The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-19 00:00:00

C't) -It 11,

LONDON,
TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 19, 1836.

The Irish Corporation Bill was read a second time last
night in the House of Lords. Viscount MELBOURNE
opened the discussion by a frank, temperate, and concilia-
tory speech, wherein he stated the character and objects
of the measure, and insisted that it was absolutely neces-
sary to the future well-being and tranquillity of Ireland, that
such a measure should, as soon as possible, pass into law.
Alluding to the Tory proposition in the House of Com-
mons, to abolish the Irish Corporations altogether, his
Lordship archly observed that it was very different from
the usual cautious and doubtful policy of that party ; and
hinted that it emanated from a certain Member of the
House of Commons more remarkable for his talent than
his judgment. His Lordship's allusion, was no doubt, to
the " driver of the Dilly," who may possibly imagine that
the influence he cannot exercise in the one House, he may
be able to exercise in the other. But if such be his notion
he will most assuredly be disappointed—so far, at least, as
regards the result of his influence—for though the House of
Lords may adopt his views of Corporte Reform, the
country will not, particularly Ireland, who seeing nothing
in Lord STANLEY'S opposition, but an inveterate personal
dislike of O'CONNELL, will of course treat it accordingly.
Lord LYNDHURST—We say nothing of the Earl of MANS-
FIELD, for his speech was at least a century behind its time
—was the chief spokesman of the Tories last night ; and
though he assented to the second reading, announced
pretty plainly, that it was his intention to neutralize the Bill
altogether in Committee. This announcement will take
no one by surprise. The country has been long prepared
for it, and will of course not hesitate to express its opinion,
boldly and unequivocally, on the subject. Their Lordships
must be told—and the intelligence cannot be conveyed to them
too soon—that it is their duty as legislators, to look to the pre-
sent and the future, rather than to the past ; to be guided in
their decisions by justice, not caprice ; and above all, not
to let their avowed detestation of a particular individual,
furnish them with a pretext for refusing to recognize the
equitable claims of a whole nation. Why, is Ireland to be
ill-treated, because Mr. O'CONNELL does not happen to be
in favour with the House of Lords ? Is this justice—is it
common sense—is it conduct worthy a set of legislators
who, as they are so fond of insinuating, are wise by virtue of
hereditary descent ? But it is useless to attempt to point
out to -their Lordships the folly and rashness of the
course they are pursuing. They are clearly incur-
able, and bent on their own ruin. Possibly, however,
they may suppose that, by their destruction of the Irish
Municipal Bill, they will force Ministers into 1 resignation.
But Ministers know better. They will not skul': from the
difficulties which a factious opposition has raised up in their
path, and which they must have long since foreseen ; but
boldly grapple with, and overcome them. A dissolution
would soon restore the Tory Lords to their senses—if s"se
they have, to be restored to—for it would be the means of
returning such an overwhelming majority of Reformers to
Parliament, and of exhibiting such a display of popular
feeling, as should sweep all Conservative opposition before
it, like chaff before the wind. Their Lordships wert par-
ticularly eloquent on the subject of " agitation" last

. .
night. But who, permit us to ask, are the agita-
tors now ? Who are kindling the torch, and reviving
the half-extinguished flame of discord in Ireland, by
saying to the people, " you shall have no ' equal jus-
tice'—no municipal government—no privileges, in short,
but such as we, in our condescension, may be graciously
pleased to bestow on you ?" Again, their Lordships are
stung to the quick by the inordinate infllence of Mr.
O'CONNELL. They deprecate it in the strongest terms of
which the language is capable. And yet, while they thus
deprecate it, they augment it tenfold, by denying that jus-
tice to the people of Ireland, in whose cause alone DANIEL
is influential. Should Lord LYNDHURST'S amendment be
carried in Committee, we confidently predict that it will
raise Mr. O'Connell to a pinnacle of power which no
British subject ever yet attained.

