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:MmcK : Mj-J.852l:iy. T H E L JB AP E |l...
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PETITION FOR THE INCOME-TAX. The followi...
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. INTRAMURAL INTERMENTS. Lord Johst Mann...
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ELECTION MATTERS. A meeting- of the supp...
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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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History Of Parliament. The Stormy Debate...
towns , Jfacclesfieia arid Stockport , had a population of 249 000 ; that of the two towns was 92 , 000 ; which gave a rural population of 156 , 000 j the two towns returned four members , the rural districts onl y twos The pases of South Cheshire , South Derbyshire , North Durham , and West . Kent were similar > yet in all the lamentations over the iniustice done to the town constituencies , and the preponderance of the territorial interest , no allusion was made to these striking facts . Ih North Lancashire , with a population of 460 , 000 , there'were four towns with only 143 , 000 j vet while these four tow ^ s returned seven members , the rural districts , with a populatiola of 316 , 000 , returned only two members . South Lancashire , the East and "West Hidings of Yorkshire , showed similar results . If it were
said that these were colourable cases and selected instances , he had a paper which showed that in all the boroughs of England there was a population of 35 , 000 for every member of P arliament , and in the rest of England 36 , 000 ; so thatj according to this comprehensive view of the question , in the distribution of representatives between the land and the towns there was a difference of only 1 , 000 . Therefore he had concluded differently from Mr . Hume . As to the ballot , he was against that proposition , and he made the House merry by citing from an anonymous authority a description of an election in the State of New York , where there were stabbings in the polling room , riots , and a destruction of the ballot boxes . Corruption , he continued , in an elevated tone , ' cannot be stopped by law . Let not our countrymen runaway with the idea that corruption
is the necessary consequence : of the old mode by which we give our votet in this country . ( HeaTi hear . ) I believe it to be a growing sentimeht in the convictions of Englishmen that corruption is the consequence of men not being properly brought up . ( Hear . ) You may pass laws ostensibly to prevent corruption in countries where nothing is secret , or in countries where nothing is open ; but corruption cannot be stopped by law ; it can only be stopped by elevating the tone of the community , and making men ashamed ! of the thing itself . ( Cheers . ) You must seek for an antidote to corruption in that direction ^ and not in new fangled systems of election . I s ^ y ^ further , that the tone of the community in which we live is becoming elevated . Every successive quarter of a century shows a decrease of corruption . ~ >
As to an extension of the franchise , Mr . Disraeli , by a marvellous disposition of the statistics of the question , deducting various classes of the populationj including the entire body of agricultural labourers , from the total of adult males , made put that there was onevoter in every two-oi the population . ! -Windingup his speech , he professed lofty disapprobation of such " immature" projects as that proposed by Mr . Hume , founded on such erroneous , blundering , -and insufficient data ; and he declared that there : was nothing worse than tampering with the constituency . If there was to be a change , let it be a change always called for by a " clear necessity , " and one which was calculated togive , ' not final , but general and permanent satisfaction . But , in the present state of things , he would « stand by the settlement of 1831 . "
Mr . HEN ^ Iar Beekelet vainly attempted to get the ear of the House , a feat accomplished , however , by Mr . Osboene , who attempted , in his reckless style , to pin Ministers down to " a declaration >/ # " finality / ' and , judging from the sharp denials Maculated from the back benches of the Ministerial side , he auto ^ ed ' ed in annoying them , at least , by the truth of his allegation . Lord John Rttsseix backed up Mr . Disraeli . He regarded the proposed measure as one dangerous to the Crown and the House of Lords ; as introducing "
elements of danger , " and giving the vote to persons not possessing " intelligence , integrity , or independence , " as in fact , universal suffrage . He could not deny that the ballot was popular ; but he did not believe it would be a useful concession . He charged tho working classes with intimidating the ten pound householders ; and while professing himself favourable to an extension of tho franchise , decided to vote against the motion . Having finished the Radicals , he turned round and made a party attack on Ministers .
