The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-08 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY t<, 1841.

IMPERIAL. PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, 111 Ar 7.
Lord PO RTM A N presented a petition from Wellington,
in Somerset, for an alteration in the Poor-laws ; also a
petition from the parish of Christchurch for the total and
unconditional aciliiion of Char ch-rates. In the prayer of
this last petition his Lordship did not concur.
The Ea, 1 of I-1 A RE WOOD presented a petition against
any alteration in the sugar duties front the inhabitants of
Port. Royal and other places in Jamaica; and a similar peti-
tion from certain West India proprietors and others, agreed
to eta public meeting held in the metropoli-. The peti-
tioners stated that if slave-crown sugar were admitted into
England, the proprietors of the island ofJarnaiea would be
unanle to carry on those measures of improvennert
which they had lathy begun. They also felt
that the contemplated alteration would Le an encourage-
ment to the slave trade which this country had made such
great sacrifices to suppress.
The Earl of MOUNTCA SIIEL presented a petition
to the same effect, agreed to at a public meeting convened
by the Colonial Society held yesterday. The meeting
was attended by men of all parties, who we:e unanimous in
their condemnation cf a chance in the duties on sugar.
Earl FITZWILLIAM said that the Noble Lord had
stated that Whigs, Tories, and Radicals, were unanimous
on the object for which the meeting had been convened ;
but he (the Earl of Fitzwill:am) did not think that such a
subject should be estimated by the principles of mere
party. It way, in reality, a question between the people at
large and a small number of monopolists on the other. In-
dividuals of any party might be influenced on many occa-
sions by unjust and selfish motives.
The Earl cf MO UNTCA SHEL denied that the mo-
tives of the petitioners were merely of an interested nature ;
but at the same time they claimed a fair protection for
their property. '1 he Noble Earl then presented a petition
from the Island of Antigua, signed by plante-s, lalsourers,
and men of all classes, egainst the importation of slave-
grown sugar into this country, for competition with that
of the West Indies.

The Earl of RADNOR expressed an opinior, on the
authority cf Mr. Gurney, a traveller in the West Indies,
that fiee-grown sugar could competo with elavJ-grown
sugar.

'he Earl of MOUNTCASHEL said, on the con-
trary, that such was the cheapness of slave-grown sugar
that it could be sent over to this country and tatted, and
afterwards sent back to the West Indies and sofa at a lower
rate acre than the free-grown sugar.
Lori LYNDHURST presented a petition front
island of St. Vincent, signed by the President of the
House of Assembly, Members of Council, and other in-
habitants, praying that the protection offend to our West
India colonies mignt be continued.

Lord ELLENBOROUGH presentei a similar peti-
tion from the Virgin Islands.___

The Marquis of DOW NSHIRF: presented a petition,
numerously signed, from the town and neighbotn-
hood of Belfast, praying for the abolition of lay pa-
tronage in the Church of Scotland; and petitions from
Athlone and other places in the county of Down, to the
same effect ; also a petition from a congregation cf See-
ders in the same county, praying that a of educa-
tion, in which the Bible would be taught, might Le hare-
duced into Ireland.

recourse to such a measure merely for self-protection, and i
in order to encourage native agriculture. He .had no 1,
desire to discuss the whole questien ; thougt it would he
better they should wait tilt it came expressly under their
consideration, and not bring in discussions night after
night upon the presentation of every petition.
The Earl of R A DNOR obse ved that tie dis-
cussion had been introduced by the Noble Lord op-
posite ( Lord Ashburton), and not by his Nehle
Friend (Earl Friv.viPiren) who lead merely presented a
petition. The Noble Duke had said that the Corn-laws
were passed for the protection of British agriculture ; but
they did not in reality air ,rd that protection, as under their
operation the price of corn varied to such an extent as to
be alike injurious to the farmer and the consumer.
The Earl of WARWICK said that it seemed to him
that the Noble Earl opposite ( Earl Fitaeilliarn), by read-
ing the peti jet', and ny g.ving notice on the aubje,e, had
irrei ed the present discussion. It was his opinion that the
petitioners had no right to complain that the present Corn-
alws had led to a derangement of the currency ; inas-
much as the advocates for repeal themselves wished for an
alteration in the currency, and lie could state from his own
experience that it was expressly on that ground the Corn-
law Repeaters of Manchester agitated the question.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE denied that the mea-
sure proposed by her Majesty's Government was intro-
duced for the purpose of agitating the country. There
was never, in fact, a more unfounded assertion than that.
The Government might be wrong in the views they had
taken on this question. They might, in the policy
which they advocated, adopt
eiews that might appear
dangerous to many Noble Lords, but he would say
that there never was a proposition more delibe-
rately introduced on its merits, hens suddenly adopted,
or taken up with a mote attentixe reference to
all the circumstances of the case, than that which hid been
now made. Her Majesty's Ministers, for the protection
of trade and of tire agriculture of the country, bad found
it necessary, with their eyes open on the subject, and
without a desire ,to create unnecessary agitation, to in-
troduce a system opposed to that of their predecessors,
and determined on substituting another for it. No per-
sons wished more than they did to see the matter con-
ducted w itb calmness and with a perfect absticencc from all
appeals to the passions of the multitude. He should
observe, that it was never imputed as a crime
to former Ministers that they bad introduced alterations
in the system adopted by other Ministers. Lord Liver-
pool, for instance, had introduced a change which excited
the passions of the country in a violent manner, without
finding his motives for the course pursued questioned by
any one. In like manner Mr. Canning proposed a modi-
fication of the system of Lord Liverpool, while no one
imputed to him that be wished to inflame the feet-
irgs of the nation. All these eminent persons were
induced to overlook the inconvenience of agitation in
the magnitude of the occasion ; and her Majesty's
Government ha l also thought the time was come
for the revision of the present system. They were
exam that that should nut be rashly or lightly under-
taken, but there were times and occasions connected
with the general commerce of the world which made it ne-
cessary fur nations to review their systems cf commercial
policy.

