The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-06-14 00:00:00

JAMAICA.

On the motion of Mr. LABOUCHERE, the house resolved
itself into a committee of the whole house on the Jamaica
bill, Mr. BERNAL in the chair. On the question that the
first clause do stand part of the bill,
Sir E. Su ODEN contended that it would be difficult to show
that any case had arisen to call for the exercise of the power
of the imperial parliament, which should only be exercised
on a pressing emergency. It was a mese farce to say, that.
this bill afforded a means of allowing the House of Assembly
to pursue its former course of legislation. A very slight
alteration in the terms of the first clause would be sufficient
to carry out the proposed object; and he should therefore
only press on the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Labouchere)
that some words should be introduced to meet the intentions
of all parties. He trusted that the house would give the
legislature of Jamaica an opportunity of doing that which
hon. gentlemen opposite said they were so anxious for, viz.,
legislating for the emancipated population of that colony.
Entertaining these feelings, he should move that the first
enacting clause, which proved that the governor and council
of Jamaica be empowered to make laws, ordinances, &c., be
omitted.
Mr. LABOUCHERE observed that the government had
withdrawn the former bill, not in consequence of any change
of opinion with respect to it, but because the opinion of the
house sppeared to be nearly divided as to whether it was ex-
pedient or not that the house of assembly of Jamaica should
have a locus penitentice, and that if that body did not enact
such laws as the exigency of the case required, these after
proceedings should be taken. The present bill went on the
principle of offering a locus prtmilenlice to the house of assem-
bly ; but in the event of any manifestation of bad faith and
contumacy on the part of the colonial legislature, the govern-
ment would take care that the great bulk of the community
of Jamaica should suffer as little as possible. The question
then was, whether in the three clauses which the bill con-
tained, they were going too far, or only fulfilling the pledges
they had given to their constituents, that they would continue
to protect the recently emancipated negro population of the
colonies with paternal solicitude. The right hon. gentleman
referred to the course pursued by Sir E. Sugden when the
emancipation bill was before parliament, which was quite in-
consistent with that he was now pursuing. Several amend-
ments were adopted on the recommendation of the right hon.
and learned gentleman, and among others the prison clause,
with the view of meeting the feelings of alarm excited as to
the conduct that would be pursued towards the negro popu-
lation. These clauses the right hon. and learned gentleman
had successfully pressed on her majesty's government, and
they were adopted ; and if they were then absolutely neces-
sary, did he say that he would not protect the emancipated
negro population as well as the apprentices ? The right hon.
gentleman contended, that the vagrancy laws, and the law of
contract, and the laws relating to unauthorised occupation of
land, all demanded alteration. The government had no wish
to interfere unnecessarily with the house of assembly of
Jamaica : hut they were compelled by an imperative sense of
duty to come forward on the present occasion ; and if the
house refused to sanction so moderate and limited an interfe-
rence as that now proposed, the people of this country would
come to the opinion that parliament had abandoned the ground
which it took last year.
Mr. Gt. A rosToNE contended that the house of assembly had
not had a fair opportunity for legislating on these subjects.
Enactments to answer the purposes required could not have
become law by January next; and it would be far better, if
the necessity were to arise, to summon a parliament earlier
than usual, rather than take a course by which constitutional
principles of great importance were violated. At least there
were between two and three hundred thousand emancipated
negroea in Barbadoes and the other islands, for whom none of
these provisions were proposed to be made, and yet with re-
spect to whom the necessity for such protection must have
been just as great as for those of Jamaica. If, therefore, the
government could make out a case of serious grievance for
the population of Jamaica, they would convict themselves of
gross neglect and injustice to the negro population of the
other colonies, inasmuch as they did not propose similar re-
gulations for them. But because they did not propose any
such enactment for the other colonies, he (Mr. Gladstone)
thought the inference irresistible, that there was no real case
of grievance in Jamaica.
Sir GEORGE GREY Cohtel:fled, that every principle of
honour, justice, and humanity, required that the emancipa-
tion act should be carried out, and that the government
should receive power to remove the grievances arising from
bad laws, and the want of proper legislation.
Mr. GOCLIIt:RN contended that this bill would be more
obnoxious to the colony of Jamaica than the former one.
Mr. SIIEIL exposed what he termed the inconsistency
of Sir Edwd. Sugden.
The house divided. The numbers were found to be—For
the clause, 228 ; against it, 191 ; majority, 34.—The remain-
ing clauses were agreed to, and the house resumed.
The other orders of the day having been disposed of, the
house adjourned at a quarter to one o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS.--TUESDAY.
The Duke of BEAUFORT adverted to the circular lately
addressed to the lords lieutenant of counties, on the subject
of armed associations. The Salford Radical Association,
and an association at Bath, had applied for arms, but his
own opinion was, that the circular was greatly misunderstood,
and that armed associations, without proper military control,
were calculated to do much harm.
Lord MELBOURNE concurred in opinion with the noble
duke, and stated that the circular went no further than to
offer arms in cases of emergency, under the discretion of the
lords lieutenant of counties.
The Duke of \‘' ELLINGTON thought that a copy of the
circular should he laid on the table, that they might see what
class of persons the government intended to arm.
After some further remarks from different peers, the con-
♦ersation dropped.
The report of the Sale of Beer act in part repeal bill was
presented and agreed to.
Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that he should move the
second reading of his bill on education on Friday neat.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY.
In the Commons, the proceedings on two " Divorce"
bills occupied a good deal of time.
Mr. HARVEY asked whether they were to decide on what
they heard ? because he had been unable to hear one word of
the evidence---a fact he mentioned only to show how this
species of business was transacted.
A message from the House of Lords requested the attend-
ance of Sir J. Somerville, to give evidence ou the " state of
Ireland."