Tho ri ght hon . gentleman says— " I will not make any change in tho Act of 1832 without a clear necessity ?' Now , wo all know what " a clear necessity" is . ( Hoar , hoar . ) Wo all know that . " a clear necessity" does not nnoan tho general opinion of sober and dispassionate men ; it does not moan the examination of your existing legislation , arid a determination to amenddefects ; " but " a m M nocessity" means that degree of discontent and disaffection ( cheers ) which would render it unsafe to govern without making a change . ( Ronowod cheering . ) We all recollect what has been tho case with respect to tho party opposite in regard to groat measures . ( Hear , hoar . ) Wo all know that tho just requests of the Roman Catholics of Aroland wore denied until " a clear necessity" arose in tho Bhapo of impending oivil war . ( ChoorB . ) We all know that i ' arhamontary reform was constantl y denied until tho agitation of tho pooplo arose to such , a height that reform could no longer bo resisted . fCheors . i Wo all
know with respect to other measures or an economical naturo , it was not until associations wore formed and sproad throughout tho country that tho Legislature agreed to ti ' - A ° i lawfl on tUo subject- ( Hoar , hear . ) I own I tnmk that tho House of Commons would take a position the roverse of dignified , and hardly safe , if it wore to bo dooiarod by a Minister of the Crown , and ochood by a majomy in that Houbo , that until a oloar case of gonoral discontent arose —( Cries of 'No , no ! ' and choera )—woll , if vi ? " ! mi 81 ntov P rotinff tho right hon . gentleman , I should ! ni ° ovvr wnafc those words ' clear necessity' moans P ^ noora . ) i Oftn understand that thoro could bo a clear quoationofpolioy—ofwiadom—of foroBigMj but a question of necessity bootos to mo a question in roepoot to winch you hftvo no option , and that you » au » t oithpr yield
to demands made , or nolonger continue to govern in safety That I understand to be . ' clear necessity ; ' and . then , indeed , We are to have measures to give general arid permanent satisfaction . ( Cheers . ) i , Mr . WAiiPOiiE made an attempt to dull the force from Lord John Russell ' s attack , by explaining the meaning of " clear necessity , ' * not to he " clear discontent , " but " permanent and genetol satisfaction /' - —an explanation -which itself requires explaining . An effort to adjourn-the debate was made by" Mr . WilTliam "Wtluiamb , who for once dared to do something disapproved of by Mn > Hume ; and the house divided . For the motion , 84 ; Against it , 244 . Majority against , 155 .
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: MmcK Mj-J . 852 l : iy . T H E L JB AP E | l . ''¦" . " ¦ - '' : W
Petition For The Income-Tax. The Followi...
PETITION FOR THE INCOME-TAX . The following petition has been numerously signed by persons whose incomes are below a hundred pounds : — To the Honourable the Souse of Commons , the Petition of the undersigned inhabitants of Marylebone , whose incomes are tinder one hundred and fifty pounds a-year . Sheweth , — That your petitioners , having felt the advantage of the abolition of the duties on foreign corn , and on other
articles of consumption , anticipate the time when all such duties shall be abolished . Your petitioners , now enjoying the advantage of cheap bread , are particularly anxious for the free importation of butter unmixed with tar . Your jjetitioners , therefore , entreat ^ your honourable House to modify , increase , and extend the Income-tax , bringing it down to incomes of fifty pounds a year . And your petitioners will ever pray , & c . To be presented by Sir B . Hall , M . P ., on the 25 th March .
. Intramural Interments. Lord Johst Mann...
. INTRAMURAL INTERMENTS . Lord Johst Mannebs , the Chief Commissioner of Works , received a deputation from the Metropolitan Sanitary Association , at his official residence in Whitehall , on Saturday . The Earl of Harrowby , after introducing the members of the deputation , observed , that after considerable preparation and discussion , a measure intended to put an end t » the interment of bodies within themetropolis had been adopted by Parliament , but the whole question was still kept in suspense . The * measure- appeared to Ijave one or two defects , and the late Government had been apparently
much more anxious to point them out than to amend them . The whole machinery was provided by which parishes might establish improved : cemeteries , but there was no means of securing the permanency of the body who had to borrow the money for that purpose . The late Chancellor of the Exchequer had acknowledged that this could easily be remedied . There ought also to be some security that the powers should not be taken out of the hands of the Board of Health , and that the fees received should be applied to the necessary expenses incurred and the repayment of loans . The Reverend Dr . Hume said , that the state of things with reference to interments was even worse now than before tho
passing of the act , for many parishes would have provided means for the burial of the dead had there not been this law in existence , but in abeyance , and providing no better means , by which they might at any time be stopped . In some parishes , particularly Kensington and Lambeth , there was at present only provision for the interments of a few months , and many of the graveyards in and about London were in a most appalling state , The most frightful results of the present interment system were not only the unhealthiness , but the morally hardening influence it produced upon the minds of the poor . The effect of the poisonous air had most
depressing consequences upon their minds , rendered them wretchedly desponding , and unwilling to listen to tho comforts or warnings of religion . Hut . there was a law existing by which the existing obstacles to improvement might bo removed , and if the present Government took tho matter in hand , they would find that very little was required to bring the measure into operation . Mr . F . O . Ward called his lordship ' s attention to the financial bearings of tho question , the greatest difficulty in which had been from tho additional charge which it was supposed would bo required to cover tho cost of transport to a distance from the metropolis . But by substituting a collective for a fragmentary system
