Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-04-13 00:00:00

lity of additional

that if w

of hi; (Mr. Bright's) party. It could only be settled by
the constituencies themselves. He (Mr. Bright) had
never, as they knew, had any kind of faith in
the politics of Lord Palmerston. (Hear, hear.) At the
same time, he thought that on this question he (Lord
Palmerston) might be said to be consistent. He had as
fair a right to act upon his views as he (Mr. Bright) had,
and therefore he did not blame the noble lord. He thought,
however, that the people would not look up to him (Lord
Palmerston) after what he had jnst said about the connty
and borough franchise, for any real measure of
reform. If they did trust to him, Mr. Bright

thought they would trust to a I
With regard to Lord John Russell he (Mr

glad to see that he was in favour of a much larger measure
of Reform than Many others of his order, and he had reason
to believe that with -regard to the £lO county vote, his lord-
ship would make it a provision in his bill, that half that
amount should be in a dwelling-house, so that pretended
votes could not be created at will. He proposed also to
give a vote to each occupier in. a borough who paid a rent
of £6. This offer of his lordship it would be unfair to
depreciate, and to say it was not . very much
in advance of that of any other statesman..
If such a bill was introduced, it would be open for every
member to make proposals upon it for further extensions.
Tho propositions of Lord John were better than half a hun-
dred fancy franchises. A oonsiderable section of the House
was disposed to follow Lord John with regard to this ques-
tion of reform. Numbers differed from him on the question
of the ballot, yet he (Mr: B.) could not bat believe from his
address that if the noble lord saw the constituencies of this
kingdom add fifty or sixty votes this ele, .hose-already
in t' house. he could: not but belier Lord tlohn)

time.
The Lien for Freight Bill passed through committee.,
Mr. H. Berkeley moved for leave to introduce a
ztion to
bill to cause the votes of the Parliamentary electors
of Great Britain and Ireland to be taken by way of ae h
last stand out of the way, and ouso, ie that
no obstacle to the
at he
ballot. He adduced many practical instances of the would at be
corrupt and violent influences brought to bear upon ballot in any bill which might receive the sanction of par-
electors, and replied at length to the usual argument urged liament. (Cheers) Then there was, another liberal section
against the ballot. If these privileges were denied to the in the house; men who were not tied up by their aristo-
nation, it would demand, as aright,° what it now humbly cratic associations, and prejudiced .; men, who. knowing the
supplicated. people, having lived amongst them all their lives, were not
Sir J. V. Shelly seconded the motion. afraid of them.. He hoped more of such men would be
Mr. S. Escourt said that he felt it his duty to rise at once returned to parliament this next election, and that the
to meet this motion by a direct negative. The ballot liberals would be more united in. the obiects they had in
would entail two out of the greatest evils that could view. The coming election was one of vast importance,
and what the constituencies should do, was to return real
befall a nation—losS of confidence and of the influence of
men torepresent them ; not men who knew so little of these
experience.
Sir R. Bethell adduced the many statutes which had been questions, and dare not say anything, and who would be
made from time to time for the protection of the voter. contented with doing nothing.
,Let them have a contest in
The right of the voter was to give his vote freely, his every.constituency where ther
thee waswanted a doubt,
wand not com-
obligation was to give that vote independently. The promise. .) What yththe
actual legislation was insufficient to enable them to do this, Rouse of Commons should be more distinct, and they
and it became their duty to carry out the constitutional would then find
that members would say some-
princile of the erect freedom of election. He denied in thing, either for the question or against it, and
the strongest terms that secret voting
.was contrary to the so parties would be in array against each other. (Cheers.)
spirit of the constitution. It was said that the ballot was j They were now told that part; was broken up into small
cowardly and degrading ; but was it so more cowardly and parties. It had been said that since rake
we have had no
degrading for a man to be coerced into a vote contrary to i real Government whatever. We had after Sir Robert
his opinion, and to go about with a mask upon his face. Peel's Government several others, and now we were on the
He believed that the ballot was consistent with the law and eve of having he believed another. The House of Com-
spirit of the constitution of the country. mons, as it was now divided, did not represent the people
Lord John Russell admitted, that freedom of election was fairly, for we kuew that the Liberal electors were
in accordance with the law, but not secrecy .of election. four to one of the other. After referring to Mr. Egerton's
IPublicity was the principle of all political,Audicial, and candidature for South Lancashire, and the kind offer
administrative proceeding's of the country. . He, neverthe- made by the late Earl of F...llesmere to him (Mr. Bright),
less, had so far modified his former opinion, that be did not `when he was ill, the hon., gentleman concluded by thank-
believe it would have the injurious effect on. the character ing them for the resolution they had passed, and said ha
of tne nation, which he once supposed, although, therefore, ' believed the bill he had submitted to
on, the
and country was
li.a
he felt bound still to oppose the motion, as he thought the ' moderate, jest, P;nd reasonable provisi h,
balaace of evil PrePondered over that of good. Ho yet did asked no peron to pin his faith up.on his sleeve, he asKed
as reformers, to fairly examine it, and to fix upon
not think that any serious consequene- 3 would result from them,
this or any othor mechanical contrivanee. sometl,-,ing like it for the agitatilii on waioh we were new
Lord Palmerston characterised the speech of Sir R. er..Cering. (Loud applause.)
Bothell 43 A rainowent of fallacies? and 41 giving to legal The conference
then adjourned,

