The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-28 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

lIOUCE OF LORDS, JAN. 27.
Th, L C'
k Qui) _HA NCELLOIL took his seat on the Wool-
, " one o'clock, when the Bishop of CHIEDESTER
! ;introduced by the Bishops of Lictifir:LD and ELY,
took the oaths and his scat. Lurd ARDEN also
Vthe oaths and his seat, upon his accession to the
At half-past one their Lordships proceeded to
4,l'alace with the Address, at which time there were
lent, in a variety of uniforms, the Marquis of Head-
/1 ' the Earls of Fingal and Wilton, Lords Portman,
110Y3 ; Lord Ducie, the mover of the Address, Lord
eon, the seconder, and the Archbishop of Canter-
Y----The House was adjourned till to-morrow.

The
HOUSE OF COMMONS, Jex. 27.
40 ue SPEAKER, took the chair shortly before Four
Ik,ok. •
l alkilol BRUEN was introducA by Sir Thomas
Archrane and S.r R. H. Inglis, and took the oaths and
'l' seat for the county of Carlow.
r• M. BLAKE took the oaths and his seat for the
''''NTY of Mayo.
11 r. BYNG presented a petition from Chelsea, pray-
for, leave to bring in a Bill to extend the line of the
' fir'
Western Railway.
,'‘.',l.. PHILLIPS presented 34 petitions from
).14ea in the diocese of Herefordshire, praying that
, fuLttiler grants might be voted to the College of May-
s"`". and that the House would appoint a Committee
lilquire into the 'system of education pursued there.
1 r. EASTHOPE presented a petition from the
,:'l'or, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the borough of
' , cester against the payment of Church-rates.
c CASE OF SARAH YOUNG.
1 • .v'Ptain PECHELL presented a petition from 5a-
,,,1 "ting, relative to her imprisonment in Monmouth
‘1 for non-appearance at the Bishop's Court at
India, at the suit of the Rev. Dr. Lyle, for a claim
tithes to the amount of 705., and praying the House
take her case into consideration, with a view of
tending the law, in order to prevent in future any
tiler citation in the Bishop's Court with respect to
leg.
Mr. MARK PHILLIPS presented a petition from
Manchester and Leeds Railway Company, praying
i,lueetwe to bring in a Bill to raise a further sum of
I T.' al a petition from the Manchester and Sal-
;., ! Vatervrorks Company, for leave to bring in a Bill
w I,lllprove their works.
4 IjOrd SA NDON presentA a petition from the Earl
etil and Lord Stanley, praying the House to
~
'e° to a Bill for dividing the parish and living of
b unington in the county of Lancaster, into two or
7,re Parishes ; also a petition from the Liverpool Gas
11Pany for a Bill to enable that Corporation to en-
sie its capital—and another from the Liverpool Docks
11 41Pany for a Bill to enable them to borrow money
I the enlargement of their clocks.
NEW WRIT.
On the motion of Sir T. FREMANTLE a new
.1
it was ordered for the borough of Reigate, in the
iim of Viscount Esstnor, now Earl Somers.
NOTICES OF MOTION.

Sir E. SUGDEN gave notice that on Tuesday next
should move for leave to bring in a Bill for the
V•end►neat of the administration of justice in the House
fi Lords and in the Privy Council.

. FACTORIES.
Lord ASHLEY gave notice that to-morrow he
iuld move the re-appointment of the Select Corn-
ttee, appointed last Session, to inquire into the Stat©
4t Factories.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that on Monday
*ta he should move the appointment of a Select Corn-
-0 ttee to inquire into the state of South Australia.
.00 the motion of Sir M. WOOD, certain eturns
4 ative to Beer houses, Malt, and Hops, were agreed to.
Sir R. INGLIS presented a petition from Bishop
0 Jrtford, complaining of Idolatrous Worship in India.
THE ADDRESS.
„Lord BRABAZON brought up the Report of the
ramittee on the Address. The Address was read at
I)lgth by the Clerk at the table.
tMr. HUME wished to ask the Noble Lord near him
enthe papers that were promised last night would
. laid before the House ? He found that the Con-
",," 't4oa had been already laid on the table of the
use; but it would be recollected that the Noble
'rd. towards the conclusion of his speech last night,
v 4 stated that the correspondence on the subject
"ch would be laid before them, would explain many
the proceedines which had taken place.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that he could not
'fie a day when the
fore them. papers in question would be laid
. Sir R. H. INGLIS was anxious to take the oppor-
"??; laity of calling the attention of the House to an
../11laission which had taken place in the Speech from
.1:1(11101:111:11tet'eedours0 well as in the debate. of last night.
plained that any allusion to France had
ere a in the Speech from the Throne,
.but
was
i question of greater interest still, the mention
"will(' - "tt. been omitted. He believed that every
ember present would anticipate he wished to refe!dis-
itHietlY to the repe Icm stion in Ireland. He wished
.I;l,4et:scr AlaieSt),'Sa .
