The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-11 00:00:00

THE BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS BILL,

Lord J. RUSSELL said that he proposed to proceed
with the Committe on the Bill to-morrow (this day).
Mr. WYNN said that it would be well if the measure
were carried into a law this Session. It would be ad-
vantageous at the commencement of the next Session of
of Parliament to have the Bill in operation. The 6th,
7th, Bth, and 9th clauses of the Bill, which referred to
the protection of witnesses in the case of giving evi-
dence, were particularly valuable. He thought that these
clauses ought to be passed in the form of a separate Bill.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN said that the passing of the mea-
sure would be of the utmost value on the eve of a ge-
neral election.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL proposed to go into Com-
mittee on the present occasion, to consider the sug-
gestions of the Right Hon. Member for Montgomery-
shire (Mr. Wynn), and to go on with the Bill to-morrow.
Sir ROBERT H. INGLIS said that the Right Hon.
Baronet, the Member for Tamworth, had left the House
under the impression that the Bill should not be pro-
ceeded with.

Mr. WAKLEY did not understand the Noble Lord
to withdraw his Bill. He (Mr. Wakley) thought
that the Noble Lord's remarks were merely thrown out
to ascertain the opinion of the House on the subject.
Mr. W. WYNN hoped that he should not be under-
stood as objecting to the principle of the clauses ; what
he feared was the difficulty of carrying them into exe-
cution.

Mr. FRESHFIELD said all clauses upon which any
question could arise might be postponed, and the House
would proceed with the others.
The House then went into Committee.

Lord J. RUSSELL said it was his intention to aban-
don the first clause ; but if Hon. Gentlemen wished it,
he would not object to postpone it.
After a few words from Mr. A. CHAPMAN, the
clause, with the four following clauses, were struck out.
Clause 6 was agreed to with an amendment.
Clauses 7 and 8 were agreed to.
On clause 9 being proposed,
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN asked if the clause would en-
able an Election Committee to proceed with the in-
quiry as to alleged bribery after the petitioner should
havewithdrawn his petition ?
Mr WYNN said that additional machinery 'Would
be required in order to do so.
Mr. WARBURTON thought the clause was an ex-
ceedingly proper one.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL agreed that the object of
the lion. Gentleman was an exceedingly important one,
but it would be necessary that in such cases as those al-
luded to, the Committee should report the circumstances
of the case, and that some public officer should be ap-
pointed to prosecute the inquiry before the Committee.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN suggested that the inquiry should
be conducted at the public expense.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought that the matter had
better be made the subject of a separate Bill.
The clause was then agreed to.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN then rose to propose a clause
for the purpose of enacting that the same declaration
to
shouldwith regard be taken bto y M
bribery.
embers as was now taken by elec-
Lord JOHN RUSSELL hoped the Hon. Member
would defer his motion until the Report should be
brought up.
Mr. WYNN hoped the Hon. Member would not
press his motion during the absence of the Right Hon.
Baronet the Member for Tamworth, who took a great
interest in the subject.

r.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN must press his motion, and
he would briefly state the reasons which had induced
him to propose the clause. The :Umber bribing an
elector was much more guilty than the poor elector re-
ceiving the bribe. He was surprised that the Hon.
Member for Bridport was opposed to the declaration.
' and the ground that he assumed that such a declaration
would be useless, would: apply equally to every oath
and declaration taken. He proposed that a person
taking such declaration falsely, should be liable to all the
penalties of perjury ; and he believed that in nineteen
cases out of twenty such a declaration would be effec-
tual. To be consistent the Hon. Member should pro-
pose to repeal all enactments requiring such a, declara-
tion from electors. The Hon. Member then proposed
the following clauses :—" And be it enacted, that every
Member returned to serve in Parliament shall, after tak-
ing the oaths prescribed to be taken at the table of the
House of Commons, before he becomes entitled to sit and
vote, also make and subscribe the following declaration :
—‘ I do solemnly affirm and declare that I have not,
directly or indirectly, made use of any bribery for the
purpose of being elected at the late election as a Mem-
ber of this House for the county of (or county
of a. city, town, or borough, as thOcase marbe.)'• And
be it enacted, that if any person shall make and subscribe
such declaration falsely, every such person, being duly
convicted thereof, shall incur and suffer such pains, Pe-