The Express.
London, England, 1859-03-23 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

1101.75 E OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAT.)
The Straw. took lie abatt at 12 o'ciack.

PSTITIONB.

Petitioes wre presented by Mr. C. GILPII from a place
,u Warwickshire, sgionst the government Reform Bill, and
it. favour of ouch • metsure as that advocated by Mr. Bright;
by Mr. Seo.,s et: from • meeting held in Exeter-hall,
f..vico lay alteration in the oaths taken by members of
10:i.e.-et, and by the LORD ADVOCATE from various
to:•••fers end elders of the church of Scotland against the
of ministers' money.
CHURCH RATES ABOLITION BILL.
Sir I. TRELAWNY postponed the committal of this
111 tact Wednesday. t
RIFFShe 30th
EXPEN of IlmettSES (thie day
BlLL.week).
moll SHE'
Er. D. GRIFFITH moved the second reading of this
bill, :he object of which in to reduce and define the axpen
of high sheriff,. The honourable end horned gentleman
unfended that many of the existing expenses !addict
t = that metal elite were either exorbitant or absolutely un-
tie- emery. This bill wee founded upon a swami which re-
c,rai the function of the home in 1839, but which ins
aft-reels thrown out by the House of Londe. One of lon
provisions was t r abolish the practice of requiring the high
sheriff t provide javelin men to attended the judges
if erste. The peace of swim courts, u all
oth,r ..otrt.. was kept by the ordinary police, and there was
n.. lager any aecemity for keeping up an txpetudro and
useless show. Then wee no knowing to what extent the prin-
tiplo of nutmeg of court could be carried: it depended en-
'lndy upon the will of the judge, and the high sheriff was forced
to incur large expense oat of fear of being guilty of coa-
tempt. The duties attached to the office of sheriff, with one
es, cption, were regulated by tuition; but since a good deal of
it. machinery hed become no longer necemary, the wpm* of
it ought to be tared to the unfoetunate gentleman who might
be called upon to undertake the post of high *herd!.
The power of the judges to fine the sheriff ought to be defined
end Waited cad that was one of the objects of this bill. The
honourable end learned gentleman, dispite the manifest
inspatfeace of the haws, went at great and tedious length
late the provisions of him bill.
Mr. S. BOOTH moeuded the motion and expressed
his regret that the bill was likely to be opposed elsewhere by
a noble and learned pwmaage who was alibi/el politic..
Mr. S ESTCOU T (Hoar Secretary), observed—that
many of the hardships referred to by the honourable and
learned member who bad chugs of the bill would not be
removed by hie MU. Its sole and simple object was to re-
bore high sheriffs from the =pease of poviding „terabit men
et mainee ; end coasiderlng that parliament had already',.
pp added that every county should maintain a police form,
ke thooght there could be Do cireetka to afford inch Mr. S. CHILD said the =him gentleman was In
error is stemming that high lammed so other ex-
piate Is commies with the judges, but that of providing
oirstia men. Hs had recently sera a thertfle bill of ea-
rn/MS la which, ampoept *lbw %Magi, were drones for
swing the jadwe's butler, foots end coachmen, end for
prorithabiLlSO paths of ala for the sae of the Jude. iter-
taste. A laugh.)
The weg then read a wend time.
EDINBURGH ANNUITY TAX_ BILL._

Mr. BLACK mowed the monad readteg of this bill.
Mr. C. BRCCE moved as arsenimast that the bill be
read a woad tune this day six mouths, observes,
that last year the same bill wee 'ejected by the home.—
(Mr. Black —" Yee, by • majority of one. —lt did set
natter whatthe samba. was it was rejected, and he
was vary that the bill bad ;Men rewired, because
was a tesmare of aablearlaig ogoliation and robbery. The
bill moat to the direct amodletion of the principle of an le- I
tabled church is Edinburgh; sad the house could and
pass it without strain a serious blow at the whole
smahliabed church of ficrodead. That establishment
wan essential to the well being of his country, and be could
not allow the house to commit an act of unblushing and
wicked spoliatioa without raising his voice against it. The
amity tax of Edinburgh was sot • to upon the
occumr, but the swam of property. It wee not eke
• palms or other local rate, bat • tan imposed on property to
provide a church for the poor ; sad certainly the boom bad
no right to repeal It without lading a substitute for it. Be
opposed the bill, however mainly for the simple moos that
it was the drat step taken, aid the Ara blow aimed at the
deettuctios of the church of Scotland. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BAXTER supported the till, contending that the
time for compromise had gone by. Ministers money in
Inland, which was as analagous tax, had been
sbolialted, sad be wanted to know abet course
the government iataaded to take in the matter. If they op-
posed the bill they mast be prepared to submit to parliament
en altereetios ammo on the subject.
Mr. BLACK BCRNE (one of the Lads of the Treasury),
without pr.amW.g to be the exponent of the govern-
ment rhea of the question, Olt biome( coastrained
as • Scotch member, to resist ths bill as a meatus of injus-
tice used outrageous spoliation. If the hon. member for
Glasgow would great to • proposal for enablrng the town
ceased of Edinburgh to raise an moment equal to the tat for
the pezp of the church, be bed no doubt the government
would be quite reedy to bring in a bill for carrying it into
elect.
The debate, which appeared likely to extend throughout
the whole afternoon. was pomading when our repoet left, Mr.
Roraima being in pommies of the Air, and calling upon
th., house to get rid of the heart bterslnge which the tax
(nationally give See to by eltogethar &ballads. it.