The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-08 00:00:00

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[PRioR 47;

Why in those parishes which like to have them
church rates should be taken away from in' intain-
,. ing the fabrics of churches into which many poor
people go without paying a farthing of rates, and
should be put into the pockets of the landlords..
You have asked me a question and Ihave given you
as plain an answer as I could. (Hear, hear.) My
reasons are not very long, but I do not think they
are very bad ones. (Hear.) 1 hats now only to
thank you most sincerely for the uniform kindness
Which I have ever received at the hands of all per-
sons in this county. Many there are who most dif-
fer from me in opinion, but be that as it may, I
know that I have reason to thank every one of you
for the great kindness and forbearance which you
have always evinced towards me, and which I feel
from the very bottom of my heart. I know that
even my political opponents have always given
me credit, as I have always given theni credit, for
acting according to the best of my belief, although
our opinions may differ for the common good of
the country. (Cheers.)
The proceedings terminated, on the motion of
the right hon. gentleman, with the usual ' vote of
thanks to the High Sheriff for presiding on the
occasion.

Xe

7C nt~

NEWSPAPER

-.----------------- ..:--- ,
' in flii-toOlyifffyi?stso deeply interpated, itranitardoes,,
be ' itupPosecl , that I Ay ad 'octipy fhb iti:lsfitieln :.,_
whitiL I' 41',,,Ve i'coV:,fl'4.lang,* 1/0 f njoY-liitheitt -, ._ -
doing bratx
my
,r,ql;ybrat C:, itririk pt,
eiopaedhitwilio ~,
fol:those law-reforms:lo avineh 3- n
4,vaqus perkliT--;--
haie allitded, bot h 'here ati-ct elsewhere; and. which 1' I think, are eaSeritiOly
,necessary leirthe wellbeing
of the peoPeo`f thisiecunt4.' iff.e. '' . -
tii, IMiltrJ : Per-
haps' may, 4i,_ 4 wordy. allude to tilago_,Os iu the '
same direction of thelatte•Gloverninent.;,.4l6,not •
stand:here to underrate the 41flictultle& will:Ix/IWO,. -that Government was eneerapaefted, co,- ftseithegssiess -
than appreciate the medeures-whiehlheliaireekstledi, ;
and-in some of which they succeeded.; .44,1,avai. •
that; conaiderieg that during-,the 'lO inonan ttlee
the Earl of Derby was at the-bead :of theldeetosu' .
melt in 1852 that_Miniatry were. ,the antbbre 'of
more arid greater law refer.* 'than' oy ii*sl(74tr br
. .
subsequent Ministry during t4O fir4,lolrOt fbe pre-
meeut:
also. that , tlse -Ate GO- '
rn
niceenntturhyad;
V liTenBilleint-ipug ower foiq fire-Yeank- Bern- ,
m
Tn-ding=iat -least for all the-purpuees of--law -re-
form and civil administration—a large majority in,
both Houses of Parliaments I think thatthe people
hare a right to complain that that. GOvernment—.
called as it was a ."Liberal"-fGeverittil, tint..7--bas
done far too little. (Hear, hear.) In :the last
session of Parliament two important hille.were cen-
t dely passed—the Testamentary ,Bill .relating to
wills and administration, and' the Divorce Bill.
Far be it from me to say that the Testamentary
Bill has not effected a great improvement in the
law and I, in common with ail Englishmen, owe
andterider my thanks to the Government for having
successfully.
.carried through the Parliament that
important measure. But at the same. time I feel
that justice -is clue to, the Conservatives: in_hoth
Houses of Parliament who mainly contributed to
the success of that measure ; for wit: Teas for year
afteriyear upon the reports of commissions and com-
mittees, bills had been attempted to be framed end
mrny had been brought forward to reform.the 'exer-
cise of testamentary jurisdiction, it was only in the
last session that a bill was at length pissed, that
bill being in all its main principles idetitical•with
,one which I had myself preiietVly prOpesed to
Parliament. (Hear, hear.)
.Se also with. respect •
to the. Divorce Bill. Opinion is certainly much di-
vided upon many of the provisions of that billy and
of some of them I entirely disapprOve, yet' it has un-
