The Sun.
London, England, 1835-03-25 00:00:00

erg to invite, by notice, both the tithe-payers and tithe-
Proprietors to a meeting, for the purpose of entering
into a compromise. In every parish notice would be
given to both parties to meet ; and to the meeting the
Commissioners should send a person of tried legal knowledge
Thanedir cliscretion to hear the claims of both parties, examine
relative weight, and suggest the proper course to be
amicably pursued. I would not bind the Commissioners to
one Particular course, or fetter their discrimination or their
Judgment. I would, according as circumstances might arise.
allow them to change their views and look at every feature in
the case narrowly. I would allow them to look at the ques-
tion as if through a microscope. I would not bind them to
take the average of the payments of the last five years as their
unerring guide, but allow them to take occasionally another
Standard. I propose that two-thirds of the tithe payers in
each parish should constitute a majority in the compromise to
be entered into, provided the Clergyman consented. But still
I should have the arrangements made under the cognizance
and sanction of the Board of Commissioners sitting in Lon-
'clOrl. My object being to facilitate voluntary commutation,
Which has been already cerried to such an extent, and release
t. that species of arrangement frees the expense and difficulties
het now belong it, I woesid at the same time throw some
safeguards around it, ana prevent it from being abused. It
is
lcf r m for this reason I would have the superintendence and sane-
t ofthe C
issioners. According to the plan I pro-
P the ayment or a corn rent may be substituted for
ainoid for bat this substituted payment should vary with the
price corn ;
I do not mean with the price of wheat, for, in
iiecorssequenee of the change in our agricultural system, and the
tuations in the. corn market, I do not think wheat a proper
triterion; but I say wheat, and oats, and barley ; and let the
tiisrliecieti:eviv.hether the average be quinquennial or septennial, be
neeidi dly the average price of all the different kinds of corn.
is it my intention to have the services of Assistant
b
-arristers on this occasion, for my great aim is to make the.
Plan as simple, as cheap, and as brief as possible. This plan
would embrace the lay proprietors as well as the Clergy; their
cc anent too to a final and amicable adjustment of the tithe com-
e"ition should be deemed as necessary as that of any other.
tly plan will affect all alike, lay and clerical. Then as to the
Mop of the diocese, one object of the Bill will be to din-
lacose with his consent, which has been rendered necessary
neretofore under the Tithe Commutation Bill. However,
Bs6 pnot entirely discard the influence or authority of the
, who should be allowed some superintending powers,
p
for I would allow him such power in the
selection of the visit
-
leCommissioner (so we understood the Right Hon. Baro-
tg') Should the parties meet for the purpose of commute-
it'll, and in the process of negociation any difficulty arise, I,
Propose that reference be made to the -Board in London,
swhose decision I trust would he. considered satisfactory and
nal The composition having been once agreed on, the tithe-
(vner should have some remedy for recovery. That remedy
Pro Pose should be by action or distress. In the case of a
landlord allowing tithe to be paidiby the lessee, deducting the
amount of tithe from the head rent, I mean that there should
be a revision every five years, in order to allow the parties to
regulate the price of corn, and remodel the standard by which
1
~,1e amount of the composition is to be fixed. I shall limit the
to five years, to see how it may work, for I propose it not
• a
permanent measure, but as an experiment. The tithe-
Biller and payer will see by experience of the working of the
n what course it would be most prudent for them to pursue,
trouble
both will find themselves released from the expense and
rouble of applying fora private Act. It am sure .the effect
°I the Bill will be to extend the system of commutation over
most of the parishes in the empire. My great object has
tell to render the Bill simple and intelligible, the instru-
-Int of an amicable arrangement, without compulsion. Let
2; Lave commutation at first, whether we have redemption
t_er or not. If the measure shall have the assent of this House,
tb•touu shall determine, by consenting to this Bill, to facilitate
er commutation of tithes, you will I think take effectual secu-
PtY by leaving all its details to be decided by a Commission
artially selected, and by the voluntary consent of the
rties inimediately interested, subject always to the controul,
ins consent, which I make indispensable, of that superintend
the aeahority, in the construction of which I propose to give
to Z'hurch a voice for the purpose of preventing any injury
that
Its interests. I say if you will take this course Ido hope
u a foundation will be found in the safest and most secure
manner for the settlement of a question which has been the
'erne of discontent for years, which has been the source of
rat expense in the shape of litigation ; and has, moreover,
ete,,Ta afraid, been the cause of much local irritation ; an irri-
"oo the spread of which I am confident has only been
prevented
ate before said, to read the testimony of those most conver-
nt with the operation of the tithe system in all its bearings,
Vnte
tots out feeling satisfied 'that the conduct of the Clergy in
country,as a body, in respect to the collection of
tses entitles them to the character of the greatest libe-
e;LtY, and that they have sacrificed every personal and
te;elllliary interest to the desire of retaining the rela-
en'lls of friendly good will with those over whom they
the placed.—( Loud cheers.) It is, Sir, because I feel that
e laisdowners of England have a deep interest in the settle-
;ent of this question—it is because I feel, from past experi-
;nee-, that the Clergy are desirous of seeing the tithe question
e.ttlee in a manner which, while it shall be consistent with
te;r:Y equitable principle, shall be:freed from all litigious diffi-
Lc t'es that I ask the House—confidently hoping I am select-
]ay the surest mode, not of effecting an immediate, but for
sisng the foundation for a permanent, settlement, by securing
amicable compromised, and voluntary agreement of the
tese
great parties interested—to give me their concurrence to
I e resolution lam about proposing.--( Loud cheering.) Sir,
sollitelgtto move " That it is expedient to give facilities for the
a
commutation of tithe in the
several parishes of
Freeland and Wales, and for a payment in money in sub stitu-
la4 thereof, to be applotted on the titheable lands in each
i4'll ; such payment to be e subject to variation at stated pe-
ns to the price of corn ; or for the allotment of
1;;41 in lieu of tithes in parishes wherein the parties concerned
ay consent to such allotment."
