The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-02-26 00:00:00

SUSPENSION OF WRITS.

The E al of C A itN A aVoN moved the Order of the
pay for the second reading of the Bill for soa-
p-tiding the issuing of writs to the boroughs of
Barnstaple, Grampound, Penryto, and Camelford.
The Noble Earl then sail, he had not before the
preceding night supposed that it would be news-
saty for him to advance a single observation upon
the propriety of adopting the present memoir, ; he
Ted, in fact, thought that their Lordships must
have given their assent to the Bill almost as a mat.
ter of course. Parliament had lung been in the
habit of inquiring into the circumstances of corrupt
e!ectione, which in some casts were followed by it.
enactments, and in other, by the poesing
of Bills through the Howie of Commons, winch,
however, were rejected by their Lordships. The
House was of course aware that during the continu-
slice of a Parliament no writ was issued fur the elec-
tion of a Member of the other House without the
Speaker's warrant ; but by the dissolution of Par.
liemeut they were about to be placed in a situation
in which writs must of course issue without the
control of the House of Commons. In that case,
the boroughs which had been so long under the con-
eideration of Parliament would send eight Members
to the House of Commons, even at the very time
when a question was raised whether they should he
tor ever deprived of the right. Either this must
Like place, or their Lordships must come in aid
cf the House of Commons, and if they refused to
Ju so, they must thereby arraign sill the proceed-
ing- adopted by the House of Commons during
the last century; they must condemn every vote
of that House and every exercise of their discretion
when they withheld the right of election until the
propriety of continuing that right was fully deter-
mined. Those who now refused to agree in the de-
s•re expressed by the House of Commons, and
thereby declared that the writs ought to be issued
to these boroughs, were bound to shew that those
who were desirous of sifting the corruption of these
boroughs and punishing them for their crimes, were
not by such a step thrown into a worse condition
than they previously occupied ; for with what pro-
spect of fully attaining the objects of justice could
they proceed in a new Pathanseut to the cots.
sideration of such subjects, when the boroughs
would appear to be fully represented, oilers rio
tatiot might be found in their recent pricer/hugs,
told when the Legislature, passing over a virtuous
exercise of their constitutional rights, sought to
punish them, not for a recent offence.but formic com-
mitted at a period comparatively distant The Noble
Earl declared himself to be a decided enemy to all
plans of general reform, but whenever a specific case
requiring amendment appeared to Parliament, lie
would willingly pursue it for the purposes of ob-
taining such a practical and partial reform as would
attord, not a radtcal, hut • Isermsuent improvement.
To this species of reform the country looked with
ager and anxious eyes, and if the present Bill were
'ejected, lie feared much and serious disappoint-
tnent would be felt. What indeed would the COllll..
py think of then Lordships, if having heard that a
*erten' borough in which extrusive bilbery and cor-
ruption had been discovered, was so placed amongst
knot 4of other boroughs, that the plan of exteod.
jolt the elective franchise to the neighbouring hun-
dreds could sot in its case be adopted; that a pro-
position bad been mode of removing the franchise
to the old and populous borough of Leeds ; that
the approbation of a leading Minister of the Crown
was given iu the House of Commons to this plait ;
that the measure having been impeded by an inop-
portune dissolution of Parliament, a Bill to promote
the same object in the new Parliament was passed in
the House of Commons, and rejected in their Lord-
ship's House What further would thecountry think
when they should learn that the measure having receiv-
ed the approbation of such of his Majesty's Ministers
as wise in the House of Commons, was opposed by
their colleagues io the other House The Noble
Earl warmly expressed his gratificatioo that this
measure of partial reform, in which all classes of
men seemed to concur, should have been intros
deiced by a young Nobleman with such a display of
rising talents a. must have held out to the country
the flattering hope of Gudirig iii the first mks of
the Nubility on able said energetic champion of
lire rights and liberties, mid imbued with those glo-
rious and aiiiutating sentiments that have already
metered the name of RUSSELL dear to the heart
of every holiest Eoglisliman.—(liter. hear.)—The
Noble Earl then argued on the expediency of agree.
ing with the Commons is this measure of suspect.
slot, and remarked, that 111 the caw of the borough
• • .
