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quis of ham l ifatuamettt j Wi* 17. 1849...
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MONDAY, Feb. 12. TfOU^E OF LOBDS.—This H...
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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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Quis Of Ham L Ifatuamettt J Wi* 17. 1849...
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Monday, Feb. 12. Tfou^E Of Lobds.—This H...
MONDAY , Feb . 12 . TfOU ^ E OF LOBDS . —This House sat for a short . , an ^ disposed of some routine business , among Vch ^ as the appointment ofthe Committee on the « Kn Poor Law . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Susdat Traffic on nuarsss . — - Mr . Locke rose , pursuant to notice , to t the President of the Board of Trade , whether it ^ the intention ofthe government to introduce , / tarinc the present Bession , any measure for securing * othe public on Sundays the limited use of those railways which wereopenforpassengertraffieduring rte week . saidthe
Mr . La bouchere , government had no present intention of proposing a measure to compel railwavs to carry passengers on Sundays . At the same time , he desired not to preclude himself t ^ nst the right of bringing forward such a measure , if he should see cause for doing so . The Baflway Commissioners had expressed their feelings Terv p lainly upon the matter , by refusing to sanction by-laws for shutting up certain lines on Sunda ys—( hear , hear )—and he could not tOO atTOnglj express his own individual opinion that it was perfectly possible to open railways on the Sabbath under such proper limitations as should avoid any unnecessary desecration of that day , and should be nerfectl ? compatible at once with the convenience of
the public and the proper respect due to the Sabbath . ( Cheers . ) He hoped that public opinion would be strong enough to induce those companies which had taken a different view ofthe subject , to adopt the course which was more in accordance with custom in this country . He confessed he was most reluctant to introduce anything like a compulsory measure upon a point involving the conscientious religious scruples of any considerable body of people , except in cases of extreme necessity ; and he was happy to say that half the railways in Scotland did at this time allow trains to run on the
Sunday . ( Hear . ) Dbobbt ' s Pauper Establishment . —In answer to a question from "Viscount Dbchlanhio , Mr . Baines stated , that Mr . Drouet had certainly not been convicted . of any offence whatever ; but he had been put upon his trial upon two or three criminal charges , and that circumstance was sufficient to induce wa ( Mr . Baines ) not to say one word more upon the matter . ( Hear , hear . ) When the cholera broke out in Mr . Drouet ' s establishment , iu the beginning of January last , there were 1 , 372 children in the house , who had been sent there by thirteen different unions . As soon as the cholera made its appearance , the Poor Law Board issued circulars to all those unions , pressing on them in
the strongest terms the necessity of providing , without delav , suitable places for the reception of those children , " in order that they might be removed at the earliest possible period . That circular had been repeated from time to time . Twelve out of the thirteen unions had been able to provide places for the reception ofthe children , which they deemed suitable . The thirteenth union—that of Chelseahad reported to the Poor Law Board . that , notwithstanding every endeavour on their part , they had not been able to meet with a suitable place . And , no doubt , there would he a dhlculty in procuring suitable accommodation for them . The workhouse was already full , andthe owners of private property were naturally nnwiuing to receive into that property persons coming from an establishment where the cholera had existed . The number of children
now at Mr . Drouet s was 233 , consisting of those belonging to the Chelsea Union , and of others from other parishes , who bad laboured under cholera , but were now convalescent , although they had not yet been certified as in a fit state to be removed . He was happy to add , that no fresh case of cholera had occurred * in Tooting since Saturday , the 13 th of January last . ( Hear , hear . ) Caltfornia . —Sir De L . Evans said that he understood there were six ships going from London and Liverpool-with merchants and passengers to California , men of high respectability and of different professions . It was also probable that a still greater number of ships would go . It was understood that they required some sort of protection , and he wished to know how far it would be afforded .
SirF . BiHEfo said that the general instruction to the admiral on that station was to attend and g ive protection to trade . He had already received a communication from the officer which showed him that the subject had not been neglected hy him , but he could not hold out any expectation that a shi p would be permanently stationed in California . Sir De L . Evans said that he understood the orders were for a ship to touch once in three months . Habeas Corpus Suspension ( Ireland ) Bill . — On the motion that the House go into committee on
thisbilL Mr . Jons O ' Cossell " moved , as an amendment , that it he an instruction to the committee to introduce such provisions into the bill as shall guard and save intact the rig ht of the subject to hold meetings to petition for the enactment , repeal , or alteration of Acts of Parliament , or for redress of grievances , or other Constitutional object , without other or further restriction of that right than existed under the operation ofthe common and statute law ofthe land , previous to the passing of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act of last July . His object in moving this amendment was to " bring out the meaning and scope of the powers to he given hy the hill , " which he maintained were as yet but imperfectly understood . The Solicitor-General opposed the amendment
as totally inconsistent with the objects of the bill , at the same time that , if adopted , it would not tend to the accomplishment ofthe honourable and learned gentleman ' s own object . The bill did not interfere with the holding of public meetings for legitimate and proper objects . Such meetings might as well be held under this bill as before its enactment , or as they would be held after its expiration . Some discretion must be given to those on whom the bill conferred the powers created by it , but such as were not guilty of treasonable practices had , in public op inion , a guarantee against these powers being put in force against them . A debate ensued in which . Mr , Boche , Colonel Bawdon , Mr . Betnolds , Mr . Anstet , and Sir G . Grey took part , and which was terminated hy the ¦ withdrawal ofthe amendment .
The House then divided upon the motion for going into committee , and the numbers were—For the motion 84 Against it ... 14 Majority for —70 The House then went into committee . Ia committee an amendment proposed by Mr . Assist , requiring an order of the Lord-Lieutenant in council to put the act in operation in each case , was opposed by the Attorney-General , and lost on a division by seventy-nine votes to twelve .
On the second clause , Mr . J . O Coxxeil again proposed the amendment he had previously submitted as an instruction , and divided npon it—the result beinjf eleven for and one hundred and five against With this division the opposition ended , and the bill passed through committee without alieration . Belief of Irish Distress . —The adjourned'debate on the proposed vote of £ 50 , 000 out ofthe Consolidated Fund , in aid of certain unions in Ireland , was resumed in committee .
