The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-11 00:00:00

IMPERIALPARLIAAIENT,

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAREa took the Cha;r shortly after Twelve.

BKIGH TON PAVILION- BILL.

On the mo4on of Mr. HAY'FEB, the toltow lug Mem-
bers were appointed a Select Committee on the Roy .1
P.bilion (Brighton) Blll:—Cuptain Pechell, Lord Al.red
Hervey. Lord Harry Vane, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Deedes,
Mr. Chtlder-4, Air sLafford, Mr. Hay ter, Mr. Fuller.
Mr. Headlem, and five Members to be added by the
Committee of Selection.—The Committee to have leave
to sit upon Tuesday next.
PETITIONS.

Mr. BROTFIERTON presented a petition from Sal.
ford in favour of she Smoke Prohibition Bill.

Mr. GROGAN presented a petition from Dublin in
favour et a shnititry Bill for Ireland.
Lord DUDLEY SIUAItT presented a petition from
the master bale. rr of Marylebone against the Sale of
Bread Bill.

DUR, kTION OF PARLIAMENT BILL.
Mr. T. D'ILYNCOUBT moved the .ecoud reading o;
tido Bill.

Mr. S. ADAIR would put it to the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman whether he would persevere with this Bill at so
tate a period ot the s-ssion, and under the very peculiar
circumi-tances attending the introduction of the mea-
sure. Last year he had opposed the motion of the lion.
Gentleman the Member for Montrose fur a reform of
Parliament, on the ground that, considering the state
of the country, he did not think it would be ad-
viseable to effect any change in the constitution.
He confessed, however, from what had transpired since,
he thought the time had now arriv,d when further re-
forms were netieEstary. Considering that the Noble Lord
at the head ot the Government had conceded that there
should be a further extension of the suffrage, he could
not see what objection could be urged against the prin-
ciple of the Bill of the Right lion. Gentleman for
shortening the duration of Parliaments. Although he
saw no prospect of the measure being carried this
session, he felt bound to give it his support.
The principle of the Bill was not a new one, and in 110
opinion the Right Hon. Gentleman had !Nisei) left it to
thel House to fix the period to which the duration of
Parliament should be limited, and he trusted that in the
next session some measure would be proposed by ihetn
to give effect to the long wished fur and anxious
expectations of the people, for further reforms.
Should he not be able to proceed with the measure this
session to a suceessful issue, he trusted those of the
Governmi nt Members who were favourable to gradual
ri forms in the I. gi: lative instttution,; of th, country,
• ould give this bubiect their serious c.:n.dilerstio.), and
convince the unelifiivehiAed masses out of Coors that
they were not unmindful ot their claims to be rept esentid
in ti.e Commons 'louse Psrli,mr flear.)

