The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-28 00:00:00

THE CASE OF 1111. MOREWOOD.

The Marquis of TOWNSIILND moved for a Select
Committee to inquire into the statements contained in the
petition of Mr. J. Morewood presented on the 3d May last.
Duke of MARLBOROUGH said that ho did not wish to
say one woad against the talent, and ability, and exertion
of Mr. Morewood, but there were 13G other gentlemen who
had put forth schemes with regard to the drainage of
London.

"LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tits DAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 2 o'clock.
THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL.
The House having gone into committee on this bill,
The AT TORNEY-GENERAL moved a clause providing
that notice should 1.).3 sent to every ratepayer occupying
premises conferring the franchise, and that no rate should
be deemed payable until the expiration of seven clear days
from the service of such requisition or note.
Mr. MARSH objected to the clause on the ground that it
would have the effect of giving the overseer power to dis-
franchise anybody he liked.
Mr. ROEBUCK also opposed the clause, but it was sup-
ported by several hon. members.
After some discussion the clause was agreed to without
a division.
Lord J. BROWNE moved at the end of the clause to add
"It shall be the duty of the overseer to make such demand
within a month from the publication of the rate, and if he
neglect to do so he shall be liable to a penalty of 20s. in
each case."
Mr. Sergeant GASELEE said this would make the bill
one of pains and penalties.
On the motion that the clause stand part of the bill,
Lord CRANBORNE observed that those from whom
the rates were not demanded would come upon the rates,
and the clause therefore conferred entranchisement
without the payment of rates. The effect would there-
fore be to give a vote to the residuum who could not pay
their rates.
Mr. LOCKE thought the only course for the committee
to pursue was to leave the voters to be enfranchised by
this bill in the same position as the £lO householder
now stood; and if they negatived this clause that
would be the result. (Hear, hear.) By so doing they
would simply show the hon. member for Tiverton to be a
(else prophet, because he had in a previous clause iuserted
the words "as hereinafter mentioned." Well, suppose they
did not mention anything at all. (Laughter.) No harm
would be done, and the unnecessary words would be struck
out on bringing up the report.
Mr. ROEBUCK made an appeal to the Government not
to proceed with the clause which put into the hands of un-
educated men a tremendous power. (Hear, hear.) They
were taking a dangerous step, which would ruin the coun-
try by letting in the rabble of the people.
Mr. DENMAN little expected to be told that this was a
clause which would ruin the constitution. He must express
his surprise at the member for Southwark, who was a
lawyer, and ought to have seen that he was taking a
most narrow and disfranchising view. In many boroughs,
no doubt, the overseers were political partisans,
but one party would not suffer more than the other.
Besides, no more would be given them than
they already possessed, because the overseer was
liable to account to the parish for the due payment of
the rates. The Attorney-General had done his duty in
bringing up this clause, which was fairly and honestly
drawn, and if the Government did not support it, they
would be deceiving him and many other members.
(Oh, oh !)
Mr. G. HARDY remarked that the clause was brought
up at the suggestion of the hon. member for Tiverton, but
for himself he should prefer the present system of giving
notice of the rate, viz., by public notice on the church
doors

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the posi-
tion of the Government with reference to this clause had
been entirely mistaken. On the occasion when the hon.
member for Tiverton brought forward his suggestion there
was no doubt a majority of the house in its favour,
but the Government were opposed to it. Under the cir-
cumstances, however, the Attorney-General undertook to
draw up a clause which put the hon. member in the posi-
tion he would have occupied if a division had been taken
that night. But the opinion of the committee was now,
he believed, very different. The Government, however,
had fulfilled their duty.
Mr. GLADSTONE observed that he understood from the
remarks of the right hon. gentleman that he would not sup-
port the clause on the motion being put from the Chair.
(No, no.) He understood that from the language which had
been used, and which involved the conduct of the Govern-
ment towards private members. Ho objected to the Go-
vernment accepting a proposal of a private member, and
then for the Chancellor of the Exchequer—at least the
Home Secretary—to rise and state that he viewed the
acceptance or non acceptance of the clause with perfect in-
difference. He would not take the decision of the com-
mittee as referring to the words inserted in the 3rd clause
at a critical period of the bill, and if the clause were thrown
out he must accept it as a re-opening of the whole ques-
tion of payment of rates, and the whole battle of the bill
would have to be fought over again.
After some observations from Mr. D. GRIFFITH,
The AT TORNEY-GENERAL said he felt bound to sup-
port the hon. member for Tiverton only so far as he would
have done if his original amendment had been carried to a
division. He should, accordingly support the clause ou
the present occasion, but felt himself at perfect liberty to
vote for its omission on the bringing up of the report.
Mr. DENMAN said ho had been guided in his conduct
towards the bill by the belief that the principle of his
amendment had been accepted, but it was not for him to
say how or in what manner the Attorney-General should
rate.

After some further discussion the committee divided,
when the numbers were—

For the clause 205
Against 207
Majority -2
The clause was accordingly negatived.
Mr. GLADSTGNE moved that progress be reported,
and accused the Government of having violated its pro-
mise to the hon. member for Tiverton.
After some further discussion,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER promised
under the circumstances to bring in a new clause.
[LEFT sirmo. I