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    556 ; .THE LEADER. [No. 429, June 12, 18...

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    Governmeht Of India. The House Resolved ...

    " Mr . Walfolts said the arguments of Sir James Graham were inconsistent , for , though . he approved of church " rates , he was prepared to destroy them . A compromise Had been proposed when he ( Sir James ) was a memfcer ' of Sir Robert Peel ' s Government , but it had neyert been carried out . Sir Robert suggested that the rates should fce provided for by a payment ; out of the Consolidated Fund ; but the Dissenters objected , because the scheme would not exempt them from contribution . Was ^ Sir James prepared to commute the tax for a chargre upon the ] and ? He ( Mr . Walpole ) believed that

    some such settlement , operating fairly and equitably , might be effected . Conscientious objections to the payment of church rates are not the only ground of opposition- There is an ulterior object—the desire to put an end to an established chtircli . If church rates are given up without an equivalent , tithes will follow them ; and thus we shall gradually arrive at the voluntary principle , which , though an excellent ally of an establishment ^ can "ever be a substitute for it . He hoped the Hous-e would not consent to the abolition of the means by which the poor have religious teaching brought home

    to their doors . Mr . Aykton observed that it was impossible to effect any compromise in the case . —Mr . Gladstone contended that , ia rural districts and populous parishes , where the rate is a fixed charge on propert }' , it works well . Places in . church are found for the poor as well as the rich , and , in the country , but little injustice is done . If the law were altered , some , personswould . be unable to charge their estates , some unwilling , and some would plead conscientious scruples . There "would be no difficulty in frasmng a conciliatory scheme which should not force consciences , if the question Were looked at in a practical point « f view ; but , if there "was to be no compromise , there would be difficulty .

    Sir John ritKL . Aw . NY having replied , the House divided , when the numbers were—For the third reading , 266 ; against , 203 : majority , 63 . —The bill was accordingly read a third time , and passed ; and the sitting was then suspended till six o ' clock .

    THUS NEW aillSISTEROFTUSC'NY . la reply to Mr . Wyse , Mr . Seyjuour Fitzgkrald said that , as to-the peculiar circumstances under which Mr- Howard left Florence without presenting his credentials , he could only say that Mr . Ho ward had made his health the ground of his sudden resignation of the appointment , and that in confirmation he had forwarded to Xi © rd Malmesbury a medical certificate . It was not in the contemplation of the Government to make any alteration with respect to the Tuscan mission . The report of the Select Committee of 1850 was carefully considered by the noble lord the . neniber for Tivertoti when in office .

    He did not think it advisable to make the reduction ; and the present Government adhered to his opinion on the subject . —Mr . Bowyer had heard that . Mr . Howard asked permission to present his letters ; that the Grund-Duke and Grand-Duchess returned to Florence , at some considerable inconvenience , to give him an atuli . nce ; and that , the day before the one appointed to receive him , Mr . Huward went oft ' . He asked if these facts were true ; and , if so , what apology had been maile ?—Mr . Fitzgerald 3 md no knowledge of those circumstances . If the hon . gentleman thought it necessary to repeat the question , he must give notice of bis intention to do so . MIUZA AH AK . BA . lt . Mr . Milker Gibson presented a petition from Mirza Ali Akbar , now residing in London , stating that certain papers had been laid on the table of the House containing charges against his character , and that he denied the truth of those charges , and praying the Housu to grant him an opportunity of vindicating his character . THE SUltMAItlNK T 1 SLEGKAPH , In answer to Lord ( Jlakicnce Pagkt , Sir John Pa-KINGXON said that a petition had beei * received from owners of fishing-boats at Deal , Walmer , and other adjacent places , containing certain complaints . The Admiralty had accordingly inquired , and had ascertained tbat the fishing-nets had sustained serious injury from tlie buoys of the Submarine Telegraph Compiiny ; and they had at once coiimiuuiuati . 'd with the Com , any and ¦ with Trinity House , I / mm the Company ho had received a statement that the buoys were placed to mark , the spots where repairB of the wires are in progress , and iliat , the moment the repairs are completed , the buoya will be removed .

    VOTE « Y BALLOT . u : . . Mr . Henry Bbukislisy renewed his annual moti . uj in favour of taking tliu votes of Parliamentary electors by ballot , and commenced by observing that that was ihm anniversary of Mr . Grote ' s h » Pt motion on the subject -which took place OMicily twenty years ago . It was jnst tea years slnco hu ( . Mr . Berkeley ) was enabled to persuade tlio House o « ' Cinmnons to pns » a re . soluti .. « in favour of the ballot , tiinci ! that time he had met with

    various success . On om ? occasion , ho had induced ikio House to permit him l <> bring in a bill ; but it was late in the session , ami tlui bill It'll through before it coul i ho brought to asecond rejidiu ^ . . Ur . Dorkvloy went over some of hia usual arguments in -upport of the motion , and humorously ¦ dortcanted on ibe corruption of tlm ll ,, Uau and the motives which iulhicncu the oppoiu ' . un of il » e ballot . —Mir . L * . W . I \ 1 ahtin Hccondod thu resolution . — Mr . Hunt expressed hi « . mini dissent iVoin the obj .-ci of the motion , and was follow o < l on the snino tjiik- )» y Jir .

