The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-28 00:00:00

THE RATE IN AID-BILL.

In reply to Mr. STAFFORD,
Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated that he proposed to
proceed with this Bill on Friday.

INSOLVENT MEMBERS' BILL

Mr. MOFFATT moved that this-13111 be committed
pro forma, in order that certain amendments might be
introduced.

Sir W. CLAY opposed proceeding with the Bill at
that hour.
Mr. OSBORNE called attention to the fact that the
Bill had been altered, and was entitled " A Bill for the
Recovery of Debts from Members of the House of Com-
mons and for the expulsion of insolvent Members."—
(Hear.) Besides, there was a rumour floating through
the town that this Bill was directed against a particular
Member of the House.—(Hear.)
Mr. MOFFATT repudiated, with indignation, that he
had tlany interested object, as had been insinuated, in
bringing forward this Bill. He brought it forward on
broad public grounds, because he believed it was dero-
gatory to the character of the House that it should be
a sanctuary for insolvent debtors.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HENLEY complained that the Bill had been so
altered that it would be difficult for the House to decide
upon it without having further time to consider it.
Mr. VERNON SMITH said that in his opinion when
a Bill was recommitted it was recommitted for fresh
discussion. The evil which he had formerly
pointed out had now arisen. He had fore•
seen that the reference of a Bill to a
Select Committee would be productive of great miechief.
He had beeh told that there had been many, and many
very near, divisions in the Select Committee on this
Bill, and if they were to come to a decision upon any
matter referred to a Select Committee the proceedings
of that Committee ought to be before them. This was
a most important Bill, and ore which ought to have the
fullest discussion by Parliament, but it had had no
discussion at all. It was one which was very
likely to limit largely the rights of con-
stituencies, and he was for one exceedingly obliged
to the Hon. Bart. for having called the attention of the
House to the Bill. It had been brought out, in fact, as
had just been stated by the lion. Member (Mr. Osborne),
it was not the original Bill, and appeared not to be the
same Bill at all. He thought it to be a mostd angerous
Bill. But he did not know to whom the responsibility
of its principles belonged, for it seemed to have changed
hands, and whether it belonged to the Hon. Member for
Dartmouth (Mr. Moffatt), or to his Right Hon. Friend
the Solicitor General was a mystery,
The SOLICITOR GENERAL said that he had sug-
gested several amendments in Committee, and he desired
that the Bill should pass through Committee pro forma,
and be recommitted with a view to a full consideration
of those amendments.

Mr. STUART WORTLEY said if that was the only
object of committing the Bill, he had no objectio❑
to it; but he trusted that when in Committee it

would be fully discussed, for he believed that it
was a most mischievous and a most injudicious Bill,
and he would earnestly oppose it.
Sir W. CLAY said that
,the Bill was one likely to
proceed to such an extent in its consequences that it.
discussion ought to be most ample, and he trusted that
the House would not allow this motion to pass.
Mr. R. PALMER exonerated the Hon. Member for
Dartmouth from any imputation of private motives. It
was, in fact, induced by petitions from Liverpool and
other important places.
Mr. ANSTEY said that this Bill had two parts—one
for the recovery of debts from Members of Parliament,
and the other to exclude insolventjMembers from the
House. About the first there was not a single word
said throughout all its clauses.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that this might be a useful
Bill, but it was one which required much consideration.
Colonel THOMPSON said that this was two Bills
rolled into one, and bad in both respects. For his own
part he could add his testimony that the rumour
was that the Bill was directed against an individual
Member.

_______
The SPEAKER suggested that as the Bill had been
so much altered, acd there was so much opposition to
it, that it had better be withdrawn and a fresh one iu •
troduced.

Mr. MOFFATT thee, amidst much laughter, with-
drew the Bill, and moved for leave to bring in another.
Mr. ANSTEY endeavoured to oppose the motion, but
on the suggestion of Sir G. Grey, deferred his opposi-
tion to a future opportunity,
as they might then proceed
to the order of the day. Leave was then given to bring
in the Bill, Mr. Anstey stating that he should give it his
most strenuous opposition on the motion being put for
the first reading.