Mr . P . Scrope postponed the amendment , of which he had given notice , until the report on the resolution was brought up . Mr . Grattan said that he was going to bring forward a motion -which would show that the Irish members were not there to beg ; they did not want money—( hear , hear , )—and they could do without it ( Hear , hear . ) He was sure that would be satisfactory to Eng lish members . ( Hear . ) These were his promises , but it remained for them to sanction the plan by which he would provide a sum of money for the relief of the distress ofthe people of Ireland . He proposed to devote the quit and crown rents of Ireland for this purpose . He could assure hon . gentlemen that the monev was available , as mig ht be
seen in the hank-books of Mr . Latouche , of Dublin , where there were such items as these : "Paid to Queen Tictoria the sum of £ 13 ; " " paid to Queen "Victoria the sum of £ 20 . " His object was that this monev should be left in Ireland . Englishmen objected to this money being applied to relieve Irish distress . Agreed . But then , leave the quit and crown rentsin Ireland . There was then the Irish Societv , who drew £ 58 , 000 ayear from the country . When English members said that they were co ining down to take away English money , his reply wasthen leave the Irish money in Ireland , and do not brino ; it to this country , to beautify Carlton House Of Windsor Palace ; there was neither sense , nor justice , nor propriety , in doing this , and then
turning round and saying , - ' Oh ! you are always cornins here to askfor money to relieve your distress . " TiTe hon . member for Tavistock ( Mr . Trelawny ) was debarred f rom calling them either mendicant or niiaacious . But independently of this , there were the rents ofthe great absentees , which were drawn from his country and spent in this . He had a listof ^ em , and he would give their names . There were the Duke of Devonshire and the Duke of Buckingtan » . He , to be sure , was sold out . His property brought £ 400 , 000 . Mr . White , formerly a member ° » that Bouse , boug ht three townlands for £ 25 , 000 .
¦ * tnew that they were afterwards set up for sale , * f * sold for £ 14 , o 00 . The Times and the Mrning f > naai the Mrning Herald had been abusing the f * members and the Irish people . They had » nnted and insulted them . They would defend tteaselves , and ehow that the mischief of Ireland * ftsefrom the absentees . They might be excellent P ® 1 . but they were had landlords ; they might be J ? y good Englishmen , but they were detestable fi Proprietors . ( laughter . ) Then there were the j & TJis of Hertford and the Duke of Bedford . The J ^? of Bedford was a very good man , hut he had a ^ alle Irish tenantry . Well , there was the Mar-
Monday, Feb. 12. Tfou^E Of Lobds.—This H...
quis of Conyng ham , who said that he had not the means of improvinghis propertv . Where were all his meansspent ? Inthiscountry . TnerewcrctheMarquis of Lansdowne , the Marquis of Anglesea , the Marquis of Donegal , and the Marquis of Bath . The tenantry ofthe latter were in a wretched condition ; the property was quite hare—not a tree scarcel y to be seen on any part of it . Then came the Marquis of Ely , and Earl Fitzwilliam , ' a most excellent man . But he knew for a fact that there was notacabhi between his own house and Bathdrum ( all of which belonged to the noble lord ) that waa . not levelled with the ground . Then there were " Lords Essex Audley , Maryborough , Middleton , Albemarle ' Boyle , Clifton , Ashbrook , Arden , StaffordLiflbrd ! fllllQ f \ T ¦ ^ sm-r > n « JY . « . « 1 2 1 tl ill 1
, Templemore , Colonel Wyndham , and Mr Sidney Herbert . All ofthese mi g ht he excellent individuals , but they resided out of the country ; and any person who knew the value of a resident gentry could from this circumstance account for the misery of Ireland . Mr . Greville , Mr . Lane Fox , and Mr . Ormsby Gore bad also large properties in Ireland . Let a taxbe imposed on these absentees and then they might keep their £ 50 , 000 . But it was said that they always came to that House for money , and that tula Was l ) Ut the beginning _ of another series of grants . He did not understand this insulting , idle , and unmeaning language . He had already mentioned one fund , and he would now mention another . He would go back to the petition of right , when the
P 00 r ( Mhdlies wero duped after granting £ 130 , 000 to King Charles . But that was not alt ! In 1782 the Irish Parliament gave £ 20 , 000 to support 20 , 000 seamen , which thev voted for the protection of England . Thatwas ' notall ; When the lateEarl Fitzwilliam was sent to Ireland the Catholics were promised their ri hts if they paid £ 250 , 000 . The money was paid , but the moment it was paid the compact was broken . The letters of the Earl of Carlisle and Lord Fitzwilliam proved that . Here there were £ 130 , 000 , £ 20 , 000 , and £ 250 , 000 , making altogether £ 400 , 000 , which had been given to this country by the people of Ireland . He would take the absentee rents drawn from Ireland at £ 3 , 000 , 000 though he believed it was nearer to four millions . This drain existed for the last fifty years , which made a total of £ 150 , 000 , 000 . He defied the
ablest arithmetician to say that these figures were wrong . Ho did not see the hon . member for Tavistock in his place , hut he thought they ought to raise a blush of modesty on his cheek . Did he still think that they had swindled the" House out of £ 50 , 000 ? Why , this £ 50 , 000 would not do , nor fifty times £ 50 , 000 . ( Hear , hear . ) It was better to speak out and be honest . ( Hear , hear . ) The people of Ireland were not ungrateful ; ingratitude formed no portion of their character ; but when people talked of having subscribed £ 600 , 000 for the relief of the Irish distress , they talked of it as if it was all subscribed by English proprietors . He denied that , for very many of the subscribers were large Irish landowners . He would quote a few lines for the benefit of the hon . member for Tavistock :
To John I owe some obligation , But John has lately thought it fit To blaze it . out through all the nation , So John and' I are more than quit . Gentlemen in thai House . blamed the Repealers , but did they not remember that there was an Englishman who wanted to separate the two countries ? Let them do justice to the dead as well as to the living . It was an English nobleman , and an ecclesiastic , who wanted to separate the countries , and rode into Dublin at the head of 5 , 000 troops , saying to Lord Charlemont that they would settle the question with blood . That was the conduct ¦ of the Earl of Bristol , who was then Bishop of Derry . But Lord Charlemont said , " No , we will settle it
