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580 TJ3L4S JLjJBA-JJJSK.: [Nc^gO , June ...
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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, June Litk. ...
SAMS AND XBAMSFBR OF LAND ( IRELAND ) BILL . . On the motion for going into committee , Mr . Serjeant Deasy urged the propriety of providing compensation in the bill for Mr . Flanagan , the master of the Encumbered Estates Conxt ,- who had for many years filled the office , and had given up another office to accept it- —Mr . Whiteside declared that it was impossible to make a distinction between Mr . Flanagan and other gentlemen . — -After a long discussion , £ he subject dropped , and the House went into committee . —Some of the clauses having "being agreed to , the House resumed , and the sitting was suspended till six o ' clock . in the evening . THE CAGLIABL Iu reply to Mr . Serjeant Deasy , Mr . Seymour Fitzgbrald stated that the arrangement by which -the King of Naples had placed the Cagliari and her crew at the disposal of her Majesty was not made with the concurrence of the Sardinian Government ; and that the vessel nnd her crew had been set at liberty -without any categorical demand on the part of the Government of Sardinia . The papers would be laid on the table of the House as soon as they could be translated from the Italian originals .
THE STATE OF THE THAMES . In , answer to questions from Mr . R . D . Mangles ( which , strange to > say , moved honourable gentlemon to merriment ) , Lord John Manners said that the Government had no longer any control over the Thames , the jurisdiction having been transferred to the Metropolitan Board of Works . However , in his individual capacity as a member of the House of Commons , he was serving on the committee appointed to investigate the subject , and he trusted that a scheme would be devised for the purification of the Thames .
mk . "William : henry barber . Mr . Brady moved for a select committee to inquire into the allegations contained in the petition of "William Henry Barber , presented upon the 27 th of April , and to consider and report whether any and what redress should be afforded to the petitioner ; or whether any and what other steps should be taken in reference to the matters alleged . Mr . Barber was tried in 1844 for alleged co mplicity in will forgeries ; lie was found guilty , owing to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt refusing to grant him a separate trial , and thereby depriving him of the means of calling the only evidence which could show his innocence . The sentence was transportation for life . One person tried with him ( Fletcher ) made a confession , acknowledging Barber ' s innocence ; so also did Mr . and Mrs . Sanders and Mrs . Dorey , each one acting without communicating with the
other ; and the jury then represented that , had such confessions been known to them at the trial , their verdict would have been one of acquittal . The ultimate result was that Mr . Barber was at length , after two years' suffering , liberated on a free pardon granted by her Majesty . Not only was he treated with the utmost cruelty in Newgate , in Millbank , in the convict-ship , and afterwards in that ocean hell , Norfolk Island , but his little property was swallowed up by the expenses of his defence , and his large practice in London was blown to ; the winds . Some compensation , therefore , ought to he granted him .- —Sir John Pakington was willing to accede to an inquiry , if Mr . Brady would consent so to modify his motion as to omit all reference to compensation . He thought the committee should not be bound to any particular course . —Mr . Bright recommended Mr . Brady to accede to this suggestion ; which was done , and the motion , so modified , was agreed to .
UNDER-SECRETARY OP STATE ( SCOTLAND ) . Mr . Baxteji moved " that , in the opinion of the House , an Under-Secretary of State for Scotland should bo appointed , to perform the political duties at present attached to the office of Lord-Advocate . " For more than thirty years after the legislative union of England and Scotland , there had been a Secretary of State for the latter country ; the office , in fact , had never been abolished , but had only fallen into disuse . The duties of the Lord-Advocate are so multifarious and anomalous , and so divided between London and Edinburgh , that it is difficult to find him when wanted . His judicial functions , moreover , interfere with his political duties , so that Scotland has only part of his time and attention to either . If there
were an Under-Secretory for Scotland in that House , the Lord-Advocate could devote the whole of hia attention to his judicial duties . —The motion was seconded by Mr . Wiuuam E ^ kt , who stated that it was the opinion of the Dulte of Argylo and of Lord Campbell that the dutlea of the Lord-Advocate are far too onerous . —Mr . Bovvbrik , on the other hand , thought Mr . Baxter had failed to show that the duties cast on the Lord-Advocate are neglected or inefficiently performed . Scotch business in that House could not bo well conducted by any but a Scotoh lawyer . The motion was furthor opposed by Mr . E . Eluok , Sir James Ogxlvy , Mr . William Williams , the Loim-Advocate , Lord Duncan , Lord Palmkrston , and the Cuanoellou of the Exohko . ubr ; and was supported by Mr . Stirling , Mr . Craufurd , and Mr . Dumlop .
