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Feb. 22, 1851.] &t> * 3Lt&*tt. 167
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Poor Law Reform.—Mr. Poulett Scrope's mo...
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THE STATE OF EUROPE; The Dresden Confere...
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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.
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Parliament Of The Week. Sir Charles Wood...
most connected , their condition was much better than it had been for many years previous ; and , throughout the country generally , the number of ablebodied labourers receiving relief was fifteen per cent less than in the previous year : — " Noble lords opposite seemed disposed to deny that there was even general prosperity in the country . If increased trade , increased commerce , increased employment , increased consumption , decreased expenditure , general tranquillity , a large financial surplus did not convey prosperity , then , certainly , noble lords opposite were right , but not otherwise . " The Earl of Stbadbkokb was astonished to hear
any one express doubt of the existence of great distress . To show how it was in Suffolk , he mentioned that the number of inmates in Ipswich Gaol and Beccles House of Correction , was nearly-double what it had been three or four years ago . The land bore an undue share of the public burdens . * ' It had to support an Established Church at an expense of £ 8 , 000 , 000 , it had to pay between £ 6 , 000 , 000 and £ 7 , 000 , 000 for the support of the poor , besides other taxes which he need not enumerate . " The Earl of Winchilsea was also of opinion that the labourers were suffering severely . The land was not cultivated to the full extent : —
" In different parts of the country there was also less improvement going on in drainage ; and for the last fifty years there never were known so many labouring men , ablebodied , out of employ as at that moment ( heur ) , nor was there ever more crime . If they persevered in the present system , they would bring the agricultural interest into such a state of discontent that the strongest Government would tremble at the result , and that interest would have the people of England with them . " The Earl of MAtMEgBtruY tried to show , that the landlords were the chief sufferers from free trade .
Sir James Graham had said there was not £ 300 of arrears of rent on all his estate , but if that were the case , it was a rare exception to the general state of ruin into which the agricultural interest is sinking . Earl FiTzwiixiAM did not think there was much use in raising a discussion upon a question of so much importance , unless they intended to propose some measure of relief . All the speakers on the other side condemned free trade as the cause of much distress , but they were not prepared to try the question by an appeal to the country : —
"He did not believe that if the result of other discussions that might arise in the present session should be to replace his noble friends by the noble lords on the other side of the House , there was the slightest probability even then of his seeing the experiment tried of an appeal to the people on the question whether the price of corn should be raised or not . { Hear , hear . )" It is understood that Lord John Russell , although he does not intend to bring forward any measure for the amendment of the Reform Bill this Session , will offer no opposition to any small attempt in that dixection which may be made by any independent member of the House . This rumour receives
countenance from the way in which he supported the second reading of Sir William Clay ' s Compound Householder ' s Bill on Wednesday . The object of that measure is to remove a very flagrant grievance . Those persons who occupy £ 10 houses , the rates of which are paid by the landlord , are entitled by the Reform Act to claim that their names shall be placed on the register , but once on the register , they are not allowed to remain there . As soon as a new rate is laid they must make a fresh claim , otherwise they are disqualified . Sir William Clay ' s bill provides that when a man has once made the claim and been
admitted , his name shall remain . Three Tory members—Mr . Spoonek , Mr . Foiibeb Mackenzie , and Mr . Hknlky opposed the bill , though somewhat feebly . Lord Robert Gbosvenor , and Lord John Russell supported it . The second reading passed without a division , and it was ordered to be committed on the 12 th of March . The proceedings of Thursday night have thrown all the other business of the week into the shade . Mr . Looks Kino brought forward his annual motion to extend the £ 10 franchise to the counties . The bill
was brought forward in July last session , and Minister *) opposed it then on the ground that it was too late in the year to discuss so important a measure . That objection could not hold this year . By reference to the present state of the representation he made out a trong case in favour of the proposed change . Lord John Kusseli , admitted that the motion had been brought forward at an early enough period tins session , and also that the £ 10 householders in counties were " a class of persons who , if entrusted with the elective franchise , would probably use it with intelligence and
integrity . " Km he questioned whether the proposed extension would improve the representation . By admitting , in counties , a large number ot voters who Were merely tenants , they would Berir I dimilM 8 n the influonce of the valuable cla « H of ireeh olders . He would much rather maintain this distinction , that while houBeholders shall huve tho right of voting in boroughs and cities , freeholders alone buuII have tho right of voting in counties . Alter etutmg that ho was unwilling to make uny "Weeping alteration of tho Keforin Bill , he went on
