The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-28 00:00:00

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suiy- OFFICE, &yen o' Clock.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM TUE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
GLOBE.—The present • Session of Parliament
hastens to its termination. Its closing scenes resem-
ble those presented at its earlier sittings. Bribery
supplied it with business when it first met ;
Bribery furnished abundant employment for its
Committees, and fruitful' themes for debate, as the
Session advanced—and 'Bribery constitutes the Chief
discussion, now that the curtain is about to fall upon
the stage, and the House break up for the season.
The history of Parliaments presents nothing equal to
the odium and reproach which rests upon the present
House of Commons, caused by the unprecedented cor-
ruption of the elective bodies by those who sought, and
obtained by such means, the questionable honour of a
seat within its walls. Former Parliaments have been
distinguished by some circumstance arising out of the
occasions on which they were called—the length or
shortness of their duration, or the more prominent
measures which they originated or matured. From one
or other of these causes they have been designated in his-
tory. The notise of Commons which hails Sir Robert
Peel as its chief, and passes his measures, is, beyond
all question, the most corrupt of any one of its prede-
ceSors. "Bribery" is inscribed upon its portals—
" Bribery" is written with a pen of iron upon many
a brow of brass within its walls—and by the charac-
teristic appellation of " the Bribery Parliament,". will
it be handed down to posterity ! The proceedings of
its numerous committees the resolutions recorded
upon its " Votes and Proceedings "—and.the neeesSity
apparently admitted on all hands of something being
done to rescue it Irons undying disgrace, originated
the Bill of which we vesteraay save an analysis.
'STAND A R Robert Inglis subjected him-
;self to the attack of Messrs. O'Connell and Sheil, by
declaring that violent intimidation is at least as great.
si:poiitical crime as bribery. We have no hesitation in
S-s4ing, that, in moral guilt, violent intimidation is at
least ass black a crime as bribery; and politically a
Much blacker crime. If bribery leads to hypocrisy,
so dOes' intimidation ; for to vote against one's convic-
tion frdm cowardice is just as bad as'to vote against
silie'S conviction for gain ; and if bribery some-
!, ' •
tuneS lea& to perjury, violent intimidation as often
ii,i&d to mutilation and to murder itself.' Politi-
cally,' violent intimidation is a worse crime than
bribery, because, first, it openly insults the law,
and secondly, because -it .always provokes bri-
bery, and the- worst kind of bribery, more
especially 'treating. Men will not always • will-
ingly confront danger, and hence the motive to
add the stimulus d a bribe to their political zeal.
nd even where men would scorn to touch money,
they Will. be "easily persuaded to assemble fora their
common safety ; and when they are assembled they
must eat and drink, and will not think that they do
wrong or dishonour themselves by eating and drink-
ing at the expense of those in whose behalf they ex-
pose themselves to inconvenience, and, it may be,
danger. If the Legislature desires that elections shall
be pure, let them first take care that elections shall be
free—they may be very well assured that they can-
not have the one without the other. Now,' elec-
tions at present are certainly not free, as we may
know by the history of the electors forcibly carried
elf by professional pugilists at Nottingham, and
cooped in the garden of the ex-Prime Minister—
know, if possible, more certainly by the report of the
Cork Committee, which, in defiance of the evidence
recorded before it, proving that no pretence of free-
dom existed at any one moment or in any One
street attiring the last contest, nevertheless awarded
the seat disputed to the author of sueli- out-
rageous violence. It is absurd and insulting to
common sense to countenance this txrannical exer-
cise of brute force, and then to affect a zeal for the
fairness of elections. Let Parliament begin at the
right end, and place violent intimidation and bribery
upon at least the same footing, and as, even in the
present defective state of the law, a bribe traced to
a candidate or his proved agent, deprives the former
of his seat, declare that an act of violent intimidation
so traced shall have the same effect. Until this shall
be done there can be no end of bribery and treating.

ELECTION COMMITTEE.
(THIS DAY.)

