The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-06-18 00:00:00

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/0. WILK (limn. dela,* teei in Ibiels, le no
a." 'aid that be was therefor i- n4mMal iqdOing eirc a, come-
• 4 ' ''gdeneil Which by no means followed. if the Rmolations
were persevered in, be should feel it his duty to oppose
f: elbow
.45. • Mr. S. RICE said, that so far from taking, any silvan!
woe tare the Chief Baron, if be were disposed to invite
.4a him to be heard, he.could adopt no more effective mode
00. of eecomplisbing that object theta the etre to which he
04, )14ad resorted. The subject bad been three years before
* '0 the Hens', and yet the Clief Boreit bad never called
11,apen it to, bear hint in his defence, though the matter
iw cgia already gone:through several stages.
t 0,.; !Mr. Secretary PEEL said, he should be most happy
to could he feel himself competent to offer any conclusive
opinion on this subject. But the fact was, the farther
• he went, the more he found hirbself eovironed with dif-
Mulder and doubts.. As to any legal steps being taken
against the Chief Baron of the Courts below, he never
could consent to seed i*Judge of his rank to be tried for
brat-practices by the Petit Joey. Then as loan Address
• to the (sown for his dismissal, that could not be adopt-
ed as a fair proceeding without a previous judicial en-
quiry. To any vote of censure by that House he could
not.assent; kr a Judge must either be retained in his si-
tuation or dismissed. It would never dO partially to de-
grade him: To the proceeding by impeachment, he felt
inlay objections from the "nature of the charges.
.The
t Chief Baron was not charged with high crimes and mis-
demeanors. The misconduct appeared to be in his OS-
' D. term, and although he was not • warranted in such negli-
gence as should eereittllieir extortion without cones-
fountion being proved against him individually, he did
• not think there caster he no ease for impeachment.—
When be considered the smallness of the benefit accruing
t Item the aurchai2es, hr could never give way to the idea
of eorrept intention on the part
,of so hjgh a character
• as die Chief Baron. lie did not mine to go to the extent
bf vindicating ; but with reference to the proceeding
Ditself, the maintenance of the soloranityof which was so
40acmary to the public interest,. be. did not think s•
grave case had been or could be made out for impeach-
/Iwo*, He was by no means satisfied that the proceediwg
im this ioraoce against an individnat for matters irrego-
• iv, bat not Criminal, would dot lead lei "ytn er ebergee
signing, other individosit, He did not,like to, pass the
subject by ; , but amidthe choice of evils; lin ipreferred
t • I this curse to that of impeachment.. fie ett not- sit
dosrin nitbout paying the teetintony of .his approbation
sif:tha conduct of the Commissioners of Inquiry ; they
• • Ala most ably and faithfully discharged their ditty.--
tfiear,bear, hear.)
... Sir J. MACINTOSH said; be rose merely to make a
few remarks on the ulterior proceedings proper- to
idepted-by the Committee. He (bought they bad ab
,ttetecti. anticirate the further proceedings. ..He did not
---thltXthe smallness of the gain was a reason for ,theic
Isgolnigaring to press the accusation. Much had been said-
' AVOttt the injustice of proceeding on the Resolutions
~,,T4outigtving the Chief Baron an opportunity of being!
.4ieseidin his defence ; but he had bad three years to ten-
• dee his defence ; and even now, the Ghlirman might re.
.port progress, and ask leave to sit again that' day fort-
eight, which would give him an opportunity of deciding
'whether be would defend himself there or not. He de-
terred that the circumstance .f one or •two. Members not
Having •Insinig examiued the evidence NM any reason
against inquiry.
Mr. PEEL and Sir J. MACINTOSH mutually ex.
gained..
Mr. J. P. GRANT thought that any middle course
,w.otiliLbe prejudicial. The House should either arquit
the Judge altogether, or convict him, for if they affirm..
ski the facts witbodt pronouncing an 'ultimate decision,
ft would leave an simputation npon his character, which
.'in•aJedge should be irreproachable.