Ministerse had. advised her Majesty
4,.... Press an opinion on that subject. But even it any
V 2 usaleration could have induced them to have passed
aer it in the Speech from the Throne, no such con-
eration could have justified them, as he thought, .in
ntaining that studied silence on the matter which
k q had maintained during the night. It was true
At it could not be expected that the Speech from
;
• e Throne could comprehendxP every subject of general
lle
tere2t on which Parliament might have to decide in
ie course or the Session. But he would ask any Minis-
; r of the Crown, or any Member of the House, to
lat ant one subject of greater importance to the
i tit ate
and safety of the empire than that agitation
ilbl, regard to the Union which now prevailed among the
tt °le community in Ireland. Was the subject looked upon
iitoo inconsiderable, or as having no direct bearing
the tranquillity
of the empire? The Hon. and Learned.
ii erober for Dublin, whom he did not then see in his
pee. would hardly agree with Ministers in saying.t.hat
4,1: subject on which he had almost staked his polrtical
. istence
was one of minor importance. Either
khis_ Ministry would credit the Honourable and Learned
Caber or they would not. If they were inclined to
Oat
him let them state to the House that they did
.1' regard the agitation which now pervaded Ireland
Vie which was confined to the individuals who were
0-`4IIY engaged in it. But if they believed that Hon.
44 Learned Member, and a near connexion of his
io 9 had been engaged in the work of agitation,
i .000 men had assmbled on one occasion, 100,000 on
eother; and 250,000 on another, taking part in the pro-
sc.lpedin, ts• He would ask the Noble Lord and Hon.
e4,;4heenen opposite whether, it those statements were
el'ect; it were fit that the subject should have been
1141'11(1 over unnoticed by her Majesty's Ministers in the
epee over
they recommended her Majesty to address to the
haci,use Or was it considered, on the other hand,
sei'e the question did not involve the peace and tran-
VitY of the empire ? Why, her Majesty s represen-
.ti `tve in Ireland seemed to think that the mere agita-
-041 °f the question involved the tranquillity of the
slee°11(1 city of that country, and he had accordingly
a _sPatehed troops in order to enable the civil
touthorities to maintain the public peace when the
(44" came under discussion. There was also an-
ip " question which he wished to put to her Ma-
CI'S Ministers. The Hon. and Learned Member.
wtri Dublin had distinctly stated that the Repeal question
a 00W a vital one, and that every man must either be
IN "servative or a Repealer. He would ask the
40111.7 Lord whether he would accept that alternative. He
% laSit him whether he were content with it ? Was
a:„" Conservative, or was he a Repealer? The time
I),,,corne, said the Hon. and Learned Member for
t7e
ii."'in; when every man ust make his election. Had
v 4„ 'Noble Lord made his choice ?—was he a Conser-
"se or a Repealer ? Or, if the Noble Lord did not
-eeePt that alternative, and did not confide in the
ilie'llourable and Learned Member for Dublin, would.
-; express that want of confidence before the House ?
IWere Ministers prepared to take their stand upon this
tiestion? There could be no moral doubt they were.
tee was confident they would not hold the situations
4.",!Y now held unless they were determined to stand or
'41.,11 by the question of the Union.—(Cries of " Hear.")
statedlhen wh Y not say so ? They should either hare
8°
in
addresses to the t Queen's Speech, or in their personal
House in the course of the debate
but though the Noble Lord, the Leader et the Go-
,,errirnent, in his address, alluded to many other topics
";all those contained in the Speech, he courteously
abstained—from what ?—from any allusion to what
u.._ (Sir Robert Inglis) ventured to think the
t_°st important subject connected with this coun-
j: Were these discussions to go on ? Were
;" se bodies of men to be assemble, and her Ma-
ie‘lY's troops to be sent to keep the peace, and
nisters to continue in apparent indifference, and
to abstain from any declaration of opinion on the
aub'e
eied, et ? A few words from them, and espe-
w_ii. from the leader of that House, last night,
and
h011(.1 have been very satisfactory to the people,
believed to every individual in that House, ex-
u.,eoPti. perhaps, the Hon. Member for Dublin. He
which not advert to those points in the Speech on
then c 1 sufficient discussion took place last night, far-
to say that he entirely concurred in all that
7)0(1 fallen from tho Right Honourable Baronet (Sir
41
Lain , , bert Peel), with respect to the omission of the
ngh
•,' ot Prance—an omission which he thought
Ittit have been supplied without any loss to our na-
aelal dignitY, and with great advantage to the feeling
Peace of the country.