In the courso of the debate , the Lord-Advocatic admitted that tho duties of liia office are anxious and laborious | but ho did not recognize in that fact a reason for the proposed appointment . On tho contrary , ho
thought that the way to get an officer to do his work well is to give kim plenty to do . ( Laughter and " Hear , hear . " ) He had not , since he came into office , received a single letter from the Secretary of State for the Home Department , which' would not have properly come to him had there been an Under-Secretary of State for Scotland . ( Hear , Iiear . ") The appointment of such a Minister would not facilitate Scottish legislation . In fact , the Under-Secretary would scarcely have anything to do . —Lord Palaibrston said he could not concur in the resolution . An Under-Secretary of State could not take the place of the Lord-Advocate in Scotch business in that House . The Secretary of State for the
Home Department is responsible for every act of the Crown pertaining to public affairs in Scotland , in which he takes the advice of the Lord-Advocate ; but , if the resolution were adopted , he would advise with his own Under-Secretary on Scotch law , and it was clear that he would possess less information upon the subject . The effect of the motio-n , therefore , would not be that which the mover supposed .- —The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the great objection to the motion wa 3 , that the House had no evidence whatever that the people of Scotland were suffering in any degree from the existing system . —Sir G . Montgomery expressed a hope that the Government would appoint a Scotch Lord of the Treasury .
Mr . Baxter consented to adopt an amendment suggested by Mr . Stirling , and the resolution then stood in this form : ¦—¦ " That , in the opinion of this House , an Under-Secretary for Scotland should be appointed in the Home-office , to perform a part of the duties attached to the office of Lord-Advocate . " - —Upon a division , this resolution was negatived by 174 to 47 .
ROMAN CATHOLIC SOLDIERS . Mr . Serjeant Deasy said that , in consequence of the explanation given by the Secretary for War on a former evening , he would not proceed with his notice relative to Roman Catholic soldiers .
SBWBf tLS . Lord Naas obtained leave to introduce a bill to make better provision for the police force in Dublin and other Irish towns , and also a bill for the more effectual administration of justice in the police districts of Dublin . — The Attorney-General obtained leave to bring in a bill to enable persons to establish their legitimacy by the judgment of a court of law , and also to enable persona in like manner to establish their right to be regarded as natural-born subjects of Great Britain . —Mr . M'Mahon obtained leave to bring in a bill to secure the right of new trial in criminal cases . The House acljourned about half-past one o ' clock .
Wednesday , June 16 th . EDINBURGH , & C , ANNUITY TAX BILX . Mr . Black , in moving that this bill be read a second time , said its object was to remove an enormous grieva n ce , the tax being not only extremely oppressive , but injurious to morals and religion , and especially to the Church of Scotland . When the tax was first imposed , two centuries ago , the grounds of its imposition were reasonable ; but what was applicable at that day , when all were of the same creed , is inapplicable now . He insisted that the burden is not merely an oppressive one , but that it is partial in its incidence , and that it forces consciences . The bill proposed that seat-rents and church-door collections should furnish a fund , or the principal part of a . fund , as a substitute for this tax . — The motion waa seconded by Mr . Baxter , and opposed by Mr . Blaokjiurn , who moved to defer the second
reading for six months—an amendment which was seconded by Mi . Buchanan . —The bill was further opposed by Mr . Francis Scott , Mr . Cumming Bruce , and tho Lord-Advocate ; and was supported by Mr . J . B . Smith , Mr . Co » wan , Mr . Gilpin , Sir T . E . Colebuooke ( who , however , objected to some of its features ) , Lord Duncan , and Mr . Horsman . —In opposing the measure , the ) Lord Advocate admittod that the present mode of providing for the stipends of the clergy is inexpedient . Ho should rejoice at the introduction of any measure which would abolish the tax , while at the same time it provided a sufficient equivalent for the support of the clergy . This hill , however , would not meet the requirements of the case , and would interfere with the working of tho Established Church . It was in fact a bill of absolute abolition . If it passed , the clergy might be reduced to a state of great distress ; and he felt bound to support the amendment . Ho was most anxious to have this
question settled ; but he would never consent to settle it on the terms of this bill . Upon a division , the amendment was carried by a single vote , the ayes for the second reading being 129 and the noes 130 . The bill , therefore , ia lost .
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS . On the order for going into Committee on tho Registration oir County Voters ( Scotland ) Bill , Mr Dundas moved to defer tho Committee for six months . —Af ' . ur a short discussion , this amondinont was carried upon n division by 108 to 9 G . . On tho order for tho second rending of the Insurance AN 1 > ASSUUANCE INSTITUTIONS BlLIi , Mr . SlIKUIDAN desired to postpono tho second vending until tho 7 lh of July ; but Mr . Henle y recommended him io withdraw the bill altogether . —This suggestion not being adopted , Mr . Sothkhon Estcourt moved to defer the second
reading for jyx months . —Mr . Sheridan continued t ~ speak upon this amendment until a quarter to six oVln t ° when the debate stood adjourned . wjck , The remaining orders were then gone through win , out debate , and the House adjourned at ten minute , t six o clock . ' Thursday , June 17 th . LETTER FROM LOUD CANNING . The Lord Chancellor read the acknowledgment hv Lord Canning of their Lordshi ps ' vote of thanks to the military and civil services in India . DIVOKCB AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES BILL On the report on this bill being brought up , the » ravisions of the Act were , on the motion of Lord Ke » i « dale , extended to Ireland .