:sir GEORGE WILY asid vvti. n h s It to. Friend
behind trim inLludiced this 8,11, his ti. lee Fiji rid at the
head of the Government went at lento into the views he
personally held and the Government tutertsilied upon
dos questi.n, and as no answer was made to that
speech he thought there was an end to the matter.
so far as the pit-tent, session was concerned.•-(Hear.)
la now, howcv,r, seemed to be o. here i.e. ts its tegatd,
therefore, to the question iselt, he did hot b. have dst.
any particular discontent existed in the couutr. as its the
duration ut Parl.ainent, nor could he bring hiwselt to
think that the House would be acing prudently it it
sanctioned the escend reeding it this Bill. Under the
existing system ot legidation many measures of great
public importance ran tnreugh three or f us sessions, and
it was therwore highly desirable that all such weasuri 8
should be revived and dispeeed of by ihe same
Members who • had first considered them. Limit,
however, the duration of Parliament to three
years, and such a mode of proceeding would be
absolutely impossible; at present public opinion and
public ter ling acted as a wholesome check upon the
votes of 11,n. Members; and as, from 1b26 to 1841,
there were no less then six Parliaments, the average
duration of which did nut exceed two years and a half,
he thought there was no necessity :or the Bill, and he
should, ti-art fore, move that it be read a second time
that d y six months.
Mr. M. GIBSON said the Right Hon. Baronet seemed
to tarok that in consevence ot the Noble Lord's speech
upon this question not having been answered, the sub-
ject ought to be considered as disposed of; and it was,
therefore, unneessary for him to dwell at any length
' upon is ; but the real answer to the Noble
Lord's speech was the division that followed it. Well,
then, notwithstanding the appeal that was made to the
gentlemen present when this Bill was first moved for
not to support it, there was a decided majority in favour
' of its introduction, and having b 0 decided it would be
treating the 116 use with disrespect if they were not to dis-
cuss its provisions with fairness.—(Hear, hear.) Aud
he must be allowed to observe that these divisions were
not quite accidental.—(Hear, hear.) The majority ob-
tained last year in favour of the Ballot was by no means
aceidenta,l nor was the majority in f.tvour of the motion
for introducing this Bill to shorten the duration of Par-
liaments. Some Honourable Members were reluctant
to vote against popular rights, and although
he would not go the length of saying they would,
if requested by the Government, come down; and re-
cord their votes against these measures, he was quite
convinced that their absence was not always quite acci-
dental. Being left to themselves, they preferred rather
to go away than remain to vote against a measure for
.extenAng popular rights, and these majorities ought not
to be treated as accidents which did not convey the feel-
ing of the House on matters of reform —(Hear.) With
regard to the immediate question itself, he did think
that a shorter period of time for the duration of
Parlia-
ments would art us a wholesome check up el the pro-
ceedings of Members of the House, and he thought
that shortening their duration was more tees ssary
now than it could have been at any former
' time, for the House was now called upon to dial with
60,000.000/. taxation annually levied upon the people,
while the Government exercised a gi eat amount of pa-
tronage in the mansgeo_:eht or Crowds-lands and the dis-
posal of Church livings, which gave them easy unesn,, to
tamper with the votes of Members, aid it theri.tora be-
came more necess try now that there should be a more
repeated apt cal to the constituencies, order to es; a-
fawn a in re wholesotnec .n rut ..v. r mbars of Pail a-
urent.—(l.lear, hear.) Let them c aiot!er far one mu-
Inept what was the inducement now for Wmbers to go
into boroughs ; and atter previous oursiag there to
expend large sums of money in bribing the iketora?
W by maw!) that alter I:is return he (amid s-t the elec-
tors at defiance for six years, awl indulge in soma of the
pt•kit ga hat droaed out of the Treasury. Now, it he
tetted that every two )ears he had to g before the el c.
tors, it would nut be worth his while to spend money In
nursing the borough and bribing the voters, but under
the exit jig law the money t'e vela in that way
was lo,lteti upon as a very good ievesitni nt.
It they were metre in their desire to introduee trees:
provisions into the law for the prevention of oriber) and
