The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-20 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER entered the House in his State Robes at
twenty minutes before Two o'clock. Prayers were then read
by the Right Hon. Gentleman's Chaplain.
Mr. HUME moved for several returns relative to grants of
land in Canada.—Agreed to.
Mr. HUME rose and said, Sir, I am extremely unwilling
that this House should separate, without offering some obser-
vations as to the view I take of the situation in which we are
placed, by the extraordinary proceedings that have taken place
in the other House of Parliament. I cannot but reflect on the
,many tedious hours we have sat in this House, the many im-
portant measures we have endeavoured to pass with the view
of effecting a reform of the different establishments of the
country, and of producing that satisfaction which we have pro-
- raised to our constituents, arising from the improvements of
our institutions, according to the plan and the expectations
held out at the passing of the Reform Bill.--( Hear, hear,
hear.) It is mortifying to see two Sessions pass in the
second Reformed Parliament without scarcely one-tenth of
those benefits which we had a right to expect, and to which
the people were entitled, according to the expectations that
were held out and the fair promises that were made. When
the Reform Bill was granted, it was either intended that be-
neficial results should follow, and hopes were held out—
Sir F. FRENCH— I rise to order. We have heard some-
thing about last words ; but the Honourable Member for
Middlesex is determined to have the last word, and that
that word should contain a libel on the House of Lords. I
wish to know whether the Hon. Member is going to make -a
motion, otherwise this proceeding is quite irregular. No an-
swer can be given to the observations of the Hon. Member.
There can be no reply.
Mr. HUME—The Honourable and Gallant Gentleman
is so much in the habit of associating with those who libel
that he supposes I cannot rise without speaking a libel. He
will, however, excuse me if I tell him that he has interrupted
me without reason. He is an old Member of Parliament, and
he ought to know that he has no right to ask me whether I
shall conclude by a motion or not. I was about to say—
Sir. F. FRENCH—Sir, I again rise to order—( Cries of
" Order," and " Chair")—l appeal to you, Mr. Speaker—
Mr. HUME—The Speaker has no right to interrupt me.
You, Sir, may complain if I sit down without making a motion.
You may complain that it is against the rules of the House.
But it will be time enough to consider that when I have con-
cluded the observations I have to make.—(Loud cries of
" Chair" and " Order.")
Lord J. RUSSELL—I think the Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Hume) is not quite right in his last remark.—(Hear, hear.)
The Hon. Gentleman should state that he is going to make a
motion, in order to render this proceeding regular. If there
is; a motion, the proceeding is regular. But it is not fair, as
was the case last night (so we understood), to make a long
speech, and then to say that he is not going to make a
nstion.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUME—It is my intention to move, that there be laid
on the table of the House a return cf the number of days and
hours which this House has sat in the furtherance of the duty
intrusted to them. It has beea said, that at the commence-
ment cf the Session, great hopes acre held out that now the
Session is about to close, all those high expectations are for-
saken ; that those who were parties to these promises have
done nothing but sleep through the whole Session, and
have been guilty of disappointing the hopes of the commu-
nity. Sir, it appears to me that impudence would be the pro-
per character to give to such a charge as that.--t Cheers.)
But the people of England will be the jinln es,—( Hear, hear,)
_and I offer these observations in answer to what I s-ty was a
libel on this House, that we had neglected our duty, had forgot
that fur which we assembled, and that
.we are now about to re-
turn to our constituents without fulfilling our duties. Sir,
although there may have been a Session in which more labour
may have been bestowed, there has scarcely been a session
for the last 20 years, I can safely say, in which I have
devoted more time to the business of this -House.—( Hear.)
Why do I defend myself? Because at the close of this ses-
awn I see very little effected in comparison to what ought to
have been effected. And who has been time opposing- power?
Why, the other House of Parlianment.—(Hear.) I therefore
say, Sir, the Commons of England have endeavoured to carry
oe the recommendations of h-s Maje,ty from the Throne, and
end:.avoured to cffeet such alterations in the several esta-
Llishrnents, as would give satisf„.,:ctm to the people, and he-
null: the subjects his AlAjesty., Sir, I hold in toy hand the
_ _

