The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-16 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 16, 1867.

a Bill a hich is too bad to be accepted, or qv's. to
be mended.

LORD BRUME'S Bill for the " Regulation of
" Metropolitan Traffic " passed through Committee
last night, in the House of Lords. Since we last
notier4 it several of its clauses have been modi-
fied--some of them for the better. One of them.
it is satisfactory to observe, now provides for the
licensing of a better class of cabs, at a higher rate
of fares than those payable underthe ex isting statute.
The proprietor of the better vehicle will be left free
to fix his own rate of fares, which will then be cer-
tified bythe proper authority, and be displayed both
inside and outside of the vehicle, for the guidance
and protection of the public. The Bill is, however,
still encumbered with some restrictive provisions,
which will unnecessarily harass trade. This is
especially the character of the clauses which put
limits on the delivery of coal. Some modifica-
tions have been made in the Bill as it at first
stood, but the framers of the measure do not
appear to have formed an adequate estimate of
the interests with which they propose to deal, or
to be aware of the extent of the injury which
needless restrictions inflict in these days of compe-
tition, when every branch of industry requires the
utmost freedom for its successful prosecution.
The clause governing the delivery of coal has been
modified by an extension of the hours during which
householders may receive coals into their houses;
and a schedule of streets has been constructed to
the operation of which the restrictions apply.
This is an improvement : but the prohibitions
are still too severe. The Bill enacts that east of
Temple-bar, and from the Thames northward as
far as City-road, Pentonville, an area of about
two miles, no delivery shall be made between ten
in the morning and six in the evening. This re-
striction is gratuitous, seeing that the difficulty
attending the conduct of traffic occurs only in the
line from the Bank to Temple-bar, or at
all events in some few leading streets in the
heart of London. Instead of including a large
area in this indiscriminate manner, the streets
east of Temple-bar in which deliveries are not to
be made, should be specifically designated, while
the circulation of traffic through them should be
free. The authors of this Bill have been misled
by a radically false idea. They have got to learn
that regulating traffic does not consist in suspend-
ing, arresting or prohibiting it, treating legitimate
and necessary trade as contraband, and ordering it
out of the streets. Trade is what sustains this great
city. If Lord DELMORE, or Sir RICHARD MAYNE,
or anybody else can facilitate traffic and make it
more expeditious, well and good; but let them
not make war upon it under pretence of regula-
tion.

Loan DERBY was able to make last night a
very satisfactory announcement respecting the re-
lations between the Porte and the important
Principality of Service The SULTAN has at length
agreed to remove a long standing source of irrita-
tion by making the celebrated fortress of Belgrade
over to the Prince of SERYIA. This arrangement
has been hailed with enthusiastic delight by the
Christian population of that country, and it is one
which the Turkish Government can have no
cause to regret, since, by the mere withdrawal of a
garrison which might endanger, but could in no
case protect, the peace of the Empire, it substitutes
a contented for a dissatisfied population in
that part of its dominions. A further measure,
tending to the better organization of Turkey, in
preparation for inevitable changes, is the wuon of
several pachalica under one government, in con-
nexion with a provision for the representation of the
Christian people. Lord DERBY further mentioned
that the Porte had determined to do away with the
distinctions still kept up between Christians and
Mussulmans, and to advance Christians to the
highest posts in the State. It is, however, to
concessions calculated to give the Christian popu-
lation more or less power to help themselves,
rather than to personal appointments and specious
reforms depending on a Minister's tenure of office,
that we must look for any such amelioration of
the political state of Turkey as will enable the
Government to withstand the shocks to which it
must soon be exposed.