• IPSWIC 11.
The Committee tact again this morning at eleven
o'clock; P. M. Stewart, Esq., in the Chair.
Mr. AUSTIN resumed his address.-The Learned
Gentleman commenced by discussing at considerable
length the bearing of the Treating Act. With re-
spect to alleged acts of treating, he contended
that there was no evidence tracing the fact to the
knowledge of the sitting Members. Again. what were
the alleged acts of bribery. If he (Mr. Austin) went to
friend of his and asked him to dine with him, and in
the course of the dinner he requested his friend to
vote for a certain party, and that friend complied,
they might just as well strike that man's vote oft
the book, •as to say that those persons who had break-
fasted at the Salutation were rendered incompetent
to vote. He would then proceed to the question of what
they called agency. He had endeavoured to strip the
case of its colour-tocrack the shell, and to come at the
kernel. He said that Mr. Bristoe never was the agent
of the sitting Members. He said that Mr. Cooke never
was the agent of the sitting Members. They had no au-
thority.whatever to act on behalf of the sitting Members.
Supposing this questionable case to be a case of corruption,
Mr. Bristoe had no authority to act as he did, nor had
Mr. Cooke. He said it was the highest injustice and
cruelty to visit on the head of the sitting Members the
misconduct of those parties. It would be as much in-
justice as to visit upon the heads of Mr. Moffatt or
Mr. Gisborne the conduct of the parties in the affair of
the Orion. He said that Mr. Bristoe and Mr. Cooke
never were agents. There were no more agents
for the sitting Members than there were for
Mr. Gisborne or Mr. Moffatt themselves. These seats
had been vacated by a Committee in the present session
of Parliament, on account of' acts of bribery of the most
profligate description. They would recollect that the
writ was for some time suspended-they would recoil(
that discussion after discussion took place with reference
to removing that suspension. It was ultimately removed.
There could be no doubt that the disclosures made on
that occasion must have had a certain moral effect
on the electors of the town of Ipswich. The same thing
happened in 1835, when Mr. Kelly and Mr. Christopher
lust their seats upon a similar petition. On that occa-
sion the vacancy was filled up by -Mr. Wason and Mr.
Morrison. They obtained their seats easily and tri-
nmphantly in consequence of the moral impression made
by the disclosures against the Blue party on that peti-
tion. The same thing happened the other day. The
two gentlemen were easily and triumphantly re-
turned in consequence of the moral effects which
hied been produced on the electors by the late
petition. Mr. Morrison Was returned by a large majo-
rity, iipWards of 100 ; but the majority at the late elec-
tion, was upwards of 140. The sitting Members must
Nave been bold men, indeed, to have kletermined to carry
their election by corruption. No ; they went down de-
termined that not a shilling should be spent in cor-
ruption. What did Mr. Gladstone say to Mr. Ridley ?
" If there is to be money spent, we shall lose our elec-
tion." He hoped Hon. Members would remember what
their expenses at their elections were, and then he (Mr.
Austin) would tell them what Mr. Gladstone's were at
the last election ; and be would also tell them what Lord
Desert's expenses were. Mr. Gladstone- paid the enor-
mous expense of 2501., and Lord Desart paid the same.
Ile (Mr. Austin) would venture to say that no Member
of Parliament had been returned in the present session at
leSs expense, even beginning with the Hon. and Learned
Member for Bath.
Mr. PROTHEROE-The remark does not apply to all.
Jr. AUSTIN-The I-ion. Member was one dissentient ;
but he (Mr. Austin) would venture to say that the Hon.
and learned Member fur Bath paid a greater sum than
2501. :at his election. He (Mr. Austin) would read
the items of the expenses at the late Ipswich election.
Traielling expenses, :371. . for certain voters front
-6,11d0n and Newcastle ; the expenses of twenty
voters from Woodbridge, &e., 26/. 14s. ; the ex-
penses of the detention of three vessels beside the
Success, 241. 1 es. ; the expenses for constables, in-
cluding the constables employed in the procession,
1201. 2s. 6d. ; expenses for messengers, 311. 6s. 6d. ;
expense for hustings, 331. 17s. Sd. ; committee room,
201. 4s. Id. ; expense for horses and carriages, 421.
17s. 9d. ; the band-for he supposed they would not
wish to have an election conducted like a funeral-39/.
)9s. ; ringers, 9/. 9s. ; the procession, in addi-
tion to the constables before-mentioned, 281, 12s. ;
clerks, &c., 151. Is. 10d. ; dinner for the clerks,
at the election 31. is. The rent of the assembly room'
31. Mr. Jacobin's bill for attendance 12/. 13s. rod., and
miscellaneous expenses 1/. 4s. 6d., making in the whole
459/. Os. id., which being divided by the figure 2 would
give 2301. for each of the sitting members. There was
nut one farthing further expenses whatever, and
that money was paid by - Mr. Hunt. Not
a farthing was paid for bribery as there was
no bribery whatever at the election. Upon this
state of facts they were called upon to unseat the sitting.
Members, and he asked them whether they did not ex-
pect from the manner in which the case was opened
that extravagant acts of bribery would be proved. The
Learned Gentleman read a great number of su-
tholities on the question of agency, and con-
tanded that Mr. Gladstone and Lord Desert were not
bound t,y the acts of Mr. Cooke or Mr. Bristoe,
I"ven tIH acts were held to be corrupt. He put to the
Committee
that Mr. Hunt was the only accredited agent,
and by his acts alone could the sitting Members be
bound. The conduct of Mr. Hunt had been pure and
upright, and the whole expenses which he had incurred
only amounted to 460/. for the two sitting Members.
Ile had done his duty. Ile had attempted, and he felt
he should succeed in establishing Here a great Parlia-
mentary principle.
to tuiseet Members because they. were called upon
some fool or sonic scoundrel
had, in an alley of that city, bribed a voter, and this
without proof. He felt that law and justice were on his
. ,rile, and he entertained no doubt that the Committee
-e Onld coule . to. a resolution exonerating the sitting Mem-
. hers from the charges brought against them, and declare
• Altera duly elected, and discharging diem front all susP "-
v fi wilicLitad,been .attempted to be cast upon them.l .
He would sit down, therefore, and if he did hot suceavd
he should be more astonished thuu he ever was in his Ufa:

Mr. TALBOT then proceeded to call the following
witnesses :

Mr. Hunt examined—l am a solicitior. I have been
connected with Mr. Gladstone. It was at my suggestion
that Mr. Gladstone became a candidate for Ipswich. Be-
fore I left London with Mr. Gladstone I was aware of
the principles of • Mr. Gladstone as to the conduct of
elections. In the year 1839 I accompanied Mr. Glad--
stone to the borough of Sandwich to canvass the borough.
Mr. KINGLAKE objected to the examination as irre-
levant. _ .

