Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-07-21
gcbe Constitutional egGbla.


/ BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS MAY o.
resolutions against BiTjety.-Lord john Russell
sreeao 10 his notice, TO propose certain rcsolu
iohs on c sajcct of bribery and corrunt,on IS III,
SUBSTANCE oil them had been very fully DISCUSSED wheI
W "'u on former OCCASION brought this matter unde
me notice OF the House. would not be necessary fo
MN now 10 enter upon the general question al any nrea
length, aud he would principally confiue his observa
uoos 10 Tie Inst resolution. In the year l7T5 a reso
's''on was come TO by the House, that if member
should Obtain hls seat by bribery and Corruption Inc
should be visited with Tie utmost SEVERITY of fine Hans
put Notwithstanding this, ii notorious that bribery
aun corruption prevailed 10 enormous extent and
na IN many boroughs the practice for the agents
Tue candidates to give sums of money tie diren,
voters after the expiration of the fourteen DAYS r
winch petitions might be presented TO the House com
!"''g OF undue elections, by which expedent parties
were enaoied 10 practise the most gross bribery it'll
Hnpunty Unless the House were resolved lo mt an
ehcctuai stop TO such proceedings it would be much
oeIier tha W tes should be allowed sell their sufa
Ses TO the best bidder in the same vay as they s
chatles or other articles of merchandise because il
was quite farce that there shoa Id be bills in the sta
ne DOCK and resolutions the Journals of this House
'S'hst or'oery ana corruption, whilst members
procured their seats there by such means and totally set
these acts and resolutions al defiance He CONCLUDED
by moving the resolutions.
81 That whenever petition shall be presented TO
hiS House, after the expiration the time allowed for
presenting petitions against the validity of the return of
any menhcr OF this House, by any person aliirminr
that at any time within eighteen calendar months pre
Vious 10 presenting the said petition general br berry or
ing The election or return of any member members
20 serve IN Parliament for any borough cinGue mort or
place, and shall appear TO the said House that such nc
on COnans allegations sufficiently spcciCc TO r,nira
further Investigations day and hour shall he appoint
by the sand house for taking said petition in consIera
non, so That the space OF twenty days shall intervene
between the day on winch the said petition shall have
been presented, and the Gay appointed by the said
House for taking the consideration: ard no
lice Of such day and hour shall he inserted nv order of
The epeaker in one of the two next London Cazeitcs
and shall also be sent by him the reuEnng officer o
'he borough clnqueport, place, TO which such pei
ton SHALL relate and true copy of such notice shall
by such reu ning officer be affixed TO the door of the
town hall or parish church TO tIc place where
the election OF members TO in Parliament, for
such borough, einqe port place, has been usually
held.
"g. That al the hour appointed BY the said House,
tor taking such petition into consider a:or the said
House shall proceed To appoint select committee
inquire into the truth Of the matters contained in the
said petition, and report the result of their inquiry TO the
SAID House; and such select committee shall consist of
thirteen members 10 be chosen bv lot according TO Tie
draCtlons provisions, rules and regulations and subject
10 the exemption for choosing fortv-nine members by
lot Contained IN the various acts To regulate The trials
Of controVcrted elections returns of members TO serve
IN Parliament so tar as they applicable thereto; and
of two other members to be appointed by the said ms
ont OF tie members then present in the said House: and
the thirteen members chosen bv Id together will,
the two members 10 be appointed by the said House
shall lie select committee, and shall nqune into ans.
ty the matter OF snch petition ard shall report their
opinion thereof together With the evidence given ber,.e
them, te the said House,
! Mr.. G.. w vnnc said tina. thnre was arcaIr y nv,
pcr tribunal for investigating md rcressino the evils
which the noble lord co;npIaned and he himself was
July aware Of the existence OF the practice of eig mo
money TO the voters alter the expiration of the fourteen
days; but lie thought this might he checked by directing
the Attorney General 10 prosecute, or where this spe-
ces Of corruption had prevailed very extensively ampr
the voters OF any particular place, BY DISTINGUISHING IT,
lie thought itvOuIj be better If the noble lord instead
Ia + g..
session. were to give notice that if any gross case of cor
Fnption should III future arise, lie would bring it before
/ the House.
/ Lord John Russell could not consent 10 withdraw hi.
resolutions The honorable member had nonted on
other modes by which bribery might be suppressed ar,
On that account had argued that these resolutions wer,
superiiuouS but 10 this reasoning lie would give on
short answer all these other modes in existence
atspresent and still bribery and corruption prevailed
to very great extent He should therefore, persist il
taking the sense of the House on lhe resolutions
! MIR. Wynn then moved the pre-, ious question.
PAR. Peel wished the noble Lord would have iiscnc
to the suggestion Of rOsponing bis resolutions bccaus
the House could not be prepared moment and WITH
out consideration 10 to decision upon them
For his part be did disapprOye of the priDcp!
contained in them; but at the tune without lavin
bestowed further attention upon them he con! nc
take upon himself TO say at instant that he cou.
concur in Them. Besides, he disposed to think tia
the noble lords object would be better effected by
bill than BY resolutions.
Mr.. Ware thought that the noble lord was risced j.
very hard situation When he proposed resolutions
he told lie ought to have brought in BILL and whe
lie brought in bill, &c told he ought to propose re
solutions. The right bon. President of tie Board q
Control had said thai these acts of corruption might b.
punished nv prosecution by the Attorney General o
by DISTINGUISHING the offending borough. Certainly hi
has been done in The Crampound case; but how rare
amongst the instances ofcurrup On which o
CURED, was punished in this manner; and ;udee
the Crampound case would have escaped with ifnpuni
" iLc deilnqueDs bad not quarrelcd amongst them
selves. He wished To ask the follow ing question Of tll
right hon. the President of The Board of Control sun
pose ibis resolution should not he acceded to- ard u
bill should be passed tie subject, could any petition
be presented 10 The house complaining Of the NAL prac
tees he had mentioned after the expiration of tie I
days.
! Mr.. Wynn observed, that there was no time Unite
by act Of Parliament for The presenting of election nc
titiops he house had certainty fixed limit and he ,ll
not apPrcheDd that after the expiration of such mite
time, any election petition could be presented 10 IN
house for the purpose Of setting aside such elccton b
still he thought for the purpose Of Furnishing bribery
was competent for the house at any time tOrcceve an
take into consideration a petition alleging specific act
C. cOrTtipfiOn.