The expediency of repealing that part of the 27th section
of the Reform Bill, which requires the payment of poor-
rates and assessed taxes as a qualification for voting in bo-
roughs, was brought before the House of Commons last
night by Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, in the form of an amendment
upon the Registration of Voters' Bill. The Hon. Member
for Finsbury, in a very temperate speech, in which he did
every justice to the framers of the Reform Bill, contended
that the clause of the Bill which required the payment of
rates as a qualification for voting, was both unconstitutional
in principle, and vexatious in operation. Mr. WARBURTON
and Mr. HUME took the same view of the question ; the
Hon. Member for Middlesex citing as a proof of the in-
jurious working of that part of the Bill, that he himself had
been disfranchised in consequence of a three days' delay in
the payment of his rates, and that five hundred voters of
the parish of St. James's had been disfranchised through a
similar neglect. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the
amendment, which was ultimately lost by a majority of one
hundred and three—the votes in favour of it being fifty-one
and those against it one hundred and fifty-four.
As this question is of considerable moment to a large and
influential portion of the Electors of Great Britain and
Ireland, we wish to make a few observations upon it. We
believe it has not yet been properly considered, in conse-
quence, probably, of a clamour that it is purely Ministerial.
This is an error which cannot be too soon corrected. Mi-
nisters have no more to do with it than any other portion of

their fellow-subjects.
The 27th clause of the Reform Bill is, to a certain ex-
tent, objectionable ; but those_who contend that it produces
no good effect are very much mistaken. What it requires
is modification. But first we shall notice the argument of
the Hon. Member for Finsbury against this clause, on the
ground that it is unconstitutional, and bad in principle. In
the course of his speech the Hon. Gentleman is reported to
have said—" When I assert that the 27th clause is uncon-
stitutional in principle, and vexatious in operation, I beg
leave to appeal, in confirmation of such assertion, to the
speech of the Noble Lord (J. RUSSELL) who has main-
tained that in all cases taxation ought to precede
representation. The 27th clause, however, completely re-
verses that order, for it makes taxation precede represen-
tation : it requires not only that a man shall be
taxed, but that he shall absolutely have paid his taxes
before he votes." This is one or the silliest fallacies we
ever heard propounded ; and we advise Mr. DuNcor.za::,
before he again quote a constitutional maxim, to make
himself better acquainted with our constitutional history. if
representation did not precede taxation, how could the taxes
of whose prompt payment he complains, have become due ?
Are the taxes so collected an instalment of a rate to be suhse-
,quently imposed ? Is it the custom of Parliament to legislate
retropec,tively on questions of taxation and Finance ? If
so, we can understand the force of Mr. DUNCO3IBE'6 ar-
gument, for then the electoral body might justly cornplan
of being deprived of the possible chance of a legislative act
of grace, in the shape of a remission of taxes due under ac
authority of former Parliaments. Had the Hon. Member
for Finsbury only asked himself this simple and very natu-
ral question—Who imposed the taxes which are required
to be paid up before the next election ?—he could hardly
have uttered such a fallacy as is contained in the above
extract froM his speech. The 27th clause is therefore not
objectionable on the ground of principle, so long as Parli;:-
meet insist upon a prOperty qualification on the part of
the electoral body—a qualification which Mr. DuNcomrE
rather inconsistently maintained ought not to be abolished.
One of the best recommendations of the 27th clause is
to be found in its tendency to prevent litigation—always
expensive and often ruinous—in the collection of taxes. It
has also the effect of associating the discharge of a duty
with the exercise of a right in the mind of the elector—to
many a source of honourable pride. It also removes much
of that suspicion with regard to the solvency of those who
present themselves at the poll, 'and which of itself is
calculated to lower the character of borough consti-
tuencies. On the other hand, the clause is de-
fective in , not providing against the disfranchisement
of all whose violation of the law is involuntary.

For example, additional facilities ought to be provided for
the payment of the rate, by enacting that the proper officers
shall demand it at certain intervals, and as often as three or
more times, at the respective residences of the electors, be-
fore the petiod of disfranchisement. The cases cited by
the Hon. Member for Middlesex are exceptions to the ge-
neral rule. We are confident that we shall not hear again
of his being disfranchised a second time ; nor is the recur-
rence of such an event likely to befal the aristocracy of
St. James's. The clause ought to be so amended as to
leave no power of disfranchisement in the hands of the tax-
collectors, or other officers ; and to provide a remedy for
involuntary negligence on the part of the electoral body,
so that none may be arbitrarily deprived of the exercise
of a constitutional right. But while property is regarded
as a qualification, we think the 27th clause ought not to be
repealed altogether.

We call particular attention to the prospectus of the
" Royal Bank of Ireland," which will be found in our adver-
tising columns. We trust the project will be most success-
ful ; as we are confident that it will be productive of the
greatest advantage to the Irish nation.