without blood . " They had then 100 , 000 armed volunteers , and 200 p ieces of cannon . Were they minacious then ? Well then , with regard to the £ 50 , 000 , was it your money ? An hon . member had asked how long the £ 50 , 000 would last ? Why it would last no time . ( Laughter . ) Where a shilling was collected only two-pence went to feed the poor man , the remaining ten-pence being paid to officers . It was desirable that hon . members should know how their money had been applied . Such implicit faith had they placed in Irish , honesty , that they had actually made no provision for taking care of their own money . ( Laughter . ) The most ridiculous poor-houses had been built at a cost varying from £ 8 , 000 to £ 12 , 000 . Would hon . members
believe that their agents had been so kind and generous as to give Irish paupers sweet peas and mignonette in the gardens connected with the buildings ? ( Laughter . ) So ill constructed , too , were these poorhouses , that his cane would almost penetrate through them . The true explanation of this was that a body of men who knew somethingabout the wants ofthe country had been superseded by those who were quite unfitted for the performance of their duties . As regarded the union with which he himself was connected , the Celbridge union , his ri ht hon . friend ( Sir W . Somerville ) had remarked that the rate had not exceeded 2 s . lOd . in the pound . But he forgot the subscriptions made by the resident gentry . These persons , in fact , divided the
poor into four classes ; they sent to them at their houses ; they then got rid of the government officer ; andthe only sum granted by the government having been £ 30 , he ( Mr . Grattan ) wouldpay the ri ght hon . gentleman that amount , if he liked , with many thanks . ( Laughter . ) He held in his hand a hook called " The Irish Crisis , " published and circulated , he helievcd , at the expense of her Majesty ' s government . A former hon . member for Sligo had once accused him of treason because he attended a meeting where there was a banner on which was represented a harp without a crown . The book which he had mentioned had a green cover , and it had also a harp without a crown . ( Hear , hear , and laushter . l It began with a falsehood , it ended with
one ; it libelled the people of Ireland for being poor , told them that they were slaves , and informed them that they were never fitted to take part in such proceedings as those o f' 82 . What did the writer get for that publication ? If he ( Mr . Grattan ) had come to the door ofthe House a poor , creeping creature , demanding charity , he would have been offered a farthing ; but here was an English gentleman who had been made a baronet and rewarded by a vote of £ 2 , 000 for writing a hook which added insult to injury as regarded the Irish nation . The only use of suspending the Habeas Corpus Act would be to keep Irish eyes shut and Irish ears closed to the distress which prevailed in that countrv . There was a revolution going on in Ireland
such as the Jacquerie of France had never dreamt ot . Having begun by calling the Irish people barbarians and their priests " surp liced ruffians , ' they were now exhibiting Irish landlords as tyrants . Where did they expect all this to end ? What was the state of Irish property 1 Why , a short time ago an estate which was formerly worth £ 25 , 000 had been sold for £ 14 , 000 . Who would buy the property now in the market ? He would mention a fact by way of iUustration . It happened that a person in this country lent £ 20 , 000 in Ireland against his ( Mr . Grattan ' s ) advice . The Irish proprietor had since offered to give up the whole ofhis property to the mortgagee . What was the reply of the latter ? "How can I eo and live there ? ( Laughter . ) Will
any one leave the pleasant scenes of London to go and live on the rocks of Connemara ? " If parliament would send back the Irish gentry , he should have no desire to get rid of an aristocracy . He liked a coach and six much better than a miserable jarvey , and he thought that a limited monarchy could not get on well , without an aristocracy . But by the course which was beingpursued towards them , the Irish people would be made Bepublicans and Separatists . "If you give us freedom ( said the hon . member with great emp hasis ) , we will support you ; if you give us chains and slavery we will curse and hate you , and get rid of you as soon as we can . " Did hon . members think they could secure the affections ofthe Irish people while they taunted
them with these miserable doles of money ? If they would not send back Irish proprietors , let them tax absenteeism . Cromwell had sent Irish members to leg islate in England , but the experiment failed . England had been saved at different times by miracles . She had been miraculously saved lately throug h the mistakes of a great man in France . Had the republican . principle succeeded in that country , Ireland would not be . in her present position . When the first cannon shot was fired in Europe , the Irish would obtain what they wanted ; England would then be ready , as she had been before , to grant more than Ireland asked . The tide would not always flow in favour of this country , and he
the reflux , whenever it came , would , hoped , bring liberty to his own land . The hon . member concluded by moving the following amendment : — " That the collectors of exc ise in Ireland be henceforthdirectedanddoinfu turepaymtotheofiBce ofthe Vice-Treasurer in Dublin , the amount . of all crown and quit rents ; and that the same be appropriated to the relief of distressed poor law unions m that The Chairman apprehended that this motion could not be entertained . ( Hear , hear . ) It was a a proposal with regard to crown and quit rents , and it was incompetent therefore , for the committee to deal with it then . .. . . ¦ ; - Mr . Gbattan said her Majesty ' s name did not
ff Chairman repeated , that by the termsi of the motion , the hon . member proposed to deal with the revenues ofthe crown , and that could not be done without the consent of the crown , signified in the ordinary manner . The amendment was then withdrawn . Mr . Ormsbx Gore defended the . absentee landlords against the attacks of Mr . Grattan— "People could not be expected to live everywhere . " He had no hesitation , however , in admitting [ that Ireland had been " infamously used" hy the Government of this country . She had been robbed , over and over again , of her staple manufactures , and of her resident gentry , hy the Act whichdeprived her of her "Protestant Parliament" The sum of £ 50 , 000 would go but a small way to repair the wrongs which had been inflicted upon Ireland . The
Monday, Feb. 12. Tfou^E Of Lobds.—This H...