cerrupiion at elections, they must not re-ails that coal
parative fixity ot ti cure weich Members had in their
seats in that idolise. It the duration of Parliatneht
was shurteerd, the conduct of M-mb,,rs would be
somewhat different when they pr. seated themselves on
the hustings, and the unbecoming system of giving
pledges would be done away with.—(Hear, hear.) He
looked upon this subject as one of very great importance,
told nothing that could be done with respect to the fran-
chise or the ballot would re of any real advantage so
long as the duration of Parliament was erelenged, and
so long as thi re existed in the hands of the EXrelltlVU
large amount of funds, as well as patronage and places,
for the purpose of either dirt ctly or indirectly influencing
the conouct of Memb -ra. It they repealed Septeursial
Parliaue Drs. th,y would at once go hack to the Tti-
euutet Act, wirch stood rett4 made for them on the
Statute-hot k- (Hear, hear)—there would be no going
into Committee and discussing clauses, and theretore
he thought the proposition of his Hon. Friend tv..s the
most fit one that could be adopted at this period of the
session.—(Hear, hear.) The question was not a cem-
plicated one, but simply whether they should restore the
ancient law ut the country, which was departed from,
not permanently, but simply _ because the reigning
family at the time was so unpopular that it was neces-
sary to prolong Parliament in order to secure their
tenure upon the throlie. That reason, however, did not
now exist, and he saw nothing to prevent theta at
once returning to Triennial Parliaments. He hoped
that his honourable Friend would persevere with the
measure, for he was sure that he would carry with him
the opinion of the people out of Coors. lie trusted that
the Honourable Gentlemen opposite would net treat it
as a rock ahead,—that they would give no pledges to
where to the existing forms of Parliamenie for depend
upon it, the question would come before them ere
iong. He never felt more sure of anything in his
life than that that would be the case.—(hear, hear.)
He would advise them not to raise the cry of " No sur-
render," which, with respect to the free-trade question,
had brought their party into its present coefLcting state.
If the old 'Tory party should again resume power, as he
had no doubt would be the case, he would undertake to say
that this reform questien would present itself in a very
formidable aspect. He would caution them not to come
into power pledged to oppose all changes in the consti-
tution of Parliament, for if they did, some great quarrel
or split would happen in their party, which would lead,
perhaps, to the *awe scenes that were witnessed at the
time of the tree-trade debates. In a progressive country
like England, it was impossible that such a questiou
could be considered irrevocably settled.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BERNAL said he was surprised that his Right
Hon. Friend, with his ability, Upright intention, and ex-
perience, should have adopted such a line of argument.
He had stated as one 'Alison for supporting the
Triennial Act, that ltlembi re of Parliament were not
-t the) pulled at. the Treasury
angels of ['wiry, and that
b-nchee" tor their own individual aggrandisement. He
(Mr. Berea!) would now tell him openly and man-
fully that this was all humbug and delusion.
—(Loud cheers.) He agreed that the system
of giving pledges on the hustings was di.greceful,
but he thought the constituents had ati übigatien on
their bide, and that they ought to look to, the duties or a
Member of Parliament in a more serious light than they
slid. But when he said he repudiated pledges, he begged
to say that he tepuniated tabu the doctrine ot speaking
to constituents."—(Hear, hear.) lie had no objet ion
is sl.orten the term of Pat hatneut, but let it be amour
partied by vote bt bullet, and bi other returns measures,
which would purify what was called she Augeati
Mr. HUME said that Ito one could fur a teorneu.
imagine that the preseitt State of the eensilluency was
one which would satisfy the country. lie fur one cti•
tettained exr.mr view. on this ,übj et, and was perhep
prepars d to go furtle r than west lion. Ms-abbess, be
cause, probe ly, he had devoted more time and
tion to this su•j.,et than others bud done. Ile a con
viuced that halt measures were never prosperous. Hie
~ete was, never to comproure, never to ties up hi-
principles, but always rtn pet set,- re. Her sje.t•)'a
tint
vt r nue- to Lad deci :red thentstAtes advecateb u piugrte-
eve reform, but as far all he could see, they were now