A TOUCH of misgiving as tothewisdom of thecourse
we have oecasionally taken w hen our neighbours have
been in trouble—a slight suspicion that we may at
times have been too forward to teach this and that
government how to govern a disaffected province--
is suggesting to one and another of our contem-
poraries the possibility of our receiving some
friendly counsel from abroad now that we have Irish
Fenianism on our hands. The subject is capable
of affording amusement, and something more,when
treated with the lightness shown in the pseudo-
French despatch which the Owl published on Wed-
nesday, whereas a bold prosaic statement in plain
English can only be justified by its literal truth.
The contemporary who published yesterday as " a
" matter of considerable importance at the present
" moment," the story that "Mr. ADAMS, the
" United States Minister, has, by direction of
" his Government, brought before her Ms.rawrv's
" Ministers the neglected condition of Ireland,
" and pointed out, in perhaps not the most
" conciliatory tone, the course which those whom
" Mr. ADAMS represents declare should be imme-
" diately adopted with the view of removing the
" existing causes of Irish disaffection, and of allay-
" ing that feeling of intense irritation known to
" exist among the large Irish population in America
" on the misgovernment of the sister country,"
took the precaution of stating that he " did not
" endorse its authenticity," whatever that may
mean. This was prudent ; it would have been
still more prudent to reject it altogether. We run
no risk when we venture to assert that this state-
ment is one which will not be substantiated by
inquiry. It is not the wont of the Government
of the United States to interfere in that way, and
in the relations of the Southern States to the
Government of the Union it has quite enough to
occupy its energies and attention just now without
devising plans for the government of Ireland.

Tax practice of military flogging is not only
doomed—that it was long since—but it is about
to disappear. In an unreformed House of Com-
mons it is languidly defended and finally con-
demned. A reformed House would not tolerate it
for a week. There are a hundred reasons against
it, and only one for it ; but this one General
PEtt thinks is decisive—it is necessary. We
shall see. Its necessity will no doubt be main.
tallied as long as the representatives of the
people will permit it, and after that the
discovery will be made that it can be dis-
pensed with. Let General PEEL or Sir
JOHN PAHINGTON—whom we regret to see
making his first appearance as War Minister in
such a cause—tell the country why the great
fighting armies, French, Prussian, American,
can be kept in discipline without the lash ; and
why our army, which no one is compelled to
enter, cannot be kept together and in order with-

out it. The point is worth investigating : it may
throw useful light upon the general state of the
service: The House of Commons was not
frightened last night by the allakation that
it was meddling with the discipline; of the army.
The question cannot be disposed of as if it were
the property of any set or class of the Quzaw's
subjects ; it affects the very safety of the empire
itself. The difficulty of getting men is increasing,
and it will before long amount to an impossibility
if something effectual be not done to improve the
character of the service, and for this purpose the
" cat " must be absolutely got rid of.

~•.r:

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Maitci 11.
FLOGGING IN THE ARMY.
Supply—Order for committee read ; motion made, and
question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the
chair; amendment proposed, to leave out from the word
" that " to the end of the guestion, in order to add the
words " this house, reserving for future consideration
when requisite the question of the exigencies of a state
of war, is of opinion that it is unnecessary that the
punishment of flogging should be awarded during the
time of peace to soldiers of the army or corps of royal
marines servuigon shore "—(Mr.Otway). Instead thereof,
question put, " That the words proposed to be left out
stand part of the question." The house divided—Ayes,
107 ; noes, 108.

. .
na
Adderley, C. B. Garth, AP.. Pakingion, Sir J.
ArchdaU, Capt. Gilpin, Cot Peet Gen.
Bailey, Sir J. GoMary, 0. Powell, F. S.
Barrington Via. Gore. J. B. pton , O. W.
Beach, Sir M. Hamilton, Ld. Claud Ridley, Sir M.
Beach, W. W. Harvey, B. B. Robertson, P. F.
Bentinck, G. C. Hervey, Lord A. Itolt, SO J.
ficnyon, R. Hay, Sir J. Russell, Sir C.
iliddulph. M. Herbert, Col. Schreiber, C.
Bridges, Sir B. Hildyard, T. B. Selwyn, C J.
Brooks, R. Hodgson, W. N. Severne, J E.
Bruce, Sir H. H , Lt.-CoL Seymour, 0. H.
Burrell, Sir P. H . , Sir A. Simonds, \V. B.
Calcraft, J. N. Hunt, G. W. Smith, A.
Cartwright, CoL Kerslake, Sir J. SmoUett, P. B.
Cave, S. Kerslake, E. K. Stanley, Lord
chatterton. H. E. Kavanagh, A. Stanley, V.
Clinton, Lord E. Kendall, N. Stirling- Irixwell,
Clive, Mpg. King, J. K. Sir W.
Cole, H. King, J. 0 Stopford, S. G.
Cole, J. L Kingscote, Col. Bargees, H. E.
Curzon, Viact. Knox, Major Sykes, C.
Dickson, Major Lennox, Lord H. Tottenham, Lt.-Col.
Dimsdale, R. Lindsay, cot. c. Trevor, Lord A.
Molten, B. Lindsay, Col. R. Vance, J.
tin Cane, C. Lowther, J. Vandeleur, Col
Dyott, Cot Malcolm, J. W. Verner, E. W.
Earle, R. Manners, Lord J. Walker, Major
Eckcraley, N. Montgomery, Sir G. Walpole. S. H.
Edwards, Sir H. Morgan, 0. Walrond, J. W.
Egerton, A. Morris, H. Whitmore, H.
Egerton, IL Mowbray, J. R. Wlllarns, F. H.
Egerton, W. Neville-Grenville, R. Wyndham, P.
Vane, Col. Nicholson, W. Wyrill, M.
Fengumon, 81:1. North. Col. TILLEUL
Moyer, J. O'Neill, E. Taylor, Col.
Forester, Otte Paget, R. H. Noel, G. J.

