The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-18 00:00:00

class better entitled to the indulgent consideration of the
Legislature.
Mr. WALPOLE said, that the Government would
nota il)jbcce
tu
of those otxo 0
rag ipvtei 0 e. i r
Butbrs th ceornespi de
at
treadti,otnh
at
to
atnhye
Hon. Member might bring forward a proposal embody-
ing his views on the question.
Colonel THOMPSON said, he thought there ware
reasons why the Government ought to great an exemp-
tion to the members of the Society of Friends.
The proviso moved by Mr. FOX was then negatived
without a division.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY moved a proviso to the effect
that no married man should be drawn by ballot, and no
unmarried man, except be was between the ages of 20
and 25. There were in England Wales, according to
the last censtv, 8,753,000 males, of whom 800,000 were
between the ages of 20 and 25; and of these upwards of
600,000 were unmarried. Now, ho believed that that
latter class was a sufficiently large one for the purposes
of that Act, and that they were the fittest persons
to be brought within its operation. Supposing
a married men was drawn by ballot, who was to
defray the cost of maintaining his wife and family? He
hoped the proviso would receive the consideration of the
Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for the Homo
Department.
Mr. HENLEY thought his Hon. Friend should have
come prepared with some statement to aid them in as-
certaining the number of unmarried males between the
ages of 20 and 25 years. Some data of that kind should
be supplied; otherwise the adoption of the proviso might
narrow their margin very inconveniently. The reason
why they exempted married men having more than one
child was, that in the event of a man with a large family
being drawn the burden would fall heavily on the parish.
Mr. Vi7AKLEY was opposed to all exemptions, as
well in the case of a peer as of the poor man. It they
were to have a ballot at all, let it fall equally. Why
should unmarried men be visited by a penalty because
they were unmarried? Many of them did not marry
from provident motives, and if these exemptions were
allowed, they were certain to be followed by a vast
number of improvident marriages.—(Laughter.) In-
d, ed, if there was an exemption at all, he would put in a
claim for the medical practitioners.—(Hear,and a laugh.)
Sir G. STRICKL AND was in favour of exempting
married persons; although he should say, strictly speak-
ing, the peer as well as the peasant should be liable. If
persons of the present day had seen the heartrending
scenes that he witnessed, arising out of the ballot con-
scriptions, the alarm would be far greater than at
present.
Mr. PETO said that, if necessary, ho would prefer an
augmentation of the standing army to the ballot con-
scription. The industrial classes would raise an outcry
little expected when the Bill should become Yew.
Mr. SANDARS supported the proviso.
Mr. MO WATT thought that as only 50,000 men
would be required in the next year, there would be no
necessity to have recourse to the ballot.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said he found that, of the
8,750,000 of males, there would be about 1,600,000
found between the ages of 20 and 25 years who were
not married; and that would leave a sufficiently amp'e
margin without calling on the married men.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER begged
to recal the consideration:of the House to:the point before
it. He thought, with great respect, that the principle
which had been laid down by his Hon. Friend (Sir H.
Willoughby) was one of a very vicious character. In
cur system of taxation nothing had been more produc•
tive of annoyance and trouble than these exemptions,
and therefore it would be wise and judicious not to ex-
tend their operation.—(Hear, hear.) If the exemptions
which at present existed by law were not adapted to
the times in which they lived, he was sure that the
Committee would be able to deal with them. In the first
instance, they ought to consider that, by thus adding to
the list of exemptions, they much diminished the area
of service. They were acting, in his opinion, most un-
justly in pressing these exemptions. Upon these grounds,
but principally and chiefly because he was entirely op-
posed to the principle of exemption, he felt it his duty
to oppose the amendment.
Mr. V. SMITH was glad to hear the Right Hon.
Gentleman say he was opposed to these exemptions.
The exemption of married men, he thought, was the
worst that could be devised. The Hon. Member for
Evesham, by his amendment, would induce unmarried
men to make improvident marriages. The limitation of
the Act to the age 'of 35 years would of itself exempt
a great number of married men.
Mr. MOW ATT thought that the exemption proposed
was one that would afford real practical relief to society
generally.
The Committee then divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment ... 53
Against irti
ty
against the amendment-159106
Mr. M. GIBSON then proposed to add a proviso to
the clause, exempting all schoolmasters from being liable
to serve in the militia.
The CHAIRMAN put the question.
Mr. WALPOLE said that such a proviso would be
better moved at the end of the 18th clause than in the
present one. If the Right Hon. Gentleman postponed
his proposition until then he would be prepared to state
his opinions upon the proposi.i en.
Mr. M. GIBSON said, if the Right Hon. Gentleman
would agree to submit the list of exemptions he pro-
posA, so that they could have an opportunity of giving
their opinion upon them, and consider whether additions
might not be made to them, he would agree to his sug-
gestion. But otherwise he was disposed to' think this
the fitting time for bringing forward his proposition.

