§ The Corporation Reform Bill was brought from the Lords.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerrose for the purpose of moving, not that the amendments only be printed, according to the usual course, but that the whole Bill, as amended, be printed; and said, that that was the only way in which the measure—a new measure in some respects, and certainly one requiring full consideration—could be discussed. He trusted that that arrangement would be productive of no serious delay, as he expected that copies of the measure would be in the hands of Members by Monday next, when it should, he proposed, be taken into consideration. It was at all events extremely desirable that they should have it before them in a complete state, for the purpose of well-considering a measure which had attracted more attention within that House, and, indeed, had excited more interest out of that House, than any piece of legislation which, since the passing of the Reform Bill, had been propounded. Such being the case, he trusted that he might take the liberty of earnestly recommending hon. Gentlemen not to enter, at the present moment, into a discussion which could not be productive of any possible good, and which could be only in anticipation of that most serious discussion which must take place when the Bill was in their hands after being printed, when they would have not only to express opinions but to come to a decision upon the subject. He trusted, he would again say, the question being one of such interest and magnitude, that the House would not think that he was acting in any shape improperly or unbecomingly, as one of those most friendly to the Bill as it was sent from that House, if he took the liberty of earnestly entreating the House to postpone at present a discussion which could lead to no good result, and which might impede the fair, calm, and deliberate but resolute decision upon the subject. He would, therefore, 1094 move that the Bill, as amended, he printed and taken into consideration on Monday next.
§ Mr. Humeconcurred with the right hon. Gentleman as to the propriety of considering this, as well as every other measure which came before them, calmly, and with deliberation; but hoped that nothing which had fallen from him would be taken as holding out any idea of a hope that that House could accepting for one moment entertain, the Bill in its existing state. He was against any such hope being for one moment held out—against the supposition that they could for an instant listen to the "amendments," as they were called, which had been made in the measure, or as he should say, the alterations which had altogether ruined it—which had rendered it such that they would be better without than with it. When, however, the copies of the amended Bill should be before them, they would be able to weigh the extent of the evils which the Bill had suffered; for his own part, he believed them to be such as rendered it wholly impossible for the House to agree to it ultimately. He said that with great regret, because they were then, on the 28th August, contemplating the last remnant of the two great measures which had been the result of all their labours during that Session. Time had been lost, excitement had been produced in the minds of the public, and a disappointment bitter in proportion had followed—which could not fail to be productive of the most serious consequences. The right hon. Gentleman had recommended, perhaps, wisely, that there should be no discussion at that period upon the subject. All that he wished was, to enter his protest against being supposed to yield, in the smallest degree, to the propriety of the amendments in question.
Mr. O'Connellsaid, that the period was now come, in which the public opinion could not be trifled with—in which the wants of this great country could not be looked at slightingly—and in which, if great organic questions affecting the constitution of the country came to be considered, the blame would fall on those who had given rise to such a convulsive discussion—if he might use the expression—and not on those who had endeavoured peaceably to ameliorate its institutions.
§ Bill to be printed.