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Leader (1850-1860), 30th March 1850, Edition 1 of 1, Page 3, _____„ T>T?r> r n?r'TTnArTQ'r Tu-pr-rTAT...

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      Hk^,' ' ^^^Tr P Hit Ia.Mfnt ^Kr * J_I_1_...

      H an y _judgment-creditor from having a lien on the land M in future . These instalments of " Justice to Ireland" I were received with satisfaction by all parties in the m House . A bill has also been introduced , and is now m in committee , the object of which is to increase the I number of parliamentary voters in IrelandI ; so . that §§ as far as legislation is concerned , that portion of the m United Kingdom appears to be receiving a due share H of attention from Parliament . In regard to grants I for the relief of distress , Ministers proposed to ad- m vance £ 300 , 000 to enable the distressed unions to m meet their difficulties . H From the Liberal Opposition , Ministers have m already received several very hard blows this session , H and it begins to seem doubtful whether they will be M able to maintain themselves in Downing-street much I longer , in the event of any question arising which m would cause a temporary union ot Radicals and m Protectionists . I On Friday March 15 Sir _Cnmn Wood brought M forward the Budget , which was not much calculated If to improve the position of Ministers , as it . gave satis- _M faction to no party . From his statement it appeared | I that there was a surplus of £ 1 , 521 , 410 , and this sum p he intended to dispose of in the following manner : — § 1 In the first place , the duty on bricks would be I entirely abolished , and a considerable reduction I ' * would be made in the stamp-duties upon the transfer of landed property , and mortgages , under £ 1000 . This would take £ 750 , 000 , or about one half of the estimated surplus . The remaining half he would apply to the reduction of the national debt , lne speech , of the Chancellor of the Exchequer called forth a host of compliments from all parts of the House . No party was satisfied , and the general impression was , that Ministers had thrown away an excellent opportunity of making such a revision of taxation as would have given substantial relief . ! By the independent party in the House of Com- mons several important motions have been made , and have elicited much discussion ; on one occasion Ministers were driven to the threat of a resignation to save themselves from a defeat . Mr . Hume brought forward a motionin favour of Parliamentary reform- his lesser charter , comprising the four points of household suffrage ( to include lodgers ) , ballot , re-ad- justment of electoral districts , and abolition of the property qualification ? He contended that the pre- _£ ent time was most opportune for extending the franchise , the working classes being fully em- ployed , and the nation free from alarms . Minis- ters had strengthened his case , also , by the con- cession they had made of a reformed franchise in Ireland , and by the correspondence on their proposed constitution for the Cape of Good Hope-the bill of rights for that colony . Sir George Grey , in opposing the motion , declared his conviction that the passing of such a measure would establish a pure demo _^ rac / in the House of Commons Mr . _Roebuck prayed the Government to dismiss the idle bugbear of universal suffrage , and concede changes to the people before it was too late . Let them not wait till the people had risen in the terrific majesty of mad , armed violence , to enforce them . Character- I ising the Reform Bill as * ' a revolution peaceful by _; chance , " he hoped that it was one he would never see repeated . He never wished to see the vessel so * ftr t _£ p roplcH a _~ ain on the other side Lord TouA _^ _H , _VhikThe c ° onfe _* ° _& a r t _nfdid not hold to the ten-pound qualification as a limit ( having given up the doctrine of finality ) , was still of opinion that the present time was not well adapted for organic changes . In allusion to Mr . Roebuck's warning , that it was unadvisable to wait for a storm before you put to sea , he would say that , •' if you leave your anchor in a perfect calm , you may be drifted _aeainst the rocks . The result of the divi- ¦ sion was not verv _womisine for reform : — , _biou was not very promising ior _iciuiriu . I For Mr . Hume ' s motion 96 Against 242 T Majority against 146 On the motion for going into a Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates , Mr . Cobden moved a series of resolutions in favour of a reduction of the national expenditure In doing so , he disclaimed all hos- tilitv to Ministers , and repudiated the idea of moving a vote of want of confidence . He also disclaimed _^ _ys _^ e _^ t _^^^ ib _^ e _^ _pendit _^ B otlS _^ as the standard ; the expenditure might be gradually reduced and he would be content with the average of 1835 _T and ? 7 Under the pressure of the Financial _Reform Movement 1 ; the _Expenditure had been reduced by £ 3 , 344 , 000 , in 1849 , and this year he believed there would be a further reduction of £ 1 000 000 but there was still a net excess of £ _5 , ' 500 , ' 000 _' over the expenditure of 1835 . He then went over the various heads of the expenditure , showing where reductions might be made—pensions suffered to lapse , embassies suppressed , and other measures of economy But the chief excess of expenditure was under the naval and military heads , and it was hero , therefore , that the principal saving might be effected . The experience of the last two years proved plainly that there was no disposition on the part of the people of any nation to pass their own frontiers , and make . war upon any other nation . As