The Paris Papers of Sunday, with the Evening Papers,
dated yesterday, have been received. The arrest of the
Carlist Bishop of LEON, near Bourdeaux, of which we
made mention in The Sun of yesterday{, is the general topic
of conversation in Paris. The Government has permitted
the Bishop to go wheresoever he pleases, except to Spain.

In one of these Journals we find the following important

announcement :

" We have received through a particular channel the fol-
lowing from Berlin of the 9th of April. The Maritime So-
ciety has sent to a Tory Banker at London the sum of about
a million and a half of francs, to be immediately transferred to
the head-quarters of Don Carlos, half of which is to be sent
by the way of Bayonne, and the other half by sea to Biscay.
It is known that this Society is connected with the Govern-
ment, and it is also known that it is not the first time that
this kind of intervention has taken place."
The French Government has given orders for the expul-
sion from Paris of all Poles who have signed the Act of
Confederation. The number implicated does not exceed
thirty.
M. DUCHATEL is about to visit England.
The following are extracts from the Journals :
The Government renounces the plan of sending General
Moline Saint Yon to the head-quarters of General Cordova,
This mission is confided, for the present, to Captain Senhilly,
Secretary to the Committee of Infantry and Cavalry, who will
shortly set out for Navarre.
BARCELONA, APRIL 6.—The Carlists lately attempted to
surprise Berga. They even succeeded in entering through
the windows of a house, and penetrated to the principal square ;
but here they met with resistance, being attacked and driven
out of the town, leaving some killed behind.
The fortifications of Bruch and Casa-Masara are prose-
cuted with great activity. It is said :that the Carlists have
vowed to prevent them, at any rate.
The injury done to the insurgents by the Ist brigade is con-
siderable. They have abandoned a large convoy of provisions
in the village of Villa Nueva de Monsee. The convoy has been
taken by the Queen's troops.
The bands of Torres, and other chiefs which have invaded
Lower Catalonia, carry with them 60 wounded, who fatigue
them very much on their march. It is hoped that a decisive
blow will be struck against them. The forces which pursue
the Carlists in all parts of the province amount to 20,000 men.
The activity of the Christino columns has given alarm to
some bands which have quitted Lefrons and Olot.—Senti-
nelle deg Pyrenees.

The 111en'torial;les Pyrenees says, " We have the following
letter from Bedons, on the French frontier of Aragon :
An Aragonese, who left Saragossa three days ago, says that
previously to his departure, a report was spread that the van-
guard of a corps of 11,000 men of the new levy had arrived at
Calatazud, and that these troops were destined to act in Lowcr
Aragon ag.inst the insurgents, whose number increases every
day.' "—Messayer, April 17.

We have letters from Madrid to the 11th inst. Five
articles of the Address had been discussed and adopted
without amendment. The discussion on the fifth, which
related to the Quadruple Treaty, was very important.
Several of the Deputies, including Senors CASTEL and
GALIANO—the former an ecclesiastic, distinguished for his
patriotism and virtue—spoke openly in favour of the invo-

cation of Foreign assistance. ARGUELLES opposed it ;
but there is no longer a doubt but that intervention is
desired by a great number of Spaniards of the highest
character.
The following is an extract from an interesting letter,
which we have received from an occasional Correspondent
at Madrid, dated April 10th :
" Warlike operations on a large scale are about to commence
along the whole line of the disaffected provinces. The
factious in Biscay are completely hemmed in by 30 of the
Queen's battalions, and 7of the Portuguese contingent. It
will be impossible for them to escape, except by sacrificing all
their artillery. As to any advance on their part, it is utterly
out of the question. The poor inhabitants of the villages
where the Carlists are quartered are ground down to the
earth by the exactions which they are continually compelled to
submit to, or be decimated. The hamlet of Domaica, for
instance, containing about three hundred souls, has been
forced to provide 4,500 rations. The British Legion is
on the point of moving from Vittoria, having received orders
to hold itself in readiness on the 6th instant. In the action at
Unza the Carlists lost no less than 57 officers, and 800 men
in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The rebel chief El Raja
is at last dead, in real earnest, of his wound. The opposition
that was to shake Mendizabal from his position, and to force
the candid Isturiz and the consistent Galiano at the head of
affairs, has miserably failed. The address was voted unani-
mously, to the utter discomfort of the knot of place-hunters,
and other disinterested patriots who have been lately intriguing
to the full extent of their puny abilities."
Letters of a late date have been received from the British
Legion ; the health of the troops is almost entirely re-esta-
blished. They are still cantoned in the villages adjacent to
Vittoria ; a move was talked of, but the destination unknown.
Colonel Colquhoun, who had been very dangerously ill, was
recovering rapidly.