- -
standing stll. But he must caution them, 11
that he 1°
one culd not centinue to suppert a Governn3ent
e
which refused its countenance to all kinds of retbrmi
as the present Government appeared to do. They would
not go on one step towards rni asures of reform, while the/
knew that many ef their warmest supporters were
anxiously desirous. In the present state ot the MAO
;he friends of reform were actually tupporting st
reform Government. There were millions of inert in this
country who coutributed to its support in a very great
proportion, upon wh m its strength depended, whet°
circumstances entitled teem to be brought within the
pale of the conttitution, but were refused it.
This dangerous proc:etling might continue too long,
He recollected, though nrreay Bleenbers in that Hour
might not, when Mr. Huskisson stood up in his place in
Parliament, and declared that he had heard arguments
of such a nature, as obliged him to give his support t°
the Bill for i he extension of the suffrage to Birmingham;
and on the next morning he was obliged to leave the
Cabinet.—(Hear, hear.) Well, what followed in °
short time ? Why, a complete and total re:
form. Such, too, was the course of things with
regard to the corn-law. He to_.k the Noble Lord at die
head of the Gevernment to be a friend to reform, sad
also the Htght Hoe Baronet at the head of the Horde
'perm. nt, and he conjured her MajestY?
Government to reflect, before they set the't
faces against Relorm, what might be the consequence‘'
He was, however, going to take an opposite course t°
that which he had heretofore taken. Before the Reforlo,
Bill he advocated the propriety of returning to triennia'
Parliaments; and, indeed, last session he voted in stir
port of is motion having that object in view, but hay.i°l
taken the lib-sty of exercising his own eyes nn
ears he had come to the opinion, !oohing
at the state the House had been brought to since the
passing of the Reform Bill, that it would be impossible
to conduct the pubic business properly if Parliaments
were reduced to three years in duration. Indeed, these
who advocated drover Parliaments showed, in the.ih;
verse ratio, their incapacity to govern.—(Laughtee.,,
As far as his reading Bud experience had Wr,y;
him, he considered that the greatest gift heave"
had bestowed upon man was the power git
of ruling. He delieertied the foolish and silly grounds
upon which som., of the best servents in that House ha'
lost their seats, and 'lamented the m. ans and difficull
that had been experienced in returning them.—(lle°
hear.) He was of the same opinion as the Hon. Gels 4
tleman who had just sat down—that the franchise ought
to be extended. He was quite decided upon that)"
but he confessed he looked with exceeding suspicie°
upon those who advocated the Charter—because
found that the advocates of the fire points were those
who represented the persons who were ready to Mall
that counter revolution in France, of which they In%
heard so much, and also had sympathised with thetas?
suffering martyrs. Itideed, he found that they epee
thised with the disturbers of peace all over EuroPei
He believed it would be impossible to have a House °,
Lords and a hereditary Sovereign, if such principle:
were to prevail, and the whole power of the Governmell'
were r. pes,el in that Ileuse alone.
Mr. HUME denied it altogether, and challenged. OA
Hen. Gentleman to prove that he hail ever used 4°4
exeressums ut se ;apathy with the disturbers of t°
peare.
Mr DRUMMOND said the Hon. Gentleman had Be.
all she world ea. advercine--let us ; we were once st
the head of tto-nn, but now we are at the bottom. Frans"
virtu% now the highest.
Mr. 11U AE—That has nothing to do with it.
Mr. BlaGta explaiired that the last person t°o
whom the remark " pulling at the Tree,tuflj
ceugo be applied was his IL ,uourable Frio°
the Member ter Rochester (Mr. Bernal). Neil
theless, the Govettiment possessed much Chtlre
pa tentage, which was e ceial to money value, and he he;
liev.-d that the l'reasury exercised much more influent
over Miuis,ers during Parliaments ot six air seven years
duration than they could it they were shorter. DO
bleb• s might net be known, but Members were 03°,,'",
likely to attend to the wishes of their constit"t,
ents if they appeared oftener on the beat
dogs. It was notoritius that since the ex.;
tion of the present Parliament greater deference
bad been paid to the popular will than during n.tii‘i
former period. In 1720, Burke, speaking of septehnth,
Parliaments, said, that annual Parliaments, which '4
supperted, prevented that corruption of the deputies "4
the Miuister which must result in Parliaments of 1014'0
duration. Tnere could be no doubt that the state
of things mentioned by Burke was in existen
at the present moment. His Honourable Colleague WI
alluded to pledges. Many honourable men did not ore
prove of gusting pledges; but hustings pledges wed
merely the statement of opinions on certain measure;
On the hustings he should not pledge Missed
to vote this way upon this matter, nse
another way as to tbet. A Member must, to do his dti
properly, be unshackled by pledges. To Show the 1°I;
propriety of doing so, he must point to the instant
they bad had during the last three years
Members voting directly in the teeth of the psi
,)
ciples they had advocated.—(Protectionist cheers')
Constituents should have a guarantee that their Member{
would appear oftener before th,na and be informedly
their sentiments. The Member for Surrey geuella
acted so eccentrically that when. he got up it was in3P,"O
sible to tell which wsy he intended to vote. ile,"d
bath Dealocratie and Conservative, and says tho,,
which, but for the good humour with which they lye
said, would doubtless be hard hits.

