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¦' ¦ . -v ' . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ Ha 471; April 2, 1...
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GATHERIN G S FROM LA W AND POLI C E CO U...
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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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Imperial Parliament. Monday, March 21. C...
than made his fortune . It is a sort of restlessness which will not brook that delay and that patience which are sometimes needed in pur constitutional Government for the conduct of public % : affairs . ( Hear , hear . ) The moment that the noble lord is not in power he appears to me to live in an atmosphere of coalitions , combinations , coups d ' etat , and cunning resolutions . ( Cheer ? and a laugh . ) An appropriation clause may happen to every man once in his life . ( Renewed cheers and laughter . ) But there is only one man living of whom it can be said that in 1835 he overthrew the Government of Sir R . Peel upon an impracticable pretext ; that in 1852 he overthrew the
result , rose from the Opposition side . The numbers were—^ . . . . ¦ - ' . '¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ \ ¦ .... Eor the second reading of the bill ... 291 If or Lord J . Russell ' s resolution ...... 330 Majority for the resolution 39 As the numbers were announced , the house again rang with a triumphant shout from the Opposition , benches . It will be perceived by the division that 621 members were in attendance—a number unprecedented , except on an extraordinary occasion , such as this . The Resolution was then put , when Mr . Wtld moved as an amendment to add , " and that at any electiou of a member or members to serve in Parliament the votes shall be taken by ballot . " Mr . H . Berkeley rose amidst much confusion ; he declined to support the motion , as not being brought forward at a proper time and in a proper manner . Mr , M . Gibson and Mr . Cx , Ar in vain endeavoured to be heard , and the latter moved the adjournment of the debate ; but this motive was negatived , and the House divided upon Mr . Wyld ' s amendment , which was negatived by 328 to 98 . The Resolution was then agreed to . The House adjourned at ten minutes to two o ' clock , until Monday .
Government of Lord Derby with an objectless coalition ; that in 1855 he overthrew the Government of Lord Aberdeen by a personal coup d ' etat ; and that in 1857 he overthrew the Government of the member for Tiverton by a parliamentary manoeuvre . ( Cheers . ) Now , I beg the noble lord at this moment to throw the vision of his memory for an instant back to the year 1852 . He sat before me then , the head of a mighty host . He drew the fatal arrow that was to destroy our Government . He succeeded . He destroyed in breathless haste the Government of Lord Derby ; but did he destroy anything else ? Did he not destroy also the position of a great statesman ? Did he not destroy almost the great historic
principles were comprised ; firstj to enlarge the constituent body ; secondly , to give representation to the iarge populations which had grown up > since the first Reform Act ; and , thirdly , the maintenance of the present thorough system of representation in the country . Apart from these principles , every Proposition in the bill belonged merely to matters of detail To every One of them he promised a candid consideration in committee , though declining to Bledffethe Government beforehand to the course they mieht adopt should certain changes be effected in the measure . Adverting to Lord John Russell ' s resolution he insisted that it touched no questions but those of detail ,-which its supporters sought to prevent even coming under discussion . Two objections
to the bill were raised in this amendment , one relating to the disfranchisement 6 f borough freeholders , the other enforcing a lower minimum of the "borough suffrage . On the former point he urged that no disfranchisement \ v-as contemplated in the measure , while Lord John Russell had himself proposed in bills brought in during previous sessions to disfranchise considerable bodies of the electorate . On the suffrage question Mr . Disraeli described the propositions offered by different governments or suggested by independent members since 1832 . In 1854 the Whig ministry had prepared a
bill in which the county franchise was reduced to the precise tariff—namely , a 1 Of . occupation franchise ^— w hich the members of that administration so heavily censured in the present measure . In the resolution no scheme of reform was indicated ; but in the speech of Sir J . Graham , who was one of its avowed authors , a programme was very definitely drawn out , in which an extensive redistribution of seats , the disfranchisement of a large number of small boroughs , a municipal suffrage , and vote by ballot , were all included . " If these , " said the right hon . gentleman , ^ be the opinions of the right hon . member , for Carlisle and the noble lord the
member for London , practically speaking , I want to know what difference there ; is between their political system and that of the hon ; member for Birmingham ? ( Cheers . ) The lion , member for Birmingham , speaking out of doors , and colouring more highly than he does in this assembly , and confessing as he always does with the frankness of his nature that he . would take less than he asked , and asked somewhat more than he wishes , may in some points that I cannot recall to . mind , exceed and excel the programme of the confederates ( ' Hear , ' and laughter ); but I have no doubt that the hon . member for Birmingham , as a practical man , has no objection to these conditions , and ,: for the purpose of obtaining these results , would not decline to act