to convince the we

was the first -ye

r. Critchl

n his b

pinion seem

house committee

tion had been made

into the workhouse.
Mr. Jones said, in itself the application did app

reasonable and ;unobjectionable, that if it were a season of
the year when increased clerical duties had to be performed,
there should be additional hands to perform them. At the
same time, he thought it would be very well if the workhouse
committee were informed what the whole of the require-
ments would be, in order that they might deal with them as
a whole, and not have them brought forward piecemeal.
Mr. Whitty stated that Mr. Fleetwood had to attend the
Roman Catholics in the infirmary, and the Roman Catholic
- 1? -n

Orphans ; and, as the vestry were aware, ab comae
Catholics in the workhouse frequently approached 1,000

in number.
Tho Chni:
and he was

reason.why,

an said, when the letter w

;t had been

gist confess that the rea

shewn to him,

. _
satisfactory to bun. _
had a great deal to do, and big duties were increased at that
particular season of the year very much. He therefore con-
sidered that when they remembered there might be perhaps

Mr. Fleetwood was an old

noman uaLuollUS ul 41.10.0 an
vestry were bound by law to give every facility—he thought

such a request coming before them, a request cot an nicretLbC st
of assistance for three weeks, ought undoubtedly to be h,
granted. (Hear, hear.) a 1
A division was finally taken, when Mr. Cafferata's
amendment was carried by 13 to 6. n
_ The remainder of the general proceedings were then con- c

firmed.
WE
The proceedings of the industrial schools' committee sh
were also confirmed. in,

FINANCE

COMMITTEE,

The proceedings of this committee contained a recom- I,s
lation to dismiss M- Downes, and I c

Robinson

their accounts ; to make a
Roberts, cottage-rate collector, previous to ins
ceedings ; and accept the resignation of Mr. Ire
superintendent-collector.
Mr. Jones moved that the proceedings be confirmed
Mr. Cafferata urged that they were dealing wit

rig pro-

the I t

cottage collectors in rather a summary manner. It Ins
opinion were correct, all they were accused of were venial
offences. In the exercise of justice, the vestry should
endeavour to temper it with mercy;. and he was, therefore,
I indisposed to dismiss those men so summarily, and deprive
I. or any them of all means of livelihood. There appeared to be no
. .

little irregularity in not giving in their money every night,
but that had not impaired the efficiency of their services as
collectors, the amount of rates collected being very much
He was- informed that they were