On this page

• Text (1)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    No. 467, March 5, 1659.] THE LEADER. 293

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Imperial Parliament. ' Monday, February ...

    w J . Fox . complained that nothing was done for the - enfranchisement of the working classes . —Lord j liussEix objected to the proposal for depriving the 40 s , freeholders , when resident in boroughs ^ of their votes for the county . :. This , he observed , would strike off 90 , 000 or 100 , 000 " from the present number of the county constituencies . Little or nothing also was done for the working classes , who had lately improved so much in education , intelligence , and general fitness for the franchise . —Mr . Roebuck censured the bill , as effecting a change in the wrong direction . : It was a measure of disfranchisement rather than enfranchisement , and would entail Upon its authors the certain withdrawal of that support

    which they had hitherto received from the independent Liberal party . —Mr . Bright said this bill was proposed in obedience to the call of the great body of the unenfranchised , yet all . the working classes , toiling and paying taxes , if they were outcasts in 1832 , must be outcasts still . The new franchises were , he said , absurd ; they seemed intended merely to make it appear that something was given . He insisted upon the dissatisfaction that would be created by the withdrawal of their county vote from occupiers in towns . It would have been better , he thought ^ if Mr . Disraeli had adhered to the ancient maxims of his party , or to have adopted a measure of his opponents , than to have introduced a bill which

    must create anger and disgust throughout the country , which would disturb everything and settle nothing . —Mr . DnuMMoxD professed not to understand the bill . —LordPai / merston' suggested that a sufficient interval should be allowed for full consideration before the Second reading .-r-Mr . E . James was assured that the measure would not fulfil the just requirements of the country ., — - Mr . Bextixck thought the Reform Act of 1 S 32 a most one-sided and miquitous measure , which it had become necessary to remodel . He would not touch upon the bill just presented , but remark that Mr . Bright ' s project , h

    which had been so extensively promulgated througout the country , was . framed in the spirit of a leveller and communist . —Mr . P . O . Bitien inquired whether Ireland was to be totally ignored-in the projection of reform . ^ -Mr . Root 1 jell was altogether disappointed in the measure , and at a future stage would give it his energetic opposition . —After some farther debate ; the Chancellor of : the Exchequer made a general reply to questions , and repelled successfully some of the objections of Lord J . Russell and Mr . Bright . Leave was then given to iriti * oduce the bill , the second reading of which was fixed for Wednesday the 21 st .

    On the motion of the Solicitor-General , the Title to Landed Estates Uill and the Registry of Landed Estates Bill were read a second time . The Report of the Committee of Supply was brought up and agreed to . The Medical Act ( 1858 ) Amendment Bill passed through committee . Other bills were advanced a stage , and after some further business the House adjourned at half-past eleven o ' clock , Tuesday , March 1 VEXATIOUS INDICTMENTS .

    In the House of Loujjs , Lord Camimjull , in moving that this bill bo read a second time , observed thatthe object of the measure was that persons should not be indicted for conspiracy , or obtaining money \ mder false pretences , and similar offences , until an investigation had been instituted before a magistrate . — Lord Wi £ Nsr , EYDALi 3 thought the bill highly objectionable and unconstitutional . ' —The Loki > Chancellor approved the bill in every respect , but thought

    it did not go far enough . —Lord Gu . vnworth spoke in favour of the second reading . —Lord Buouonwar supported the bill and cited some strange instancos of the mistakes . which , had boon perpetrated uador the present " system . Their Lordships adjourned at half-past six o ' clock . In the Hoirsjfi of Commons Mr . 8 . Pitzokuald stated that it was intended for the future that there should be a special training for persons appointed to consular offices in Japan , who would bo . instructed in Japanese .

    MXNISTKItlAL CHANGES , Mr . WAivpoLia took tho opportunity of male ing personal explanations as to his reasons for leaving the administration . When he Avas asked by Lord Derby to form a part of liis Government , ho wished to decline tho offer ; but Lord Derby allowod him to join on condition that If ho diftbroU with tho Cabinot in rospoct to the Kvfonn Bill lie should bo permitted tb retire , and it was in consequence of such diiforenco that ho waa no longer a member of tho . Cabinot . Ho

    admitted that it wifl obligatory upon the Government to bring forward a moasuro of reform ; but as soon as ho lqai'nocl the nature of . tho measuro they proposed ho hail no other alternative tlian to resign . On tho 27 th of January he addrcssod a letter to his lordship ( which ho read to tho House ) , assigning the reason why . ho left office—that he found it Impossible to sanction the policy of tho Government on the subject of ltoform . In tho groat dtfuoultiofl with which tho admlnstrutlon' was then s ' ui'roimdod

    necessary to consider not only the economical , but the political consequences of the division of such property , and the a"bolition of the idea of an " heir at law . " Much might be said as to the convenience of a system of a divisionof landed property ; Imt , looking to the connexion of our custom of landed tenures with , the constitution , he could not consent to / the bill . —Mr . M . Milnes . supported the measure . - ^ - The Solicitor-General enumerated various points which appeared to have been overlooked , showing , he observed , the small degree of consideration given to the measure . Those who proposed so grave and important an alteration of the law were bound to show that there was a strong desix'e for a change of .

