PROGRESS OF REFORM. (Hansard, 24 August 1831)

Colonel Evans
presented a Petition from certain inhabitants of Rye, complaining of the great and unnecessary delay in the progress of the Reform Bill, and declaring that there was a stagnation of trade, arising from the belief that the Bill would be thrown out; and in doing so he remarked, that the extreme moderation of Ministers, supported as they were by one of the greatest majorities that a Government ever had in a legislative assembly, was witnessed by the country with more disgust, if he might be forgiven the word, than approbation.

Mr. O'Connell
said, be was not surprised that the people should feel dissatisfied at the slow progress of the Bill; but Ministers were not to blame. If they attempted to hurry it, the Opposition would move the adjournment of the House, as they had an undoubted right to do. They spoke as little as they could, for which they were taunted by their opponents, but they had better submit to be thus taunted than interpose additional delay by making speeches.

§ Mr. John Campbell
said, he felt it to be his duty, as an independent Member of Parliament, to declare, that in his opinion the complaints of unreasonable delay on this subject were unfounded. The people were not aware of the difficulties which arose in discussing the Bill. They should consider that schedules A and B had been passed in as short a time as it had before taken Parliament to disfranchise a single borough. Let the people be patient, and place confidence in the House, and they would soon find cause to be satisfied.

§ Mr. Hunt
said, it was true there was great and general impatience throughout the country, but it arose from the people having been deluded into the belief, that every benefit would follow for them from the passing of the Reform Bill.

Mr. Hume
did not think the delay had been excessive. The commerce of the country, however, was injured by the measure's being left undecided, and he should accordingly feel it his duty to give notice of a motion, which would have the effect of allowing a greater number of hours each day for discussion, and thus facilitating the progress of the Bill. He begged to give notice, that he would, on Saturday next, move a resolution to the effect, that Orders of the Day should take precedence on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, thus leaving Monday alone for other business, and that the House should sit every day at twelve o'clock.

§ The Speaker
called the attention of the hon. Member (Colonel Evans) to the prayer of the petition, which he was sure the gallant Member could not have read. Amongst other violent and offensive expressions used in the petition, it declared, that the Bill was impeded by the upholders of corruption in the hon. House, who, upon the most frivolous pretence, wasted the public time. He suggested to the hon. Member the propriety of withdrawing the Petition, which he was convinced the hon. 538 Member would not have presented had he first read it.

Colonel Evans
said, that much as he respected the authority of the House, and the opinions of the Chair, there were circumstances under which a man might be compelled to risk their disapprobation. This petition came from a very great body of his constituents.

§ The Speaker
explained, that no considerations should induce an hon. Member to become the proxy of others in giving currency to language which would be disorderly and unparliamentary in debate, and which no hon. Member could use himself.