The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-21 00:00:00

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

Lord CR AN BORNE said that he had a question of prb
vilege to bring under the notice of the house. The facts
were these. The moment the decision of the Nottingham
committee was announced in the committee room, three
sheriffs' officers pounced on Sir R. Clifton and carried turn
off to prison. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") The conten-
tion he 1 Lord ('ranborue) made, and in which he trusted
the lawyers of the house would support him, was that a
member of that house aid not cease to be a member until
the report of the committee had been received. He had
no personal knowledge of the matter, but the counsel for
Sir R. Clifton had come to him and stated the circum-
stances of the arrest, and, looking at the counsel as Sir
Robert'. accredited agent, he (Lord Cmnborne) had thought
it his duty to take the opinion of the house upon the
matter. He feared that the house could do nothing for
Sir R. Clifton, (" Yes, yea, demand his discharge.") He
should he very glad if that were the case, but it was quite
clear that a breach of the privileges of the house had been
committed, and in any case he thought that a member of
that house should be treated as game and not as vermin,and
therefore should have law before he was pursued. (Cheers.)
There might be such things as close divisions, and there
might be deep interest as to the result, and if it were al-
lowed to go abroad that sheriffs' officers might defy the
privileges of the House of Commons and carry away a mem-
ber front his duty, trusting to the leniency of the house
subsequently to condone the offence, they might some day
or other, when one of those close divisions arose, have a
case which would cause great scandal to the House of Com.
mons. Therefore, although the present case bore no poli-
tical significance, he urged the House of Commons to show
its displeasure, and, therefore, he moved that the Sheriffs
of Loudon and Middlesex be ordered to attend at the bar
at 4 o'clock on Monday next.
Colonel EDWARDS suggested that Sir Robert Clifton
must have been arrested whilst he was still before the
committee.
Mr. WATKIN wished to know whether the house had
sufficient evidence of the facts. At a quarter past three
o'clock he had himself seen Sir Robert Clifton in conversa-
tion with others at the top of the steps leading from the
committee-room, and that must have been some time after
the committee Lad agreed to its report. (Laughter.)
Mr. AYRTON objected to delay, and suggested that the
sheriffs should be ordered to attend forthwith. (This sug-
gestion created considerable amusement in the house, as the
sheriffs were at that moment sitting under the gallery.)
He thought that the house would not have asserted its
privileges if the case was allowed to remain open until
Monday. (Hear.)
Mr. ROEBUCK wished only to suggest that when the
sheriffs appeared at the bar they should bring Sir Robert
Clifton along with them. (Cheers and laughter.)
Mr. LEFEVRE bad seen Sir R. Clifton walking down
Westminster-hall. He then met Mr. Morley's counsel,
who Lehi him there was no foundation for the story of the
arrest. (Loud laughter.) He thought It would be well
before proceeding further to get accurate information as to

the fact'. (Hear, hear.) -
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought the house should
proceed with great caution in such • ease. (Hear, hear.)
If the facts were as stated by his noble friend the member
for Stamford, he (the Attorney-General) had no hesita-
tion in saying that • great violation of the privileges
of the house had been committed. (Hear, hear.) Notaing
cotild be clearer than that the decision of the committee
did not take effect until it had been reported to the house
and entered upon the journals. However, after what had
been stated by more than one hon. member, it did not
appear that the house was as yet in possession of accurate
information. (Hear, and a laugh.) If the noble lord the
member for Stamford made the statement of his own
knowledge, or on authority for which he would be respon-
sible, then he thought the house might be satisfied and
act. If the counsel of Sir Robert was in the
neighbourhood, and his attendance could be obtained,