HC Deb 03 July 1837 vol 38 cc1767-8

On the motion that the Report on the Parliamentary Electors Bill be brought up,

Sir R. Inglis

said, that the attempt to proceed with this Bill was a violation of the pledge given by the Ministers, that no measure of importance should be proceeded with except such as were essential to the furtherance of the public service. The Bill had been introduced so long ago as the 12th of May, at two o'clock in the morning, when there were only forty-one Members in the House, and from that time until Thursday last, it had been allowed to lie undisturbed on the table. Its purpose was to alter the constituency, as established by the Reform Act, and was, consequently, a violation of the principle of that measure, verifying the declaration made by his right hon. Friend (Sir R. Peel), that the first attempt to alter the Reform Bill would be made, not by its enemies, but by its friends.

Mr. W. Gladstone

said, that the noble Lord the Secretary for the Home Department, had given as distinct a pledge as it was possible for a man to give, that all questions likely to lead to any great difference of opinion should be deferred; it therefore did appear to him that the pressing forward of the present Bill was in direct violation of that pledge.

Mr. Hawes

said, that on the occasion when hon. Gentlemen opposite assumed that the noble Lord the Secretary for the Home Department had given the pledge of which they had spoken, it so happened that the right hon. Member for Cumberland adverted to the Bills under consideration, and the noble Lord expressly excepted the present Bill from those measures that he proposed to defer. What, then, became of the charge that the pressing forward the present Bill was a violation of the noble Lord's pledge? The real objection which hon. Gentlemen opposite felt to the measure was, that it was a popular one.

Mr. Hodgson Hinde

thought, that the Ministers must be much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for replying to the questions which had been addressed to them. The present Bill, if not brought forward with the intention, had the effect of preventing those who were willing to do a service to the class of freemen from carrying their views into effect. He maintained that the Bill was an essential alteration of the Reform Act, and he only did his duty in opposing this first Ministerial attempt to violate that measure.

The House divided:—Ayes 55; Noes 30: Majority 25.

List of the AYES.
Adam, Sir C. Dillwyn, L. W.
Aglionby, H. A. Donkin, Sir. R.
Angerstein, J. Dundas, J. D.
Baring, F. T. Elphinstone, H.
Bernal, R. Fielden, J.
Bowes, J. Fergusson, rt. hn. R. C.
Brotherton, J. Gordon, R.
Buller, Charles Grey, Sir G.
Byng, rt. hon. G. S. Hastie, A.
Callaghan, D. Hawes, B.
Chalmers, P. Hawkins, J. H.
Dalmeny, Lord Hay, Sir A. L.
Dennistoun, J. Hector, C. J.
Hindley, C. Rolfe, Sir R. M.
Hobhouse, rt. hn. Sir J. Russell, Lord J.
Howard, P. H. Ruthven, E.
Howick, Viscount Seale, Colonel
Hutt, W. Thomson, rt. hn. C P.
Lefevre, C. S. Townley, R. G.
Lennox, Lord G. Tulk, C. A.
Lushington, C. Wakley, T.
Lynch, A. H. Walker, R.
Morpeth, Viscount Wallace, R.
Murray, rt. hon. J. A. Warburton, H.
O'Connell, M. J. Wilson, H.
Palmerston, Viscount Wood, C.
Parker, J.
Pease, J. TELLERS.
Pechell, Captain Seymour, Lord
Robinson, G. R. Smith, R. V.
List of the NOES.
Baillie, H. D. Lewis, D.
Barclay, C. Lowther, Viscount
Brownrigg, S. Lowther, J. H.
Chandos, Marquess of Lygon, hon. General
Dick, Q. Meynell, Captain
Duffield, Thomas Nicholl, J.
Duncombe, hon. A. Palmer, G.
East, J. B. Richards, J.
Elley, Sir J. Richards, R.
Geary, Sir W. Rushbrooke, Colonel
Gladstone, W. E. Shaw, right hon. F.
Gore, O. Stewart, J.
Halse, J. Vyvyan, Sir R.
Hardinge, rt. hn. Sir H.
Herries, rt. hon. J, C. TELLERS
Inglis, Sir R. H. Goulburn, Sergeant
Lefroy, right hon. T. Hinde, H.