recommendation of his Majesty on the 24th of 'February,
1835, and on the 4:h day of I:,:b*uttry, 1836, in which
his Majesty calls on the Houte of Parliament to effect such a
change in the tithe system of Inland as will fur ever put aa
end to the question, and enable his Majesty's subjects in Ire-
faL.l to live to hal molly and peace. Last year the Commons
sent up a Bill to that effect. '1 his yerr they did the same.
These Bilis would have carried into effect the intentions ::nd
=hes'of his Majesty : and, Sir, who are those that have stood
.-cce:i Lis Nlaj.,:tv and the fulfilment of his expectations?—
( C10:c.N..) Are the Commons to blame ? No, Sir ; they have
dole their duty, but the Douse of Lords appear to be deter-
inioed to .1,11; that justice for which the people of Ireland have
a ri4ht to call, and which Lis Majesty from the 'Throne recorn-
mei-ded.—(l-lear, hear.) I say, therefore, the Lords are the
parties who ought to be complained against, and not the Corn-
Irons of England. who have up to the present period given
the utmost attention to the wishes of his Majesty, and the
wishes of his subjects. If blood is shed—if discontent is ma-
nifested, the House of Lords, who have opposed the recom-
mendation of his Majesty, and who have refused to second the
Commons, will be responsible, and the people of
Ireland will know who arc the opposing parties.—(Cheers.)
He regretted that minority was so large. But the time was
coming when they would sec that number reduced in a consti-
tutional manner.—(Cheers.) At ail events, on the part of
the majority of that House, and on his own part, he would say
that, with regard to the reform of the Church of Ireland,
they had done their duty—( Hear)—and those who talked else-
where of abstract principles, ware the parties who had
stopped all Reform, both in Ireland and in England—
( Hear)—and they must look upon themselves as the opponents
of the tranquillity of the former country. ( Hear, hear.)
What was the next subject in the King's Speech ? The situa-
tion of the Municipal Corporations in Ireland, which his Ma-
jesty had recommended to be placed on the same footing as
those of England and Scotland. Had that been done ? So
far as regarded the House of Commons, it had done its duty,
but the House of Lords had interfered with and mangled that
measure of local reform. They had done so, forsooth, because
the party likely to have a majority at the municipal elections
in that country were Roman Catholics, and therefore not fit
to be trusted with civil power.—( Cheers.) And, he would
ask, was such conduct to be borne? Were such pretences
to be listened to ?—( Hear, and cheering.) He would tell
them that no liberal-minded man in England or Scotland
would do so.—( Hear.) No independent or liberal man
would listen to the argument, that because nine-tenths of the
people of Ireland were Roman Catholics they were to be de-
prived of the management of their local affairs.—( Hear.)
As well might the Scotch, because the majority of that
country was Presbyterians, be refused municipal institutions,
on the ground that they were opposed to a Church Esta-
blishment. He contended, therefore, that the House of Lords
were responsible for all the mischief that would ensue for hav-
ing refused justice to the people of Ireland. To slew the
impropriety of the proceeding on the part of their Lordships, he
would read the resolution which had turned the Tories out of the
Government. It was the recognition of a principle which would
turn them out again. The success of the Reformers on that
occasion had shown them the advantage of union—however
different their shades of political character might be, from the
Radical to the milk-and-water Reformer, they had united
to drive the Tories out, and had succeeded.—( Cheers.) He
was rejoiced to find that the test applied on that occasion
had purged that side of the House of some of those who wished
to be thought liberal, but were only enemies in the camp of
the Reformers ; thank God, he would say again, that that side
of the House had got rid of them.—(Loud laughter.)
The Commons of England—the majority of that House—had
attempted to carry into effect the principles which were con-
been ..eed in the address which turned out the Tories—that had
roostgetli bond of union between the majority, ancal..htell'Taie
~ naturcli„di.eir ttp..t it. r.ouVrtortintie -SO whatever trig
en PPertences might exist among them. He hoped that no one who
the was a sincere Reformer would be weak enough, he had almost
said base enough, to join the Tories on account of those diffe-
rences. The Lords had prevented every amelioration—every
measure of justice which would have given satisfaction to Ire-
land. They had even interfered with, and disposed of the
Registration of Voters' Bill—they had mangled the Bill, and
so prevented the Commons from improving their own Consti-
tution. The Ministers, if they introduced half-and-half mea-
sures, with the hope of conciliating their enemies, they would
act most foolishly and in vain. He hoped they would take
a lesson from experience, and now know that it was
impossible to conciliate them. The Peers had stopped all
reforms for Ireland, for England, and for Scotland. They had
thrown out every good Bill for either country, on the shabby
ground of showing that so long as Lord Melbourne led the
Government, they would not allow the people to have the
benefit of any reforms whatever. Were the Commons to be
stopped, would they allow this opposing power to go ?
on with-
out asking the question, how long is this to continue They
from
Lord separate now, having lost a Session.—(Hear, hear,
Lord Ashley.) He charged the Noble Lord with forming
part of the opposing power. He had done all in his power to
waste the time of the House, and impede the good measures.
On behalf of the people of England, they must have Reform
in the House of Lords.—( Cheers.) He felt sorry that the
high-minded Nobles of England should be led by such a man
as they were.—( Cheers.) In the rejection of every measure
was to be seen the cloven foot. On that ground he ac-
quitted the House of Commons, and accused the Lords.—
( Cheers.) The King had the power, if he thought pro-
per to exercise it, of keeping that House in harmony with
the other, if he would not exercise that power, the only alter-
native the House of Commons had was to exercise the power
vested in them, and stop the Supplies.—(Great cheering.)
Unless, indeed, if an opportunity should be given, the people
should return a larger number of Reformers to that House—
that might induce Noble Lords to think better of it. What were
Peers created for ?—the public good ; and if they set themselves
against everything that was for the public good, the question
would be, whether they should or should not continue.
He did not see why old and antiquated notions should prevent
a Reform, in the House of Lords. The Boroughs were as
old as the Peers, yet they had been swept away.
The Corporations were as old as the Peers, yet they
had been reformed. Why, therefore, should not the House
of Lords be either swept away or reformed.—(Great cheer-
ing.) If Ministers wished to meet the wishes of the people, I