_ .
NOES.
Akroyd, E. Graham, W. Peel. A. W.
Amberley, Via, Cireville-Nugent,Col. Pelham, Lord
Ayrton, A. 8. Gridley, Capt. Potter, R.
Baines, E. Grosvenor, Capt. Potter, T. B.
Barclay, A. C. Hadfield, G. Power, Sir J.
Barnes, T. Hankey, T. D.
Beaumont, H. F. Harris. J. D. =, D. J.
Blake, J. A. Hartley, J. Russell,en ffir W.
Blennerhaseekelr R. Hayter, Capt. Scholefield, W.
Brady, Dr. Henderson, J. Scott, Sir W.
Bright. Sir C. Herbert, H. A. Seely, C.
Briscoe, J. L Holden, I. Seymour, H. D.
Bromley, W. D. Howard, C. W. Sheridan, H. B.
Bryan, G. L Hughes, T. Sherrill, A. C.
Butler, C. S. Jervis, Major Simeon, Sir J.
Burton, C. Lawson, J. A. Snail, J. B.
Odthorpe F. H. Lechmere, Sir E. Stock, 0.
Candlish, J. Leeman, G. Stuart, CoL
Chamber., Y. Lecterre, 0. J. Stucley, Slr G.
Childers, H. C. Lennox, Lord Sullivan L
Cogan, W. H. Lusk, A. Sjoan, IL J.
Crauturd, R. H. MacEvoy, IL Taylor, P. A.
Crouley, Sir F. St 'Laren, D. Tonne, W. T.
Dalglish, R. Marsh, M. H. Trevelysn, G. 0.
Denman, 0.
111111. J. 8. , L. L. Merry, I. Vanderhyl, P.
!Affirm
Vivian, Gapt,
Eaton, H. W. Mitchell, T. A. Waring, C.
Edwards, C. Monk, C. J. Warner, E.
likyn, R. Murphy, N. D. Watldn, L W.
Fawcett, H. Neale, C. Whitbread, 8.
Fordyce, W. D. O'Beirne, J. 1.. White, J.
Forster, C. O'Brien, Sir P. Williamson, Sir H.
Forster, W. O'Conor Don, The Wyld, J.
Gaskellut.4. CrDonowbue, The Young, R.
Gavin, ()Upham, L. TZLL.M.
Gilpin, C. Osborne, LB. Otway, A. J.
Olyn, 0.0. Pease, J. W. Anson, Major

~1~"_I.

THE MEETING OF LORD DERBY'S SUPPORTERS.

The daily journal' give in varying terms an out-
Me of yesterds," prooemlings. The numbers present are
stated by the Herald at upwards of 260 ; by the Post at
264 ; by the Times at 243.

