The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-15 00:00:00

DIPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

SOUSE OF COMMONS. July 14.
COLLIERIES BILL.
_((iontinued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Lord HARRY VANE said, if accidents were caused to
pea eons employed in mines by the wilful neglect of their
employers, they might recover compensation in the
present state of the Jaw. •He was told that in the north
of England contracts for twelve months were
mot entered into. Certainly since the late
strike the system of entering into such lengthy
contracts had been abolished. As the Government
had promised to take the whole subject into considera-
tion, and to bring in a Bill ton the subject next session,
he trusted the House would not assent to the second
reading of the Bill.
Mr. HINDLEY rose to make some observations, but
he was called to order.
Mr. B. ESCOTT said from 500 to 600 lives were an-
nually lost in collieries and mines, which showed that an
improved system of supervision was necessary.—(Hear.)
He considered, however, that the Hon. Gentleman
should strike out the objectionable parts of the Bill, and
retain those provisions which the House approved of ;
it be did se the Bill might pass into a law this session.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading ........ . 23
Against it
Majority against the second reading —33
The Bill is consequently lost.
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORS BILL.
On the motion for the second reading of this Bill,
Sir DE LACY EVANS said a large number of elec-
tors in the metropolis, and in fact throughout the whole
country, were disfranchised, in consequence of the day
en which the rates were obliged to be paid, in order
to give votes a qualification. The rates by the Re-
form Bill were to be paid on the sth of April.
Ile proposed by this Bill that they should be
paid on the sth of October, which would give th voters,
six instead of three months to pay them in. This pro-
position was one of the mildest kinds of reform that
could be suggested; and he would remind those who
were about to present themselves to their constituents,
that if they objected to such a mild reform as this they
would be considered advocates of the old rotten-borough
system (Laughter) and he, therefore, called upon
those on the other side, who supported " liberal prin-
ciples and popular principles," to give their assent to
the Bill.
Mr. NEWDEGATE objected to the Bill. It might,
or it might not, be expedient to abolish the rate-
paying clauses of the Reform Act, but it was most ob-
jectionable to make such an alteration on the eve of a
• general election for the convenience of a certain body
of electors.
Mr. WAKLEY said the Bill would not apply at the
ensuing generel election.
Mr. NEWDEGATE saw no reason, then, why the Bill
should not be deferred until a future session, and trusted
the Government would not allow it to proceed further.
They had pledged themselves to bring in a Bill
on the subject, and therefore no benefit could
arise from proceding with this measure during the
present session. He called upon the House to
pause before they passed the Bill, the proposer of which
stated that his ultimate object was to obtain household
suffrage, if not universal suffrage, which was a consum-
mation few would wish for.. He trusted, as the Bill was
brought forward as an election cry, that the House would
support him in placing every impediment in the way of
the passing of the Bill.
Sir W. CLAY supported the Bill. The ancient
system of voting consisted in possessing the franchise by
occupation and the payment of taxes, but he defied any
one to say that before the passing of the Reform Bill
the one was conjoined to the other. He supported the
Bill, not because it accomplished all he wished, but as
it wGuld take away an unfair restriction. The Hon.
Gentlemen said that the Bill was brought forward as an
election clap-trap. It was by no means an unwise
step, at the end of a Parliament, to show the
people of this country who were their friends and wile
were opposed to their liberties. The am. Gentleman
who used the expression " popular principles and liberal
principles " was more noted for mooting difficult political
problems than of ever answering them, but he (Sir W.
Clay) considered that no principles would be popular
unless they were essentially liberal.—(Hear.)
Mr. WAKLEY supported the Bill, as he
considered that it would enfranchise an immense
body of properly qualified persons. The Honourable
Gentleman the Member for Warwickshire (Mr.
Newdegate) was, no doubt, a fair man, and a friend of
the people, for he had voted for the Ten Hours Bill, but
he had a crotchet in his head. with respect to this
Bill which he trusted he would soon get rid
of. The 26th clause of the Reform Act
merely said that persons should be registered by a
certain day, and did not make the anomalous distinction
between county and borough voters. He wished to see
the rate-paying clauses of the Reform Bill repealed—
(llear)—because if a man did not pay his rates he was
answerable to the law, and his goods might be distrained
upon ; and surely this was an unfair restriction to con
tinue when they had such a power. Why he did
not object to annual Parliaments was, because "short
reckonings made long friends," and that the cha-
racter of the House would be elevated by more fre-
quent communion with those who sent them there
When a member was about to meet his constituents it
was.: astonishing what attention he paid to questions
which his constituents were likely to discuss with him.—
(Laughter.) Under the present law many persons of
property were disfranchised. The Governor of the Bank
had his vote disallowed on one occasion because he had
not paid his rates by a certain day. He trusted the op-
position would be withdrawn, aud'that the Bill would be
carried.
Mr. CRIPPS opposed the Bill, and moved that it be
read a Second time that day three months. If the Hon.
Member for Finsbury (Mr. Wakley) brought forward a
Bill for Annual Parliaments next session, he trusted
that he would couple with it a Bill to render the office
of county coroner open to annual election.—(Laughter.)
Mr. WAKLEY said he was ready to resign whenever
called upon to do so.
Mr. CRIPPS said the difference between counties
and boroughs was this—in the first persons might vote
who neither paid rates nor assessed taxes, whilst in the
other the franchise was only obtained by rating. It
would be better if Hon. Gentleman would reserve their
addresses on the subject until they were on the hustings,
instead of making them in the House and having their
sentiments made known to their constituents through
the newspaper.—(Laughter.)
Sir B. HALL denied that this Bill was an infringe-
ment of the Reform Act, as had been stated, for in his
opinion it was only carrying out the principles of that
measure. All that the constituents of towns wanted
was to be placed upon the same footing as the
constituencies of counties. He therefore hoped
the Bill would meet with the approbation
of the House, and that late as the session was it would
receive the sanction of the Legislature before the ter-
mination of their labours.
Mr. HENLEY opposed the Bill on the ground that it
would operate injuriously, not only on the franchise, but
on the poor. Ho was also of opinion that the Bill could
not pass into a law on account of tk lateness of the
session, and that being the case he did nut see the use
of pressing it forward.
Captain PECHELL supported the Bill. He thought
it a most moderate measure, and they would be only
approving themselves the friends of the poor by passing
it into a law.
Sir DE LACY EVANS considered the Bill was called
for by the present state of the law respecting the fran-
chise, and if the opposition to it was successful, it would
be only perpetuating the system of corruption which at
present prevailed.
The House then divided, when there appeared :
For the Amendment 54
Against it 54
The SPEAKER then gave his vote, the numbers being
equal, against the amendment, which was consequently
lost.