whole gold of California would not suffice to place tnat country in a proper position . They wanted a good poor-law in Ireland ; not such as they had now , which was a bonus upon idleness . He then proceeded to show what , as an absentee landlord , he nau done , having , amongst otherthings , established an agricultural society amongst his tenantry in oligo , some of whom had "begun to perceive some merit m the plough . " He would give his opposiij * the P P osed grant , on the . principle that it would not he wanted if Ireland were properly governed . Mr . Stafford , after briefly recapitulating what had recently been done by this country in the way of charity to Ireland , found it impossible to congratulate the House upon the prospect before it , seeing that the grant now sought was but the first
of a new series . The £ 50 , 000 demanded constituted a sum which was to be applied to the sustenance of the population of twenty-one bankrupt unions , and nine others in which serious financial embarrassments were apprehended . To maintain the people in these thirty unions would require at least half a million of money ; in other -words , ten such grants as that now sought . Besides , tho Chancellor of the Exchequer had greatly understated his ease , for he would find that in the course of a few months he would have to add several others to tho category in in which the nine were placed . What wouldlje the result of the continuance of this system ? Judging from past experience , the country would be the scene of greater desolation and more hopeless misery in February 1850 than now . He then inveighed
against the present area of taxation in Ireland , and the pusillanimity of the Government in not being prepared with measures for the modification of the , Irish popr-law , the time for inquiry and deliberation being past . The Government said that if this grant was refused the people would starve ; but on the Government lay the responsibility of the predicament . The honourable gentleman concluded hy moving , as an amendment , the addition to the resolution of words to the effect , that a statement should have accompanied the proposed grant of the whole sum likely to be required for the purposes to which that grant was to be applied ; that the system mvolved in such grants was vicious in principle , unjust in practice , and impolitic with respect to the suffering districts themselves ; and that it was the
duty ; of the Government to introduce , without delay , ! measures which would in future obviate the necessity of applying to Parliament for such grants , Lord J . Russell contended that ministers were in the present instance only following the course which previous . governments had adopted . It was impossible to say what amount of relief might he required in particular districts ; but if £ 400 , 000 or £ 500 , 000 was at once voted , that sum would , no doubt , be demanded ; but there would be no security against further applications . He admitted that the continued application of money drawn from the taxes of England to relieve Irish distress did tend to destroy the . spirit of self-reliance on the part of the Irish people ; but , though such grants were vicious
in principle , there were extraordinary circumstances in which they would be justified , as in the present case , to save a population from starvation . With regard to the latter part ofthe amendment , he proposed in any alteration in the poor law to provide for the greater encouragement of capital and industry , and to prevent the cases of exceptional distress falling in future as a charge on the public expenditure . Other measures as to local taxation in Ireland were in contemplation , and would be introduced during the present session . The Marquis of Grans * said the object of the amendment was to saddle the grant with conditions which would obviate the necessity for further applications of this kind .
Col . Sibthorp would not vote for any grant of money . He yielded to no man . in humanity , but he looked upon the noble lord ' s reasons for this grant as . insufhcient and equivocal . For these reasons , and also on account of tho distress which tho noble lord and the right hon . baronet had brought upon this country , he should refuse his support to this low , tricky , and Jesuitical vote . ( Hear . ) Mr . Hume rose amid loud cries of " divide , " and begged to state the course which those who objected to the vote , and . those who objected to the addition , might probably take . He could not agree to the addition , because he considered it very inconsistent , first in agreeing to the grant , and then dissenting from it . Ho disagreed from the grant , and thought the sense of the house ought to be
taken separatel y on that and on the addition . Mr . Musxz , amid renewed cries of " Divide , " said it would be unnecessary for him to detain the house at any length . The other night he had voted against her . Majesty ' s government , feeling that he could not conscientiously do otherwise , and now he would vote against them again . He could not see how the people of this country could be called upon , taxed as they were —( loud cries of "hear . hcar" )—to contribute repeatedly , incessantly , and endlessly to grants of this kind , the more particularly when the house was told by more than one member of the government that the present was not to be the last frant . ( Hear , hear . l The hon . member for Kipon ad told the house tne other night that he would vote for the grant , because he would not allow the
people to starve . Now , when he ( Mr . Muntz ) was g iving away his own money he hoped he could be as charitable as any one , but when he was giving away the money of other people , he thought he ought to consider carefully before he did so ; and though he believed the honourable gentleman in former days was a great authority , and one to whose opinion he would defer , yet , as he had told the House he had changed all his opinions , there was some difficulty in trusting him . For hJ 8 ( Mr , Muntz ' a ) part , he did not see any probability of an improvement in Ireland ; on the contrary , he expected it to be infiiiitely worse , and very rapidly worse . ( Hear . ) He saw no signs whatever of im-Srovement there , and he believed that a deal of the istress there was to be attributed to the general
system of the government . He believed that a great' deal of it was owing to cheap produce and dear money . ( Hear , hear . ) He asked the House whether there was any probability of an improvement in the value of produce ? ( Hear , hear . ) Some people talked of California , but they should recollect that all the people of Ireland might be dead before they reached the gold regions , and that although the proceeds of California might be advantageous , yet there must be time to bring the gold into market . ( Hear , hear . ) But , what was the state ofthe people of England ? Were the people of this country fit to pay these heavy calls , and ought they to be called upon to pay such calls ? ( Applause . ) Hon . gentlemen were in the habit of saying to him ,
" You are finely off at Birmingham—you are all well employed , and doing a profitable business ; " ho had heard nothing of that kind at Birmingham . ( Cheers from the Protectionists . ) He had gone home on Saturday , and did not see a single man to tell him that trade was brisk . On the contrary , every one said that trade was exceedingly flat and unprofitable , and that there were no signs of improvement at present , more especially because they were so competed with by foreign manufacturers . ( Benewed cheers from the Protectionists . ) That very morning , at eleven o ' clock , he had met one of his family who had just returned from the north of Germany , and he asked him what was the state of trade in that country ? The reply was— " There is p lenty of trade in Germany—they manufacture their
own goods there much cheaper than you can in England , and the prices you are selling at , low as they are , and unprofitable as they are are not able to compete with the lowness of the prices of the German manufactures . " ( Loud applause from the Protectionists . ) A curious circumstance happened to him ( Mr . Muntz ) lately . Some three or four years ago the glass manufacturers of Birmingham were very anxious for . Free Trade , and they came to him and said , " We are very anxious for Free Trade , and to have the duties on glass removed . " He cautioned them , and asked whether they were sure they could compete with foreign manufacture ? " Oh . '" said they in repl y , "there is nothing like Free Trade ; we can compete with advantage . " He
pointed their attention to Bohemia and other countries where wages were low , but they said , " Never mind , let us have Free Trade . " Well , he came with a body of them to the ri ht hon . baronet the member for Tamworth , when he was Prime Minister , and the first thing they asked the rig ht hon . baronet was three years' protection . ( A laugh . ) He ( Mr . Muntz ) felt naturally surprised , and said to them that he thought they wanted Free Trade ; but they replied , that they wanted three years to prepare for it . He asked them whether three years would he sufficient , and they replied in the affirmative ; but now the three years were gone , and it was only last Friday that he received the following letter from one of them : — Birmingham , Feb . 5 .
