The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-01-12 00:00:00

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PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.

On Friday, according to adjournment, the council again met
at the Town-hall, at eleven o'clock.
The MAYOR, in opening the proceedings, said the council
were aware that that was an adjourned meeting of a special
committee, held on Wednesday, and also of the general com-
mittee. They would confluence business as usual, by the town-
clerk reading over the minutes of the last meeting.
Mr. Alderman ROBINSON.—Mr. Mayor, I should like to put
a question to you before we proceed, relative to what one of the
newspapers has reForted. A newspaper of this morning has re-
ported that we deliberate with closed doors. It is the first time
I have heard of it, and I wish to inquire as to the truth of that
statement.
A Councillor.—l believe it is the STANDARD.
Mr. Alderman ROBENSON.—Yes. (A laugh )
The.MsYoll.----1 believe that statement, if it has been made,
is not true; as f see the gentlemen reporters at the bottom of
the table, I am sure neither myself nor •any gentleman of the
council have made use of expressions to warrant such a report;
and the reporter for the STANDARD, if he be present, will bear
me out ;hat neither from myself, nor from the members of the
council has one single word passed which could authorise such
a statement. The town-clerk will now read over the minutes of

:he last meeting.
The Tow N-CLERK then read over the minutes of the previous

meeting.
The REPORTER of the STANDARD rose immediately after the
reading of the minutes was concluded. He said;—Mr. Mayor,
having been called on by yourself from the chair, I beg to state,
in accordance with your request, and in answer to what has fal-
len from Mr. Robinson, that no statement to warrant such a report
has, to the best of my recollection, ever fallen from • yourself
or 'from any member of the council; neither has any such report
ever appeared in the STANDARD.
The Mayor.—After what has been said. by the reporter to
the STANDARD, it is but justice to the gentlemen reporters to
state, that I believe it is their sole desire to report strictly and
honestly what passes, and nothing more; and we have no com-
plaints to make, and no reason to find fault. But coniments
those reports are clearly a different thing. The report to which
Mr. Robinson alluded• believe is a comment on our pro-
ceedings, and the editors of public journals have clearly a
right to make what comment they think proper on public pro-
ceedings, and we are liable to such comments.
The MAYOR Then announced that Mr. Alderman Moon had
been chosen by the councillors for gest Derby ward, and that
Mr, Alderman Evans had been chosen by the councillors of
Rodney-street ward.
Mr. .Councillor Snitapta4 rose to propose the first motion,
which had been adjourned from the last meeting. He begged
to move, " that this council select twenty-four gentlemen to be
recommended to his Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home
Department as fit and proper persons to fill the office of magis-
trates for this borough." ,He would propose that the selection
he made in this way --" that.each„member. of tile council fiend
list of the gentlemen he ;hinks. best qualified for the office to the
Mayor, and that the Mayor call out those names which .have the
greatest number of votes:"
Mr:Councillor NCAN said they were now entering on a
very important business. In his opinion he thought it better
that each ward should be within the reach of and. have-a resi.
dent magistrate; and he thought that in nominating magistrates
now, that nomination should be made with reference to their re-
sidences. This borough had been greatly increased, and he
thought if they spread the magistrates as much as possible over
the, borough it would he desirable. As they were perhaps not
prepared for such a nominatiou it might be advisable to post-
pone the question. Ile begged to move, " that in the nomina-
tion of magistrates regard should be had to their residences, so
as 'to give to the inhabitants of each ward the benefit of a resi-
dent magistrate " He thought this would be the best means of
bringing. justice to every man's do-or.
Mr. Councillor EARF,E, in rising to second the motion,
thought it was rather hard on several individuals there that they
should be coifed on to nominate the magistrates then. He be-
lieved many gentlemen had already prepared a list, and those
gentlemen who were down oaf those lists would of course oe
nominated. He was sure he was not prepared to say her
those names were properly qualified for the office o not.whet He
thought, in delicacy to the community, they should net go to
the nomination until every member of the council was satisfied
as to the fitness of the gentlemen nominated. There was another
thing, he did not think it absolute necessary to elect the 21 that
dayM.
r. Councillor IIENttY LAWRENCE was of opinion that such
a mode of election as suggested by Mr. Sharpies would be illegal.