with the noble lord and the right lion , gentleman in any manner , and in any place . ( Cheers ; . ) As to the ulterior-views of the hon . member for Birmingham , we know that they have been brought forward . The Throne has not always , teen spoken of , perhaps , by him with that reverence which I believe all Englishmen feel for it . ( Cries of ' Oh , oh ! ' and pheers . ) The House of Lords may , by chance , have been denounced as a public nuisance to the country . ( Loud cheers . ) The ecclesiastical establishments have not yet received disapprobation . ; but , although the noble lord and the right hon . gentleman may not be yet so advanced , or , if so advanced , may not yet choose to announce their opinions , we know that in all Cabinets there may be open questions (
laughter and cheers ) , and , practically speaking , on the programme , I see no reason whatever why the hon . member for Birmingham should not be adopted as a trusted and honoured colleague of the right hon . gentleman and of the noble lord . " ( Laughter and cheers . ) Mr . Disraeli echoed the sentiment that there was no reason to fear the people . But if a democracy were established , it would in due season lio followed by the evils of a democracy— in an impatience of public burdens , " an aggravation of public expenditure , intemperate wars , and ignominious peace . These consequences would ensue if the principle were adopted that the working classes should bo admitted to tire franchise , not as individuals , but in a multitude . Tp avert such results , and yot afford tho means by which tho most industrious and meritorious of these classes
could obtain electoral privileges , had been the objoots of thq Government whom devising tho various franchises contained in their bill . This end , ho contended , had been attained by methods which would enable every man of industry and intelligence to obtain the suffrage . The uniformity of franchise so much consurod , he denied to exist : in fact , tho measure comprised a groator variety of suffrages than had ever boon included in any bill offered to Parliament . Vindicating in other particulars the Govornment bill , the right hon . member proceeded to examine the motives which had prompted tho amendment by which it was met , Ho attributed no personal design to Lord J . Ruasolli but observed , ?• I am ouro that tho noble lord will not fool offondod -with mo if I tell him that I think there is one quality in his charaotgr which has rather marred
party of which he was once the proud and honoured chief ? ( Cheers . ) What has the noble lord done now ; and what is the moment he has chosen for this party attack—an attack which it was not necessary to the vindication of his policy , or for the assertion of those principles which I believe he sincerely holds ? What is the moment which the noble lord has chosen to precipitate this struggle ? It is the most critical in the history of the affairs of this country that has existed for many years . -The noble lord could not be ignorant of it . He knows that some weeks ago I came down and informed the House that important negotiations were pending . He has other means of information beyond
the communications which are made to this House by the servants of the Crown . The noble lord , I doubt not , is well informed of the present state of foreign affairs . He could not have been unmindful of them even in that address on the introduction of his resolution , which , though it related merely to domestic subjects , furnished the noble lord with an opportunity tocast a sneer against that Minister to whom is entrusted at this moment -the most awful responsibility that can be conceived . ( Cheers . ) At a moment when it was of vital importance that the authority of the Government should not be assailed —at a moment when , of all other men , the Minister for Foreign Affairs should not be held up to public
scorn— -the noble lord chooses such a moment for ^ a party attack and a personal sneer . ( Cheers . ) Sir , I should not be acting with frankness to the House , if I concealed from it that the conduct of the noble lord has been most embarrassing to . the Government . ( Loud cheers . ) I declare , upon my responsibility . as a Minister , that the conduct of the noble lord has produced injurious effects upon the public service . " ( Renewed cheering . ) Alluding , finally , to the position of the Ministry , the Chancellor of the Exchequer touched briefly upon the chief quesr tions with which they had had to deal since their entrance upon office , during which period they had , he submitted , administered the affairs of the
country sedulously and successfully * " The noble lord , " said he , " has talked , and lie always does talk , about a dissolution of the present Parliament . These are words that cannot escape my lips , and I must , with the permission of the House , refrain from touching upon such a theme . But I nmy be permitted to say , in answer to the noble lord , that , } f in the course of time the present servants of the Queen find themselves upon tho hustings before their constituents , I , for one , have that confidence in a great and generous nation that I believe at such
an hour they will not forget the difficulties under which we undertook tho administration of affairs , ' nor perhaps be altogether unmindful of what under such difficulties we have accomplished for their welfare . ( Cheers . ) It is by our conviction in tho justice of tho people of England , it is because wo boliovo in the power of public opinion , that wo liavo boon sustained in this Houso during our arduous struggle , and are sustained , even at this , moment , amid all tho manoeuvres of parliamentary intrigue , and all tho ^ machinations of party warfare . ( Tho right hon . gontloman resumed his soat amid loud and prolongod cheering . ) At a quarter to one , tho Si'hakkk having put tho question , tho Houso proceeded to a division . ( Tho greatest oxcltomont prevailed , and upwards of 000 members woro present . At length tho . tollers nxulo their appearance , and thon thora ware cries of " Order , order 1 " and " Bar , bar 1 " As tho tollers took their plaaos , it was soon in an instant on which side tlio majority lay , and aa thoy udvancod to tho table a voullbrous cheer , in anticipation of the aotuul
¦' ¦ . -V ' . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ Ha 471; April 2, 1...
