trade, then went into committee nn the Navigation Laws. aced hospitality towards the poor? Let the soy, lit
Mr. LABOUCHERE said that the government having beware, for sometimes a man was caught ii, bis one b.
reluctantly lean compelled to abandon the hope of being and loot his tail. (Laughter.) Lincoln. tied been put ietote-'
able to carry I tlee t the projected alteration in the nave schedule; London had not. Why was the. ?It twee;
station Ism during the present *elision, he had only to ex. the house had evidence in one case and not in the Nett
pins their intention to introduce the subject early next see Let the result of the Lincoln committee Le what A alga,
sion, whet: he hoped the measure would receive the sanction he should retain the o Alien tat this proceeding wUws
of parliament. He therefore had to inform the committee unworthy the government, and unworthy a prime nit
that it was not the intention cf ministers to proceed fart er who seemed to rejoice in the tyranny he was
than was necessary to enable them to lay their views on th, The SOLICITOR• GENERAL snit; there was no chi;
subject of the projected change in the navigation laws in the whatever in the bill against the hon. and ge:lant wank,
form of • bill which they had prepared. There had already who bad just sat down, mither was there any such charm
been manifested a general disposition or. the part of the the report of the committee. He said his emu:store ham
house to permit this course to be taken, as it did not pledge for the borough; and he (the Solicitor Gen, nil) hoped ta
them to any s pinion. He would, therefore, not say any- descendants would do the same, and would defend th
;hing on the present occasion, as any discussion would only b-rough as ably as he ere hear) Ban the pate
be a waste of time, and with the sole view of laying the bill circle on which this bill proceeded was, that ehrrever a ea,
before the orm,try, he begged leave to move the revolution. mittee reported the existence of corrupt eree• thew m
The resolution having been read from the chair, inquiry should take place to ascertain whether such pr
,n j Mr. HERRIES said that however strongly he might ob- did really exiat. As the hon. and gallant n.emeer did,*
ject to the resolution, and whatever his determination might intend to divide on this question, he thou .ht it Linnecetsty
be to oppose the bill when i was brought forward, he to go further into the mitten
would not violate the understanding that had been entered Col. S I ISTHORP repeated that his anxiety was atilt
into not to discuss the subject on the present occasion. All himself, but for the borough.
he would say was, that the more he studied the propos Is of Mr. W. MILES said he had fully dpi cted that the thee.
the government, the more he was convinced they could not man of the Lincoln committee would have moved its ouee
be carred into effect without endangering the naval sion from the schedule. The evidence disclosed only terea
supremacy of Great Britain. cases of bribery, out of forty six charged ; one • very magi
Mr. GLADSTONE hoped that his teem hon. friend's el- one, to the amount of hut 10s,, was proved; and could eta
ample would be followed on the present occasion, as he him- supposed necessary that there should be another en.
self should practise the self-denial of abstaining from enter- mates and another inquiry to find out just the sem
mg upon any discussion of the measure. lie could not thing ? The bribery, as it was called, was weed on by
blame the government for not persevering at so late a means of" free and easy clubs," which sat before audit/if
period with the bill, but he did hope and expect that at the the taste of the writ ; this was the whole of the case, sad so.
earliest period of the next session, the measure would be thing more would be disclosed by the most searching low,'
brought in, as, if it was eleferred, the scene of that evening The real question was whether the treating had been.neetei
would be repeated in 1849. He must say he wished the bill with the intent of corrupting the wren. He thought ad
had been of a more general nature, and that so large a power much of it would be found resolvable into th hospitality dig
had nut been reserved to the Queen in council as was pro- hon. and gallant member had referred to. The tepee of Ms
video in the hill about to be laid on the table. lie should committee plainly stated the existence of these clubs at pm.
permit the resolution to pass without opposition on the pre- haps half the public. houses in Lincoln; the 'tomes of les
settt occasion, with the distinct understanding that he was publicans were given • the fact that bread, beer, pipes,
left entirely unshackled as to the course he should take in re- were distributed outside the houses to " navvies " &Mother,
spirt to it during the next session, was proved beyond doubt ; also that sums were paid to am.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the original intention of resident voters beyond what was necessary for their lon of
government was to bring in the bill before Christmae' but time; all these things were patent, and what more could!".
other more pressing business bad intervened. The right hon. required? The committee reported that, owing to the vagtr
gentler, an (Mr. Gladstone) had stated his intention not to ness of the 2001 clause of 5 & 6 Viet, cap. 102, sarimm
he bound by his assent to the resolution before the committee, conclusions might be arrived at by committees; and they
and, at the same time, expensed a wish that it had been con- recommended an alteration of the law in this respect. TM
reined in more general termiesuid that less power had been re. hon. gentleman here read the clau-e, and asked if it includes'
served to the Quee nin council coact under the proposed bill. refreshments and travelling expenses?