The resolution having been put from the Chair,
pA'ir• E. J. STANLEY put a question to the Right Hon.
ro "net, which, we presume, related to the construction of the
Posed Commission.
Is Sir R. PEEL was understood to state, in reply, that it
1:8 intended the Archbishop of Canterbury should be a mem-
r„, of the Board.
dlr GISBORNE wished to know whether tbe stoneCommis-
e was to have the power of deciding on questions of modus,
rout
appeal to any other tribunal?
eee'ir R. PEEL, in reply, observed that the question of tithe
he'4a Was much narrowed by a late Act. His desire would
to leave the point to be decided by the parties interested.
vethe parties desired to avoid expense, and should with that
le, consent to take the decision of the superintending Com-
less'oner, there could be no objection to his entering upon the
lticlo, having first intimated that his decision so required
eeen,Kl be considered binding. If, on the contrary, they should
see, d.oe the interference of the Commissioner, and desire the
case before
of a Jury, he should not object to their scndiog the
nefore one.
toe",ll*. E. J. STANLEY asked whether it was the con-
of two-thirds of the occupiers, or of two-thirds of the
tetn"n‘r, flora, that the Right Hon., Baronet required to consti.
to tne basis of the commutation ? If it was left with the
temporary occupiers, be thought great injury would be done
o fohethe permanent interests of the owners, inasmuch as the
'„er, having perhaps but a few years to retain possession
Isies"le land, wculd have the power of saddling the latter
of,", a heavy amount of commutation. While in possession
te'," House, he would take the opportunity to call the at-
."°o of the Right Hon. Baronet to an objection, and he
ti°ught a very 'mild objection, urged last year by the Right
te?in' Member for Essex (Mr. Baring), upon a proposition
eieng made to fix a permanent valuation upon land by esti-
ti:lng the value of one year's crop. Such a test the Right
er,,,; Gentleman denounced as most fallacious, very properly
string that unless it were possible to say the same land
ld every year yield an equal amount of produce, it would
tropossible to determine its value by estimating the pro-
-41:),,ie. of one year. Now this objection he considred quite
eercable to ihe question under consideration Supposing a
timril rate of tithe were now fixed on the' tend upon a calcultt-
the; °f last year's produce, on the very delusive supposition
akt", the land would in every future year yield an equal
he "lint of produce, that would be a fair assessment ; but he
ee _
gee' scarcely say that such a basis would be found in most in-
peeies very fallacious. Suppose the corn laws should be re-
oee ell, would not any fixed payment estimated by the crop of
kgriof, the current years prove a very great grievance to the
gee eulturist ?—( Hear.) Why, if those laws were repealed, a
to " Psrticn of the land now growing corn would be devoted
valise
eas cultivation, and nothing could he more unfair than to
be ellsw Pasture corn-growing land. If the difficulty to which
ke
toitlded could be got over he thought the Right Hon. Ba-
eet's plan held out very great hopes of something like a per-
flt settlement of the question.—(Hear. )
Itiosist; PEEL, in reply to the first of the Hon. Member's
of iit'erls, had only to say that it was the consent of two-thirds
tee e landowners which his measure would require as the
to f.a of the commutation. The occupiers would be required
sete notice to the owners that the Commission was about to
lion
.nPoll the commutation, and that before any final deci-
thee s come to, the consent of the owners would be deemed
value erasable. His reply to the second question was that the
laki: of the actual tithe of the land, and not the value of the
teeeelttself, would form the. basis of the. assessment. The main
Joule s against any injustice being done to either party,
be e be found in the principle that the commutation was to
-nlunta
rse
cs, n'ouel WOOD thought there was little danger of a de-
ese
00 is.
u the produce of the crops in future years. At pre-
tile 1 one thought of applying capital to the improvement of
titeoltlll, inasmuch as the profits went into the pockets of the
tier, °rvtiers, instead of the capitalist. If, however, the ques-
taig.ewtas determined, an immediate improvement in the land
Posed bexpected. He could not help thinking the plan pro-
tte .e Y the Right Hon. Baronet was calculated to afford the
rk:llturists very great relief.—( [fear, hear.)
other' C. PERG USSON was much afraid that any plan
sere than one of a partly compulsory and partly voluntary na-
le ei `than
secure the object the Right Hon. Gentleman had
Inteeerw' In his opinion the history of Scotland about two
ken, Cd veers ego, supplied a model for a plan of tithe settle-
devised
' little liable to objection as any that could possibly be
had hi; and he regretted- the Right Hon. Baronet had not
tresenst attention directed to it before he came down with his
lief] Proposition. The plan to which he alluded he would
see. Y state to the House. The difficulty of ascertaining the
eeelecx..tithes in Scotland having occasioned great dread of
le-Lri.Y and confusion, it was reereed by all the great lad-
sthet
by the taxmen or leaseholders, and by the Clergy,
eetel43 matter should be referred to their Sovereign, accorn-
tsbeT a
request that he should fix some principle by
d CI 1
tbeLtr!e sssestrnent should be in future regu ate . ler es
tilAsiss the then King,., complied with the request, and, after
"wing the question maturely, wade an award, a copy of