Sir Robert Peelsaid, he should now put a question to the noble Lord (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) on a subject connected with domestic policy, to which he hoped for a more satisfactory reply than that given by his noble friend (Lord Palmerston) to the questions put to him respecting foreign policy. It would be in the recollection of the House that, on the 6th of December last, in consequence of an address proposed by his Majesty's Ministers, in which the House unanimously concurred, the House assured his Majesty that, in obedience to the recommendation contained in his most gracious Speech, they would take into consideration some measure for the establishment of a Municipal Police in the cities and towns of the kingdom, with a view to the better maintenance of the public peace. This address having been presented to his Majesty early in the month of December, it was not unreasonable to suppose that his Majesty should now begin to inquire why Parliament did not proceed to fulfil its promise. Without pressing that topic, however, he hoped he should not be considered premature if, after three months had passed, he inquired of the noble Lord, whether any measure was about to be brought forward? There was no part of his Majesty's Speech of which he so much approved as this suggestion for the improvement of the Municipal Police—if by Municipal was meant the Police of large towns. It was a most important subject, and one which called for all the energy and attention of Government; for, if it should be left to the local interests in different towns, there was too much reason to fear that the intentions of Government would be wholly defeated. He begged, therefore, to ask the noble Lord, whether his Majesty's Ministers had made up their mind as to the course they should pursue on this subject? whether they had made up their mind to introduce any measure for the establishment of a Police, or whether they found the difficulties arising from local circumstances so great that they thought it would be necessary to submit the question, in the first instance, to a Committee?
§ Lord Althorpentirely concurred with the right hon. Baronet, that this subject 1235 was one of considerable importance. It had been for some time under the consideration of Government, and it was undoubtedly the intention of his Majesty's Government to introduce a measure with respect to the establishment of a Municipal Police. He was not able to state, however, that the measure was yet in so perfect a form that it could be produced.
§ Sir Charles Wetherellwas glad this subject had been mentioned, because he understood that his Majesty's Ministers had thought fit to instruct their Attorney General to prosecute the Bristol Magistrates for the riots which took place in that town. As to the passage in his Majesty's Speech adverted to by his right hon. friend (Sir R. Peel), recommending the establishment of a Municipal Police, it had been introduced, ad captandam, in reference to the explosion at Bristol, and he did not believe that, since that time, a single step had been taken by his Majesty's Government in reference to the measure. That was his own opinion. Of course he did not pretend to know what was going on in Downing-street, though he believed he knew quite as much of it as some persons whose duties ought to take them there. His Majesty's Ministers, however, he understood, in subjection and obedience to a miserable popular clamour urged on by a base Press, had determined to prosecute the Bristol Magistrates. With this proposed prosecution he could take it upon himself to say, the Magistrates were well pleased, as it would give them an opportunity of justifying their actions.
The Attorney Generalcould not refrain from expressing his surprise and indignation at the extraordinary declaration which his hon. and learned friend had just made, when he said that his Majesty's Ministers had degraded themselves by submitting to the subjugation of a base Press, and by ordering a prosecution against the Magistrates of Bristol in obedience to popular clamour. What could have induced his hon. and learned friend to indulge in such a tirade against Gentlemen as honourable and high minded as his hon. and learned friend himself, he Could not possibly conjecture? On what authority had he ventured to bring so unworthy an accusation against them? He could assure the House that it was not in obedience to any clamour from any quarter, but upon a full, and anxious, and patient consideration of all the circumstances, that Government had ordered, and that he, as law-officer of the Crown, 1236 had filed an information against the Magistrate's of Bristol. He could likewise assure the House, that it was only because he had filed an information against them that he abstained from saying a word as to their conduct. It was due both to those who had directed the prosecution and to those who might possibly suffer from it, that the case should not undergo premature discussion. To enter into any such explanation as he (the Attorney General) could give upon it, would be most improper; but even that would not be half so improper as the course adopted by his hon. and learned friend, which was to cast such reflections upon the Government as naturally led to recriminations of that nature which, on every principle of justice, ought to be avoided at present.
Mr. A. Robert Dundaswas particularly desirous to learn whether Ministers intended to introduce a general measure upon this subject? He had a bill to introduce relating to the Police of the large town with which he was connected; but, as his constituents had no wish to incur unnecessary expense, they wished to know whether it was the intention of Government to introduce a general Police Bill, before they incurred greater expense in prosecuting the bill with which he was intrusted. He assured Ministers, that if they would bring in any such general measure, he should be most ready to give it his humble support.
§ The House resolved itself into a Committee.