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April 19, 1856Q THE LEABEB. 363
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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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/ *'Timperial Parliament. I < Monday, Ap...
system vriBhed tie House to remember that it is easy to abolish , at once the evil practices of a vast conquered territory like India , and by Lord Congleton (¦ who insisted that nothing would satisfy the Indian mind but the separation of the police and . the revenue department ) , the resolutions , as amended , were agreed to .
THE AMERICAN QUESTION" . In the House of Commons , in reply to Mr . Bail ^ te , Lord Palmerstoxt said the answer to be made to the last communication received from the United States ' Government required to be very carefully prepared , that the absence of Lord . Clarendon had caused an unavoidable delay , but that the answer was in preparation , and in the course of this week woxild be communicated to Mr . Dallas ; so that he might say
that in the early part of next week the Government would be in a condition to submit to the House the whole of the correspondence . —Mr . Batlue said he should postpone his motion ( which stood for that evening ) condemnatory of the course taken by the Ministers of the crown in the employment of agents to enlist the citizens of foreign powers into the service of her Majesty , in defiance of the laws of those countries . —Sir Db Lacy Evans likewise postponed his amendment to that motion .
SUPPLY . The House then went into Committee of Supply . Some of the votes , as usual , excited considerable discussion . On the vote of ££ 24 , 728 , for the colonial establishments , "being proposed , Mr . Williams insisted upon the justice of making the colonies defray the salaries of their governors . He moved that the amount of the vote should be reduced by the amount of the incomes designed for the governors of West Australia and Jamaica . —In connexion with the same vote , Sir John Pakington complained that there was an-omission in the estimates of the salary of the Bishop of New Zealand . He had conceived that an income of £ 600 a .-year had been guaranteed to him ; but it had disappeared for the last two or three years . From some observations by Lord John -Russell , it ¦
would seem that Sir John Pakmgton , when Colonial Secretary , had promised that the vote should not again appear on the estimates , on the calculation of that the colonial legislature would pi'ovide the requisite sum ; "but this was denied by Sir John , who conceived that the country is bound in honour to paythe Bishop ' s salary . —Strangers were then ordered to withdraw ; and some amusement was caused by the difficulty which Mr . Williams appeared to experience in finding a second teller . Mr . Hadfielu ultimately volunteered his services , and the division was then taken , when there appeared—For Mr . Williams's amendment , 3 : Against it , 269—266 . This result was greeted , with loud laughter . Mr . Williams ' s three supporters were Messrs . TiTEj Pellatt , and ScoBELt . —The original vote was then , agreed to .
On the vote of . £ 11 , 050 salaries and contingent expenses of the mixed commissions for suppression of the slave trade , Mr . Bigqs protested against the inconsistency of our attempting to put down slavery on the coast of Africa , and allowing it in Turkey . That ¦ was a species of one-sided , hypocritical philanthropy . At present , there are 50 , 000 slaves in Turkey , most of them Christiana . They are brought from Tunis , Kurdistan , and other places , and sold in the market
of Constantinople . ( Hear , hear . ) From a careful perusal of the . reports of all travellers , he denied that the boasted civilisation of the Turks is more than skin-deep , whatever might bo said by lying French journals . Let the Greeks and the Christians bo encouraged in that country , and they would plant another London on the BoBphorus . At present , it is blasted by a people who are scarcely fit to exist , either in Europe or elsewhere . { Hear , hear . )—The vote was agreed to .
The vote of £ ~ i 67 , 498 for the consular service also excited some debate , Mr . "Wise maintaining the necessity of reforming that branch of the public service , which , us at present organised , is obnoxious to heavy ohargos on account of its inefficiency and extravagance—Lord Palmbrston , in the course of some explanations , Btated , that the Foreign Seoretary purposed , iu tho course of next session , to move for the appointment of a soleot committee to investigate tho whole subject of tho consular service . Mr . Bowyjbb made somo remarks on tho vote of £ 25 , 000 for defraying the extraordinary disbursements of the enabafjsiea and missions abroad . Ho complained that the attaches at present employed are not sufficiently well educated , and are often entirely ignorant of international law ; and ho oouceived that the pay in not high enoug h to obtain effective servants . —Tho voto , howover , waH agreed to .
