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slips and goods , from corporate towns to the Customs , to be applied " as directed by the Board of Trade ; and the third proposed entirely to abolish the differential dues , on the plea that corporate property is public property . A corporation ¦ which is invested with a public trust without any beneficial interest might fairly be dealt with by Parliament ; but corporations which were created to be the medium of conferring rights and privileges upon individuals , in which each individual possesses a right to , and share in , the privileges and property of the corporation , should not be subjected , to such measures as that befoi-e the House . In respect to the dues which , it was intended to transfer to the control of the Board of Trade , the
change would not be of the slightest benefit to the public , wMle the principle was one of most dangerous tendency . —Sir Francis Baring seconded the motion . Mr . Lotve said that Sir' Frederick Thesiger had construed taxes into private property . Now for himself , he could understand property in land , and property in capital ; but he could not understand property in other people ' s property . Such > arguments as those which had been employed would not fortify alleged corporate rights ; but they might suggest to the public that private property rests iipon no firmer foundation than corporate property . Public bodies are but means for the attainment of certain ends ; and , when they cease to answer those ends , they ought to give
tell whether he is legitimate or not . —The bills "were then read a first time . THE TICKET-OP-LEAVE SYSTEM . Viscount Dungannon moved for a return of the number of convicts to whom tickets of Jea ^ e-have been granted ; and also the number of convicts who since receiving such tickets of leave have returned to * > their former course of crimes ; specifying the character of the crimes which they have been charged with or convicted of . —Earl Granville said there was no objection to grant the returns moved for , but lie begged to inform the noble Viscount that similar returns had been already ordered to be laid before the other House of . Parliament . —Viscount Dungannon said those returns would answer bis purpose . He proceeded to ask whether the Government proposed to continue the ticket-of-leave system , which Be believed
^ ^ Sr * ° ** bill >> the ord <* ^ s discharged and the bill was withdrawn . B ' SELECT COMMITTEES . The Select Committee on the Court of Chancery ( Ireland ) Bill was nominated as follows : —Mr . Solicitor-Oeneral for Ireland , Sir James Graham , Mr . Edward Eiliee , Mr . Henley , Mr . Walpole , Mr . Keogh , Viscount Monck , Mr . Cairns , Mr . Macartney , Mr . Henry Herbert , Mr . William Fitzgerald , Mr . Whiteside , Mr . De Vere , Sir Erskme Perry , and Mr . Kirk . —The following names were also brought forward as those of the Committee on St . James's-park : —Sir Benjamin Hall , Lord John Manners , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , Mr . Disraeli , Lord Robert Grosvenor , Lord Hotham , Sir Joseph Paxton , Mr , Stephenson , Sir John Shelley , Mr . Hutchins , Colonel Boldero , Mr . Drummond , Mr . Stuart Wortley , Colonel W . Patten , and Mr . Milnes .
The Charitable Uses Bill was read a third time and passed . Wednesday , February 27 . CONTRACTORS' DISQUALIFICATION REMOVAL BILL . On the order for the second reading of this bill , in the House of Commons , Mr . Mitchell , the introducer of the measure , said he intended to withdraw it , in consequence of the strong prejudice against it 3 tendency—a course which he was further moved to adopt since Mr . Ricardo had announced a motion for a committee to inquire into the whole subject .: —Mr . Dtjncombe , Mr . Waxpole , and the Chancellor of the [ Exchequer , spoke in favour o" ? the design of withdi'awingthe measure ; and , after a few observation from various speakers , the order for the second reading was discharged . JUSTICES OF THE PEACE QUALIFICATION BILL .
Mr . Colvill , in moving the second reading of this billj stated that its object is to enlarge the qualification , and to extend it to personal property . —Mr Deedes and Mr . Vattsittart opposed the bill , which was supported by Mr . Ker Seymer , Mr . Bass , Mr . Hadmeld , aud Mr . Ewart . —Sir George Grey declined to offer any opposition to the bill ; anii it was read a second time . —In the course of the discussion , Mr . Duncombe asserted the crying necessity for a paid magistracy Ln the country ; but a contrary opinion was expressed by Mr . Muntz , who , nevertheless , admitted the gross inefficiency of country magistrates .
ANNUITIES BILL . On the second reading : of this bill , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , adverting to the debate upon the -first order of the day , repeated that he had no doubt of the rectitude of the decision of . the committee of last year ; nevertheless , he could not shut his eyes to the fact that persons of great weight entertain doubts upon the point , and it was necessary to clear up those doubts one way or tbe other . He proposed , therefore , to introduce into this bill , when in committee , a clause of indemnity for subscribers to the existing loan , which would not throw any doubt upon the decision of the committee of last year . Thursday , February 28 th .