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      regarded the colonies , Lord John Russell had gone as far as any one in admitting the right of self- government with self-taxation and self- defence . On these grounds , therefore , he thought it possible to make a large reduction of our forces . In his opinion , it was quite possible to reduce the total expenditure to the extent of £ 10 , 000 , 000 . He concluded by moving resolutions setting forth the increase of expenditure since 1835 : the absence of danger abroad , or civil necessity at home to warrant the increase ; the effect of taxation in burdening the people , in checking employment , and fostering pauperism and crime ; wherefore— " It is expe- dient that this House take steps to reduce the annual expenditure , with all practicable speed , to an amount not exceeding the sum which , within the last fifteen years , has been proved to be sufficient for the maintenance of the security , honour , and dignity of the nation . " Mr . IjABOUCHEUE endeavoured to show that the apparent increase of £ 6 , 000 000 in _expendi- dure had not been caused by a real augmentation . In the naval and military expenditure rather more than £ 4 , 000 , 000 of the apparent increase was traced to the accumulated excess of expenditure left from former years to the transfer of the packet service , formerly paid out of the Post-office revenue , the con- struction of dockyards , the building of the new Houses of Parliament , and various other charges forced upon Government by the House . The debate was kept up by Mr . Milner . Gibson , Mr . Hume , and Mr . Spooner , in favour of the motion ; and by Lord John Russei / l , Mr . Heriues , and Mr . Henley , against it . On a division Mr . Cobden ' s amendment was negatived by 272 to 80 . The annual motion in favour of vote by ballot was brought forward by Mr . Henry Berkeley on the 7 th of March ; but the discussion , which was brief , pre- sented no new feature . Mr . John Bright , Mr . Milner Gibson , Mr . Hume , Mr . John Williams , and Mr . Muntz , spoke in favour of the motion ; Mr . Heald , Mr . Masterman , and Colonel Sibthobp , against it . The House having divided , the numbers were :- For the motion 121 Against 176 Majority against 55 None of these debates or divisions , however , in- flicted any material damage upon ministers . The first severe blow which they received was through Mr . Huxx _' s motion to abandon the slave-trade treaties which stand in the way of recalling the African blockade squadron . It was clearly proved , in the course of the debate , that the evils of the slave-trade have become greatly aggravated in _propor- tion as the measures for its suppression have become more stringent . In order to prove that the system of armed repression was utterly condemned by those who had don e most for the _suppression of thS slave- trade , Mr . Hutt referred to the proceedings at the great assembly in Exeter-hall , in 1840 , Prince Albert presiding , when the following resolution was adopted : — "' The utter failure of every attempt by treaty , byre- monstrance , and by naval armaments , to arrest the pro- gress of the slave trade , proves the necessity of resorting to a preventive policy founded on different and higher principles . " This _Resolution was moved by the late Sir Powell _Buxtcn _. and was passed at a meeting attended by Sir Robert Peel , Lord John Russell , and a whole host of those who had ever been the most active abolitionists , Mr . Labouchere , Mr . Cardwell , Lord John Russell , Colonel Thompson , and Sir Robert Inglis opposed the motion , but their speeches contained very little in the shape of argument . The division , however , showed that the House was not prepared to act up to its convictions . The numbers were : — For Mr . Hutt s motion 154 Against Zd _£ _,-. . . . . ... ZZ Ministerial majority 78 Two causes combined to give ministers this false show of strength . In the first place , many of those who voted against the motion did so against their own belief , to prevent ministers from being beaten , Lord John Russell had called a meeting of minis- teriol members previously to the debate , and told them that if Mr . Huxx ' s motion were carried he and his colleagues would resign . By means of this threat , and by alarming timid members with the prospect of a probable dissolution of Parliament , ministers sue- o _£ ded in obtaining a majority which they could not have had otherwise . As another means of securing temporary victory , the device was adopted of spreading a rumour that the debate would bo adjourned till another day , and then bringing on the division un- expectedly . It was thus that ministers contrived to stave off the most serious assault on their position as they had made it for themselves . The House of Lords adjourned on Monday , for the Easter recess , until Tuesday , April 9 . The House of Commons adjourned on Tuesday , until Monday the 8 th of April .

      I March 30, 1850.] Ff Lfre 3leefaet. 3

      I March 30 , 1850 . ] _ff _lfre _3 Leefaet . 3

      Business Afteu Kastell. April O. Lord Du...

      _BUSINESS AFTEU KASTEll . April _o . Lord Duncan-Motion to repeal th « Window-tax ,

      Business Afteu Kastell. April O. Lord Du...