_
Lord ELLENBOROUGH said that the Noble Mar
quis had denied that, the present proposal of the Govern-
trent was undertAeo for temporary reasons. He wished,
hoc, ever, the Noble Marquis would enrich history statirg
the day they came to the resolution they had formed on the
subject.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that it had b2en
with Ministcra the subject of long consideration, and that
it had not been taken up at a recent period, but had been
an object of much deliberation.

Lord ASHBURTON did not wish to impute to the
Government a desire to excite agitation ia the country,
but in his opinion the course they had taken would lead to
that result, whatei.er might have been their intentions.
A NOBLE LORD on the Opposition benches wished to
know at what period cf the Session any notice had been
given, in either House of Parliament, by the Ministry,
which could lead any Member to believe they contemplated
any alteration.

T'ne Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that an intima-
tion to that effect had been given before the Easter holi-
days. The notice, however, had been a general one, to
the effect that the whole question of the trade of that
country would soon be brought under the considcrAtion of
Parliament.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MAI' 7.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour.
POLLOC AND GOVAN RAILWAY.

Mr. ALSTON preEented two pctitio►is in favuur of the
Poiluc andGova.Litlilway Bill.

Air. WALLACE presented a petition from 1,638 in.
diailuals in the ne►ghbourgl►oud Lf Glasgow against the
Bill.

Mr. ALSTON having then moved the third reading of
the Bill,
Sir G. CLERK said be wished to submit to the House
a douse in order to ensure the safety cf the inhabitants of •
that part of Glasgow through which tho railroad was to
pass by requiring teat the railroad should be carried by a
viaduct over the Glasgow and Paisley Turnpike-road.
It would be greatly inconvenient to the inhabitants
cf the town, that the railroad should be permitted
to pass through that great thoroughfare on a level.
No doubt the promoters of the Bill thought they had a
reasonable ground of complaint against those who opposed
it, because that onosition lied only been manifeatcd during
the letter stages, but the fact was, that when the Bill eas
first brought in, and until it had been printed and read a
second time, they had no idea of the extended powers in-
tended to be conferred by tr. It was true tint when the
subject was discussed, the House had been of opinio❑ that
there was no necessity to refer it back to the Committee on
Standing Orders, but it was net until that pi riod
that the attention of the people of Glasgow
had been called to the undertaking. Had the question
been one of mere private interest Ire would admit that in
such a stage of the Bill the opponents of it ought to be pre-
cluded from making any alteration, but in the present in-
stance the safety of the inhabitants of Glasgow was con-
cerned, whose lives would be endangered if the railroad
were permitted to pass in the manner proposed. It would,
in fact, be a deplorable public nuisance, and as the parties
princ'pally affected were in the humbler classes of sc-
eiety, the House was bound to take their case into
serious consideration. The Committee had been aware
of the necessity of granting them protection, and therefore
inserted the clause giving the Company power to carry
the turnpike ever the railway. But the road was in fact
a street, and could not be raised without destroying
and darimging property to the amount of 35,000/.
The only way of providing for the public safety
ise.s by insisting on the Company forming a viae!uct. tie
should therefore move a clause prohibiting any traffic on
the railroad until it should be either catered over the turn-
pike road by a vieduct, or u, der it by a twine':
The clause was thro breughe up.
After a few words from Mr. II A STIE,
Mr. WALLACE :.aid the real state of the care was,
that the existing line of railway was to be made the me-
dium for conveying tin ee.etlur lines. He.complained that
nether Paid.y nor Glasgow had been heard re the
Cemrnitte in opposition to the Bill. Ile Lad a letter
from an ind.vidual residing in the neighbourhood, who
stated that not less than six lives had Leen already lest
tie re. What was the Imposed ? Wily that in place
of a viaduct the railway should cross the turnpike
road. He would show the House the inconvenience which
was likely to result from such a course by a plan a hich lie
had procured. [The Hoe, Member here exhibited the
plan to the [louse amidst cheers and leughter. ] By a
viaduct all the inconvenience would be done away
with. He did not believe that a mote sel-
fish or unwarrantable job than the present had
ever been brought before the House. If these
powers were wanted for the public interest he would
not care so much, but the fact was that it was a pri-
vate interest altogether.—( Loud cries of " Divide, di-
silo.") The Hog. Gentleman showed a plan of the
various Railways which were proposed to join and carry
their traffic into and along this rcLerable little line.
Whet would Hon. Members, or persona basing property
in 3ridge-strce•, close by, think of a bridge being curried
across it, thereby des:roying it; trade, and shutting up its
shops, yet that case would be quie analogous to the
proposition contained in tnis He would with plee-
sure give his support to the clause of the Hoe. Mem-
ber for Stamford.