11 , " But I do think it desirable to introduce a measure for some further extension of the suffrage—{ cheers)—by which we should afford to the working classes greater opportunities of obtaining votes than they at present possess . ( Cheers . ) I answered to an honourable gentleman ( Sir Joshua Walmsley ) , who put the question to me the other night , whether the Government were about to introduce any measure } for the extension of the suffrage in the course of the present session , that we have not that intention . There are reasons , peculiar to the present time , and general reasons of policy , why , in my opinion , such a course would be inadvisable . There are peculiar reasons why it was absolutely necessary to
commence this year with financial measures , in order that the attention of the House of Commons might be immediately taken up with matters of finance ; and the introduction by the Government of any question of altering the Reform Act , or of extending the suffrage , would , have created serious difficulties , and postponed these indispensable measures of finance to a very late' period . There are , besides , various questions relating to the administration of justice in the Court of Chancery , and to the general administration in Ireland , which I had proposed to bring before the House , and which I think it is very desirable to proceed with . Besides , it has always seemed to me that when great changes have been accomplished in this
country , and while the minds of the people are still uncertain about the effects of those changes , it is most prudent and politic to avoid very frequent elections , and every violent agitation on questions in which the interests of the country are deeply involved . I think it is far better , after a sufficient time has passed , and after discussions , such as those which have taken place in this House , that the country should have an opportunity of calmly and deliberately deciding on the value of changes of which the people have had adequate experience . I have likewise thought , with regard to late years , having ourselves not only many changes in legislation , but finding immense political alteration taking place in
foreign countries , that anything which tended to stability , anything which showed that we were proceeding quietly and calmly with the maintenance of our institutions , was an advantage to this country , and was calculated to preserve us from many evils which a different course of action on our ^ part would very probably provoke . But , while believing all this , I can see no reason why , after this session has passed , and at the commencement of the next session , there should not be laid before this House by the Government a proposal in respect to this question of
parliamentary reform . ( Cheers . ) Certainly , if I am a member of the Government at that time I shall deem it my duty to lay my views on this subject before the House of Commons . ( Cheers . ) I think it is desirable—considering that by that time twenty years will have passed away since the passing of the Reform Act—I think it is desirable that , after that lapse of time , we should consider whether there are not great numbers of people not only fully qualified to exercise the suffrage , but whose exercise of it would tend to the improvement of the character of this House . "
Mr . Humb was glad to hear the noble lord promise a revision of the Reform Act , but could not understand why he should postpone his measure till next year . Mr . Cobdbn said the country would read with much satisfaction the declaration of the noble lord , that he proposed to bring in a bill upon the subject of the elective franchise early in the next session . But it was no paltry measure which would satisfy the country . Either he , or some one else in his place , must be prepared by the next session to bring forward a measure commensurate with the evils of the present system , and calculated to meet the wants of the people . The House having divided , there were—For the mo tion 100 Against it 52 Majority against the Government 48 The statement of the numbers was received with loud cheers by the House .
Feb. 22, 1851.] &T> * 3lt&*Tt. 167
Feb . 22 , 1851 . ] & t > * 3 Lt &* tt . 167
Poor Law Reform.—Mr. Poulett Scrope's Mo...
Poor Law Reform . —Mr . Poulett Scrope ' s motion , on Tuesday , for a committee to consider the expediency of assimilating the poor laws of England , Scotland , and Ireland , and promoting the productive employment of paupers , met with the usual fate which attends all attempts in that direction , in a House of Commons which has no sympathy with the people . He showed very plainly that the main difficulty , whether in England , Scotland , or Ireland , referred to the relief of the ablebodied poor . In Scotland no relief is given to the
ablebodied , and in Ireland hardly any out-door relief ia granted to any class of paupers . The result is , that thousands of the Irish and Scotch , who cannot find , work at home , are continually crowding into England , and , pressing on tho labour , reducing the rate of wages to the lowest possible point . Mr . Scrope was ubout to nhow what ought to he done , when Mr . O'Connor moved that the Houbc be counted—on the ground that the debate was too important for so thin u House . There being only twenty-woven members present , the House adjourned ut six o ' clock .
Jkwish Dihahu . iti kh . —Lord John Russell has given notice that , on Monday , he will move for a committee of the whole House , to take into consideration the mode of taking the oath of abjuration by pernonn profcuaing the Jowinh religion . Aiiomtion of Smithi'iiu . i ) Mahkkt . —A bill for the removal of thin established nuiHance wan read a first time . in the House of Commonh on Wednesday , on the motion of Sir George Grey . The county memberu spoke warmly in iUs favour .
The State Of Europe; The Dresden Confere...
