The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-21 00:00:00

MEE. JAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Dus EVENING.
The SPEAKER toek the Chair at 4 o'clock.
THE IRISH CHURCH.

Mr. G. HARDY gave notice that on the second reading
of the Irish Church Suspensory Bill he should move that
it be read a second time that day six months. (Hear, hear,
and cheers from the Ministerial side of the house.)
THE SCOTCH REFORM BILL.

Mr. DISRAELI said a decision had been come to the
other evening by the house, on the proposition of the hon.
member for Montrose, which had rendered it necessary
that the Government should consider the position
in which such a decision had placed them.
When the Government had determined not to
uphold that proposal they had not received much sup-
port. On Monday night two important decisions had
been arrived at, which affected the subject of the distribu-
tion of seats, and were opposed to the proposition of the Go.
vernment. Her Majesty's Ministers had no desire to treat
Scotland in any niggardly spirit, but the house in coming
to its second decision affirmed principles of a very dif-
ferent character. The motion of the hon. member for
Kilmarnock, if adopted, would establish household suf-
frage without any qualification iu a country where
househo'ders did not hold houses. (Hear, hear.) He
thought that the decision of the committee on that occa-
sion ivae arrived at under a feeling of misapprehension, as
after the motion cf the hon. member fur Mon-
trose it was thought that the house would report
progress. But, in his opinion, the house proceeded and
arrived at a precipitate conc:usion, and that with but a
very limited attendance of members. The course he pro-
peed, under the circumstances, to pursue on Moaday
next was to induce the caminittee to reconsider the decision
it had arrived at somewhat hastily. (11.3:10 He did not
propose to ask the house to rest ere the two clauses which
had been disapproved of, but what the Government pro-
posed wai to move the insertion of words in the bill to pro-
vide that nu elector forany of the burghs of Scotland should be
entitled to vote who was not rated to the poor and paid
his rates. (Hear, hear.) Such a proposal if agreed
to would nut infringe the English principle. (Hear,
hear.) It might be said that the Government
by taking such a course was proposing new principles
to the people of Scotland, but in reply to that he had only
to say that such was not the case, as they were using the
language of the act relating to the mode of voting as re-
spected the poor law in that country. Such a course he
thought would vindicate the principles of the English bill
and enable them to carry the Scotch Reform Bill to a
happy conclusion, and that within a very few days. (Hear,
hear.)

Mr. P. WYNDHAM. said it was the opinion amongst
several of thoss who sat around him that Government
under all the circumstances would have resigned; but
not having done so it seemed to be the desire of her Ma-
jesty's Government to adhere to a course which would
draw down upon them the contempt of every
right-thinking man, and which would render
Parliamentary proceedings in a short time almost
contemptible. It was said that the Opposition
did not treat them with forbearance and misrepresented
their views, but the fact was that the Government occu-
pied the; not enviable position of place without power—
(hear,hear)—which he thought was not enough to satisfy a
noble ambition. (Hear, hear.) They put forward principles
one day which they withdrew the next. (Hear.) There
was a limit to forbearance— (hear, hear)—and ho had to
tell the right hon. gentleman that there were many who
would not consent to be any longer dragged through the
mud—(hear, hear)—let the position of the Ministry be
what it may. ([fear, hear.)
Mr. BRIGHT thought that if an appeal to forbearance
was made to them by the right hon. gentleman on the
subject of the Scotch Reform Bill, he ought to be quite
ready to make the same concessions to thorn on the sub-
ject of the Irish Church. If the right hon. gentleman de-
-1 sired smooth water, let him not himself disturb the pool.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BOUVERIE denied that the division on Friday
night was the result of any sudden or hasty impulse. On
the contrary, it was the result of a long and careful deli-
beration of the members for Scotland. (Hear, hear.) He
thought the cours3 of the Government was degrading to
the Crown, disgraceful to the Ministry, and destructive
to the privileges of the House of Commons. He thought
that the policy of her Majesty's Ministers was one ho
could designate by no other term that of legerdemain
(lloar, hear.)

Mr. J. HARDY hoped, after what had taken place, the
Scotch bill would be either thrown out or withdrawn.
Mr. HIBBERT thought that, whatever alteration was
made, a proposal ought to be introduced into the bill that
those who sought to be exempted from the rates should
not be placed upon the register.

Sir R. KNIGHTLEY said he was induced to tolerate
the present state of things only by the desire to put a stop
to the present disturbing state of things. He had a great
desire to see the Scotch and Irish Reform Bills passed,
and if the Scotch members really desired to pass their
Reform Bill, he did not see how it could be accelerated by
turning out the present Ministry. (Hear, hear.) He had
no desire to maintain the present Government in power
fur a day longer than was necessary. (Hear, hear.) Pass
the Scotch and Irish Reform Bills, and then turn the Go-
vernment out the rest day if they thought fit. •
Mr. RENDAL denied that the decision taken by the
member for Kilmarnock was the result of a deliberate
conclasion. It was, ha contended altogether a catch vote.
(Ht ar, hear.)
Sir G. BOWYER condemned the conduct of
tiro hon. member for Kilmarnock as derogatory
t 3 the diguilY of Parliament. He thought
that the proper course to pursue vvas not to go on bandy-
itihouse, but also the honour of the countey. Ho
could not see, although it had been ruled as being
theg charges, which if persevered iu cauld not but disgrace
within the privileges of the honourable member ft r
Montrose, the justice of a proposal which endeavoured
to benefit the respresentation of Scotland at the expense
of that of England. He thought the right honourable
gentleman had only done his duty by asking the
house to reconsider the determination that had been arrived
at the other evening. He considered the last division a
chance division, and therefore he felt much satisfaction
that the subject was to be again submitted to the decision
of Parliament.

(LEFT SITTING.)