On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (7)
-
¦ ¦ ¦ • ¦ ¦ . ¦ .- ¦ ¦ - * ¦ ¦ ' - .- ¦ ...
-
f£ B£ BBAL "UNIONS WITH ENGLAND. * (Erom...
-
IRISH DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT. The democrats...
-
CARRICK-ON-SUIR BRANCH OF THE
-
BRITISH COLLEGE of HEALTH, New Boad.Xond...
-
$muM ilarKameito
-
¦ ":" ¦ " '- ' ¦ MONDAY/; April'29; "V' ...
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
¦ ¦ ¦ • ¦ ¦ . ¦ .- ¦ ¦ - * ¦ ¦ ' - .- ¦ ...
¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ _.- ¦ ¦ - _* ¦ ¦ ' - _.- ¦ . ; v , /; ..: : _iiTiiir / L _lii-li . ... ... , . . _-. : > .... .
F£ B£ Bbal "Unions With England. * (Erom...
f _£ B _£ BBAL " _UNIONS WITH ENGLAND . * ( Eromtho Mshman . ) , E' Every _ons with'any appj _^ We . _toowlrfge _^ Whifftory is fMniliarwith the policy : that « _oS _£ _tog _^ ther _^^^ _^ _» S _™ S _^•^^ in _tben-i , for one common object , and _l _^ _ff _^ _T-J _^ common idea . The Greet _?^? SderacY , the Etrurian League , the me-£ _SfiSSto of Italy , the Alliance of the _* L _-SSSfto _Gerald Confederation , and _Sai _Ljcestoovm to eTery student j _in stinct suggests tiie expedi _^ _t eren where _wa -reason is absent , and the fa _^ _J deer may he _-w _^ ded in close line with menawous antcrow " « - _*• ¦ ¦•*
see seen . . _,. __ , - . . . , . i i _forminff almost the defensive testudo of £ _fcIS * There are limits , however , hoth to _S _tSinctive and rational alliance . * The t _XfdS nofc combine _with the wolf or the d _thiswonld _beoxdytogiveliiinself " _""Sf to thedestroyer . The Greets didnot 2 _Kto defead themselves against the inroads oi rfP _^ by an alliance _^ . Xerxes . The ? _Vorfhern rovers , or the African corsairs , i _Sin vainhaveappKed for admission into Hansetowns
£ theLeagae ofthe , TheT » rfeot _understanding and honest cars _ouUfp rinciples becomes every day more i _Srt ant . We live man age of rapid proi _imjwi _^ _^ _^ cannot m ould circumstances i SS purp ' _oses _^ _emusi . become their slave . _« _Sicse are the times when pregnant nature _hboursinthe birth of a new rac _«; her days ome to the fall ; and it becomes ns to Sthat the infant be not strangled in the de-BV want brothers , confederates and _affie-s , _-ndlo' God _hasraisedathict crop _attaround _S How theyonng pulseofnationahtythrobs £ the veins of our working classes ; and with _iat equal and proportionate sp irit the masses _Jttoutfhout Europe yearn to struggle after the _A « finv of man-after a generous independence „! _j thP _nractiiai enforcement : of that natural
_emalit y which the Creator _stampedin the raid Sd origin of human Ufe , and in the impartial _distributi on of equal faculties to _aH . _ Here , or nowhere—here in the gathering strength ofthe awakening Democracy in Christendom must we lay the pillars and foundations of our popular league . Vainly would we prostrate ourselves before the tinsel splendour of faded courts ; vainly wonld we strike hands with the adherents and parasites of royally , or with the chapmen and dealers of
oppression . - . __ first of all , nearest and most fraternal , are the hearts of England ' s toiling populace . -These are with ns , or may be . Our conditions areaU but identical ; the oppressor is the same , ont objects are -similar ; both seek to crush the insolence of a class that tyrannises in thename of a Constitution ; to establish political justice ; and , though it may he occasionally , that Jaws cannot make a community absolutely happy—to take care that tbey do not make it inevitably miserable . The latter has been the direct and inevitable tendency of English legislation . Thevery life and instinct of the Constitution has been moulded to an aristocratic bias , and society , even in its most voluntary relations , is found imbued with the same poisonous spirit .
look at the contrast afforded hy the labour and pay of different orders of the state . Our artisans and working classes generally are the worst paid , and hare the lowest scale of subsistence of the people of any conntry pretending to he civilised . We bave known hundreds of instances in which honest Irfch peasants have begged to be allowed to _liarter their labour for their food—a day ' s work for three , or oftener two indifferent- meals—and they have ' been refused . Such is the social collapse which our svstem of rule has produced , that it is unprofitable to spend anything on the wear and tear of the flesh and blood machinery that might till God ' s earth , and gladden it all over witb the harvests of a nation ' s food . Bnt if the labourer and tbe humble
handicraftsman _oe pinched , cr even annihilated , inthe financial calculations of our social system , the higher classes of employes feel no stint nigh dignitaries of the Chnreh , with £ 20 , « 00 a-year ; noble ambassadors , with little less ; clerks , commissioners , treasurers , and secretaries—all paid at rates unparalleled for prodigality in the world ' s history—attest the blessings of our constitution , and the beneficent tendency of our laws . -., _« _.-. -,-Compare this state of things -with that prevailing in America . There the wage 3 of the lower class are three or four , in some instances eight or ten times as high as here ; whereas , on the otter hand , the pay of what may be termed the more aristo cratic employments is eight or ten times as cheap there as here . -
. . .. . The _beautv of our beneficent rule is , that we cannot mend it . * We have judges in our Four Courts , retting eight thousand a-year ; and government could hardly take a halfpenny from the salary , because of the immense incomes that men make in private practice . Sitsceif the salary of the judge were reduced , the ermine might go a begging—no man of eminence would accept it . This is one illustration of tbe curse that attends tbe vicious habits of nations . The aristocracy alone were considered the genius of our constitution , and the spirit of onr laws were both directed
to the artificial aggrandisement of one class , and to the unnatural depression of the remainder There is now no possibility " of reform . We must -first eradicate , pluck up the gall-plant , root and branch , and toss its ashes to the winds of heaven . These are objects common and _^ mutual to the democracies of the sister isles , and it is , therefore , to he hoped that they will work harmonionsly together for the general benefit . So far have they done so ; hut growing strength has increased duties , and requires augmented discretion , judgment , and temper .
Our object , hitherto , his been simply twofold—-convert thc masses to democratic principles , and to organise them into a dense , compact , and solid point , whether for resistance or attack . The work goes on—God speed ir . Six months more earnest recruiting nnd honest drilling , and the young guards of democracy may take the field ; hut they will not need it . When we shall have musteredstrongenough for tbe assault the fortress will surrender at
discretion . Never was victory so peaceful as willbe that of the popular armies of the sister isles ; it only wants to be able to conquer , and triumph is certain . There is , however , one point very much overlooked by millions who in their souls sympathise with the _' pr csent movement . They adopt , as they think , a safe and cautious policy ; they keep aside from the ranks of Democracy , partly because its views are directed ultimately and unquestionably to means stronger than a petition , and partly from the novelty ofthe modus operandi adopted in it .
