The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-02 00:00:00

BALLOT BILL.

Mr. BERKELEY rose to move the second reading of
this bill. He said he found himself on the present occa-
sion in the unusual position of asking the house to read the
bill a second time. He was aware that there was a majo-
rity in that house against the bill, 427 being opposed
to it, while there were only 330 gentlemen who
had recorded their votes in favour of it. He had
little hope, therefore, of the bill being passed in the
present Parliament, unless the people outside the house
took the question up with determination. He then pro-
ceeded to remove the load of dust and mass of cobweb
which had been thrown in the eyes of the public, in refer-
ence to the question of the ballot. In the first plat), he
complained of the attacks made in the lime:, and other
portions of the press, on the question of the ballot, and the
statements made relative to the division which had taken
place when the question was last before the house. He
said that eight metropolitan members, second to none in
talent and position, were in favour of the ballot. Having
cited a number of statistics, to show the necessity for the
adoption of the ballot, the hon: member said there was no
doubt a great deal of apathy in the house in regard to the
question of reform. He was prepared to support an exten-
sion of the franchise, but at the same time ho reminded
hon. members that he had always kept this subject from
any connection with the reform measures that had been
brought before the house, and which in some way or the
ether proposed to make an alteration in the franchise.
But, notwithstanding that, when the question of the
ballot was mentioned, by a large class of politicians, re-
solution was , considered to b.) at the bottom of it.
The civil war in America was quoted as an illustration of
the failure of democracy, which he denied. A civil war
was not a proof of the merit of domestic institutions, for
the same might be said in regard to monarchy in this coun-
try, for there had been no less than three civil wars in this
country within a comparatively short period. He utterly
denied the notion that the ballot was in any way a com-
ponent portion of democracy. He contended that the bal-
lot was in reality a barrier between the usurpation of politi-
cal power whether of aristocracy, moneyocracy, or demo-
cracy. (Hear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY and Mr. NE WDE GATE opposed the bill.
Mr. POTTS supported the

Mr. LOCKE supported the bill, and referred to his con-
stituency in Southwark, who were in favour of the ballot,
although no attempt was made by their employers to in-
fluence their vote.

The house divided on the motion that the bill be read a
second time.

Ayes 126
Noes 2ll
Majority —4s
The announcement was received with some cheers,
MARRIAGES (IRELAND) BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill, and re-
sumed at clause 45.

Sir H. CAIRNS rose to move that the billbe withdrawn,
as it was impossible to carry a measure of such magnitude
through Parliament this session. He hoped a similar bill
would be introduced next session, to which he would give
all his support,
After a short discussion the bill was withdrawn, and the
house resumed.

METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACTS
AMENDMENT BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.
Mr. LOCKE referred to the clauses which had been pro-
posed by Mr. Ayrton, which provided for the repeal of cer•
tain sections of the act of the 18th and 19th of Victoria, cap.
120, which related to the election of members of the Me-
tropolitan Board. The clauses altered the constitution of
the Board as regarded the election of members which it
proposed to transfer to the inhabitants at large the selection
of a representative on the board.
Mr. TITE said that it would be very impolitic to disturb
the constitution of the board, who were at present engaged
in works of perhaps greater extent than any other city in
the world.

Mr. WILLIAMS agreed with the last speaker, and con-
tended that it would be most undesirable to transfer the
elections of members to serve on the Metropolitan Board to
so large a a constituency as that proposed by the hon. and
learned member for the Tower Hamlets (Mr. Ayrton). He
maid that he had never heard any complaints against the
Metropolitan Board.
Sir J. SHELLEY said that he was surprised to hear the
hon. member for Lambeth state that he had never heard
any complaint against th© Metropolitan Board, what had
been called a board of " words" irstead of " works." He
did not agree in the censure that had been cast on the body,
and he was ready to support them to the best of his ability.
Me was desirous that the board should stand well with the
public, and therefore he wished to see the principle of
general election adopted, as proposed by his honourable
and learned friend (Mr. Ayrton). The adoption of the prin-
ciple for which he contended would in no way affect
the works which the board had in hand, and the present
members would be secure of their office for three years
longer.
Sir J. GREY considered that an alteration of such im-
portance as that proposed by the hon. member for the
Tower Hamlets should not be proposed at the present stage
of the bill, but embodied in a bill which could be fully dis-
cussed on the second reading.
Lord J. MANNERS opposed the clauses.

