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

member for Donetshire, who said he was prepared to show
that Badman had been included in the schedule on light
grounds, which the evidence would not justify, and the hon.
members around him (Mr. G. Bank's) supported his asser-
tion. On looking at the report, his hon. and learned friend
had found that there was no charge against the sitting mem
ber for Boutin, or the electors, of bribery; and haring ad-
mitted that it was too light a case to justify its insertion in
the schedule, he withdrew it. Then up got the ether leader
of the opposition, who mid that the government was
actuated by corrupt motives, for they had only removed
Bolton and Bothnia from the schedule, because the sitting
members voted for them to all occa.ious. Observe only the
admirable tactics of the opposite side in thus dealing with
the question! But the manner of so treating
.it th^wed the
advantage of having two leaden et the opposition. The hon.
member for Buckinghamshire had characterised the bill as

the last act of a melodrama, closing the session in a shower
of sparks and blue flames. But it would rather teem that
the hon. member for Dorsetshire and himself had been study-
ing their parts In a comedy, the dialogue of which had been
settled in a friendly conversation before the curtain had
drawn up that evening. He was quite sure the hon. member
for Buckinghamshire would be prepared to express his indig-
nation at the omission of the borough of Bodmin, or is sur-
prise at its restoration to the schedule, according to the pre.
concerted scheme of the play in which he was to take part
(Laughter.) The hon. member for Oxfordshire, en the
other hand, was of opinion that the government ought to
have gone through the evidence in all the casts reported to
the house, and, disregarding the reports, have selected such
boroughs only as were most culpable. But let the house
only conceive what the result of such a course would have
been. The government would have immediately been
accused of having made a selection of Isoroughafor dig (ranch iAt-
scent upon party m gives, whilst the hon. member for Oxford-
shire, with hischaracteristic ingenuity, would have )got a theme
to argue upon which would have lasted him a year at the
least. (Cheers and laughter.) If the government had
fallen into the trap prepared for them by the hon. member
for Oxfordshire. he would have been delighted to have Tor-
mented them, and he would never have let them out. The
government had, however, escaped this snare. They had
been guilt d by the reports of the cow minces, and whether
the casts of bribery and corruption were great or small those
reports had formed the basis as well of the hill as in drawing
op the schedule, end the suggestions of the various commit.
tees had been carefully followed. He bad heart nothing
during the tong discussions which had taken place on
the Inll t 2 shake his opinion that the government
was bound to carry it into operation, and, in fact,
parliament had to a great i.egree pledged itself to do so. It
the principle embodied in the measure came fairly into
operation, hon. meM.wrs on the other side would hod in the
end that they would derive as much benefit from its provi-
sions as any other party in that house.
Mr. HENLEY said that the government had treated the
elective franchise with great levity in consenting to insert
Bodmin in the schedule upon the mere suggestion of au hon.
member on his side of the house, and without having made
any inquiry as to the degree of guilt incurred by that
borough.
Dr. BOWRING could not consent, particularly after what
bad just occurred, that Hutson should be withdrawn from the
bill. (A laugh.) He sincerely and cordially desired that
inquiry should take place at Bolton. (Hear, hear.)
Col. THOMPSON was of opinion that the withdrawal of
these two borough. from the bill might hereafter, form the
plea that treating wss not a thing that house could take
cognisance of ; and as he and those with whom he acted on
that side of the house, and he hoped many on the other side,
coasidered that treating was identical with bribery, he could
not consent to their withdrawal.
After a lew words from Mr. SPOONER, who objected to
the motion for reporting progress, and from Mr. G. A. Ha-
an :MI, who supported it with the view of giving the go-
vernment time to reconsider the evidence respecting these
two boroughs,
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the government would not
adopt any other course than they were pursuing that night,
and therefore reporting progress could only have the effect
of prolonging the session.