In the first case , the way to prevent bloodshed is to make onr movement so strong that it would be madness in oppression to hazard a battle . Is this possible ?—could the three kingdoms afford three millions of confederated democrats ready to stand to their arm--, "for God and their rights , " against "foragn or domestic foes ? "Who doubts this ? We would engage to make , ere eightmonths , the number np in Ireland . Look at onr wasted farms and our starving -population . The process-server , and the rate-collector are wdnderful _elaborators of
nationality . The cottage levelled to its foundation , and reeking in its rotten walls , fills the air with the germinating seeds of treason . England , too , could give her three million soldiers to the cause—and she will give them . From the Tweed to rocky Cornwall she groans under an iniquitous oppression . He that works hardest is the most despised and the most miserable heing in the State , an God did not intend , and man _wilfnot tolerate such a system . The mark of Cain is on the brow ofthe labourer , and he communicates thc brand to his infant after him . _ _ _
A « ocial revolution is necessitated and justified . The way , tbe means , the end is clear . But it is absolutely essential to have a visible _orgjuusation and connexion . Secret friends are only halt ' friends . The appearance of strength often renders the exercise of it unnecessary . Give us the three millions enrolled and determined democrats , andlet us ** whether a debauched Ministry will attempt to * 0 * 5 tffPSQ * ti ) t Give us one out of every five that are disaffected , wont of every ten that have cause to be so , and _wbata new _Tersion of the Reform Bill shall we pass , with the least posssible trouble to Parliament ?
The wants of Eng land are almost identical , m Onr jealousy and horror ofthe regime that oppressed us , we do not include onr brethren in degradation . _Brieve it not , men of England ; let no fiend pour the bitter waters of distrust on our . union . "We have suffered together , and together will we conquer ; with one blow will we decapitate the hydra that baa wasted our double country . "We distrust Parliament , and so'do you ; we have gone alms-hunting to its doors , both of us , till _gneration after generation have died of hope dered . Tfaey tell us that legislative nroo- _^ dings
F£ B£ Bbal "Unions With England. * (Erom...
are proverbially slow } cautious and cradnai . J"We know it , aad protest against its tardy movements . What to us is it that Parliament may , _fifto _* years hence , recant its errors over , the graveB in whioh it ? crimes _mvnhave buried us ? - We cannot wait . ; the future belongs to posterity . ; the present is ours , let us use it . Time is the gift of God , let us employ it to secure the rights of men ..- ; _. . Organise for the life—in your meeting rooms vou are daily gaining the -rictory . -The country on all sides is disaffected . It wants but to give that disaffection unity and a voice ; The people no longer -understand a loyalty that sacrifices themselves and their families to the gluttony of a sensual and a grinding aristocracy , and they will no longer submit toifc . -
Km , pioneers of England ' s independence , run for tbo cause , scatter the seed of your nation ' s hope broadcast round every hearth ye approach . _^ Shun Parliament as ye would the poor-house , for it is the leading road thither . . We are able to conquer , let us he willing . Let onr organisation be strong as as our necessity , and let the misery of the people , whose redemption ft is our _misssion to achieve , be tha watchword and the source ofthe struggle .
Irish Democratic Movement. The Democrats...
IRISH DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT . The democrats of Ireland are everywhere meeting and organising . We take the follow ing from the Irishman of Saturday last : —
CORK BRANCH OF THE IRISH DEMOCRATIC ASSOCIATION . ' This body held its usual weekly meeting at their rooms , Castle-street , on Monday , evening—Mr . Peacock in the chair .- —The Secretary commenced the business of the evening by reading the lecture of Mr " . Moffitt , entitled "Ways and Means , " which ap « peafed in Saturday ' s Irishman , and had proceeded about midway in same when Sub-Inspector "Walker ( as we understood ) and Head-constables Roe , Porter , and Crowley , with Sergeants Cudmore , "Vickers , and several others of the constabulary , entered . The Secretary continued the address to the end , after which the _chaSnnan _, _, in an able and effective addres 3 _, called upon them to unite and spread tbeir principles .
They were battling for the great cause of universal freedom , liberty of conscience , and liberty of speech . They did not seek to make a havoc , but wished to live honestly by manly toil ; and he . contended that no man with a Sane mind ought to be denied a voice in the making of the laws by which he was to be governed . The speaker concluded a long " and brilliant address amidst cheers for Mitchel , Meagher , Ac , & c . Several persons were then admitted members . At the request of one of the members , the secretary read the 'Address to tbe Orangemen of Ulster" amidst enthusiastic cheering . —Mr . Peacock was then moved from the chair . The " force" seemed to be anxious observers ofthe proceedings . One of them took notes (?) . This rather famous or infamous individual made himself more conspicuous than his fellows by taking down the names of the Committee , and holding a lighted candle at the door , which he held to the
face of each member as he retired , after the proceedings had terminated . Subsequently produced a search warrant , signed by James Roche , J . P ., they made a most scrutinizing search , looking into the very bust of John Mitchel . A reinforcement soon after arrived , three of whom were placed on the street door . This had the effect of gathering a crowd , who pressed about the door for admittance , inconveniently crowding the Committee-room . After searching every hole and corner , nook and cranny of the buildin _** , without finding any " treasonable papers , " " or other documents calculated to bring ns under the fangs of the " law , " the Sub-Inspector mustered his brigade , and bade ns a good-bye until our next meeting . A member very politely thanked him for the manner in which he had " established" the Association , as , no doubt , it will have the effect of procuring more adherents than if he bad allowed our addresses , and the placards of the Irishman , to remain posted up .
Carrick-On-Suir Branch Of The
CARRICK-ON-SUIR BRANCH OF THE
IRISH DEMOCRATIC ASSOCIATION . Theu ' _su-1 weekly meeting of the Carrick Democrats was held in their rooms , Grejstone-slreet , on Monday evening , the 22 nd ult ., Mr . Patrick Comerford in the chair . The proceedings this evening were very lively and the members unusually excited , owing to the presence at tbe meeting of the resident magistrate , T . R . Graves , Esq , his son , and the Sub-Inspector of Police . The business , which was ra-her dull to the time of the entrance of these functionaries suddenly assumed an air of interest . Tbe intelligent and respectable mechanics of Carrick were on _this occasion tree to their wide reputation for " pluck , " and there was a rush of members to the table to propose and second candidates for admission into the Democratic Association , who were waiting outside the door until they were accepted as
members , and tben entering enmasse . paid their subscriptions , and gave their names to the secretary , with a provoking imperturbability wbich evinced a' most " seditious" disregard for the " awful presence" of the * ' authorities . " The magistrate , on his entrance , inquired if the mee'i- g was a public one . The secretary answered that it was the usual weekly meeting of the Democrats , and that any friend of the cause of democracy was welcome . His worship then send , that though not exactly a friend , he , and tbe gentlemen who came with hisn , wished to witness the proceedings . The secretary offered them a seat , which they civilly declined . They were attended by _nposse of police , who were drawn np in the street as lot-gas his worship and suite remained in the room . ; There was also a great crowd of people in front of the house where tbe meeting was held , who seemed veiy anxious about the result of his worship ' s visit .
