The Sun.
London, England, 1838-02-10 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORS BILL.

On the question that report oftii; Bill be received,
Mr. JERVIS, in rising to move an amendment of which
he had given notice, felt that he owed an apology to the
House for the warmth and irritation into which he bad suffered
himself to be betrayed by the answer of the Noble Lord. Ile
should now move that the Bill before the House should be re-
committed, with an instruction that, after the passing of the
Bill, no sum of money should be taken by any Overseer or
other person in respect to the registration of any voter. The
object he had in view was to get rid of the shilling at present
paid at the time of registration, and which was objected to by
all parties. It was paid by the 50/. freeholder, the IN.
householder, the freemen, and the scot and lot voters. The
object of originally creating this tax was, to raise a fund for
the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred under the new
system. For this qurpose the tax had been found totally in-
adequate. It was a greatinstrument of tyranny and injustice
in the hands of the. Overseers, who in many instances con-
verted it into a prolific source of abuse. He believed that
both sides of the House were unanimous in favour of its abo-
lition, and he thought the present Bill afforded a convenient
opportunity to effect that object. The Noble Lord had stated
that he entertained no objection to the abolition of this tax,
but that he would introduce a clause for that purpose into
another Bill. He trusted that the House would acquiesce in
his amendment.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, in the course he had taken
he was influenced by a sense of duty, and certainly had no
wish to give any offence. If he thought that the motion
properly related to the Bill before the House he would have
felt bound in courtesy to postpone the Bill ; but considering
that the motion had nothing
to do with the Bill, he did not
think that he would be justified in postponing it. As to the
amendment of the Hon. Member, he had no objection to re-
pealthe shilling tax, or that which was called the registration
shilling. When the Registration Act should be before the
House he intended to insert a clause to get rid of this tax,

which could be much better done through the means of that
Act than in the Bill before the House. As to the amendment,
that the present Bill should be recommitted, after having so
successfully passed through Committee, ho could not agree to
place the Bill in jeopardy by adopting the amendment.
The SPEAKER put the question, and the gallery was
cleared for a division ; but, on our readmission, we found that
no division had taken place, and that the discussion had con-
tinued. We found
Mr. BRISCOE expressing a hope that the Hon. Member
for Ulster would not press his motion, after the assurance that
had been given by the Noble Lord.
Sir E. KNATCHBULL said that the Noble Lord had
promised that this impost was to be got rid of ; but he had
very little confidence in that declaration of the Noble Lord,
and he much doubted whether he would ever introduce such a
Bill as he had described.

After a few words from Mr. JERVIS, Mr. WILLIANIS, and
Mr. WILBERFORCE,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
the Hon. Member for Chester who had brought forward this
motion, had certainly taken a course which would have the
effect of placing those who were favourable to the proposition
itself in the situation of appearing to vote against their own
opinions, because they were apprehensive of doing mischief,
and were unwilling to prejudice the measure. He trusted the
Hon. Member would not persevere in a course so objectionable.
Mr. JE RVIS said thel Right Hon. Gentleman had sug-
, gusted to him to bring in a Bill for the repeal of this tax. If
the Right Hon. Gentleman would pledge himself to do so, he
(Mr. Jervis) would consent to forego his amendment.
Sir E. SUGDEN said that Hon. Members on that side of
the House were always ready to support any reasonable pro-
position, and there could be no doubt as to the course they
would pursue on the present occasion. If the Hon. Gentleman
persevered, he ( Sir E. Sugden) would have great pleasure in
supporting his proposition.
Mr. C. BULLER said that his suggestion would be, and
he trusted his Hon. and Learned Friend the Member for
Chester would excuse him for offering any advice to proceed
with the matter gradually, and not to jump at once into an
excess of Radicalism, which, from the cheering on the oppo-
site side, appeared to be as near Toryism as possible.
Mr. HARVEY was disposed to vote for the motion of the
Hon. Member for Chester, and for this reason, that he did not
expect the Gentlemen on the other side would remain long in
their present patriotic humour.—( Laughter.) It had been
said that the present was an unappropriate occasion for this
motion. He conceived it to be very proper to introduce this
clause into a Bill repealing a tax.--( Hear, hear.) He was
astonished at a remark made by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, accusing his uniform supporters on the opposite side
of all invasion of popular rights. In his (Mr. Harvey's) opi-
nion, the best way to protect popular rights was to keep money
in the pockets of the people, and the worst invasion of them
was taking it out.—(Laughter.) He would vote for the mo-
tion cf his Hon. Friend. It could do no harm, and it might
do good, by gaining the countenance of men who, on cooler
reflection, might think they had gone too far in supporting them.
Mr. BRO FHERTON should certainly vote for the origi-
nal motion.
Lord SANDON rose amidst cries of " Question." We
understood his Lordship to say that lie did not think the aboli-
tion of the shilling would be any obstruction to legislation.
The cries of " Question" were here renewed, and strangers
wera ordered to withdraw.
The House then divided, and the numbers were—
For the original motion 152
For the amendment
Majority
A conversation then ensued between Lord J. Russell, Sir
E. Knatchbull, and Mr. Goulburn, during which his Lord-
ship stated that it was his intention to fix the third reading of
this Bill for Friday next.