41(1,eord JOHN RUSSELL said he conceived his opi-
N_?auwere sufficiently well known, as also those of his
Noble Priend the Lord I;e:utenant of Ireland, on the
th,jeet °I the repeal of the Union. With respect to
04
.plicy of advising her Majesty to make a declaration
~,3 %tie subject, he conceived that the propriety of doing
~,,ouuted bPended. upon whether or not such a declaration
bti e aeventageous and expedient ; and certainly
e the of a formidable agitation on the subject it might
expedient to advise the Crown to make such

a declaration, but at other times he thought that 1 the public business. Neither was it for the advantage I
such a declaration would rather add importance to of the public that Members suffered in their health,
the cry of a moment, and would be inexpedient.— and in same ins:tweets their deaths might he attri'euted
( Hear, hear.) Hie Hon. Friend had asked rather a to the late sitting ei of that House. He therefore Loped
singular question upon the authority of a statement of that Hon. Members would support the motion for their
the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin, that all own sakes, If it seere carried, it would not retard,
men were either Conservatives or Rspealers—a state- but facilitate. the public business. Some lion. Morn-
meat which the Hon. Baronet appeared to consider as hers objected to his motion, on the. ;round that. it
conclusive. It might he so to the Hon. Baronet, but it would have the effect of lengthening the Session.
was not so to hies (Lord John Russell.)—(L sughter.) He did not believe that would be the case,
The Honourable Baronet might state so in deference although it might .shorten some of the speeches which
to the opinions of the Hon. Member for Dublin ; could be very well dispensed nith.—(A laugh.) The
but he (Lord J. Russell) did not pay it that implicit public had a right to be made acquainted with the
deference, and therefore he was not bound to make the proceedings of that House, but they all knew that
declaration. But he would put a qnestion to his Hon. when the business was carried on long after mid-
Friend in return with regard to the movement of the night, the Members were fatigued, the galleries unoccu-
troops which took place in consequence of an alarm Pied, the reporters exhausted, and the public consequently
that a breach of the peace would take place on the road not properly made acquainted with the proceedings of
to Belfast. These troops were moved in consequence that House.—( Hear, hear, and a laugh.) It was
of certain threats that were made, that if the Hon, rather an invidious task for one Hon. Member con-
Member for Dublin made any such progress to Belfast, stantly to attempt to adjourn the House at a certeir.
there would be a breach of the peace, tumult, and yin hour, and he would rather that the House should adopt
knee. Now he begged to ask of the Hon. Baronet some rule on the subject. He had never any
whether these threats were made by Conservatives or desire to set himself against the wishes of a majority
Repealers ?—(Laughter.) If by Repealers, he should of the House, although his opinion was it would
not have thought they should have made so violent an be better if the House adjourned earlier. His propo-
opposition to the Honourable Member for Dublin, sition was so reasonable that he hoped it would meet
but if by Conservatives, it seemed to him to with general support. The Hon. Member concluded
be a very odd exhibition of Conservative principles. by moving—" That no new business, which shall be
—(Laughter.) Perhaps his Hon. Friend would favour objected to by Five Members, be brought on after
him with a definition of his views on this
_subject.— twelve o'clock at night."