    the law , that the law occasioned hardship , and that the proposed change was consistent with expediency and sound j > olicy . He stated reasons for concluding that the parties interested in this subject were satisfied with the law as it stood ; and he argued from its operation that , unless in exceptional cases , it inflicted no practical hardship . Jn discussing the last point , he remarked that the existing law had produced a state of social circumstances justifying the law , which harmonised with an hereditary monarchy and an hereditary peerage ; tended to keep up a class distinct from the aristocracy of mere wealth and that produced by successful commercial enterprise ; favoured the

    agriculture of the country ; and kept families together by a headship , while it stimulated younger brothers to emulation and parents to exertion , in order to make provision for the younger branches of the family , in pointing out the evils that would result from the proposed change , he urged that it would be impossible-to stop there ; the Legislature must go further , and perhaps fulfil the predictions of Count de Montalembert . —Mr . Lowe remarked that this was not a question of great public policy ; the question "was , when the ' . law had to make a will for a man , what kind of will , standing in his place , it ought to make for him . The views of the landed interest , he maintained , ought not to decide the

    question ; any moi-e than those of the commercial or any other interest . . It ought to make such a will as the man himself , supposing him to be a good , prudent , and wise man , would have made ; and he contended that our present law did riot make such a will for the distribution oflanded property . —Lord H . Vanu contended that it would be unwise to introduce an alteration of the law . —Mr . Hope argued that the change of the law Would , in the ' eourse of years , convert the holders of small freehold estates into mere squatters . — General TirosirspN and Mr . Ewaet spoke in favour of the bill , which was opposed by Mr . AViiiTESiDE . ' -T-Mr . Walt / km calJed attention to extracts from the Code 2 S apoleon , and , believ i ng that this measure would lay a foundation for the introduction of something lilce the Code Napoleon , he solemnly warned the House against its adoption .

    in respect to bur foreign relations , Lord Derby requested him'to withhold the avowal of his intention for the present , and he consented j provided he should be allowed to retire before the Reform Bill was actually an . nouncedi>—Mr . Henley followed with some explanations of nearly similar tone , on Ms own account . He was prepared for a considerable reduction in the borough franchise , but considered the identity of the franchise in counties and towns aproceeding fraught with . serious peril ; and tending to ^ wards revolution . With these serious differences of opinion between himself aud the majority of the cabinet he felt that his retirement from office was indispensable .

    New writs were moved for North Wilts , in the room of Mr . S . Estcourfc ; for West Sussex , in the room of the Earl of March ; for North Northumberland , in the room of Lord Lovain ; and for Tewkesbury , in the room of Mr . F . Lygon , the vacating members having respectively acc epted office as S ecretary of State for the Home Department , President of the Poor Law Board , President of the Board of Trade , and Lord of the Admiralty .

    STAXE OF THE SHIPPING INTEREST . Mr . Lindsay called attention to the present condition of the shipping interest , and moved for a select coiruuittee to inquire into the operation of certain burthens and restrictions affecting merchant shipping . Citing many returns to show the distressed condition of the mercantile marine , and the smaller comparative share which it has for many years enjoyed in the expansion of . commercial inteeourse , the great portion" falling into the hands of foreigners , the hori . member declared that he had no intention to impugn , the policy of free trade . Nor did he insist on reciprocity , ' which , though very useful if it could be obtained , was a question that must

    be left to foreign governments . There were ,, hoyeverj many grievances and burthens of home origin which seriously injured the shipping interest . Among these he enumerated the light dues , harbour dues ; passing tolls , pilotage charges , and the timber duties ; sonie regulations under the Merchant Shipping Act , and some other imposts and restrictions , respecting which he asked the House to authorise a full inquiry by the medium of a select committee .- ^ - ' The motion was seconded by Mr . Liddexl , . who urged the depressed condition of the shipping trade , and t hat , although nominally free , it was restricted at liome and adroad . —Mr . Cb . vwfokd moved to extend the inquiry to the operation of . the Merchant Shipping Acts and the Passengers' Acts . —This amendment was seconded by Mr . Collier .. —Mr , Horsfall complained that other countries had not treated us , in respect to our shipping trade , with the reciprocity