of extramural interment , not only would tho cxponae be diminished below tho prcsont charges of undertakers , but a greater degree of solemnity and decency might bo observed in thorites of Christian burial . With respect to tho two difficulties existing in tho . Act , ono of them had boon overcome by tho government expressing its readiness to charge itself with tho debt which would bo incurred in ordor to rniso tho necosHory capital . Tho other difficulty , that of giving tho capitalists , from whom money must bo borrowed , good security that tho burial foos would ho sufficient for repayment , might bo surmounted by an nmondinont , colling upon all persona living within tho metropolitan
districts , who would reallyderive the benefit of an unpolluted atmosphere from the new systemv to pay the prescribed fees , although they might decline to avail themselves directly of the advantages secured . The effect of such an amendment would be to raise the security in the market , and enable the Act at once to be put into execution . The Earl of Harrowby remarked / that the overcrowded graveyards could not ) be closed ^ because there was no power to compensate the parties who had a property in the land , or to re-imburse the clergy for the loss of their fees . After a few words from the Rev . Mr . Lusignan , one of the honorary secretaries ,
and from Lord Robert Grosvenor , the chairman of the Association . Mr . George . Godwin said , that it was almost incredible how an act duly passed by a large majority of both houses of parliament , and which was declared by the ablest and most intelligent persons to be essential to the well-being of the community , should have remained absolutely unexecuted for nineteen months . It was impossible to walk in the neighbourhood of such places as Bunhill Fields burial-ground , or St . George's , Hyde Park-road , without being horror-struck . It was astonishing that men should , year after year , shut their
eyes to the dreadful results of intramural interment , because they did not actually see their fellow-creatures fall down dead from the effect of the noxious exhalations which were generated in the crowded graveyards and the vaults under churches . In some churches , for instance St . Mary-at-Hill , men and women sit Sunday after Sunday with only a permeable floor between them and a mass of crushed coffins and decaying bodies . People faint , and are carried out , and some of them die , and there were those who said , " It is the dispensation of Providence , " although science had pointed out how much of truth there was in such statements . When
the average of life in some towns was fifteen years , and mothers thirty , science at once showed them why . He implored the Government to direct its attention to the subject . The objects of the deputation having thus been stated , a conversation erisued > in which several gentlemen expressed their opinions , principally on the relation between local arid central government for sanitary
purposes . Lord John Manners said , that he was very anxious to communicate to the Government the valuable information on many points which had been given him in the course of his interview with the deputation . " And if they possibly could , in the present session of parliament ^—which they were threatened elsewhere would be exceedingly short—if they could arrive at any satisfactory conclusion , he need not say that he should be most happy . " The deputation then withdrew .
Election Matters. A Meeting- Of The Supp...
ELECTION MATTERS . A meeting- of the supporters of Mr . Parker and Mr . Roebuck , the sitting members for Sheffield , was held at the Royal Hotel , in that town , on Monday , when it was unanimously agreed that they would form themselves into a committee , and would use their utmost exertions to secure the re-election of tho present members . 1251 . were subscribed immediately for election expenses . Earl de Grey , it is stated , considers Lord Goderich's opinions much too liberal to allow of his election for tho borough of Ripon . Mr . Vincent Scully was elected for the county of Cork , on Saturday ; tho official declaration of tho poll was made public on Monday , it is as follows : —¦
For Scully 3956 For Frewen -3105 Majority for Scully . . 851 Tho Cork Examiner publishes some curious documents , exhibiting tho mode in which tho Protectionist landlords of tho county of Cork , and their agents , sought to effect the triumph of Mr . Frowon and Protection . Here is one of them : — <« Offloo , Permoy , March 15 , 1852 . " William Barry , —See Mrs . Porcival ' s tenants at Kilcronot , and inform nil who aro valued for tho poor-rates at or over 12 / ., that I desire thoir vote in Formoy : > n Thursday noxt , for tho oloction of Mr . 3 ? rowon . If they do not como forward and support this gentleman , Mrs . Percivtd
will tako for granted that hor tonantry consider tho prosent prices of corn , butter , and moat , quite high enough , and consequently they cannot expect any more allowanco in thoir routs . "R . G . Campion . " And yet people affect indignation at Irish disaffection ! Lord Naas was returned for tho borough of Colernino , on Monday , without opposition ; Mr , Kennedy having declined to demand a poll . On tho return being declared , Lord Naojj addressed tho electors . Ho touched vory lightly on the subject of froe-trado' and protection , but a loud uproar conunonced when ho said that " it wus impossible it could bo considered in u doflnito form during tho present parliament ' s existence . " Still greater confusion arose whon ho alluded to tho Tenant-Right Bill of Mr . Shannan Crawford , and ex «
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 27, 1852, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_27031852/page/3/
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