(Laughter.) Mr. E WART seconded the motion, and observed,
Toe Report was then agreed to. that time had convinced him some alteration ought
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, perhaps it would to be made in the hours of that House, and he was con-
be convenient to inform the House, that her Majesty winced that the opinion of the public upon this subject
would receive the Address at Buckingham Palace to. would very soon prevail over the opinion of that House.
morrow, at Half-past One o'Clock. The Rolls Court formerly sat during the evening, but
SESSIONAL ORDERS. since it had met in the daytime all who fre-
On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the quented that Court agreed that much more busi-
House proceeded to consider and revise the Sessional ness was done, and that what Wil2 done was
Orders. done a great deal better.—(Hear, hear.) He thought
On the reading of the Order relaticg to the Corn- it most unreasonable that the time of those Mem-
mittee on Private Petitions, hers who were willing to devote the daytime to public
Lord STAN LEY suggested that as petitions which duty in the House of Commons should he sacri-
were referred to Committee, and ordered to he fired to the convenience of those who belonged to trades
printed in the meanwhile, sometimes contained and pro'essions. He thought, too, that if the hours of
allegations injurious to individuals who had no that house were reformed, that would have a good effect
opportunity of vindicating themselves, the House on the country, for he believed, that the late hours which
should put the seal o its privacy on such prevailed in this country more than in any other in the
petitions, and forbid their publication until after the world,, were chiefly owing to the example of Parlia-
report of the Committee. He thought they could ment. 'ibis custom interfered with the proper despatch
be printed for the use of Members only without being of public business in every department. At none of
permitted to go forth to the public with the sanction of the public offices was there any attendance until
the House. He thought it was better to bring forward twelve or one o'clock in the day. If any fo-
this subject on the present occasion than to wait until reigner, who had only learned that this country was
the first case of the sort should arrive, and then to op- the first to set the example to the world of representa-
pose the printing the petition without giving any notice tive legislation, were to come into that House, in the
of his intention. He should be glad to hear that the course of a debate after midnight, what notion would he
Noble Lord concurred with him in opinion on this form of the excellence of their system ? He would
subject. see the Secretary for the Treasury stretched upon one
Lord JOHN RUSSELL could only say that he bench, and the Secretary for the Admiralty slumbering
felt much disposed to agree in opnion with the Noble on another.—(Laughter.) lie would see the President
Lord. Although the printing of other papers might of the Board of Control subdued in sleep, and the
occasionally produce a painful effect on the feelings of Noble Secretary for Foreign Affairs, deaf to the cries
individuals vet the: e could not be a doubt that the of war, re. echoed from the Opposition benches.—( A
greatest abuses arose from the printing petitions con- laugh.) He (Mr. E.) supported the resolution of his
taining charges against individuals. He doubted Hon. Friend, because although it was but a small step
whether it would not be better, except in cases of it was still a step in advance.
great urgency, where, perhaps, they would have Mr. BRISCOE supported the motion. The only
to consider of she subject matter of the petition result of the present system was to detain Members
the next day, to abide strictly by the Standing Order, hour after hour, wasting their constitutions, in idle de.
and send all petitions to the Committee ; because, if' clamation and contentions. The Parliament of this
the matter were not to be taken into consideration for country acted differently in the days of Lord Clasen-
ten days or a fortnight, the sending of them to that don, and he thought they then acted on the common-
Committee to determine whether they should he printed sense view of the subject. He therefore hoped that
or not could not occasion much delay, and the Commit- the House would accede to the motion of the Hon.
tee would then see if it would be advisable that such Member for Salford.
petitions should not he published and sold. He should Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that they had several
be inclined, except in cases of urgency,. to abide by this times discussed that question, and he believed the
rule. Honse had never been able to perceive that a strict
Mr. O'CONNELL believed that the rule at present rule of the kind proposed would enable them to do more
applied only to cases of urgency. He would suggest business, or to do it more conveniently. On the contrary
that in addition to the general Committee of Petitions, his opinion was that no other result could follow from
a particular Committee should be appointed, to which such a rule, than to prevent them from going through the
all cases of urgency should be referred, which would public business, and to compel them to prolong their
secure the inspection of a Committee in all cases of ! labours. The lion. Member for Wigan should re-
petitions. member that there were many merchants, lawyers,
Lord HO WICK was glad his Hon. Friend opposite and other official men, Members of the House, who
had called the attention of the House to this subject. I were employed during the day, and who could
The fact was they were rapidly relapsing into the old I not give them their attendance. There were
bad practice of allowing any Member to have his peti. also messy Members employed in the morn-
tion printed and circulated with the Votes. The Corn- ing on Committees ; and he (Lord J. Russell) was sure
mittce which sat last Session had recommended that no the time of those Members was very fully oc-
petition should be printed unless it could be shown by cupied by their labours. If, therefore, they were to
the lion. Member presenting it, not only that be exclude from their debates lawyers, mercantile, and
intended to found a motion on such petition, but also official men, they might only prolong their debates
that the subject would not admit of delay. He regretted without increasing their knowledge on any subject. He
exceedingly that it had not been the pleasure of the House would refer to the cases of France and America, but he
to follow up the recommendations of the Committee. believed that whatever might he the merits of the elo-
He thought that, at the beginning of a new Session, quence both of the French Chambers and the Amer--
the rule ought to be drawn much more strictly than it can Congress, for various reasons into which he would
had hitherto been, and no petition ought to be printed, not enter, there was no comparison between the busi-
unless it was shown that its urgency was such as not to ness done by that House and the quantity of business
admit of the delay of going before the Committee. done by the American Congress, which after all was
Mr. GOULBURN thought there were considerable not the legislature of the country ; or by the French
difficulties surrounding the question. He thanked his Chamber, in which very few laws were passed in
Noble Friend for calling the attention of the House to the course of the year. He had never been convinced
the subject ; but he did not think that the Noble Lord by the arguments in favour of the motion, hod he mutt
who had just spoken had suggested an adequate re- again refuse to support it.