Leave was given.
Mr. THORNELY deferred his motion regarding Haytian
coffee at the request of Mr. P. Thomson, who said that there
was a negotiation proceeding on the subject.
Mr. WARD and Mr. hAEVEY, in compliance with re-
quests; deferred motions, of which they had given notice for
the 18th instant, to make way fur Mr. Grote's motion on

Mr. WILLIAMS, for Mr. Hume, deferred that hon. mem-
ber's motion on the subject of the bankaffairs, for threeweeks.
Mr. VILLIERS postponed his motion on the timber duties,
from June 20 till July 7.
Mr. O'CONNELL deferred, for a fortnight, his motion for
a bill to enable Roman Catholics to hold the office of lord
chancellor, &c., in Ireland.
Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to Sir J. Graham's inquiry,
said the printing of Bibles in Scotland, as the patent of
QUEEN'S printer is not to be renewed, would be under the
regulation of a corporation of five persons in Edinburgh, con-
sisting of the moderator, two divines of the church of Scot-
land, and two laymen, also of that church ; and that according
to the opinions of the lord advocate and the attorney-general,
no statute was required to carry the regulations into effect;
the royal prerogative was sufficient; but he should submit
the details, in a printed form, to the house in a few days.
Mr. WAKLEY, in answer to Lord Ashley, said he should
not press his motion regarding inquiry into the truth of the
allegations made in the petition of McNish. &c., and into the
operation of the Factory Act in Scotland, understanding that
it would be opposed by the government.
Mr. MACKINNON obtained leave to bring in a bill to alter
and amend the laws regarding turnpike trusts, and to allow
of unions of the same.

Mr. FsEsHFIELD rose to move for returns regarding the
number of days that the Court of Exchequer had sat as a
court of equity, for 10 years, ending 1838 ; but the thinness
of the house suggested that it should be counted, and it was
" counted out" shortly before eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—WEDNESDAY.
The house did not meet this day.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY.

The Speaker took the chair at three o'clock, to afford an
opportunity for presenting petitions. Immense numbers
were presented against the government scheme of national
education, in favour of uniform postage, &c.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he would move the dropped
order for the report on the Jamaica Enactments bill till next
evening, and propose, if practicable, the third reading on
Friday.
Mr. PRYME moved the third reading of the rating of tene-
ments bill.

Mr. JERVIS opposed it, and moved that it be read the third
time that day six months.
After some discussion the house divided on the bill; the
numbers were—ayes, 70 ; noes, 94—majority against the
bill, 24.

The custody of infants' bill was considered in committee ;
as was the borough watch rates bill.

The report of the copyholds enfranchisement bill was taken
into further consideration, and agreed to.

The sewers bill was ordered to be referred to a select com-
mittee.

The electors' removal bill was afterwards considered in
committee, and called forth much desultory conversation.
Report ordered to be received on Monday.

The prisons (Scotland) bill was deferred till next day.

•
. The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER, in committee of
ways and means, moved a resolution, continuing the existing
sugar duties.
Mr. EWART expressed regret that no alteration was pro-
posed.
Resolution agreed to.
Mr. C. BULLER, having obtained leave, brought in a bill,
which was read the first time, " to establish a court of appeal
from the decision of the revising barristers.
The house then adjourned.