Lord SEYMOUR said that every exemption was a
compromise; and, as they had heard much lately from
the head of the Government on the subject of compro-
miles, he wished to ask whether the Right Hon. Gentle-
than had a distinct clause of exemptions to propose?
Mr. WALPOLE said that all these exemptions were
contained in the Act of the 42d Geo. 111., and were in-
corporated in the present Bill.
Lord SEYMOUR asked whether they were to have
any compromise here?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
they proposed exactly the same exemptions as were con
tained in the Act of Geo. 111. To increasing these ex-
emptions he was certainly opposed. When, however, a
fair opportunity arose for discussing those points, the
Government were not indisposed to consider these ex•
emptioos of the Act which were revived in the present
Bill. He fully agreed in the principle of compromises,
for, without them, he believed that nothing could be
carried in that House.
After a few words from Mr. BRIGHT,
The Committee again divided, when there appeared—
For the proviso ... 86
164
Against it .. •-• ••• •••
Majority against it ... —7B
On our return to the gallery we found
Mr. GIBSON moving, as a proviso to the clause,
" That no peer of this realm shall be exempt from serv-
ing in the militia raised under this Act, anything in the
first-recited Act, or any other Act to the contrary not-
withstanding."—(Lead 'cheers from the Opposition.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
all the exemptions had been adopted atter much consi-
deration. He could not adopt provisos brought forward
in this crude manner, and should therefore oppose the
motion of the Right lion. Gentleman.
Mr. BRIGHT supported the proviso, and insisted
that if the Members of the House of Commons were
obliged to serve, there was no reason why peers should
not be compelled to servo also.—(Cheers-)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER objected
to the question being brought forward without fair
notice. The privilege of exemption from serving in the
militia was incidental to the peerage in other circum-
stances than those which were connected with Paella-
went. Take, for instance, the exemption of a peer from
serving on juries, though Members of the House of
Commons were not exempt—(Yes, and No)—at all
events when Parliament was not sitting. He contended
that this was a question upon which the Right lion.
Gentleman ought to have given fair notice. But instead
of that he had given no notice at all. He and his friends
had loaded the paper with ameadments upon the various
dallies of the Bill; but not one was there upon this
subject, which had nothing whatever to do with the
clause at present before the Committee.
Mr. GIBSON would be sorry to take any one by sur-
prise, but he had made several appeals to the Home Se-
cretary to submit to the House the list'of exemptions he
hest to propose—(Hear, hear)—in order that the sense
of the House might be taken upon each separate exemp-
tion. The Right Hon. Gentleman told him, however,
that he would not do so, and that it was for him (Mr.
Gibson) to move provisos of exemption. In taking this
course, therefore, he was only acting upon the suggestion
of the Right Hon. Gentleman.
Lord PALMERSTON said, the only way is which
this exemption formed part of the Bill was by reference
to the Act 42i Geo. 111. Now the ballot would not
take place, at the earliest, until the beginning of next
year, and they had been told that in the next session of
Parliament a Consolidation Bill was to be introduced.
Ile thought, therefore, it would be better to reserve the
consideration of these exemptions until then.
Mr. V. S MITH—If the objection of. the Government
to this proviso rested simply on the ground that notice
had not been given, and they wished to take time for
its consideration, then he would advise his Right
Honourable Friend not to press his motion further
at that moment.
Mr. EWART urged that that was the right time
to press the amendment, unless the Government gave
an assurance that there was a chance of their altering
the 42d of George 111., which contained the list of ex-
emptions.
Mr. WAKLEY, understanding from the expression
which had fallen from the Chaneellor of the Exche-
quer, that the exemptions should be considered on a
future
orgd his eoccasion—(Cries of "No, no," and loud laughter)
Right Hon. Friend to postpone his proviso.
Colonel SIBTHORP hoped the-Chancellor of the
from Exchequer
hoeurl would
aide.not complyytr We
havewithnow,the
exclaimed madethe
o theo
. and Gallant Member, the high—the upper hand
of Power, and I call uopon'him not to give way.
The
ACogxEmaiamilsoittrtiiettey
:divi..d.ed, when there appeared—
For Mr. Gibson 's proviso ... ... 96
gaunt the pro..v.i.
Mr. WAKLEY
exempted frosmo
medical men shouldmboeved a ... 162
proviso, to the effect that
WALPOLE said that the 'the —operation of
onuo t
juries,
exemptionsut
en it
a nddeGeoshaoi
themßr.ill.
mfoermreelyr Act; and
already
tee
ee theyat
dnhyao
should then extend those exemptions.
Mr. BRIGHT observed that medical m
exempted from servile?.
resew' why they should not be equally
serving in the militia. exempted from
Colonel SIBTHORP thought that medical men should
net bo treated as a body distinct from the rest of the
community.
Mr. WYLD said hought that medical men had
:vet
anae
birewenl
oeeemudrtl Government t were
the btgogeo eloicao toe xeniptiou in that matter.