No doubt it would he open to the house to discuss, on a The SOLICITOR-GENERAL answered in the afie
future occasion, the form of the alteration of the navigation mauve.
laws, and he (Lord J. Russell) wished to add, that although
Mr. MILES said it had not been so construed by mse
the government had wished to introduce a measure in the •
matrtes generally, with whom it rested to decide whether
form which bad been proposed, still there was nothing to payment was made to corrupt a voter. More might he don
prevent the government considering, during the recess, the simplifying the. law, and defining what was corruption,
form in wnich it would hereafter be proposed. The house J anby sending • host of commissioner. to sceur the reentry,
had already, by a large majority, expressed • decided opinion an, find out what was patent to all. (Hear, hear.)
in favour of the principle of the government proposition, and
lie concurred in the opinion which had been expressed that The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said the hon. member hsd
the measure must be introduced at the very earliest period opened a discussion which was very fully gone into ma
of next session. former occasion, and related rather to the principle of the
Mr. 0. It ROBINSON denied that the house had yet bill than to the horoudha which should be placed is to
affirmed the principle of the government measure. All the schedule. The house had thought it desirable to haw
house had yet done had been to negative the resolution pro- further information, in addition to the evidence taken before
posed by way of amendment by the right hon. siencleman she election committees. and hence the necessity tor the in.
near him (Mr. Herrin). By • postponenr nt of the measure qairy proposed by this bill. As to the contention of the
till next a salon the noble lord had given the shipping in- 5 & 6 Vict., it was evident that every payment of whatever
tercets and those connected with the shipping ports an °peer. kind made to an elector was a et rrup payment; bat to
tunity of fully come tering the whole question before the question arose in every case wheels. r the particular payment
none was again called upon to dismiss it, and if they did not had been made with the intention of corrupting the vow.
make the house acquainted with their wishes on this great Ile hoped that the house, having affirmed the principle of
and vital matter, the fault would rest upon tnemselves. A she biil, would not now offer any opposition to Lincoln, the
etteng teeiir,g had already been expressed on the question, case against which was a very strong one, being placed ia the
for he found, on reference to the report of the committee on schedule.
petitions, only 12 petitions with 2,425 signatures had Mr. ANSTEY referred to the report of the Limbs tom
been presented during the whole session in favour of the mittee, and said that this bill, so far from carrying out thee
government plan, while there had been presented 109 peti- recommendation as to the simplification of the law, set safe
tions bearing 49,231 signatures against it. This fact their report altogether, by appointing another esmmiture to
answered the ass rtion which had been made by the ben, go into the game inquiry again. The City of London was
member for Manchester (Mr. Bright) that all the shipping situate precisely the same as the borough of H.Tsham;
lit
ports were is favour of an abrogation of the navigation the noble lord (J. Russell) take this opportunity of de elating
laws, and he ( Mr. Robinson) amerced that 19.20ths of those that be was ready to volunteer an inquiry into transudes
connects: with the shipping interest were hostile to the of which the world had heard much, and thereby to e ear tit
change in the law as proposed by her Majesty's government. own character and that of his constituency. He was
It the eoveremeet yielded in that matter to the section of precluded from doing this by the preamble of the press&
the house which supported free-trade measures, his (Mr. bill. Common fame add that the last election for the City
Robinson's) conviction was that the consequence would be of London was characterised by enormous bribery. treat*,
to throw open the whole trade with America and the West and personation. It was said that one thou•and lone shots
Lilies to tne United States. men were bribed. That was reportel on credible authority.
, Mr. M'GREGOR considered the course taken by the (Name, name.) Those statements had been made by a
. government in postponing the hill until next session was a member of that house, and the noble lord had not decree
wise and proper proceeding. He also thought that the form them. It was also said that 32,0001. had been spent at the
of the resolution might be beneficially altered, and he wished election, and dead men were personated. He did not say
that in the interim between the close of the present and the that the noble lore was or was not guilty of corrupt eras-
commencement of the next session the government would tires, but common rumour reported that enormous bribery
, set on foot negotiations with the United States in order to and corruption prevailee at the lest election :or the City °t
effect freedom of intercourse between the ports of the United London. A decument was to be handed to him in which
i States and those of this country, just as though the former those statements were made, but it miscarried. (Laughter.)