      April 10 . Committee on Public Libraries and Museums . _~ 77 Second readin _^ of County Rates Bill . Z & gSKSttS ° ? _Jl $££ ST _& £ ! fi 5 _i _& _XSSSW notices of amendment by sir Wm . Molesworth am Mr . Gladstone . _~ " _^& u _^ r 3 i 3 _^ j _£££$ ! _£% ? 3 l 1 g _££ held during-the pleasure of the Crown . — 16 . Mr . Milner Gibson—Motion for the abolition of th stamp on Newspapers , the Excise-tax on Paper , th _Taxupon Advertisements , and the Duty on _Foreigr — — Mr . Stanley—Motion for Committee to inquire into th best mode of _giring facilities to safe investment fo Mr _CaTe _* ?—Motion fo _^ lt _epeid _oVSS _^ aitXx 8 * — n . Education Biil . second reading-. " ' — is . Committee on Factories Bill . ~~ 23 - Mr - Hey wood—Motion for inquiry with a view t MnTwIS _^ _Wll _Abolish the Punishment of Death . — — Mr . Disraeli—Diplomatic and Consular Beform . — — Mr . Grantley Berkeley—Resolution in favour of an 8 a _ _ Mr _^ ran _^ _TBl _^ y-Resolution to exclude slave labour produce from our markets . — — Mr . Ewart —Repeal of the Advertisement Duty . ~~ 30 - _£ - Henley—Revision of Salaries , with a view to theii Mr _^ _Cobden-An Address to the Queen praying hei Majesty to direct the Foreign Secretary to negotiate with France and other powers fora mutual reductior ' of warlike armaments . DATES NOT FIXED _, Lord Ashley—Address to the Queen on Post-office labour or Mr _" w _^ Thou se-The Land t Mr _' . Charteris-To call attention to the recent sale of a picture believed to be the work of HafFaele . Mr-Osborne—The abolition of the Property Qualifications _, _^^ _V _^^^^ _^ _. SS _^^ _Z _^^^ Mr . Feargus O'Connor—Bill to wind up the attains of the National Land Company _, Sl _LtionX-r _^^ holding and slave-trading countries . ————— »

      _____„ T>T?R> R N?R'Ttnartq'r Tu-Pr-Rtat...

      ______„ T > T ? r > r n ? _r'TTnArTQ'r _Tu-pr-rTAT _^ u < _- . _irxtuiJioixuxNXOJ . _lviJj . _jiiiJN _ijrS . _J _^ ekal meetings of landlords and farmers have _™ _wW _^^ f T * _f the ? Ur _? ° Se ° J f _^ _SwSL _^^ t -I I ' _**? + c v om P lamm S ° f _nSnTrld to r _™ _^ 7 * 2 * _^ T _? _J ** prepared to recommend any decided or definite line ° * _hS n _?" t £ _^ _^ f \ * _^ umerous , meeting _£ a , _£ _, a * tae Km Sf _Head » _-kpsom , where Mr Paul _Foskett appears to have been the principal ? rator ; He laid great stress upon a scheme , to which h f e referred for making the borough towns under-8 tand th _* t the agriculturists of England are beyond measure their best customers . As an instance of what ought to be done , ne referred to the meeting at Hereford , where the farmers had adopted a low tariff tradesmen s _^ _oms . . ± ake care , said he , ' to use the strictest economy S _^ _lTSI _^ _JSRJi-JYift T P _JE _~ _r _?« _w _/ fh ? w _!? ' _JfTS-%££ _* _%$ _* _£ _^ _erVa / tlxes . _" _Tgivf y _^ n _' oiuch advice , and will still endeavour to act constitutionally , although I am well _atoare there is a limit to endurance . I think you act wisely in putting off the - payment of taxes as long as you can . There is nothing illegal in that ; but to refuse altogether is following too much the violent expedients _^ of our unscrupulous opponents . * * * Again , look at the tithe question . How long do you suppose men will be found to pay tithes at 56 s . when the average price of wheat is 38 s . ? I wish _tne church to ! S 3 t 5 _£ _^^^ _^ p _TeTo r _™ _£ _^ ct ™ ° * _™ % _^ hid jS _? _« g - turned from the midland counties , where he had been specially required to attend meetings on this subject , and he found that the farmers throughout those counties would now be compelled , much against their will , to reduce the labourers' wages . That is a very serious matter in the present but half-enlightened state of the public mind ; who could tell to what excesses the starving population might not be driven by a reduction m the amount of wages , equal to the reduction in the value of agricultural produce . If the wretched policy of the Manchester school were suffered to continue , a revolution of poverty against property would be the ultimate consequence . " Our onJy hope to save the country is in an immediate dissolution of a House of Commons _pledged to our destruction ; and in order that we may accomplish this great object , I have the pleasure of announcing to you that on the 6 th of May this year a great meeting will be held in London , at the South Sea-house , to consist ° f the representatives or delegates of every district _£ ™ 8 U U _«^^^^^ _% * t _*™ Bex naVe been namea _» ana _* _- ent 1 S noblv doln 8 ats _• " . t , , ., . ., . ., f Ifc , wa 8 Q stated by another speaker that the meeting _^^ jTL _^ o _^ Zy 0 _^ n lt _^ T _^ u _^ i _^ _^^^^ _^^ tLr classes _" 1 P g > t neagricultural , ana otner classes . At Dorking and _Godstone meetings were held on Friday to memorialise the Queen , praying her to dissolve the present Parliament ; and on . Saturday a meeting was held at Croydon for the same object _, At the ( _Jodstone meeting Mr . Page said , " the poor wore fast sinking into a state ot semi-barbarism ; for it was impossible thnt the farmers could pay them , and they were sinking faster into a state of degdraation . Had her Majesty looked out other palacewindows on Saturday last , she would have seen three incendiary fires , and was that looking like being better off . ' At the same meeting a Mr . Perry , who A

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 30, 1850, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/ldr_30031850/page/3/