Montreal Papers to the 11th, and Quebec Papers to
the 14th ult., have been received. The following account
of the proceedings of the Lower Canada House of Assembly
includes all that is important in these journals :
" The session of the Assembly may be considered as at an
end, having done those things which it ought not to have
done, and left undone those things which it ought to have
done.' The country is left without any provision for the sup-
port of the prisoners in the gaols--without provision for the
arrest of criminals, and the administration of criminal justice;
without a penitentiary, which the Legislature declared neces-
sary two years ago ; without proper provision in the case of
the return of sickness ; without any real amelioration of the
laws, or public improvements—any settlement of the public
accounts, and advances to a very large amount to commis-
sioners unaccounted for ; and without any reasonable and well-
founded diminution of the public expenses. They have,
however, carried off twenty-seven thousand pounds for contin-
gencies; about six thousand pounds for arrear and current pay
of members, besides nearly three thousand pounds for Speaker's
pay and regular officers, which will have to be paid. In all
about thirty-six thousand pounds for themselves—equal to
nearly one year's expense of the Provincial Government ;
while all other officers are three and a half years in arrear."

DUBLIN ELECTION COMMITTEE.
(THIS DAY.)

At the sitting of the Committee this morning Mr. Joy was
about applying himself in answering the argument of Mr.
hessiger respecting the vote of George Latouche Powell,
objected to on the ground of non-residence, when
Mr. MAXWELL said he was desired to make an observation
which would probably, save time. The Committee had come
to the following resolution :—" That no affidavit of registry
of John Latouche Powell being returned as a exhibit by the
Commissioners, the Committee aro of opinion that the pro-
duction of the printed list signed by the Clerk of the Peace be
permitted."
Mr. THESSIGER submitted that no proof bad been given, such
as was required by the resolution of the 30th of March.
There was not sufficient evidence to identify the voter with the
premises admitted to be vacated.
Mr.• G. F. YouNo thought the Committee was quite in
possession of the circumstances of this case, to enable them to
' come to a decision without hearing further argument.
Mr. Joy—l am precisely of that opinion. The Learned
Gentleman here read the admission given by the petitioner's
agent.
Mr. YovNG—I assure you personally I know the evidence
by heart.
Mr. THESSIGER felt it his duty to offer some observations,
and he assured Hon. Members he should be brief.
The CHAIRMAN—After what you say it would be impossible
not to hear you ; but it is but fair to tell you that the Com-
mittee generally are of the opinion expressed by Mr. Young.
Mr. THESSIGER having argued in favour of his view, the
Committee, after a short deliberation, resolved, " That the
Committee having considered the admission of the petitioners,
and the minutes of the Commissioners referring to it, the
printed list and the arguments of Counsel, are of opinion
that the name of John Latouche Powell must be struck off

the poll."
This gave Mr. O'Connell a majority of one; and his
agent, Mr. Woodlock, consented to strike off the votes of
Thomas Halpin and William Doyle, who voted for the sitting
Member.
George Brassington, whos,e name was contained in the ad-
mission, was proposed to be struck off the petitioners' poll,
but evidence having been given by Mr. O'Connell's agent,
Mr. Wrangham wished to stand upon it ; but the Committee
decided that the case came within the scope of the last reso-
lution, and the vote was accordingly struck off.
James Darcy was struck off the petitioners' poll, on the
ground of change of residence.
Mr. 'Woodlock consented to have the votes of Patrick Phe-
lan and John Verschoyle struck off Mr. O'Connell's majority.
Timothy Browne, a voter of the petitioner's was struck off,
after the evidence relating to it was read by Mr. Hutton.
John Egan was the next voter objected to by the Sitting
Member. It appeared in evidence that the voter did not at
the time of the election occupy the premises out of which he
voted, and that it had been taken down.
Mr. WRANOHAM submitted that committees never decided
against the franchise, because the house might be taken down
for the purpose of having it rebuilt.
The Committee decided on striking off the vote.
The vote of Daniel Doyle being objected to by the peti-
tioners, was struck off by consent of the sitting Member ; also
that of Michael Madden.
The scrutiny was proceeding with when our reporter left.

BAIL COURT.-(THIS DAY.)