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candidate in England could win there on " purity princi les . " ( Sensation . ) On the 12 th of February , Mr . ETitton called on me , and I thought we agreed that there was no object in prosecuting the petition . He told me that Mr . Oliveira had made a proposition to Colonel Dickson , but that he ( Mr . Kjtton ) would be no party to anything of the kind ; that tHe petitions might be set off against any other place , West Norfolk alone excepted , for the good of the party . I went over and told Mr . Coppock that the people of Norwich considered the West Norfolk petition a sham . Mr . Kitton said to me that Colonel
Dickson 8 standing again was ridiculous ; that he had not the ghost of a chance ; and that he had been the means of losing Lord Douro ' s seat at the last election , which could have been saved by a compromise . I should not have gone on with the petitions under the circumstances at Colonel Dickson ' s expense ; for had I done so , I should have considered it nothing short of robbery . At the interview with Mr . Kitton , to which I am now referring , I asked him to sit down in my chair and read the Times while I went to seek Coppock , and that when I returned I would let him know what I had done with the petitions ; but when I came back he was gone .
Mr . Brown explained that lie had not committed a fault in withdrawing the petition , for he was the only agent ; he had simply misunderstood Mr . Kitton . It was no error of judgment , for he would do it again . The inquiry concluded on Thursday , and in the evening Mr . T . Dttkcombe , as chairman of the select committee , brought up the report in the House , which was read by the clerk at the table . After recapitulating the evidence given by the principal witnesses , which has already been published , the report proceeded : —
It appeared to the committee that no instructions were given to Mr . Brown to withdraw the petition , and that the complaint of the petitioners that they were aggrieved was not altogether unfounded ; but , as there was no precedent to guide the committee , they left it to the House to determine whether they would comply with the prayer of the petition . The committee were also of opinion that Mr . Brown , in withdrawing the petition , had not acted from any corrupt or unworthy motive , but had only committed an error of judgment in his desire to serve his party . The committee added , that there was reason to believe that the
withdrawal of the Norwich petition was the result of a compromise agreed to by Mr . Brown and Mr . Coppock , affecting the seats of ten members—viz . Norwich , two seats : Kidderminster , one ; Gloucester , one ; Middlesex , one ; Youghal , one ; Down , two ; and West Norfolk , two . The committee directed attention to the facilities which appeared to exist for withdrawing election petitions—( hear )—and the public scandal created by what political partisans termed the system of " pairing off , " which took place under the eighth section of the act ; and they submitted to the House whether it was not desirable" that such
an alteration should be made as should prevent a system which inflicted rnuoh injustice and considerable expense to persons , and which was calculated to bring the proceedings of tho House into contempt . Ordered to be printed . Southampton . —The committee have unanimously reported as follows : — " That Sir Alexander James Edmund Cockburn , Knight , and Brodie M'Ghio Willcox , Esq ., were , at the election held on tho 8 th of July , 1852 , duly elected burgesses to
serve in this present Parliament for tho borough and county of tho town of Southampton . " That it is the opinion of this committee that there are strong grounds for believing that George Warren and Samuel Mastern , in giving their evidence before this committee , have been guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury ; and that tho chairman be directed to move tho House that tho Attorney-General bo ordered to prosecute tho said Georgo Warren and Samuel Mastern for tho said offence . "
It will bo ween that this refers to the general election . Mr . Huillie Cochrane ' s petition against tho election of Sir Alexander Cockburn on taking office , is withdrawn . Malpon . —The committee have decided that Mr . Du Cano and Mr . Miller were not duly elected , that they were guilty of bribery by their agents only , and that " corrupt practices" have " extensively" prevailed in the borough . This borough is in Major Bercsford's own county . Six : Mile Biuvkie again . —Mr . Naviuh , occupiotl
nearly two hours , on . Thursday , in raking up tho whole of this subject , with a view of fixing a stigma on the present Attornoy General of Ireland . Jfo was supported by Mr . Caiknb and Mr . Wkithsidk , tho latter attacking Mr . Browater , tho presont Irish Attornoy General , with great venom , and drawing- forth from Sir Ai . kxandkr Cookjjurn a crushing roply . Mr . FiTZflKitAti ) and Sir John You no defended , with groat spirit , tho conduct of tho Crown ; and thoro seomeda general opinion that a Parliamentary inquiry should bo mudo . Practically tho dobato lod to nothing .