THE IRISH BAR . In the House op Lords , Lord BnotJGHAw : presented a petition from several members of the Irish bar , praying that they might be put on a footing with their English brethren , and that Ireland might be treated as an integral part of the United Kingdom . His Lordship ( who spoke in the highest tei'ms of the Irish bar ) did not think that nny preference is shown to the English bat over the Irish ,. —Lord Campbell aleo spoke highly of the Irish legal body .
THE APPELLATE JURISDICTION OF THE HOUSE . The Earl of Derby moved for tho appointment oj a Select Committee to inquire whether it is expedient to make any , and what , arrangements to secure a more efficient exercise of the judfo ' al functions of the House as the Supreme Court of Ap ; eil . Disavowing any intention to interfere with the motion of Lord Lyndhurst ( which lie said would be an net of the greatest presumption ) , and expressing a dosiro to prepare the way for that motion , Lord Derby criticised the nature and functions of the House as a Court of Appeal . The powor to /» fc as such was inherited Jb y the Barons from the groat couuoil of the realm , whioh . exoroisod it in tho earliest times ; but the privilege in not essential to tho other functions of the House , and is in fnoft a rooro profconce—a legal fiotion , Appeals
are not hoard by tho Houso , but by a few law lorda , tha lay lorda paying no attention to tho proooodinge ( though as a mattor of form they must attend in sufficient numbow to make a quorum ) , not ovon affecting to givo an opinion , but merely iviwputing to any proposition put to them by tho Lord Chancellor . Complaints also had boon made against the fewness of tho judges , tha uncertainty in their number , tho want of any powor to compel their attendance , tho probability that oaaos of appeal may bo heard awJ decided by tho Baiuo judges who have already \ nonounood judgmont on them in tho court below , the fact that tho House sits only half tho year , and tho want of any adoquoto tribunal for tho decision ot Scotch appeals . To some of these oomphuntn oxooption might be taken : but many improvomonts
to be fraught with evil consequences . —Earl Gbanvillb said it was not their intention to bring in any bill on the subject . —In the course of a desultory conversation which ensued , the Earl of Harrowed remarked that , naturally , if no transportation be allowed , criminals , after a certain period of imprisonment , must be turned out again on the country ; an observation which the Earl of Malmesbury considered to be " one of the most alarming he had ever heard in his life . Earl Harrowby declared it was perfectly impossible to retrace our steps with regard to transportation . "—The Earl of Harrowby disavowed this interpi'etation of his remarks ; and , after a few more observations ( in the course of -which Lord Campbell spoke against the ticket-of-leave system ) , the subject dropped . ... . - ,
ERZEROT ^ . In the House op CoMMQNS , ' 'Lord Palmerston , in answer to Mr . Ewart , stated that the English Government had made strong representations to the Ottoman Porte in favour of the construction of a serviceable road from Trebizonde to Erzeroum , and similar representations woixld again be made .
THE CRIMEAN REPORT . Sir John Pakington gave notice of his intention to move the following amendment to Mr . Roebuck ' s motion on the subject of the Crimean report : - " That the House regretted that her Majesty ' s Government had not transmitted the report to the Commander-in-Chief before it was submitted to the House ; thereby giving ground to suppose that there was a want of confidence between the War-office and the Horse Guards , and causing the construction of a military commission , which was inadequate in its nature to inquire into the matters contained in the report :
and that the House observed with regret that the Government had appointed to responsible posts officers whose conduct was impugned , and . while the inquiry into their conduct was still proceeding . " In answer to a request from Mr . Roebuck , Lord Palmerston stated the- names of the Commissioners appointed to report on % he report of Sir John M'U ' eill and Colonel Tulloch , which are as follow : —Lord Seaton , General M'MEahon , Sir John Bell , General Rowan , Earl Beauchamp , General Peel , and General Knollys . His Lordship then laid the warrant containing the names on the table .
