§ Mr. Humepresented a petition from a political union in Glasgow, praying that the House might make such a reform in the House of Peers as might make them responsible. He fully concurred in the prayer of the petition, that such a reform as would subject the other House to responsibility ought to be adopted.
§ Mr. Shawobserved, that a petition calling on that House to effect a reform of the Lords was irregular, as it called upon the House to take upon itself all the functions of the three branches of the Legislature.
§ Mr. Humedenied, that the words of the petition could be fairly said to bear the construction which the right hon. and learned Gentleman had put upon them. The prayer of the petitioners was, that the House would take such measures as would make the Lords responsible.
§ Mr. Shawsaid, they prayed that that House might do so; now, that implied that the House itself should do so.
§ Mr. Humecontended, that the words meant only that the House should originate such measures as would effect an organic change in the House of Peers, and make them responsible to the country, and he believed that unless some such change was made it would be impossible to go on.
§ Lord John Russellthought it would not be fair to the petitioners to infer that they prayed that the reform of the Peers should be made by the House of Commons only.
§ Mr. Shawsaid, it was not probable that the House of Lords would receive such a petition, if sent to them, praying the same thing with respect to the House of Commons.
§ Petition laid on the table.