(he did not know whether Parliament was or not to assemble
in November again), but if Ministers wished to meet the
wishes of the people, they would call the House together as
soon as possible ; send up to the House of Lords the measure
they thought for that good of the public, leaving the
House of Lords to do what they pleased with them, but
then the question would be what course the House of Com-
mons should pursue.—( Cheers.) Changes had taken place
in the Monarchy—changes had taken place in the House of
Commons—and why should not changes take place in the
House of Lords.—( Great cheering.) It was clear from the
course the Lords had pursued, that the question was whether the
Aristocracy or the People should prevail.—(Great cheering.)
Had there ever been an instance before the present Session,
where the House of Lords had interfered to stop such a
Bill as the Post-office Bill ?—( Hear, and cheers.) The
House of Lords, it was true, had passed one Bill with respect to
the Church, why had they done so, because it gave no power to
the people, or put anything into the pockets of the poor clergy.
He trusted the Lords would be wise in time, and not compel that
House to take steps with respect to them, which they might
have cause to repent.—[Here the Hon. Gentleman was inter-
rupted by Sir Augustus Clifford, the Usher of the Black Rod,
entering the House, for the purpose of commanding its at-
tendance on his Majesty in the House of Peers.]
The SPEAKER having returned to the House, read his
Majesty's Speech. After which, the Members present bowed
to the Speaker, and withdrew.
Vae Parliament stands prorogued to Thursday, the 20th of
(*ter.

THE FUNDS.-CLOSING PRICES.

BRITISH

rank Stock

FUNDS.
Omni.=
India Stock
Ditto !fonds ....
South Sea Stock
Ditto Old Annuities
Ditto New Annuitic.: —
Ex. Bills, 1D0L.... ......... ... 9pm
Ditto 503/ l2 m.o.
Ditto SU(I ' 12 pin.
Bank Stock for Opg. —
India Stock for Act. ...... —
Consols for Act.
I FUNDS.
Austrian, 5 per cent — I rertuguese Bonds, 5 per cent.
I;clg..in, 5 per cent lO4 t Ditto, Now Ditto 7l
Brazilian Bonds
Unenos Ayres, 6 per cant
Chilies, ei per cent. 44% Ditto, Metallic
Celoinbian; 6 per cent
Ditto 1534
i li)ii
Danish,, 3 per-cent — ;Emrich, 5 per cent —f. -e
Greek Bonds, i 25, 5 pert fist. I Exchange
Mexican, 5 per cent.
Ditto, i; per cent., 1825 ....... 28 Mitch, 2, percent 55%
t'cruvian, 122.5, 6 per cent ... Onto, 5 per cent. ...... IC4%SHA:tES.
Birmingham and Gloucester Railway 5%
Bristol and Exeter Railway
Cheltenham and Great Western Railway 2!.,
London Grand Junction Railway
.14':
Northern and Eastern Railway ....
North Midland Railway 93/4
South Eastern and Dover Railway 2%
South Western Railway O%
No other varialionfhi the Prices of Shares since our One o'clock,

3 per Cent. Red 9)%
3 per Cent Cons 91%
35e per Cent
3% per Cent. Red lons
New 3i4 per Cent. Inn
per Cent. Assented
Dissented
Long Annuities to expire
JIA 180,) 15%
Oct-MO
Jan. 1860
FOREIG

List.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. Auousr 19.
Mr. Crafer presented Papers from the Treasury.
Mr. Campbell presented papers from the East India
House.