Mr. .Htint—Mr.. Gladstone told me before the elec-
tion took place that no moneys beyond the legal ex-
penses were to be spent. On my arrival at Ipswich I
saw persons connected with the party supporting Mr.
Gladstone and Lord Desart. I told them all the prin-
ciples upon which we came to canvass the borough. I
told this to Mr. Cooke and_Mr. Bristoe, and a number of
other partizans. I considered that I was the manager of
the election. I made out a list of returns. I canvassed
with Lord Desart, and all applications were made
to me respecting the election. I am a stranger to
Ipswich. I took the returns every day. On
two occasions I took the return at Mr. Steward's
private rooms, as it was more convenient. I communi-
cated to Mr. Steward, on that occasion, in the most
distinct terms, that the candidates would not, spend Any
money, and he fully concurred in that arrangement.
This was at Deck's rooms. I have the account of the
expenses which Mr. Austin read. I never gave guy
authority to Mr. Cooke-or Mr. Bristoe to act at the
election. I never gave authority to any one except Mr.
Steward. In May, Kgave Mr. Steward a cheque for 101. to
remit to Mr. Jacobin in London. In June, I gave him
another 10a. ; and on my arrival in London, I sent him
another 100/.. I then received a letter from Mr. Steward,
suggesting that I should send 290/., which I did, making
altogether 500/., which was the precise sum of money I
had nceived from the candidates. A less sum was ex-
pended, and Mr. Stewardjs now in my debt.
Cross-examined by Mr. PHILLIPS—I have not been at
ninny elections. I have heard that every. candidate
disclaims bribery when he goes to an election. lam
quite a stranger in Ipswich, and I relied very much
on the local friends of the candidates there.
Mr. Steward lives in Tpe.vich. I met him the '
night I arrived in Ipswich, at Deck's room. I did
not know of the tickets being given to the
voters. I heard that some of the parties in Ipswich in-
tended to give breakfasts on their own account. I car;
vassed with Lord Desart two days. I canvassed in coin
pany with Mr. Cooke on the Monday. I did
not know at that time that he had been reported
for bribery. I should have gone with him even it' I
had known it. I believe be is a very respectable
man. if the landlord of the King's Arms supplied
breakfasts to the voters I did not know it. I never knew
that refreshments were given on the day of the
election until I heard it in this room, and believe
now that there is some mistake. I have met
Cooke at the little Carlton Rooms. I think Mr. Cooke
told me that he had been sent to Newgate by the House
of Commons. I had intercourse with him after
that, for I • believed him to he a very re-
spectable man. L did not tell Lord Desart or
Mr. Gladstone that • a person had been canvassing who
had been committed .to Newgate. I did not think it was
my duty. I was not aware cf certain voters getting 30s. for
their travelling expenses from Ilerwich until last Thnrsday
week. I shauld not have paid 30s. for a voter coming six.
miles. I believe that the money was paid by Mr.
Steward out of the money I sent him. There has been
no account given to me of the tickets issued to the Blue
voters. I kow Mr. Bristoe. I canvassed with him two
or three .votes. I told Mr. Steward that no expenses
would be paid except travelling expenses.
By Mr. AUSTIN—I never 'intended for a moment to
treat with Mr. Bristoe on the footing of an agent. From
the conduct of Lord Desart and Mr. Gladstone they never
looked upon him as such. I never felt bound by
any act of Mr. Bristoe. He had no authority to contract
any debt on the part of the candidates. The same answers
distinctly apply to Mr. Cooke. I. told. Mr. Stewart, as
distinctly as a man could speak, that the candidates would
not sanction any expenditure of money. I never gave
time slightest authority for the breakfasts. Several ap-
plications were made for breakfasts, but I said we are
prepared to lose the election, rather than sanction such a
course. I used all the means in my power, to avoid any
illegal expenditure. There is not a farthing due from
the sitting Member to any person in Ipswich, on account
of the election. At the time of the election, I thought
travelling expenses were legal ; if I had entertained a
contrary opinion, I should not have allowed it. It was
my duty to avoid every expense beyond the legal ex-
penses. It was my duty, and my decided intention.
The Committee then adjourned till eleven o'clock to-
morrow.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The Earl .of SHAFTESBURY took his seat on the
Woolsack in the absence of the Lord Chancellor
shortly after Five o'Clock.
A Message from the Commons brought up the
Tithe Commutation England and Wales Bill, and
several other Bills.