The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-08-18 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY

The Royal assent was given, by commission, to several
public and private bills.
After some further business, the house passed to the or-
der of the day for the second reading of the Sugar Duties
Bill.

The Bishop of OXFORD regretted that he should be
placed in opposition to the government, and felt peculiar
pain in opposing the present government upon this ques-
tion, because thay had been the friends of the negro at all
times, even when the cause was an unpopular one. But
the necessary effect of this measure must be to produce a
complex and iniquitous increase of crime in the kidnap-
ping of human beings and converting them from freemen
into slaves. The fact was incontrovertible that if the
quantity of sugar grown was increased, it could only be
by an increase in the importation of negroea. It was said,
as a in,itter of justice, that the people of England had a
right to have everything they wanted—a principle which
qualified the anti-slavery principle. He denied the truth
of the former principle. The English people had no right
to anything purchased with cruelty and rapine ; they had
a right to legitimate commerce, but they had no right, and
he did not think that they would demand, to be supplied
with luxuries, or even necessaries, bought by the blood of
those whom Christianity declared to be their brothers.
He was convinced that if her Majesty's government saw
what would be the inevitable consequences of this mea-
sure, that it would be a direct encouragement of the slave
trade, they would not have proposed it ; but he believed
they had in ignorance taken a step more adverse to the
feelings and wishes of the people of England than any
step taken by any government in his memory. The right
rev. prelate concluded with moving that the bill be read a
' -seacma ticske-that.-.1.7-k6..-.. ...Atm.

The Bishop of LONDON seconded the amendment.
Feeling that the real prosperity, the honour, and the
welfare of this country were involved in this measure, he
could not acquiesce in it, believing in his heart that it
would affix a stain to this country which no future legisla-
tion would remove.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE could not but consider it
a most decisive proof that, in the opinion of the country,
this opinion was not retrogressive; otherwise, instead of
half-a-dozen petitions presented against it in the last few
weeks, the table would have been covered with them. He
bailed this as a proof that the country did not participate
in the fears of the two rev. prelates, and that the people
believed that not only would the interests of commerce be
extended by this measure, but that ultimately. in con-
nexion with it, the moral feelings of mankind would lead
to a final euthenasia of slavery.
Their lordships then divided, when the numbers were—
F or the original question......
For the amendment. •• .

Majority for the second reading.. 18
After some unimportant business, their lordships ad-
journed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-THURSDAY

Mr. LABOTTCHERE fixed the committee on the Arms
Bill for Monday next-
Several bills were advanced a stage. The Religious
Opinions Bill was read a third time and passed.
During the committee on the County Works Present-
ments (Ireland No. 2) Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice
that, on Monday next, he would make a statement as to
the measures which the government contemplated for the
alleviation of distress in Ireland.
On the question, that the house resolve itself into com-
mittee on the British Possessions Bill.
M. GOULBURN thought we ought to follow precedent
on this subject and to regulate the duties by means of a
British act of parliament.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was not insen-
sible to the inconveniences which might result from the
operation of this bill, but it was impossible to have at pre-
sent any communication with the colonies, with a view to
the alteration of the import duties ; and it had therefore
been thought advisable to leave the matter in their own
hands, liable always to the Queen's assent, in order to
prevent them from being deprived, without notice, of a
portion of their revenues, on which they had a right to
calculate
Mr. Warburton, Mr. Henley, and Mr. Newdegate all
objected to the course now proposed.
Mr. HUME was in favour of the entire change of system
as regarded the colonies.
Lord J. RUSSELL was of opinion that he ought to treat
the trade of the colonies as we treated our own trade. In
order to do that, we ought not, on the one hand, to keep
on duties which the colonists thought injurious to them ;
and we ought not, on the other, to deprive them of the
duties which they deemed so necessary for the purposes of
colonial revenue. Now, the whole power which this bill
gave to the colonial legislatures, was a power to repeal du-
ties, not a power to impose duties on British goods, which
they did not possess at present. He thought that it was
advisable to leave this matter in the hands of the colonial
authorities, who could only act with the assent of the
Crown.
After a short conversation between Mr. G. Palmer. the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord J. Russell, and Mr.
Labouchere, the house resolved itself into committee.
The bill went through committee, was reported, and
ordered to be read a third time on Saturday.
Mr. WARBURTON presented a petition from the Earl
of Listowel, complaining of an undue election and return

Mr. HENLEY and Mr. S. WORTLEY both objected to for the borough of St. Albans.
the measure. The latter gentleman moved as an amend- The house then adjourned till five o'clock.
ment, that a select committee be appointed to consider At five o'clock, Mr. B. ESCOTT moved for a number
the present state of the law on the subject, and also that of returns respecting flogging in the army.
of actions for injuries to the person by accident or other- Mr. F. MAULE thought that it would be scarcely pos-
wise. sible to make such a return as Mr. Escott called for, and
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL could not accede to the that if it were possible it would be an improper interfer-
amendment,, as the subject had already been carefully ence with the discipline of the army. He moved an
considered ; and after a short discussion, in which Mr. amendment, excluding some of the returns moved for,
WAKLEy, the LORD ADVOCATE, and Mr. HENLEY but afterwards, upon the suggestion of Mr. Hume, in-
joined, the house divided, when the numbers for the eluded in it a return of the number of lashes inflicted.
motion were—Ayes 51, noes 6, majority 45. The bill Lord J, RUSSELL had no objection to give a return of
was then passed. the number of lashes inflicted ; but hoped that Mr. Escott
Sir G. GREY, in moving the second reading of the would not call for " the regiment," if the house should be
Small Debts Bill, observed that it had been drawn up by of opinion that it would lead to individious and unjust
the late government in strict conformity with the recom- comparisons.
mendations contained in the report, of the law commis- Mr. WAKELY hoped that no part of this motion would
sioners appointed in 1833. It divided the country into be refused, although he was afraid that, as a whole, it
districts, appointed competent magistrates to preside in would be found too inconvenient to be granted.
the courts which it created, and gave them jurisdiction After a few observations from Mr. Berkeley and Mr. M.
in all cases of debt not exceeding £2O. The bill had Gore, who contended that Sir C. Napier was not in favour
passed the House of Lords, but in an imperfect state, of the total abolition of flogging in the army,
owing to the non-insertion of the money clauses. He Mr. B. ESCOTT replied to the objections, both of form
proposed, if the bill were now reed a second time, to and substance, which had been urged against his motion;
commit it pro forma' on Wednesday, in order to insert and after a few words from Captain POLIIILL, who con-
those clauses. The bill would then be printed, and he tended that it was necessary to retain flogging for the dis-
proposed to recommit it on Monday. cipbne of the army, the return, as amended by Mr. F.
Mr. WILLfAms suggested that the criminal jurisdiction Maule, was ordered.
of the quarter sessions, which now gave rise to the most Mr. HINDLEY moved the first reading of the bill to
anomalous judgments, should be transferred to the local amend the laws relative to Sunday trading.
competent judzes appointed under this bill. Mr. C. BERKELEY would not_object Wile first reading,

if Mr. Hindley would give him a pledge that he would not
proceee further with the bill this session.
Mr. HIND= having given that pledge, the bill was
read a first time, and orderel to be read a second time
that day month.
The house then adjourned.

----+--_
HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY

Earl GItEY moved the second reading of a bill for
improving the regulations respecting the allotment of
waste lands in Australia, the details of which he entered
into at considerable length.
After some observations from Lord BROUGHAM and
Lord LYTTELTON, the bill was read a second time.
The bills on the table were severally forwarded a stage,
and their lordships adjourned.