Lord PERM OY said direct election, no doubt, was very
popular in theory, but looking at the subject from a prac-
tical point of view, he did not see the necessity for the alto •
ration proposed by the hon. member for the Tower Ham-
lets. There was no application en the part of the public
through their representatives in Parliament, or through
any other source, for an alteration in the constitution of
the Metropolitan Board. The members of this board
were certainly a very well-abused body, still that
abuse did not proceed from the people outside,
but from members of that house. That body had been ac-
cused of talking too much, but he did not think the alters.-
tion proposed would introduce any beneficial change in that
respect.
Mr. H. B. SHERID9 N. supported the clause.
Mr, H. LEWIS said he had heard no dissatisfaction as
regarded the constitution of the board by his constituency,
and considered that the clause proposed to get rid of the bill
by a side wind.
Mr. AYRTON, in opposition to the clause, said it was
contended that the principle of nomination was superior to
that of election, an opinion that was peculiar to the Metro-
politan Board, and not shared in by any other body in the
country. (Hear,) The board was entrusted with enor-
mous powers, and he thought it only just that, such being
the case, the ratepayers should have a voice in the election
of those to whom such powers were confided. The present
bill extended these powers, and gave great authority in
dealing with the comfort of the inhabitants. He did not
wish to join in any outcry against the Metropolitan Board,
but he could not help regarding the Thames Embank-
ment Bill as an indictment against the capacity of this
board, for it transferred the power of dealing with that
work from their hands to foreman bricklayers and masons.
His object was to elevate the board from their degraded
state, but if they preferred that state, he did not see why
he should interfere with their state. It would be like
throwing pearls before swine. (Laughter.) He would
therefore withdraw his clause, with the understanding that
he would introduce the subject again.
The clause was then withdrawn.
Mr. LOCKE moved a clause to follow a clause 109, the
object of which was to provide for persons being enabled to
applyto one of her Majesty's superior courts for the rehearing
of compensation cases if parties conceived themselves
aggrieved by the ruling of the assessor or other officers who
presided at the hearing of these cases. He merely pro-
posed to extend the law that prevailed in other trials to
these disputed cases of compensation. He mentioned
certain instances in which persons had been treated very
unjustly by assessors and were at present without redress.
Mr. TITE said that this clause would alter theexs
ing law altogether and open a new source of litigation.
Sir J. SHELLEY said that if any alteration were
madee
to any extent, it ought to by general leg
brought before the house in a clause whichinterfered not
the Land Consolidation Clauses Act.
creed
butislationand
with
th
which M rhLOCKEadno t beensaid inithpautginf
etdh house a
.e gejustice of
with the last
The clause was then withdrawn.
Mr. LEWIS moved a clause enabling vestries to include
the Metropolitan Board.
in the sewers rate precepts of
clauseme.
repealed, and, in lieu thereof, be it
was agreed to, and the clause was read a se-
condmoved the following clause :—" That the
siaMthr.secCtiOoXn of the Act of the 18th and 10th of Victoria,
Theti
ytry elected under the said Act in. any
persons rated or assessed to the relief
in respect of the occupation of
of the poor
tenements, or hereditaments in such parish."
pariaheenacted,hap e r
ta2hlola, tci consist nhhseiesrvteebs of
Majority
jority
..........The.. committee divided after some discussion—
For the clause ........................ 24
Noes 4723
The clause was accordingly lost. ...........
Mr. LOCKE moved the insertion of a clause renilering
ineligible for the office of vestryman, or certain other paro-
chial offices, who should be receiving at the time e aty fee
or emolument out of the parish rate or taxes.
Mr, LAYARD objected to the clause that it mtould ex•