• Mr. HUTCHINSON persisted that the matter should
be thoroughly sifted, though weeks. apd mouths should
be spent in the investigation. At present the case was
100 meagre to leave grounds for giving an opinion upon
it one say or the other.
The amendment was then withdrawn.
7 Mr.. S. RICE then moved that the Chairman do re-
pert [Stove's', and obtain leave to sit again.
Mr. -SEARLETT said, that by that day fortnight the
Chief Baron would have gone upon the Circuit. He
*thhelt objected to proceeding with thequestion at wad-
*vanced i period of the Session.
Sir J. MACIN TOSH thought just!ce to the Chief
Baron deonaled an immediate enquiry ; though an
intimation from him that he was engaged in his public
-duties would undoubtedly he entitled to consideration.
e,SM I'M thought a fortnight was not sufficient to
•giie the Chief Caron time to attend. He thought,
Therefore, that the question might be postponed to the
Text &Woo ; and that the Resolutions might be altered
as.to Ise turned lobo mere statenseols of fact.
: • filr-Seaaurrr and Mr. R. SNITS. mutually explained.
•Mi. 'Secretary Castxixo,Mr. It. SMlTS,atid SirJallap
illtetwrosit also explained. •. . •
..-
lit-RICE said tbat the Resolutions-adopted the***
.•
of the Committee.
Mr. WETHERELL thought it Itoposeiblet for the.
-Pease-to; come to a decision this Session.
- The ATTORNEY tiENERAL spoke in favour of
71itottportement.
Tin question was then pot, and carried, that the
liairmaa should report progress, and ask leave to sit
~again en .Thursday far the purpose, as we understand,
.of adopting the Resolutions according to the suggestions
rof.Mr..R. Smith..

The House had resumed, the Chairman d,tained leave
'to At agai o on Thursday.
•
e-, USURY LAWS REPEAL BILL.
Mr. DAVENPORT opposed the second reading of,
the ifill, and after a few observations, moved as an
Amendment, that it be read that day six months. •
Mr: RICARDO suppOrted the Rill. Money WA, the
loathe as any other commodity, and-in hie opinion, bor.
lowers and lenders stood in a similar relation to each
Cher as buyers and sellers. At present, borrowers in
Jgder to attain their obj-et, were obliged either to stride
the law by indirect mod expensive means, or to brldig
ilheir property to an inconvenient sale. The Unit), Lailte
*resembled a law not long repealed, against exporting 011‘
loin of the realm. That law did not prevent the export+
htion of the coin, but it threw the trade into the hands!&
,fersOns of bad character, and the Usury Laws also fovea
Ike borrow' sot money to deal a ith persons of .bad charm,
Mr. J. SMITH, so far from considering the present
.Bill injurious to Country Gentlemeo, should, if eatlodi
upon, point it out as a measure calculated for-their ist!
lief. It had been proved in a Committee of the House,;
that money could not he obtained en annuities for Jess'
.fhah Wpmr cent., awl he himself had known many pet
sons who were reduced to beggary by. being cOnuecte4'
hilt swab transactions. To show the House what ppb.
hion was entertained of the present Bill o :t of doorsobe
'lied only sate, that he was frequently Chairman oral
M eeting of Bankers in the City of London, and they mega
adverse to the measure because they thought it would ff.
dere the rate of interest. He should only add, th ft in
liollitsdt a here there was no fixed rate of interest, moot*
was always cl.eaper than in any other country in Europe.
—Me. PHILLIPS warmly supported the MI. and trussed
the Hew. Roo LeernedGentle nen who introduced It should
hedisappolaied this patio the accomplishment of his object,
that he would sti?. persevere In Las with scones toabstlsh the
T. WILSON .sadVapt. MABERLY supported the
.
.
• Ms.. F, PAI.%,ER opposed it. .;
Mr. W. Smith. Mr. U. W. Wynn. end Mr. Bennett:(.lKM*
shire.) slop .rteil the motion for going into a Committee.
The House then cEvided—i