The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-06 00:00:00

1311RWICK-ON-T WERD WRIT.

—.....--. -
On the motion for resuming the adjourned debate on the
issuing of the writ for Bernick-on-Tweed,
Mr. PHINN said he thought it desirable that the atten-
tion of the home should be called to the co duct that ought
to be adopted with respect to the issuing of new writs for
boroughs which had been reported on by committees of the
house. It seemed to him that the present was a convenient
time for doing this, as the case which was now before the
house would illustrate some of the evils of the present sys-
tem. talon the house adopted some uniform rule on the
subject, they would have party debates on tho occasion of
the issuing of new writs for every borough. ((fear,
hear.) It was said that if they made inquiry
into the practice of these boroughs it would pro-
era.stinate any attempt to reform the representation. But
be believed that active and vigorous commissioners could
get at the bottom of the system in three or four days.
(Bear, hear.) And all they wanted was to get at the sys-
tem and not at every individual voter who was bribed.
If that did not ado t iaquiry in this case he thought it
wersU be to the house. All other institutions
win ebed to periodical inquiry, and why not have a
inquiry likewise into the state of the reprennta-
am (am, bear.) Be had given notice of an &mad-
ame. peelpeaing the issue of the writ in this can till the
tad et Jmee, and believing that inquiry was absolutely ne-
mew le arrive at a bewailed(' of the facts, be begged
leave te man seanal that the issuing of the writ be
Pc2,itsifttrit ba was anxious to hear from the
ben. and lemma gentlemea an what grounds he could
justify the nispeusiew et dm writ in this case, in the absence
'lazy special report fres the committee, aa4 in the ab-
ases likewise of the Wastes of 'videos*. He could now
umbeetead why the hes. and learned gentleman had not
mend be the production of the evidence', as it was clear he
esemiled his motion on an article in the Tinges and letters in
the Daily News, and a Berwick paper, and also on the
Crnotoriety of the corruption of Berwick. (Hear,
.181 The hon. and learned gentleman might think it
strange, but be could assure him that he was not aware of
the great notoriety of the corruption of Berwick. He
could not help thinking there was some political motive at
the bottom in this modest—perhaps a new ease was wanted
for a e 'form bill ; hat no ouch mo• Ivo ought to be allowel
to iriter.ere with th • rights of the town.
Sir P. THESIOER said that there wen no grounds, as
it appeared to him, on which the writ could be suspended
with a view to a hirtheri nquiry. The act of parliament
said that if the house directed an inquiry, this was
to have no effect upon the Wain of the writ,
sad, although it might be desirable to appoint a
*sleet committee to inquire into the grounds of a charge
against a gentleman who had been a member of that house
—(hear, hear)—to suspend the writ would in his judgment
be unjust towards the constituency of Berwick.
Mr. WHITESIDE wished to state, as a member of the
committee, that all the attorneys who were examined swore
that there wee no compromise.
The house then divided—

Pm tM oriBtoel motion
For the eateadeteut

COUNTY RATES AND

BILL. •

13;;;; ;Ours to the gallery we found
Mr. li GIBSON appealing to the government to fix a
day for the further eonsiderstion of this bill, supposing it
to be displaced ea the present occasion by the committee
of ways sad mesas.
Lord J. RUSSELL could sot, is the state of the public
badness, give a government day. Perhaps the right bon.
member might be able to find a Wednesday. (A laugh.)
Mr. M. GIBSON would fix it for Wednesday nest, in
the hope that this application might be remembered.