Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-08-06 00:00:00

THE BREACH OF PRIVILEGE

On the order of the day for resuming the debate on, the
reSolution respecting the election compromise, proposed by
Mr. Roebuck,
Mr. S. GRAY observed that Dr. Michell ought to know
the precise nature of the charge againsthim, otherwise than
by the public journals. Mr. Roebuck ought to repeat the
charge he made on the previous evening.
Mr. ROEBUCK having complied with the request,
Dr. MICHEIi said that if Mr. Roebuck had applied to
him previously, he could have shown that he had acted
satisfactorily, without troubling the House with the matter.
He could not afford to bring witnesses from so dis-
tant a place as Bodmin, and • would not run the
risk of placing himself in difficulties for the rest
of his life, • or perhaps ruining himself and his friends.
As • for the charge of corruption, all petitions were
so much alike, and made such general complaints, that he
had at first thought the petition was a joke ; but finding
that it was persevered in, he had resolved to abandon his'
seat, and had never been in a division since. The only
compromise was, that he consented to resign his seat, if the
charges against him were withdrawn: If any one would
pay the expense of defending his petition, he was quite
ready to carry it on.
The SPEAKER put the resolution of Mr. Roebuck as
follows :—" That in the opinion of this Rouse anv minis-
ter would be guilty of a breach of the privileges of this House
who should advise the Crown to confer the office of Steward
of the Chiltern Hundreds, or of the Manor of Northstead,
or of the Manor of Hempholm, or of Escheator of Munster,
upon any person charged with corrupt practices Pt an
election, and who, for the purpose of evading the jurisdic-
tion of this House, has entered into an agreement to vacate
his seat upon the withdrawal of the petition charging him
with such corrupt practices."
-

The resolution- on a division was negatived by 214 to 30

WAYS ANI) MEANS,

On bringing up the report of ways and means,
Mr. LINDSAY called the attention of the House to the
present state of the shipping interest, and to enquire of the
present Board of Trade if Government intended to adopt
any measures to relieve shipowners of light dues, pas;i.
tolls, and local charges, and to remove the burthens and
restrictions which still fetter maritime enterprise.
A miscellaneous discussion followed, on the subject of the
Shipping Laws and Regulations, in which Mr. C:nwfi,rd and
Mr. Digby Seymour, adverting to the relative increase of
,Foreign, in. comparison with time British shipping, did not
object to the free trade, but complained that it had never
been applied.
Mr. M. GIBSON said that, in the present state of the
revenue, they could not afford to place the' 'charge of the
light-houses on the consolidatal fund, He should, howwer,
be perfectly willing to adapt the local and pAs-ing toll: to
the circumstances, so as to' render them more opera t:iVe,
more just, and; equal ; at the Governinent wo ad probably
introduce a bill on the subject next session ; but, with re-
gard to the light dues, he must refer the honourable mere:-
ber to the Chancellor of the Exchequer,

After slime further discussion, the subject dropped.
. Mr. AUGUSTUS SMITH called the attention of the House
to the- proceedino of the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests; in respect to the fore-shores of the kingdom, and
other public Property.
A discussion followed, in the course of which the Attorney-
General' explained the rights of the Crown over the fore-
shores, that these pieces of ground were more advantageous
to the public under Government than under private arrange-
ment. . . _

Sir PE LACY TANS moved as annmendirrent, that 'under
present circumstances it is not necessary. or expedient to

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Mr. HORS