Deab Sib , —As the import duties on flint-glass wm expire soon , the trade is , I fear , in danger of expiring also in this country —( cheers from the Protectionists)—owing to those countries whose manufactures are protected by an import duty being allowed to send all their productions here , thus keeping up prices at home by not glutting their markets , at the same time ruining ours . The manufacturers here are anxious to memorialise for a continuance of duty being imposed , as that alone can protect our trade , from the peculiar nature of our manufacture . ( Renewed cheers from the Protectionists . ) He ( Mr . Muntz ) wrote to them to say , that he would do just as they liked , and that he would introduce them to the minister of the day if they desired . But
this was not the only case of the kind . Hon . gentlemen mig ht say what they liked about the improved state , of trade , but the fact was , there was an improvement of this sort—an improvement in quantity , not in quality . ( Hear . ) They , might congratulate themselves in the same manner as the man did who had the fever for twelve months , and then rose for half an hour and fancied himself a little better because he sat up —( a laugh );—but there was not a solid improvement , and he feared that things would be worse . There were half a dozen trades which had vanished from Birmingham because of competition on the Continent . ( Hear . ) The manufactures with which Binningham had onpe a great
Monday, Feb. 12. Tfou^E Of Lobds.—This H...
™ L l , i - * e s P okenof in the newspapers last Si 1 7 ' ?• , V Prosperous state . Ho al-U f IT ^ r 1 * ' 1 / ™> trades-thc gilt-toy ira th 'Wouhders thdo - IIc & ade * - £ » if onT $ ? ^' both articlcs in "is time , and or ISS ? t ^ JV * ° i * ™?> but out <* fifty or sixty gut-toy makers who were formerly in Bir-Sfour X Tr fiv 0 remained there niw , and those lour or five had very little to do . ( Hear , hear ) The brass-founders were also very much reduced ' n were not fully employed . ( Hear , hear . ) He left the House to guess then as to what the " prosperous " state ot trade really was , and whether the people of this country should be called upon to contribute to the relief of the miseries of Ireland . ( Applause ) Hon . members talked of the potato crop and ! the potato rot . Wh y , there was no end of the potato a iolo i , i se refer backt 0 the years 18 * 2 and 1842 and ask "
, themselves what was the state « f things then . Was Belaud then prosperous 1 Nnwretched and miserable . The rot with which she ' was afflicted was a rot that would not easily be curod . ( Hear , hear . ) What Wft 3 . £ 50 , 000 amOU » such * people ? ft wis like a drop of- -water a ? tS ! ocean , . ( tfear , hear . ) He was confident that ' out of doors there was a very strong . feeling against granting any more money to Ireland , andthat that lfntX !! f 0 t ariso from an 7 stin Sines 3 or niggardliness , outirom a consciousness that in a short time the people of England would want something given to themselves ; and that so long as they continued to give to Ireland they could not expect a large reducionof taxation in this country . ( Applause . ) Under the * e circumstances , anxious as he was to do justice to his constituents and the people of England , be could not possibly support the grant . Strangers were ordered to withdraw , andthe house divided .
For the amendment 125 Against it ... 245—120 On our return to the gallery we found Mr . Hume- protesting against the grant , and declaring he would divide the house on the mam question . ( Loud cries of "divide . " )' The House again divided . For the grant 220 „ Againstit 143-77 Sir w . Somerville then proposed to add the names of tho Earl of Lincoln , Sir L . O'Brien , Mr . Moore , Mr . Grace , and Mr . Bright to the Select Committee on the Irish Poor Law . Strong objections were , however , raised against the name of Mr . Brig ht by Mr . Bateson , - Sir W . Verner , and other members , but on a division it was retained by a majority of 129 to 74 . The House adjourned at a few minutes past two o ' clock . TUESDAY , Feb . 13 .
HOUSE OF LORDS . —Their Lordshi ps sathalfan-hour , and appointed a Select Committee on the Svstem of Auditing Hallway Accounts . " HOUSE OF COMMONS . —The Dublin Consolidated Improvement Waterworks ' and Sewers Company Bill was , after some discussion , postponed for a fortnight . Mr . Hawes , in reply to a question by Mr . V . Smith , stated that Sir H . Pottinger ' s report ofthe expenses of the Kaffir war had been received , but was not yet in a condition to be presented to Parliament . On the subject of Railways in India , Sir J . C . HOBHOUSE Stated that it was thought preferable that these undertakings should he carried out b y private companies , but should thoy not bo , the Indian government had come-to no determination ' not to carry them out themselves .
Fisuekies in Ireland . —Mr . Anstet moved for a select committee to inquire into the state ofthe inland fisheries and navigation of Ireland . His object -was to make tho protection of theso fisheries a matter of police , and to prevent improper obstructions in tho rivers , not to interfere with existing rights . By the present defective system he believed not less than 4600 , 000 a year was lost to the country . Sir H . W , BaWioh seconded tho motion , thinking that it would be advisable to extend tho inquiry to
the deep-sea fisheries . He trusted that Mr . Anstey would add words to that effect to his resolution . The House and government should not stop short until they put the fisheries upon the same footing as that occupied by the fisheries of Scotland . The Irish fisheries would not he properly encouraged until they wero put under the superintendence of a board , like that existing in Scotland . Sir W . Somerville would not object to the appointment ofthe committee , but he did not concur in Sir W . Barron ' s proposed addition to it . The motion was agreed to after a short
conversation . Transfer of Beat . Properix . —Mr . Drummond moved for leave to bring in a bill for the purpose of facilitating the transfer of real property . The hon . gentleman , alluding to the then state of the House , observed that the subject did not seem to excite much interest , seeing that so great a proportion of the hon . members had gone home to dinner . ( A laugh . ) He proceeded to remark that there was no reason why land should not be as free in the market as any other commodity . ( Hear , hear . ) He might quote many authorities who had advocated this sentiment in times past , but it would be a work of supererogation . Were it not f « r the feudal tenures which were still preserved , the disposal of
land would be quite unshackled . Ho would not now enter into the nature ofthese tenures , or show how all their general evil had been maintained , although the burdens upon the owners of land had been long since remitted ; and as he did not intend to dilate upon these subjects , he felt himself in this difficulty , with respect to recommending his measure—that he did not know upon what grounds the opposition to it could go , and therefore he did not know what objection to answer . He could only reply at hazard to a few difficulties which he had heard started out of doors . First , he had been told that it was presumptuous in a person not called to the bar to introduce a bill upon a subject of this kind . Now , being called to
the bar meant taking a certain number of dinners , and paying a certain amount of fees . ( A laugh . ) And he had certainly not been able to distinguish any necessary connexion between these operations and the capability of drawing a hill . ( Hear , and a laugh ) . The question then was not one in which a lawyer need bestir himself . Sidney Smith said long ago that the court of Chancery was like a boa constrictor , which could swallow the estate of an English gentleman whole , and digest it at its leisure . ( A laugh . ) Then why should lawyers bestir themselves in law reform ? They performed the office of masticators and digesters , and that was probably enough for them . ( Laughter . ) No . This was a question in which the owners of land , and