On tho motion that £ 146 , 587 bo granted an superannuation and compensation to persons formerly employed in tl » o public eorvico , Mx \ Williams remarked that some of tho itoma i n tho voto wore astounding . Ono man had been now Bixty-flve years in roooipt ; of bin Hiipornnnuution allowance . Another person was , in 181 7 , discharged at a salary of £ 700 a-yoar , for bodily infirmity . He wished to know how it was that Sir Aloxandor Spearman had a supeyannuation allowanoo , in addition to hia salary as
secretary of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt . Mr . Wilson replied that , by a rule of the service , when an officer retires on superannuation , and is afterwards able to return to an office for which he receives an inferior salary , that salary increased to the amount of the former one from the superannuation allowance . Such had been , the case with Sir Alexander Spearman . —Considerable discussion ensued on several instances of alleged profligate expenditure in granting superannuation pensions to persons who ought still to be working ; and Captain ScobeMj said there were three hundred names on the superannuated list before them , and many of them were as young as thirty-two years of age , but no reason was given why they were not employed otherwise in the public service . —The vote was agreed to , as -were several others , and the House resumed .
bankers' compositions bill . On the order for the second reading of this bill , Mr . Glyn inquired what were the intentions of the Government as to the Bank Act of 1844 . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that , if it was the general wish of the House that a Committee should be appointed to inquire into the operation of the Bank Act , no objection would be offered on . the part of the Government ; but he was not aware that at this period of the session any great progress could be made in the inquiry . —The bill was read a second time . The Poblic Works Bill , and the Public Works ( Ireland ) Bill , were read a third time , and , with some amendments , passed .
Tuesday , April 15 th . The House op Lords met for about half-an-hour , hut did not transact any business of importance They then adjourned till Thursday .
THE FOREIGN LEGION . In the House of Commons , in answer to Colonel Dunne , Mr . Frederick Peel said the foreign levies would be disbanded as early as circumstances would allow , and that whatever was promised would be strictly fulfilled . The Foreign Legions had no claim to pensions ; but the officers were entitled to gratuities equivalent to -three months' pay , and privates to twelve months' pay , at the time of disbanding . They were also entitled to a- free passage to their own homes , or to the British North American colonies , or to the Cape .
MATNOOTH . After the presentation of several petitions , Mr . Spooner rose to make his annual motion— - " That this House do resolve itself into a committee for the purpose of considering the acts for the- endowment of the College of Maynooth , with a view to the withdrawal of any endowment oat of the Consolidated Fund , due regard being had to vested lights or interests . " He commenced his remarks by saying that he had so frequently addressed the House on this subject , that he
felt his inability to introduce any novelty into his present speech ; and , indeed , if the House were willing to go at once to a division , lie would save their time by immediately entering the lobby . Thia offer being responded to by a derisive cheer , Mr . Spooner recapitulated the ai-gutnents which he had been in the habit of advancing against the grant , and concluded his remarks by exhorting members to act in accordance with their oath , and thus supi ) O ) rt our Protestant throne , our Protestant Ckurch , and our Protestant institutions .
Mr . Black moved , as an amendment , the addition of tho following words : — "And , at the same time , to take into consideration the other Parliamentary grants made to religious denominations iu Ireland . " According to the latest statistics , the population of Ireland consists of —¦ members of the Established Church , 13 per cent . ; Roman Catholics , 77 per cent . ; other soots , 10 per cent . The minority , represented by the Established Church , enjoy £ 700 , 000 of annual revenue ; tho Roman Catholics have the Maynooth grant , and the other sects have £ 38 , 000 . —The original motion was supported by Lord Bernard and Mr . Nkwdhqate , and opposed by Mr . MoCann , Lord
CastijIsrobsk , Mr . Fagan , Mr . Wilkinson , Mr . Kennedy , Mr . I > 13 Verts ( who prophesied that tho success of tho motion would give rise to tin agitation in Irelaud , the consequences of whioh would be disastrous ) , Mr . DriuMMONi ) ( who , though having no wish to say a word in behalf of Maynooth , thought that , if that institution wero pulled down , there would bo a clangor of tho Established Church speedily oxperionoing tho same fate ) , Mr . Meaghidr , Mr . Dkasy , Mr . Rokbuok , Mr . Kirk ( who osHurod Mr . Spoouer that by the course ho was pursuing he was playing into the hands of the greatest enemies of tho Established Church ) , and Lord Palmicbston .