He concurred with Mr. Duncan and,Mr. Earle that the nomi-
nation should not now be decided.
Mr. Councillor ItaTurioNE would beg to call Mr. Lawrence's
attention to the fact that this was not o nomination of the
council, it was simply a recommendation ; and therefore what
he had said did not apply in the slightest degree to the subject.
Mr. Councillor J NIES LA F:RNCE.—This subject appeared
to him subject of great importance, and requited serious con-
sideration. He thought it behoved the council to consider and
weigh well what they were atiout to do. It was not like the ap-
pointment of a councillor or alderanan• in that case, if their
choice should- be itijodicions it might he altered between the
spa& of one and six years; but if he understood rightly, the ap-
pointment in this case was to be perwaoent—an appoiii meat for
life. Ile hoped, therefore, that toe members of the council would
agree with him that every gentleman proposed to such ;1 espousi-
.ble office as this ought to possess good qualifications. They ought
in the first place to be gentlemen of education and men of ex-
perience—g.entletnen o independence and unimpeachable
moral character—who would administer justice with inn pail ialitv,
acid above all men of sound Judgment. He thought after what
he had stated that they would agree with him that they were all I
deeply concerned in ibis matter, and that the future happiness
and welfare of .this great community would depend in a great
measure op their choice.
Mr. Alderman Hay wotart made some remarks relative to
the aldermen which we were unable to hear. He concluded
with seconding the motion.
The MAYOR begged to call attention to- one circumstance"
which appeared to -him an error of judgment. Some persons
had gone about canvassing the members of the council for their
votes on this question. He attached no bad attention to the
individuals, but he could not help expressing his decided disap-
probation of such a course... The members of that council might
to come into that multi uninfluenced by any personal or private
considerations Whatever. (;fear.)
Mr. Councillor IIATHeoNE thought it important they should
.pioc.ectlaiu the busittess_of matiaating triagistrates4hs earl.as
possible. •
Mr. Alderman STU A eT.—Before they proceed tny nomi-
nation, or recommendation of magistrates,. he ed
shoo u ald like to
know from the mayor whether the cormnumcalimm made to the
late mayor relative to the nomination of mgistrates as not
entirely a private communication ? If it (~aele not aw
private
communication, they might proceed as 'they were doing; but
on the other hand, if it was a private communication, he con-
ceived it was an objection to them thns Proceeding. His own
idea was that it was a private communication, and if so it would
place the government in a peculiarly
id ward situation if, after
their nomination, the government shoul feel bound only after
their
to fulfil their wishes ; if the government left out any of the
individuals nominated it wouid appear invidious, and the
council would place them in a very unpleasant situation, as well
as the individuals nominated. For the sake of obviating that, he
should beg to move "that the reporters be forthwith, removed
into au adjacent room till the discussion be over."
. The MAYOR.—AS he bad stated on the first meeting, he had
feceived front the late mayor .a letter which he had received in
the month of October last from the secretary of state tor the
house department, coffins; the attention of the mayor, that he
might take the opportunity of calling the attention of the coun-
cil to this circular, that the government would give due weight
and consideration to any nomination they might make. That
statement was, in the first instance, made public by Lord John
Russell in parliameat, and circulated through the prints of the
town as the intention of the present government, therefore he
could not think that it was a private communication. If tie
understood Mr. Stuart, he rather alluded to the delicate posi-
tion in which gentlemen so nominated would s, a-td if it should
be the decision of the government hereafter that they were not at
persons as recotriniended, and that it would be placing such
gentlemen in a delicate situation as persons whom the government
had not thought proper to accept. lie considered that that was
entirely a matter for the determination of the present council.
