The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-05 00:00:00

CLARE ELECTION.

Mr. FRANKLAND LEWIS brought up the report
of the Committee on the Clare election, which decland
Mr. O'Gorman 31abon not duly elected ; and that
be, Ffy his friends and agents, had been guilty of bribery.
Mr. O'Gormln Mahon was sitting on the Treasury
benches when the report was made. The Speaker beck-
oned to him to leave the House, a hint which he imme-
diately took, and retired,
. _ _

On the motion of Mr. F. LEWIe ei bew writ was or-
dered for the county of Clare.
IIYTIIE ELECTION.

Lord STANLEY presented the report of the Committee
on the Ilythe election, which declared the sitting members
duly elected ; hut that the petition against their return
was neither frivolous or vexatious.

Lord DUNC'ANNON took the oaths and his sea for Kil-
kenny.
The Sheriffs of Lrndon presented a petition from the
Lard Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Connell of the City,
which set forth that the petitioners were unanimously con-
winced of the necessity of Reform ; that they were una-
nimous in their approbation of the measure introduced by
Iris Majesty's Ministers, and hoped that it might be carried
into dire,

;air. Alderman WOOl3, in moving the petition to be
printed, said there was only one single persofi at the meet-
ing of the Corporation who objected to the megstirs
introduced by Government, and he was a person who always
objected teal! Reform. The Corporation of London were con-
vinced of the necessity of Ileforrn. They did not feel at all
alarmed that the then corporate rights would be infringed,
and it was their most earnest wish to do all in their power
to assist his Majesty's Ministers to carry the measure.
They not only resolved to petition that House, but they
had also come to a determination to address his Majesty
upon the subject.—(Hear, hear.) The Co) poration of
London were rrost delighted with the measure.
Mr. Alderman WAITHNIAN supported the petition. He
had never witnessed any measure that was carried so cor-
dially. The question of Reform was now firmly advo-
cated by those who had formerly been its greatest
enemies.

Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH regretted the absence at
th a moment of an Hon. and Learned Gentleman, who
had said that the opinion expressed by the city of London
would be a criterion of the sense of the people en the
subject.—(Hear, bear.)--He regretted exceedingly that
that Learned Gentleman was not present to hear the nna-
nitnons opinion of the city of London. The whole
kingdom would follow the example of the metropolis,
and its opinion would very soon be known. He
rejoiced that be had lived to see the day. whatever might
he the result of this measure in the House of Commons,
when such a Reform was proposed. If Ministers should
be obliged to leave their places from the result of the Bill,
they had hell office long enough, and he had lived long
enough, to see the auspicious measure introduced.—( Hear.)
Mr. CALCRAFT said that he had never acid any thing
about the chartered rights of the city of London. He had
made an appeal in their favour, or in favour of the rights
possessed by patrons of boriiughs, but when it wss proposed
to disfranchise what were called rotten boroughs, it was
sacrificing the privileges of individuals, who, when they
had been trading in debt, had as sacred a right to their elec-
tive franchise as those on whom it was it:tended to bestow
it. There were many scot and lot payers who had
never been found guilty of any crime. On constitu-
tional grounds therefore the rights:of that useful body of
persons ought not to have been sacrificed. The rights
of those individuals ought to be treated with as
much respect as those of any other class of
freeholder!. He respected the opinion of the city of
London, and he hoped shortly to hear the opinion of the
whole country expressed ; hut let that opinion be what it
might, he should follow that line of duty which in his
conscience he thought right.

Lord RIORPUTH said the distance he was from
the great body of his constituents made it impossible
for him to state accurately their opinion as to the measure
of Reform introduced by Government, but from informa-
tion he had received he believed he was perfectly war-
ranted in stating their cordial approbation of the plan,
and that they were grateful to his Majesty's Ministers for
the boon about to be bestowed.—(Hear.)
Lord G. LENNOX said the city of London was not the
only corporation that felt grateful to his Majesty's Ministers
for the measure they proposed, for he had a petition to pre-
sent, signed by the Mayor, Recorder, and Corporation of
Chichester, which expressed their delight and hoped
that the measure might he carried. If it was not, they
trusted Ministers would throw themselves on the country
by a dissolution of Parliament.—(Hear, bear.)
Mr. JOHN SMITH said that from one end of the
country to the other all classes were unanimous in their
approbation of the great measure of Reform. Numerous
as the petitions had already been in its favour, he had no
doubt there would he still more. Ile confirmed the state-
ment of the Noble Lord (his colleague) as to the senti-
men's of the corporation of Chichester.
Mr. SYKES confirmed the statement of the Noble
Lord (Morpeth). He was confident that Yorkshire,
almost to a man, was in favour of Reform.

Mr. CALVERT—The borough of Southwark was
unanimous in their approbation of the measure introduced
by Government. A meeting was to be held in the Town
Hall, and he had no doubt in a few days he should have
to present a petition on the subject, signed by many
thousands.

Mr. HUNT said the Bill would disfranchise many of
the Livery, himself amongst the rest, as he did not reside
in the city, but he thanked God and his Majesty's
Ministers that such was likely to be the ense.—(A
laugh.) The great body of the city of London would meet
in Common Hall on Monday next, when he had no doubt
they would express their most cordial satisfaction at the
plan proposed by Ministers —(Hear.)—He, however,
(lid not think the plan went quite far enough. It
should have embraced all classes. The people ought to
have universal freedom. No Government had a right to
say to one, " You are a slave ;" to another, " You
are free." The Bill, as it now stood, would totally
deprive three•fourths of the most useful part of
the people—he meant the mechanics—of their elec-
tive franchise. The worthy Alderman (Wood) said
he had often heard him (Mr. Hunt) talk about Re-
form in the Common Ball. He had done so, and he
thought that his talking was quite as much to the purpose
as the worthy Alderman's preaching.—(Laughter.)
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON said, it certainly
was true the petition had been carried almost unani-
mously. He was present and expressed his appre-
hension that the measure was one attended with con-
siderable danger. In doing that, he had only done his
duty, but the meeting had a very different opinion of the
measure to what he had. If the Bill passed into a law,
it would disfranchise a large and respectable body of those
who had always had a voice in the election of Members for
the city of London.

Mr. DANIEL W. HARVEY, as a Liveryman of
the city cf London about to be disfranchised, could not
but express his most cordial approbation of the measure.
He had also very great pleasure in laying that in
the place he represented, the plan t.f Reform proposed by
his , Maj,sty's Ministers had given the greatest
satisfaction ; and if the measure should have the
effect of closing the door of the House against
him for ever, he should be still proud of the high
distinction, and of the recollection that he once was in a
situation to give a vote in favour of a measure calculated
to confer such great benefits on the country.
After a few words from Mr. CATELL, who was under-
stood to say that he should not oppose the Bill,
The petition was read, and ordered to be printed.
Alderman THOMPSON bad given notice to present a
petition from the ship-owners this evening, but in conse-
quence of the importance of the debate on which they
were about to enter he should postpone it till Monday.
Sir R. FERGUSON presented a petition from Lon-
donderry against a repeal of the Union. The Hon. Ba-
ronet said, that, in his opinion, if a repeal were to take
place, Ireland must be ruined.
Mr. O'CONNELL—If the repeal did trot take