those who mi g ht become the owners of land , were the parties really interested . ( Hear , hear . ) But then , it was said , that nobody but a lawyer could draw a bill . That remained to he proved . A great many bills had been drawn up by many very eminent lawyers , which were found to be of very little use . Nay , no later than last session , a bill for facilitating the sale of waste land in Ireland had been most carefully prepared by tho hig hest legal functionaries of the government , and that bill , he was informed by . many Irish members , was little better than a caput mortuum . ( Hear . ) In fact , it frequently proved that bills which one set of lawyers drew up , puzzled another sot of lawyers to interpret . ( Hear , and a laugh . ) Here , however , he wouldbeperhapstoldthattherewasa Crown
Commission sitting on the subject , and he would be asked whether he would not wait to see what that commission would do .- Rusticus expectat—and . he would be a very simple rustic : indeed were he . to expect any practically advantageous results from a Crown Commission . ( Hear , and a laugh ) , Again , lie was told that he would be opposed by the lawyers because his hill would interfere with their interests He repudiated such an idea . ( Laughter . ) The study ofthe law was the study of a liberal profession , elevating men above sordidand mterestcd motives- ( laughter ) , and he would as soon believe that medical men would object to the reception of a remedy for malignant diseaseor that military men would decry a general peace
—as that tho lawyers would object to such a measure as he had to propose . ( Hear and laughter ) He had once indeed heard of the members of a medical college congratulating themselves on an unsatisfactory state of the public health , and drinking to the progress of slow fever with three times three . ( Loud laughter . ) But he rejected such scandals , and he could assure the House that all the lawyers whom he had spoken to were favourable to his measure , and that he counted upon their kindness to supply his legal deficiencies . ( Hear , hear . ) After the fullest examination which he had been able to give to the subject , and with tho fullest information which he had been able to collect , he had arrived at the firmest conviction that it was impossible to effect
the object which he had in view in any other way than by the provisions of such a measure as he held in his hand . He proposed to establish a registry of deeds and lands , and heproposed that entries should be accompanied by full and ample . maps of the . estates referred to . In former times this was accompanied with some difficulty , but now that there existed a map of every parish in the kingdom , under the tithe commission , nothing more would be required than to copy out the necessary portions , of that map . Ho also proposed that there should be a public-registration of . all incumbrances , of any
species , upon land , but he did not propose that this should be compulsory . He left it to the discre . im of individuals . Such were tho main proviskns of his bill . He thought that the only objection which would he made to it was , that it did not go : far enough ; but in matters of this kind he preferred a measure which went the least possible distance . ( Hear ,. hear . ) The hon . gentleman concluded by moving for leave to introduce the bill . Mr . Page Wood seconded the motion . V . he Solicitor-General had no objection to the introduction of the bill . It would bo premature for him to express any opinion upon its merits until it
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had boon printed and hi the hands of . honourable members . Nobody could differ from tho horiv gentleman as to the importance of the subject , or the desirability of forwarding generally his views ; and he ( the S olicitor-Gcnoral ) thought he might say that the present measure was a step in the right direction towards carrying the hon . gentleman ' s views into practical operation . These views could onl be put in force by a system of registration , and no registration could be complete without' a good system of maps . The subject was , however , connected with great difficulties . This he 'might say as having paid great attention to it , but he had no objection to the bill , while he would be happy , so far as he could , to give the hon . gentleman any help in his power with the view of carrying his views into effect . ( Hear , hear . ) Motion agreed to .
Buiuert at Elections . — Sir J . Parinoton moved for leave to bring in " a bill for the better prevention of bribery and corruption at the election Of members to serve in Parliament . " Ho had intended to explain the provisions ofthe bill at length , hUtft'Omwhat he had heard since he entered the House he was led to suppose there would be no opposi tion to its introduction as he believed tho House felt very generally tho evils ofthe gross and notorious bribery at tho last election , He would state US details OH the second reading . Air . BiioiHERTON seconded the motion . Lord J . Bussell said , he thought tho hon . baronet had pursued the most convenient course in reserving his statement for the second reading , when ho ir ° ,. $ ' Russe 11 ) would give his utmost attention to the bill .
Colonel Sibthorp declared ho would discharge his duties to his constituents in spite of any lull against bribery and corruption . ( Alaugh . ) Leave was given to bring in the bill . Public Boads . —Mr . C . Lewis moved for leave to bring in a bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to public roads in England . He proposed to abolish parochial liability to the maintenance of the roads and the turnpike trusts , and to take the county as tho area of taxation and management ; the control of the roads to be in a committee of the quarter sessions elected bv the
magistrates , to be called the County Boad Board . With regard to local management , he proposed to take the Poor-law unions as the districts , and that the county board should have tho power of dividing all the roads into two classes—viz ., main roads and branch roads . The present debt ofthe trusts , which amounted to £ 8 , 000 , 000 , ho proposed to pay off in not less than seven nor exceeding twenty years , by means of a county roads fund and a toll , which , under certain regulations , would still be collected in the main roads .
The motion was , after a brief conversation , agreed to . A motion of Mr . Trelawnt ' s , to extend tho inquiry of the Woods and Forests Committee to tho duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster ,- was opposed by Lord J , Bubsbll , and negatived without a division . Qualification of Electors ( Ireland ) . —Sir W . Somerville , in rising to move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws which regulate the qualification and registration of Parliamentary voters in Ireland , said it would be in the recollection ofthe House that last session he submitted to the House a measure on the same subject , and he then stated tho principle and object of it ; and as the present bill differed in no very material respect as regarded the county qualification , it would be unnecessary for him to occupy the house for any length of time on that subject . The principle of this measure was simply doing away with any qualification requiring
occupation , and substituting rating instead . He proposed that the amount of rating should be as last year , £ 8 , that amount implying the obligation of paying the poor-rates due within six months ; but that , instead of their being merely paid previously to voting , as in the bill of la ' st year , thoy should be paid previously to registration . In the bill of last year he proposed to leave the borough franchise as it was now , with this exception , that it did away with the payment of all rates except poorrates , which were to be paid as in the case of the county franchise , previous to voting . He proposed in this bill to adopt the same principle with respect to the borough franchise as to the county franchise . He proposed also that there should be an annual revision and an annual system of registration , and he should be prepared to show at the proper time that this measure would not give an undue number of electors as compared with England .
