The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-10 00:00:00

THE SUN,

warn the Noble Lord of the difficulties which he would
have to encounter, in taking oare that this Bill would
be in a proper working condition for the next election.
At present the polling places were fixed by statute, and
it was impossible to alter them, except first by appli-
cation to quarter-sessions, and thence from
quarter-sessions to the Queen in Council, who could
then make the alterations prayed. Nov we were
in the month of June at present, and it was extremely
improbable that there would be any possibility of making
the application to any quarter-sessions before the coming
election; and, therefore, the alterations in the polling-
places which would be necessary if this Bill passed into
law could not possibly be made.
Mr. B. DENISON said that ho certainly had. at one
time expressed an opinion against a measure of this sort,
but experience had taught him thekt such alterations
might be safely made. Ho was quite prepared to
go into all the argument against the Bill, but ho would
content himself now with stating to the House that he
held in his hand letters from the under sheriff and from
the clerk of the peace for Yorkshire, stating that there
would not be the slightest difficulty in taking the poll
in one day.—(Heart hear.)
Mr. HENLEY said he thought the working of this
Bill would depend to a consid.-gale extent on tho cir-
cumstances of the different counties. He thought that
there would in many country districts be a great difficulty
in getting carri:ges for the transport of the electors. He
did not see that
there was any machinery provided in
this Bill to bring it properly into operation before the
next election, and unless the Noble Lord could explain
how he meant to make this Bill a practicable one ho
should certainly be inclined to oppose proceeding further
with this Bill. With regard to the question of exP erse
he did not think it was likely there would be so much
saving as would make that argument of any great
weight.

Mr. CARTER supported the Bill.
Mr. FELLOWES thought the Bill went to create a
New Reform Bill, and to deprive electors of the fran-
chise which had been given to them by the Reform Bill.
Mr. DEEDES supported the Bill.
Colonel SIBTHORP said he happened to have votes
for seven counties, and even with the assistance of rail-
roads—of which he was not very fond—he could not, if
this Bill passed, exercise his paramount duty in more
than one of these counties at a general election. He
should certainly give his cordial opposition to this Bill.
After a few words from Mr. W. BROWN and Mr.
LocKa KING, who supported the Bill,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the Noble Lord
had not satisfied him that there was any immediate ne-
cessity for this measure at the present moment. He
was not prepared to say that county polls could not be
taken in one day, and if there were time to prepare
proper machinery he should certainly not oppose going
into Committee. He thought, however, that it would
cause great inconvenience to adopt this Bill at the pre-
sent moment, and the better course would be to defer
the consideration of it to.. 8.0.1110_ time when they could
have fuller information.
Mr. "COBDEN had heard the remarks which had
fallen from both sides of the House. He did not think
that much weight could be attached to the argument of
the Honourable and Gallant Member for Lincoln
that, because he could not vote in seven places,
therefore the county polls all over the kingdom ought
to be taken in two counties. Neither was there much
weight in the argument that there would be great diffi-
culty in bringing up voters to the poll in a scattered popu-
lation, because it was proceeding on the argument that
voters despised the privilege which they possessed, and
were unwilling to take any trouble to exercise it. He
hoped the House would go into Committee on the Bill.
Sir B. BRYDGES opposed the Bill, because he
thought its effect would be to deprive many persona of
the votes for the county which they now possessed.
In his own county there was one town containing a
population of 20,000, every one of whom who happened
to possess a county .vote would have to travel sixteen
miles to give it.
Mr. BOUVERIE thought the objections which had
been urged against the Bill might be got over by allow-
ing it to go into Committee, and then bringing up a
clause to prevent its coming into operation until next
year.