doubtedly effected-a 'great improvauxtearti in Juane
'respects--enabling the deserted
.wilei, l'orexianaple, to
protectherown earnin;o; and herlittle propertyfrom_
the profligate husband who has left cher'; but even
that importnt part of that impel tent measure you
owe to Lord St. Leonards, who was. Lord Chancel-
-1-)r under the Administration of the Earl of Derby.
(Hear.) Still, let me do justice to the late Govern-
ment. I believe that many of them were sincere in
their desire to effect law reform ; but circumstances
may have prevented them . , they may have looked
rather more to party consideration than was desirae
ble, and: have wasted that time in mere party sub-
jects which would have b2en better bestowed upon
these important matters. I hope that in the posi-
tion to which you have now restored me, of your
representative, I shall be enabled, even during the
present session, to submit to the consideration of
the Legislature a number of important measures in
which all of you must be more or less interested.
We hear in all the great commercial 'towns of Eng-
land loud comp'aiats of the state Of the law of bank-
ruptcy and insolvency, as affecting the relations of
debtors and creditors. I have already, during the
very short time that I have been in office, directed
my attention to that sabject, and I am in commu-
nicat. on with persons conversant with commerce
and commercial exigencies in all their details in
several of the great commercial cities and towns in
England. I trust therefore that Isbell before long
be enabled to submit to the House of Commons a
measure which at least will remedy the' greater
number of those evils under which the mercasaile
community have so long laboured. (Hear::) Atain,
there is a measure for the registration of tithes and
for facilitating the transfer Of land..: That isia. sub-
ject in which every inhabitant of this 'cotin:ii y 1:n.64
feel a personal interest ; because the eXpenh3a at-
tendant upon the smallest trainee-T-I°n in the way
of selling or exchanging a little piece of land are
such as often to deter people from taking those mea-
sures in their domestic relations and for personal
purposes which may be very essential to their inte-
rests ; or they are. such if those measures be taken
as to bring upon persons difficulties and embar-
rassments without end. Let me here assure
a class of persons in whom I myself take
a sincere interest—l mean the attorneys and
solicitors of England—a class to whoni'l will not
say that I owe, but certainly through'Whoin I have
obtained whatever I may possess ct fortuee and Fite-
ton—a class of persons for whom I entertain the
sincerest respect—let me assure them that I should
with infinite reluctance become a party to any mea-
sure which would in any Way prejudicially affect
their interests, But I believe that no such conies-
queuce will follow. I believevii sTreelseilluecteed in
passing a measure whieb 'shall enable to4traroinin• to
transfer or to e' aree his land Withthe same fealty
as he might transferor charge -so much stock in the
funds, that so far- from injuring the interests of
attorneys and solicitors it will for many years to
come, at least during the first and primary working
of the measure, increase their eeenpariirizi-7‘Witho-nt
prejudicially affecting the interests -of -the--eonamu-
nity. There are many other measures which I will
not detain you by alludinr, to, but to which, my at-
tention has been directed. I can only assure you
that in all that relates to law reform, in all-that re-
lates to the civil administration of the affairs of this
country, in a'l, more especially, that can affect the
interests of the land, and of the owners and oocu-
piers of land, I shall endeavouiworthilytO discharge •
those duties which you have imposed upon me.
Gentlemen, I will not detain you longer. It re-
mains for me once more to offer you my sincere
thanks for the honour you have now conferred-upon
me, and to assure you that in executing the trust
which you have committed to me I will'endestilanr
to the best of my ability faithfully to repreetelit Your
