The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-03 00:00:00

rIAIVIENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.)
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, expressingregret that intemperance prevailed to a frightful extent
in this country, and suggesting as a means of remedying
it that Mirlborough-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
offer 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 wordy '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 hath
been, or which, during the continuance of hos-
tilities as aforesaid, 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
he 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 British
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 creditors, but that
in every such case the British subject may take and re-
ceive any share, legacy, dividend, debt, or sum of money
:due or belonging to him, notwithstanding that the same
Pay vise from or be produced by the sale or proceeds
eif 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 proposed by the
SOLICITOR-GENERAL was read a first time. On the
potion 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 operation, and that it
would prove to be a paltry system of legislation.
After a discussion, in which Mr. Wilson, Lord Pal-
merston, Mr. Glyn, and the Attorney-General took
part,
Mr. BARING strongly opposed the bill, and said be
:approved of a suggestion thrown out by the Attorney-
iGeneral, to frame a bill, leaving the power to deal with
~this question to the Queen and Council. He caused a
.good deal of merriment by his comments on the his-
pry of this bill, which was brought in by the noble
lerd the member for Maryleboee (Lord D. Stuart),
opposed by the noble lord the Home 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.
Alma) or his noble friend (Lord Palmerston) had
been, animated by personal animosity towards the
emperor 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 had thought it
,their duty to speak warmly in reference to the conduct
of Russia, and while the Emperor of Russia pursued
,such conduct he (Lord J. Russell) would consider it his
.disty 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
she 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 from Mr. WARREN in support 01
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 Rds-
sia. Their conduct in this respect was strongly contrasted
by the conduct of the French Government and 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 entirely denied the imputation of
his having spoken with personal vituperation towards
the Emperor of Russia. He had never done so, but had
iipoken only in reference to acts done under the autho-
rity of that monarch. (Hear.)
' Lord PALMERSTON also repudiated the charge of
private enmity towards the Emperor of Russia, imputed
to him (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 Huntingdon, 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 was not the private agent in
this country of the Emperor of Russia. The firm 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. RatssEet,
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 persen who direeted that
stream of calumny against the noble lord ? Why, it
was the noble earl at present at the head of the Govern-
ment— (hear, and a laugh)—and of whom the noble lord
the Lord resident was now one of the colleagues.
(Hear.) This showed the extreme good nature of the
noble lord, a quality of which he seemed to possess a
large "PLAT (Hear, hear, and laughter.)
Der. V. SMITH deprecated discussing at this period
of 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, than to waste time in discuss-
Leg this bill, upon which nobody could rely to be opera-
tive.
Pr ogress.
Mr. MASSEY moved that the chairman report
Lord D. STUART opposed, and
pv
ipdoerdt
vid
en
Lord sElnyEciu...,
the motion for report-
ing progress..
The committee thrensdui
the numbers were :
For the.motion to report he
30
Agairistmita.
t.y.. .... ... .................. 88
The clause was then cadagainst....
Qt. . ...
—5B Sir F. KELLY expressed. hir. regret that he was not
in the house earlier, bat he would take this the earliest
opportunity to state his objection to this bill, which he
altogether disapproved of.
, Lord D. STUART hoped as the law officere
Crown had inserted a new clause in his bill, th eGof the
silent would now take the responsibility of. the bilveornut-
of his hands.
Lord PALMERSTON agreed to this suggestion
. The bill then passed through committee and was r
ported, and ordered to be printed. e-
The Court of Chancery Bill passed through committee,
as-did also the Judgment Execution, &c., Bill.
The Bills 'of
,Exchange and Promissory Notes Bill
also passed through committee, and the house resumed.
The National Gallery (Dublin) Bill was read a second
time.
The Court of Chancery (County Palatine of Lancaster)
Bill was read a third time and passed.
. The Prisoners' Removal Bill was read a third time
and passed. •
MILITIA BALLOTS SUSPENSION BILL.
This bill also passed through committee.
PUBLIC REVENUE AND CONSOLIDATED
'FUND CHARGES. BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved
the second reading of this bill.
MACARTNEY opposed the second reading on
the ground that schedule B of the bill was partial, and
Would not
,eequally affect the salaries of all clerks in pub-
lic offices.
vise the whole übject daring the recess, and have a
thought it would be much better to re-
complete bill introduced_ next session.
Colonel DUN'
bill. g4--es also expressed objection to the
4""'
Tina was then read
d sio a second time without further
iscisns •
•
•Thehoniethen went into
SUP lir
Plifcirmmittee of supply.
- On the-motion for a- grtnta-
and non-commissioned officers for 1,040 additional Inert
the ItoyarArtillery,
Captain 14' VERNON asked, ab iktt IA of justice to