The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-09 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVENING.
Tho LORD CHANCELLOR took his scat on the woolsack at
five o'clock.

PETITION.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a petition
relating to a gentleman who had been seized in a British
vessel by the Spanish authorities, which vessel had been
legally sent from a British port. This captive had been
confined for nearly a twelvemonth. Ile instanced
the case of the Abyssinian captives, and urged
upon the House that Spain had no more right
to retain this gentleman and other persons in cap-
tivity than that semi, or rather total barbarian, the
Emperor Theodore, had.
TnE CHURCH RITES ABOLITION BILL.

The Lord DE 3IAULEY moved the second rea.ling
of the Church Rates Abolition Bill. He stated that he
regretted a more able speaker was not to propose the
second reading of a bill on a subject of such vital
importance to the public. In this matter he was
influenced by no acrimony, no party spirit, no
wish to be obstructive, but he was desirous,
and bad given this subject the preference, that there should
be a settlement of this church rate question, especially as
the • new Reform Bill,
,when -it came into operation,
would introduce a clasS of
.persons to whom
chupoli:;itites would be most obnoxious. He thouzlit
that' it- was possible that a compromise might be
entered into between the opposing parties, but in the
meantime he believed that this bill would strengthen
the authority
.of the Church, and do away with much
of the hostility and animosity which now ex-
isted against Churchmen. It was most desirable that
some settlement and conclusion on this subject should be
come to as soon as possible.
Lord DELAMERE moved that this bill be road a second
time that day three months. Ile said that it would be
found that where there was a majority in a parish
in favour of church rates the rate was passed, but when
there was a minority it was not. Now, by this bill they
were proposing to sweep away the only law which pro-
tected the church with regard to church rates,
and they were told that because the church
had done so much they must now do away with the very
inadequate law which belonged to it and protected it.
He then animadverted upon the liberties at present en-
joyed by the Dissenters, and although ho did not deny
that the Church of England was opea to every
ono, yet if they liked to take advantage of it they ought
not object to pay fur it. If Quakers woro to pay for ships
of war and other warlike implements, why should not Dis-
senters pay towards the Established Church? If total abo-
lition passes through both houses, it would be impossible
to maintain the present system in Scotland. Personally
ho would give the greatest amount of conscientious
liberty to every denomination of religionists ; but he coul d
not do otherwise than protest against a measure which
was calculated to depreciate the position of Chwchinen,and
quoted the words of Mr. Gladstone as to the inadvisability
of carrying out what the bill proposed. He finally urged
upon them the amendment which he had just proposed.
Lord ST. LEONARDS objected to the bill on the
ground that it was preposterous to take away the legal
right which the Church had to levy a church-rate. When
support
were thea lm bill,
but
wholly
hnoclls y h
inaudible.
s
afterwards it was collected it would only be a gift or a
dole which was giveninwordsexchange and fragments forthoabmoelnis ofing sen-
tences s was
remarks understoodfrom
first
to last
t o
legal right.
RUSSELLLordbeyondloardfsehwip
disjointed
After a few words from Lord HARROWBY, to the
effect that it would be bettor not to raise the rate com-
pulsorily,
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY said the Church
ei
i
was not averse from a compromise on this subject, and
why it had not been carried out before was simply because
the terms offered to the Church woro such as she could not
possibly accept. He should certainly vote against the se-
cond reading of the bill.

The Duke of MARLBOROUGH was not prepared to
deny that there were some serious grievances under the
present system, but they were bound to remember that the
promoters of tho bill did not propose a fair solution or fair
compromise of the question. Tho question with them was
simply one of establishment or no establishment. At pre-
sent ho feared there was little chance of a compromise, for
the Dissenters seemed by their measures to aim at the
abolition of the Church with the church-rates.

After a few earnest words from the Bishop of Oxford,
deprecating such a swooping measure, and a brief state-
ment from Lord Taunton that ho should vote for the se-
cond reading of the bill, and from Lord Romney that he
should vote against it,
The house then divided, when there wore for the bill—
Contents

Non-contents
82
Majority

The bill was therefore lost.

In committee on the Banns of Matrimony Bill a discus-
sion arose, in which the Bishops of Gloucester and Ox-
ford opposed the first clause, and Lords Cranworth and
Houghton supported it. Lord Derby suggested an omis-
sion of the clause, but Lord Houghton preferred to divide
the house, which was accordingly done, when there ap-
peared for the clause—
Contents
Non-contents
Majority
The other clauses were then agreed to, and the bill
passed through committee.
On the motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR, the
Courts of Law (Ireland) Bill was read a second time.
Several bills were advanced a stage, and the other orders
of the day having been disposed of, their lordships ad-
journed at a quarter-past 8 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKErt took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
Tho following bills were read a third timo and passed :
—Bourton on tho Water Railway (Abandonment, &c.),
Newcastle upon Tyne High Level Hoist, and \Valorloo
and Whitehall Railway (Extonsion of Titn:).
CHARTERHOUSE ESTATE BILL.

This bill was read a second time.
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL.
Mr. BAZLEY presented petitions against the use of
voting papers at the election of members of Parliamont.
Mr. BAINES presented similar petitions from Leeds.
r-
Mr. NEWDEGATE presented a petition from Bi
mingham, signed by 4,000, in favour of the amendment
mado in the House of Lords on the bill with respect to the
representation of minorities.
Mr. CRAWFORD presented a petition from the city of
Loudon, signed by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor,
against the amendments made in the House of Lords in
this bill. The petition emanated from a meeting hold that
day in the Guildhall.
Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from Birmiugha.m
ned b
sigy 15,000 persons, against the amendment
and th made in
the House of Lords, with respect to voting papers
representation of minorities.
Mr. TORRENS presented
ua a roomssi last night.lar petition fro a meet-
ing held in tho Hanover-sqre m
Mr. FOSTER presented a similar petition from Brad-
ford.
On the motion for the consideration of the amendments
made in the House of Lords to the Representation of the
People Bill,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER con-
gratulated the hot seoes t
ho nicoouitsnh:;er
eohpfer on
Csspiovelone tmmoo
nfe
sat.shuer
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ever
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ofso ntonoeutof from e
satisfactory to know that, with the exception of the
qualification for the lodger franchise, the House of Lords
had accepted the provisions of that house for the extension
of the franchise. It was exceedingly satisfactory to know
that, when the House of Lords became hotter acquainted
with what had taken place in the House of Commons,