The House again divided on the original motion,
when the numbers were—
For the second reading
Against it 53
Majority
—1
The Bill was consequently lost.
BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL.
On the question that the report on this Bill be re-
ceived,
Mr. HAMILTON moved the following clause:—
"And be it enacted and declared, that in the construction
of this Act -and the several Acts herein referred
shall
mean the expression barrister-et-law, or'
mean a barrister-at.
law called to the bar either in Eng-
land •:or Ireland; and the expression attorney at-law,
shall mean an attorney-at-law either for En" ;land or
Ireland, except where it is otherwise provided.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the clause.
Mr. STWART also opposed the clause, and hoped
the Hon. Gentleman would withdraw it.
Mr. BOUVERIE supported the clause.
After a few words from Mr. HENLEY,
Sir J. GRAHAM took that opportunity of asking the
Attorney-General valAtlaer a judge
County Courts Bill, was eligible
to
under the New
be elected a Member
of Parliament, as he saw that one of the judges of the
County Courts was setting up as a candidate for
the next election. If the Learned Attorto be
ne-
General was of opinion that they were eligible
elected it would be his duty on the third reading of this
Bill to propose a clause for their disqualification-.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the matter was
doubtful, and he did not wish to give any opinion
upon it.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that in that case, as
the state of the law was such, he would, on the third
reading of the present Bill move a clause for their dis-
qualification.—ear, hear.)
"sl. then withdrew this clause, as it
did not appear
Mr. RAWL, -It?)
Imeet with the approbation of the
/louse.
The report was then received.
FEVER HOSPITAL BILL.
This Bill was read a second time.
PUBLIC WORKS AND DRAD AGE (IRELAND)
BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed ; as also
the Constabulary Force (Ireland) Bill, and the London-
bridge Approaches Bill.
DESTITUTE PERSONS (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion that this Bill be read a third time,
Sir G. GREY explained that there had been raised in
voluntary contributions for the relief of the destitute
poor in Ireland, under the Queen's letter, a sum of
171,0001., and from other channels sums that made a total
of 424.764/. Of this sum 170,000/. had bees ad-
iranaed to the Committee cr tne British Association
for distribution. The remaining portion of the feud was
distributed r', r: li.rh other ciliritie
COPYRIGHT COLONIES BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
MILITIA PAY BILL.
The report on this Bill was received, as also the