medy. He thought the suggestion of his Noble Friend Mr. O'CONNELL thought there was a great dif-
the Member for North Lancashire was the only one ference between going through business and doing it ;
that could be effectively applied in the case under con- ! that more business might be gone through by that
sideration. House than by the Chamber of Deputies of France,
Sir R. INGLIS concurred generally in the views or the Congress of America, he could readily believe ;
which had been expresssed by his Right Hon. Friend but he much doubted whether they did as much.—
near him. i (Hear, hear.) Acts of Parliament had been passed
Sir R. PEEL addressed the House on the same I within the last few years which no man could consider
subject. He believed that the only precaution was !as refl sting the least credit on the character of the
vigilance, and the exercise of discretion on the Hous a The merchants of London were the only
part of the House cf Commons, and also on mere}, mats who were accommodated by the present
the part of the individual Member presenting the pe. tnethed of conducting the business of the House.
tition. He thought there should be an assurance Mercantile men from other places had to leave their
from the Member that he not only intended to found business entirely in order to come to attend their Par-
a motion upon it, but that he considered it bona Me liamentary duties. With regard to the lawyers, it was
necessary for the clear understanding of that petition, only the lawyers of London who were convenienced ;
that it should be printed for the use of the Members. The the lawyers of Scotland and Ireland had to leave their
notice of motion to print the petition ought to be made on profession altogether. The House ought not to be
a different day to the presentation, that the House of compelled to give way to suit the convenience of
Commons might be enabled to determine whether it those individuals with regard to Committees ; how easy
should be printed or not. In the case of a petition would it be, if they met at an early hour in the day—
making personal imputations which might be unfounded, say, nine o'clock in the morning, and sat till eight in
but which it might be necessary to print for the use of the the evening, for two or three days in the week, to de-
House, the wisest course would be, in the first instance to vote two days exclusively to the business of Committees ;
confine it to the Members. He believed upon the whole and a Committee sitting for an entire day would, most
that would most substantially fulfil every legitimate oh- likely, get through their business without any adjourn-
ject connected with the presentation of the petition. ment being necessary, and Hon. Members were aware
It ought to rest in the discretion of the individual of the numberless expenses entailed upon parties hay-
Member presenting the petition. Supposing a member ing business to transact before those Committees by
professing a strict adherence to the truth should, under these numerous adjournments. He should vote for the
the authority of the House, indulge in a strain Of motion, although he did not think it went far enough.
vituperation, or should in a petition indulge in private It was a glaring absurdity to conduct all their delibera-
abuse of any party it would be a gross abuse of the tions after night. Parliament was a high Court of
power of the House, and therefore he thought Justice—no other Court conducted its business by
the proposition of his Noble Friend ought to night. The motion required the concurrence of five
be acceded to. He could easily conceive that it might Gentlemen to force the House to an adjournment.
be absolutely necessary that a petition containing critni- Now, the Hon. Gentleman well knew that five Mem-
natory matter should be printed, but be quite agreed hers could compel the House to adjourn it at any time,
that such printed matters should be confined to the so that it was only removing the invidiousness of the
Members of the House, task from those Gentlemen. The Hon. and Learned
Mr. HUME had always thought that the only pro- Gentleman concluded by expressing his determination
per and safe plan was to trust to the discretion of indi- to support the motion, as bringing back the House to
vidual Members having such petitions to present. He the dictates of common sense.
