Star.
London, England, 1826-11-23 00:00:00

He was sorry that the Noble Ford Vid not considered the subject
snore fully; he hoped that be would'yyt do so, and that if be 'Hill
tglij it necessary to bring forward the resolptions, they might be
VEO—stgist fol'assixd in insode unexceptionable shape. He would re-
peat in conclusion, that on the part either of himself' or of his Right
Hot:. Friends, there existed no hostility to the principle or object of
the resolutions • and that he resisted them solely upon the ground
that they were calculated to produce great practical inconvenitnce,
without attaining the object they bad in view.
Mr. BATLEY expressed his conviction that the Corn-
mon and Statute Law afforded ample means of repres-
sing the crime of bribery. There was one effect which
he anticipated from these resolutions, which was one of
extreme hardship upon individuals. He meant Gentle-
men having their spontaneous acts of charity and
generosity characterized as acts of bribery, and thus
brouglq within the scope of the resolutions. He ap-
pealed to his Hon. and Learned Friend, if he might be permitted
to call him so, whether Members representing large places, some of
whose constituents were often in a state of distress, and kad a
claim upon their beuevolent assistance—be ventured to address
hioiself to the Hon. and Learned Gentleman from whom he had
received the greatest kindness and attention, when at the outset of
life he was a Member of the Northern Circuit.
Col.. DAVIES regretted that the Right Honourable
Gentleman (Mr. Wynn) had placed himself in opposi-
tion to the motion, because it shewed what would be
the fate of it; but if ever.there was a time when it be-
came the House to endeavour to infuse a spirit into the
rel. resentation, it was the present. He must agree with
the Noble Lord in what he'said respecting the late
Election. There never had been a period where more
gross and flagrant corruption was displayed. The
charity which the Right Hon. Gentleman had com-
mented upon was of a very suspicious nature; it was a
chariot productive of benefit to alehouses rather than
to the families of the persons receiving it. He (Colonel
Davies) had hoped that the resolution of the last Par-
liament would have had some effect upon the Electois.
He could not say much in favour of that Parliament ;
it had many sins to answer for ; but there was virtue
even in a death-bed repentance. The Right Hon.
Gentleman had said that the House was competent at
all times to take cognizance of corruption at Elec-
tions; but did he remember the case of a Peer inter-
fering in an Election, when the Petition was rejected,
because the period for receiving Petitions 'had elapsed?
The object of the petitioners who came to the House was
to eject a Member, not to serve the country ; and if
they contrived to prove one or two instances of bribery,
it was enough for them, though the petitioners them-
selves might be equally guilty—(Hear). The only
mode of altering a system notoriously bad, was for the
Noise to take up the subject as the Noble Lord pro-
posed. The Right Honourable Gentleman might, if he
pleased, add other resolutions to those before the House,
obliging ti.e parties to enter into tecognizances. Under
the present system, whatever might be the principles
and the purity of Candidates at an Election, they must,
either by themselves or their friends, be guilty of an
infraction of the law. He knew that there were a bun-
dled places in the kingdom where it was the practice
for ti e electors to hunt out persons to b. come Candi-
dates; and if their agents were clever fellows, they were
sure of success. Ile recommended to the Right Hun. Gentleman
to add such other resolutions as he deemed necessary to remedy
Ibr clews of those before the House, and he was convinced his
Honourable Friends would offer no opposition to them.