After a few words from Mr. HEALD in favour of excluding
Bodmin,
The committee divided—For reporting progress 35
Against it
Mr. DISRAELI repelled the charge that he or his friends
were the ativocates et corruption, and accused the govern-
ment of not knowing their own minds by introducing Bud-
min ints the bill and then withdrawing it. He was not the
advocate of cerrioion—he did not owe his position is the
house to corruption ; but he was the opponent of cant, and, ,
-amongst other kinds of cant, that which complained of the '
time taken up in discussions like these as the hon. member
for Stockport had complained. (Hear, hear.) What had
saved Bodmin but discuaion ? (Hear, hear.) And when
the consequences of discussion had been, as it had been that
night, to occasion a change in the opinion of government, he
would protest against any attempt to prevent it.
Mr. T. HO BM/USE—It appeared that the principle that
the inquiry should extend only to those boroughs against
which special reports had been presented by the select com
mitts up stairs was now to be abandoned. He wished to
know why Horsham, which had never been convicted of
bribery, was to be included its the schedule. Ile called an
the Solicitor• General to state on what principle tit, schedule
was to be based.—whether it was proof of bribery, or
whether mere treeing was to be sufficient ? lie, as a mem.
ber for one of the amused boroughs (Lincoln), was not pre-
pared, like the hon. member for Bolton, to throw his con-
stituency overboard. Until the principle on which the bill
was to proceed was distinctly laid down, he objected to pro-
ceed fur-her with it.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL hoped he should be ex-
cused going into a discussion over and over again, es to the
propriety of the withdrawal of Bodmin from the schedule,
upon which the house had unanimously decided; and when
the hon. member for Bucks rose to speak, the chairman
stated that the question was already decided, and two hours
had been sine • occupied uselessly. lie would not take up
the time of the house by attempting to repel the chsrgcs
brought against him by the hon. member for Bucks, but
would leave it to the house t say how far by his emelt:Let,
since he had been a member, he bad deserved them. (Hear,
hear.) He e ntre.ted the notate to proceed with the discussi on
on the hill, avoiding personal attacks. (Hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI repeated teat in this case discussion had
been of use, and charged the Solicitor-General with having
misrepresented the real facts of the case.
After a few w-ads from the Solicitor• General, Cul. Sib.
thorp, and Dr. Bowring,
Mr. HOBHOUSE complained that no anew. r had been
given to his question as to the principle of the bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL had already detailed the principle of
the bill at length—which was that the reports of committees
should be the only thing to be attended to, but that the
general substance of those reports should be the guide, and
when the substance showed considerable bribery or corrup-
tion had prevailed, those boroughs should be included in the
schedule
Mr. WYLD wished to say that he had supported the go.
ernment not in consequence of say compact with them, but
because he agreed with their general policy. It was not on
the ground of his being a supporter of government that they
hail consented to withdraw Bodmin from the schedule.
After en observation from Col. Stninoicr,
Lord J. RUSSELL said that when he proposed that the
chairman should leave the chair, he did so with a view that
the amendments might be brought up and printed.
Mr. HANIILION asked would there be any objection to
insert Bolton in the bill ?
Lord J. RUSSELL did not mean to insert B lton ; but
it was quite open to any hon. member to move its insertion.
Copt. HARRIS o`jected to the bill as despotic in its cha-
racter, and calculated to convert that house into a judicial
tribunal. He thought that they were exceeding their
powers in passing such a law. The borough of Bodmin was
then struck out of the schedule.
Mr. M'KENZIE moved that Bolton be inserted.
Mr. G. A. HAMILTON seconded the motion. lie
thought it only just that Bolton should be inserted, as there
was a wide distiection between it and Bothnia, in which case
no bribery had been proved.
The committee divided—For the motion
Against l4-104
The borough of Bolton was then inserted, the house re-
suropil,•and the repsrt was brought up.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL moved that the bill be re-
committed for the purpose of being reprinted.
MeNEWDEGATE asked if Sligo and Lancaster were in-
serted in the schedule ?
SOLICITOR-GENERAL: Yes.
The bill was then reutimmitted, the amendments were
agreed to, and the report was ordered to be brought up on
Thursday next. _ _