The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-04-11 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—`tiEDNEsDAv

On the motion of Mr. J. E. DENISON, a select commit-
tee was appointed to inquire into the management of the
Ecclesiastical Commission.

The motion for resuming the debate on Mr. S. Craw-
ford's Out-going Tenant's (Ireland) Bill, having been
agreed to, Mr. NAPIER rose in opposition to the measure,
and was followed on the same side by Captain Archdall,
Sir J. Walsh, Sir G. Grey, Col. Blackall, and Lord Cas-
tlereagh (unless the bill were referred to the consideration
of a select committee), the speakers in favour of the se-
cond reading being Mr. J. O'Connell, Mr. F. O'Connor,
Mr. Fagan, Colonel Rawdon, and Mr. Scully, when,
after a reply from the hon. member for Rochdale, the mo-
tion was rejected by a majority of 123 ; the numbers were
145 to 22.

Sir G. GREY, in reply to a statement of Mt. J. O'Con-
nell, that bands of armed Orangemen were wandering
about the north of Ireland, intimidating and overawing
the people, said it was scarcely worth his while to give the
statement a denial.
Mr. llumm's motion, that in all cases where the seat of
any member has been declared void by an election com-
mittee, on the grounds of bribery or treating, no motion
for the issuing of a new writ shall be made without previous
notice being given on the votes, was agreed to without a
division.

The Great Yarmouth Freemen Disfranchisement ; Poor
Houses (Ireland) Act Amendment ; the Mutiny, and Ma-
rine Mutiny Bills were severally read a second time.
Sir W. SOMERVILLY brought up a bill for amending the
Public Works (Ireland) Act, which was a read first time ;
and Mr. ANSTEY renewed his motion on the subject of the
independence of Poland for Tuesday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TifuRsuAv

Sir JOHN WALsn called the attention of the govern-
ment to the Chartist procession which was announced for
Monday next, and asked if any measures were adopted to
secure the independence of the house and maintain the
peace of the country ?_ _ _

Sir G. GREY observed that the attention of the govern-
ment had been directed to the subject, and that a procla-
mation was then bring printed, pointing out that the pro-
posed procession we contrary to the common and statute
law of the realm, and calling upon all peaceably disposed
and loyal persons to abstain from taking any part in it,
and to assist in the preservation of the public peace.
Mr. F. O'CONNOR alluded to processions of a similar
character which had taken place in 1831 and 1834, without
any charge of illegality having been brought against
them.

Sir G. GREY said that, without reference to precedents,
the government had consulted the law officers of the
crown, and had been informed by them that the proposed
procession was illegal. If Mr. O'Connor was sincerely
desirous of preserving the peace, he would urge those with
whom he had any influence to abstain from all acts of
violence at the meeting. The right honourable gentleman
shortly afterwards gave notice that he would this da•
move for leave to bring in a bill for the better se,
the crown and government of the United Kingdom
(Cheers from all sides.)
Mr. F. FRENCH then moved for leave to bring in a bill
to facilitate the reclamation of waste lands in Ireland
which was granted.

,rite• of

---
Mr. F. O'CONNOR then moved for an address praying
her Majesty to be graciously pleased to extend her roykil
pardon to John Frost, Zephaniah Williams, William
Jones, and all other political offenders.

Sir G. GREY briefly stated the reasons which led the
government to regard it as its duty to oppose tiv:. motion ;
observing that it was chiefly upon the leaders of such
movements as the parties alluded to had been implicatad
in, that the weight of the law should fall, and not upon
the followers whom they deluded into seditious and trai-
torous designs. It was to the leaders on such occasions
that the government directed its attention, for reasons,
the propriety of which would be assented to by the hon.

gentleman (Mr. O'Connor intimated his assent by fre-
quently inclining his head).
After some observations from Mr. Morgan, Mr. Hume,
Mr. Aglionby, Mr. Wokley, and Colonel Thompson,
Sir D. DUNDAS vehemently objected to the motion, re-
capitulating the circumstances of the trial, which ended in
the conviction of Frost, Williams, and Jones, who were
now only suffering the just penalty of their very grave
offence. He did not wish to raise an eternal barrier be-
tween them and the mercy of the crown, but this was cer-
tainly not the time for extending the royal clemency to
them.

