HC Deb 29 July 1835 vol 29 cc1194-5
Mr. Freshfield

moved that John Clipperton be brought to the Bar to-morrow, reprimanded and discharged.

Mr. Potter

objected to proceeding with public business before five o'clock. It wanted twenty minutes of that hour.

The Speaker

said, that the matter was entirely with the House. He believed that the original understanding was, that the presentation of petitions should not be continued beyond five o'clock, but he did not think that the House had bound itself not to proceed with any public business before that hour. That being the case, and there being no other petitions to present, it was necessary to proceed with the Orders of the Day in their regular succession.

Mr. Ruthven

must oppose proceeding with it before five o'clock. There were many members interested in the Question who were absent now, but who no doubt, would be in attendance at five o'clock. He was hostile to this adoption of a short cut in bringing on a motion, and in justice to the hon. Members absent, he would prevent it. This was, in his opinion, a very important matter, both as regarded the privileges of that House, and the purity of election. It appeared to him that the question was whether Mr. Clipperton should not be struck off the roll of attornies. He was astonished to see a member of that profession volunteering to bring forward this case. He should have the delicacy to leave it to some other Member. If they allowed professional men to shelter themselves under their professional cloak, while they dexterously employed others as the agents of bribery and corruption, it would be idle to talk of improving the representation of the people. No man could do so much mischief at an election as an attorney, in protecting bribery and corruption. The two individuals whom they had already had at the Bar, and who had there received a proper chastisement from the right hon. Gentleman in the Chair, had been received as triumphant victims in Ipswich. The same thing would no doubt happen in this case. It was to be regretted, that condign punishment did not fall upon the original author of all this bribery and corruption. It was said, that this person had answered all questions which a gentleman should answer. What distinction should there be under such circumstances between a gentleman and an honest man, however humble his situation in life? He was glad to see that it was now five o'clock, and he hoped that those Gentlemen who ought not to be absent, would soon be present.

Major Beauclerk

, while he agreed with the hon. Member as to the necessity for preventing bribery and corruption, differed from him as to the degree of punishment to be inflicted in this instance. In the first place, this individual was not the chief culprit; and in the next place, a political court like that, was not the proper one for trying offences of this kind. As long as that House, as a political court, should continue to try such cases, he should feel it his duty to vote for the least punishment on them. He trusted, however, to see the day when a political court like that no longer exercised such a power, and when such matters were referred for trial to a properly constituted tribunal.

Mr. Potter

objected to the discharge of this man. He recollected when a poor woman was before the House on a former occasion, in the instance of the Liverpool Bill, and when, through fear of her husband, she refused to answer certain questions, she was compelled to answer them. It should be recollected, that it was in this gentleman's house that the escape of Pilgrim had been arranged.

The House divided on the Motion. Ayes 56; Noes 34: Majority 22.

List of the Noes.
Baldwin, Dr. O'Connell, M.
Barnard, E. G. O'Connell, M. J.
Blake, M. J. O'Loghlen, M.
Bodkin, J. J. Parrot, J.
Bowring, Dr. Pelham, A.
Brady, D. C. Pendarves, E. W.
Butler, Colonel Phillips, M.
Crawford, S. Power, P.
or Ronayne, D.
Elphinstone, H. Ruthven, E.
Fergusson, R. C. Ruthven, E. S.
Hay, Colonel L. Scrope, P.
Hector, C. Wakley, T.
M'Cance, J. Wason, R.
M'Namara, Major Williams, W.
M'Taggart, J. Winnington, Sir T.
Murray, J. A. TELLERS.
O'Connell, D. Porter, R.
O'Connell, J. Steuart, R.
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