The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-04-07
DETAILS OF FORKIGE NEWS BY THE STEAMER
NEW YORK
THE REFORM MOVEMENT IN GREAT BRITAIN

On the evening Of March "a In the House OF Com
MONS Lord John Russell moved tho amendmeut TO the
reform bill, OF which he had given notice Ihs House
densey crowded and the iveest interest Wal mani
tested in the discussion. ms amendment was to the
eject tat II Is neither just polite 10 Interfere, in
the proposed in this bi with the freehold fran
ohse hitherto exercised In tho counties Of England and
Wales and that no readustnsnt oil the franchise will
satisfy this House Or the country which does not provide
fer greater extension Of the suffrage In cities and
boroughs than Is contemplated in the present meas
ure" .. .,.|. $1,000. p
He considered that the first eight lines Of the bill con-
tanned its whole principe-namey that the suffrage in
counties and boroughs should be uniform, or the
Chancellor Of the Exchequer expressed it. IDENTICAL and
that all feeholdes residents In booughs who had hith
erto voted for their county should vote the boroughs
alone This a complete change Of the constitution
destruction of rights which had been enjoyed for great
number of years and without any crime the part Of
those in possession of 1t. This change not only
just but it great public injury, 1t would deprive
the counties of the liberal character they would other
wise possess and power would be obtained by which
small borOughs might be flooded with votes and nomi-
nation boroughs be revived 10 the practical repeal Of the
reform act. ...
His objections to tho first clause therefore, were that
it would be injurious and unjust that ii would lead TO
great discomfort the part of the inhabitants of towns
who freeholden, and 10 great power of nomna-
ton in boroughs and that the only remedy for the evil
1t would create would BIO TO resort TO electoral districts
In discussing the second part OF the amendment LORD
John explained the views he had entertained the sub
ect of limitation of the franchise, and put IL 10 the
House whether there should not BIO reduction Of the
limit in towns, to admit the working classes, sug
costing that it should be not according TO rating but to
annual value as in the reform act. saE .. . b .a1.
Anticipating the objection to his amendment that it
irregular to propose this resolution upon the second
reading Of the BILL believing the bill of a most nox-
ious, unjust and dangerous character his he sd
that there matters in the bill which he ap-
proved and supported such the fl0 occupation fran
chise for counties But that not the chief feature in
the bill its chief feature contained in the first
clause. As TO the apprehension of dissolution, he held
1t to be unworthy of that House TO be frightened from
performance of its duty by such suggestion He should
not be afraid he said to appeal to the people upon this
question Let the government go with this bill in their
hand, and hold tup at every hustings in England.
Whatever might be the consequences of such measure
however, upon her Maesty's government they would
rest And with respect TO party personal objects
his duty not to attend TO such charges but to
the course which, in his Judgment best adapted
to promote the welfare of the country. rs sasr
Lord John Russell concluded very long speech by de-
carng his most determined hostility to the bill that he
should oppose it at every STEP careless of any mputa
lions which might be cast upon him. and that, having
defended parliamentary reform when he young he
should not desert it now that he old. ,a ~ .,aa
Lord Stanley replied that, If this amendment prevail
ed, the result would be that there would be egsa
ton the subject during the present session of Para
| ment, adding 3. ... - y. 81
No political party was now against reform Since 1851
bills had been repeatedly promised but it only under
the present government after eight years of PROMISE that
vote asked to be taken upon the question The object
of the resolution was to prevent the House from expressing
| opinion upon the second reading of the bill it
framed ngeniously to catch the largest number of
votes. The question it raised was not whether the bill
should pass into o law, but whether political power
should pass into other hands That the real issue.
He asked what meant by the working classes and what
meant by saying they excluded? He contend
ed that many of these classes would within the scope
of the bill, which was more favorable to them than Lord
| John own bill of 1854.
The difficulty of admitting working to the fran
ohise to find principle of selection. There
two Decentralization and low personal-propery
qualification Upon the subject of the Acknowledgement
of email boroughs he observed that large dsranchse
ment would give rise TO the question of the distribution
of seats and to other difficulties. The identity or unor
nifty of the franchise for counties and boroughs OBJ
ected to but unless it adopted there would always
be disconnected class and the lower the franchise in
boroughs carried the larger would be the discomfort
ed class He asked upon what principle the distinction
between the county and borough franchise rested The
one it founded upon property, and the other upon
occupation but ignored all forms of property except
real property the Chandos clause made the inconsistency
greater and the distinction rested upon clear and
ntelligbleground The BILL he observed could be amend
ed in the committee He believed that looking at the
subject in practical point of view, the choice lay be
tween comparatively small and moderate bill and no
bill whatever.
Several other members took part in the debate, and
the discussion to be continued the following
evening .".
The Neapoan exiles arrived at Bristol the evening
of Saturday March 49, Tho banks of the river and all
the landing quays crowded with spectators, who
cheered them their way up to the city. 1t is esti
mated that 600 persons turned out to welcome them
THE CONDITION OF FRANCE
The correspondents of the English papers represent
that trade in Paris is almost paralyzed by the long
certainty about peace and that considerable dis
content felt in consequence similar feeling though
to less extent is said to pervade the provinces While
trade generally is thus depressed by the uncertainty of
the continuance of peace, -four and provisions generally
| remained firm under the possibility of war.
The Moater publishes tho returns of the customs du
ties received during the month of February last amount
ing to 1913 S32f showing increase of 300 58lf
comperod with the receipt of February 1885, and de-
fcienCy of 1886 1915 compared with the month of
February, 1857.
The Dcos Paris has the following remarks upon the
debate in the English House of Commons on the navy
estimates . a -"" ' @.'... ... ..
" The great fact to be remarked is the immcnsity of
means commanded by the English navy. To add in
single year to the fleet &c large vessels of which Is
line-ofbattle ships, is extraordinary exerton which
England alone Is capable of making and which could
not be executed by the docyards of all tho other pow
ers of the Old and New World were they even to com
bne their efforts. The French steam feet comprises
splendid vessels, which bear adyantageously any
comparison with those of England, and the first lord of
the admiralty spoke perhaps with greater truth than he
suspected when he admitted that act in full Parliament;
but he laughs at the public when he preends that the
number of these vessels causes him alarm He is too
we'll that in this respect England still possesses
! rival -...7 ..t
Passing next to the particular treaties existing be-
tween Austria and the divers Italian States Lord Cowey