The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-03-21 00:00:00

Varliamentarp proretbings.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY

The adjourned debate on the period for which the
Income Tax is to be re-imposed was resumed.
Mr. Macgregor, Mr. Sidney, Mr. Sandars, Mr. Buck,
Mr. E. B. Roche, Mr. Mowatt, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Cob-
den, Mr. Waldey, Mr. Muntz, Col. Sihthorp, Mr. G.
Thompson, and Mr. Pearson spoke in support of the
amendment for limiting the tax to one year._

Mr. Headlarn, Mr. Rice, Mr. Lenn-ard, Lord Drum-
lanrig, and Mr. Henley addressed the House in favour of
the re-enactment for three years, on the ground of its
necessity for the maintenance of the public credit ; though
mainly objecting to the principle of the tax.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL defended the financial policy of
the Government : and with reference to the state of Ire-
land concluded with the following observations :—" If
the power is to remain in our hands : if my right hon
friend near me, the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, and the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, are
still to wield the powers of the law in Ireland ; I
trust that we shall be able to meet these expressions of
sedition—(loud cheers)—those determinations to join any
enemy, whoever he may be, that may be opposed to the
Sovereign of these countries—(much cheering) ^ that we
shall be able to put down those conspiracies—(renewed
cheering)—and to maintain, for the welfare of the people
of Ireland, that supremacy of law and order without
which they cannot hope to improve in industry, in civili-
zation, in morals, or in religion. (Great cheering for
some time, and from all parts of the House.) Sir, such
at least will be our attempt. We are not blind to the
difficulties of the situation in which we stand. We are
not unaware of the perils which may surround us on every
side. If we have the confidence of this House we may
hope to meet and surmount them. (Cheers.) If we are
not honoured with that confidence, we can only hope that
the administration of affairs may be placed in other hands
better calculated to carry on those affairs to the welfare
and prosperity, of Her Majesty and her dominions. (The
noble lord sat -down amidst much cheering.) The com-
mittee divided—For Mr. Hume's motion, 138 ; against
it, 363.—Majority for three years, 225.
The House resumed, and the Cnatzmax reported pro-
gress and asked leave to sit again.
The Imprisonment for Debt (Ireland) Bill was read a
second t me.
The Public Health Bill was committed pro formd, with
a view to the insertion of certain amendments, and
ordered to be reprinted.
[The Times of Monday, in commenting on the result
of the debate on the Income Tax says,—" There is one
point alone on which public feeling is alive from one end
of the kingdom. to the other, and this is overlooked on
either side of the House—it is, that the Income Tax
should be fairly assessed. The Government appear to
have shut their eyes obstinately to this fact. Their con-
duct with regard to this impost will remain a memorable
instance of vacillation and obstinacy. The indiscretion
with which the augmentation of two per cent. was propo-
sed, can only be equalled by their suicidal determination
to carry it at all events in its original form. In this design
they have succeeded, if we are to admit last night's division
as a test. They can have but little idea of the enduring
irritation which the measure will engender in every man's
breast in the two taxable portions of the United Kingdom.
It is not perhaps a grievance which will express itself in
crowded and tumultuous meetings. What the Ministers
have to dread is " a still small voice" rising from every
dwelling where a man is found conscious that the sweat
of his brow is unjustly taxed for the profit of other classes.
The present Government have adopted the mistakes of
Mr. Pitt and the schemes of Sir Robert Peel. They will
find both one and the other a troublesome inheritance."]

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY
. .

Mr. EWART moved for leave to bring in a bill for the
total repeal of the punishment of death. He grounded
his motion on the reluctance of juries to convict in capital
cases, of judges to pronounce sentences of death, and of
the public to hear of the execution of such sentences.
He relied also on the success of the experiment which he
now wished the House to try in other times and in other
countries.

Mr. BRIGHT seconded the motion.
Sir G. GREY was compelled by a sense of duty to give
to this motion the same opposition which he had given to
it last session. He believed that the punishment of death
in cases of wilful murder was required for the preserva-
tion of society and the security of human life.
After some discussion, in which Mr. Osborne, Mr.
Lennard, Alderman Sidney, Lord Nugent, Mr. Hume,
Mr. Bright, Mr. F. O'Connor, Mr. G. Thompson, Mr.
Brotherton, and Mr. Muntz supported the introduction
of the bill, and in which Sir C. Burrell, Mr. Romilv, Sir
R. Inglis, Mr. W. P. Wood, Mr. Henry Drummond, and
Mr. Napier opposed it, the House divided, when the
numbers were—For the motion, 66: against it, 122