THE SUVJE TRADE . The Bishop of Oxford presented a petition from St Mary's , Jamaica , complaining of the continued violation by the Government of Spain of the treaties by which that country is bound to suppress the slave trade to the island of Cuba , and praying that measures should be taken to compel Spain to fulfil the conditions of those treaties . The profits of the trade , the bishop said he believed , were shared by persons standing near the Spanish tlirone . While Cuba remained a slave-importing country , there would always be danger of a war with America . Spain should be compelled to do
for Cuba what Portugal had done for Brazil , where the : slave trade has been abolished . — -Lord Brougham strongly urged th 3 Government to use its influence -with Spain on this question . No amount of vigilance by any squadron on the coast of Cuba could stop the traffic ; but the system of corruption upheld by the Governors of Cuba might be put an . end to . The so-called "free emigration" patronized by France should also be borne in mind . The inhabitants of Jamaica have a right to complain of the slave trade ; for that unnatural and infernal traffic is a cruel addition to the burdens of the planters .
The Earl of Malmksburv said that England 5 s not supported to the extent that could be wished in its efforts to suppress the slave trade . Spain opposed to successive English Governments the most difficult force of all to overcome—the force of passive resistance . He had endeavoured to obtain from all civilized countries some agreement as to the means of verifying the nationality of vessels suspected of being slavers , and had strongly represented to the United States that , if an obstinate adherence to the present declarations on the right of search were persisted in , the Ameriean flag
would be dishonoured and prostituted to the worst purposes . Sending our squadron to the Cuban -waters , instead of keeping it on the African coast , had been a mistake . The slave trade increased greatly after a portion of the squadron was withdrawn from the coast of Africa at the beginning of the Crimean war . England and the European States had always supported Spain in defending Cuba against any hostile invasion ; but , if Spain continued to show such an utter want of principle and base ingratitude to this country , they would , henceforth , instead of taking h er part , leave her to suffer the consequences .
The Earl of Carlisle advised caution , but deprecated the adoption of a retrograde policy . —Lord Wooehouse doubted if the policy of interfering with foreign states was originally a wise one ; but , having been adopted , it should not be precipitately abandoned . —Earl Grky attributed the revival of the slave trade entirel y to the conduct of the Governments of France and the United States . Still , > ve must bo careful how we exercise the right of search with respect to American ships . That the Government of the groat Emperor of France should b eco m e a g igantic slave-dealer was almost too disgraceful to be believed . The recent rising of the slaves on boavd tho French vessel was a justifiable act ; bu t ho h oped Liberia would not be brought into the quarrel . —The Earl of Aberdeen said that the instructions for tho
guidance of the officers of their cruisers were approved of the American Government at the time they wore issued , and he was not aware that they were altered . —The Iinrl of Haihd-wicke thought it possible that the officers might have exceeded their duty . The course of tho French Government had been strictly in accordance with the desire of their Lordships ; and appeared from papers in their possession that the captured Africans w ore t r eate d properly on board some of the French vessels . —The Earl of Clarendon declared that lie
heard that statement with great satisfaction , a n d as k ed if the papers on which it was founded would bo laid on the table . — Tho Earl of Haudwioke suggested that his Lordship should give notice of moving for them . —The Earl of Clarendon said ho would do so . — Earl of Malmksbury said that no public interest could bo served by producing tho papers . They contained nothing more than a sort of controversy bet w een th o two Governments respecting tho now Frond * ovate " - The motion that the petition do lie on tho tuble was agreed to .
XHK OATUS HILL . In answer to Lord 1 > knman , tl > u Earl of UxitvwtoKU anid tlmt , as far us the Government ia concerned , thoro would | J ( i no objection to the Oaths Bill going do w to the Commons us soon as possible . —Some discussion followed sis to the proper course to bo pursued ; but no definite result was arrived at , and tho subject dropped . The Houso adjourned at half-past eight .
580 Tj3l4s Jljjba-Jjjsk.: [Nc^Go , June ...
580 TJ 3 L 4 S JLjJBA-JJJSK .: [ Nc ^ gO , June 19 , 1858 . 21—m " - " —¦ - ¦ ¦¦ ' ~ ' — ^ . — ¦—^ —
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 19, 1858, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_19061858/page/4/
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