Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-09

FROM OUR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
InNnoN MARCH II. 1853


British House of Commons upon the Petition 81
Riqtt," in the reign of Charles we lind the fol-
lowing curious passage:
Here the speaker started up from the chair and ap
pretending Sir John Elliot intended to ia upon the
Duke Ito attack him in speech, said ich tears IA his
eyes, There is command aid upon me 70 interrupt any
one that should go about to lay an aspersion the
Ministers Of State" Sir Robert Phillips spoke and
MINGLED his cords seiM weeping" "Sr EDWARD COKE
with passion, forced to sit down. when he
began 10 speak, through The abundance Of tears ''Yea
the speaker his Speech could refrain from ,eeping
and shedding of tears besides great many whose great
griets made them dumb and silent" The Speaker weep
iagy impiored then'' &C.
What would the people of the present day think
if they found the Times or the Daily Neps report
ing that
''Here Sir JAMES GRAHAM ras Obliged 10 SIT docn for
minutes, while has oJs and sowed how deeply he
moped" Here the SPEAKER SO affected by Mr.
HUMEs statements cry audiby." " As Mr. CoBDgN
continued to address the house, large tears by
many members silently stealing down Sir ROBERT NGLIss
cheeks" g Mr.. D'IsRAELIs heartrendng tones caused
Lord j. RUSSELL to throw himself back upon the BENCH
and to his face with handkerchief giving way to
hearty cry" Lord PALMERsToSs glowing eloquence
caused Col SIBTHoRPE 60 off in strong fs of hyste
rics and Major BEREsfoRD wept like child whilst lis
teniDg to the pathetic language Of Mr. BRIGHT"
This would be all truly and most preposterously
ridiculous but not bit more than what is recorded
as having taken place in the House of Commons
about $50 years ago. Our Parliamentary report
will certainly be of very different character The
extreme views which honorable members of the
present day sometimes express are apt to excite
louder bursts of merrment than become grave deibe
rative body but have not in experience had to
record any excitement to weeping or lamentation.
The only business Of Importance was, Friday, the
second reading of the bill for doing away the existing
Jewish disabilities, which carried by vote Of 26a
n, Toc1 Arpp tai ia ba
House of Lords that it the intention Of the Govern
ment to appoint committee to inquire into the mercan-
tile law Of the country.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said in answer to Lord LYND-
HURsrs inquiry that measure for revision of the
statutes would be introduced after Easter In the time
of Lord Chancellor HARDwIcK Q10 years ago complaints
made that the statute books increased to such
extent that they COMPOUNDED every who
obliged to look into them; they then consisted of
vols 4to they reach forty eight which the
present Lord Chancellor thinks may be compressed
six His Lordship said g when that DONE
the Government would consider how effect reform for
the future"
We find the following statements in the daily jour-
mails: There between $4,000 and 10000 sta
tutes more than half of which have become law since
the commencement of the present century From Edward
ILL., to Anne there 1886 statutes enacted from
1900 March, 1853, least 10000 or about 100 year
These exclusive of Irish and Scotch statutes and of
private bills. Lord CRANwoRTH is sanguine enough
believe that I" this mighty maze, but all without plan"
be reduced to coherency and system and competent
judges say it may be done in three years. expense
of about 100000 per annum. We cannot imagine how
the money twice the amount could be better spent.
The Crystal Palace company bill passed through
mittee Of the House, and Lord j. RUSSELL gave notice
that he should proceed with the Clergy reserves bill on
Friday, and the evening the third reading
of the Jews disabilities BILL Sir R. H. INeLrs and his
friends seemed quite taken aback by these announced
rapid movements Of the Government The proceedings
in Parliament Tuesday had very little general interest
More disclosures of bribery and corruption at the last
general election have been brought light, and more
members Of Parliament unseated SO general appears
have been practices proclaimed by of Pala
ment be Illegal that very experienced Parliamentary
agent lately stated the result Of his practice that
there was hardly member of the present House of Com
mons who might not be unseated petition, if it
worth while to present and support We do not
with what face any deny the necessity of
great of reform after disclosures and declarations
like these. Several prosecutions for perjury, by wit
nesses before the various Election Committees been
ordered by the House of Commons
Some of ultra Democratic journals finding great
fault with the following sentiments expressed by Lord
CRANwoRTH and the Earl of ABERDEEN in late debate in
the House Of Lords Speaking the prosecution against
PELr1ER for libel on the first Consul BoxApARTE and
the Indictment preferred against native subject for
libel on the Emperor PAUL Of Russia
q Lord Cranworth observed that it was held in those
cases by Lord Peterborough and Lord Kenyon that any
publication in this country which revied foreign
be calculated to excite that Government
to hostility with punishable by the common law
Of this land Then, if the publishing Of such libel could
be made the subject of prosecution, muo oror the
meeting and assembling Of persons who were guilty Of
many such acts must be the subject of prosecution.
Therefore supposing the to exist doubt the actual
lac was amply sufficient to it. The law was ap-
pcable to foreign refugees only; it is law appica-
BILE to native-born subjects as to foreign refugees
and upon this ground The parties were prose-
cuted was merely because they beed foreign Sove-
regns but because such bes calculated to create
hostile feeling in foreign States, and to breach
Of the peace between this country and those foreign
Powers and it therefore proper and just when such
cases arose. that the prosecutions should be conducted
not by the foreign Governments who only ncden-
tally involved but by the law officers of the British
Grown the laws and peace of this country having in
truth been attempted be violated and such probable
lahon being the real ground Of prosecution"
Lord ABERDEEN said: g My noble and learned friend"
Lord LYSDHURsT has alluded to the duty of the Gov
eminent to take an initiative in these proceedings to
ton of informing my noble and learned friend that her
Majesty Government have already come to this decision
case Of any such event occurring give just grounds
of complaint throw 1t upon the Foreign Minister to
institute such prosecution; but when is made
sufficient properly to justify legal proceedings against
any parties SO implicated the Government will take it
upon themselves to carry such prosecution, and
haan ,rfn~ 1ofth