As soon as the business of enrolling members had concluded , Mr . Joseph O'Grady rose to address the meeting , which be did in an able and energetic address . Mr . Graves and suite took their departure , apparently much edified by the _lesion taught them by the unflinching determination which the Democrats ha't that night manifested . Mr . James Cavanagh nest addressed the meeting . He complimented the meeting on the determination tbey evinced on that night : he hoped they wou'd show the same courage on the hill-side , where Irish patriotism could be more efficiently exhibited in front of the oppressors of seven centuries , and the green flag of Erin floating proudly in the breeze . ( Loud cheers . ) - We add the following editorial comments of the
Lrishmam—POLICE ESPIONAGE : We Democratic organisation is beginning to convince Lord Clarendon that he has not _succeededin his _arrogant boast of having " squelched" Irish "disaffection . " He mistook the whimpering of slaves and the fawning of place-t-eggars for the voice f _> f Ireland . He fancied that haying succeeded in transporting our martyrs to a convict 8 doom , and in thinning the ranks of onr true men by expatriation , he bad nothing to do but eat his pudding in peace and quietness . He has been woefully disappointed . The voce of Ireland was dumb for a while , but is now making itself heard in manly , burly tones , "Inch betoken self-confidence , determination , and a purpose . This is thevery last thing a hase'Whigdesirestohear .
Clarendon did not dream of Ireland recovering speedily from the collapse of ' 48 . The awakened Democracy was a latent power on which he did inbt calculate . He had disposed of the "leaders" — packed juries , Jeffries judges , and suborned tools , did h ' s bidding—and _"Wbiggery enjoyed its atrocious triumph . Bnt tbe good seed was sown . " Leadership . " which brought " agitation" and run on -the people's cause , became a thing of 6 corn . Tbe Democracy , in their mighty and irresistible array ,-became alive to their rights and their true position , and he--ce a movement which has struck terror into all Whigdom . _~
And , now , brothers , let " caution mark the _i-narded way . " Do not peril onr infant organisation by playing into the hands of tbe enemy . The doctrines of Democracy _require no seditious agency to propagate them- What care we about police or sub-- _rned spies ? Oar principles fear not the glare of tbe noon-day Bun—our organisation is open and fearless , and let all onr courses be so . In this way we shall" ripen the pear , " and give no triumph to the enemy .
British College Of Health, New Boad.Xond...
BRITISH COLLEGE of HEALTH , New Boad _. Xondon . _F-ojaw-Co-ostbtmes , —The following is tbe inscription on the book _contaiuing the Petition to the House of Commons , signed _oy 19 , 030 persons against pharmaceutical poisons : — " MEMORIAL Ofthe Names ofthe 19 , 950 Independent Individuals who signed the Petition presented to the House of Commons , - - On Tuesday , the 15 th of June , 1847 , ' ( through Sir Benjamin HaU , Bart , M . P . for the Boroueh ofStHarylebone ) , AGAINST TttlJ DEADLY POISONS
Used or held ont as Medicines by Doctors , In order to prop their' Guinea Trade •• ' ' Which trade U the root of all evils a * _regards the publio health ; the cause of hospitals and lunatic asylums beine filled with diseased objects ; and , above all , the cause of all -persons , lives being kept in constant jeoparfr throneh the deadly _chenrfcals which doctors have introdncedln order to prop up tbat trade . " ! - _lfwutea m The contents of the work are as follows : — L Case of Miss Abercrombie , poisoned by Strychnine Reported by Mr . _Seigeant , now Mr . Justice Talfonrd . 2 . Death of Wainwright , her Murderer . 3 . Sale of Poisons . _.-.. - . ' . 4 . Marchioness of _Brinrilliere . 5 . Account ofthe Aqua Tofana . 6 . "Wholesale Pmsorung during the Roman Republic . 7 . Eecent Cases of Poisoning . & Preface to the Seventieth Thousand of " The ¦ Morisoniana . " 9 . Buckingham's Case : a whole family saved by the . Vegetable Universal Medicine , after baring bees accidentally poisoned by arsenic . .:-. 10 General Report of the British College of Health for ¦ ¦¦ ¦¦
. ' ' 1850 . - > : " - ¦ - ''• ' - . - ; - ' --. ' _-- •¦ ' _'>'• = ..- >¦ - _-. ; , 11 . Prindplesof theHjKianSretemof Medicine . j - 12 . Letter to the lord ffishop of london on the Sanitary ' ¦ _An-sc-tfftfi •¦*'" ' - ' * * ¦ . * " ¦ ¦ 'ii . .. ' it . _?¦»" ¦ ' ' v- ' _li ¦ ' " 13 . * The Kise and Progress of theBntish College of Health London-* Published by the British College ef Health , _Kra-toad . Price 2 i . 6 cL
$Mum Ilarkameito
_$ muM _ilarKameito
¦ ":" ¦ " '- ' ¦ Monday/; April'29; "V' ...
¦ " : " ¦ " ' - ' ¦ MONDAY /; April' 29 ; "V ' , ; * " I : ' ;; - ' HOUSE OP IOEDS . —Tiiis _housesat fori short time , and disposed of some routine and unimportant'business . '" "* . , BOVSWQF ' CQMMONS . _—Tni Nsw _Hodsk . — Mr . B . OsBOmre , _^ fte _* r ' . alluding . to the long delay which had interposed between , the members ofthe House of Commons , and their -possession ' of the chamber prepanng . for them in ihe new palace , of legislature , inquired whether the disputes between the architect of the house and the vehtilater ( Mr . Barry and Dr . Reid ) were in process of settlement , and if it were ' truethat an action for defamation was pending before the law courts , brought against tho last-named gentleman by Mr . Barry . .