Mt. Secretary PEEL observed, that the House was
caled upon to affirm or to reject resolutions which went
to create a new offence, and a new mode of trial. The
end might be a very proper one; but it would be in-
finitely better that this new jurisdiction should be
sanctioned by a Bill, rather than by a resolution of the
Hi use of Commons--(Hear). Suck a mode of pro-
ceeding would admit of consideration and discussion in
thy different stages, whereby errors might be corrected
and improvements introduced. But the House were
called upon to•night by the Noble Lord to adopt at
once resolutions on a subject of infinite importance.—
Did not the Noble Lord thi,k it a serious matter, that
a Committee of the House should be empowered to
administer an oath?—(Hear). Was it not a serious
matter, that a common informer might keep in his
pocket, for 17 months and '2B days, a petition affecting
the interests of individual and of corporate bodies (hear)?
that at the end of seventeen months he might, if he
pleased, peter his charge against a cot potation or an
individual to the House, without expense to himself,
and without. one word being inserted in the resolutions
as to a penalty in case of vexatious or malicious
charges ?—(fienr, hear, hear) lie (Mr. Peel) eas Sur-
prised to hear the Honourable Member, who spoke last,
assert, that them had been more gross bribery during
the last election than at any former pet iod ; and this in
the Lice of the resolutions—(Hear, hear). The fact
proved, then, the insufficiency of the resolutions, al•
though the Honourable Member considered it as a
sufficient reason for adopting them—(Hear). He (Mr.
Peel) owned that he was not contending against the
principle of the Noble Lord ; he repeated what he had
stated last Session, that this measure should be intro-
duced by Bill, and the nature and the extent of this new
jurisdiction should be carefully determined. The House
should have the opportunity of maturely deliberating
upon a subject so seriously affecting the privileges of
Parliament. He would not deny that it might be right
vat t :e law should be altered to meet cases of corrup-
lion, when it might be evaded by the lapse of time;
but it should be done by Bill. The period likewise
might be six weeks, or even a fortnight, not eighteen
months—(hear). He (Mr. Peel) merely threw out
these observations, to strew that he was nut hostile to
the principle of the resolutions ; but he protested against
a party being ',emitted to petition without giving
security that he should be indemnified, and that lie need
only allege general bribery: he protested against the
House being called upon to-night to say by, what juris-
diction the object should be attained : he protested against ibch
precipitate and premature legislation. Ile must, therefore, oppose,
not the ; risiciple, but the expediency of the resolutions—(Hear).
Mr. SCA RLETT doubted whether the resolutions of
the Noble Lord would meet all the objects he had in
view, and felt that there was some weight in the argu-
ments urged on the other side of the House; though
the Right Hun. Gentleman (Mr. Peel) had taken rather
a partial view of the question. It had been urged by
the lion. Member under the gallery (Mt. Batley), that
the existing lAN'S were sufficient for punishing bribery,
polluted they were properly executed. The resolutions
art the llouie enabled them to do it, if they were exerted.
The lei, ht Hun. Gentleman had dwelt upon the long
per iod OUI ing winch a common informer might keep
petition in Ina pocket; but it was in the discretion of
the House, it such a case occurred, to deal with it in a
proper manner, and reject the petition altizether.—
Ailuttei aiguirieut of the Hight Hon. Gentleman was
just, and spewed die imarmity of the iesolutione, 'tame-
ly, that the party pettlinstiti,,° incurred no peril. Ile
(Mr. Scarlett) thcaigiit that dila was a serious defect,
and that it cauld nut be remedied by a resowh • in of the
House.—(lhar, hear) This House could
riot ilifilLt
penalty; it could not even inflict costs upon the 1;4,4.

This power did not belong to a separate branch of the
legislature. Moreover, if the.detect were attempted to
be supplied by a Bill, was the Muse sure that the
other Hod* would pass it ? This House might adopt
it ; but this House dependeflrin soino4neasure, lot the
pure exercise of its functions, upon the other House,
and might propose for that object what that House
would not adopt. He could not, therefore, approve of
the resolutions whilst no penalty attached to a person
presenting a malicious petition; and this House could'
not provide a penalty, or even require a iecognivince
though such an object might be accomplished. The
power of the House, however, depended upon its free-
dom from reproach, and it was their interest that man-
kind should know that the House would proceed by
some certain method to reach corrupt practices. At
present; after the lapse of 1+ days, there was no method
of touching a case of bribery and corruption. He was
afraid, if a law was introduced to regulate this subject,
even to meet a pat ticular case, such as the disfranchise.
