The Sun.
London, England, 1835-07-03 00:00:00

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politics of corporate bodies, there will also be a change of their
officers. The Attorney-General, therefore, by his chivalrous
Interference, had furnished him w:th the best defence ; for
'surely it could not be supposed that there were to be no politics
in the Town Council. But there was another point ; the
Town Clerk, of course, was to have a salary ; and when a
Change of the corporate body took place, vnight not their sue--
Meers say, as had been said on a certain occasion, " Our pre-
decessors appointed Lord lfeytesbury, and shall vc take the
nominee of Lord Ellenborough ?—( Cheers.) hy retn
him--he ought to le removed?" For these reasons he thought
the argument that the Town Clerk would be continued. in
office hypothetical, but hoped that the Town Clerk would
never obtain such influence and power in the Corporation as
to Lecome independent of the Council. Ile therefore must object
to a s; stem which would lead to constant changes ;mand while
he was anxious to see the office held only duringood be-
haviour, he oust at the same time declare that au annual elec-
tion would not teratribute either to the respectability of the
Deice or to the perrennent benefit of the town.
Mr. P. THOMSON said, though there might be political
changcl in the Town Council, he anticipated no such results
as those alluded to by the Right Hon. Baronet ; for though
the Town Council and the Town Clerk might differ as to
politics, his claims to permanency would rest on his knowledge
of the great business of the borough, which would g a
Town
ive him
great advantage over any compesttor. Supposi
ou never would
ng
Clerk were to be removable for misconduct, y
get rid of a Town Clerk. lie must be guilty of peculation or
a gross act of disobedience to the Council to be proved guilty
of misconduct. He knew Nt there had been canvassing
going on for the office of Town Cerk, and he did not
that there would be the slightest dittk-nitY in obtaining the
man for the office,
services of a professional ,It.ecause any man
kne'w-that if he conducted himself properly, he sys:.7 likely t°
retain his tenure as long as it may suit his interest and co:'
nience. He hoped, upon the whole, that the Committee would
be of opinion that it was better to give this power wholly to
the Council in the first instance, on the same principle upon
which the Bill procceded,--viz., placing the power in the
hands of the people and their representatives.
Mr. TU LK made some observations which were not heard
in the gallery.
Lord STANLEY said that the House, by the course they
were now pursuing. were encouraging this doctrine—that the
office of Town Clerk was to be an office entirely depeedent on
political principles. They were canvassing the relative
strength of political parties in the borough. It was making
out the very case which he (Lord Stanley) wished to make
out. They were making that which was a legal and profes-
sional office, a political and party office ; and it was against that
that he most strongly protested. The result of the canvass
-ivouldbe shown not by qualifications, but by political opinions.
They had said that it should not be a professional office ; they
bad said that a man should be rewarded for his political opi-
nions ; they had made the office a foundation for a standing
job ; they had laid it down as a foundation for truckling for a
municipal office upon political grounds. They were laying the
foundation for corrupting the office on the one hand, whilst on
the other he wished the office to be really respectable. The
Town Clerk might occasionally do unpopular work—he might
be engaged in legal proceedings against a great portion of the
inhabitants of the borough. How was he to discharge his
duty? Next year a different set of men might be engaged on
the Council, and proceedings might take place which were now
taking place. The Hon. Members opposite would have the
first choice of these officers. If they wished to preserve their
friends in power, let it be made a permanent, and do not let it
be made a political office. If he could have seen on the part
of his Noble Friend opposite the smallest wish or intention of
favourably considering this proposal, he would have given the
Committee no further trouble. He felt it to be his duty to
record his opinion, and he should be obliged to give the Com-
mittee the trouble to divide, and move to omit the words,
" removable during pleasure," and to insert these words,
" during good conduct."
Mr. TULK said in the place to which he had alluded the
(Ace was given to a Tory, in opposition to the majority.
Lord HOWICK suggested that the most convenient mode
would be to leave out the words " Town Clerk."
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that in many cases
the Town Clerk, if he conducted himself properly, was ap-
pointed year after year. What were the duties of the Town
Clerk? It was to record the proceedings of the Town Coun-
cil, to enter the minutes. He was not necessarily the soli-
citor for the Corporation. The solicitor might be a totally
different person, and, indeed, ought to be a different person.
It would be most proper to say that the Town Clerk should
not act as solicitor. If, indeed, he had political functions, he
ought to go out as often as there was a change of party in
the borough. The Right Hon. Baronet had, indeed, to boast
of an Attorney-General having remained in office when there
was a change of Government, but there was only one person
whom lie could prevail upon to continue in office after his re-
turn from Italy. At least he (the Attorney-General) could
answer for himself, that no offer had been made to him, for he
could not boast of having rejected any lure which had been
held out to him.
After a few words from Mr. HOT,
Mr. WILLIAMS adverted to the Town Clerk of the city
of London, whom he stated to have held office for the last 35
years. They, as well as other officers, had been elected an-
nually, and no inconvenience had been felt from that course of
proceeding.
Mr. O'CONNELL—The question is whether the Town
Clerk is to be a permanent jobber or not, by being rendered
independent of his employers? He would cease to be a ser-
vant, and would become a master, if he was made independent.
The Noble Lord has mistaken the nature of this Council. He
has admitted it himself. He has said that it is a job too con-
temptible for this House to deal with. I should be glad to
know of a job too contemptible for this House to deal with. I
should be glad to know how it is possible for the Noble Lord
sitting where he does, to talk of a job being too contemptible.
Perhaps the Hon. Gentlemen on that side of the House would
only think of a job in order to reject it.
Lord STANLEY—I beg the Hon. and Learned Member
to explain what he means.--(Cheers from the Opposition.)
Mr. O'CONNELL—Precisely what I said.—( Cheers from
the Ministerial Benches.)
Lord STANLEY—I want to know, in plain terms, what is
the meaning he attaches to the words he has now used in the
face of the House, and which, in the face of the House, I de-
mand an explanation of? I stand upon my character. My
character shall not be publicly attacked by any man who will
not vindicate that attack here or elsewhere. I ask the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman what he means by addressing to me
the expression, that sitting in the place where I now sit, I
have no right to speak of any job as too contemptible for this