Lord Cranborne, ex-Minister for India, was present, bat
General Peel was away.
Lord DERBY spoke for about half en hour. Having
adverted in passing terms to the difficulties which envi-
roved the subject, and to the circumstances under which
three of his colleagues had deemed it to he their duty to
withdraw from the cabinet, he proceeded to explain the
nature of the measure which the government was prepared
to recommend in the House of Commons. To the principle
of rating as against rental they were prepared to adhere,
but after giving the most careful and anxious con-
sideration to the question as to what the mini-
mum rating should be they were of opinion that,
to insure a final settlement of a question which
had caused uneasiness and irritation for some time
past, it would be better to legislate upon broad and
simple principles. They therefore proposed that the
suffrage in boroughs should be household, subject, how.
ever, to the payment of rates and two years' occupation.
It was also proposed as a security, and to guard against
any undue influence being given to representation by num-
bers only as against property, to give another vote to per-
', ions who, being occupiers in boroughs, should also be
payer. of direct taxation to the extent of not less than
20s. per annum. The personal payment of rates would be
an essential condition. All compound rating would sease
for the new franchises, but joint occupiers might apply to
be separately rated. It was also proposed to give the
franchise to adult male depositors in savings banks
and in the public funds who should have the
sum of 501. standing in their names for a period
of not less than two years. The government were
also of opinion that the members of the learned professions
should be entitled to vote under what might be termed an
educational franchise. With regard to the county fran-
chise a 15/. rating would be the qualification recommended.
It mut not intended to establish the principle of cumula-
tive voting. These propositions would, he hoped, be ap-
proved not only by those who had been in the habit of
giving an independent support to her Majesty's govern-
ment, but also by the House of Commons and by the coun-
try generally. The government were of opinion that the
principle involved in two years' occupation and in the dual
vote was of the essence of the measure, and that, if
affirmed by the House of Commons, household suffrage
might follow without danger. With regard to disfran-
chisement, thecabinet adhered to the proposals as recently
expounded by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The noble lord was loudly cheered at the opening of his
address, and the approbation was even more marked at the
close.

Mr. HENLEY then rose and expressed his full approval of
the measure just announced. Faithful to the principle on
which he seceded in 1859, he advocated a broad basis for
the borough suffrage. He regarded the proposals which
professed to confer the franchise on occupiers of a certain
amount of rental as not to be justified on constitutional
principles. They could therefore only be of temporary
effect, even if carried. Household suffrage with payment
of rates he looked upon as the true basis of the right to
vote according to the principles of the constitution of Eng-
land, and that was the foundation of the old rights which
conferred the franchise on those who paid scot and lot,
that is, who resided where they voted, and bore their
part of the local and public burdens. He was prepared
not only to approve but to defend those principles, and he
promised the measure his fullest support.
Sir J. B. WiLSHE advocated unanimity among conser-
vatives above all things. He spoke in the highest terms
of eulogy of the conduct of Lord Derby as a party leader,
and he regretted deeply that former leaders had not had
the courage and the honourable feeling to act as he bad
done. Had the late Sir R. Peel treated the party
with the same confidence when he had changed his views
respecting Roman catholic emancipation, and again when
he had determined to repeal the corn laws—bad he called
the party together, and explained to them that the time
was come for enacting those measures, that they could no
longer be withheld, the conserv►tive party would have ac-
cepted that which was inevitable, and would not on those
occasions have undergone a disruption from which they
had taken so long a period to recover. He ex-
pressed his ►dmiration for the courage and confidence
which induced Lord Derby to call them together, and to
explain, as be had done, that there was nothing else for
them but to accept this measure, which he for one was
ready to do, and which he hoped the meeting would also
accept without dissent.
Sir JOHN TROLLOPS also addressed the meeting in a
similar sense to Sir John Walshe.

Sir WILLIAM HILATHCOTE expressed strong disapproval
of the measure, and intimated that he would oppose it in
the house. The bon. baronet regarded the proposal placed
before the meeting from the standpoint that it is too
large, and that, if carried out, it would destroy the in-
fluence of rank, property, and education by the force of
numbers. He did nut receive any encouragement during
his address, and immediately after he ceased to speak the
meeting separated ; indeed, very many bad gone long be.
fore.

- .
In reply to a question thrown out as a feeler to ascer-
tain what course the Premier might be disposed to adopt
in c.se the opposition should prove recalcitrant, and de-
cline to accept the government programme in its entirety,
Lord Derby said that he believed the °ourse most likely
to be acceptable to the country, in case any hostile action
on the part of the House of Commons were from any cause
to place ministers in a minority, would be to appeal to the
country.