Mr . A . Stafford thought it incongruous to extend the political franchise , while they were limiting personal liberty . Mr . E . B . Boche objected to tho measure , as not going far enough . Lord Bernard condemned the bill and the whole policy of the government . Mr . Grooan suggested that before basing the qualification on the poor-rate , ministers should have provided for a uniform system of valuation . Mr . J . O'Connell feared that , instead of increasing , the bill would diminish the number of voters in the Irish boroughs . He did not , however , undervalue the step now taken by the government . Leave was then g iven to bring in the bill Sir W . Somerville then moved for and obtained leave to bring in a bill to shorten the duration of elections in Ireland and to establish additional places for taking the poll thereat . The House then adjourned at nine o ' clock .
WEDNESDAY , Feb . 14 . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Lvsolvent Members Bill . —Mr . Moffatt , in moving the second reading of this bill , observed , that it involved only a question of common senso and common honesty . The bill simply proposed to apply to all members of this house provisions which had been law over since 1812 ( and had been found to work well ) in regard to those members who were traders ; andthe House , holding to the principle of pecuniary disqualification , ought to apply it equally to all . ( Hear , hear . ) The bill now introduced proposed to give to the Insolvent Debtors ' Court powers in regard to members not being traders similar to the powers now vested in 4-hn 0 / . nt . f / if "RonlrMi-ntov in rnrrni' / l in mfimhfll'S in tuu \ jvuiv miiMiiu ^ uj ... ~ w £ u «~ ——
v * . ... -w-reengaged in trade , only shortening by one-half the interval before issuing a new writ , and providing that it should be issued at the expiration of six months after a vesting order had been made . It was thought hy some that the bill ought to go further , and put an end to the privilege of freedom from arrest —( hear )—hut an objection might be founded on the possibility ofthe sudden abstraction of a few members when parties were nicely balanced and on the day of a division , and the Bouse mi ht also be brought into collision with the courts of law , if a member denied that he owed the debt , and insisted that his arrest was unwarrantable and a breach of privilege . It had also boon urged that
the bill ought to exclude insolvents from the House of Peers —( hear , hear )—hut he ( Mi-. Moffat ) felt that there were two ways of doing a thing , a gracious and an ungracious , and there was that sort of hereditary prejudice in regard to privilege that if the peers had originated such a measure with respect to tho Commons , it would have been rejected . The rig ht hon . member for Tamworth ( Sir R . Peel ) had remarked , in discussing this subject , that when this House gave up a privilege , it was always followed bythe House of Peers ; and it was quite competent to the lords to insert a clause in this bill suspending the right of voting in their House during proved insolvency . ( Hear , hear . ) His object was to effect aim
the good that was practically witnm his rcacu , to consult the dignity and independence of the House . ( Hear , hear . ) To any suggestions in committee he should be happy to attend . ( Hear , hear . ) : Sir G . Obey had felt it his duty last year to caution the House against the bill then broughtm upon this subject , because , while ho concurred in the desirableness of the object sought to be attained , the mode proposed to be adopted appeared to him so objectionable that the House oug ht not to sanction the bill . But the hon . member had reconsidered the subject , and this bill , while it soug ht to attain the same object , and as he ( Sir G . Grey ) thought would attain it , was clear of the objections to the former bill . ( Hear , hear . ) He mig ht have some
alterations to propose in the details in committee , out ne was quite prepared to assent to the second reading —( hear , hear)—and he hoped the House would feel that there was no objection to the principles of the bill , and would agree to this course , and proceed to the important business waiting for discussion . Ihe hill would merely assimilate the case of insolvent members to that of bankrupt members ; and no apology appeared to him to be necessary for not interfering with the peers , -or with the inviolability of the person of a member from arrest . Mr . Berxal would not oppose tho second reading , but he must say that he felt that the principle ofthe bill was very much involved in the details . Ihe House would find that for six months after the date ofthe vesting order the representation of a constituency was to be in abeyance ; for the member was not to be allowed to sit or vote . The House , must take care not to do a wrong to any under the
pretence of doing justice . A man might be poor without being unjust . Mr . Goulburn would also not opposo the second reading especially as the Houso was anxious to proceed to other business ; but the bill would require very serious consideration . Tho hon . member had given no reasons for introducing a bill so totally different from that of . last year , but had contented himself with answering certain objections ; and as to that which was founded on the bill not being extended to the peers , he would find that where the- House of Commons had addressed itself hy legislation to tho privileges of Parliament , it had uniformly , with the exception of the Bankruptcy Act , applied the principle to all persons having privilege of Parliament . Indeed this bill itself , in its title , professed to bo "to provide for the recovery of debts from persons having p rivilege of Parliament . " The members of both Houses formerly enjoyed the privilege of not being sued in any wurt fw ttebt ; Dirt » y tl » 13 tU of
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William HI ., and by the statute of- George III ., both peers and commoners were made susible for debt , and placed upon an cqualitv hrtliat respect , formerly the power of arrest , ff . jt hail existed , m : „ % maAe a ready mode of nrcventin « : ES „ ° "l if ^ big i „ ' their places in that , ? In ^ fn m ' 6 tt thereby have been made a political engine ; but the abohtion of the power of arrest on mesne process had materiall y diminished that danger ; and he was read y to admit that there was now less probability of abuse from the state of tho law than formerly . Though it was extremely desirable to preserve the character of the House , and not to allow insolvent debtors to be free from tho provisions ofthe law , yet ho was averse to making any
? art icular provisions for members of Parliament , f they did so , they would add to the natural disposition that every creditor had to recover his demands the strong inducement which a political object might give to the enforcement of hia debt . And he begged to remind tho House that there had been men filling the first stations in this country who had been deeply involved in debt —( hear , hear ) —and that there had also been parties who would willingly have taken advantage of the difficulties in which those persons wero involved , through no extravagance of their own . ( Hear , hear . ) These were circumstances that ought to be well considered , when they came to the details of the bill . He considered that that House had ample power to regulate this question for itself by means of resolutions ,
without the interrcreneo of tho other branch ofthe Legislature . There were numerous instances on the journals where the House had interfered for the protection of its members against arrest ; and they had the same power now as ever ; but if they passed , an act , instead of proceeding by resolution , they could not in future make any alteration in the matter without tho intervention of the other House . ( Hear . ) Ho must say thero was much in the bill that was exceedingly defective . The tendency of it was to bring the Houso into collision with constituencies , a thing that ought in all possible cases to be avoided ; and it contained manv other clauses which ho thought hi ghly objectionable . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . J . Williams hoped the measure would he made to applj ^ also to tho other branch ofthe Legislature .