majority. 5(5.
On the motion of Mr. BAGGE, that a new writ be
issued for the borough of Harwich, in the place of Mr.
Attwood, unseated by the report of an election commit-
tee,
Mr. 81. kCKSTONE objected on the grounds stated in
the report of the committee, from which it appeared that
there had been a compromise between the sitting mem-
bers and the petitioners, by which one seat was given up
to the petitioners in order to prevent unpleasant disclo-
sures against the sitting members. It appeared that
£6,300 had been expended by Mr. Attwood in that elec-
tion, and that by far the greater part of it had been ex-
pended in direct bribery. It also appeared that Sir D.
Le Merchant, a secretary of the Treasury, had also ex-
pended £1.500 in the same way, and the reason why he
had not expended more was that there were at Harwich
more persons in Government situations than there were
electors on the poll. Similar corruption had been proved
against the borough of Harwich.
After some conversation, Mr. Bagge withdrew his
motion, and gave notice that he would bring it forward
on Monday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY.
An animated discussion took place on the motion being
repeated for a new writ for the election of a member for
Harwich, in the room of Mr. Attwood, unseated on peti-
tion. The motion was supported by the HOME SECRE-
TARY, but strenuously opposed by several hon. members
until the evidence taken before the committee was printed.
A motion for printing the evidence was ultimately agreed
to, and the issuing of the writ suspended.
On the motion for the second reading of the Election
Recognizances Bill, an amendment was proposed to leave
out all the words after " That" in the first clause, in order
to insert others preventing the operation of the bill in
those cases for which it was originally brought in. The
motion-to leave out the words being carried by a majority
of two,' it was then proposed to add the words of the
amendment, but this motion was negatived by a majority
so that the whole of the clause now consists of the

•1•J. •••
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY.
Lord ASHLEY moved his resolutions for medical relief to
the poor, founded on the evidence taken before the Med-
ical Relief Committee in 1843. The noble lord addressed
the house in an able and impressive speech, and concluded
by moving that the first resolution be adopted.
" ery woman claiming medical assistance from the
parish in consequence of being pregnant, should be en-
titled in all cases to the aid of the medical officer with her
first child, and also with the second or others which may
follow, provided she present a certificate from the medical
officer who attended her in her first confinement, stating
that circumstances had occurred in it out of the ordinary
and natural course of events, which render it desirable
that she should have medical attendance on the next oc-
casion of delivery."
Mr. WAKLEY seconded the resolution.

Mr: C. BULLET said the subject of medical relief for
the poOr had occupied his most serious and anxious atten-
tion since he had had the honour of being appointed to
the situation he now held. It was a question attended
with considerable difficulties, and he did not see that it
would be easy much to improve the present system.
Several members supported the resolution, but on a di-
vision the numbers were for the previous question, 50 ;
against, 37 ' • majority 13.
Lord Ashley's second resolution was agreed to without
a division. The third resolution, for the appointment of
as many medical inspectors as there are poor-law inspec-
tors, at salaries not exceeding £6OO, exclusive of their
travelling expenses, and an allowance for clerks, was lost
by 101 to 19. The fourth resolution—" That from and
after the month of March next, the appointment of
medicaloffieers of unions shall be permanent during good
behaviour, they being removeable only by poor-law com-
missioners, whose decisions shall be final," was also lost
by 93.t0 36. Ills lordship did not bring forward any of
the other resolutions.
Mr. F. O'CONNOR moved for leave to bring in a bill
to alter and amend the Act 9 and 10 Vict., c. 27, intituled
" An Act to amend the Laws relating to Friendly So-
cieties." The hon. gentleman said his object was to
legalise the society he had been the means of establisl.
- to 'he inc"-

mg tor toe purpose of locating ustrious classes on
small allotments of land, and entered into a lengthened
detail of the advantages of his plan to the labouring poor.
No less than £lBO,OOO had been already subscribed to
this plan, and he only asked to be relieved from his re-
sponsibility. He now held this capital in his own name,
and he called upon the house to give the subscribers a
legal claim against him, for as the law now stood they had
none,

Sir G. GilEir assented to the introduction of the bill in
order that there might be an opportunity of coniderinx

its provisions.
Mr,•H. DRUMMOND obtained leave to bring in a bill to
give compensation to tenants at will in Ireland in certain
Cases.
Mr. AMSTRY moved that the order of the day for the
adjourned debate on the treaty of Adrianople, &c. (the
moa'ter motion"), be discharged. He' did so because
be felt that the feeling of the house Was against the con-
tinuance of the debate.—Agreed to.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRTDAT

Mr. B. OSBORNZ gave notice of his intention, on an
early day, to move for leave to bring in a bill for the total
abolitiostof church rates, and Col. .81331110 RP to move,
after the gußter recess, that the salaries -of all persons
holding ()See under the Crown-be reduced.
Sir G. (itytY, in reply to Lord Druinlanrig, observed
that the atteation of Lord Normanby had been drawn to
the fact of tluz expulsion of British artisans from the
French territorY, with directions that he should make a
representation to.the proviaional government on the sub.
ject. Information had been received on the previous day
that an .additional ntu.Yeber of English workmen had been
compelled to leave &men. many of whom had deposits in
the savinge bank, and who would no doubt be seriously
incon veniencd if she d.vree. respecting tl

I to affect their hitereste

Loft] TlALAtgg§rox, in reply to Mr.llie, intimated
that a rlispatolt relative to the murder of slaves on the
Dina of Africa 13x 49me 040t3, in coirecilzeuoe of the