    —The Attornev-General said the passing of-this measure would be a legislative declarn-tio . il that it was . the duty of every honest and wise mini to divide his real estate by will among his children ' —Lord Palmehston said he objected to this measure upon every possible ground . The proposition -was at variance with the habits , customs , and feelings of the people of this country , and incompatible with the maintenance of a constitutional monarchy , which required a lauded aristocracy , titled ov untitlcd . It was nothing to say that , an option wns given ; if n , great constitutional principle was involved , it should not be left to such a contingency . —Tlio House divided—For tho second reading , 70 ; for the amendment , 271 ; majority , 105 . Tho bill was consequently rejected . The Newspapers , & c . Bill was read a second time .

    to which our liberal measures ha , d entitled us . —r Mr . Lahouchere insisted upon the success which had followed the repeal of the Navigation Laws as justifying the free trade policy . . He acknowleged tlmt there was distress in our shipping trade , but the distress was not peculiar to tliis country .- ^ -Sir S . Nortiicote observed that a case had been shown for the grapt of a committee , especially since , on both sides of the House , a reversal . of our . present policy was not called for . The Government were prepared to do all injtheir power to lighten the-burdens of shipowners . — After some remarks from Mr . ITenwick , Mr . Clay , Mr . Inghara , and Mr . Ridley , Mr . Caudwell expressed his approval of the motion . Inquiry , if it did not remove distress , would clear away misapprehension . —Mr . Henley commented upon various points connected with the -shipping business , which niiglit , ho thought , bo usefully investigated by the . select committee After some further discussion the

    motion was agreed to . Mr . -M'Maiion obtainod leave to bring in a bill to secure a right of appeal in criminal cases , Mr . Pillw / jtn , to introduce a bill for tho bettor regulation of endowed schools ; and , Mr . Bovill ibr two bills , ono to amend tho law rotating to petitions of right , and the other to enable the judges to appoint commissioners within ton niilos of London , and , iri the Isle of Mfin and tho Channel Islands , to administer oaths in common law . Tho House adjourned at a quarter-past twelve o ' clock . . Wednesday , Maroh 2 . REAL RSTAT 13 INTESTACY " .

    CONVEYANCE OP VOTKUH IIII . I ., Tho second reading of this bill , by which candidates at elections ' are prohibited from paying tho expenses of conveying voters to the poll , but with I > rovision for increasing tho number of polling places , was moved by Mr . Collier . —Mr , Hint considered that'it would bo merely waste of time to discuss the bill while u general measuro for parliamentary reform was before tho House , lie moved that ihe debate should bo adjourned . —Mr , 11 » :. \ i » i . \ nl > uryvd its prosecution , because that measure iv . ny never d

    In thcHousn of Commons Mr . Look is K / xo movwl tho socond . reading of the Koal Estate Intestacy JJill , — -Lord \ V . Qkaham moved as an amendment that the bill should bo road a second timo that day six months , The ehango in the law of succession to landed property whioh it otFoetod might appear insig '» nincant , but ha contended that it would lead to other enactments , and ultimately abrogate the whole low of primogeniture—Mr . Mjoj . lOh supported the bill . —Mr . 'HisN ^ EY , in opposing tho bill , insisted that it would have a cruel olFoqt upon tho lower classes of landowners . *—Sir Q . Lewis' obsorvocl tliat tho ofFect of tho proposed alteration of tho law would not l > o limited to cottage property $ it would completely alter the whole custom of tho country with respect to the devolution of landed property , It was tliu'ifuro

    come on for discussion . — ' Mr . Oui . i n ; it L-Aiircss-. Ins determination to iiress the bill , niin'c involution' iH probable . —LorfirAi .-MiathTON thwiiyht ilid-ill ulumM bo proceeded with . —Mr . Jami-. h ivl ' envil , In support ; of tho bill , to tho cxpenHii of cribs nixl jmllin ^ plncfs . In tho late election ho paid -H > i > t . l '<< v |> i >| lin ^ j > laves no bettor than ai > pIe- » tnll « .--L"V . I . I < mv Hi ¦ •> cj : i . i . supported the bill hcoausc it , ] iro \ i . k « ior uu incronrKofpolliny : places . —Hir . Km . v I ' ai : im . ti . v olijcviotl t (; it as a partial measure on a milijcrt wliU'li should l » u cotiHidurod a « u whole . — 'I'lic IIoiimi .- illvlU-. l on an nmomlimint by Mr . St ^ waut , ami tlio muiion wiln carried hy . \ 7 ii to lf > . 'J .

    The ilt'Ccrcation Ground )* 1 J 1 | 1 wan roti . l a kccoiu ! timo . The MedlcaJ . Act AineinlmoUC Dill was rein ! a third thno and passed . —Tho House n'ljourneil at i ( iiiurtcr to six o clock .

    No. 467, March 5, 1659.] The Leader. 293

    No . 467 , March 5 , 1659 . ] THE LEADER . 293

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 5, 1859, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05031859/page/5/