Mr. HINDL EY complained of the frequent and viru-
lent opposition given tl this Bl'. The whole of the
selected Members had ngre d upon the clauses as settled
House,in the Bill.
thea the sooner the system of
selecting Members unacquainted with the locality, there-
they
fore incependect, the better, for it viould be a complae
the Ifwere again to Le cot sid mull and
farce au d waste cf time.
A:r. A LSTON said, as Chairman of the Cminiittce,
ant •i.e of the selected Members, he nisl.e.l to put the
House in possession of the real facts of this case. In
place of
fthtel;'oaClyonfkaed Company
asking by their Bill for great
for the power of raising more
money in order to pay elf debt, and to lay down heavier
and broader rails. The advantages to G:asg iw by its
Ink aas would be to rcduca the price of coal 25 to 30 per
cent. If it was a new railroad he would not c nsent to
allow it to cross any rout on the level, but that oval a power
they already possessed by Act cf Parliament, and study it
was tthe clause &
'kcn uaYfrom them in the arbitrary
nof the Hon. M. tuber for am-
i:seebe
in
selected Menaheri were unanimous in favour cf
:rra .p notro to
the proposition made by :l.e promoters of the Ml', to carry
the road over the railway by a bridge.
Mr. LOCK ART supported the clause.
Mr. BROTH E RTON said that all the setectA mom_
Irrs were unanimously in favcur of this work, Every
thing that could be thought cf had been done to pr,,tect
the public.
Mr. HOItSNIAN opposed the eiTu e.
Strangers were then crdered to withdraw, amd the House
divided, when aloe appeared,
For the clause ................... 162
Against it .............................. 50
Majority... ................. 112
Other clauro were thenrddeil, and the Bill passed.

TINSLEY AND DONCASTER ROAD. BILL.
Mr. WRIGHTSON moved the second reading cf
Ties;ey and DjilCOStCr
.
nm.dge
Sir.alle G . Kw
frey7
BillS be i
readubTsel"lCatanl:A
ih
that the second moved as an amendment
ND
time that day Six trintlis.
After a f:w worus Ir.)m Mr. LASCEL LES and

Mr. CHARLES WOOD, the Amendment was with.
drawn, and the 13111 was ordered to be committed.
IPSWICH DOCK BILL.

Sir D. J. NORREYS brought up the Report of the
Ipswich Docks Bill.
Mr. SHEIL moved that the consideration of the report
should be postponed to Friday the 14th May. He con-
sidered the Bill a most obnclious one, and he was opposed
to the whole s)stem of distinctive duties.
Mr. KELLY was unwilling, in the present state of the
Hous-, to go into a discussion of the merits of the Bill.
but he thought that the postponement proposed by the
Right Hon. Gentleman was too long.

Atter a few won's from Mr. LAIiOUC HERE, it was
agreed that the further consiieration of the Report should
be postponed till Thursday m
Oil the motion of Mr. HODGSON HINDE, the
Great North of Englund Ralway Bill was read a third
time.

The Henley and Dorchester Road Bill was read a third
time and passed.

Mr. HUTT presented a petition from Hull, praying for
an alteration in the Corn-laws.

Mr. O'CONNELL gave notice, that in the Commit-
tee on the sugar duties he would move a resolution to the
effect that any diminution on the duties of foreign sugar
should be strictly limited unto sugar the produce of tree
labour, and not to he extended to sugar the produce of
slavery.—(Cheers from the Opposition.)
Colonel SIBTHORP gave notice, that, in the Corn..
mittee on Simultaneous Estimates, he would move that no
payment of anv sums of money should be allowed to be
made to Mr. William Vizard.

Mr. 00U LB URN gave notice that on Monday next he
should move for a copy of the memorial presented by the
House of Assembly of Jamaica, on the subject of the re-
duction of the duty on foreign sugar.
Mr. BARNEBY moved that the returns ordered by
the House on the 3d of March ou the subject of Mail
Coaches be made forthwith.