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Leader (1850-1860), 28th February 1857, Edition 2 of 2, Page 2, IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ¦ ' ' -—?-— ¦ ' ¦ ....

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      Kot Only Ministers, But Members And Cons...

      sooner on the spot than he began to assert the right . . Nothing could be more proper than the interference of Tarliamcnt . It was not the Commons however , but the House of Lords ¦ w hich began on Tuesday in the moving of resolutions l > y the Earl of Derby , condemning Sir John Bowring ' s course . Mr , Coudeh took up the subject in the House of Commons on Thursday ; provisionally condemning the proceedings at

      Canton , and asking fol * a select committee to inquire into the state of our commercial relations with China . Ministers however , contended that Sir John Bowiung was justified in insisting on the right of . entry , and that the loreha was virtually English ; and the result was , thsufc with reference to personal rcktiQns rather than political classification , 340 peers were found to sustain the Government in supporting Sir John Bctsvhin g , and 110 on the opposite side .

      In the House of Commons the debate took a somewhat different turn ; for though it ran principally upon the question of the loreha and the right of entry , yet other subjects were introduced ; and , before the debate was adjourned , it had brought out a great array , not only of opposition , but of independent strength against the Government . The subject was resumed last night , and again adjourned . One law reform seems to have a fair chance of being carried in the House of Lords ; it amends the law of libel and defamation . Lord Chief Justice

      Campbell has' moved for a select committee to consider the subject . The immediate cause of the move is a recent case in which Lord Campbell confirmed a principle ' of some passed questionable judgments , by holding , first , that written libel is worse than oral defamation , and , secondly , that the responsibility falls upon the . publisher and not upon the author , even in a case where the publish cr is simply

      reporting the proceedings of a public body , like a Town Council . In tlie present state of journalism , it is impossible that the journals should abstain from constantly reporting matter that is technically libellous ; and it needs a complete revision of the law to protect us , in the exercise of our duties , from incurring penalties which ought to fall upon others—the authors of any false and calumnious statement .

      The state of the poor is a subject growing in magnitude and urgency . The " unemployed " alternately meet in Smithlield , and strive to obtain some aid in their several parishes . How the parishes do their dutyy is for the hundredth time exposed by the Loiti > Mayor , who has been playing the Hauoun-ai-Baschij ) , personally visiting the casual wards , the charitable Refuge for the Houseless Poor , and tlie gaol at Islington . He finds the casual wards purposely placed at a distance of two or three miles from the workhouse ; so that the poor may be deterred from relief when they need it . Ho found one casual ward consist , of a

      stable , in which men and women whore herded together . The llcfuge . for the Houseless Poor is in fact doing the duty that ought to fall upon the parishes , and the State understands decency and Immunity better in the management of prison ' limn ill the management of aid for the poor ; the prisoners in gaol being better lodged , better fed , and

      more decently provided for in every way . Some benevolent persons are endeavouring- to organize a new emigration movement amongst the unemployed , who certainly huvo a right to claim the assistance of the State , while it prevents them from getting at the land ^ vhieh every man inherits by nature . Auls to emigration might be of various kinds . At t tho Executivis not \\ niY i I UUYO ia 01 an

      presen e , rv ,,, ; ,, . , ^ r" ;* 7 U ^ vnig y active aid lho public funds for the purpose are drawn entirely from the colonies , which dictate the sovt of labourer s that they require . In some cases they appoint agents of tlieir own to aelect the labourers . Tho North American colonies fumiah

      no emigration , thougthey an - mense number of emigrants ; hut the emigrants " o out at their own expense . A charitable subscription , therefore , is the direct mode for meeting the present . case ; , unless indeed the working classes , through their representatives in Parliament—if they have representatives in Parliament—should insist upon a comprehensive measure with efficient means for conveying the unemployed to those unemployed and useless lands which lie wast c in the colonies . Every man thus conveyed to colonial employment finds a better fortune for himself ; and while taking away a competitor from the home market , adds si consumer for the increased profit of those he leaves behind .

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      Imperial Parliament. ¦ ' ' -—?-— ¦ ' ¦ ....

      IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . ¦ ' ' - —? - — ¦ ' ¦ .. Monday , Februanj 23 rd . In the House op Lords , the Lokd Chancel / lob , 5 n consequence of an appeal from Lords Lyndhurst and Campbell , postponed tlie second reading of tlie Divorce Bill , till next Tuesday , the 3 rd of March . SUPPLY OF GUAKO . Lord . PoiAVABrii moved for any paper or correspondence relative to the cession of the islands of Haski , Jibleed , and Ghurzoad by the Imaum of Muscat to her Majesty , and their erection into a colony ; and also to call . tlie attention of the House to a license granted on the 20 th . of February , 1856 , by tie Commissioners of Emigration to John Orel and others , giving them the sole and exclusive right to raise and take away guano from these ishuids during five years . —The Earl of Clarendon "hadao objection to give the papers moved for , and assured Lord Polwarth that there was every desire on the parj ; of the Government to lay before their loi'dships and the public the fullest information -with , respect

      to those islands . —After some further discussion , in -which , dissatisfaction was expressed with the terms on -which Captain Ordhad obtained his monopoly , the motion was agreed to . ' —Some explanations on the same subjectwere given in the House of Commons by Mr . Laboucherb , who said : — "The Emigration Commissioners acted in the matter as agents of the Colonial Office , and therefore the Colonial Office was alone responsible . The Colonial Office had given the right of exclusive trade in the guano of those islands , for a limited period of years , to certain individuals , and there was no doubt as to their right do do so , as it was an ancient and . undisputed prerogative of the Crown . When the Government of Lord Derby existed , a similar case occurred : a monopoly of

      the guano trail * on the coast of Australia was given to certain individuals for a period of six years . In the agricultural districts in the country , he believed it was feared that tltc monopoly granted to tho Liverpool merchants in thia case - would be prejudicial to the interests of the farmers ; but that was not the case . The mercliants hnd voluntarily offered to submit to the conditions that all the guano obtained by them should be sold in the open market by a broker in Liverpool , and that other parties should have the privilege of obtaining guano by the payment of a stipulated sum , not exceeding ' 21 . per ton . lie thought thia would bo sufficient to assure the public that the article would be brought over in large quantities and sold in tlie open market . "

      PROBATES AiND 3 LETTEHS OF ADMINISTRATION BIXJL . The Lord Ciianckllou moved the second reading of this bill , with which Lord St . Leonakds expressed great dissatisfaction , and objected , among other criticisms , that it virtually placed all the testamentary jurisdiction of tho country in the hands of tho Lord Chancellor . The bill , also , deprived lieirs-at-law of rights which had belonged to them from time immemorial . The measure should have been more specific on tho subject of compensation . — iiovd Lyndiiuust meant to havo spoken against the bill , but on Looking round the House he found that there was "just one-third of a poor to each bench ; " and , as ho did not tare to address empty benches , ho t > ho » ild reservo his observations for a future occasion . — Lord Ca . iipi * ell said there could be no doubt that a change was requiaito in tho testamentary jurisdiction ; tlie only

      question was how that change was to be effected . Ho must confess ho was not at nil satisfied with tho scheme of the Iiorcl Chancellor , which amounted to nothing more nor less than tliis—that every contested will cause was to bocomo a Cliuneery suit . Firwt of all , tliemntter would coino before a Vice-Gluuiccllor , who would direct an issue to be tried at common law ; tho cuiiso would then eonio back to him , and ho would have to say whether ho was satinlie < l with the vordict or not . From his decision tlicro would bo an Appeal to tho Lord Chancellor or tho Lords Jus ticca , just as there ia with regard to a Chancery oaso , and nftonvarda there might bo an appeal to that Houhc . lie ( Lord Campbell ) hoped tho bill would bo roftureil to a select committee . —Lords Wyn koiid iuuI \ W , N . si , KYi > . vi . K having expressed sumo doubts with respect to tho measure , thu bill was read n fiocond timo .

      TRANSPORTATION BILL . In the House of Comzuoks , Sir Geokge Grey post poned his bill on the subject of transportation and penal servitude for a fortnight , and at the same time announced his intention of proceeding with it immediately after ih * estimates . ' ue TESTAMENTARY COURTS ( IRELAND ) . In answer to Mr . Djeaky , the Attorney ; -Geneiul for Ireland stated his intention of bringing in a yij for the reform of the Irish . Testamentary Courts during the present session . * =

