The Sun.
London, England, 1837-12-13 00:00:00

SLAVERY.

Sir E. WILMOT presented a petition from the Anti-
Slavery Society meeting at Exeter Hall, praying for the
total and unconditional abolition of Slavery. He had been re-
quested to move that the petition be printed and circulated
with the votes. At present he should Merely move that the
petition be laid upon the table, because he intended soon after
the r.2cess to move that the petition be taken into considera-
tion, previous to which motion he would take an opportunity
of moving that it be printed.
VOTE BY BALLOT.

Mr. HUME presented a petition from the inhabitants of
Hammersmith, stating that Magistrates and other gentlemen
of influence had been accustomed to, and did at the late elec-
tion for Middlesex, personally canvass electors who were
tradesmen, and at the time of polling such Magistrates
and gentlemen placed themselves in the most conspicuous
parts of the booths for the purpose of recognising such
tradesmen, as they came up to the poll ; that, in con-
sequence of some such tradesmen having honestly re-
etrded their votes according to their consciences, they had
since the election been subjected to great losses in their trade,
solely on accouut, as they believed, of not having voted ac-
cording to the dictation and wishes of those magistrates and
gentlemen; that they considered the injury they suffered
under the present system was so grievous, that it was a ques-
tion with them whether the franchise was not a great disad-
vantage to them, and they prayed the House to enact such
lagislative measures as would secure to ♦otees the free exer-
cise of their franchise, without incurring the loss, purishment,
and degradation to which they were subjected under the pro-
sent laws ; and therefore prayed the House immediately to
pass a law for the vote by Ballot.—(Cheers.) The Hon.
Member stated that he could, from his own keowledge,
affirm that the statements of the petitioners were correct,
several of such instances having been brought to his notice at
the time ; and he hod no hesitation in se:, ing the most serious
inconvenience had been suffered by these parties, and it was a
perfect farce to say there was any such thing as freedom of
election while parties were so coerced. He alluded particu-
lady to the keepers of public-houses, who had to depend on
those very Magistrates for their licenses ; and he could prove
at the Bar of the House, that Magistrates had canvassed in
public-houses.—( Hear, hear, hear.) However, this was
only one of many acts of gross oppression ; and as
he believed them to extend all ever the country, it was an evil
which the House of Commons ought without delay to remedy.
Cheers.) The Hon. Member then presented a similar
petition fom the inhabitants of Headingbam, in the eastern
division of Suffolk. He believed that bribery to a great ex-
tent had been carried on by both parties, and he believed th
result of the elections was to be attributed to money influence,
and not to the legitima'e influence of the electors. The Hon.
Member was proceeding to make some observations, when he
was interrupted by
Sir S. CANNING, who rose to order. He thought the
Hon. Member was trespassing beyond the limits which had
been laid down by the Chair as to the presentation of petitions.
Mr. HUM E said he did not admit the justice of that rule,
and he would stand upon his right to state the complaints of
any petition—(Hear)—otherwise the people of England would
be deprived of the right of petitioning.—( Hear, hear).
Sir S. CANNING appealed to the Chair, whether the Hon.
Member was in order ?

The SPE AK ER—I hare already stated more than once
that when first placed in this Chair, I found great inconvenience
resulted to the House from the protracted debates which took
place upon petitions—( Hear.) Various plans were proposed
for remedying this evil ; some of which would have taken
away the right of petitioning this House. It was then sug-
gested that morning sittings should be adopted. But that was
a course of proceeling which the daily avocations of Hon.
Members rendered extremely inconvenient.—( Hear, hear.)
For myself, it is perfectly immaterial to me, when I discharge
my duties to this House. But after three years' experience,
lam bound to say that if this plan were adopted, I must
leave a very important part of my duties unperformed.—
( Loud cries of " Hear.") Therefore it was that this rule was
laid down, and, as I understood, approved of, and sanctioned,
by the House, that upon all petitions which have reference
to subjects which are to be discussed by this House. The
proper time for considering the subject matter of these pe-
titions is when those subjects are brought before the House.
—( Hear, hear.) Another rule was, that any Member pre-
senting it petition, and giving notice that be would, on an
early day, bring the subject of that petition under the notice
of the House, may have that petition printed with the Votes.
—( Hear, hear.) When, however, an individual was per-
sonally affected, it is fit that an opportunity should be afforded
him of explanation on the presentation of a petition.—( Hear,
hear.) Also, when any matter requires the prompt interfe-
rence of this House in vindication of the rights of petitioners,
an exception is made.—( Hear, hear.) I can hare no interest
in the matter beyond the convenience of the House. —( Hear,
hear.) Unless the rule is strictly adhered to, it is no rule
at all.—(Hesr, hear.) Many .things may be said on the
presentation of a petition which will lead to no discussion ;
but the rule must be adhered to.—( Hear, hear.) Of course,
however, when the House manifests an opinion that the rule
should be relaxed, I should feel it my duty to submit. —( Hear. )
Mr. HUME said the Speaker was perfectly correct as
to the rule, but greater inconvenience had arisen from the rule
than from the previous practice. The rule had produced se-
rious injury to the people of England, and he contended that
not even that House had power to deprive the people of the
right of makingitheit _ereplaints known by petition. It ought
to be left to the discretion of Members presenting petitions as to
the remarks which they might think fit to make.—( Hear,
hear, and groans.) What was the object of the Honourable
Baronet in calling him to order? He had stated the facts set
out in the petition ; he had stated the prayer of the pe-
tition, and he was now about to state, what he contended
he had a perfect and undoubted right to do, that he hoped
the persons who had passed the Reform Bill in the expecta-
tion of it giving the right of suffrage, and protection to the
voter, would support the petition, and endeavour to remedy
the defects of that Bill. He submitted to the House, that he
was perfectly in order in stating thus much, and that the Hon.
Baronet was himself out of order in interrupting him.

The SPEAKER said the rule which had beea observed
with respect to other petitions could not be departed from in
this instance. The House was bound to have the same rule
for all petitions. If that rule was departed from, he had a
right to expect that the House would make him perfectly
secure if he suffered a departure from it.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir EDWARD CODRINGTON gave notice, that on
Friday next he would present a petition from Mr. Rowland
Millner, who had been deprived of his half-pay, with the view
of bringing the subject before the House immediately after the
recess.