Mr . Roisbuok called attention to the fact of Mr . Pitt and Sir Robert Pool having boon advocates of thia vote , which was originally proposed by a purely Protestant assembly in Ireland . But Mr . Spoonor told tho Houbo that they wore to put aside tho prudence of Mr . Pitt , and tho oxporionco of Sir liobort Pool , and , following hia opinions , to abolish Maynooth . Now , ho ( Mr . Roebuck ) had groat fnith in , Mr . Pitt , and aomo faith in Sir Itoborb Peel , but he lmd no faith whatever in tho hon . gentleman the
member for Warwick . —( Laughter . )—Mr . Pitt had with great judgment , said he would educate the Roman Catholic priesthood in Ireland under English fostering :, ' and with English money . The result of an adherence to that principle was , that in 1848 the priesthood were on the side of the Government , and thus clearly showed tha . t the teaching at Maynooth is not opposed to the institutions of this country . The priesthood are taught under the dominion of the English people , and thiey are subject to inquiry :
but , if the present grant were taken away , Parliament would deprive itself of any right of interference * and they might teach what ; they pleased . —Similar views were expressed by Lord Palmisrston , who felt grea , regret that the question should again have been brought forward , especially in the bitter spirit which had been , displayed by the mover of the motion . He hoped that the House would agree with him in thinking it high time to put an end to irritating polemical discussions .
Mr . Sfooner having replied , the House divided , when there appeared—For Mr . Black's amendment . . 21 Against it ...... 253 Majority against > . . 232 , For Mr . Spooner ' s motion . . . 159 Against it . . . . . 133 Majority in fa . vour . . ¦ . 26 This result was hailed with a loud cheer . The Steakeb then left the chair , and Mr . ITewdegate acted as Chairman of the Committee , in the absence of Mr . Fitzroy . - '—The question being put
that the Chairman be requested to ask leave to bring in a bill to carry out the motion , Mr . Htjtchins moved , as an amendment , that the Chairman report progress and ask leave to sit again . — -Lord Palmer-Ston advised Mr . Spooner to aecept the amendment , as it was the only progress he was likely to make .- — Mr . Spooner declined ;¦ and , on a division , the amendment was lost by 154 to 132 . —^ -An ot her amendment to report progress was moved by Mr . E > . O'Cqkt-NEi / L j but > at the suggestion of Lord Palmeustow , it was withdrawn , in order that a division might be taken on the main question , which was afterwards carried by 159 to 143 .
The House then resumed , and leave was given to bring in the bill . The other business having been disposed of , the House adjourned .
Wednesday , April 16 t 7 t . JUSTICES OP PEACE QUAXIFICATION BELL . The House op Commons went into committee on this bill ; but not many clauses were got through , when the Chairman was ordered to report progress . ministers' mo : ney ( ireland ) bill . The second reading of this "bill was moved by Mr . Fagan ; on which Mr . Hamilton moved , as an amendment , that it be read a second time that day six months . The object of the bill he described as being to exempt the owners of houses in certain towns in . Ireland from charges Vhich are made for the benefit of the Protestant Church . —Mr . Meaqher denounced
the tax as a remnant of the old penal code , and he considered that , even when viewed simply as an . impost , it was unfairly levied . —The bill was supported by Mr . Black , Mr . Miall , Mr . Whiteside , Mr . Maguire , and Mr . Serjeant O'Brien ; and opposed by-Lord Bernard , Mr . ! N " apier , and Lord John Russelx , the last of whom said he thought Government should either exhaust the metuis of the law to enforce the tax , and , if the machinery was defective , bring in some amending measure , or should abolish the tax altogether , For himself , however , ho ooulcl not support the bill then before the House . —On the part of the Government , Mr . Horsman said that tho difficulties in enforcing the tax had been immensely increased
by tho act of 1854 , miscalled a settlement of the question , but in reality a series of blunders , arising from an attempt to make a small compromise of a great q-uestion . He thought , however , it would be premature to abolish tho tax . Parliament was bound to see how far tho presont Inw could bo enforced ; but , failing that , Government would introduce somo menBui'e that would do justico to all parties . —Mr . Fitzgerald ( tho now Attorney-General for Ireland , who had just before taken tho oaths and hia soak oa his ro-olaction ) , confessed that ho had opposed the aofc of 1854 because ho had thought it would pot ' work . Being tho law , however , it should be enfoi'ced if possible .
Mr . Faoan replied , observing that Mr . Hamilton , who moved tho amendment , said ho would support tho bill if ho thought the tax was anything but a sham grievance . Did not the hon . gontlemnn think it wna a griovanoo , an injustice , to tax the Roman Catholics for tho support of another religion ? Was it not an injustice to levy the tax on a few towns , while those iu tho north of Ireland , inhabited by ProtoBtruits , aro exempt ? If ministers ' money was not a griovanco , churqh-roitea woro not n . grloviwico 6 or an injustice . Tho second reading was negatived by 201 to 121 , and the bill was lost .
April 19, 1856q The Leabeb. 363
April 19 , 1856 Q THE LEABEB . 363
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 19, 1856, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_19041856/page/3/
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