      ENTRIES OV EXPORTATION . In answer to Mr . Newdegate , Mr . Wir . so . v said that , in the early part of August , 1855 , a represen tation was made by the Chamber of Commerce of Hull to the Board of Trade , to the effect that they believed that there was great carelessness in entering the shipiiiiv of goods , and recommending that steps should be taken to make them more correct . In consequence of this representation , an order was issued by the Customs on the subject The officer at the head of the statistical department , however , considered that the errors were on botli sides and balanced themselves , and that , therefore , no . injury \ y ? 3 done to trade . THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT . —ADJOURNED DKBATE

      The adjourned debate on Mr . Disraeli ' s amendment to the motion that the Speaker leave the chair to go into a committee of Ways and Means , was resumed by Mr James MacGregor , who supported the amendment , Ample scope for diminishing the expenditure existed ! There was no necessity for maintaining the camp at Aldershott or Colchester , or for keeping in full force tlie manufactories erected fox preparing the munitions of war . The amendment was a courteous one , and merely meant " Take back your Budget . " '

      Loid John Russell expressed great surprise at tie attaci made on the previous Friday night on the present Budget by Mr . Gladstone . Had it not been for that attack , and for the extraordinary approximation between Mr . Gladstone and Mr . Disraeli , he ( Lord John Russell ) might have been content to give a silent vote ; but lie now felt bound to say € hat he agreed in the main with the financial scheme of the Chancellor of the Exchequer , ¦ who had had to grapple with no ordinary difficulties . From some of the details , indeed , he dissented . He objected to the retention of the duties on insurances and

      on paper ; and he hoped that the proposed tea duty scale would be revised , as he thought the consumer would not get the advantage of the small , reduction of twopence in the pound . He was desirous that tlie income-tax should terminate in 1860 ; but he did cot see that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had opposed any obstacle to that result . He trusted tliat this might be regarded as a period of amity ; that -we were going to make peace with Persia ; and that the foolish hostilities with China were on the eve of cessation . Am ! , seeing that we had an alliance with France , which in 1848 was a matter of considerable doubt—seeing that we had mado peace -with the great power which was lately our enemy—he thought we were entitled to ask for peace estimates , and that those estimates should be the foundation of what in future years would be our establishment . ( Hear , hear . ')

      Mr . Bentinck was not prepared to support cither the Chancellor of the Exchequer or Mr . Disraeli , and moved that the debate be adjourned till the House had considered tho Army and Navy Estimates in a Committee of Supply . —Mr . Moktckton Milnes thought Mr . Gladstone had been guilty of injustice to the Chancellor of the Exchequer . —Sir John Tyrell supported Mr . Bentinck ' s motion ; eulogized Lord Palmers ton's Government , which he thought had not yet made one mistake ; spoko of Mr . Gladstone's attitude as " gladiatorial , " and his speech on the previous Friday evening as " iucomprehonsible ; " and hinted that he might be the author of the article on tho state of parties in the Quarttrhj Ravhw . —Mr . Wilkinson and Mr . John Phillimore

      supported tho Budget . —Mr . Lidpell supported tlie amendment . —Mr . " Whitesidb questioned the honesty of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in clituiging the tea duty scale , in the fa « e of tho assurance he gave ( o a deputation which waited upon Mm that tlie reductions according to the existing law should Jjc retained . —Sir Francis Baiuno gave the Budget his cordial support , and said Mr . Gladstone ] iad exhibited great want of clearness in his opposition . —Mr . WALroias wnain favour of considering the expenditure before going into a Committee of Ways and Means . Tho Chancellor of the Exchequer had declined to say that the remission of the income-tax in 18 G 0 was probablo or possible , and that alarming prospect should induce tho House to adopt tlie

      resolution . No Budget could bo satisfactory to l ' , country unless it secured tho proper adjustment i'i revenue and expenditure , and tho fulfilment of a pledge solemnly given . He thought , also , that tlie Houpc should inquire whether some reduction of the present enormous expenditure wore not possible . —Mr . Ca . h »" "WK 1 .. 1 ., oppotwd tho amendment . —Mr . Mii . nicu ( Ihihos wan of opinion that tho Budget ia of a reactionary diameter . Ilia own opinion waa that a fairly imposed income-tax ought to bo permanent . Those- who were in favour of largo military expenditure and increased t " " ation would voto for going into eominittco ; those vIm ) wurii in favour of economy would voto agiiiiifi * ' t \ " motion . For himself , ho would voto agauint thu motion

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 28, 1857, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28021857/page/2/