,
sentiments, ever to promote your interests,. and to
do my duty to you and to my country. (Cheers.)
In answer to an elector who asked the opinion of
the learned member upon church-rates, lowering
the property qualification, and education,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the subject of
church rates has long been one of attentive consi-
deration with me. It is surrounded with many dif-
ficulties; for while, on the one hand, it affects pro.
party and the rights of property, on the other it may
be said to affect—and no doubt in many instances it
does affect—religions liberty. Under these cir-
cumstances, and considering that the subject is
beset with many difficulties which have puzzled
and perplexed all the greatest, wisest, and most in-
telligent statesmen of the day, it (al hardly be ex-
pected that I should say here and at once that I
am prepared with any measure, or that I can ex-
press any decided opinion upon the subject, But I
will say this, that I do think that those who do not,
and who, upou religious principles, cannot; with
propriety, attend our Churches may well complain
that they should be obliged to contribute to their
maintenance ; and whenever it is possible tq devise
a measure—and I hope that it will be possible before
I appear here again, as it may before any great
length of time—whenever, I say, it is possible to
devise a measure by which justice can be done, and
by which while the rights of property are re-
spected, those who decline from religious motives
to contribute to the expense of the maintenance of
the churches of England may be relieved from doing
so, I shall r.joice in the opportunity of supporting
such a measure. (Cheers.) I may say, if it will
afford any satisfaction to the gentleman who has
propounded the question, that the subject has at-
tracted attention, and that it is now under the con-
sideration of many members of the Government. I
earnestly hope that during the present session we
shall be enabled to suggest some measure that will
assist at least in remedying the present evil. With
regard to the extension of the franchise, my desire
9 1., as I have already said, to begin at the upper
end—to give it first to all who are now without it,
who are clearly entitled to it by property or edu-
cation: When that shall be effected, and we shall
have extended the present franchise--I mean the
right of voting by reason of the occupation of 10 .
houses—toa great number of towns altogether nn-
represented,l shall be ready to take into favourable
consideration the claims of those who occupyhouses
of still smaller value ; but I must not be understood •
to pledge myself on'the subject, because I say that
we ought first to give it to all who are clearly
and undeniably entitled to it before we descend
lower in the scale. As to education, I did not quite
understand the scope of the question. I may state,
however, that the present First Lord of the Admi.
ralty has bestowed a great deal of attention upon
this important subject, and that he had submitted
a measure upon it to the consideration of Parlia-
ment ; the principle of whicS, at least has met with very general concurrence. I shall
earnestly
support the efforts of my right hon. friend in the
same direction, and. I trust that before long a mea-
sure will result which shall have the effect of enab-
ling every parent in England who thinks fit to do
so to educate hie children. (Cheers.)
Three cheers were then given for Lord Derby,
after which, on the motion of Sir F. Kelp,
seconded by Mr. Cobbold, M.P., a vote of than
]co
tendered to the High Sheriff.
awledged "the
The HIGH SHERIFF briefly
ackwaserublage for
compliment. -, He ,thanked the
_a
whic.
e they bad
the extremely orderly mar r 1
:dad a request that
conducted themselves, an
they would now quietly
disperse and betake them-
ti ys3 homes—a request which,
melvee to their resireeudge,
they
with
instantly complied
so faraswe c
for in ac;euwl j
momenta the crowd had din?.
peered, and the ordinary quiet of the locality was
restored. _ . _