Mr . ; Greene stated that the committee of which he was chairman had done their utmost to compose the differences between tbe gentlemen named , as well as to prevent the dispute from delaying the completion of tbe New . Houses of Parliament . Mr . Osborne gave notice , much to tho amusement of the bouse , of a motion designed , as ho stated , to get rid both of Mr . Barry and Dr . Reid for the time to come . " Niggers" in thb "Fbeb" RErnBLic _.--Mr . Cockbors called the attention bf ; the _foreign Secretary to the recent case of tbo negro seaman who was forcibly remored . from a British . vessel on its arrival iu Charleston _harbour and kept in prison the stay bf his ship in . that port . He inquired if the government had any information on the subject . " ¦ „ . [ . ' ¦ . . ' . ¦ , _"¦ ' _•" ' _, ' . _'¦ ¦ . ¦ .. -. _; Lord PAtMERsroN lamented that the subject was by no means new to her . Majesty ' s Government . ; it
was an undoubted fact that in the states of Souih Carolina and Louisiana every coloured -man , whether foreigner or citizen of another ' . state , might be _seized and . imprisoned . In 1847 her Ma-- jesty ' s -aovernment had ordered our minister at Washington to remonstrate with thegoyernmeht of the Hinted States against a law which was not only inconsistent with the comity of nations but at variance with the treaty of ; i 815 ; , and the answer was , that ' the Federal Government had no power to induce the Legislature of South Carolina to , alter its municipal law , and that ,. if the British Government insisted upon its rights under . the treaty , the government of the United States would find the matter _sb difficult , if hot impossible , to deal with ' that it would be obliged to take advantage of the stipulation which gave liberty to either party to put an end to the treaty of 1815 upon twelve months '
notice . . Savings Banks .- —The Chancrli . or of the Exchequer then moved for leave to bring in a Bill for amending the law relating to Savings Banks . He observed that although all agreed in ; the necessity of some further legislation upon -this subject , there was great difficulty , in _dealing with a system which had grown up from small voluntary associations , commenced about forty years since , until the amount deposited in savings banks amounted now to upwards of- -. 28 , 000 , 000 . The necessity of legislation arose , not only from the number of these banks and the magnitude ofthe funds , but from an evil inherent in all voluntary associations—nimely _, the decay of zeal , and the consequent want of prompt
and . vigilant supervision , the laxity ot attendance on the part of trustees and managers throwing too much power into the hands : of the - secretary or actuary . The Bill he proposed 'to bring in was entirely prospective . The existing law , which took away all liability from the trustees oi Saving Banks , required them to transmit the deposits to the Commissioners of the National Debt , who invested the money in the public funds , and tbe government then became responsible for the money thus transmitted to them , and ho more—annual accounts being required to be furnished , by the trustees of the banks , though monthly acccounts were in fact rendered . All the control which the Commissioners of thc National Debt had over these
institutions was , that tbey could close their accounts and refuse to receive any further monies from them ; they had no power or authority to interfere -with the management of the hanks or the appointment of their officers . He did not think it would he right to leave those establishments just as they were , and to lay any responsibility upon the government ; and on the other band , if the government assumed the right of appointing all the officers ofthe banks , it would destroy the valuable principle upon which these institations were founded . Proposing to take npon Government the responsibility of the receipt and paymeut of money , the bill repealed tho present law enacting that the treasurer should receive no emolument , and it gave
the Commissioners ofthe National Debt the appointment of that officer , to who and by jwhpm all monies would be paid , the bill making it a misdemeanour in any officer ofa savings bank other than the treasurer to receive any deposits . The biil also repealed the clause in the act _oflSil which took away the liability of trustees , who would be responsible for their own acts and those ef their appointees . Sir C . Wood then explained , the proposed system of audit by a comparison of the depositors' books with the ledger , the auditors being subject to an inspection by an officer appointed by the Commissioners ofthe National Debt . The next object was to provide against the loss which the State sustained from these banks , of wbich large
depositors availed themselves , to deposit when the prices of the funds were high , and to withdraw their deposits when they were low . He proposed to reduce the limit of the amount of deposit to £ 100 , allowing tho depositor to invest _th-it sum , through the medium of the bank , in the funds , when ne might begin depositing again . The annual loss of the Government at the present rate of interest was £ 43 , 000 : he proposed ; therefore , to reduce the rate from , 3 s . 5 s . to - £ 3 per cent , to the banks , and 2 s . 15 s . to the depositors . These rates would secure the Government against loss , and cover the expense of the management . He proposed , also" to limit the privilege of investing in the names of trustees . That was a _privilege
which had been grossly abused ; parties had invested money in the name of some one else , sometimes tlieir children , purely nominal trustees , so as to avail themselves of the Saviugs Bank Act to an amount beyond the limit intended . He proposed there should be no investing in the name of a trustee except ( as we understood ) in case , of infancy , ' or lunacy , idiocy , or unsoundness of mind . The only other main provision of the bill to which he would call the attention of the house related to a point to wliich great value was attached by many partiesthe hon . member for Stroud for instapce-- namel } 1 , extending the power of granting annuities '' . At present , under the act of 1833 , they could ' not be granted under £ i , and one of the stipulations was '
that if before the annuity commenced the party died , or failed in the series of payments wbich might form the consideration , the money he had paid should be returned to him or his representatives ; but , to recover this contingency , the rate of premium was so high that no great amount of annuities was granted . He should not propose to disturb the existing power of granting annuities under that system , but to add a power of purchasing annuities under other . conditions . He proposed , as tothe new annuities , that there should , be no power of purchasing them by means of _ins-t-ilments , but to countervail that he would reduce the amount of annuity that might be contracted for to £ 1 . He proposed that there should be no return oftho
money in case of the death of the party before the annuity became payable ; and this , ot course , would permit some reduction of the rate . The mode in . which he expected this plan to work was , that parties could accumulate such a sum in a savings bank ns would enable them to purchase ah annuity of £ 1 , and then , having purchased that , go on accumulating more money , in the bank till they could purchase another such annuity , still _limiting the whole amount as at present ., This , he believed , Would extend the system without any difficulty or risk . It had been also pressed upon him , but for sometime he thought it almost impossible , that there sbould . be a power of providing for the payment of a . siim at death ; that if a person wished
to provide a certain sum to be payable to his family at death , he should have the power of , purchasing the fight to have that payment made accordingly . The difficulty , of course , arose from the risk of bad lives being' named , insurance offices having more power than go vernment could have of ascertaining the soundness . of lives , and great . frauds having been committed notwithstanding . ' It had been suggested to him , thatthe party , should be obliged at the same time to purchase a present or deferred annuity upon the same , life , on the dropping of whioh the sum proposed was to ; be payable ; and , _ib the one transaction . would give the party an interest in _naming a had and' the other a good life , the government would be insured , from loss by providing that the
sum payable , at death should depend upon tne amount paid in respect ofit and the annuity jointly . He proposed also to give power to purchase an annuity to a man's widow or children after his death . ( Hear , hear . ) There were some further provisions in the bill , but they were of no very great importance , and" after the length at which he had trespassed upon the time of the house he would not go into' them . The bill would be before the house , and he Bhould be happy to afford information upon any points on which it might be required .. ( Hear , hear . ) This was a , question into which no . party feeling could enter—( hear , hear ) --eyery member must be
actuated by an earnest desire to promote the welfare of those for whose sake Savings Bank were instituted _, j ( Hear , hear . ) He should , rely , therefore , upon the assistance of every gentleman inthe house , and he should be most hajppy to . receive suggestions with a -view to put the bill in-as perfect a shape as possible , id order to proinototne _usefulness of Savings Bank ' s , which were so valuable , to the workmg _"cjasses _/^ _-claBses . whose interest we must all haveat heart . ( Heir . ) ' The , system of granting _ammheswras _especiaUy Vahttble to theni . ( Hear . ) He hoped ha had _dono his best to meet the diffioul * tieB whm ha 4 w _» _uttei ! - ( hear , _hearl-and be
¦ ":" ¦ " '- ' ¦ Monday/; April'29; "V' ...
