The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-11 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIES.

In reply ,to Mr. HUME,
Lord U. BENTINCK stated that he did not expect
the Committee, of which he was the chairman, would be
able to make their report for three weeks or a month.
Mr LABOUCHERE said that 234 distinct proposi-
tions had been propounded in connexion with the
matter, and that as a matter of course some time was re-
quired for their consideration.
Mr. HUME hoped the Government would take the
matter into their own hands. He was prepared to bring
his motion forward on Monday, but if it was the wish of
the House he would not bring it forward before the
report was presented. He would, however, state to-
morrow what course he should adopt with respect to the
matter.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that, after to-morrow,
he should move that the public business should com-
mence at half-past four, instead of five, as heretofore.
HORSHAM.
Mr. GORING then moved, pursuant to notice, "That
Mr..Speeker do issue his warrant to the Clerk of the
Crown, to make out a new Writ for the Election of a
Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the
Borough of Horsham, in the room of John Jervis, Esq.,
hose Election has been determined to be void." His
Honourable Friend had withdrawn his motion on
this subject on the express understanding that
the Noble Lord should bring in a Bill
upon the subject ; that Bill had been brought in, but
the further proceedings with it had been postponed
yesterday, in order, as he understot,d, that another
Bill might be proceeded with. Now he deprecated the
adoption of such a course, as the result would be
that Horsham would be unrepresented till that Bill
had been decided. He trusted that the borough of
Horsham would not be allowed to remain in hot water
during the whole of the present session.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL had certainly advised the
House not to issue the writ for Horsham, on the ground
that it was advisable to have an inquiry on the subject.
It did not appear to him material whether the inquiry
should be by the House or by commissioners. He
had, however, taken the opinion of several Members,
and they were of opinion that inquiry would be
better effected by commission rather than by Bill, and
i cbualdty
aon that ground the Bill had been postpon ed.
Mr. HUDSON did not believe the Noble Lord
wmoeunitd
in
passing the Govern-
bona fide desire that
it should do 50. Ile therefore could not understand
why it should be postponed. He trusted the Noble
Lord would at once proceed with the Bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL reminded the Hon. Gentleman
that when Mr. Hume's motion was before the House
Bill, have
ifan any difficulty
ffi
he expressed an opinion • that the writ ought to be
delayed until an inquiry had been instituted into the
amount of corruption in the borough.'
Lord H. LENNOX regretted that he had so completely
misunderstood the Noble Lord when he had the honour
of moving the writ for the borough of Horsham. On that
occasion the Hon. Member for Montrose moved an
amendment, which the Noble Lord partially acquiesced
in. The Noble Lord seemed at the time to think that
the circumstances of the case demanded an inquiry, and
it was therefore necessary that the issuing or the writ
should be postponed till the Bill authorising the inquiry
had been passed.
Mr. HUME rose to disabuse the mind of the Hon.
Member for Sunderland of the notion he appeared to
entertain that this general measure would involve
the country in expense. It would rather save
expense, and he could not help thinking that Govern-
ment was pursuing a wise and constitutional course
No one who had read the evidence taken before the
Horsham Committee could, conscientiously say that
there had not been improper proceedings in that
borough.
Mr. F. O'CONNOR was as anxious that abuses
should be enquired into as any man, but he must protest
against the proposal to select a few boroughs out of a
number to strike an average of the amount of corruption
in each. Th,re ought to be a separate enquiry into
the state of each borough.
Sir G. GREY said that was what Government pro-
posed to do.
Mr. MANGLES hoped the House would not consent
to the issuing of the writ till the inquiry had taken
place.' Every Member of the House keew that in almost
every small borough throughout the country, say of
from 500 to SEO voters, about 220 voters were sincere
and honest Tories or Conservatives, and that the same
number Liberals or Whigs ; and there were between
forty or fifty dishonest men who could turn
the scale either way, and were disposed to
sell the election to whatever party chose to
buy it. However they might shut their eyes to the fact,
every person knew that it was the case, and that there
was no chance of getting the election unless with the
assistance of these men. He, therefore, did hopo that
the Government would take measures to purge the laws
of the abuses which existed in them.
Mr. STUART said he wished to know what was to
be done with the borough of Horsham, and be, more-
over, wished to hear the Government explain and justify
the course w hich they had taken with respect to that
borough and the other boroughs involved in the Bill of
the Hon. Baronet. He contended that the course which
was propcsed to be taken was unconstitutionel with re-
gard to the House, and not creditable to the Govern.
ment. No person could understand what the object of the
Bill was; but if the Government meant to do justice in
punishing the offences they could not do so by inquiring
all over the kingdom where similar offences had been
committed,- but by applying themselves to one case of
gross delinquency when they found it out. The ques-
tion now before the House related only to the borough
of Horsham, and he could hardly think that the House
would be satisfied with the conduct of the Government,
which he considered unprecedented and highly improper.
Sir R. INGLIS said it was for the House to deter-
mine whether the special circumstances urged against the
issuing of the writ were sufficiant to induce the House
to refuse to issue the writ. But it was for the electors who
petitioned against the return to show that the condition
of the borough was such that the welt ought to be re-
fused. But the House having granted writs in the cases
of Lancaster, Carlisle, Lincoln, Aylesbury, and Harwich,
he could not see any reason why they refuse to issue the
writ.
Mr. STAFFORD supported the issuing of the writ.
Lord J. RUSSELL expressed his intention it the Bill