Mr. GARDNER supported the motion; and after a few
words in reply from Mr. F. O'Connor, the house divided,
and the numbers were—for the motion, 23 ; against it, 91;
majority against, 68.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-

FRIDAY

Mr. F. O'CoNNoR, in reply to a question from Mr.
Drummond, said it was his intention on Monday next, to
present to the house a petition signed by some millions
of her Majesty's subjects in reference to a motion of which
he had given notice for that day, as an amendment to the
question of going into committee of supply. As it now
appeared, there was to be no committee of supply on
Monday, he hoped, therefore, the Government would
allow him to bring forward his motion as the first busi-
ness of the evening.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he was willing that the petition
should receive every consideration at the hands of the
House, but he could not postpone the Government busi-
ness for it on Monday. He would, however, allow him to
bring on his motion as the first business for Friday.
In reply to a question from Mr. BRIGHT,
Sir G. GREY said the question of the illegality of the
meeting on Monday next depended very much on the cir-
cumstances under which it was to be held. If it were to
be held under such circumstances as were calculated to ex-
cite terror and alarm in the minds of the peaceable inhab-
itants, it would be contrary to the common law of the
land. If it was intended to be a meeting in connexion
with the procession, the question of legality or otherwise
would be equally applicable to both, and must depend
upon the circumstances of the case ; and he should con-
tend that the course pursued by the Government at the
present time could not be objected to as an interference
with the right of petition.
A singular and very exciting scene followed, in the
course of which

Mr. F. O'Co,,brov. avowed his intention of being present
at the meeting, and also at the processton, and was pre-
pared to take his full share of the responsibility, whatever
it might be. He was for preserving the peace, which he
I believed would not be disturbed if the procssion should
not be interfered with by the Government.

Mr. Alderman THOMPSON was unwilling to trust the
pacific words of the hon. gentleman, when he found that
he had made a most republican and exciting speech at a
meeting in Cripplegate, on the previous evening. The
worthy alderman quoted some passages of the speech as
an exposition of its violence.

Mr. F. O'CoNNon said the report was a fabrication,
He was never either a Republican or Repealer in his life,
After some observations from Mr. Harm,

. ,
Sir DE LACY EVANS, conceivingthe meeting to be
alarming to his constituents, would support the course
pursued by government.

Mr. J. (Y(_;ONNELL challenged Mr. F. O'Connor with
having enrolled himself, fourteen years ago, as a member
of a society for obtaining repeal of the union. (Loud
cheering.)

I
Mr. P. -O'CoNNon said he had not done so. The only
society he had enrolled himself in was one established by
the late Daniel O'Connell ; and he paid his subscription
of one guinea to buy a gun and a knapsack. (Tremen-
dous cheering and laughter.)
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said there was no foundation for
such an imputation against his deceased relative.
After some further animated discussion,
Mr. WAKLEY said that the gallant member for West-
minster, who now deprecated such meetings as that to
take place on Monday as illegal and calculated to overawe
parliament, had himself, when the Reform Bill was under
discussion and in danger, declared that he would not hesi-
tate to put himself at the head of 100,000 men, to march
down to the House of Commons. (Great laughter.)
The subject then dropped.
Sir G. GREY then drew attention to some portions of
the United Kingdom, in which all the limits of free dis-
cussion were exceeded, and language indulged in of a
seditious and even of a treasonable character. However
unwilling to interfere with speeches or writings of an ex-
citing character, when not likely to prove mischievous,
the government could not close their eyes to the danger,
under existing circumstances, of suffering such proceedings
to continue as had marked the conduct of the Irish Con-
federation, and which had already subjected some of its
members to prosecution. The right hon. gentleman
called attention to the articles and speeches in the United
Irishman, the Nation, and other papers, clearly disclosing
the treasonable intentions of the speakers and writers.
The right hon. gentleman explained the nature of the law
of treason, and the difference between that law in England
and Ireland —the 36th of George the Third, which con-
siderably enlarged and extended that law, never having
been extended to the latter country. It was right that
the law in both countries should be the same, and with
some modification he proposed to extend it to Ireland,
reducing the punishment in all cases, except those of
levying war against the Sovereign or imagining the Queen's
death, to transportation for life, with a discretion in the
judge to reduce such punishment to any shorter period,
not less than seven years. This law, so framed, was to
be applicable to the whole of the United Kingdom, but
still further measures might become necessary to be ap-
plied to Ireland, though he would not mix them up with
that which he had then to submit to the consideration of
the house. The ris'ht hon barnnof ,nnelmled by moving'fo,
to bring in a bill for the better security of the
Crown and Government of the United Kingdom.
The motion for leave to bring in the bill was carried by
a majority of 283 to 24.
Sir G. GREY then intimated that he would move the
second reading of the bill on Monday, and he would then
also move the suspension of the standing orders in order
that it might go through committee the same night.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE moved the second reading of the
Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill, with a view to refer
it to a select committee, at the request of several Trish
members.