AMMUNITION AND ARMS SUPPLIED TO THE
SOUTHERN STATES OF AMERICA.—LIVERPOOL, June 29.
—A Knoxville paper of the sth Junes states that two vessels
arrived at a Confederate port, one with 4,000 stand and the
other with 3,500 stand of arms, and 100 barrels of powder ;
and the next day two others arrived with arms and ammu-
nition, quantity not stated. These four and two others
arrived on the Atlantic coast under convoy of the Nash-
ville (Confederate steamer). One of the latter is represented
as having been captured by the blockading squadron off
Wilmington, the remaining vessel and the Nashville were
on the coast. June 30.—1 t was reported at Charleston
that three steamers had reached Confederate ports, one of
which was the Minho, screw steamer. The Nelly steamer
tried to get in there, but was chased and forced to run
aground, where she was under fire at long range. Her
cargo was being brought off, and the vessel might possibly
be saved. It was also reported at Charleston that the Cecil
steamer, thence to Nassau with cotton, had been captured
by the Federals. The screw steamers Cecil, Nelly, Kate,
Nassau, Stettin, Minha, Mina, Cambria, and Eliza sailed
from Nassau on the 23d of May, and four of them have been
captured.
DEPARTURE OF THE GREAT EASTERN FOR NEW
Youx.—The Great Eastern yesterday left Liverpool for
New York with a large number of passengers and about
1,800 tons of fine goods. A great number of people assem-
bled on the landing stages and elsewhere to witness her de-
parture. The Great Eastern is likely to absorb a very large
amount of the passenger traffic between Liverpool and Ame-
rica. The directors have adopted the return ticket system,
and this advantage, coupled with the superior accommoda-
tion afforded on this gigantic vessel, are already beginning
to sap the trade of the other transatlantic boats, and num-
bers of people who have formerly been in the habit of pa-
tronising other steamers take berths in the great ship.
EXTRAORDINARY SCHEME OF A CONVICTED
FORGER —Colonel J. Buchanan Cross, one of the most
accomplished forgers in America, was convicted of forgery
about the commencement of last June, in Philadelphia,
and was sent to the Eastern Penitentiary for five years.
About two days afterwards the United States' marshal,
Millward, of that district, received a letter purporting to
come from Mr. P. H. Watson, Assistant-Secretary of
War, enclosing a petition for the pardon of J. Buchanan
Cross. That letter set forth that Cross was wanted to be
used on special business by the War Department, that he
was to be sent South, and that his pardon was very desir-
able. The marshal was directed to obtain the signatures of
the District Attorney Coffee, Postmaster Walborn, and
Collector Thomas to the petition, and to take it to Harri-
sonburg for the consideration of Governor Curtin, of Penn-
sylvania. He was specially enjoined not to communicate
en the subject with any of the local authorities, nor to en-
trust the business to a subordinate, but to bring Cross to
Washington himself. The marshal had a knowledge of
the handwriting of the Assistant Secretary of War, which
the letter appeared to be in, and the envelope and paper
upon which it was written were the same as used in the
War-office, and the letter itself had come from Washington
under the frank, as supposed, of Mr. Watson. Marshal
Millward speedily obtained the signatures of the district
attorney and collector, but Mr. Walborn, the postmaster,
had left the city. The same day he set out for Harrison-
burg with the letter and petition, which he laid before the
Governor. He found that the Governor had received a
letter similar to the one he had with him, purporting to be
from Mr. Watson, and requesting, by order of Secretary
Stanton, the pardon of Cross. The Governor immediately
directed the pardon of Cross to be made out. The marshal
then returned to Philadelphia, and, with the depatY-mar-
shal, rode to the prison and presented the pardon.
the
to the warden, much to his surprise. After
providing
out for
tgiross
prisoner with a decent suit of clothes tshaeynxsieous
to
get
Washington. Once on the road, Crofts was sthe marshal re-
out, as he said, for something to eat,
Watson was out, and
fused. They arrived in Washington in afternoon, and
went direct to the War-office.
Mr.3i 'Stanton manifested sur-
Mr. Stanton was summoned.
the letter, pronounced
prise, asked for an explanation,
ndgsent for Mr. Watson,
who, upon coming in and examining
it a forgery. After a short consultation,
the Military
and he he had Cross taken
by a file of soldiers,
vernor of Washington was sent
keeping
to the guardhouse for s
Next day the prisoner was returned to his old quarters in
the third attempt of its kind made
the Penitentiary. This
by Col. Cross.
STATISTICS OF CITY TRAYFic.--The citizens
themselves have, generally speaking, but a faint idea of the
moving mass of humanity out of which the trade of the
City is fed, and its pavements kept in ceaseless wear and
vibration. In May, 1860, it was ascertained that, during
cite day, 57,765 vehicles entered the City, the vehicles
contained 171,086 persons. There were, in addition,
535,535 foot passengers, making a total of passengers
amounting to 706,621. Three years ago, the Police Com-
missioner stated that the number of persons coming into
the City every day amounted to not less than half a mil-
lion. Two years ago it is evident that they had increased
to nearly three-quarters of a million. At the present time,
the number has probably reached far beyond a million, and
the greater part of these have to thread their way through ;
a few leading thoroughfares just wide enough—and
nothing to spare—to give safe passage to one of the old-
fashioned stage waggons. On the same day in May, 1360,
when the above-named totals were obtained, the passengers
that passed across the bridges, numbered at Blackfriars,
38,935 ; London-bridge, 84,927 ; Southwark, 3,340 ; Ald-
gate had 55,122 ; Chancery-lane, with just breadth enough
for the swing of a cat, had 20,650 ; Finsbury-place, 38,084
Holborn.bars, 77,704; Minories, 21,779; Smithfield-bars,
28,842; Sun-street, 13,760; Temple-bar, 50,674.—City
Press.
THE ROCKALL FISHING COMPANY.--A letter
received from Westray, and dated the 19th inst., records
the success of the Number One sent to Rockall by the Fish,
Oil, and Fish Manure Company. She had just arrived.
She had met with very rough weather all the time she had
been out, and had only had five days fine enough to permit
of fishing at all. She had brought about eight tons 00
which, considering the weather, was far from being fish,"
isble, to
draught. They were to be got out as soon
allow the vessel to return,
plenty• of the letter
Rockall. If the weather improves, the writer as there is aspoof fish at
believes he will have a wonderful account to give of the neat
visit of the Number One to the fishisg ground.