Coir NT v Boards . —Affcor nomo opposition , tho House wont into committal ) on Wednesday ; but Sir John Pakinoton immediately moved that tho chairman do roporb progress . This Lord Pat . mkrhton characterised na vexatious opposition ; mid tho motion was withdrawn . Thon a sham-amendment wan moved on tho first clause and rejected by 142 to 70 . But on tho fourth olauao , Sir John Pakinoton moved another amondmont to ' offocfc that all justices ( should bo momhors of tho board with tho elected members . The bill , ho said , wan domocratic ; whereupon Lord Pai . mkrbton rotortod that that <" . ry was more claptrap . However , tho opposition por-Hintod ; and as it grow late , tho chairman was ordorod to report progress . AiJHTiiAiiiAN Sthamvaokkt Company . —Sir J . Pakiwoton bogged to bo ullowed to protUco a question ho
was about to put to the Firat Lord of the Admiralty by a few explanatory observations . The question referred to the Australian Royal Mail Steampacket Company , one of whose vessels—the Australian—had , as appeared from the accounts in the newspapers , been compelled to return to Plymouth . Within the last few months three steampackets belonging to the Australian Company had set sail from Plymouth—namely , the Melbourne , in October ; the Adelaide , in December ; and the Australian very ^ recently . The Melbourne soon after leaving port was dismasted , and obliged to take refuge in Lisbon under circumstances which compelled many of the passengers to
return to this country , at great inconvenience to themselves . The Adelaide was disabled a few hours after putting to sea , and driven back to Plymouth , where she was detained nearly a month . The Australian , which sailed only the other day , had scarcely left England before she was compelled to return under circumstances which must cause it to be regarded as a dispensation of Providence that she was not lost with all souls on board of her . Under these circumstances , he begged to ask whether the Government had any control over the Australian Mail Steampacket Company in virtue of their contract to carry the mails , and , if so , whether it was intended to exercise it ?
Sir J . Graham was not surprised at the right hon . baronet calling the attention of the Government and the House to the facts he had mentioned . He was sorry to say that the service of the Australian Mail Packet Company , under their contract , was most unsatisfactory . The terms of the contract into which the company had entered empowered the Government to inflict penalties for the non-performance of the service stipulated , and both the late and the present Government had not failed to enforce the penalties whenever it appeared equitable to do so . The present Government had called on the company to pay penalties in more than one case for the nonfulfilment of their contract . The contract itself had been submitted to a committee of the Government over -which the Postmaster-General presided , and as soon as it reported he would inform his right hon . friend and the House what course the Government would take on the
subject . In the House of Lords , replying to a question from Lord Wharncliffe , whether her Majesty ' s Government proposed to take any measures for the more certain transmission of the mails to Australia , and for effectually enforcing the contract for that purpose with the Australian Eoyal Mail Steam Navigation Company , Viscount Canning entered into a detailed statement with regard to the contract existing between the Government ana the company referred to . The mails were carried each alternate month by different companies , and—although it was
impossible for any one to become the champion of the company— -he could assure their lordships there were reliable means of communication between this country and Australia . With respect to the enforcing of the contract , a letter had been received by the Admiralty from the chairman of the company , setting forth the difficulties under which the company conceived that they had laboured , and praying for a favourable consideration . That letter had been referred to the committee on the mail packet service , whose report had been sent in the day previous . But he was not in a position to state that any distinct action had been taken upon that opinion .
Railwa y Management . —Lord Malmesbury seems to be inclined to devote himself to railway improvements . He complained at great length on Tuesday of the increase of accidents arising out of excessive speed on bad roads , and suggested prevention by Government interference . " It would bo advisable that a commission should be appointed of persons unconnected with railway companies , but of scientific attainments , who might inquire into tho points he had specified—tho maximum of speed which could be allowed consistentl y with the public safety , tho minimum , of time to be permitted between the starting of trains , and how far the Government might interfere in
compelling railway companies to have their works in sate and proper condition . Such a commission might also examine and report on inventions or suggestions offered for improving railway carriages and insuring the safety of trains , of which there might bo some which it would be worth while to adopt . Upon theso three points ho thought it would bo advantageous to the public for tho Government to interfere , and that , without waiting for any reports of a committee either of that or the other house of Parliament , they ought to appoint a commission with very full powers to ascertain what could bo done in this matter .
Lord Stanley of Alpekley pointed out that there was a copninitteo sitting in tho other House ; and seemed to doprccato interferonco on tho ground that it would diminish responsibility . Lord Ha Known Y referred the evilH to the principle of competition—creating excessive speed and excessive economy . Other lords thought inquiry useless . Lord Glbnoali ' . made a curious suggestion . " Tako moat of tho accidents that had occurred , and especially tho ono on the Brighton line , whero ii large number of persona wcro injured , in seven or oighfc eases out of ton tho injuries tne passengers sustained were caused by tbpir Bitting opposite to ono another , and the moment ' a collision occurred they wero thrown violently
against oacji other and their heads came into violent concussion ; and it was a remarkable foot that thono passengers who had nobody sitting on tho opposite noat to them sustained ljttlo or no injury . A ponderous wag in a loading journal hud sneered at hia noble friend , first , bocauso ho was out of office , and next , because lie had said that he meant to swing tho paflHongorn as they did tho horHOH . Of course his noble friend never said anything of the kind ; but if ho had it would not have boon so far wrong , because thoy had never seen tho horses hurt ., and why P becauso they had not other horses sitting ! opposito to thorn . " ( Laughter . ) The motion for returns on which tho diacuflflion arose was agreed . to .