THE STATE OF EUROPE ; The Dresden Conferences begin to disturb tho slumbers of the European Powers . Austria enters into the German confederation with all her Sclavonian and Italian provinces . With Posen , Gallicia , Hungary , & c . The confederacy will thus constitute a compact body of seventy millions of souls , with an army of above a million of combatants . It will have an opening in the Northern seas , in the Adriatic , the Black Sea , and , by means of Leghorn , which is already in Austrian handsinto the Mediterranean
, also . The preponderance of Austria in the FrankJ fort Diet , though she is nominally on a par with Prussia , will really be immeasurable . The German princes sink into absolute insignificance . Still Germany , as a nation , although this arrangement gives the death-blow to its liberties , may , for a time , be reconciled to it for the sake of the manifold material advantages accruing to it . The German will , in the new combination , necessarily be the ruling race . South and east of Hungary lie vast tracts of uncultivated land , an inexhaustible resort for the thousands
of emigrants of which Germany drains itself annually . The Danube will , in course of time , become a German stream to its mouth . The Illyrian and Italian provinces will also be open to German enterprise . A continental system will soon be established , uniting the trade of Hamburg and Dantzic with that of Trieste and Leghorn . Let England look well to it . The difficulties that the Prussian tariff has hitherto raised against the establishment of a German customs union will soon give way before a sense of great common interests , or else before the absolute fiat of Austrian omnipotence . Germany ¦ will be one bongre , malgre . Prince Schwarzenherg and Manteuffel met again at Dresden on the 16 th . Telegraphic despatches of the 18 th announce the sudden arrival of Baron von
Manteuffel at Berlin , at one o clock in the afternoon . Ihe Minister had an interview with the King , and was to leave again in the evening or early in the morning . The proceedings of the Upper and Lower Houses in Berlin go far to prove that the spirit of the nation is broken , or else that the Chambers are every thing a reactionary government might desire . M . von Arnim presented a motion on the affairs of Holstein , before the Upper House , on the loth . He called on the Prussian Ministry to preserve inviolate all the
rights of the Duchies ; and especially to enforce the conditions to which the Staathalterschaft had yielded . But M . von Arnim evinced no sanguineness respecting the chances of carrying his motion in that House . The Government had secured a compact majority among the peers . His motion and speech were merely meant as a protest against the Government ' s desertion of German rights . But , since 1849 , the Prussian Parliament had been made to abdicate the power of deliberating upon matters of general German interest . M . von Gerlach and Von Manteuffel
rose to reply : they contended , almost with a sneer , that Austria and Prussia had done more at Dresden towards the union of Germany than the so-called national party could have contrived by many years ' debate . Von Arnim ' s motion was negatived , and the House adopted the order of the day by a majority of 73 votes against 41 . The Lower House , now reduced to the humble task of " raising the wind , " has been discussing a bill for the introduction of an income tax , which was at last adopted by 153 votes against 144 . The Deputies have saddled Vaterland with that blessing for five years .
The Prince of Prussia , on the eve of his departure for Weimar , Hanover , and Brunswick , received a deputation from the House , whom he assured that the Prussian Constitution was quite safe , though modifications must take place in the Municipal , Electoral , and Press laws . The Prussian Government contemplates rigorous measures against " disaffected" functionaries . 1 ' ' rom Cologne and Munich we have alarming news for Switzerland . An army of 100 , 000 men was about to assemble on the Swiss frontier ; Prussia and Austria were to contribute 35 , 000 men euch , the rent to bo made up by Bavarians , & c . Prussia , it seems , is determined to vindicate ; her old claims to the
High Protectorate of tho Principality of Neufchatel . Austria and Germany in general are bent upon compelling the Swiss Government to refuse a shelter to ull political exiles . These , we are told , are especially strong in the French cantons , at Lausanne and Geneva . Mnzzini held a meeting at Nijon , it i » reported , on the Lake Lemun , a few days Mince . He has from 200 to 600 men under hit * immediate orders . Tho Mazzini loan thrives rapidly .
His own native city , Genoa , has taken the largest share . Altogether , the Sardinian States have contributed , 027 , 000 f . ; tho Roman States , /> : »> , 722 f . ; Lombardy , 616 , 803 f . ; the Two Sicilies , 214 , 314 f . ; Parma , Modena , and Tuseuny altogether , 2 SM , /> U f . By the particulars of the conspiracy latel y ^ detvcted at Lyons , the sumo paper continues , vast intmrroctlonury pluns had been laid , especially in tho Itoinun and Neapolitan Stutes .
The Conatitutionnel asserts that Garibaldi is about to join , or rather to cooperate with Mazzini at the head of far more considerable forces , and with a largo
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 22, 1851, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_22021851/page/3/
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