The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-09-08

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES IN EUROPE. The
following specimens of Parliamentary debate, which
we find among our foreign advices, says the n. 7.
Tribune, referring to the subjoined letter to the
editor, will serve as appropriate pendants to the
pictures which English journals frequently give of
the debates in our own Congress;
LONDON August IL, 1913.
There was quite nice little discussion IN the
House of Commons the other night, on the question
how far candidates for seat in that honorable body
should be allowed to practice treating (dtldS fud
ding their constituents tits well known to every
one at all familiar with British usage" that such
thing as purity of election is only known in this
country a fanatical theory. am in error there
have been three or four elections carried on without
bribes but only three or four. This fact is univer
sally admitted. Now, among the reforms of the
day. il is proposed to seek the abolition of this sort
of bribery and as it consists chiefly in treating'
the electors, Parliament is invoked to make that
custom illegal. Hence the discussion above al
luded to. Here is a specimen OF it, quoted from
the Times:
Lord John Russell said, that unless treating was obv
ousy for the purpose of influencing votes at an election It
decision in each case should be left to the discretion Of com
mee, for it would be impossible by any law to lay down
state Of things As regsrded treating was most unsatsfac
tory There was the suggestion which member
isa for Is long as he hoptaBe customs Of this country
prevailed treating would take place, whether were
legal Hear hearl 1t was pTeposterOuS TO
that might give Ieeshment to posbOy VINO brought
friend lis house, but must refuse it to constituent
The house would find declare UhGt amount Of
treating might take place fol nothing could be more nnsat
sfactOy than leaving the matter TO the discretion oil an cleo
ton committee
"Mr. s. W0rey coucuned in tine view which the noble
lord (ord john Russel took Of the law upon this subject
Refreshments given elections must be given under such
circumstances satisfy committee that they proceeded
from enEnEt saettEe, not Dc IN
affected BY the proceeding. The circumstances OF
regarded the North Cheshire election he under
stood be these "A number of country gentlemen to
their tenants who were going up to poll, tickets BY which
could procure reeShment to the amount OF ha crown
each These gentlemen did this their own account With
quanted with the law of bribery that the ansac
ton did not amount to bribery. [HeaT. ~
Mr. John Bright OF opinion that the treating
could proceed from motives OF hospitality because pei
refreshments TO those vino gong 10 vote
| against them. IA laugh.1 -
" Colonel Sibhop secuted the newfangled notions which
prevailed the subject of treating For his part, ne
wOud abandon the habits OF hospitality to please any
him when he at unGh he not to ask him to lake
of basin OF soup for fear punst should
| cry out Bribery [Hearl His motto was Hospitality,
and the exercise of the duties Of Christian charity LHear
| and laughter.l "
= Mr. Henley said If gentlemen chose give refresh.
mens to their tenants what right had to object 70 4
Hear hear 1t would be Just reasonable to say that
rich should give poor voter whom he tudgng
along the road lift in his carnage. lHearl II the time
should when II would be made Illegal to detray
any portion oil electors expenses the effect would De 10
| dsfranchise large number OF poor voters
The Times thinks would be positively shaDDy, IN
many instances treat the electors and so, without
doubt the treating system will be continued while OF course
the candidate whose constituents have much hquoi as
they drink will stand much better chance oil secuon
than the candidate who offers such inducement Yet tis
prOfessedly Christian country and the very centuries
the Christian nearly out OF their teens. Irnth h
! indeed 4" stranger than fiction.