would suggest that a Member having such petition Mr. BROTHERTON, is reply, stated that the late
placed in his hands, and being anxious that it should be Speaker said that he had suffered more in his health
printed and taken into consideration, should be obliged from six weeks' late sitting than he had during all the
to give notice of his intention to make such a preceding Session, w hen the House adjourned at 12.
motion in the Orders of the previous day. By Mr. HUME, before the division, would suggest the
making such a rule no petition could be printed propriety of no debate being adjourned beyond one day.
instanter, and he thought that would be a suffi- —(Cheers.) He was aware that this might be consi-
cknt guard against any abuse of the powers of dered interfering with the freedom of discussion, but
the House. The privilege of the people, so far as the he appealed to lieu. Members whether after two days'
petitioning of that House went, had been too much debate any new matter had been elicited by further ad-
restricted, and he would be very sorry to agree to any journments. The result of his proposition would be
resolution the tendency of which would be to increase that those Gentleman who now spoke at the latter part
that restriction. of the debate would speak at an earlier hour instead of
Mr. F. FRENCH said it ought to be understood postponing it. He did not wish to make any motions on
that no petition should be printed unless the Member the subject. He agreed with his Hon. Friend, and had
gave notice that it was his intention to found a motion always voted with him on every occasion that night
on it. work was very prejudicial to the public interest. Many
Mr. WAKLEY conceived that that would place the of the most important measures of the Session were
House in the same condition in which it stood at present. passed after midnight, which would have been more ma-
He understood the practice to be that when an Ho- turely considered if they had been brought before the
nourable Member presented a petition and stated attention of the House in the day time.
that it was his intention to found a motion on it, Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the
that no opposition would be given to the motion for House divided, when there appeared—
printing it. There were great evils attending such a For the original Orderpi
actice, and he was glad the Noble Lord was about For Mr. Brotherton's Amendment 31
to put a' stop to it. He himself knew many cases in Majority for the original Order —99
which the petitioners were only anxious to have On our admission to the gallery we found
the petition printed in order that the state- PRIVATE BILLS (COMMITTEES.)
ments might go before the public. That appeared Mr. EWART, addressing the House on the motion
to him a gross imposition on the House—(Hear, hear) with respect to the Private Bill Committee, of which he
—and he thought that any Hon. Member presenting a had given notice. He said it must have struck almost
petition to the House containing charges against an in- every Member who had either personally attended, or
dividual should take the greatest pains to ascertain the become acquainted with the proceedings of Committees
correctness of the allegations. If the petition were on private business that the constitution of these Com-
presented merely for the use of the Members it would mittee3 was capable of much amendment. The first
be unfair to shut out the accused party from a know- thing which struck him was the necessity of reducing
ledge of its contents. In his opinion the Noble Lord the number of Members composing them. The effect
ought to postpone the resolution for further consideration• of that reduction would be to increase the responsi-
After a few words of explanation from Lord STAN- bility of the Members forming the Committee, and the
LEY, the resolution was agreed to. efficiency of that body, but not only was there
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. ground of complaint on account of their constitution,
Mr. BROTHERTON rose and said the motion be but the character of the Committees had been com-
bed the honour to submit to the House was, that no plained of. It had been, and he feared with too much
new business should be broueht on which was excepted justice imputed to those Committees, that they acted
to by five Members after twelve o'clock at night. The frequently from local and personal feeling, he need not
proposition appeared to him so reasonable, that he was say how grievous such a charge was when made against
much inclined to hope he should receive greater the Members of_that House, how much it would tend to
support on the present occasion, than on any former lower them in public estimation. And how necessary
one. He was quite convinced there was a proper feel- it was therefore that the ground for such imputations
ing in the country that did not approve of the late sit- should be removed. Members might now be personally
tings of the House. They often boasted of the wisdom interested, and yet they might be upon Committees on
of our ancestors, and our ancestors wisely legislated Private Bills: They were selected from the localities
by daylight. This was also the practice of all the Le- from which the Bills emanated, and therefore were neces-
gislative Assemblies in Europe and the United States. sarily interested. He appealed to Gentlemen who lied
and he conceived it would be attended with many bene- sat upon those Committees when, after the Committees
fie ial consequences if it were adopted in that House. had met, they' were not often divided into several local
He need not enlarge upon the injurious effects of the parties, so teat the Members were sometimes led by
present system. He was satisfied that the pre- local influences, sometimes by political influences, some-
sent system was injurious to the health of Mem- times by influences still snore partial and personal. He
ti id and that it did not facilitate in any degree saw several Hon. Members near him who served on a