Mr . llKHLYt regretted that more time had not been given to consider tho bill . It was quite clear that it was the object of tho promoters , step hy step , to make the principle of the measure applicable to the other House of Parliament ; and the main point was to assimilate the case of insolvent persons to that of bankrupt traders . The cases were , however , not analogous . A bankrupt trader , in giving up his goods , and obtaining his certificate from the Bankruptcy Court , was protected ever after , and such a person might bo elected a member of that House ; but an insolvent could not get clear to the same extent in the Insolvent Court , for , though they could take his property , as in the case of a bankrupt , yet they could not srivo him a discharge , and the
insolvent never could be elected a member of that House . ( Hear , hear . ) Ho had many objections to the bill , but would not take the responsibility of opposing the second reading . Hq hoped that in dealing with this matter , the House would recollect that tne privilege they possessed was hot a princi ple of the members , but a privilege of their constituencies . ( A laugh . ) The bill was then read a second time , and ordered to be committed on that day fortnight . Navigation Laws . —On tho subject of the repeal of the Navigation Laws , Mr . Gladstone put a question as to whether Mr . Baines ( whose speech delivered at his re-election tho other day , the right hon . gentleman characterised as manlv and
straightforward ) had stipulated on . joining the government that on that particular question he should bo free to vote as ho pleased . Lord J . Bussell replied that ministers considered Mr . Bainos ' s services in tho administration of tho poor law so important , that on his declining to take office unless on the understanding that ho should be free to vote against the repeal of tho Navigation Laws , they agreed to accept his services on those terms , and justified that course by a reference to the cases of Mr . Wynn and Lord Lonsdale , who , on particular questions , had voted against tho respective governments of which they were members .
The House having resolved itself into committee . Mr . I / ApoucnEitE rose to move his resolution with the view to tho amendment of the Navigation Laws : —He commenced by expressing a hope that the discussion of last year would enable members more satisfactorily to consider the question now , and proceeded to recapitulate the main provisions of the former bill . The principle ofthe existing Navigation Laws was threefold—to secure to us the monopoly of the colonial trade , the long voyage trade , and the European direct carrying trade . The first , now that protection was withdrawn or in course of withdrawal from the colonics , we could no longer with any justice maintain . The injurious
effects of our laws m this respect were strikingly illustrated in the difficulties they imposed on our North American colonists in competing with their neighbours ofthe United States , and great credit was due to them for tho patience and good feeling they had exhibited under such circumstances . The next restriction , which required foreign produce to be brought to our ports in British vessels only , shutting out as it did the raw produce , while it admitted it when manufactured , operated as a direct encouragement to our foreign rivals in manufactures ; and with regard to the third restriction , which attempted to secure to ua the carrying trade , it could bo only successful so long as it was confined to ourselves and acquiesced in by foreigners —for if every nation wero
to act upon it , we , as the greatest maritime nation in tho world , would be the greatest losers—and , in fact , foreign nations had already shown a disposition to retaliate . Prussia had already remonstrated , and there was but little doubt , ' if we did not abolish the system beforehand , ltussia would , on tho expiration ofthe existing treaty , adopt it as against us . He still proposed to reserve to the fyueen in Council a power to re-enact the restrictions , wholly or in part , with reference to any counties which should adopt a policy prejudicial to British interests ; and to allow a British register to a foreign vessel British owned and British manned , subsequent information having confirmed his conviction that English shipbuilders had
nothing to fear from this competition , The wages of shipwrights at New York wero not lower than in London ; but Mr . Money Wigram had stated , that whereas a shipwright in the United States gave a whole day ' s work for his wages , in London tho worked as a combination man , and for that mischievous system competition was the true remedy . He likewise adhered to the alteration he had proposed last year , by which shipowners would be exempted from the obligation of taking a certain number © f apprentices . The onl y material departure in tho present from the former resolutions related the coasting trade . The opponents of the measure of last year were of two classes : and one , of whoso sentiments Mr . Hemes was the exponent , objected
altogether to its princi p le ; the other class avowed a belief that the time hud come when the fundamental principle of the navigation laws must bo revised , but took ( an exception to parts of the plan , Mr . Gladstone , for example , had insisted upon the disadvantage and impolicy of retaining the monopoly of our coasting trade , a relaxation of which might purchase an equivalent in the coasting trade of America . He ( Mr . Labouchere ) had found it difficult to meet this argument on the one hand , and on the other to obviate the alarm which our coast population would feel at the participation of foreigners in their trade ; and to guard against the risk to which it would expose ¦ tho revenue . He proposed , therefore , not an abolition , but a modification , of tho
restrictions upon foreigners engaging m our coasting trade , still confining the trade from port to port of the United Kingdom to British vessels . Thus , an English or a foreign vessel , sailing from a British port , bound to a foreign port , mi ht touch at at another British port , carry goods there , and take goods for a third British port . ;; or an American shi p , for example , hound from the "United States to London , might discharge part of her cargo at Southampton , take other goods , and go on to London , but not trade to and fro between port and port ; and tho vessels must not be under 100 tons bhrdon . The ri ght hon . gentleman added , that he had had the assurance of Mr . Bancroft that the government of the United States would meet
this relaxation of our laws hy a reciprocal concession . Bills upon the subjects of li ght dues , the merchant seamen ' s fund , and tho measurement of tonnage / which would be tho completcment of this great measure , would ho introduced as soon as it became ' law . Mt . 'Herries said , ho did not intend to oppose tho resolution , but reserved to himself the ri g ht to oppose the second reading of the bill , at which ib was understood the discussion should be taken . Ho complained that Mr . Labouchere had refused him and nis friends all information as to the alteration he ' proposed from the hill of last year , when that information was allowed to ooie out to the public through the ordinary channels of communication .
With regard to the coasting trade , what security had we when we had given up our exclusive privilege that- America , France , and other countries wouM do the same ? And with regard to the measure generally the effect of it was , that while wo threw open to foreign countries those p rivileges which we now enjoyed—the exclusive right to trade with ow colonies—the coasting trade and the long voyage , we merely reserve to ourselves a power ot retaliating if they do not make similar concess ions to vis . France , which was oven now taking stringens means to protect her own navigation , would Pf " hahly refuse—and what would he the . f ™ % t our relations with that sensitive nat on " MiticS we wards attempted to take from her th e tac n 0 . gave to other countries ? Min isters shorn howfap gotiated with foreign states , and ascert u { orQ they wew nreparea to nwt iw » &»
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 17, 1849, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_17021849/page/7/
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