. • s

of Shaftesbury th y had held utat in equal "esi-I in the Shorts/04mq which hod lAto 'so mach
to the Howe of Coatroom. by 1"."1"K * hells silloded In, th writ was suspended for • year or
during a prorogation (is the I.w thru was) • writ • two. midi* world ask, was it not a piece of in-
should not be loomed to that borough in the teems josoce, when earlsament afterwards declared that it
of a vacancy. Between the case or the imprough of; was an, her remoring the electors their riots ? 'rite
Shaftesbury and the prevent ill-re was sot perceplia I conclusion which the [louse of C lily
bad
hle difference, and he trusted that an equal pomade come to on the Bernstaple cave. he had on he.,.
of justice world now influetice thew proveriltors. t atom tai saving. was founded MI the evidence
lie was tooter the necessity of sr,rug II htile us to of person. shit ought not to he believed Islay
the unexpected husineas of last ought. It was his where, and he was borne out in wiring so by
intention, before he tittered into the 'moues. oh the what passed at their Lordships' her when they
nig4t, to more to rescind the Resoluta'', of lest i were wider resinous* before them. Persona
night. for lwarmg Counsel it the her rehoite 10 the i having a skin to vote at. corporstoes, were Otte
Barnstaple Petition. As it getter»! Irmo:ode, lie I different limn those who hart the right to .vote
iu
would not pillow that their Lordahips could not re. an.nh-r way. Ile tiros therefore of op that
jest the hearing of Cuur.srl 1111 arch u (titration. their Lordships, instead of dirfrancliising the
Tlte Bill before theist vets not a pro/ rte one. but I roughs ill question. ought to restore to electors
to all intents and purposes a public one, and a I their right of franchise. The true way to iw
qtsestino of great public importatire ; it WAS Mot pular eres to du justice, and it would 1w an act of
that Barnttaple sliould lose the right of election, injustice if this was not done. lor which reason he
but whether that 'louse should he on a Itsture day world vote against the present measure.
placed iu • situation to prosecute their incoirtes Nlarquis of LANSDoWN said lie must insist,
which had brain commenced. Who world be the on behalf of the people of &gimlet and of the
situation of Ministers and of Uses,. Lordships, if Legi•lature. Bost there was no right held by au
they allowed Counsel to be head on the application elector which lie dill not hold for the public and
of every individual who thought los interest wet I the purity of the Legislature, nod it was only try
affected be ally public tnessure ? it. would be that right being held sacred that Parliament could
the means of preventing them from getting through be kept pure—and as the right was only held for
the ntc y business of the country. Ile could the public, it was returnisble to them when it was
not avoid recollceling when ese usual Orders of improperly used. Bot as it was held out by the
that House were disoeused with to pass the Train- Noble Earl opposite. that In • new Parliament there
ing Bill in one night. Ile would ask then, where would be 'oohing to frustrate farther inquiry, . lie
wail the opportunity of Counsel being heard in would recommend his Noble Freud pint now to
that case ?So urgent did the flamer of Commons press Ihe inelienre, but if he was of a dill-rent opt-
consider the present Bill, that they suspended neon, he would certainly vote fur the Bill bents
their Stanilitog Orders to pass it, and the Itesolu- read a second lime.
titan of their Cordthips to hear Csouts•rl at the bar Eta GROSIII:SuR anppnrte.l the measure.
sigaifist it, was Ceusing such s delay, that it was to The Earl of LAUDERDSLE moved that the Bill
the effect of negativing it. If the Bill, hooever, el 1d be read a second time that day fortnight.
was read a second time. be would more to-morrow, 011 the question being put. their Lordships di-
although it was Saturday. that tile Standing Utters Prided, when there appeared—
should be dispeused with, for the portico* of it Contests....
going through its other sieges. Ile felt liimeelf at Sao Coates's@ •
II
a loss whether, 'according to the neoge of that
House,
,he might to conclude by moving that the
Bill should be read • fecund bop-, or that the
order for calling in Counsel to be heard at the bar
should he rescinded. He was aware that he would
be informed by ilwNoble rod Learned Lord on the
Woolsack, wtsdi was the proper course to pursue.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said there could be eto
doubt of the course the Noble EA. I ought to pur-
sue, as it was necessary to get oil of the wile- of
last night lwfore the 13:11 was real a second time.