After a few worth from Mr. P. MILES and Mr.
OswaLD, who supported the Bill, the House divided,
when there appeared—
For going into Committee ... 166
Against it ... . . ... 82
Majority... ••• —B4
The House then went into Committee on the
On clause 1,
MrSIEIENLEY asked when the Noble Lord intended
that this Bill should come into operation?
Lord R. GROSVENOR said he intended it should
come into operation at once. He was . sorry that it had
been made a pzrty question, because he had not at all
brought it forward in that light, but merely to remedy
an acknowledged abuse in the present system of
taking county polls. Ho thought he was perfectly jus-
tified in bringing in the present Bill by the scenes
of drunkenness which he had witnessed on the second
day of poll. He proposed to extend the time of polling
until six o'clock in the evening from four, and to provide
additional polling booths, so as to give one booth for
every 300 elector©, instead of 450, by which means he
thought he should be able to get over the objections
which had been raised as to bringing up the electors
in too large numbers to be polled within one day.
Ho was anxious to pass the Bill now, because several
contested elections were about to take place, where an
tnfortunate effervescence and excitement might be ex-
pected, and he believed if the Bill passed the evil might
be got rid of.
Mr. B. DENISON supported the clause, the operation
of which ho did not believe would deprive any electors
of the right of voting as they now did. Experience
prov' that an election for a county was virtually
decided on the first day. In fact. the first
day's election had never been overturned on
the following day except in one iostance, and
he asked whether it was judicious to keep the popu-
lation in suspense for twenty-four hours, and to increase
the cxpenses:only for a small additional number of voter?
The same objections which were urged against the Bill
were made to the proposal for limiting the election for
borough.' from two days to one, and there was scarcely
any man who would nut admit that alteration had been
productive of great bentfit.—(Hear.)
Mr. HENLEY thought in the case of a riot voters
might be prevented giving their voted, and if the poll
was confined to one day, they would not have the oppor-
tueity, which
they possessed now, of availing them-
selves of the second day, when steps might be taken to
keep the booths free from disturbance.
EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT OF MR. F.
O'CONNOR.
A. brief discussion ensued on the clause, but it was
suddenly interrupted by loud cries of " Order."
Mr. B. DENISON here rose in an agitated state, and
said he felt compelled to appeal to the chair in conse-
quence of the conduct of an Honourable Member, who
had just struck him a violent blow in the face with his
hand. (Mr. O'Connor was sitting next to Mr. B. Deni-
son on the front bench on the Opposition side.) He
would take that opportunity of stating that ho
had experienced considerable inconvenience from
the conduct of that Gentleman, and he had
seen other Members experience similar inconvenience.
They had hitherto treated him with the greatest good
will and forbearance, but there was 4 point beyond which
it would be unworthy of them to submit to such con-
dect.—(Loud cries ot " Hear, hear.") He regretted
beyond anything that he happened to be the unfortunate
per sou who felt called on to make these observations, but
believed he epoke the sentiments of the House.
Mr. BERNAL, the Chairman, said, what he had
power to do was to report to the House when sitting the
conduct of any Member. Therefore, if the Committee
wished him to report the conduct of the Honourable
Gentleman who had been referred to it must instruct
him accordingly.
Mr. WALPOLE said, after what took place last night,
he thought the House had reason to expect that the inter-
ruptions which had occurred lately in the House should
not be repeated again. The Hon. Member had acted in a
disrespectful manner, not only to the Hon. Member
(Mr. Denison) but also to the Chairman, and had inter

rupted the proceedings of the House, and he thought it
right that an apology should be made by him—(Cries
of " Oh " and " No")—then either that an apology
should be made or that they should instantly re-
port what had taken place, for the purpose of main-
taining order.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said he accidentally observed
the conduct of the Hon. Member, and he bad no hesita-
tion in expressing it as his opinion, however painful it
might be to do so, that it was indispensably necessary,
not only for the dignity of their proceedings, but really
for the conduct of public business, that this matter ought
not to be allowed to rest. Therefore he hoped the House
would have no hesitation in complying with the proposal
of his Right Hon. Friend that they should suspend the
proceedings of the Committee in order to report to the
highest authority in the House the occurrence which
beadh_.just taken place.—(Hear.) He would move that the
airman report progress and ask leave to sit again.
__The motion was put and carried, and the Speaker im-
should take a"""httelY appeared in his place.
P. BE,.
esNAL, addressing the Speaker, said—l am
iirilattbtriiteCoi to report that the conduct of an Hon. Member
almost breathir
ese has been such that it is necessary the House
captain
nnotice of it through you.
zßoy here rushed up to the table in an
galleries, hit
that the save, r state, and said he had also to report
biain Member had just now, in one of the
a filiitill a most outrageous manner, and put
ehvimerieslpfOkine to him rig attitude. He told him that if he
he would knock him down. Mr. WALPOlltag,tiorived
that the Hon. Member be
forthwith called to
Mr. J. BELL obsieTZ/cf in his place.
an
_tehoat it was of no use demand-
ing an apology from
!rem a misfortune. It
perfectly satisfied, was „atifier: Gentleman who, he was
elm under the care of
he nom member
last
Lt ssid ho witnessed the
twwc,ourrdedbeioami ugochotbleetottpeo.r
.....(to etinahgt:
The ATTORNEY-GENRR te" a a laugh.)
had no hesitation t night, and from what
4 Comb; to th
put nee a._
endh
sign that he Vr£l9 sufficiently master
of
L.g e conclu-
efooinli conduct of ohf
ot
(Heat) One of the grossest indignities
own actions.—
t ies he had ever
witnessed had been committed on a
whom they all
en a Honourable
Member for
souse
and it behoved terttaioned the
higt.est respect,
to ieterf,re for thn PurP33° of
If any thought. "
00
Was..to such
conduct.—(Hear.)
agent, the event of bit night must have '
convincede free
them of the contrary; and ho certainly should not
cons3nt to his beim-, required to attend in big
placenot
the consequence (71 which 11 8-- were aware —being
convinced he was cap j.bio of understanding whit
gentlemanly and forbearing ccedeet in the House
Was;
for when he was called upon yeeterday he instantly
apologised to the House. It wntll3 not be consistent
with the dignity of the House to allow him to retire With-
outeptti of such
tion
adopting peasuree to supple:Wl, a r
proceedings, and to enable the business of the House to
ho proceeded with in a proper manner.