For his own part, he considered that every public man must
run all risks, and if a gentleman was willing to be nominated,
he must submit to have his qualifications canvassed, and abide
the result. He could not consider it a private question; but
the mode of acing in it, whether public or otherwise, must be
as the council should dictate.
Mr. CouncillorCon (,AN.-When the bill wasorignally introduced
it was intended that the common council should elect magistrates,
and which was afterwards altered to" recommend" magistrates,
and the ministers stated that any such recommendation would
meet with the attention of the government, which did away in
his opinion as to the intention that such nomination should be
private. They were then met for the purpose of " reconimend-
ing." Ile perfectly agreed with Mr. Lawrence as to the import-
ance of the question; and that the gentlemen nominated should
bra ;rentlemen of talent and information, and that they should
be very discriminating in their choice of these individuals as
the election was for life.
IMr..Morecroft, the newly-elected councillor for Lime-street
Ward, here entered, and was announced by the Mayor.l
• Mr. Councillor Coo LAN continued.—But he thought it a work
of supererogation to descant on these topics, every gentleman
must have felt the necessity of disci iroination to the choice of
magistrates. -A regular notice had been given of the subject,
and they were met that day for the special purpose of electing
theni, and in the interim they had had time to consider well all
such topics in the regulation of their choice; and he hoped
and trusted, every gentleman there would be guided by
such consideration. He thought they should proeeed without
any delay to the nomination, having met for the specific pur-
pose. As to the remark of a gentlemen that lists had oeen
pre-
pared by 'persons, he. thought it did .not at all militate against
their 'immediate procedure in the nomination of .aagistrates.
Instead of being a censure he thought it rather a compliment.
to those gentlemen that they had been actiVe in their duty, and
that they had come prepared to do their duty according to the
notice that had been given. A difference of opinion seemed to
exist as to the propriety of the election being public. He
thought it desirable that out of doors every individual should
know exactly how their representatives voted. He saw no ob-
jection to the principle of lists as this was merely a recom-
mendation not an appointment; and he thought they could get
the general sentiments of the common council better by that
mode than by any other, as well as save time. It would be ex-
tremely- unpleasant and indelicate, if: he might be allowed the
expression, to rise up and say, " I object to this gentleman" for
any-reason, or simply to object without stating any reason. To.
prevent such unpleasautnesses, predetermined lists appeared to
him the easiest course, as well as it expedited public business.
• The MAYOR.—If he miderstood Mr. Stuart, he meant that it
would be unpleasant for the gentlemen nominated if their ne-
mination were known to the public, and they should not be ap-
pointed by government.
Mr. Alderman ST U A RT.—Most certainly.
Mr. Councillor JORDAN begged to ntoie "that a sub-com-
mittee be appointed to take into consideration who shall, or shall
nut be nominated."
the MAYOR thought their most regular course would be to
decide on the motion of Mr. Sharpies.
The Tows-cram( hen read Mr. Sharplei' motion.
Mr. Councillor it ATH RON S took the liberty of calling the at-
tention of the council to the situation in which they at present
were as a reason for proceeding as soon as they could on die
question. Ile was one of the last men who would wish to take
the council by. surprise. But for the importance of the proceed-
ing he would just urge that by the 38 clause no alteration of the
fees taken by the present clerks of the justices could be made.
Neither till the appointment of new magistrates could the,aire-
sent justices be prevented from exercising their • functions,
which he considered most dangerous and unjust. With respect
to the fees, common report said that Mr. Ellis and Mr. Shut-
tleworth derived £1,500 per annum from these sources. It was
desirable that they should have a new commission .of.the peace
as speedily as possible in. older that this might be obviated, and
greater economy be introduced.
Mr. Councillor Dorscats would move as an amendment to
Mr. Sharples' motion, " that in the nomination of magistrates'
regard should be had to their residences so as to give the inha-
bitants of each ward the benefit of a resident maeistrate; and
that the nomination he decided at the next meeting of this
council."