Bat he would rather meet the case at once on its .
merits. 'flue Bill was fur the purpose of cheroot-
chisitig certaits Boroughs ; the quest' then was,
whether they would agree to grittier a Borough i.f
its rights before a suflir sent coot. was made out, not
only by a trial in the House of Commons, but at
their Lordships' own her ? The power assumed by
the House oh Commons to disfratichise was a very
strong power, and if the queation was now agitated
for the first time, lie would oppose their having that
power; they had however exeretard it, nod it would
flat he right now to dispute it. The Silifirabory ease,
which hail been quoted by the Noble Earl. did not
bear on the present case. This was not a measure
relative In the withholding of a writ, but it went
the length of saying, that it shotild not issue when
there was no Parliament, which would he defeating
the rights of the Crowu. Ile was convinced the
[lone of Commons had taken up the queetion
wrong. fur as Imig as they were a (louse of Com-
mons they had the right of feta g the issuing of
a writ, but the moment they crated to be such,
they had no such power. and by assuming it they .
affected the rights of the Crown. Tne Bill went to
take away the right of election fur four Boroughs,
and osit of the four, tight Members were 1145 M Ol lU.
ally sitting by the tight of the very election com-
plained of. Ile would state plainly and without dia-
guise, that lie was of opistion that their Lordships
were the only tribunal in which the question of slit-
franchisement could be fairly diwursed. If in the
new Parliament a case was made out against the
Boroughs tomplaitied of, it should have his eupout t ;
but on the eve of a dissolution, sod contidering that
there were eight Members bitting in the wefts'?
Parliament returned for these boroughs, he would
not agree to suppress the rights of the electors.
Ile requested that their Lordships would consider
that when they wished to do justice to the Consti-
tution, they ought at the same tinie to be careful
of the rights of Corporate !ladies.
The Earl of DARNLEY hoped their Lordships
would not do such au ungracious act as to nega-
tive the second reading of the Bill. due if they did
so it would be telling the mats Of the people that
the corrupt practices carried cis iu the boroughs
were not to be cortected. Ile would tertaitaly
vote fur its being reads second tone.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that the question
before them was certainly mow, whether Counsel
should be beard at the bar, than whether the Bill
should be read a second time; but it was of little
consequence to the individual eddressing their
Lordships in which order the question was debated,.
fur he was of opinion the surest way to attend to
public feeling was to do justice, mid if they did to
the country would wooer or later du justice to them.
As to the justice of the present case, it was fur them
to decide on. Ile would tell them what they were
called nn to do by the Bill lwfore thetas—that at
the dissolution they were to withdraw the right of
election from certeiu boroughs. There twos tau man
had a greater respect fur the Howie of Comusous
than lie had. But suppose there was OH election
for Barnstaple, and out of twenty-one voters eleven
were bribed, it would not theta be a qui-union at
issue between the borough sod the Hauer of Com-
mons, bot between them and the eleven voters, and
the puoislimetit should poly fall on the guilty parties.
Ile fur one did tiot thusk it was fair to get rid of
such • subject as this by a side wind, for it ought
to be fully Diet. Ile would nut say thst he would
Dearer vote fur a chcfranchising Bill. but he ovoid
say that be never would give a vote for ouch a toes-
sure, until he heard evidence that %strained his
comma to that conclusion at their Lordships' We,
Suppose they were to take the caw of the Bo-
rough of Grampound, which they were told
was tainted with corruption. and because tha
were told our were they to alter toe Constitution by
infringing out the rights of the Crown, by rewash'.
big it from issuing a writ to return Members for
that place. when at the same tone Xlembeis were
sitting ita the resent Pailiatucut fur ilia: borough.

Majority for the Earl of Lruderdale'r
Minium
Their Lotthaulm then adjourited to Mondry.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. FRIDAY, FgaftllMlT