_--i _Mnolude by asking leave t _? bring in the bill ; ' ¦ ' _*•* " _" -HOMB' censured ' W past"'connexion of-the _governmenti with _the-Savings Bank ' as b ' eihga _ieln-8 I 0 ?* - ' * f _o _depositors wero not-secured from fraud , ana yet the publio suffered froin very ' considerable Josses , arising . from : the expenses : of management and the depreciation of the funds . < •¦ T he ? hon . [ member proceeded to' _critioise _^ various details of tlie ' proposed measure , and objected in particular to tho _introauction-of a large branch of life assurance busi-: ne w _hich it appeared to contemplate . - ¦ <;¦;" , , " eir a . _WittouGHur showed thatin _formeryears an enormous number of buying and selling transactions had taken place with tho Savines _Bankifunds _iwrnsois
n and Exchequer Bills ; whioh ' were apparently undertaken to serve some government purpose , hut had resulted ina loss of two millions upon tne total accounts . He inquired whether any check was to be provided in future : againt a repetition of this ruinous stock-jobbing . . . - ; . _.- _" _" * _S * Crawford complained that no-hope of resiSr 10 ? Was _^ oI < 1 out to his unfortunate constituents of Rocbdate , of the large sums lost through the dishonesty of the Savings Bank actuary . The depositors had been deluded by the semblance of a double responsibility , first from the trustees , and secondly trom the government , both of which had turned out fallacious .
n . j Aa 4 N als 0 argued tho point in tho interest of the depositors , who ,-bo alleged / had committed their savings , as they believed ; lo the safe keeping at an institution for whose solvency the government had made themselves responsible ;' -m * * _^** 00-4 "f followed on the same side . Mr . Slaney regretted that the amount of interest allowed upon deposits had been reduced . ;; A one ef the tax-paying public , he should lmve been willing to stand the risk of the loss for the sake of affording to the humbler depositors a better remuneration for their sayings . His objection extended also to the narrower limitation now proposed for the maximum deposit allowed to any individual in the savings bank ; ' : ¦ ¦¦ _-.: . ¦ _¦ ¦ ' - ' ¦ ' . i . u J _* . Jo nN 5 To ""* appealed to the government on _behalf-of the depositors in the Scarborough Savings Bank . - ¦ _,.-,: • , ; _--.- ., ¦ _,
Mr . H . Hehbbri- made somegeneral observations upon the foregoing administration . of the savings banks . -He contended that the government were morally and legal ]" * responsible , for the money lost to the depositors . through the dishonesty of the officials . ¦¦' - ' m ¦ -, Mr . Bankes wished that the government interference for the protection of the depositors had been offered sooner . Col . Thompson laid the claim of the defrauded depositors as against the country , . rather than the government ; and trusted that the country would not complain if called upon to repay tlio loss . s - . - >¦ = The _CnA-scEttoR of the Exchequer replied .- He objected to allow tho savings banks deposits to be
vested at pleasure in-Exchequer Bills , on the principle that any increase in the floating dobt was impolitic . As to the cases of default , the committee appointed last session would be revived , in order to receive the report drawn up upon the subject ; and until then . any opinion touching the liability of tho government would be premature . Leave was then given to bring in the bill . , _EocM-siASTicAi _, Commission . ' ~ - Sir' G . Grey , in moving the second reading of tho Ecclesiastical Commission Bill ( whioh bad coriie from the Lords ) , gave an outline of its objects ' and the general nature of its main provisions . Thei . bill , ' he said ; was founded upon the recommehdation'bf thecommittee appointed in . 18-47 . - ahd reaonointed ' _-in' 1848 . the
government concurring with the ' ' committee , that the composition of the commission was unfavourable to the efficient discharge of the various and _important' business placed by parliament in the hands of the Commissioners ;; " Tho bill provided for the appointment by thb Crown of two lay commissioners , to he called Church Estates Commissioners , the first to be a paid commissioner j and one Episcopal Commissioner , also paid , to be appointed by tho' Archbishop of Canterbury . The Church Estates Commissioners were to be a committee , to be called the Estate ' s Committee ; to manage the property of the Commission . Ahioii gsfc the minor provisions was one which separated' the 'duties of treasurer and secretary , the former office to be
executed by two ofthe Estates Commissioners . With reference to two provisions in the bill as passed by the House of Lords—one relating , to the consolidation of the episcopal iihd common funds , the other concerning the endowments of certain deaneries-Sir George stated it was the intention of the government to propose to restore the bill to' the state in which it was before being altered in these particulars by the House of Lords . . Mr . Horsman believed that the bill , as a measure of ecclesiastical reform , wis hot such as the government desired , but such as they had been able to carry throagh the House of Lords , deformed by a variety of concessions wrested from them by the opposition ofthe prelates . Amom ? the ackndwledircd faults of
the Ecclesiastical Commission was its oversize . This fault was hot remedied ; on the _covitYavy , the number of members was increased from 49 to 51 . Another fault was the preponderating weight of the clerical element , which was also left unrectified . The committee of inquiry had recommended the appointment of three paid commissioners , wishing to introduce the innovation of payment with the natural accompaniment of responsibility ; By the bill the number of paid commissioners were reduced to two , one of whom was to be appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury , although the primate and the whole episcopal bench remained themselves on the commission , and thus held a virtual monopoly of in . fluence at tlie board . Thisconclusion ' tho hon .