THE LOCAl , DUES ON SHIPPING BILL . On the resumption of the debate on this bill , Lord Palmerston explained the intentions of Government with respect to it . They felt as much convinced as ever iu the justice and policy of the principle involved in the measure ; but it had become manifest in the course of the discussion that , iu . the cases of sotno of tha towns affected by the bill , there were circumstances of far greater complication than the Government had been led to anticipate . These difficulties lay with that part of tho bill which related to the differential and town dues ; and the consideration of the cases in a oommitteo of the whole Houso would bo highly inconvenient . The Government therefore
proposed to withdraw tho bill ; to refer the questionable p ;« r toft he measure to a select committee ; and to soe whether a separate bill might not be mado out of tho remaining materials . —Mr . Disuaek-i expressed his satisfaction at tho determination which tho Governmont had oomo to ; the speech of Mr , Lowe on the Wuvious evening boiiig of a nature more caloulatod than any ho had over listened to in that House to disturb and alarm tho public mind , and to unsettle all confidenco in prescription . It was evident that tho Government bad introduced the measure without duo foiethought , or they would not now require to
rjfor it to a soloofc oommitteo . The position of tho Government was by no means dignified , as thoy had to enduro dofoat in both Houses by their own followers , brought about by thoir mischievous oruaados agaiust tho peerage in tho one place , and tho municipalities of England in the other . —Mr . Labouohjgre replied by taunting Mr . Disraoli with pnrty purposes , and with pouring forth , though very inappropriately , the bitter oloquenoo which ho had designed for tho adjourned dobato , and of which ho found it nooessnry to relieve himself . Tho bill having been founded on the report of a commission , it could not bo said that it had boon orudoly brought forward . -After a few words from Mr . Hkadlam and Mr . Hadmkld ( the former of whom ai ) provod , while tho latter regretted .
place to something better . The sweeping municipal reform of 1835 offered a perfect precedent for the measure then under discussion ; and it should be recollected that those who pay the taxes have as good a right to be heard as those who receive them . Mr . Lowe therefore asserted that it was he who was standing up for the inviolability of private property , the principle of spoliation being in fact advocated by the opponents of the bill . Whatever cases miglit occur to ¦ which the general principle of the measure does not apply , the -necessary exception would he made in committee . —Mr . Collier , Mr . Baines , and Mr . Ingham , also supported the bilL which was opposed by Mr . Horsfall ( on behalf of Liverpool ) , Mr . Ridley ( for -N " ewcastle-on-Tyne ) , Mr . Tollemache , Mr . Hilb-yarjd
( who thought that the arguments with respect to property used by Mr . Lowe were unparalleled in that Souse' ) , Mr . RrCE ( speaking on behalf of Dover ) , Mr . Liddell ( who feared that such assaults on corporate property would lead to similar attaeks on eclessiastieal property ) , Mr . Cairns ( who , referring to Mr . Lowe ' s sneer at "musty charters , " said that the scoff" was directed against the tenure by which all the property in the country is held , and that taxes were described as " property" in the bill itself ) j and Sir Fitzroy Kelly ( who remarked that the effect of the bill would be to deprive creditors at Liverpool , to the extent of two millions and a half , of the security they now possess in the town dues ) . —Finally , the debate was adjourned till the following day .
METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACT . The Attornest-General obtained leave to bring in a bill to explain and amend the Metropolitan Local Management Act of last session . He explained that , in the bill of last year , it was originally intended to give to the vestries to be elected under it the power of levying rates and the management of the poor . By alterations effeoted iu committee , that intention was changed , and , as the act now stands , there is great doubt who has the right to levy rates and to manago tho poor . The l'ecent act declared that , aa soon aa the new veBtries are constituted , they should supersede all others ; but exceptions had been introduced iu committee which rendered it doubtful whether the management and levy of the poor rates fell within their scope ; and it was to remove the existing doubts that tho pi * esent bill was framed .
st . j ames ' s-park . Sir Benjamin Hall moved for a Select Committee " to oousider the best means of communication botwoeu those parts of the metropolis which lie north of St . James ' s park and those parts whioh lie south and south-west thereof , and to report thereupon to the House . "—An attempt was mado to defer the motion ; but , after a short discussion , in tho oourso of whioh Lord Pa ^ mkuston stated that no particular line had been contemplated , the motion was agreed to .
Tuesday , February 2 Gt / t . THE MERCANTILE LAW COMMISSION . In the Housra of Lords , the Lonp Chancellor called tho attention of the House to the second report of tho Commissioners appoiutod to inquire into the Mercantile Laws of tho United Kingdom , and moved tho first reading of two bills on the subjoob , with tho imdorat . nnding that they should bo referred to a Soloot Committee . The object of these bills is to nasimilato tho laws in various parts of the United Kingdoms , and to remove those contradictions whioh in many cason are productive of great inconvenience . In somo instances , tho Soofcoh laws are to be assirni-Uvtod to thoso of England ; in others , tlie English laws fti-o to be mado conformable with tho Sootoh . Lords BaouanAM and Campbkll expressed their satisfaction with tho proposed measures ; nad the latter called attention to tho disgraceful state of tho Scotch marriage law . whioh ho uoid . is ho lax that no one can
Untitled Article
March 1 , 1856 . ] THE LEABISB , _ _^ j ^
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Leader (1850-1860), March 1, 1856, page 195, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2130/page/3/
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