rt STSVI

STAMPED 5D •]

cultiec to . perform. Among the. first is' that
of providing for the future well-being of
that immense country which belongs .to the
Crown of these realms, comprising our territories
in the East Indies. I certainly thought . that the
time had not arrived when it was fit td legislate
upon that important subject. -A civil war raging
throughout some of the moat populous countries in
India—our army and navy engaged in maintain-
ing the supremacy of this country there—many of
the natives of India stirred up into rebellion—that
rebellion yet unquelledi,and a
,state of warfare and
danger existing which calls for the exercise of all
the power of Government and the might of the
country to subdue,' I feel that it would have been
better, wiser, and more politic to have deferred for
a time all legislation in respect of that great-coun-
try, and to live chosen-a period of peace, when
men's minds being tranquilized might better appre-
hend the course which-it would become the duty
'of the advisers of the Crown to take,
and when we
.could enter upon that important subject with the
calmness and deliberation which it, pre-eminently
deserves. (Cheers.) But you are aware that
'under a vote of the House of Commons, carried
by a great majority, -it has been determined that
immediate legislation shall take , place, and
'that a bill shall at once be considered, and
probably passed, for settling the affairs of India.
Under these circumstances it appears to me that it
, would be impossible for the East India Company,
!which has hitherto exeroised the powers of govern-
iment over our. Indian dominions, to maintain their
position and to discharge -their duty-to: the Crown
' and to the publio"with that confidence and efficiency
which are necessary at such an all-important period.
We feel that a large majority of the'House of Com-
mons having deolared---I will not say that the East
India Company are unfit to govern, but that they
ought no longer to govern our territories in India ;
that the government ought to be transferred to the
Crown, and to the advisers of the Crown—we feel
that it is an imperative duty imposed upon us by
the will of the majority of the House of Commons
at once to legislate upon this important subject,
which I rejoice to say—and it would be premature
for me were I to add more on the point at the pre-
sent moment—is committed to thehands of a noble-
man—the Earl of Ellenborough—whose abilities
and long-tried experienced in India are such as to
insure, if the task can be well accomplished, that it
shall be so accomplished by that noble earl.
(Cheers.) There is another subject upon which I
do not feel called upon to address you with any re-
serve, and upon which, as upon all others which
are influenced by temporary or peculiar considera-
tions, you have a right to expect freedom and open-
ness of discussion on the part of your rep esenta-
tive, —I mean the all-important question of reform
in the representation of the people. (Cheers.) I
must say that upon this subject justice has hardly
been done to that great Conservative party in the
State to which I am proud to belong, and if I could
presume to offer a complaint of anything personal
to myself I should say that I had hardly had justice
done to me upon this important question. It has
been imputed to the Conservative party, and it has
been imputed personally to myself, that we are in •
sincere in our endeavours and in the expectations
which we may hold out for reform in the represen-
tation of the people, and that we desire to prevent
all reform, all change, all improvement in that, as
in other departments of that State. Now I have
long felt, in common I believe with those who have
bestowed impartial reflection and attention on the
subject, that the elective franchise is confined to
c,rtain classes of the people who ought not exclu-
sively to possess it. It has been supposed—nay, it
has been publicly stated within these eigh t-and-fot ty
hours, with reference to plans to which I ! are fre
time m
to time here and elsewhere alluded—that I de.
sire to deprive of the elective franchise the free-
holders, tenant farmers, and others in the county
of Suffolk and throughout Great Britain. So far is
that from being correct, that on the contrary I de-
clare that I will never be a party to any scheme of
reform by which one single British man who now
enjoys the franchise should be dispossessed of that
franchise. My policy is all for extension, and when
we reflect that there are now men in this kingdom—
not
numbered by hundreds or by thousands, but by
hundreds of thousands—who are well qualified by
education, by property, by character, by position by
all that can entitle a free man in a free country to
the possessioli of the elective franchise—who have
it not, and who are among the unrepresented in this
country, I 'feel that we ought not, whenever the
time shall come to legislate upon this subject, to
leave one man in Britain,. who is by the qualities,
time to which I have averted entitled to the