member strengthened by examining theconstitution of the Estates Committee , and contended tbat tlie solitary l . iy paid commissioner would bo utterly overpiowered , being left in a minority . of owe to tbvee on the committee , and of- ono to . fifty in the general meetings , of tlio ecclesiastical commissioners . In its present shape , in fact , the measure was so mistaken and imperfect that "be should counsel its rejection rather than . adopt it unamended ., As instances of the extravagance , and mismanagement of other ecclesiastical boards , ho gave some minute details of the commissions for chwch buiWing _vni the aiiministration . of Q _. ueen Anne s Bounty . £ 8 , 000 a year was wasted upon those two boards , which might be
advantageously consolidated with the Ecclesiastical . Commission . With respect to that body , he . advocated first , the restoration of the third paid commissioner as . originally intended in the present ; bill . Next he argued , that the business to . be done was purely secular , the . episcopal bench had no right to seats , amongst its . members . . . The church did not ' consist bf the bench of bishops . ' . ' Its property had been robbed in former ages by kings and nobles , and . _w-as since abstracted by ecclesiastical commissions . The prelates were represented there , and their interests _. protected , but no care was taken and no voice raised iii tho commission for the parochial clergy . ' . ' Upon a board for administering temporalities the bishops had no proper duties : they
had most important duties calling them elsewhere to the : performance of the various offices , appertaining to their _sacred vocation . 'Thb hon . member then drew a portrait of the fathers of the church as they ought to be , ' contrasting it with the outline indicated in the present , bill , whicli ho designated a "bishops' bill , " and ' showed that it mirrored back the prelates as they ought notto be . . Mr . _GocLBoww * complained that the hon . mem > lier _hsd travelled out- of the record , in order to vituperate the conduct ! of the prelates , ., ' wbich was uot under , question in . the bill befpro them ; ; The ccclesinsticiii ' commission had originated- with tho bishops , and one of its first actsVwasto . ' _reduco the episcopal incomes and apply . tho . money thus saved to
church and educational uses . . Ho , denied that the spiritual duties' of the prelates could bo properly performed if , ihey wero deprived _. of . their temporal dignities , ' If the . episcopal functions were less adequately fulfilled now than in times past , the reason was ' not-because the bishops were unfidthful , but because they wero so few in comparison with the multiplying flocks whom they had to oversee .,: No fair comparison could be drawn on . tho subject : of einolumeiits between tho incomes paid out ofthe taxes , or earned in a profession , and those derived Irom property bequeathed for a particular purpose by the piety of our ancestors .... / ,. ' . , * Mr . E . Denison hoped that , by dint bf some amendment , _! it would be possible to _mako the bill a
good and effectual measure after all . Lord J .. Russell submitted that no objection had been offered to the second reading of tho bill . ; All the controversy had turned upon points that . could only bo settlediri committee . ; The reduction ofthe three paid commissioners to two , which had been so much censured , . was merely an arrangement of detail , founded upon the consideration that no sufficient business existed to justify the appointment of three paid officials . Except on account of the expense the change was immaterial , and the committee might reverse it . He confessed , however , that he was hot altogether satisfied with some of the alterations effected by the prelates during the pro * - _gress ofthe bill in the other house . . ¦ . •> '¦ .. ; . ¦¦ Mr . B . Osborne made a . vigorous , onslaught on Mr . Gbulburn ; . What _ietrose for was to , call
attention to the most extraordinary ; language usea towards the hon ' member for Cobkermouth . ( Hear , hear . ) ' They had heard ' tlie . sheer whioh had been thrown out from the opposite side ef the , house about "the laboured eloquence" of his hon .. friend . ( Hear , hear ' . )" , Now , he ( Mr . . Osborne ) had listened to the labour , but had heard very little eloquence in the speech of thoright hon . gentleman ( Mr _.-. _Goulburn ) , who . had taken four weeks to concoct it ; : in answer to a speech delivered by his hon ; friend ( Mr . Hor 8 mah . ) _l ; He had to congratulate _theright hon , gentleman on , his labour rather than on his _elo--quence , for a gpeebh iriore tainted . with vituperation , and , . less _, pregnant ; with : argument , ¦¦ he _^ had never heard . ;( Hear ' hew ,- arid a laugh . ) [ The right hon . gentleman laid it down that the House of _Commdns had nothing to do with the church . It was with delight he Sad _hearij the noble lord lay aW the
¦ ":" ¦ " '- ' ¦ Monday/; April'29; "V' ...
_contrary'dootnile _.-It _^ might bo ve ry '" well for _. an ecclesiastical member to make such ' a speech to the commissioners who were sitting under the gallery , , _winbng . _his eyo _to-them all the time ,-as much as to , say ,,.. _' See , what , a ; . speech I am making lor you •" but as to laying down , such dootrinesnow , he would say to _therighthon . gentleman , "Tell that to the Marihe s—tho sailors . / won't oelievo you . " ( Hear hear , arid some laughter . ) ' He certainly was sur-. pri ? ed to hear one-who had . been a Minister throw out such a low-bred taunt against the hon . member for Cockermouth . _The right hon . gentleman said , '' . You are a disappointed man—you expected to be a Cabinet Minister . " ( Hear , hear . ) no did notthink that camo with a very cood grace from one
who had been tied like a tin-kettle to the tail of the right hon . member for Tiimworth ( laughter , and cries of " Oh ! oh ! " ) so that in the several changes ofthe right hon . baronet ( Sir "R . Peel ) , as ho ran from ono side of the house to the other , they always beard the tin-kettle rattling * behind , him . ( Renewed laughter and somo murmurs . ) Tho man who had voted against Catholio Emancipation ono day and voted . for . it the next ; who had ; voted against . free trade to-day and' voted for it to-morrow , turned roiind to bis . hon . friend , and because ho ( . Mr . Horsman ) had succeeded in taking a stand in the country where the right lion , gentleman had not succeeded in getting a footing , Siiid , " Yon are a disappointed man because you are not a Cabinet Minister . He
( Mv . Osborne ) could not sit in his place and bear , a taunt . so ; low—so _un-vorthy tho representative of Cambridge , without entering his , protest against it . . This brought up Sir R .. II . Inolis , who spoke with some warmth , he said , the hon . and . gallant officer , ( Mr . Osborne ) had fulfilled , the promise of bis opening speech , jtje declared ho could ' not speak on the merits of * _flie bill , and that promise at least he had fulfilled , for not ono word had fallen from him either as to its principle or as to _. _its details . But ( continued the hon . baronet ) . the hon . and gallant member has said that , a right : hon . member of this house has used lqw „ language .. I . appeal to . you , Sir , it you have ever heard such language . used , to any other
hon . member as has been recently addressed to thc right hon member for the University of . Cambridge by the hon . and gallant member— ( cheers ) --- addressed by him to one his equal in everything—bis superior in station—in talent—in temper—in eloquence . ( Cheers , and cries of " Oh ! "' ) He denied that the clergy were . stipendiary servants whose salaries wero to bo allotted . -by . parliament .-.. All the Act would do was to leave them a little more of their own ' . . He told thehon . member that older far than any of our nobility was the property oftho Bishop of London within five miles of tho house . ( - Ob , oh ! " * and a laugh . ) That property ; had been in the possession oftho see of London 1 , 300 years . ( . _' _Oh-l _"; and a laugh , ) Certainly above l , 200 ,. yenrs . ( An hon . Member . —Since _the . _days of
the Reformation ?) I am asked ( said the h « n . baronet , turning , to the . bench behind him ) by an boh . member who has , I take it for granted , sworn to maintain the property ofthe church , if these possessions have not only belonged to the see of London since the days bf the Reformation . I tell him they have belonged to tbe see of London since the year 640 . ( _f'OTi , oh ! " and a laugh . ) I don't know if he . has the unhappiness to disagree with the Bishop of London in the views he takes of religion . ( " Oh , oh ! " and renewed laughter . ) I am , hot to be put down by cries of " Oh" from those who would never have been admitted into , this house but for the too easy credulity of some of my right hon . friends . ( Laughter , ' mingled with renewed " . Ohs I" arid
cries of " OrderVOrder ! " )• Thehon . member for Cockermouth appears to be uniformly in the situation of those unhappy men to whom the sight of water is an evil producing strugglesand convulsions . Nothing will . relieve him from his paroxysm but the removal of the object of his dislike , * . ( Mr . _Hossman made _. aremark which was inaudible . ) I have received ad , habitually the indulgence of the House when I address them , that I should be , the last to complain of interruption , but : I own it is more than-usually difficult to go on , when sounds , exclamations , and addresses to myself proceed from the , hon . ' gentlemen behind ¦; rue . There was one expression used by the hon . member , to the effect that the commission was universally condemned . ( Cheers . ) He ( Sir ' R .
