The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-13 00:00:00

SALE OF BEER.

On the resolution. of Mr. HARDY, the house went into
committee to bring in a hill to amend the laws relating
to the general sale of beer hy retail and to regulate certain
places of public resort, refreshment, and entertainment.
All must agree that this subject required alteration, after
a careful scrutiny, and he considered there were facts
sufficient before the house to enable them to legislate
with satisfaction, to the public. He referred to the
anomalous state of the law as regarded public
houses and beer-shops, under the law cf 1830.
He had no wish to disturb the licensing of the
present public-houses, but to compel beer-shops to apply
to magistrates for licenses as a check on the conduct of
the keepers. He proposed also to put in force the Tip-
pling Act, and prevent the recovery of debts for beer,
&c. He wished to put coffee•shops, where they sold
spirits, under the control of the polies. He reserved
any further remarks t'll another stage of the bill, as
he under,•tood there was to be no opposition to its in-
troduction.

Mr. KER SEYMOUR, regretted that this had not
been made two bifls iw.tead of one, by separating the
beer•houses from the coffee-shops. He considered that
magistrates were not the proper persons to grant
licenses, because they had no means of judging of the
requ rernents of a district.
Sir J. PAKINGTON regretted that Government bad
not taken up the question, and asked the Government
t. consider the report of that committee, and ultimately
bring in a bill. Should the Government adopt that
course, he would suggest the withdrawal of the bill
from the doubt of its being passed through tne house
thii session.

Sir G. GREY doubted if the bill was a sufficient
remedy for the evils complained of. When they con-
sidered the amauct of capital invested in the trade it
required careful consideration. He saw no such difficulty
relative to beer shops and coffee-shops. Ho could not give
any hope of bringing in a bill o❑ an early day on this
suljeat. He thou4ht great benefit would arias from a
discussion of the question, but he should he obliged, on
the second reading of the bill, to oppose it.

The res•dution was aureed to, and the house resumed.

PROPERTY QUALIFICA.TION.

Mr. LOCKE KING moved for leave to bring in a bill
to abolish property qualification for members of Parlia-
ment. He considered that this was an appropriate time
for bringing on this question, and observed that in Scot-
land there was no property qualification ; eldest sons of
peers, the members for the university, and the eldest
eons of knights of the shire sat without any qualification
being required of theta ; but the latter, when they suc-
ceeded to their father's property, must have a property
qualification.
Lord PALMERSTON did not intend to oppose the
introduction of the bill, bat he thought it was undet-
stood that all questions of reform were to be in abeyance
till next session. At a future stage of the bill he should
oppose it, unless it was allowed to remain on the table
of the house for consideration till next session.
Leave was given to bring in the bill.
ADJOURNMENT FOR WHITSUNTIDE.

The Marquis of BLANDFOR.D said that, c,nsidering

the state of 'public budness and the probable shortness of
the session, it would be convenient if the noble lord the
Prime Mini 'ter would state on what day he proposed
the house should reassemble after Whitsuntide.
Lord PALMERSTON would, if the house permitted,
rather postpone giving an answer until Whitsuntide bad
nearly arrived.
The Marquis of BLA.NDFORD said he would put
the same que,tion again at a !ater period.
THE UNITED STATES AND NEW GRANADA.
Mr. WYLD —I wish, sir, to put a question to the
noel. lord the First Minister, of which I 'lave given him
notice. I believe it is well known at this moment that
an expedition has been fitted out in the ports of the
United States, the destination of which is said to be the

coat of Central America and the territory of New Gra-
nada. The question which I wish to put to the noble
_ _ _

lord is, whether her Majesty's Government intend to
establish a naval force on those shores and coasts for the
protection of British interests.
Lord PA.LNIERSTON—In reply to the question of
my hon. 'eland I have to state that her Majesty's Go-
vernment have stationed, or are about to station, on the
coast of Central Americ t, at both sides, such a force as
they think necessary for the protection of British interests.
(Hear.) But I think, considering the interest, and I may
say the anxiety, which the rumours which my hon. friend
has referred to may probably create in the public mind,
it may he agreeable to the house that I should give a very
short explanation of the state of matters to which the
question relates. (Hear.) My hon. friend and the house
are aware that some months ago there occurred a very
deplorable sceneof violence and outrage at the Isthmus of
Panama. That quarrel began nobody knows how ; some
seem to think that it arose simply from a dispute between
a passenger and a native about a water melon; but no mat-
ter what the cause of quarrel was, it acted like a spark
thrown into a smouldering fire and burst into a flame, and
the resentment which had been created reciprocal), by
previous disputes led to acts of great violence and scenes
of bloodshed which every one must deplore. The Ameri-
can Government appl;ed for redress for the past, and for
security for the future. I am sorry to say that the Go-
vernment of New Granada, which is not particularly
celebrated for accurate recollection of duties and for the
performance of obligations, refused compliance with those
demands. Then arose negotiations and communications
between the Governments of the United States and Ni-
caragua, which have not yet led to any satisfactory ter-
mination. It is quite clear, I think, that that which is
true with regard to private property is also true with
respect to public property—namtly, that it has attached
to it duties as well as rights, and that the Government

of New Granada is bound to make arrangementsfor the

security of persons and property passing along the rail-
ways through its dominions. The excuN given for re-
f tuirig compensation t) those who suffered by those out-
rages WM, thaP, the high-handed proceedings of passengers
fur a long time before had created a feeling of exaspera-
tion, and therefore it was not wonderful that a slight

cause should have prcduced such a result. It they felt
that this exasperation existed, it was their duty to take
measures to prevent outrages either by foreigners on
their own suhject., or by their own subjects on foreigners.
We have, however, been in communication with the
United States Government upon this matter—a matter
which not simply concerr.s the interests of the citizens of
the United States, but the interests of every other nation
who are in the habit of traversing this isthmui. I am
glad to say that the United States Government profess
the most just aad honourable intentions, and that they
disclaim any intention to occupy or take possession of
any purtion of New Granada, or of the railways. All
they ask is that which they are entitled to expect, viz.,
security for their citizens going or coming across the
isthmu4, and they naturally require some redress fur the
injuries sustained on the occasion to which I have alluderil
Bet lam glad to say their intentions are such as would be

those of any G 'rerun:lent in a similar position, and they
entirely disclaim any intention of taking part in this
quarrel for the purpose of putting forward any unjust of
aggressive action against the Government of Neff Gra-
nada. (Hear.)