The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-06-19 00:00:00

'77 °"74171121,r°

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sere were married without consent, sad in dee form.
mid died before they idolised the age of twenty-one,
seek a marriage was void by the Bill before their'Lege-
shies. The existing laws did not visit with Amine,
rho* marriages which were sot preceded bribe
doe publications of banns and other forms, bet the pre-
sent Bill .went much further, and was calculated te• threw
many
_obstacles It the way of imperfect marriages being
ever confirmed. He did not pretend to say that the pre-
' sent marriage lbws did not stand in need of amendment
Lot he was bertain the present Bill would not effect the'
desired object; and the retrospective clause io it did sot
shower the views or intentions of its supporters. Ile
not consent to the repeal of the clause of the Mb ,
George 11. until be saw what could be substituted for It. '
'flier 'timid legislate on such a principle, that the par.
ties eiould know at the moment they were leaving the'
Chards whether they were married or not. With re.
effect to the delay of getting consent of guardians ap.
pointed by the Court of Chancery. to which a Noble
Lord alluded, be mold assure him it was but a moment
compered with the delay in the Consistory Court, or the
Court of Arches, or the Court of Delegates.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said it was not his inten•
eon to detain their Lordships with inssy observations.
If the measure were a new one, then indeed they might
adopt the suggestion of the Learned Lord, with a view
tojts postponement until the next Session. But inas-
much as the measure was so often before the house, it
would be better, in his opinion, although it was late in
the Seseios, to make a law on the subject. lie thought

could

A' ropeaffiog _ _Jl4yormarriage.
that is future all marriages should be celebrated in con-
Mousses of license aid not of banns.
The Earl of HARROWBY was of *plaints, that in
every sue Where so individual had obtained a marriage
•poo a false affidavit, and afterwards sought to set it
aside, he eight to be subjected to the punishment award-
ed to perjnry.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY (the Chairman) then
put the question on the second clause, and
Lord HOLLAND made some observations in support
of it. By this clause marriages were only voidable for
I duet time, and thus far it went to mitigate the seve-
rity of the existing law. He contended that the clause
was in strict cosformity with the spirit of the Marriage
Act. '
The Earl of LIVERPOOL thought the clause
tible of some amendment, and he suggested that It
should be obligatory on the party to commence bin mdt
twelve months after the soletnsization of the "merrier,
or sooner, if the guardian was apprised of the fact. Us
conceived that a great deal of time would he saved if
progress were reported now, and their Lordship were
is take the other clauses os Woe future day.
Lord ELLENBOROUOII objected to the prepositiiii,
under the esaviction that, after Friday nest, it would
be very difficult to obtain a full attendance of their Laud'
ships.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said a few words, which
were not audible below the bar.
The Earl of C AAAAAA ON and Lord lIINDZIOALL op-
posed the clause.
After a few words from the Earl of LANDERDAIA, the
LORD CIMICILIOOII, Lord Estaxsonouou, Lord Kees-
vox, the Earl of flennownv, and the Earl of Liras-
POOL, the CNAINNAN reported progress, and obtained
Nave to sit again.
Their Lordships adjourned at ten o'clock.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tuseest.
At four o'clock, the Sesames counted the House, and
there not being forty Members present, he adjourned it
till to-morrow.

DINNER TO CELCBRATE TEE INDEPEND-
ENCE OF SOUPHWARIC

The Electors of Southwark met yesterday at the
Horns' Tavern, Kennington, to celebrate the Anniver-
sary Triumph of their Independence, Sir Robed Wilson
in the Chair. The company was most numerous and
respectable; between two and three hundred sat dime
to dinner,
After the cloth was removed, the CIIAIIIMAN proposed
—" The Kin, and the principles which placed his fa-
mily upon the Throne [applause.]"—'• The People, the
only true Soiree of legitimate power [great applause.]"
—" The Liberty of the Press [applause.)"
Mr. Woximitisroon vest rose, and is a handsome
speech, dweltatpos the public conduct of Sir Robert
Wilson. That Gallant Gentleman deserved well of his
country; yet on the part of Government he had been
objected to the most bitter persecution ever known;
but the people rallied round him and preserved the in-
tended victim. The worthy Gentleman concluded by '
proposing-0' The Health of Sir Robert Wilson, sad
. may the spirit of the people keep pace with the oppres-
sive acts oldie Government (applause.)"
Sir ROBERT WILSON rose, and was received with
tumults of applause. After silence Was restored, the
Honourable and Gallant Gentlemen, after expressing his
thanks for the manner in which he was received, said,
that he owed to his constituests obligations of the high-
est kind; be was absent when the strong arm of power
attempted to crush him, bat the Electors of Southwark,
bearing.ln mind the principles of English jurispeudence,.
that every man should be deemed innocent until con-
victed of nobly and generously extended their
protecting shield over him, gave him time and opportu-
nity to rescue his character from spoil; In defended
that character, sad the machinations of his enemies
proved impotent, abortive, and inglorious.—(Loud and
continued cheers.)—He could have wished that his was
the only case which proved the violent character of their
Government, but every act of theirs chewed that oppres-
sion, not conciliation, was the basis upon which they
rested their power. It was, however, some consolation
to see the habitual supporters of that power hesitating.
The landed proprietors had heretofore shown but little
sympathy for the people, they saw new taxes imposed
without murmuring, and they looked urn the abolition
of every ancient right of the people as iotended for the
preservation of religion and social order. Magistrates
were found the tools of Ministers, and political Judges
applied the punishment to the man not to the offences.
But with respect to the landed proprietors, the case was
altered—rents had fallen, bat a grinding taxation re-
mained. These flinty hearted men now affected to sym-
pathise with the people—strange alteration of affairs!
they now had Reform upon their lips who a few months
before almost deemed it a profanation. To him it ap-
peared plain that great changes were in progress—a
great political crisis was at hand. The clouds which
loured upon them would not dissipate without producing
a war of elements, and Reform would prove the safest
and surest conductor of the lightning.—He sympathised
is the present distress, but when he considered the hap-
py consequences it was likely to practises, whim he saw

it of the utmost importance to give the subject their
full consideration. The hest coarse to adopt would be
to take ivery cites. sop ly. and to discuss it an'Prit
tiple, and see if any thing better could be salafitala
By adopting that coarse it woulkiiiiseca If the
tech u their Be agreed with
the Noble and r "-
ut - rip and
h
retrospective parti if t rt. and
as distinct aa possible: could
doubt :the preffirisaY;
soawsof . He
that a
marriage one* made Wald sever
Lord HOLLAND said he egr • Noble Earl
ialhe propriety of taking the di s' ea the clauses
teparately. begiaaleg with the first clause.
Lord ICEDESDAL.E opposed the prospective Clause
for repealing the aullityof marriage. recontmeoded