Inglis ) happened not to be able to identify the persons from whom those cheers proceeded , but he was happy to know that they proceeded froni three persons only . ( Ironical cheers and laughter . ) Now" whether they were' the voices ofthe . three tailors of Tooloy-street , he knew not-- ( loud laughter , )—but- certainly that expression hud not been sanctioned by more than three members of the House . He was not called on to defend tho commission . Ho did not belong to it ; and he had deprecated its creation and constitution ; but be must say . that if the bishops wevo not stipendiaries , but proprietors , he saw no reason why they should not be permitted to sit at a board professing to administer their affairs . _.- "'' .
Sir B . Wash having moved that the dehato be adjourned , Mr ; Sidney _Herbeht deprecated the continuation ofa church controversy in the spirit- then apparent in the house , and wished the measure to be sent in at once to the committee , where the amendments _suggested . could be properly considered . Some discussion on the propriety of adjournment followed , in the courso of which Mr , Horsman gave Mr . Goulbuvn _. " a '" Rowland for his Oliver , " after calling upon him . to give . 'his authority for the insinuation that he was a disappointed man in not having been made a Cabinet Minister—he continued
He would not venture to bandy-jccusations with the right honourable gentleman — he would not contrast his conduct . on the Opposition , side of the House with what it had been on that ( the Ministerial ) side . The right honourable gentleman v * as tho champion of the church ,-and he would not therefore remind hini , that at'his last election , he was only saved'from defeat by the magnanimity of his opponents . ' No man's career was , indeed , _hiore open _, to remark than that of the . right honourable gentleman . He respected the honourable member below him " ( Sir ' 'R . 'Inglis ) , because he knew how honest and how pure were that honourable baronet ' s motives . Ho ( Sir R . Inglis ) was as firm as the church he defended ; but the right honourable gentleman was like the weathercock on the steeple . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Thoright honourable gentleman had followed the _promDtiriffs of a party- —he
had followed the dictation of . a leader—but he had never been chargeable with having followed his convictions since he had had a seat in that House . ( A laugh . ) He would not say that the right hon . gentleman had served his country , but at least he had earned his pension . He would , in conclusion , remind him oftho advice which Junius gave to Sir W , Draper : — ' Either regulate your future conduct so as to be able to set the most malicious inquiries at defiance , or , if that bo a lost hope , at least bave prudence enough not to attract the public attention to a character which , will only pass without censure . when it passes without observation . " ( A laugh . ) ; Lord-J . Russell interposed , and paid botn gentlemen _, a compliment , after which Mr . Goulburn retracted . The amendment was withdrawn ,. the biil read a second time , and after disposing of the other orders , tho House adjourned at a quarter past one o ' clock . .. _* . ' ¦
TUESDAY , ArRlL 30 . - _HOl'SE Ol ? LORDS . —Their lordships sat about an hour , having principally occupied that time in a conversation on tho manner in which tho money had been expended under tho Labour Rate Act in Ireland . ' : _- ; The Marquis of Westmeath , who moved for returns of money advanced in the barony of Delvin _, strongly condemned the extravagant and injurious w ; iy in which it had been applied , ' , The _rctufns were ordered .
-V—nOUSE OF COMMONS . —Free Trade Statistics . —In reply to MivNewdeoate , Mr . _Labouciierb vindicated tho accuracy ' of the Board of Trade returns relative to tho imports of corn , which that hon . member , had impugned , and asserted that the . alleged error in thoso returns was in reality caused by his own confusion of . tho dates and tariffs included in those returns . ,,. ; V . A Snuq LittleJob . —Sir B . Hall entered into a statement respecting a sinecure office attached to the Prerogative Court bf Canterbury Cathedral , whose revenues amounted to between £ 10 , 000 and £ 14 , 000 per annum , and to wliich ( although the late Archbishop of Canterbury had , from conscientious
scruples , left tho office vacant ) tho present -primate , hadriominated a relative of his own . The hon . baronet inquired-is to the truth of this statement , and whether ' any act was in preparation to , regulate or abolish ecclesiastic sinecures _. Lord J .: Russell acknowledged i the accuracy of Sir B _* . Hall ' s statement , Lord . Canterbury has the first reversion , he being nominated by his father , when Archbishop ; , and when thb present premate came into office , ' finding that Dr , Howley had not nominated aperspritothe vacancy , he had given it to his son " a young nian now studying in ' tho Temple ( Hear , hear , and laughter ) , His ., lordship added that . the whole ; question ,. of ecclesiastical appointments was under the scrutiny ofa committee , which might probably result cither in the abolition of
the office indicated , or . at all events a largo reduction in-its emoluments . ( Cheers . ) SirB . ' Hall gave notice of a motion for some returns on this subject .- ¦ " ¦ " ¦ ¦ " - REirtJCTioi * oi . Salaries and "Waobb oi ? Public Servants . —Mr . Henley moved an address to tho Crown to direct a careful revision of the salaries and wages in every- 'department of the public service , with a'view . to a just and adequate reduction of them ; _•> After a _oursory notice oftho inquiriesi of this naturo _^^^ whioh had been _instituted--ander _^ _e authority _, of Parliament from _^ 2 lm _^ l _* o seleet committees of l 848 ;; he . observedtha _^ _^ f _^™* _- sell had tho other night proposed to refer-to , Jioommittoe the salaries in three branches of the public service , namely , those of persons holding seats in _ParUwuent those in tho diplomatic _aenlce , and
¦ ":" ¦ " '- ' ¦ Monday/; April'29; "V' ...
those of judicial officers ; Each ofthese _branohes , however , stood iipon special grounds ; whilst the great mass of tho ; civil expenditure . _vras left untouched . If Parliament deemed ifc right tbat these tliree branches should be subjected to inquiry , why should the . rest escape - revision- ? ¦¦> The ; total amount oi salaries and wages paid in the Customs , Excise , Stamps and Taxes , Post-office , Crown Lands , and other departments ; in 1848-49 was £ 4 , 327 , 000 , not a farthing of which came under the reviow of Parliament . If to this Bum were added those civil salaries and wages which were annually submitted to Parliament , namely , £ 2 , 647 , 000 , tho amount waa £ ft , _O _74 , 000 . But this was not all ; there wero salaries under the control of the
Government paid out of tho Exchequer to countycourt judges and officers in the courts of lawamounting to not less than £ 500 , 000 ; so that the gross aggregate was £ 7 , 600 , 000 a year , exceeding by £ 1 , 000 , 000 the whole expenditure for the effective force of the army , navy , and ordnance . Mr . Ilenley then entered upon a minute analysis of the alleged reductions in the revenue departments during preceding years , tho superannuations , ic , and contended that the country had not gained the advantage it had aright to expect from the modifications made in our system of taxation , so that , at all events , the revenue branch of the expenditure ought' to be revised . The great alteration of lato years in the
value of money , and the continued decrease in the rate of interest , _lowering profits , -rendered all fixed incomes more valuable ; and although he did not say that our legislation for the last three or four years had been carried on with tho view of securing such a state pf things , it had had the effect of establishing low prices . . He tben showed from statistical facts that the reality of distress and the pressure upon trade , which were further demonstrated by the state of prices . In 1828 the official value of our exports was £ 52 , 000 , 000 , the declared value £ 36 , 000 , 000 ; in 1848 their official value was £ 132 , 000 , 000 , the declared value £ 52 , 000 , 00 .- Tho depreciation of our home products had extended , in many cases , to twenty-five per cent .