proceeded, that he should proceed with the Bill which
the Government had introduced.
Sir J. HANMER said if the House would not accede
to the second reading—(No, nu)—he would suggest that
the Bill with the amendments should be printed
and that the second second reading should stand
for the 7th of June. (After a pause.) The Noble
Lord bad stated that he would give him this day
week. Well, he would bring it on this day week.
Mr. HENLEY would vote for the issuing of the writ,
because, what with the Noble Lord's Bill that he woulo
not go on with, arid the Hon. Baronet's Bill that he could
not go on with, the unfortunate people of Horsham were
between heaven and earth.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL objected to the issuing
of the writ.
Sir R. PEEL certainly had at first some doubts as
to the propriety of suspending the issuing of the writ
for Horsham, but those doubts were removed when the
Noble Lord at the head ot the Government stated
that his object in proposing that postponement was
that further inquiry might take place. On that under-
standing he r. ad consented to the postponement ; but he
certainly understood that the inquiry on the part
ot the Government was to be instituted immediately.
He thought that the best course to be pursued would
be, that the Government would undertake the
Conduct of the Bill, for the purpose of insti-
tuting and proceeding with the inquiries. The in.
definite suspension of a writ was a serious matter,
and this question ought to be disposed of with as little
delay as possible. Considering, therefore, that the
Solicitor-General had been consulted upon the clauses
of this Bill, and had actual;y undertaken to explain
them to the House, surely, it would not be a great
addition to his trouble it he himself were to take up
the Bill on the part of the Government.—(hear, hear.)
Lord INGESTRE said he should vote for the issuing
of the writ.
Mr. COLVILLE wished to know whether Sir John
Hanmer intended to bring his Bill on the first thing on
Thursday?
HANMER replied in the affirmative.
JOHNDENISON said though he did not intend to
noisitseuis7speofnttijoeow, raintdnouwol,ehsse
scould not consent
me s ids factory
vote
o Sirl‘itf srf E.
result was come to on Thursday next, a Government
took
ttLipisthsoeingo
Bill,f
theh efowrriot.ne would not withhold his vote
fur
fav favour
H o f o
risih,
am and
ihnatdhe n o
schedule
Mr. GORING said he was not averse to inquiry, on
the contrary he
objec-
tion to place the
of the Bill. He could not, however, consent to with•
draw his motion for the issue Of the writ.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the issuing of the writ 73..
Majority
167
- -
- - wss in
borough
(LalT SITTING.
Against it .........................

-------77----- -___
_r,
STATE Or TRADE AND rAMPLOTMENT IN MAN-
CHESTER.—Trade generally has not this week been b 0
promising as was anticipated a few days ago, but
still there is no cause to complain, as on the whole
there is much more activity than was experienced weeks
ago. The gloom is not so palpable as during the past
months, although it is the opinion of most practical men
that some time must elapse before it wholly disappears.
Employment has this spring been given to an increased
number of hands, both in the staple trade and
11
stiin other
there
branches connected with manufactures; yet
are more than 8,000 hands wholly out of employment.
THE GLASGOW RIOTERS.---GLASGOW, TUESDAY
At the meeting of the Circuit` Court, this morning
James Sloey, John Melrose, and illiam Struthers, who
were yesterday found guilty of mobbing, rioting, &c.,
were brought up for sentence. After a s
theuitable
me found
by Lord Mackenzie as to the natu of cri
proven against thew, the court adjudged Sloey to ten
ears' transportation, St, uthers to two years' imprison-
ment,
and Melrose to one year's imprisonment. George
Smith, who was last week convicted of mobbing and
rioting, theft, &c., on, Monday, the 6th of March, and
who was yesterday again tried and found guiaslty ofsenten mob-
bing and rioting, on his own confession, wced
to eighteen years' transportation.
BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION RAIL-
W4Y —A.ii adjourned half yearly wetting .it the share-
holders in this company was held yesterday at Dee's
are before Par.
R .yal Hotel, Birmingham. No business was transacted,
and the meeting was further adjourned to the Kinu,'s
Arms Hotel, New Palace-yard, London, until this day
continued
Y) It is understood that the meeting will be
tetintini.Oed from day to day so long as the Great Wes-
jiuneVls, in reference to this company,
de Committees, as by this means the assent or
be br of shareholders to any propositions which way
brought forward can the more readily be obtained.
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