The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-14 00:00:00

of the war, whether that be one or two years.. before they
could g-t that constitutional government whit h the Noble
Lord himself thought was so necessary for etiem. They
ought to endeavour seriously to remove the discontent of
the colony. The feeling of discontent was so great that it
was only the limited means of the colonists which prevented
their passive resistance of last year taking a more active
ferns at the present time; and if the interests of the colonists
demanded it, they ought not for a moment to permit any
delicacy for the feelings of Sir H. Smith to stand in the
way of the proper course to be adopted. He thought the
Government would do well to adopt the suggestion of the
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Adderley).
Mr. LABOUCIIERE said that the Committee which sat
last year, and of which he was a member, had been actu-
ated by the most sincere desire to give to the colonists free
political institutions. The measures founded on the recom-
mendation of that Committee were most acceptable to the
colonists, and it was only owing to the unfortunate circum-
stances which had occurred that those measures bad not
been carried into effect before the present time. There was
no intention whatever of withholding free institutions from
the colony.
Mr. HUME urged the Government at once to take the
requisite steps to induce the colonists to co-operate cordially
with the Government in putting down the war.
Mr. ADDERLEY said, as it appeared the Noble Lord did
not intend to give the colonists a constitution till the war
was over—
Lord J. RUSSELL said he bad not said any such thing.
The constitution would be granted when it was seen fit, in
the present state of affairs, to grant it. He wished to reserve
to the Government the free decision of the time and circum-
stances—that was all.
At ter a few more words from Lord J. RUSSELL,
Mr. ADDERLEY moved that the Chairman report
progress.
Mr. BRIGHT suggested that as the facts respecting the
fitness of the colony for a constitution might present them-
selves in another light to the Noble Lord by the arrival of
the next mail, he suggested the motion should be withdrawn.
Lord NAAS joined in the recommendation of the Hon.
Member. He considered the declaration of the Noble Lord
to have changed the position of the question.
Mr. WAKLEY said the Under-Secretary for the Colonies
had stated the constitution would not be granted till the war
was over.
Mr. HAWES denied that he had made any such state-
ment. He only said that it would be impossible to grant it
while the governor was on the frontier.
The vote was then agreed to, and ordered to be reported
to the House; and
The SPEAKER resumed the Chair.
BUSINESS ON MONDAY.
In answer to Mr. HUME,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that
he proposed on Monday to take the second reading of the
Customs Bill, then the second reading of the Inhabited
Householders Bill, and then a Committee of Supply.
INCOME AND PROPERTY-TAX COMMITTEE.
ADJOURNED DEBATE.
Mr. HUME moved the names of the Committee on the
income and property-tax, of which he had given notice, viz. :
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Thomas Baring, Mr.
Cobden, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Horsman, Mr. Henley, Mr.
Vesey, Mr. F. Mackenzie, Mr. J. Wilson, Mr. Ricardo, Mr.
Roebuck, Colonel Romilly, Lord Harry Vane, and Mr
Sotheron.
Colonel SIBTHORP complained that the army and navy
were not represented on this Committee, though this gross
and unjustifiable tax was laid on them. One of each
profession ought to be on the Committee to represent these
interests.
Mr. HUME was sorry that the list did not meet the
wish of his Honourable Friend, but it was impossible to
please everybody. There was a military officer on the Com-
mittee.
The first name was then agreed to.
On the second name being put,
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said Mr. Baring was already on
three Committees, and he hoped would be exempt.
This and the remaining names were then adopted, and the
Committee appointed.
HOME-MADE SPIRITS IN BOND.
Lord NAAS complained that the Government had taken
every possible means, by delay, to obstruct his bringing for-
ward his measure, on which three divisions had been taker:,
and which on each division had received the sanction of the
House.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER repelled the
imputation.
Mr. HUME said the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer ought to yield to the opinion of the
House when strongly expressed on any question.
Mr. DUNCAN thought that Scotland ought to be con-
sidered in this question.
The report was then received.
The Administration of Criminal Justice Improvement Bill
was read a second time.
