The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 1, 1859.

a substantial local interest in them ; and I feel persuaded
that the justness of this arrangement, the logical sequence
as it is of recognising the identity of the am.ffrage, will not
meet with that fate which has been predict° d for it by hon.
gentlemen below the gangway, but will be a ccepted by the
good sense of the country. (Hear.) Anothei • lion. gentle-
man, the member for Oldham, has complained eiat nothing
is done for the working classes, and the lion.. member for
Birmingham has confirmed that complaint, and enforced it
with all his vigour of expression. What we :ha ye done for
the working classes may not sound so large as; some of the
plans which are commonly advocated for their advancement
—there is nothing more easy than to make a si ?eech and say
that you are in favour of the working classes, and that
you think they ought to have this power an d that privi-
lege ; but you never pass any measures to do anything for
the working classes. (Hear, hear.) The weerking classes
will, I thin, be sensible of e advantage which they will
derive from this measure, which I hope a .nd believe
will pass. Here are two avenues to the constituent
power opened to all working men who . possess those
qualities which would entitle them to exercise that power
—the savings-bank suffrage and the 40s. freehold. The
hon. gentleman tells me that we are doing nothing for the
working classes, and arrogates to himself the peculiar
privilege of being acquainted with their wants, wishes, and
requirements. He says that I can know nothing about the
working classes, and that I only talk to my friends behind
me, and that they know nothing about the working classes.
My friends know much more than the hon. gel itleman thinks,
and I can assure him that I do converse with others than
my friends, and that I have as good means as he has _of
learning what are the feelings of the working &asses. I Will
tell the hon. gentleman the things that have been repre-
sented to me, on what I believe to be the veil- best autho-
rity, and from members of the working classes most distin-
guished by their personal and moral qualities and intelligence.
There were two things which they impressed upon me.
Not knowing of the 40s. franchise, they said that,: that which
they valued most of all was the savings-bank suffrage, and
that in which they had the least confidence was the pro-
positions of the hon. member for Birmingham. (Cheers
and laughter.) They told me that they could not trust the
hon. member for Birmingham, they were not satisfied that
under his plan the working men would exercise that
privilege. But they said—We clearly' mid erstand what a
savings-bank suffrage means. We may in vent more, we
we may devise other schemes, but this is a great boon, and
one that will be much appreciated by the wt irking classes.
(Cheers.) I believe, Sir, that is the case. _Now, it is not
necessary for me to trespass upon the house at any length.
An hon. gentleman has asked me to-night wi at I intend to
do about Ireland. Well, I thought Ireland had had a
Reform Bill very recently; that it had a boo,/ whieh Eng-
land had not enjoyed nor Scotland. I undi irstood that.it
had worked to the satisfaction of Irish membi irs, and I am
sure that Irish members have on several occasions expressed
themselves satisfied with it; but the Government have no
prejudices upon this subject—(laughter)—th( ;yr are prepared
to consider the case of Ireland, and have consi.d ered it, and I
can assure the hon. member, in due season, after some other
bills have progressed, when the bill has been read a second
time, and the Scotch bill has been launched, we shall have
much satisfaction in submitting an Irish Bill. (Hear,
hear.) But the most remarkable circumstance in this dis-
cussion has been the complaint of Scotch members, and of
one in particular, that the Government h ave treated the
Scottish people in a cavalier manner. IV.ow, I took the
greatest pains this evening to guard the ii iterests and vin-
dicate the position of Scotland. I showed the hon. gentle-
men opposite that if any new_ principle of reform were
adopted, Scotland might probably be disfranchised to an
alarming extent. (Laughter.) I showed . him that if he
continued to support his friends among who in he generally
sits, probably Scotland would not be represented by more
members than the metropolitan districts, and 1 that the sur-
plus representation would be given to the o onstituents of
the hon. member for Lambeth, who has just addressed us.
It is pot fair or just to allege that the Government have
treated Scotland in a cavalier manner. The re is one point
yet remaining to which I must advert, and that is to fix the
period when I shall ask the house to read tbjei bill a second
time.
_(Hear, hear.) Upon that subject I aro in the hands
of the House. I ought to observe that the Go vernment de-
sires to consult the feelings of the house. Had I followed
my own inclinations, guided only by general oonsiderations
of public business, I should have asked the house to allow
me to move the second reading on this day fortnight.
(Hear, hear.) If the house will consent to that day I will
fix it for that time, but I am bound to say that representa-
tions have been made to me by hon. members upon the
other side which it would not be fair for me, after what has
occurred, to treat with silence, that I should name this day
three weeks—(hear)--but I leave that point to the house to
decide. The Government are prepared to fix this day fort-
night. It must be either that or this day three weeks, for
the Government measure of finance must be considered
(Cries of " Three weeks.") It is, then, the understanding
that I shall move the second reading of this bill upon this
day three weeks. (Hear, hear.) I trust, sir, that when
that motion is made it will; be successful. (Cheers and
laughter.)
The amendment was then withdrawn, and leave given
to bring in the bill.

MEDICAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
INCLOSURE OF LANDS BILL.
This bill was considered, as amended, and. ordered to be
read a third time this day.

BURIAL PLACES BILL..
This bill was read a third time and passed.
SUPPLY OF GAS IN LONDON.
Mr. BYNG moved the appointment of a select committee
to inquire into and report on the existing arrangements for
the supply of gas to the metropolis.—Agreed to.
PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION BILL.
This bill was introduced by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer and read a first time. The second reading was
fixed for the 21st of March.
The house adjourned at 25 minutes to 12 o'clock.