Having thus shown the amount of salaries excluded from _ithe consideration of the government committee , that there was a general cry for more work and less money / and that there had been a-great and general reduction in the cost of all the necessaries and luxuries of life , he thought he had laid _aisufficient ground to induce Parliament to revise , in a spirit ; of just and true economy , this large branch of the publie expenditure . The _Chancellob of the Exchequer said , in many of the statements and views of Mr . Henley he concurred , and if he thought thero was any ground for accusing the present government and its predecessors of neglect of their duty to make every practicable reduction of salaries , he should bo almost
disposed to . acquiesce in his motion . But Lord J . Russell , on a preceding evening , bad shown the large . reductions which had been progressively effected , during a series of years , in the civil departments , so that the motion would convey a censure altogether undeserved . Mr . Henley had deviated into thc subjects of exports and prices , * in the former he had erred through a misapprehension of facts , forgetting the effect of machinery , and with respect . to depreciations , the cost of many items entering largely into the expenditure of families had increased , or not materially diminished : meat was higher in . 1849 than in 1843 , and potatoes nearly , double _. tho price . In spite of the difficulties of _carrying out reductions of salaries and _-waare _^ -
for those who voted for such reductions in thehouse not unfrequently complained to the government of their _cruelty-r-much had been done , not always by diminishing individual salaries , whicli was hot" true and iust economy , " but generally by reducing the number of persons employed , from whom d greater amount of labour was exacted . Sir C . _"Woodstated the retrenchments which had been effected in various public establishments , and this in the face of a considerable annual increase of business . From returns obtained by Colonel Sibthorp , it was proved that between 1815 and 1835 the schedule of salaries had been reduced from £ 3 _! 700 , 000 to a Httlemore than £ 2 , 700 , 000 . In the three departments of the treasury , customs , and , inland revenue , a savin **;
had been effected of more than £ 00 , 000 since , 1821 . lie showed that other great establishments . were not conducted at a less expense than those of the government , the salaries paid by the Bank of England ( £ 211 , 000 ) being only £ 27 , 000 _'less than those of the great offices of government , whilst the Great Western Railway Company had proved by experiment that excessive reduction of salaries wan false economy . The government , therefore , having acted , and still acting , upon principles of true economy , he did not ask the houso to negative the principle of the motion , but , as it involved a censure upon tho government which was undeserved , ho moved the previous question . Colonel Sibthoot and Mr . Newdeoatb supported
the original motion . '• Mr . Home considered that the motion was not uncalled for as a supplement to the committee lately appointed , whose range of inquiry was much too limited . Without assigning any blame to the government who had recently done much for economy , he wished that proposition of Mr . Henley should bo adopted . Mr . Roebuck , approving ofthe idea of a scrutiny , believed that the result would be to show that the working staff of officials who did the business of the nation were disgracefully underpaid . Ih the Treasury , the clerks begin at £ 90 a year , and by dint of labour , pood conduct , and talent , might rise to £ 200 by the timo they were thirty-three years old : to £ 500 at fifty , and if promoted into
the highest cliiss , might receive £ 1000 per annum when fifty-nine . Tho country had a right to have the question settled , of which Lord J . Russell ' s motion ofthe *' previous question" was a mere evasion Sir R . Peel agreed with Mr . Roebuck in considering the proposition for inquiry a truism , but would not follow his example in voting for it , believing ifc to belong to a class of truisms , whosB adoption by tho house would prove highly inconvenient in the transaction of business . Correcting an erroneous inference drawn by Mr . Henley , he stated that the remission of the glass , auction , and
other duties , in 1845 , had led to a reduction of no less than 450 in the number of the excise officers . He corroborated the opinions expressed by Mr . Roebuck and the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to the laborious and responsible duties devolving upon the subordinate functionaries of the _statC and the moderate tariff , of their emoluments , and he added the testimony of forty years' experience to the fact that those duties wero invariably performed with the most scrupulous honour and fidelity . Even tho highest salaries attached to the political offices of administration he did not think in excess of what their services had earned and the
public interest required . % - Mr . Cobden treated the motion as a declaration of war against wages , and therefore opposed it . When production increased through the progress of scenes , whother the increaso took place in potton , iron , or corn , the labourer ought to sharp ; in tte benefit , and at least preserve the old _rateibf his wages . Rents had not fallen , then why should wages ? Speaking of the midland manufacturing counties , it was within his knowledge that wages had lately advanced regularly and repeatedly . The agricultural labourer had heretofore existed in an exceptional state , being employed at a bare subsistence rate of pay ; but even this class was beginning to share in tho general improvement . In the government expenditure be saw no excess of individua
remuneration , bet looked for retrenchment in the number of employes , and the abolition or consolidation of certain' departments . The proposition © Mr . Henley made no mention of tbo numbers of official functionaries , nnd was besides evidently designed by way of retaliation for measures which had led to a fall in the price of corn . Mr . H . DnmiMOKD quoted from a _speech delivered on the first night of the session the assertion that ninety millions had been saved through free trade , arid demanded to have a per centage of . that swing returned to tho country by a reduction of official salaries . He suspected the utility of committees and comniiss _' ohs , and taunted the ministry with employing the appointments thus opened by way & bribes to tho economists .
Mr . P . "Wood opposed the proposition for inquiry not wishing to spread abroad a discouragiiigand false impression that wages were declining . Mr . Disraeli assumed , as a fact recognised on all sides , that the country was becoming less able to bear the pressure of taxation ; yet many millions of tho taxes that pressed upon the springs of _industgr had been remitted , concluding with the corn _taj , under tho incessant comp laints and agitation . of the manufacturing interest . It was now the _tut-n oTthe agriculturists to complain ' . Their prosperity _Jind been assailed , and they turned to tho , tax j book » discover how their distresses might-be alleviated . Tho hon . member then denied tho charge l » _-fl against himself and bis party , of having voted _*» any reduction of taxation which the stateof tho revenue did not justify as safe . From , the American wnv of indenendence to the passing oE the . Reform
Bill , ho claimed for the Tories the glory ol having devised and passed every measure , of political frugality , and appealed to Mr . Bume to pronounce whether the ' reformed House of' Commons had : _«& proved far worse professors of economy than their corrupt predecessors . The _--jjuestion had been « pgued upon a too limited basis , as if it turneft merely upon the mysterious appointments of Dowitr ing-streetand involved an amount of £ 200 , 000 , instead of including the whole mass of _functionarias and extending to an aggregate of seven and a b » millions of _expenditure per annum . Financial _**»• form had now received a severoblow . _Itsadvooates _had learnt that thero was really sometimes a danger that , thoir motions might be carried , and hencefcrai none would be proposed . - Committees ' _W-hb convenient shields i _fbr * thO _'^ _responsibility'W the ministers , but a moro practical in % _wgf was required by tho exigencies of the _twa-g-Public distress Ui _Mowwl _* . « free w »
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), May 4, 1850, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_04051850/page/7/
-