¦ ' ¦ . -v ' . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ Ha 471 ; April 2 , 1859 . ] THE LEADEE . 423
Gatherin G S From La W And Poli C E Co U...
GATHERIN G S FROM LA W AND POLI C E CO U RTS . At the Kingston Assizes on Monday , a case , " Grenville v . Richardson and Wife , " was brought before the court , but it was not gone into , an arrangement having been effected between the parties . The plaintiff was Miss Pauline Granville , the daughter of the eminent physician in Curzon-street , and the defendant , Mr . Charles Richardson , was a solicitor . The action "was brought to recover damages for a libel that had been published by his wh ° e in certain letters
and a printed pamphlet . In consequence of these libellous statements ; a marriage that was in contemplation between the plaintiff and a gentleman of position had been broken off , and she was compelled to bring the action to vindicate her character . The defendants now admitted that the letters were written under a misapprehension , and not only expressed regret for having written them , but they were willing to submit to , a verdict of £ 1 , 000 as compensation for any injury plaintiff might have suffered through them . . . .
In the Rolls Court on Saturday was tried the case of Bradbury and Evans v . Dickens and Wills . The plaintiffs are the . publishers and part proprietors of Household Words , and filed a bill against Mr , Charles Dickens and Mr . Wills for a dissolution of the partnership in that periodical . The present was an interlocutory motion to restrain Mr . Dickens from publishing an advertisement to the effect that Household Words would , be discontinued after May next . For the plaintiffs , it was contended that however valuable Mr , Dickens ' s services as editor may have been , the periodical did not cease to exist on his secession , and that he had no right to damage its future prospects by announcing its
discontinuance . Counsel for Mr . Dickens , argued that the title " Household Words , conducted ^ by Charles Dickens , " showed that the identity of the publication depended on Mr . Dickens being the editor , and that no future publication under the name Household Words could be regarded as a continuation of the same work . The Master of the Rolls said ; , "The property in a literary work is , I believe , confined to the mere title , and tho title' to this work is Household Words , and that is settled in a partnership ; and accordingly that is part of the partnership assets , and that may be sold , such as it is , provided it has any existence . Now , I think , as I stated to Mr . Sejwyn and to Mr , Hobhouso , that putting in
the words " by mo , " " by the editor , " " by the authors , " which is another expression that may be used , after the word " discontinued" in the fourth line of the address , and " by him" " by the editor " after the word " discontinued" in the last lluo of tlio address , ' would make the mattor froo from ull cuvjl . Mr . Palmer prosses on mo very strongly Unit llr . Dickens has no power to put an end to tlio work 5 but I am not clear that ho has not . I aw not clear . that his merorotironiont will not ipso facto iiunihllnto it , and that it is not considered entirely and solely that in of fact
associated with his numo , and point tlio name , " Household Words , would Ijo literally worth nothing as soon as it is perfectly well known that ho has nothing more to < lo with It . Hint one cannot tell till tliu result shall huppen 5 but 1 am Btttlsflod tho statement that ho has nothing moro to do with it ; is proporly represented by saying " it is discontinued by mo , " and that that docs not Import tho flict that it Is discontinued absolutely iiiul pouitivoly , because R inoroly assarts that ho himself , no fliras ho has anything to do with it , has discontinued ; and 1 think that is all that tho plaintiff is entitled to
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 2, 1859, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_02041859/page/7/
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