. still remained a portion of the British dominions, He was Now, there was no report in the case of the City If Leiden.
e also of opinion that a distinct understanding should be come But neither was there any report in the ease of lionlisee
to as early as pnesible with the United States. The bribery and corruptien at liorcham rested on muerte
Ide. HUDSON wisher: to state a fact for the consideration moue, Red as Horsham was to be included in the schedule,
of the government. When their proposition with respect to he wished to know whether the noble lord, on the ISM
the navigation laws was announced an immense number of ground, was prepared to include the City of London ?
hands employed in shipbuilding at Sunderland had been Lord J. RUSSELL begged of the house to recollect the
turned out of employment, but at soon as it was known the circumstances under which he undertook the bill. It hid
measure was abendened, at least for the present session, all been urged by several members of the hou-e, but more espy
the men had been gradually restored to their employment. Melly by the right hon. gentleman the member for Ts*.
Mr. CLAY expressed • hope that when the right hon.
entleman at the head of the Board of Trade next session worth, that some member of the government should take
charge of the bill. lie had declined to do so !or a considers
introduced a new measure, with reference to the navigation able time ; and it was not until toe bill was mate • came it
la-es he would show more consider atim in it than had been perpetual delay that he consented to undertake it. Wbrfee
displayed in its predecessors, for the three interests more upon the hon. and learned gentleman thought ,hat asbe hat
immediate!) concerned—the ehipoaner, the shipbuilder, and undertaken the bill he was • fair subject for attack, sad
the sailor. The measure ought also to be accompanied by a made that the ground of • personal charge—(e No, no," from
remission of the timber duties; and if this was done ho be. ele. Anstey)—and of a charge against the cm/slime:my
hieved the measure would not be resisted. which he represented. (Hear, hear.) Why whatever body
Mr. BRIG ILL' said, in answer to what had been stated by he represented, the. hen and learned member would le
the hon. member for Poole (Mr. Robinson), that he (Mr. equally able to my that there was a rumors: of corrupt pas.
, Bright) had never geld that those interested in ships and in ticea, and would call on him to include that constitutions
ports were in favour of the alteration of those laws. What the schedule. (Hear, hear., He denied that because be
,he had said "Vas, that the population in the ports were in undertook the bill at the request of the boast
favour of the government plan. and this had been shown at a he was bound to put in the place he rep*
public meeting held in Sunderland three or four years ago, tented, whatever it might be, without any cause, Is
when they declared in favour of an alteration of the naves'. the schedule, to gratify the curiosity or malignity Many Ali-
tins law.. He was surprised the hon. member for Sunder. viduel who might call on him to do no. (Hear, Lear.) Hi
land (Mr. nucleon), who had done so much to connexion with the City of London began teus: lie Imre
increase freedom of communication by railroads, should aented • borough which had elected him more than once hue
be opposed to the same freedom by ships and of expense, and left him perfectly independent in has polls
merchant vessels; and he celled on the hon. mem- tical course in that house. Whilst he represented the born*
bee to exercise on thin question that good common sense of Stroud some thousands of the electors of the City If
which he had directed to railroads. and not bind himself up London requested him to steed for the City of Louden, Bs
with the political views of the noble lord the member for great public question of protection or free trade hi* tbei
Lynn (Lord G. Sentinel). He trusted the government at issue. He stated to them that he had no wish totems
would, next *neon, renew the measure with firmness and the constituency he then represented, and that he beliessii
determination ; if se, its success in this and the other house would cause a feeling of mortification, and a feeling thither
of parliament was certain. had been unfairly and ungratefully dealt with if he left dim
Mr. MITCHELL observed, that on a former occasion the
fur any other body. At the same time he Id
hon. member for Oxfordshire (Mr. Henley) had questioned that he would accept the invitation, as the di"
the accuracy of certain returns made to the government by sion of the City of London would be o: great imp*
Sir E. Wanes, the consul at St. Petersburg. He (Mr. Mit- ance ce, the question of free trade or protection, but did
:hell) bad received • letter from Sir E. Baines, in which the election must be carried on without recourse to stied
he desired him to acquaint the house that the returns were those amens to which the term of corrupt practices wm
furnished by the Resident at the British factory at St. Pe- applied. (Hear, hear.) They stated that they would Oa
Leesburg, and that he (Sir E. Baines) had not had, at the time practise any illegal means to carry the election, which diff
they were sent off, an opportunity of testing their accuracy. intended should he one entirely of principle.. That declaim
