HC Deb 05 April 1824 vol 11 cc146-7
Mr. Secretary Peel

hoped there would be no objection to passing the Alien bill through a committee without opposition, and taking the further debate on the third reading.

Mr. Hume

was unwilling to create a debate at present, and particularly as the right hon. secretary for foreign affairs had intimated that this was the last time they should be troubled with this obnoxious measure. Still, he considered it so objectionable, that he should, in the committee, propose a clause, to limit the duration of the bill for one year.

The House resolved itself into a committee on the bill, and Mr. Hume moved a clause, confining the duration of the bill to one year instead of two.

Mr. Secretary Peel

hoped that the declaration of his right hon. friend, which so materially altered the view of the bill, would induce the hon. gentleman not to press his motion.

Mr. Hutchinson

said, that nothing but the lateness of the hour when the right hon. secretary for foreign affairs spoke on a former night, prevented him from replying at the instant to a speech fraught with the utmost injustice to the emigrants who had sought an asylum in England. He should, therefore, on the third reading, state his sentiments generally upon this most obnoxious and unconstitutional bill, and upon the speech with which it was attempted to be so improperly forced upon the attention of the House.

Mr. Secretary Peel

said, it would be certainly open to any hon. member to endeavour to throw out the bill on the third reading, and that allowing it to pass through the committee compromised no hon. member's opinion on the subject.

Lord Nugent

protested strongly against the bill, which should, in all its stages, have his most decided opposition.

Mr. Hobhouse

did not wish that any body should have the opportunity of saying, that this bill had received amendment from his side of the House. He would give all the honour of it to the other side, and would allow no part of it to be shared among his friends. He therefore in-treated his hon. friend to withdraw his amendment.

The amendment was then negatived, and the original clause carried without a division.