The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-07-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY.

SPANISH AFFAIRS.
•
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY gave notice that on this
day week he should put certain questions to the noble vis-
count at the head of her Majesty's government, upon the
correspondence that had been laid on the table relative to the
affairs of Spain.

RIOTS AT BIRMINGUAM.
The Earl of WARWICK drew the Nttention of Lord Mel-
bourne to the accounts of the state of Birmingnam, and
complained that though lord-lieutenant of the county, he
had received no communication on the subject either from
the magistrates or the Home-office. He wished to know
whether there was a sufficient number of London police in
Birmingham, and whether they had all the extra assistance
that was nececessary to enable them to preserve peace
and order? It did appear extraordinary after all the time
for preparation which had been afforded, that these
events should have been allowed to occur. Those who were
engaged in them were neither more nor less than a portion
of the political union that had been established for many
years—a union which the government had declared to be
illegal—but the existence of which, nevertheless, had been
connived at from that time to the present. Those very in-
dividuals had been supported through thick and thin by the
government in such a manner as, (the noble earl) verily be-
lieved, gave them the impression that their existence as a
union was sanctioned. (Hear, hear.) The same language
which had been held at the political unions long since was
held now, and he regretted that some prompt step had not
been taken before this. There were, moreover, magistrates
put into the list in the course of the last year, many of whom
had themselves been political unionists and chartists. He
should be glad to hear from the noble viscount what his in-
formation of the state of Birmingham really was, and if he
(the noble earl) could do anything in aid of the noble vis-
count's views in putting an end to the unhappy events there.
Though he very much questioned the propriety of the noble
viscount's policy in allowing those persons to go on so long,
he (the noble earl) should most willingly give him his anxious
support, and if necessary proceed that very night to Birming-
ham. (Hear, hear.) He trusted that every assistance would
be given to her majesty's government from every quarter.
Lord MELBOURNE said, he feared that it was but too true
that riots of a very serious character had broken out—that
houses had been plundered, and considerable property des-
troyed ; but those riots had been suppressed, and the town
had been, as the government were informed, restored to tran-
quillity. The noble Earl had asked whether the police force
and the military force in the town were sufficient for the
maintenanceof tranquillity. He apprehended, unquestionably,
that the police and military force in Birmingham was per-
fectly sufficient for restoring tranquillity, and maintaining the
peace of the town. The noble Earl had stated that he, as
Lord-Lieutenant of the county had not been applied to
either by the magistrates of Ilirmingham or by the other
authorities, Why that course had not been taken—why the
noble Earl had not been applied to, he was at present unable
to. explain.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said that, from the statement
of the noble viscount, it appeared that there was no deficiency
of force of every description, but it did appear that there was
a deficiency of authority—(hear, hear)—a deficiency on the
part of the magistrates to keep the peace, and he should like
to known who were responsible for these magiStrates ?--(hear,
hear.) The corporation of the town had been formed con-
trary to the advice which had been given towards the end of
last year, and without having had the consent of parliament—
(hear, hear.) But not only had the corporation been formed,
but magistrates had been appointed—(hear, hear)—not by the
government, not by the noble and learned lord on the wool-
sack, but by the secretary of state, in consequence of recom-
mendations in a manner, in his opinidh, contrary to the laws
and constitution of the country, and, as he believed, contrary
to the intentions of parliament, who, when they passed the
Corporations Bill, understood that the magistrates should be
appoihted in the usual manner by the crown and not recom-
mended by any party or body of men residing within the
corporate district. What bad been the consequence? After
a most disgraceful riot had existed for more than a week, for,
he believed, upWards of 10 days at least, this large town, one
of the largest manufacturing towns in the kingdom, contain-
ihgproperty to an immense amount, and one of the most res-
Pectible populations in the country, had been treated like a
town taken by storm—houses had been burnt down. He had
been in towns taken by storm, but never had such outrages
occurred in them as had been committed in this town only
last night; before the eyes of magistrates appointed by the
secretary of state for the home department. Property had
been taken out of houses and burnt in the public streets not-
withstanding the presence of the police and troops. This
ought not to have been allowed to go on under the eyes of
the magistrates, and almost under the eyes of the troops,
without something being done to prevent these outrages. It
would have been impossible formerly that these things could
have gone on in this great country, once so peaceable and so
happy. But the peace, and honour, and interest of the coun-
try were sacrificed—(hear, hear).
Tbe Earl of WARWICK said the noble viscount denied that
the government had given any countenance to the political
unions; but they had appointed the very men who formed
these unions to the office of magistrates, and they had ap-
pointed even delegate chartists, and he had had much corres-
pondence with the secretary of state upon that point. He
bad the names of the parties, but he did not wish to mention
them unnecessarily—but these were political unionists, and
three or four chartists were now performing the duties of the
magistracy : this was made manifest upon the exmination of
Lovett, the secretary to the convention. (The noble earl
here read a paragraph which was last week placarded in
Birmingham, on the subject of the examination of Lovett).
From the position which he (Lord Warwick) held in the
county he had paid particular attention to the language used
in that political union, and it was as violent as that used by
the chartists. Yet these were the very men selected by the
government to fill the office of magistrates.
Viscount MELBounsE—The noble duke said there was a
deficiency of activity on the part of the magistrates, and he
said he could find no case parallel with it. Had the noble
duke forgotten the unfortunate affair at Nottingham, where a
mill was burned while two troops of yeomanry were standing
round and within sight?—(Hear.)—No doubt they had acted
under mistake as to law, but they thought they could not act
without the orders of a magistrate.—(Cheers.)—These things
arose suddenly, and he was informed that the police waited in
this case also for the orders of the magistrates, who were not
quite prepared, not expecting any tumult that night. He was
not fully informed on the subject—(Hear hear)—and could not
explain the matter either clearly or satisfactorily. He could
easily conceive that a serious riot might arise without any
fault attaching to the conduct of the magistrates. It might be
attributable either to error or mistake. He did not know whe-
ther this was so on the present occasion, but it had been so in
former times. As at present informed he knew not what term
to apply; but he was disposed to say it arose from timidity,
and not from any disposition on the part of the magistrates
not to do their duty. The noble duke had said he had found
no parallel to this outrage, even in towns which had been
taken by storm. Now, in the present case, there were two
houses burned.
Lord LYNDHURST said there were twenty.
Viscount MELBOURNE—The noble and learned lord would
have an opportunity of addressing the house presently. He
should think that in a town taken by storm rather more car-
nage would occur than had taken place in Birmingham • and
the thing was sufficiently lamentable without persons Of the
authority and station of the noble duke indulging in violent
exaggeration.—(Hear.)—Then as to the Magistracy— in ap-
pointing the magistrates everything had been done with the
utmost fairness. The persons appointed were persons of great
respectability, who either resided in the town, or near the
town, or who had a fair share in the business of the town.
Such had been the composition of the magistracy, and with
respect to the other matters of complaint that some of those
persons had been members of the political unions, and had
used violent language, his (Lord Melbourne's) opinion on
that subject was that it ought not to be a disqualification to
serve as a magistrate. If the follies of nature operated as a
disqualfication, and they were only to appoint those who had
acted prudently, he was afraid they would be put to very
great difficulty in finding magistrates, because it he had to
look in particular to the town of Birmingham, for persons of
sound discretion, for persons who had never committed errors
—who had never used violent language, or indulged in dan-
gerous or extravagant theories, he protested he should not
know were to find them.—(Laughter.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON was surprised that the noble
viscount, considering the situation he held, should only have
ifigirruttle state of Wap is Birtabaham by the aecauuts be