The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-15 00:00:00

CORK ELECTION.

Dr. BALDWlN.presented a petition from the freeholders
and inhabitants of Cork, praying for a legislative enactment
to prevent bribery and corruption at future elections of that
city. The Hon. Member observed that it was well known
that the Conservative Society of Dublin, of which he believed
the Hon. Member for Sligo (Col. Perceval) was a member,
had sent down money for the purpose of bribing the
freeholders and freemen at the late election, and that
an office was opened in George's-street to distribute the
money, which was done in the most unblushing manner. He
was glad to see the Noble Lord in his place, whose father
had introduced the Reform Bill, and he trusted that he and
the other members of his Majesty's Government would see
the necessity of introducing some measure which would pre-
vent these mal-practices—which would prevent the city being
put to the expense of petitioning that House, and would Save
Committees of that House the trouble of turning out obtru-
sive Members from the seats they had usurped. The petitioners
suggested that candidates should be required to take the same
oaths against bribery, as was required to be taken by the
electors at present. None of the evils which it was supposed
by some would result from the adoption of the Ballot, could
ensue from such a course. It was well known that the system
of the Ballot had been found to work well in the election of
Directors of the East India Company, which legislated for 120
millions of persons, and he (Dr. B.) was a decided advocate
for it. The Hon. Member begged that the petition be referred
to the Select Committee on Bribery at Elections.
Colonel PE RCE VAL regretted that the late Members for
the City of Cork were not in that House, that they
might
have an opportunity of replying to the very serious charges of
bribery and corruption which had been brought against them
by the Learned Doctor. He was satisfied that his Hon.
Friends, Colonel Chattcrton and Mr. Leycester, the unseated
Members, were not taxable with such offences.—(Hear.)
He was perfectly satisfied that if none but those who possessed
a bona fide franchise were allowed to vote, the result of th e
late Cork City election would have been very different ; but
the Committee had refused to go into the qualification of
1,080 persons objectqd to. lie greatly regretted that
in almost every case of Irish-election petitions, justice had
not been done, in consequence of this scrutiny not
having been entered upon. The only remedy for this would
would- be, a revision of the freeholders' list, as the Courts of
justice were at present closed against any persons petitioning
against freeholders whose title was good for eight years.
He (Col. P.) would not have risen if the Learned Doctor
had not alluded to him as being a member of the imaginary
society in Dublin, which had sent down money to defray the
expenses of the Conservative candidates. So far as regarded
that part of the Learned Doctor's statement, he (Col. P')
b-need to deny the charge. He believed there was at pre-
sent a 13111 before the House, for the prevention of Bribery
at Elections, which included a provision for candidates taking
the same oaths as the freeholders.
Mr. O'D \V YER denied that there were too many facili-
ties to the registering of freeholds in Ireland. There was
scarcely any impediment in England, while in Ireland they
had to appear before the Registering Barrister, and undergo a
severe cross-examination from any person who pleased. Many
of those Conservatives who were most violent in their opposi-
tion to the people had no money of their own, and therefore
must have been supported and returned by the friends of the
Conservative body.
IRISH CORPORATION REFORM.

Dr. BALD WIN presented a petition from Cork, com-
plaining of the present state of Municipal Corporations in
Irelar.d, and of that of the city of Cork in particular. Ile
regretted that the Noble Lord the Secretary for Ireland was
not in his place, as he was sure that Noble Lord would gratify
the citizens of Cork, and of every other city in Ireland, by
announcing the intention of his Majesty's Government to in-
trcduce a measure of complete Municipal Corporation Reform
in Ireland.
Mr. FLEETWOOD presented a petition from Preston in
support of the measure of Corporation Reform.
The petitions were ordered to lie on the table.