    Sotheron Estcoukt . —Sir Arthur Halx . am Elton told the Whigs that the country- would not believe them earnest about reform unless they agreed to support the ballot . — Mr- Bentincic - said that the proper title for a bill introducing the ballot ought to be- — "A bill to prevent the detection of bribery . " —General Thompson reminded the House that the bill did not seek to prevent a voter from making his vote public . All that was desired was that the voter should have the option of secrecy if he liked to use it . —Mr . Hchpjb protested against ; th . 3 ballot in the name of Liberty . If it were introduced into England , the first stone would be laid of that edifice of oligarchy and despotism which exists in Fiance .

    Sir G . C . Lewis contended that in the United States the ballot is not a system of secret voting . With the exception of one State , the votes taken by ballot are practically as public as in England ; the real difference is that , in the United States , the ballot , being a piece of paper , is put into a box , and there is no authentic and official record of the vote , so that there could be no indictment for bribery . In other respects , voting in the United States and in England is practically identical .

    Unless universal secrecy were secured , no effectual protection- would be given ; and the ballot does not secure universal secrecy in the United States . —Mr . Mabsu contended that it had also failed in Australia , where a Legislative Assembly had been elected in which the most coarse and abusive language is exchanged "between the members . —Mr . Ayrxom supported the mptLon , which -was opposed by Lord Palsierston , on the ground that secrecy is not desirable , and would not be ensured by the bill ifit were .

    Mr . Bright said lie would hot go to America oi to Australia , but would consider the measure with reference to this country , where , of all countries in the - world , there are many incentives to undue influeaici ' , and but little power of resisting it . " Was there any country in the world in which they had so much colossal wealth and so much struggling poverty ? Was it not a fact that "the majority of the electors in boroughs have to contend against the pressure of a fierce competition , and was not this the country of all others in which unfair influence is likely to be exercised at elections ?¦ ( Hear , hear . ) The-noble lord , the member for Tivertou , had spoken of the necessity of party feeling , in carrying on the government of the country . Butif this party

    , feeling existed ;—if there were to be great struggles for political power , in which the passions of men would be roused— -was it not necessary that the voter should be protected in the exercise of his constitutional privilege ? They did . not forget the great struggle for the repeal of the corn laws ; they did not forget the intense feelings excited in that , struggle ; and could it be said tha t , in such a struggle , and after all the experience they had had of political conflicts , voters do not stand in need of the protection which the Ballot afforded ?' . In the struggle to repeal the corn laws , an undue power had

    been exercised over the voter , and thousands had been coerced to vote against their honest convictions . Attorneys are retained at elections , and paid high fees , not that their votes are more valuable than the votes of other persons , but because they know where to turn ' the screw , ' and can intimidate electors . Was no-t the protection of the Ballot required in casea of that hind ? Members who support the ballot represented an enormous amount of the public opinion of the country . " ( Hear hear . ') He asked the House to have confidence in the people , who had always shown themselves worthv of that confidence .

    Mr . Walpole opposed the introduction of the bill ; and Lord John Russicll , in expressing his dissent from the principle of the ballot , said it was strange that the advocates of secret voting were not able to show a completely satisfactory example of that system having given greater facilities for discussion and greater liberty of choice than the system of open voting gives in this country . Mr . Bekkicle y having replied , the House divided , when the motion was negatived by 294 to 197 .

    MISCELLANKOU 8 BUSINESS . Mr . Paull obtained leave to bring in a bill to encourage and facilitate the erection and improvement of piers and harbours in Great Britain and Ireland . A discussion arose upoa a motion of Sir J . EirniNsxonb for a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the law by which the property of Government , in the boroughs of Greenwich , Chatham , Portsmouth , Plymouth , Devonport , and other boroughs , ia rendered exempt from local rates and taxes . Colonel Bouxmto' moved an address to her Majesty to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into certain matters which had come to tlie knowledge of the Committee on Contracts in Public Departments , with reference to alleged misdoings at Weedon . —On the motion of the Chancellor op this Exchkqukk , tho debate was adjourned .

    Lord Naah obtained leave to bring in a bill to regulate the ofllco of Petty Sessions Clerk in Irelund . Colonel Wilson Pattkw moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the best modo of securing tho public intor . vts and diminishing l aiTuimoiitarv expenses in rcforonco to rallwny and canal legislation ; which was agreed to . Mr . Hunt obtained leave to bring in a bill to abolish

    freedom from arrest in the case of members of Parl ~ ment- ; and Mr . Aj > ams a bill to amend the Act of I 85 ff to facilitate leases and sales of settled estates . The remaining business having been disposed of the House adjourned at a quarter past one o ' clock . Wednesday , June 9 th . THE MORTMADf LAWS . In answer to Mr . Hadfield , Mr . Athkhtom said it was not his intention during th ? presfiii t session to brinrr in a bill to amend the Mortmain Laws . He would do so . however , in another session .

