The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-02 00:00:00

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SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

EMPERIAL PARLIAMENE

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS DAY).
The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.

The Hon. ARTHUR GORDON (son of the Earl of Aber-
deen) took the oaths and his seat for Beverley, in the
room of the Hon. F. C. Lawley, appointed Governor
of South Australia. The hon. member was introduced
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr Hayter.
The Lords' amendments to the Oxford Poor Rate Bill
were considered and agreed to.
Sir•J: WALMSLEY (in the absence of Mr. Hume)
presented a petition from the Sheridan Club, expressing
regret that intemperance prevailed to a frightful extent
in this country, and suggesting as a mean, of remedying.
it that Marlborough-house, the British Museum, and
other similar institutions should be opened on Sundays.
Mr. HEYWOOD presented a petition from a place in
Staffordshire, praying for the introduction and use of
affirmations instead of oaths. ,

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES BILL,
The house went into committee on this bill.

Lord D. STUART said the Solicitor-General had put
an amendment on the paper, which adopted the principle
of his bill, but which struck out all his words. (Laugh.
ter.) He felt disposed to adopt the amendment of the
hon. and learned gentleman, and he should therefore
O'er no opposition to it. • -•

Lord PALMERSTON (in the absence of the Solicitor
General) moved' the clause as amended by the hon.
and learned gentleman, which was as follows :—.‘" Leave
out the words of the bill after the words 'as follows,
in 7th line, and insert the following enactments :—lf,
during the continuance of hostilities between her Ma-
jesty and the Emperor of Russia, any British subject
shall, in any country,-wilfully or knowingly take, ac-
quire, become possessed of, or interested in, any stocks,
funds, scrip, bonds, debentures, or securities for money,
which, since the 29th day of March; 1854, have or bath
been, or which, during the continuance of hos-
tilities as aiOresaid, shall be created, issued, entered
into, or secured by or in the name of the Govern-
ment of Russia, or any person or persons on its behalf,
every person so taking, acquiring, becoming possessed
of,' or interested in, any such stocks, funds, scrip, bonds,
debentures, or securities for money, as aforesaid, shall
be guilty of a misdemeanour, and, upon being
convicted .thereof, shall be imprisoned for a term
of not less than three calendar months. Pro-
vided always, • That the provisions of this Act
shall not extend to or include the case of a Britiiih
subject claiming an interest in the estate or effects
of any deceased person, or the case of a Bri-
tish subject taking the estate or eff cts of his
debtor in execution, or the case of a British subject
claiming in any country to be interested under any
bankruptCy, insolvency, sequestration, cessio bonorum,
or disposition of property in trust for creditor,, but that
in every such case the British subjeet may take and re-
ceive any share, legaby, dividend, debt, or sum of money
due or belongiag to him, notwithstanding that the same
may arise from or be produced by the sate or proceeds
of any such stocks, funds, scrip, bonds, debentures, or
securities for money as aforesaid."
After a short discussion, Lord DUDLEY STUART'S
clauses were struck out, and that prop ,sed ivy the
SoLICITuR•GENERAL was read a first time. On the
motion that this clause be read a second time,
Mr. T. HANKEY opposed the clause, as being a
direct interference with private property. He enter-
tained as strong an aversion to assisting the Emperor
of Russia in the war as any member of the house, but
he contended the present was not the proper mode of
attempting to cripple the resourses of Russia. He be-
lieved that it would be futile in opera,tion, and that it
would prove to be a paltry sy-itein of legislation.
After a discus,ion, in which Mr. Wilson, Lord Pal- ,
Merston, Mr. Giyn, and the Attorney-General took
Part;
Mr. BARING strongly opposedithe bill, and said he
approved of a suggestion thrown cut by the Attorney-
General, to frame a bill, leaving the power to deal with
this question to the Queen and Council. He caused at
good deal. of merriment by his comments on the his-
tory of this bill, which was brought in by the noble
lord the member for Maryleboce (Lord D. Stuart),
opposed by the noble lord the Horne' Secretary,
supported by the honourable gentleman the Secretary