The Petty Session (Ireland) Bill went through Committee.
Mr. SCULLY wished to know what portion of the Bill
was to be retained, and what portion abandoned?
Sir W. SOMERVILLE had stated the previous night
what he proposed to do.
The Common Lodging-house Bill was read a third time.
METROPOLIS POLICE BILL.
On the motion for the second reading of this Bill,
Colonel SIBTHORP rose to press the second reading of
this Bill. He had been to great expense of labour and money
ou account of this Bill; but for the advantage of his country
he regretted neither. He could tell the House there was a
great feeling throughout the country in favour of this Bill.
He feared neither vans nor barrel-organs; but others might
not be, like himself, a soldier; and they would, perhaps,
entertain aifferent feelings. Ho had evidence to show that
in 1846 the Right Hon. Gentleman had his attention drawn
to the mischiefs to be apprehended from advertising vans,
but had neglected to take the proper precautions to stop
the mischief. Constant complaints were made of these ad-
vertising vans, which of late had wonderfully increased.
Why were such vehicles allowed to go forth, to the terror of
peaceable individuals and the danger of their lives ? It was
the duty of the Homo Secretary to take steps to stop the
nuisance. If he did not succeed with his Bill, he had at
least the consolation of knowing he had done his duty. If he
could not " command success" he could at least " deserve it."
--(Laughter.) Ile had ventured to hope the Right Hon.
Gentleman would have acceded to the second reading of the
Bill, and allowed it to go into Committee, when any modifi-
cations that might be needed could have been made. He
begged humbly to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman whether
he would allow the Bill to be read a second time pro forma ?
—(Laughter.) If not, he should console himself with having
done his duty, and with regretting that a public servant
should have io far forgotten his duty as to meet him by a
refusal.
Sir G. GREY was satisfied the Hon. and Gallant Member
had solely the public interests in view in bringing forward
this Bill. The Hon. and Gallant Member had not explained
the contents of the Bill. He fully admitted the annoyance
and mischief of advertising vans, but upon looking into
the Bill, he found there had been, as he expected,
a legal difficulty in defining what was an adver-
tising van and what was not. The clause in the
Bill intended to be applicable to these vans was so general
and so extended as to include persons carrying placards, or
tradesmen's carts. He thought it would be better to leave
these nuisances to the police, who had general orders to re-
move all dangerous obstructions in the public thoroughfares.
But this was not all. The Bill extended to street musicians,
and the clause was also very sweeping. He would state
what the law was. He had already stated, that according
to the Police Act, any street musician who refused to cease
playing on being requested to do so by any householder, ren-
dered himself liable to a penalty of 403. The Police Act
would extend to those instruments mentioned by the Hon.
and Gallant Member in his Bill, but he thought that to stop
all street music within the metropolitan district would be to
deprive the inhabitants of a very rational enjoyment. He
mast, therefore, move that the Bill be read a second time
that day six months.
Colonel SIBTHORP said that, in 1846, the Right Hon.
Baronet had stated, through his secretary, that the nuisance
of advertising vans would be considered in any future amend-
ment of the Police Act, but that it was not expedient to
introduce a measure to remedy that particular grievance. In
the present state of the House it was useless dividing. He
had only discharged his duty in introducing the Bill.
Mr. MANGLES thought this an important matter, as, in
consequence of the increased traffic, the great thoroughfares
of the metropolis were absolutely choked, and these adver-
tising vans not only increased the evil, but endangered life,
as he himself had experienced. Something he thought ought
to be done in the Matter.
The second reading was then negatived without a division.
On the motion of Sir W. SOMERVILLE, leave was given
to bring in a Bill to provide facilities for owners and lessees
of mines in Ireland to obtain entry on lands for searching for
and working such mines. Also a Bill to consolidate and
amend the Acts relating to certain offences and other mat-
ters as to which justices of the peace exercise summary juris-
diction in Ireland.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL brought in the Chancery
Reform Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to be
read a second time on Friday next.
The House then adjourned at One o'clock.