HC Deb 08 August 1831 vol 5 cc925-7

Mr. Hunt rose to present a Petition from one of the Political Unions of Manchester. There were in that town two Political Unions—one composed of the middling, the other of the working classes. The petition stated, that the petitioners were deeply interested in the progress of the Reform Bill.

Sir Robert Inglis

objected to the reading of the petition by the hon. Member, and appealed to the Speaker whether it was not disorderly to do so; and whether, if the House determined that the petition should be read, it ought not to be read by the Clerk.

The Speaker

said, that the hon. member for the University of Oxford had correctly described the Order of the House. It was, however, competent to an hon. Member to read extracts from a petition, as parts of his speech.

Mr. Hunt

resumed. He had a vast deal more experience in presenting petitions than the hon. member for Oxford, and he might, therefore, have given him credit for knowing what was regular on such an occasion, but he must be allowed to read extracts from the petition. It prayed that no further delay would be allowed in passing the Reform Bill, of which the petitioners approved, although it contained various anomalies; especially the 10l. qualification, and the omission of Vote by Ballot, which might be corrected at some future period.

Mr. O'Connell

said, the petitioners had done him the honour to request he would support their petition, which he did very heartily. These petitioners declared themselves Radical Reformers, and yet were decidedly favourable to the Bill; this fact afforded a strong proof of the utility of the measure, which appeared to satisfy all parties.

Sir Thomas Fremantle

observed, that the petitioners, so far from being satisfied, talked of correcting the anomalies of the Bill in a Reformed Parliament.

Mr. John Wood

had also been requested to support the prayer of the petition, and, like the petitioners, trusted that the Bill, although it might contain some anomalies, would still be adopted as speedily as possible. He also agreed with them, that any trivial defects it might contain, might be corrected hereafter.

Sir Robert Inglis

had no doubt but the object of the petitioners was, to have the Bill adopted as soon as possible, in the hope, that a Reformed Parliament would complete what this measure would begin.

Mr. O'Connell

wished the opponents of the Bill would follow the example of the petitioners, and leave the anomalies of the Bill to be corrected by time and experience.

Mr. Hunt

must beg leave to apprize the House, that this petition, although agreed to at a general meeting, yet was only signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and, therefore, he was aware it could only be received as the petition of these individuals.

To lie on the Table, and be printed.