The Express.
London, England, 1847-07-08 00:00:00

REGISTRATION OF VOTERS BILL.

On the motion that the house do go into committee on
this bill,
Mr. V. SMITH said he had hoped that the fashionable
course would have been pursued of withdrawing this bill.
He urged that it was ill-concocted, and would only have the
effect of limiting the franchise. If the measure were deferred
till next session, a much more complete measure might be
introduced. The subject was one that could not well be
considered here ; the registration agents were best qualified
to make the requisite suggestions. The bill was made to
come into operation at the approaching registration; but he
thought this could not be done.
Mr. WALPOLE said the bill bad been fur eight weeks on
the paper, and its principle was, he believed, generally ap-
proved of. He only wished the clauses objected to, namely
the 4th and the double-entry clauses, to be fairly discussed ;
and he hoped, therefore, that be should be allowed to go into
committee. His desire was to simplify and facilitate the
machinery of the registration of voters, and he believed the
measure would effect that object.
After a few words from Mr. MIWDZOATZ,
Mr. UEATHCOTE objected to the measure, on the
ground that it introduced a new set of technicalities and
intricacies. The present system was open to great objection,
but the bill of the hon. gentleman would perpetuate and
aggravate all the existing evils, as well as create new ones.
The measure •was altogether too cumbrous and intricate,
and be felt bound, therefore, to oppose it.
Mr. C. BULLER appealed to the hon. member for Mid-
burst to give up an attempt to carry his bill this session. It
wu not possible that the bill could be fully discussed at this
period of the year ; and there were many clauses objected to
which must give rill* to considerable debate. He approved
of the principle of the bill, but he was sure the hon. geatle.
man would alt wisely in keeping his bill for a more auspi-
cious occasion, and moreover, it was a measure which ought
not to be agitated on the eve of a general election.
Mr. FERRAND inquired on what day the session would
close

Mr. C. STILLER did not know, and he believed no
human being did ; but every one was anxious to bring it to
• close as soon as possible, and there would not be time to
carry such • measure as that before the house to a successful
termination. _ _ .

Mr. J. S. WORTLEY also recommended the hon. gentle-
man to withdraw the bill. _

After a few observations from Mr. HENLEY,
Mr. WALPOLE said there were other bills on the same
subject —the Parliamentary Electors Bill, and the Parlia-
mentary Elector (No. 2) Bill—and he thought if he with-
drew his bill the others should be withdrawn also, in order
that the whole subject might be considered at the same time.
Bir G. GREY said he would postpone the Parliamentary
Electors (No. 2) Bill if there was to be any discussion on
it until to-morrow (this day), as his noble friend, the First
Lord of the Treasury, was not present, and he had no doubt
bis noble friend would consent to withdraw it. The govern-
ment had nothing to do with the other bill.
Mr. T. BUNCOMBE thought some more satisfactory
reasons ought to be given for the withdrawal of the bill of
the hon. member for Midhurit and the two parliamentary
electors bill than that which had been stated by the right
hon. member for Liskeard (Mr. C. Buller), namely, that
there would not be time to discuss such measures. The
same observation might be applied to the Thames Conser-
vancy Bill—that great City job—(a laugh)—which had nearly
100 clauses in it, and which he could promise the government
would be fully discussed. (" Hear," and a laugh.) Then
there was the Health of Towns Bill, which was open to a
similar objection.
After a few observations from Mr. B. Ewalt, Col. Wood,
and Mr. Ferrand,
Mr. WALPOLE said he should wish to postpone his
motion for a committee until to-morrow (this day).
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said there
could be no objection whatever to such a course, as it was
utterly impassible that it could come on. (Laughter.)
The committee was then postponed until to-morrow (this