New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-01
THE PARLIAMENTARY SESSION OF 1855


THE PARLIAMENTARY SESSION OF 1855.
The achievements Of the British Parliament
in matters Of legislation for the past session are,
br ely, an act to repeal the Newspaper Stamp; au
act to establish the principle Of Limited Liab-
ity in Joint stock companies; three acts confer
ring constitutions on the colonies Of Victoria,
New South Wales, and Tasmania; and lastly, an
act to extend the powers of the Charitable Trust
Commissioners. The two former acts have al
ready been commented on in our Columns; the
colonial acts speak tor themselves; and the last
relates to the superintendent Of the endowed
charities of England and Wales; il is the Lord
Chancelor's measure was passed first through
the Lords and Came down to the Commons - the
last lays of the session; the Opposition threat.
o, ed to defeat it by delay unless its best clauses
were abandoned; the abandonment was made
ard the bill passed in 40 emisculated form.
This is what the British Legislature has done;
there is great deal more, the principle Of
which il has sanctioned while the execution has
been postponed. The work ha, been done un-
der the most unfayorabe circumstances. First,
there has been q Conservative opposition, 2so
strong, who have throughout the session used
eve y occasion that Parliamentary procedure
afforded for the purpose of delay and Obstruc-
ton; and secondly these FabIsn tactics have
been immensely furthered by the frequent min
isterial crises, adjournments, ministerial and
other explanations, votes of censure and war
debates which have distinguished the session.
The ministerial bill for the abolition of the Ec-
clesiastical Courts of England and Ireland, and
the transfer of their jurisdiction to secular
courts was Withdrawn in the Commons, not for
lack Of theoretical majority in its favor, but in
consequence of the practical difficulties thrown
in its way by the Parliamentary tactics of the
Opposition. Thus, after even the Court OF
Chsncery has been reyolutionized by the inno-
waiting hand of time Doctors Commons contin-
ues to maintain its medieval integrity. The
same policy succeeded in the Gaze Of Dir. Hey
worth's bill to legsIize marriage with de-
ceased wife's sister. IL wa, withdrawn afser
division in it's favor on the second reading OF
l65 to 49, The same may be said of Sir W.
Clsy's bill for the total abolition of Church
Rates, after the second reading had been car
ried by majority OF PIT to lS9.
This division was in itself an event |;
no bill for the unconditional abolition
Of Church Rates had until this session proceed
ed 80 far as to pass second reading. similar
fate befel the Ministerial bill for granting to
Irish tenants the right Of compensation for agri.
cultural improvements. This bill got as far as
into Committee, and there stranded. The same
abundance Of opposition and scarcity of time
caused the withdrawal of the Law Of Partner
ship Amendment bill, and the three bills for
granting Free-School system Of educ ,ti,n to
the people of England and Wales.
One fortunate measure which ran the deadly
gauntlet of the Commons after severe opposition
in committee, was the Scotch Education Bill The
State education of Scotland is in the hands of the
Established Kirk, and as this body contains mi
nority of the people of Scotland the bill proposed
to abolish this monopoly. The third reading passed
the Commons by q majority Of li9 to l42, but the
House Of Lords scornfully threw out this refugee
from the lower House by the indignant majority
of e6 10 the one vote being that Of the Pfesby
terisn Duke Of Argyle. This act adds one more
to the already long tally Of grievances that re
formed House of Commons will one day sum up
AGAINST the Peers. Such 10 the fate OF the bills
which originated in the Commons. The Upper
House originated and carried through all its stages
bill for the reform of the University OF Cam
bridge. II went down to the Commons al late
nerod of the session. but was never taken up there
for the same causes that checked those measures
already in progress. A bill for the better observ'
anee Of the Sabbath was defeated BY the Hyde
Park demonstrations of the London working
el.,ses, and Mr.. spooners Tory motion for the re-
neal Of the grant TO Msynooth College was adj
iourped from time 10 time without coming to a
division, owing to the obstructive tactics Of the
Liberals. who in this case ayailed themselves Of
the same Parliamentary weapons that were so
plentifully used against themselves by the Oppo-
sition.
What a melancholy deadlock ia exhibited
nv this review of the session. Deadlock para
lvsis is the disease of the legislative as surely
il is of the executive departments of the British
Contribution; both are in al intolerably uncertain
and provisional state of being The boosted system
| of " checks" checks by masses and lots pass By
driblets; and the admirable constitutional bal
"auee" lets drop from it's scales tsree ap
| proved measure. of reform to erery oD'
that it carries up. Yet a this heap o
abortive AID thwsrted action there is al
event not rOticed in the royal message that pro
rcgued Parliament, which will rivet the atteu
ton of tAe historian. We mean the bill an
speech Of the Tory squire, Sir j. Pakington. i