to the Treasury (Mr. Wilson), then taken under the pro-
tection of the Solicitor-General, and to-day disapproved
of by the Attorney-General, This was only another
Proof of the truth of the saying—" What little wisdom
was required to govern a country." (Hear, and a laugh.)
Lord J. RUSSELL defended the principles of the
bill, and the conduct of his colleagues and himself in
reference to it. He denied (as had been asserted by the
honourable member, Mr. Baring) that he (Lord J.
Russell) or his noble friend (Lord Palmerston) had
been animated by personal animosity towards the
-n4saperor of Russia, for during the greater portion of the
time he and his noble friend had been in office friendly
relations had been maintained with Russia; but when that
Monarch thought fit to break the peace of Europe, he
(Lord J. Russell) and his _noble friend bad thought it
their duty to speak warmly in reference to the conduct
of Russia, and while the Emperor of Russia pursued
such conduct be (Lord J. Russell) would consider it his
duty to denounce that conduct. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. WALPOLE considered that this bill as it now
stood, could not be practically carried into operation.
The Government should bring in a general measure
to apply to any country with which we might
be at war, instead of directing a bill like
the present against one particular country, as this bill
would be irritating and mischievous as regarded British
commerce, and imperative in the desired effect. (Hear.)
After a few remarks front Mr. WARREN in support of
the bill,
Mr. BRIGHT said the noble lord the Lord Presi-
dent and his colleague the member for Tiverton, were
the only statesmen in Europe who had condescended to
use personal vituperation towards the Emperor of Rus-
sia. Their conduct in this respect was strongly contrasted
by the conduct of the French Government arid the press
of France also on this subject adopted a tone far more
in accord with decency and propriety than the press of
this country. He (Mr. Bright) contended there were a
hundred ways in which this bill might be evaded ; while
on the other hand it would be a trap to those who had
no dishonest intention. He believed this bill was pri-
vately laughed at by every member of the house. (Hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL eatirely denied the imputation of
his having spoken with personal vituperation towards
the Einperir of Russia. Me had never done so, but had
spoken only in reference to acts done under the autho-
rity of that monarch. (Hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON also repudiated the charge of
private enmity t iwards the Emperor of Russia imputed
to hint (Lord Palmerston) and his noble friend (Lord J.
Russell) by the hon. member for Huntingdon (Mr.
Baring) and the hon. member who spoke last (Mr.
Bright). Such charges and such imputations were the
jargon that had been used for years by those who op-
Posed the policy of England ; but he was astonished that
the hon. member for Hunti igilon, of all men, should
Make himself the organ of such a party ; for that hon.
member, who, as it was well known, was the private
agent of Russia in this country, should of all men be the
Most abstinent in making such imputations.
Mr. BARING explained. He told the noble lord
(Lord Palmerston) that he waanot the private agent in
this country of the Emperor of Russia. The fiim of
which he was a member had negotiated loans for the
Emperor of Russia ; but in no sense could he be called
the private agent of that sovereign.
After a brief explanation from Lord PALMERSTON and
Lord J. RUSSELL,
Mr. DISRAELI said no one could doubt that no per-
son in this country had been more the subject of calumny
some five or six years ago than.the noble lord the Lord
President. And who was the person who directed that
stream of caluitiny against the noble lord ? Why, it
was the noble earl at present at the head of the Govern-
ment- (hear, and a laugh)—arid of whom the noble lord
tile Lord President was now one of the colleagues.
(Hear.) This showed the extreme rood nature of the
noble lord, a quality of which he seemed to possess a
large Supply.
(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
.Mr. V. SMITH deprecated discussing at this period
0
f the session such a bill as this, and he thought it
Would be much better for the Government to bring in a
general bill on the subject, titan to waste time in discuss-
ing this bill, upon which nobody could rely to be opera-
tive.
Mr. MASSEY moved that the chairman report
Progress:
Lord D. STUART opposed, and
, Lord SEYMUUR supported, the motion for seport-
ing program.