The Sun.
London, England, 1833-08-16 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, AUGUST 15.

The Srstocrta. resumed his seat at a quarter put five
o'clock.

ABOLITION OF INIPRICONMENT FOR DEBT.

The SOLICITOR GENERAL said he rose to propose
(and he did so with great reluctance) that the Bill which be
brought in for abolishing imprisonment for debt, and for re-
forming the law of debtor and creditor might be postponed
until next rpssion. He felt that he could not at present
press it with any advantage to the public, but during
the rece,s he would studiously devote his time to the re-
moval of all the imperfections. and overcoming all the
oto.tach-s which were at present in its way.—(Hear,
hear.) He now gave notice that early next session be
should move for leave to bring in the Bill.

The order of the day for the second reading was then
read, and the second reading was fixed for this day three
months, thereby disposing of it for this ses.ion.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from the prisoners
confined in the King's Bench Prison, in favour of the Bill
which had been just postponed by the Hon. and Learned
Solicitor• General. The petitioners stated the hardships
they and their families suffered at present without
affirding any relief to their creditors.—(Hear, hear.)
Also, a similar petition from the debtors in Warwick
gaol. Many cases of great hardship were mentioned in
that petition, and he begged to remind the Hon. and
Learned Solicitor-General of the absolute necessity of some
very early legislation upon the subj:ct, for the present
system seemed to him to be one of spoliation and destruc-
tion.—( Hear.) The Hon. Member then presented a
petition from 1,400 persons, members of a Political Union
of Aberdeen, and other inhabitants of that city, com-
plaining of the conduct of the first Reformed
Parliament, and stating that there had been a great
eleal of truckling to the Ministers, and that its Members
had become imbecile, by their tergiversation with respect
to the malt tax. They prayed for annual Parliaments,
vote by ballot, and universal suffrage. The Hon. Member
said he concurred in a erect deal of what was stated in
that petition, hut he could not (for reasons be bad before
stated) assent to annual Parliaments.
Lord ALTHORP said he had never during the time
he had been in office objected to the reception of any
petition, but it was necessary that some discretion should
he exercised, and in looking at the petition, he put it to
the House whether such language could with propriety
be used, with respect to the Members, as accusing them of
tergiversation ; the insult was intelligible enough.—(A
laugh and cries of ‘• Hear.")
Mr. COBBETT hoped the Noble Lord would not
object to the reception of the petition.
Lord ALT HORP begged to ask the Hon. Member, if
any body accused him of tergiversation, whether be would
not consider it an insult laugh.)
Mr. HUME s e had no hesitation in avowing that
the act of the House in rescinding its own act on the
malt tax, was in his opinion an act of tergiversation.
Under such circumstances, he did not wonder at people
expressing themselves strongly ; and be could not see how
it could be considered to be an insult.

The SPEAKER said, that whatever opinion might he
entertained on the part of the petition objected to, there
oi another part of it which, without doubt, was highly
objectionable ; and he would venture to say, that the
Chair would be exceedinvly lix in the duty that belonged
to it, it such a petition were suffered to he presented
to that House without animadversion.—(Hear, hear.)
The petition said, " During which period the -eats of that
House, with very few exceptions, were occupied by
Members who were not identified with the interests
of their constituen s, but who only sought the
interest of their own body, or responded to the
Treasury benches." This was imputing motives which
would be highly disorderly if applie I by one Mem-
ber to another ; and if a petition containing such and
similar all gations were permitted to lie upon the table,
the House would he agreeing to receive a gross insult,
and a mist Hiellous and scandalous statement.—(Hear.)
Mr. HUME Otis, rved that he did not understand those
statements in the petition t.. apply to the present House of
Commons, but as an historical averment founded upon
t e last half century.
The SPEAKER said be could not see how the Hon.
Member could avoid seeing the imputation in the petition
against the exiting Howe of C ,nouns, as the petition
distinctly accused the present Parliament with nut doing
its duty.
_ .

Alr.' HUME suggested that the Clerk should read the
petition, anti that then, it he discovered that any word in
the petition applied in the manner premised by the R ght
Hon. the Speaker, he would immediately withdraw it.
The Clerk then read the petition, in which it was stated
that the prtsent Reformed P rliament had forfeited the
confidence of the pe plc ; and, in particular, by its
tergiversation on the subject of the malt tax.
Colonel L. HAY said it was obvious at first sight that
this petition was most disrespectfully worded, and lie
begged leave to object to its reception. He knew some-
thing of the persons who had signed the petition, but at
the same time he felt satisfied the House would be at
no loss to account for the extravagant opinions it
contained, when a Member of that House could be found
to write a letter such as the one he should now read. The
Hon. Member then read the following letter addressed to
the Secretary of the Aberdeen Political Union Bry-
anston-square, Aug. 3, 1833.—Sir, I shall have much
pleasure in presenting the petition intrusted to my charge,
and I shall have also pleasure in supporting its prayer.
But the petitioners may depend on it that this Parliament,
if 1 judge by their proceedings heretofore, will do
little to meet the just expectations of the people. There
appears, on the part of the Ministers, a determinatio❑ to
do as little as they can in the way of reform ; and the
Whigs and Tut ies seem, with that view, to act a very
appropriate part. The one party, to keep semblance of
reforming the institutions. make some propositions, as in
the Bill for Church Reform—and the Tories partly
terrify them, and partly resist every thing that is
worth having. The whole, in fact, is humbug arid
mockery—(L iughter)—and will so continue until the
people show that they are in earnest, and determined to
have reform. I remain, your obedient servant, Joseph
Hume." In conclusion he wished to know whether the
Hon. Gen !emu, disavowed this letter.

Mr. HUME, with considerable energy—Every word
of it is my own, and I am prepared to defend it.—( He ir,
and some confusion.) I have no copy of the letter, but
think it is of my own enditine ; for whenever I give an
opinion I give it hastily and candidly, and I must
say, although it was written off-hand, it states precisely
my (minions in the very language that I would employ. If
the Hon. Member wil! give me a copy of the letter, I will
now amplify on the text, and defend its doctrine. lam
ready to do so now.—(No, take another time.)

The SPEAKER a•ked whether the Hon, Gentleman
consented 'o withdraw the petition ?
Mr. HUME said as the Speaker considered it incon-
sistent with that respect which should be paid to the
House, although his (Mr. Hume's) opinion might be
different—(Hear)—he should withdraw it, as inconsistent
with that respect without which they could not carry
on the bu.ine-s of the house.

Colonel HAY again rose and asked, as it was important
for the Hon. Member's constituents, whether be avowed
that letter ?

Mr. HUME had already stated that it contained his
sentiments, that its language was such as he should use,
that he had wrirten it with his own hand, and was pre-
pared to defend its statemen►s.