ment of a Borough for bribery, he was afraid, from
past experience, that there might be a difficulty in ob-
taining the concurrence of the other House. He did
not mean to say that the House would not punish cases
cf gross corruption; but he referred to general cases.—
He must state that he did not feel quite satisfied with
the Noble Lord's resolutions; but his chief object in
rising was to recommend that some certain rules should
be laid down*upon this important subject. He felt
that there Was some force in the objections urged
against the resolutions; but if his Noble Friend would
withdraw them (hear, hear), they might be modified so
as to mtet with general concurrence. (Hear, hear.)—
Hut if he persisted in pressing them, he (Mr. Scarlett) would feel
some difficulty in opposing them, not because he entirely approved
of them, but because he considered them as a step towards a very
desirable object. (Hear, hear.) Cries of withdraw, withdraw.)
Mr. PALLMER (Member for Surrey), could not but
express his gratitude to the Noble Lord with whom
these resolutions originated last Session, as well as to
the Noble Lord who now brought them forward. He
rejoiced to see the aristocracy of the country stepping
forth to advocate the rights and privileges of the people;
but much as he felt indebted to the Noble Lords, his
humble opinion was, that the real, effective, and com-
plete removal of the obstructions which impeded the
tree exercise of the elective franchise could only be ef-
fected by the interference of a wise and liberal admi-
nistration ; and he hoped to see the day, when, instead
of objections being brought forward, as on the present
occasion, to such measures, his Majesty's Ministers
would take into consideration the inconveniences that
do obstruct the exercise of the elective franchise, and
give to such a measure the- weight that an administra-
tion alone could give. Whilst employed on measures
giving freedom to conscience and to commerce, it was
not beneath them to give freedom to the Constitution—
( Hear). There was no man he would look to with snore
confidence, with this view, than the Right Hon. Gent.
(Mr. Peel), who had so distinguished himself by his
attention to the amelioration of the Criminal Law. The
country expected it from him. He hoped that in his
judicious hands, the Constitution might be restored to
its origin 1 purity, and be freed from all impediments.
He hoped that the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Wynn),
who bad adverted to the legislative measures .of the
Grenvilles on this subject, would not forget that the
chief praise of the Grenvilles was their efforts to pre-
serve the freedom of election. He hoped that the pre-
sent Government would imitate their example, and do all In their
power to secure to the country an unobstructed freedom of election
—(The Hon. Member sat down amidst loud cheers).
Lord ALTHORP observed, that if the present reso-
lutions were to be embodied in a bill, there was not the
slightest chance of its passing the other House; the only
hope of adopting the present rules was by a resolution
of the House. The most material objection which had
been urged against the resolutions, was founded upon
the form which it gave of-presenting petitions without
expense. This was the unavoidable consequence of
founding the measure upon resolutions, and not upon a
bill. But he did not think, that, practically, any such
effects Would result as were suggested, and if they oc-
curred, it was easy to find a remedy for such a practical
evil, and it would be more likely to be carried through
Parliament. However, as it seemed to be the general
wish of the House that the resolutions in their present state should
he withdrawn, he would, with the consent of tho House, with.
draw them.—The motion was then, by leap. withdrawn.
ELECTION OS DR. SOOTHES.

The SPEAKER informed the House, that he had
received a letter from Dr. R. Southey, one of the Mem-
bers returned to serve in the present Parliament, which
he would read to the House.
Sir—l take the earliest opportunity of informing you, that while
absent on the Continent I have been, without my knowledge, Awed
to serve in Parliament for the borough of Downton. It now be-
comes my duty to say that I am not qualified to take a seat there,
inasmuch as I am not possessed of ibis estate required by the Statute
of the 9th of Queen Anne. (Signed) It. SOUTHEY.
Owing to the confusion created by a number of Members leaving
the House, we did not hear what course was adopted with regard to
this letter. We believe it was ordered to be recorded in the Journals.

Y