Star.
London, England, 1827-05-09 00:00:00

NORWICH ELECTIONS.

Lord ALTHORP called the attention of the House
to certain motions, of which he had given notice at the
early part of the Session, relative to the best mode of
diminishing the expenses of elections. He moved for,
and was successful' in obtaining, s Committee (now
sitting) on the best mode of diminishing the expenses
at county elections, the Report of which he hoped to

shortly lay before tbe•Monse. His object in rising now,
was to obtain kali to bring in a Bill for diminishing
the expenses and corruptions at Borough elections, by
preventing persons employed as agents from voting at
elections. It was well known that several persons un-
der denominations which were virtually fraudulent,

enjoyed the right of •oting in certain Boroughs, and
of receiving payment for doing so, under the cloak
of being paid as runners, messengers, musicians, who
never played in their lives—(A laugh)—and such occu-
pations. By this means bribery was avowed, and in a
manner legalised. He did not mean to attach penal-
ties to such practices in the Bill he meant to move for
leave to bring in, or to deprive Candidates of the right
and power of employing such assistants as were actually
necessary, and of paying them though voters. His ob
jut was merely at the onset, to discourage the practice
and cut off the source of the evil. Not anticipating
opposition, he would merely move for leave to bring in
a Bill to carry his designs into effect.
Mr. WYNN approved of the principle of the Bill,
though not friendly to the principle of limiting the
power of Candidates employing useful assistants at
Elections. He remembered the instance of a Ember
being paid 50 guineas for having shoed a Candidate.
There were many objections presented themselves,
which might be discussed when the Bill was bdure
the House.

Sir C. BURRELL thought the Bill would open a
door to mischievous interference of meddling persons
at elections, and might act as a Orsfitanchise
Mr. BROUGHAM felt grateful to the Noble Lord
for the Bill, which the growing expenses and corrup-
tions at elections loudly called for. He did hot expect
any such result as that contemplated by the Hon.
Member (Sir C. Burrell), namely, that of disfranchising
freeholders. By no means, the law as it stands on this
point, if fairly administered, went as far as his Noble
Friend's Bill could, and was sufficient to punish the
notorious act of bribery—that of the barber—mention-
ed by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Wynn). He could
bear professional testimony to the abuses which the law
admi.ted, in admitting the same person to be a highly
remunerated assistant and a hired voter. The Bill of
his Noble Friend merely went to give a choice to pay a
voter as a hired agent, it the candidate pleased, but pro-
perly prevented that hired agent afterwards voting.
surely this was not disfranchisment, but practical jus-
tice. He hoped the measure would be followed up by
others, extending to the growing evils of mis-decisions
at contested elections—(Hear, hear). If no other Mem-1
ber took up the subject, he himself would, by first
moving for the Minutes of Evidence on some of the
recently contested Election Committees—Minutes that
would disclose flagrant acts of the total abandonment of
common sense, not to say common justice. The House
were bound to purify its Election Tribunals—the more
so, as the Committees refused to admit evidence of bra
berg, or to act on evidence which no Judge in West-
minster Hall would hesitate to punish by law. He was
a moderate Reformer, and would support therefore
the moderate measure of his Noble Friend—(Hear).—
In this spirit he would wish to amend the Contested
Election Tribunals—to abolish the mockery of nomi-
nees in such cases.—(Hear)—Nominees who were ne
cessarily placed in a dilema, after violating their oaths
or outraging the bonds of friendship. Let there be a
Referee, or Chairman, sitting on the proceeding of
parties. Let there be no " striking off" ballots for
Committees—he would prefer the first 12 names that
could be picked out. The system of striking off was
expressively and pertly called striking out the brains and
common-honesty-of a Committee.- He'trusted his Noble
Friend would not terminate his labours at this point.

Mr. S. RICE gave the Bill his best support, were it only from
its tendency to check ill will, and diffuse harmony among the Can-
didates.
Lord ALTHORPE was misunderstood by the Hon. Baronet
(Sir C. Burrell). His Bill did not go to the extent dreaded by the
lion. Baronet, but merely went to cheek the abuses of purchasing
votes, by giving their holders payment for offices they did not need
and could net fill. At a recent election, for instance, 700 voters
were day after day, paid as constables, while ten constables were
not required. He would bested to embody all suggestions, when
the Bill would be before a Committee. He coald bees personal
testimony to the'painful office of nominee. He would much rather,
however, that a measure to put an end to nominees, would origi.
nate with the Hon. and Learned Gentleman (Brougham). He was
net prepared himself with any measure to that effect.
Mr. WYNN wished to consolidate and amend the laws relating'
to Election, and gave notice of a motion to that effect early in next
Session, which he postponed in order thai.the Election Committees
might be over, and that the House might be cool. He thought a
general consolidatory measure would be preferable to isolated piece-
meal laws, and would submit one to the House.

Sir J. *A R KEN DE It was glad to bear that his Right Hon.
Friend (Mr. Wynn) intended to bring in a general Bill on the law
of controverted Election. He served as a nominee, and subscribed
to the opinions expressed of the painfulness of its functions. •
Lord MILTON was sure a nominee was and would be nem*.
sary while the ballotting system went on.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought the system of " striking off" re-
quired alteration, but still he could not agree as to the number of
names that it should be limited to; the fewer perhaps the better;
but much would depend on the number and character of the
Committee List.
Lord NUGENT said a few words to the same effect.
Alderman WOOD was sure a man would have no chance If
he was a Member of the opposition without a nominee—
(Laughter): He had been chosen by ballot on every Com-
mittee, but was never chosen by a Committee' nor never
would, though he deserved it from the stir he made in favour of an
Hon. Member, who by that means only was kept in his seat—
(Laughter). He wished the Noble Lord would take a practical
lesson from the conduct pursued by the Hon. Electors of the City
of London, a pattern to the empire. The expense was trifling, and
bribery was out of the question.
Mr. H. TWISS was entirely against divesting the nominee of
the right of voting, as that course would deprive him of all his
weight in the decision. The present system of scrutiny on the
spot was most inefficient, and required great alteration.
After a few words front Mr. Wrue, leave was gives to bring in
in a Bill. 1