The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-20 00:00:00

the provisions of the law, and he saw no reason to question
the policy or the justice of it. If they thought tLe powers
were not sufficient, it was competent fur them to alter the law,
but while it remained in force he did not feel disposed to in-
terfere in any individual case. Seeing how the inquiries had
been conducted in former times by party decisions in the Com-
mittees of Parliament, and seeing the tendency that political
excitement had to interfere with the decisions of such Com-
mittees, he for one would resist any further inquiry, except that
sanctioned under the law of the Noble Lord, and such as would
have the object of rescuing the character of an individual from
the injury to which it has been subjected.—( Hear. )
Mr. HUME said it appeared that if ever the House was pre-
pared to act in any cases of compromise the present was the
time. This was the first ease of the kind brought before the
House, and he hoped the Committee should be allowed to in-
quire into the fact as to whether such a compromise as that
allegedAfte
After
df,, takew
words
place.o
f explanation from Mr. WOOD in re-
ference to the sanction of the Committee that had sat on the

case,
Mr. CHRISTIE said ho was willing to fall into the sug-
gestion of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir R. Inglis), and he
would, therefore, strike out the latter part of his motion. It
would then stand a motion for a simple inquiry as to whether
such a compromise really happened.
Mr. DUN CONIBE said they ought to inquire into the real,
question of compromise, and not be led away from it by the
Right Hon. Baronet. No one could read the evidence taken
before the Committee without being persuaded that a compro-
mise did take place. The fact was, the Committee had been
completely bamboozled. The Hon. Member then read at some
lenth the evidence of witnesses. This was the evidence sent
forth to the public, and could it be expected that it should
satisfy the House ? He trusted the House would proceed with
its inquiry into the alleged compromise which had taken place,
so that justice might be rendered to all parties.
Mr. LABOUCIIERE said that it was due to the justice
and character of the House that a Committee should be
appointed to ascertain whether a system of extensive bribery
had existed at Bridport ; but he did not think that that Com-
mittee should prosecute its inquiry as to whether a compromise
had been come to. A compromise was, in itself, no offence,
and it would be only a waste of public time and money to ex-
tend the inquiry so far. He thought that this course—that
he meant of extending their investigation into the matter of
compromise—would only revive those party feelings and party
prejudices which had in former times brought such disgrace
upon the privileges of the House.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. HENLEY thought that the election inquiries before
Committees of the House, as at present conducted, were little
better than a farce.—( Hear, hear.) There were two Ties-
' tions in this inquiry, the one of bribery and the other of a
compromise ; but an inquiry under the Act of the Noble Lord
the Member for London was, in fact, no inquiry at all. The
electors of Brid7ort did not choose that their borough should
be disfranchised, and as respected them, therefore, the inquiry
into bribery would only be, as he had already stated, a solemn

farce.
Mr. BANKES then withdrew his amendment, and Mr.
Christie's amendment was put as a substantive motion.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved, as an amendment,
that all the words after " Romilly" be left out.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, when there
appeared—
For the motion 47.
Against it 47
The SPEAKER gave his vote in favour of the amendment of
the Attorney-General, which was consequently carried.
The motion of Mr. Christie was about to be disposed of,
•
when
Mr. HUME moved that the debate be adjourned to Thurs-
day, as Mr. Christie and several other Hon. Members had left
the House.—The motion was agreed to.
RAILWAY COMPANIES DISSOLUTION BILL.
The House then went into Committee on this Bill.
After a short discussion the whole of the clauses, with some
few verbal amendments, were agreed to.
The House having resumed, the CHAIRMAN reported ac.
cordingly, and the report was ordered to be brought up on
Thursday next.
VISCOUNT HARDINGE'S ANNUITY BILL.
This Buil went through Committee.
The reports on Viscount Hardinge's and Lord Gough's
Annuity Bills were brought up and agreed to.
The report on the Explosive Substances' Bill was brought up
and agreed to.
On the motion of Sir JAMES GRAHAM, the following
clauses were introduced into the Bill :-
1. To enable justices to grant warrants to search for explo-
sive and destructive substances in cases of sworn informations
that an offence under this Act is intended.
2. To enable constables without warrant to stop and search
persons whom they shall find abroad at night, under circum-
stances of reasonable suspicion, that an offence under this Act
is intended.
The Bill was then ordered to be read a third time this day.
The other orders of the day es ere then disposed of, and
On the motion of Mr. CARDWELL,
The House adjourned at Twelve o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.

From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)

TUESDAY, MAY 19.
The following Railway Bills were withdrawn :
Ulversto ne, Furness, and LancaSter and Carlisle.
Carlow Extension.
Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth.
The following Petition for a Railway was reported, and the 8111
ordered to be brought in by the undernamed Hon. Members :
Grand Junction (Iluyton and other Branches)—Mr. Patten and
Viscount Sandon.