COMPOSITION or THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
One of the " Essays on Reform" which have been just
published in a volume by Messrs. Macmillan, is by Mr.
4:recruit, who sets himself to prose by figures and names
that the House of Commons represents the upper classes of
society, if not exclusively, at least in overwhelming pro-
portion. The landowners, for example, seat directly 256
county members, but of the borough members 246 out of
306 are believed to be also territorial/its, either by actual
ovrneiship of land in considerable blocks, or by dependence on
and connection with those who do own them. According
to Dori, in the parliament of August, 1865, there were re-
turned 71 baronets, 11 elder sons of baronets, 19 younger
sons of baronets, and 8 grandsons of baronets ; a total for
the baronetage alone of 110. There were also 37 peers, or
elder sous of peers, 64 younger sons of peers, and 15 grand-
sons of peers ; a total of 116 members of parlia-
ment for the peerage, and for the erage
and baronetage together a total of 22G. Besides e
these
there are one hundred commoners sitting in parliament
who are connected with the peerage by marriage or
descent. The aristocratic class or element in the House of
Commons has therefore a grind total of at least 326 mem-
bers. And unquestionably this number would be found,
if an exhaustive search were made among other sources of
information, to be below the mark. When it is remem.
bered that in the fullest house on record, namely, on the
28th of April, 1866, those who voted in the majority had
only 320 votes, the number 326, as the symbol of caste in
the House of Commons, is significant."
LORD ROBERT MONTAGU'S ADDRESS. —Lord Robt.
Montagu has issued the following address to the electors
of the county of Huntingdon :—" Gentlemen,—The ttueen
has been graciously pleased to appoint me Vice-President
of the Council. In accordance with an antique custom, it is
necessary for me to obtain your sanction, by offering
myself to you for re-election. I trust that I have not for-
feited the confidence which, for nearly eight years, you
have been pleased torepow in me. I have always been in
favour of an honest and liberal measure of reform. which
should yield the franchise to all the industrious of the
working classes, without permitting any class to obtain a
predominating power in the legislature. On this subject
the whole country is thoroughly in earnest. To defer the
settlement of it would be neither just nor prudent. While
the public will favour any honest endeavour to arrive at a
satisfactory solution of the difficulty, it surely will not
countenance any one-sided proposal or factious opposition.
The great moderation and absence of party spirit which
have hitherto been maintained by those whose duty it is
to criticise the measures of the government, give use the
best expectations for the future. All patriotic and disin-
terested statesmen, on whatever aide of the bowie, will (I
believe) combine to settle this vexed question, and free the
house from fruitless debates and wasted sermons, and the
country from prolonged agitations and bitter jealousies.—
I remain, gentlemen, your faithful servant, ROBERT
Morrrice. London, March 13, 1867."
THE WHIG PARTY AND HOUSEHOLD SUFFRAGE.
—Lord Brougham writes the following letter referring to
the answers to his recent commueication on the suffrage
question:—" I havejwit seen Lord Grey's letter in your
paper of the 9th. lnat I referred to about the household
suffrage and the Reform Bill generally was my speech
before the formation of the government in IMO. That
speech was for the purpose of explaining the bill of which
Iliad given notice at the Yorkshire election. The meeting
was held at Lord Althorp's chambers in the Albany, but 1
had required some of our friends in the Loris also to be
present. I have as distinct a recollection of what pawed
at that meeting as if it had been yesterday, and of the per-
sons who were present. I have frequently referred to the
approval of household suffrage in my letters to Lords Den-
man and Radnor upon law amendment. But of the meet-
ings and what passed at them, as well as of the persons
present, there an be no doubt whatever."

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS lOR THE
ENSUING WEEK.

The following notices of motions and orders 6f
the d stand in the order book of the House of Com.
mons fur next week:

MOEDA; MASER 18.
ORDZIIII Of THE DAT.
Supply—committee; Supply—report ; Ways and Ilt,ns
—committee; Criminal Lunatics Bill—comuattee ; l'y td
Punishments within Prisons Bill—second reading ;
sure Bill—second reading ; Petit Juries (Ireland) hill-_
second reading; Mutiny Bill—second reading; hale and
Purchase of Shares Bill—committee.