iHHEBffHCTioHS of Law Making . —There has been a discussion in the House of Lords this week on the imperfect mode of getting up acts of Parliament . Lord Lyndhitkst , who called the attention of the House to tho fact , cited in detail numerous instances of conflicting clauses being hurriedly introduced into acts of Parliament by way of amendment . He alluded to one act in which every clause -was imperfect . He cited another case where two decisions had been come to in the Court of Exchequer , that the word " may" was used in a discretionary sense ; and a subsequent decision in the Court of Common Pleas , where the word was declared to be imperative on the judges . One instance was ludicrous . A bill , as originally drawn , provided a pecuniary penalty in the case of a forged register of baptism ; with a further proviso that one half should go to the informer and the other to the parish . Subsequently the penalty was altered to fourteen but the left in the bill
years' transportation ; proviso was ; so that on a conviction the penalty of transportation fell , one half on the informer and one half on the parish He suggested that a competent person should watch bills , and point out these absurdities during their progress ^ It was generally admitted that these complaints were just . The Lord Chancellor adheres , however , first to bis original plan of mending old statutes instead of preventing botching in new ones . Lord Brougham did not forget to suggest a permanent board and a minister of justice . Westminstek-Bridge . —Sir D . L . Evans asked the Commissioner of ' Works whether it was his intention to proceed with the bill which was prepared by the late Government for the reconstruction of Westminster-bridge , and , if not , what course was intended to be taken in respect of the ruinous and dangerous state of the present structure ? Sir W . Molesworth admitted that
Westminsterbridge was in a very Tuinous , and almost dangerous condition . The late Government came to a determination to pull the bridge down and to construct another on nearly the same site , and , after much consideration , he had come to the conclusion that the determination of the late Government in that respect was a wise one . ( A laugh . ) The exigencies of commerce , and the transit going on in this great metropolis , would probably at no distant period require two additional bridges across the Thames , one in the vicinity of Charing-cross and another at Lambeth , but it was advisable to rebuild Westminster-bridge on its present site . It was his intention , therefore , to proceed with the bill of the late Government , and he was preparing plans for that purpose . On account of the vicinity of the new houses of Parliament , the new bridge ought to be low , wide , and at right angles with the new houses .
Sir D . L . Evans asked whether operations would be commenced in the course of the present year ? Sir W . Molesworth was understood to answer in the affirmative .
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PRESIDENT PIERCE'S FIRST ADDRESS TO HIS COUNTRYMEN . At length the looked-for day has come . General Franklin Pierce is President of the United States . The excitement in Washington on the 4 th was excessive . So great was the anxiety to witness General Pierce ' s inauguration as President , that on the previous night hundreds of persons , including ladies , slept in the Rotunda of the Capitol , while thousands walked the streets , determined to be sufficiently early , or unable to obtain accommodation in the hotels . Congress adjourned at twelve o ' clock . The members of both houses were in a very unsettled state , and little or no business was transacted . Tho flag on the Senate House was run down , but immediately hoisted again on the assembling of the new members . Shortly before one o ' clock General Pierce took his seat in a carriage , and was escorted by a procession to tho Senate House , which waa renched at one o ' clock . The President elect
stood erect in the carriage , with President hilhnore by his side , surrounded by marshals , and bowed to constant cheers and waving handkerchiefs from the windows . The foreign Ministers followed in carriages . The proceedings were rather marred by a heavy fall of snow . On reaching the Senate House the President and Pre- « sident elect took seats in front of tho secretary ' s table , with the Committee of Arrangements on their right and loft . Tho Chief Justice and Associate Justices of
the Supremo Court were seated m front of tho eastern lobby . The diplomatic corps wore outside the bar on tho right of the principal entrance , and tho heads of departments and Governors on tho left . At , a quarter past one o ' clock , the Marshal of the District , with tho Judges of the Supreme Court , followed by the President and President elect , and the entire assemblage in tho Senate , started in procession to tho eastern front of tho Capitol , whero an immense staging was erected sufficiently large to accommodate all . At half-post ono o ' clock , all being arranged , the oath of office was udininistarcd to General Pierce by tho Chief Juutico aa
follows : — " I do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully oxoouto tho office of President of the l / iiitad . States , and will , to the best of my ability , prosorvo , protect , and defend the constitution ( if the United States . " General Pierce in taking tho oath did not , aa ha <| been ordinarily the custom , nay " I Holemnly nwoar /' but " I solemnly alfirm ; " and , iiiHteud of kissing t } io lxx > k in Southern fashion , he raised his right hand and held it in that position until the pledge wan rea « U
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MAfe ^ tt 19 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 269
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 19, 1853, page 269, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1978/page/5/
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