electivto tranchise, without it. I therefore desire--
and I hope that there is nothing that the humbler '
classes of society will complain of when I say so—;
to begin at the upper end and to descend in confer-
ring the franchise as the state of education and in-
telligence among the people will permit. Whether
in counties or in towns I would certainly confer the
franchise upon every individual who possesses a suf-
ficient income to afford a prospect of his exercising
that franchise independently. I would
.likewise
confer it upon every man in Britain who can show
that he possesses a liberal education, but that he has
a sufficient knowledge to justify the expectation of
an intelligent, right-thinking, and reflective
exercise of that franchise, even although he
might not be a freeholder in a county, or a
10/. householder within a borough. (Hear.) It is
necessary also—but here we come upon a task full of
I delicacy and difficulty—that a great number of
towns throughout Great Britain, the population of
which has increased of late years until they have
become places of great importance and considera-
tion, should no longer be deprived of the elective
franchise. When you find, for example, towns like
the neighbouring borough of Harwich with a small
population returning two members, and others with
' a still smaller, or perhaps even with a larger popu-
lation—for you all know that the number of inhabi-
tants in a town varies from time to time from cir-
cuinstances over which the Legislature has no con-
trol—returning one member to Parliament, while
we have great and extensive towns in the North of
England and elsewhere, with 30,000 or 40,000 inba-
bitd,n,ts, returning uo member at all, you must feel
that that is an evil which ought to be remedied. I
know no reason' for example, why my old friends
and constituents in Ipswich who live in 101. houses
in the borough should continue to enjoy the fran-
chise, when it is refused to the inhabitants of the
neighbouring town of Hadleigh, who are equal in
character in property, and in intelligence to the
inhabitants of this town. (Hear.) These are some
of the evils which I would seek to remedy ; and
moreover I cannot but feel that a great and undue
disproportion exists under the present law between
the population and the number of members return-
ed. I would, therefore, as far as may be, endea-
vour to restore the balance and to do equal justice
to all the inhabitants of this country. Ido not say
—for it would be absurd to dream of such a mea-
sure—that I would endeavour to parcel out the na-
tion into districts, with an exact proportion of popu-
lation to members returned
.; but I cannot see why
some 52 coun-ies in England and Wales, with half
a million of electors, and I am afraid to say how
many inhabitants, should return but 159 members,
' while the boroughs within those counties return
members in the proportion of at least three to one.
While attempting to do justice, then, to the popu-
lation at large, and to extend the franchise so far as
the education, the intelligence, the property, and
the general improvement in all classes of the
people will permit us to do with safety, let us at
the same time do justice to the counties, and take
e
care that the number of members returneclraybf;tiig
counties of England and Wales shalllar
In the tors and of their population.. (p
like a fair proportion to the immensity
heers.)offrheirelec-
eetantjquestion,
re-
makes which I make upon this i
hasha tdle speak e amke only
the
hfeorwn3evye,re,ifpiermiiihtemne
earlith him in the government
coedconin-
honour to associate noble
ew remind
wyhomoupt
atnakneouinnt
leis
the representation and to
con-
sideration the state o
Pajlihaimehenbtetihsatthiet is
•hmleea'sdinhtasentlaiotnelytO
bring forward some measure on the subject ; but he
has at the same time announced that he feels it im-
possible,
consistently with his other public duties,
to those other measures
and with a due regard •
which are forced upon the immediate attention of
the
Legislature, to undertake that task during the
present session of Parliament. I must freely tell you
that this is all that I can say to you on the subject,
for it is all that I know myself. lam not in the
secret of the heads of the Government, if they have
a secret; I know not their individual or general
views upon this question ; but speaking for myself, ,
and for myself alone, I say that I shall be ready,
awn' whenever nI e
dveern,ta
hfietairatde ctoonvsaeynitehtuattite consideration
of shall arrive—
and
of this question ought not longer to be postponed
than the ensuing session—in my place in Parlia-
ment and whether in or out of office to advocate
and maintain these principles, even down to the
details to which I have now alluded. There
are other subjects on which, although I am loth to
letain,you, I am obliged to say a few words before
I bid you farewell. A member of the profession of
the law, and having long directed my attention to
those question* of law reform in whichevery man

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