    THE FUNDED DEBT BILL . Mr . Wilson gave notice that on the motion for tho second reading of the Funded Debt Bill—the object of which is to repeal the clauses in the Loan Act . passed duriug the last war—he intended to move as an amend ment that this House is of opinioa that the extra " ordinary expenditure during war beyond taxation should be raised in the form of terminable loans , the redenm tion of which should be provided for in a specified form after the return of peace . TENANTS ' COMPENSATION ( IRELAND ) BILL .

    Tlie adjourned debate on the motion for the second reading of this bill , and the amendment thereto was resumed by Mr . Serjeant Dkasy , who supported the bill , contending that it is necessaTy to legislate exceptionally for Ireland , in order to remed y the . abuses which spring from the possession of irresponsible -po-wer —Mr . Dobbs opposed the bill , considering that its effect would be to interfere with the rights of property . —The bill was supported by Mr . Monsell , Mr . Waidron Mr . Blake , Mr . Braoy , Mr . CiiicHEsrEti Fortkscuje ( wliOj nevertheless , objected to some features of the measure ) . Lord F . Conyngham , Mr . II . Bland , Mr . Cog an , Mr . Bowyer , Mr . Henchy , and Colonel GRiivtLLE . Mr . Miller and Captain . Damek opposed the bill ; and Mr . Peter O'Biuen called on the .

    GovernmeuL to state their intentions . —Mr . WiiiTEsrDE dechncl that , in liis opinion , it would be impossible to cany the measure out practically , and , if carried out , it would be unjust , and more . mischievous to tne tenant than to the landlord . He could not assent to the second reading . — Mr . Maguire having replied , -the House divided , when the amendment of Sir J . Walsh , that the second reading be deferred for six months , wa 3 carried by 200 to 65 ; so the bill is lost . The other orders were' gone through , and the House adjourned at six o ' clock .

    1 hursdai ] , Jtmeltitk . PKOrEUTY QUALIFICATION BILL . In the House of Lokds , Earl Fortescue moved the second reading of this bilJ , and observed that no property qualification is required for a seat in their Lordships' House . He would say nothing of the present Parliament ; but he had no hesitation i n asserting tbat peers had voted in that House who had not a clear income equa l in amount to the sum required as the for

    qualification a borough member . Tlie eldest sons of peers , although their fathers should be bankrupt , are qualified by birthright to sit in the other House , and would be as well entitled to sit there as the largest landowner in the country . The law on the subject bad been notoriously evaded , and , in illustration of liii statement , ho referred to tliecaso of ; i gentleman who had been returned for a large constituency in Ireland , but who , having no qualification , got a map of the largest county in Ireland , selected from it the names of

    certain townhuula in a mountainous district , and inserted tho 3 e iiames as his qualification , by virtue of which he sat for two Parliaments , and was subsequently turned out for want of qualification . The Louo Chancellor then yut the question , and , without a -word of remark from the Government , was about to declare the result , when Earl Grisy interposed , and declared that it was a novJ , extraordinary , and inconvenient course to allow the bill to pass without an expression of opinion on the part of the Government . He could not avoid expressing his regret that it should pass in such a manner and at such a time . Ho had

    no- strong feeling in opposition to tho measure ; l > ut it was part of tho Chartist programme—part of a scliemo for effecting a complete revolution in tlie constitution of the country , which would lead to the unbalanced domination of the democracy . He believed the majority of the people were opposed to this change , and he pointed to France and America to show that democracy invariably leads to a decreasohi tho freedom of speech , thought , . and action , a want of security for person iwul property , and an increase oi' corruption . Tho proposed chango should lie bo regarded as part of a largo ineuaure ; and that should only bo brought in after great deliborution . —Lord Khuky rted

    suppo , mid tho Duke of liu-i'ivANi ) opposed , the bill . The Eurl of Derby declared that he saw no connexion between the present bill and thosu revolutionary measures which Lord Gmsy h « d denounced . It did not follow that the llouao of Commons would pass other points of tho Charter bocnuso they had passed thin . llu > y had just rejected tho ballot ; but the qualifications it wus now proposed to abolish wore very partially applied in thu llousoof CJurniuoiid , liml been more than oucc ni <>< li'i'' < l by uci . s of Parliament , and wcro constantly t-vmleil . Tho l > ill related altogether to a question nfluutiiig thu Commons , ami waa of far too littlu iniportanco U > justify any di .-sciit on tliiur Lordships' part from a decision ulliniu *!

    556 ; .The Leader. [No. 429, June 12, 18...

    556 ; . THE LEADER . [ No . 429 , June 12 , 1858 .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 12, 1858, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12061858/page/4/