§ Mr. Tennyson,in moving the second reading of the bill, said, that he had postponed it to that late period to allow time for the burgesses of East Retford to petition to be heard by counsel; but no such petition had appeared. There was a petition from the aldermen, containing a sort of protest, but not denying their participancy in the corruption, or praying to be heard. He did not propose to proceed further then, but wished for the second reading, as an assurance that the House would support him in the next session, and would not, in the mean time issue the writ to Retford. He should think it his duty to prepare himself with the local details connected with Birmingham, that would enable him to submit to the House, when parliament re-assembled, a bill with such provisions as would secure to that town the benefits of representation without the evils too frequently attendant upon it. He should provide for a summary mode of taking the poll; for a registration of votes to prevent disputes, and other matters, so as to preclude, if possible, the tumult, demoralization, delay, and expense which might otherwise convert what he intended for a highly beneficial privilege, into an infliction and a curse. All he 1376 now asked was, the second reading of the bill with the view he had stated; and if, when the subject was resumed, the burgesses of Retford wished to be heard, there would be ample time afforded.
Mr. Bankesopposed the further progress of the measure, on the ground that the case of corruption and bribery had not been sufficiently established. He objected, also, to the further suspension of the writ until the next session.
Mr. Dundasadverted to a petition from the electors, in which they prayed to be heard by counsel, and asserted their innocence.
Lord Ebringtonsaid, that no reasonable doubt could be entertained of the corruption of the borough, and that a sufficient case had been made out for its disfranchisement.
§ Mr. Wynnwas of opinion, that a prima facie uncontradicted case had been made out for reading the bill a second time. It had been brought in by order of the committee; and all that was intended this session was to fill up the blanks. It was highly proper that the question regarding the issue of the writ should also be postponed. If the writ were issued, it would, in fact, be deciding the question. Whether it should be given to Birmingham or thrown into the hundred, in case of the disfranchisement of East Retford, was another point.
§ Sir C. Wetherellcomplained that the bill had been printed with the town of Birmingham substituted for East Retford. It might hence be concluded out of doors, that the House had decided that point before it had even determined to disfranchise East Retford.
Mr. Fergussonagreed with the general object of the bill, but contended that the evidence already adduced was not sufficient. If the case opened were established, it was more gross than that of Penryn.
Mr. N. Calvertthought the case of general corruption quite sufficient, and that it was the duty of the House to confer the elective franchise on some place, where it would be exercised with more fidelity.
§ Sir C. Forbessaw no reason why the bill should be read even a second time, if it was intended afterwards to postpone it until next session. If they wanted to put 1377 an end to corruption, they ought to put the axe to the root of the tree, and begin with the corruptors. They should begin with reform among themselves. They ought, when they came to the hustings, and to the table of that House, to take an oath against bribery and corruption; and then they would see what sort of a House they would hate. He had ever set his face against cant, hypocrisy, and humbug, and he would still continue to do so. He further objected to transferring the franchise to Birmingham, as manufacturing towns were the very hot-beds of corruption.
§ Mr. J. Stuartsaid, that if the bill were read a second time, it would appear as if the House had pledged itself to transfer the franchise to Birmingham. Now, he was not prepared to say, even if East Retford were to be disfranchised, that the franchise should be transferred to Birmingham. He might think that it would be better to transfer it to one of the unrepresented Scotch counties, where there was neither bribery nor corruption. He would therefore move as an amendment, "That the bill be read a second time this day three months."
§ Mr. Rosssupported the second reading, since all the proper amendments might be made in the committee.
§ Mr. Wynnwould consent to the second reading, only in order to see what the proposition of the hon. mover was. But he wished to guard himself against giving any opinion as to the place to which the franchise should be transferred.
§ Mr. Fergusonwas desirous to guard himself against giving any opinion now as to what might be his ultimate conclusion, either as to the propriety of the disfranchisement of the borough, or the place to which the franchise should be transferred.
Mr. Bankessaw no use in allowing this bill to be read a second time just now, when it was well known that it could not stir another stage this session.
§ Sir C. Wetherellconcurred in that opinion. In such cases as the present, the bill ought to be read only a first time. It was improper to raise expectations in the inhabitants of Birmingham, which might be ultimately disappointed. There had been no discussion as yet, as to the place to which the franchise should be transferred, and he therefore did not think it proper that the bill should be read a second time with Birmingham inserted in it.
§ Mr. Tennyson ,in reply, observed, the he had introduced the bill transferring the franchise to Birmingham with tin deliberate sanction of the House. Manchester and Birmingham offered themselves as the most desirable cases for representation; and Manchester having been appropriated by a noble lord (J. Russell), he had adopted Birmingham; and having done so he could not and would not abandon it. The intelligence had been received at Birmingham with gratitude and satisfaction, and had created a great sensation there [hear, hear, from sir C. Wetherell] His learned friend cheered, but he begged to inform him, that the satisfaction and excitement he alluded to was amongst all the leading inhabitants of the place, as would appear from the copy of a requisition in his hand, signed by almost all the intelligent and wealthy merchants and manufacturers, by five bankers, and generally by gentlemen of importance at Birmingham. The requisition was for a public meeting, from which, no doubt, a petition would emanate, and be presented to the House before the prorogation. After this he should think he acted most unfairly if he consented to the substitution of any other place [hear, hear]; and if the transfer were to be made to a town, he saw no ground for change, for no place required distinct representation more than Birmingham. He wished for the second reading chiefly as a pledge from the House, that it would proceed with regard to East Retford in the next session; when he should move to re-introduce the bill. For the present session it would necessarily drop. As to the nature of the franchise to be established at Birmingham, it undoubtedly required great deliberation. He had applied himself diligently to the subject, but it was one for future consideration. His object was, to establish a franchise which would furnish a constituent body limited in point of numbers within convenient bounds; but one also which, comprising a portion from all classes, would bestow upon the mass of the inhabitants the satisfaction of feeling that they were represented, while at the same time due weight would be given to the commercial interests and property of the town. In the bill he had endeavoured to indicate a franchise with these qualities; and if it had been committed pro forma, he should, by filling up the blanks, have proposed a right to the inhabitant house- 1379 holders who had been resident for three years, rated for that period, and who had paid their rates.
The House divided: For the second reading of the bill 35; Against it 17; Majority 18. The bill was then ordered to be committed on that day fortnight, with the object of postponing the subject till the next session.