The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-04 00:00:00

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BILL.

Mr. COX moved the second reading of this bill.
Sir G. GREY thought some eTplanation of the bill should
be given. He believed it was intended to allow votes to be
taken by ballot in municipal elections, but it appeared that
the hon. member who had introduced the bill was no t present.
Mr. G. HARDY moved that the bill be read a second
time that day six months.
Mr. WILLIAMS thought the bill was a proper comple-
ment to existing Acts of Parliament.
Lord J. MANNERS observed that if this bill were al-
lowed to pass, the hon. member for Bristol would declare
the subject of his annual motion to be the necessary com-
plement of this measure.

_
Mr. H. BERKELEY said he certainly did regard the
bill as a step in the right direction.

Mr. KINNAIRD thought the absence of the hon. mem-
ber for Truro was accidental, arising from the sudden post-
ponement of a motion that had been expected 0 occupy
some considerable time.

--
Mr.—
PAGET thought that Parliament might very pro-'
perly put the system of vote by ballot to the test in this in-
stance. If it failed, the general application of the system
would not of course be persisted in ; but if it succeeded, as
he believed would be the case—though any man must be
presumptuous who spoke confidently about the success of
new systems —then an unanswerable argument would be
supplied for its further extension.
Mr. LOCKE said the only object of the bill was to extend
to municipalities the same mode of voting as now existed
by means of voting papers in the metropolitan parishes, and
existed there most beneficially. He hoped that the house
would hesitate to throw this bill out on the second reading.
Mr. AUGUSTUS SMITH said his bill was intended to
be auxiliary and supplementary to the use of the ballot at
Parliamentary elections. He had been for many years a
convert to the ballot, though he was not inclined to attri-
bute to it all the advantages or all the injurious consequences
which some persons expected from its adoption. The pre-
sent bill would, he hoped, satisfactorily test the principle.
At many of those elections a variety of improper induce
t 11 they might ments were held out to influence the electors ; and a large
proportionwn, of the voters were influenced by the advantages
derive at the moment. It was clear that
some change was necessary;
and, as the objections to this
bill were rather matter for committee, he-hoped the house
would agree to the second reading.
Lord PALMERSTON-4 have always been an opponent
of the ballot ; and the mover and supporters of
this bill very
fairly avow that this is the first step
towards proposing the
ballot for Parliamentary elections.
(Rear.) One hon. mem-
i ber has told us that it is ancillary and supplementary to a

proposal for vote by ballot; and, as I should on any occa-
sion when such a proposal came before the house vote
againstit, I can have no hesitation in supporting the amend-
ment of the hon. and learned gentleman opposite to delay
the second reading till this day six months. (Cheers.) Every
argument I have heard adduced in favour of this bill could
be adduced in favour of vote by ballot at Parliamentary
elections; and the objections to such a mode of voting at
Parliamentary elections apply in principle to the present
proposal, because the election of a municipal body is a poli-
tical election. (Hear, hear.) It has not the same political
importance as an election of members of this house, but
there is no question that it is a political act. (Hear.) The
principle which I think a sound one in this free country
is that no man should perform a political act without
its being known to his fellow-citizens how he performs
It—that he should bear the responsibility for good or
evil of the act which he has thought fit to do. (Hear,
bear.) 1 think responsibility ought to go hand in hand with
political action. (Cheers,) The object of the bill is to with-
draw thelconduct of voters at municipal elections from pub-
lic observation—to make their voting secret, and therefore
to divest them of that responsibility which I think under a
free constitution ought to follow every political act. I shall
therefore vote against the bill, and support the amendment.
(Cheers.)

The house divided, and the numbers were—
For the second reading
Against it
Majority against second reading —3s
UNION RELIEF AID ACT (1862) CONTINUANCE

BILL.
This bill as amended was considered.

BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION (IRE-

LAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
The house then adjourned.

PARLTAMENTARY DIVISION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 3.
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BILL.

Order for second reading read. Motion made and question
proposed, " That the bill be now read a second time."
Amendment proposed, to leave out the word ' now,' and
at the end of the question to add the words "upon this
day six months." Question put, " That the word 'now'
stand part of the question," The house divided—Ayes,
58 ; Noes, 93.

THE SUN, LONDON