The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-04 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.)
The house met at five o'clock.
BRIBERY BILL.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE rose to move that the
suspension of the writs for five- boroughs, by order of the
House of Commons, until new legislative precautions
shall have been taken to prevent the recurrence
of the system of bribery, which was proved by Royal
Commissioners to have prevailed in those boroughs, is
(within the meaning of the resolution of this house of
the 2d of May last), a circumstance of such urgency, as
to render necessary the immediate consideration of a
bill, brought from the House of Commons on the 31st
July, intituled, "An act to consolidate and amend
the laws relating to bribery, treating, and undue influ-
ence at elections of members of Parliament ;" and that
accordingly it is reasonable that the said bill be allowed
to be read a second time this day, if the house shall think
fit so to order. The noble duke urged that as the house
went into committee on the Oxford University
Bill the very day after it had been read
a second time, in order 'to suit the convenience of rbthe
noble earl opposite (the Earl of Derby), no opposition
ought now to be made to the consideration of the read-
ing of this bill, which, in order to meet the re-conside-'
ration of the measure, he should only ask to be con-
tinued for two years. (Hear.) He believed the committee
on this bill would not have the slightest chance of last-
ing more than one night. He therefore trusted the
house would not refuse to grant the second reading of
this bill. The noble duke having explained the provisions
of the bill, concluded by putting his motion in the terms
already stated.
Lord REDESDALE opposed the motion, not in re-
ference to the merits of the bill, but as regarded the re-
solution adopted by their lordships on the 2d of May ;
and he believed it was now generally admitted, both in
the house and out of it, that their lordships should sup-
port their own resolution. (Hear.)
The Earl of ABERDEEN said he thought their lord-
ships would do well to make a relaxation in this instance
in the original resolution of the 2d of May. He ad-
mitted that that resolution had produced most salutary
effects, and he thought it would produce still more if it
were properly used. But he urged the house to consider
that that resolution was come to for the convenience of
both houses of Parliament, to fulfil that object their
lordships must not put it to its extreme letter. On the
contrary, they should use great caution in the matter.
If they pressed the resolution in an arbitrary fashion,
could they suppose that the other house would consent
to be driven ? (Hear, hear.) When one looked back on
the constitutional history of this country it was a most
gratifying thing, but still a most marvellous one, to ob•
serve that the two houses, possessidg such high powers
as they did, had generally acted in concert. But that
had only been the case because each house exercised a
just forbearance towards the other. That due forbear.
ance required their lordships to relax their former reso-
lution in the present instance. He would warn the
house that any cessation of good feeling between the two
houses of Parliament would only lead to events highly
injurious to the parliamentary constitution of this
country. Hence it was that, wishing to avoid the
possibility of creating serious differences between the
two houses, he would entreat their lordships not to
look upon their former decision as an arbitrary reso-
lution, but to treat it as a rule made for the con-
venience and the due working of both houses of
Parliament.
The Earl of DERBY complained that the noble earl
had not said one word as to the inherent defects of the
resolution under consideration. Ho reminded the house
that the resolution attributed to the House of Commons
reasons, and indeed acts, which had never been
avowed or committed by that house. If the state-
ment in the resolution were correct the writs for the
unrepresented boroughs would never be issued until
this house not only received, but passed this bill.
(Rear, hear.) It was quite true that Lord John
Russell had said that it would be better to delay issuing
those writs until some legislative enactment were
perfected, but—judging from recent experience—it by
no means:followed that the other members of the cabinet
would agree with his lordship's statements ; on the con-
trary, it was quite possible that by another of her Ma-
jesty's ministers they might be declared unconstitutional,
aarnvedliloauusgiyhtaegr.r)eedß—ut
or
evenev esupposing
r tnhoants et nh
the
e
cabinet(lieamr,(laughter)—on the subject, it certainly did not follow that
the opinion of her Majesty's Government was the opi •
nion of the House of Commons. (Hear.) The noble
duke (Newcastle) had apparently felt that this bill could
not be properly discussed in that house at that time, for
he had hinted at its being made a temporary measure,
and the only reason for that idea must be the fact that
no time was now left for discussion. But if there was no

..
time for discussion he (Lord Derby) would recommend
that the bill be passed just as it stood, merely on the
faith of the House of Commons. This, however, the
noble duke did not propose to do, for he said there would
be two clauses which be should propose to expunge.
Now he (Lord Derby) put it to their lordships whether
they were treating the House of Commons with proper
consideration in sending back a bill which had been
passed in houses numbering between two and three hun-
dred, with important amendments, when the average
attendance of members would certainly only be between
forty and fifty. The noble earl (Aberdeen) soinew'mt
strangely argued that it would be no disrespect to the
House of Commons to throw the luill out, but that it
would be most disrespectful to avoid reading it a second
time by adhering to the resolution of their lordships'
house. Not looking to the merits of the bill, important
as it was, and complicated as was its provisions—for he
did not pretend to have been able to have examined into
it—his (Lord Derby's) objection to proceeding with
the second reading was that the house was resolved,
except in cases of urgency, not to take up bills after
a certain time, in consequence of which resolution
circumstances had occurred which rendered it
impossible to give to this bill the discussion it
deserved. If the bill was connected with any of the
great interests of the country, if such a question as that
of peace or war were involved in it, there could be no
doubt as to giving it a second reading ; but it was just
that case which ought to test the resolution to which
the house had come, and believing that, he should say
No to the rescinding of the resolution of their lordships'
house.

After a few words from the Marquis of Lansdowne,
the Marquis of Clanricarde, and Lord Brougham,
The house divided—.
Contents
Non-contents
Majoriby
The resolution was therefore carried.
The Earl of DERBY thought it would be objection
able to make any amendments in the bill, now that the
house had resolved to proceed with it, for there was
really no time for a proper consideration of such amend-
ments in the other hou-e. He really would suggest to
the noble duke whether it would not be as well to sus-

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pend the standing orders and pass the bill outright at

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE did not concur
with the noble earl i❑ thinking that amendments should

not be moved. He should himself certainly at a subse-
quent stage propose to alter the clause as to travelling
expenses, so as absolutely to put an end to payments on

that head.

The Duke of NEWCASTLE entirely approved of
:he course which the noble marquis intended to follow,

and he should be happy to discuss any amendment with
him. He trusted that noble lords would move such

amendments as they thought necessary, so that the bill
might be made as perfect as possible. He moved that

the bill be read a second time:
The bill was then read a second time.
STA MP DUTIES BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
INCLOSURE, &c., OF LAND BILL.
This bill was read a third time.
STANDARD OF GOLD AND SILVER WARES