After some discussion,
Sir W. VERNER moved, as an amendment, that the
bill be read a second time that day six months.
Some further discussion ensued, but eventually the bill
was read a second time, and referred to a select committee.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

FRANCE

The Paris correspondent of the Times of Tuesday writes :
—" I lament sincerely to state that the serious phase of
the Republic, so often predicted and so much dreaded,
appears about to arrive. Our accounts from the provinces
are most unfavourable. In one district the troops are
guilty of insubordination ; in another the people display
an amount of excitement and of irritation not unnatural
on the morrow of a revolution, but still of a truly lamen-
table character ; in another bands of thieves of the stamp
of those who immediately after the revolution committed
the enormities outside Paris, of which you are aware, dis,
turb and ravage the country. In Paris nolitical excite-
ment begins to produce verbal conflicts, wiiicii may de-
generate ',rift) personal violence. Yesterday, for example,
the electoral question was discussed-at a preparatory meet-
ing held at the Bourse with a degree of heat and excite-
ment that at one moment seemed on the point of leading
to blows. At Lyons disorganization, civil and military, is
said to exist. At koanne disorders have taken place of a
serious kind. At Lilleboane (between Rouen and Havre)
a conflict has occurred between the people and the autho-
rities, in which the troops were obliged to fire. Four men
and two women were killed on the spot, and 20 were se-
verely wounded."

It seems now beyond question that the government will
take the railways into its hand, if present intentions be
persevered in. The National has an article evidently pre-
paring the way for such a course. The insubordination
of the army is not yet suppressed, and breaches of disci-
pline are very frequent.
The Democratic Paczfique contains a brief article, but
as startling a laconism as we have ever read :—" A general
bankruptcy is imminent, and the Provisional Government,
struck with stupor, postpones the most urgent measures
to the opening of the Constituent Assembly. In the
meantime the workshops are in a state of disorganisation ;
each day thousands of workmen are thrown upon the
streets, and when the Constituent Assembly shall meet,
it will find itself in presence of 800,000 men and women
without work and without bread. Let the Provisional
Government shake off its stupor, and let great measures
be immediately resolved upon."
Notwithstanding the uniform declaration of M. de La-
martinc to all the foreign malcontents, from the Poles to
the Irish, it is generally supposed that the Republic desires
to make Italy a free republic, and destroy all existing
principalities.

The Paris papers of Wednesday demonstrate the in-
creasing difficulties of the new Republic.
The elections of officers of the National Guards com-
menced that morning, and were proceeding quietly, but
considerable excitement would probably mark their close.
The struggle is between the moderate and ultra republi-
cans, and its result may indicate the tone and complexion
of the election of members of the Constituent Assembly.
The state of anarchy and disorder to which Lyons, the
second city of France, has been reduced is but timidly
alluded to in the journals before us. They speak of pro-
cessions of women, and of assemblages of 8,000 or 10,000
armed men, who are masters of the city, and of the revolt
and disorganisation of the regiments of soldiers which
formed its garrison. A letter from an eminent manufac-
turer of Lyons has been received by his correspondents in
London, which draws a fearful picture of the present state
of that once-flourishing city, and concludes by the most
melancholy anticipations as to its future fate. " Only con-
ceive," says the writer, " the city of Lyons in the hands
of the most turbulent, the most excitable, the most licen-
tious populace of Europe. Behold a formidable garrison
placed in fortified barracks to overawe and control them,
who are themselves now in full revolt and mutiny."
The National denies that France has hostile views on
Germany, anti maintains that the closest union should take
place between the two countries, in order efficaciously to
support the Poles in the war between that people and the
Russians. On his side the Emperor is decided and vigo-
rous at least. lie is said to have ordered that every man
in Russian-Poland, between the ages of 18 and 35, shall
be removed into the interior of Russia.

Mr. Robert Owen, the Socialist, is in communication
wit.h. M. Louis Blanc, at Parjs,. on the organization of
laboor, and promises that, if his plans be adopted, all
the wurkmen of France shall, in less than a month, be
fully an ;-1 profitably occupied
Boutta.NlAux

Om MARctl, 1848.—" Things look so
gloomy het.f-, that our senior partner has given up all idea
of starting 012 his commercial Journey. The crisis in the
.
frightful. No billa can be negotiated

i

on any terms, and money is getting scarcer every day. If
it continues a fortnight longer, all houses will stop pay-
ment, and we are compelled to inform our friends that we
cannot execute any more orders but at one month's credit
from date of shipment. In France ive have not, for the
last fortnight, delivered any goods unless the cash was
paid beforehand. You will be glad to hear, my dear Sirs,
that, so far, we have not sustained any loss, but it must
come if our government system continues. We are pro-
testing against it, and are determined, in the south of
France, not to be ruled by 35,000 Parisians."
The Paris papers of Saturday state that the republican
party were satisfied with the result of the election of offi-
cers of the National Guard. The utmost tranquillity
prevailed, but the approaching general election continued
to be looked to with some anxiety. A strange rumour
had got afloat, one which, if confirmed, would very con-
siderably reassure the public mind, namely, that Baron
James de Rothschild had been offered the Ministry of
Finance ?