Capt. HARRIS was understood to express • hope that in teak place, and he was returned by a majority of aiace
the new measure the government would take care to secure (" Hear, hear," from Colonel Sibthorp.") Lut year
wN
the naval service with a euffinient supply of hands, if neces- as •ed him whether he would become • candidate along
sow
sary, from the commercial marine. three other gentlemen. lie replied that he would staid
Mr. RICARDO said he did not wish to open a fresh discus- again, but that he must not be in connexion with 07
stun; lee he and those on his side of the house were as zealous others. The elution took place; there was a very herded&
for the maintenance of the supremacy of the British navy as test; but ho was elected for the second tile by • very lags
the his. and gallant member (C apt. nerds), who on former majority. (Hear, best.) No person that he knew of owe
tecasions hail claimed as the patriotism for himself and those plained of the mode in which that election was coothetel,
with wheel he acted. Ile had not paid out of his pocket more than was newel
Mr. NEW DEGATE asked whether the revolutions now for the legal expenses of the election. If any cerropt Poe'
in the halide or the chairman were a true expoeitim of tires had been resorted to, why were not the mama taken*
the hill about to be laid on the table, and in accordance with bring themto light ?No management thathe was aware of bed
the speech with which the right hon. gentleman opposite been used to prevent an election petition from being Fr
(Mr. Labouchere) bad introduced the resolutions to the seated to that house. (Hear, hear.) Having so conducted
consideration of the house ? himself he did not thick he was bound to include London is
After a few words from Capt. Haxata and Mr. RICARDO the schedule because the hon. gentleman said that some n-
' in mutual explanation, moues prevailed. (Hear, hear.) Whether those rumens
Mr. LABOUCHERE laid, in answer to the question put prevailed or not he did not know—he heard them only fpm
by the hon. member (Mr. Newdegate), he had to reply that the hon. gentleman—(laughter and cheers),—and from
ad
he ( air. Labouchere) should be guilty of practising a trick body else. (Renewed laughter.) Where the hon. gentle'
upon the house if the bill was not in accordance with the man picked up those rumours he did not know. (Heirs
resolution and with the speech with which he had brought hear.) He proposed the bill on public grounds, and web***
forward the gut stion. At the same time he did not mean reference to any individual, (" Hear, hear,' from CLI'
to preclude himself from taking advantage during the recess Sibthorp.) He could assure the hon. and gallant gag
"S
of such information as he might acquire, and of amending man that he bad no personal feeling against him--(laneen
upon it the form of the new meamre. and had no objection that he and his posterity san_
Mr. HENLEY inquired from the hon. member for Brid- represent Lincoln as long as his ancestors bad done. 130
port (Mr. Mitchell) whether Sir E. Baines in his comtnuni- having brought forward the bill on public grouch he done..
, cation stated the reports he had furnished were correct or think that he ought to put the City of Leaden in the sebedell
incorrect ? because the hon. gentleman was of opinion that the e,
, Me. MITCHELL replied that the letter was silent on represented by the prime minister ought to be itel°"'"
Mr. MACGREGOR said he had examined the reports,
L that head; but, from the anxiety the writer expensed to be (Hear, hear.)
, set right with the house, he (Mr. Mitchell) inferred that Sir Col. SIBTHORP mid he never directly or lodic
, B. Baines thought them incorrect,
abeiribehdtantoybemaer.,
lanuddedt
, and had round them correct, with the nee •of right
' from Tamboff. exception those Mr. W. BROWN regretted that the noble lord dumb*
fercomnstihdeerbedll
.hethhaedn
bon
it worth his while to answer the allegation; of the
The resolution was then agreed to, and • bill founded member for You sal. With regard to the nastiness,
thereon ordered to be brought in by Mr. Bernal, Mr. Labou- represeated by the hon. and learned gentleman he allele
chore, and Lord J. Russell. L'lleaufs)
heard that they were anxious to get a fat goose. ( •
CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL. confirming
Mr. J. A. SMITH rose for the purpose of con
The committee on this bill was then resumed. Mr. BERNALperfectly accurateand t statement of the noble WO
exec
in the chair.election for the
respecting the circumstances attending the
It was •• , genet that Carlisle be inserted in the schedule. City of London, on which occasion he wee chairman of use
. On the motion that Lincoln be added, tobbel er elfOrrde.
On ki
noble lord's committee. Every effort had been mad _
Col. SIBTHORP said he would lot ask • favour of the part and on the art of the other members of the comma'
house in behalf of the city he represented, much le the •
conducted in such a mance •
Been on be- to ensure election tieing
and
half of himself, as its representative. He to which the hon.
the was convinced of would prevent even those rumours
purity of the constituency. He had represented them learned member alluded.
twenty yeah; his brother, father, uncle, greateuneleand ' had taloa
• Mr. HUDSON said that if corrupt practises
great grandfather had represented them, the latter in 1714; and refuel
plans at the London election, the noble lord, P