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

CO URI' CIRCULAR.

OS B 0 RN B,TrEstettof
Thc' Queen and Prince. accompanied by all the jaPil
branches of the Royal Family, took their usual es'ei
walk in tne Park and grounds at Osborne.
The Royal dinner party yesterday included Sir-6
bert, Lady, and Miss Colonel the Hon. C. 11 All
Mrs. Phipps, and Mr. Birch.
Sir Robert, Lady, and Miss Peel, returned earl/
mottling to London.

,
t
At the grand bail given by her Royal Highness •0
Duches4 of Girubri:le, ou Monday, at Cambridge 11°`3j
the follo,ving waltz's, quadtides, poikAs, and gm"
wet e drow,,d
:S—Adelaiden, Friethnsboten, Astrosa, Thetni
Fca Klange.
Qa:idnliPs—Martha, Amsuretten, Louisen, Najadelli
Ferdinand, Almacks.
-

Poik..sl-lirAce, Fortuna, Frederika,
G.lop!,—Ambassathur, Phew ginner.
Rii) al liiglint,ss the Duchess of Gloucester Jed,
Cambridge H. fuse about one o'clock yesterday morei7g
His 8,r,n0 Prince Edward of Saxe Weit°,
renieined wail rho close of the ball, which was kept "1
100
until t..ur o'chiek yesterday rnoriiiii4;, whrn a Celii
was dai.ced us at finale, Harr Strauss and his orchesd
miroducitg the V% anderers arid Farewell Walizas;
the Alice and liisrliri.ka
The compau) took their departure at halt-pait
o'clir k.
tier lt.yel Highness the Duchess of Kent, adei
by L,d) Au4usta Bruce and Barona6a tie Speth,
at Ciar.nce Clouse, Si. James's, at six o'clock yesteldo
afternoon, fa urn her te:idence, Fr( gmore
Rii) al Highness, attended by Lsrd
Augusta Bruce aid Lad James P. Murray, honelidd
the performance at flier Alaj sty's Theatre yesteroo
uvening with her presence. Their Royal ilighneseesod
Duch ss of Cambridge and the lirredilary r-er
Duchess of Mecklenburg Strt litz also honoured the P
tormance with their presence last evening. Greg
Lim' Ashley had an interview with Sir George
yesterday at the Home-office.

Ta TIMES LIFE ASSURANCE AND GUARANI of
COMPANY.—We are rejoiced to find that the prineied
life a-surauce is maki.ig daily progress, as is evidrisneia
by the number of new offices which have lately' to
established; of thuse the Times Life Assurance Coer
party, the adv,rtistment of which appears in another
fol
lump, presents some novel features which cannot
de,
to secure for it a due share of the public patrol:lV
The arrangement by which premiums may be/ co,
monthly cannot fail to (pen the benefits of life insuiled
to a class which has been hitherto practically exclu,
from them; and the guarantee branch is partictugid
deserving the attention of all persons who, °mull/-
places of trust, are obliged to furnish security. TOO
PEDESTERIANISM.—ADKINB AND QUINTON.— 0
eight mile race for 25 t•ovs. aside came off on Moods/2;s
Smitham Bottom, Surrey, and turned out one of thole
disgraceful trms9ctions for which foot rsces have or ._O4
become noted. Shorily utter five the men started,
after two milcs had been covered Adkins was unabeh„eo
pr.meycl any further in consequence of his having 'III
drugged, thus leaving his opponent to run in At
leisure. Betting 5 to 4on Adkins.
sf" MONEY MARKET.—The premium on gold at , orr,
is 12 per which, at the English Mint price of 3" Or
per ounce for standard gold, gives an exehaughorl
25 45; and the exchange at Paris on London at lept,
being 25.471, it follows that gold is 0.10 per ireo
dearer Lin
than in Paris. By advicea 'icbt
namburgh the price of gold is 438 per mark, /1" for
et the English Mitt price of 31. 17s. 100. per ounce
tbe
standard wold, gives au exchange of 13.11 i; God
exchange at liamburgh on London at short .•";
13 I li. it follows that gold is 0.11 per cent, dearer
London than in llambur4h.

J.
alt, Mr'