HC Deb 17 January 1840 vol 51 cc122-6
Lord J. Russell

moved the reading of the usual Sessional Orders. When the order for the prevention of the interference of Peers at elections was being read,

Mr. Hume

said, that it was ridiculous to allow such an order to remain, as it was well known to everybody that Peers openly interfered in elections.

Lord J. Russell

said, that the resolution was entered into with regard to open interference in the early part of the last century, in consequence of the gross inter- ference of Peers with the elections of Members of that House. The consequence had been, that a Committee of the House had struck off the vote of a Peer. The resolutions were deemed necessary, and he was not prepared to say that they ought to be altered. It could not be denied that Peers used some influence in elections, but they paid this much respect to the resolution of that House, that they did no openly and personally interfere at them He was not aware of any instance in which a Peer presented himself openly on the hustings in favour of any particular candidate, or directly canvassed. And if such an occurrence were to take place, the House ought to notice it immediately and with severity.

Mr. Hume

still considered it useless and absurd to have a resolution on the order book which it was known was utterly inoperative. He should, therefore, negative it.

The House divided:—Ayes 209; Noes 25: Majority 184.

List of the AYES.
Abercromby, hon. G. R. Collins, W.
Aglionby, H. A. Colquhoun, J. C.
Alsager, Captain Compton, H. C.
Arbuthnott, hon. H. Corry, hon. H.
Ashley, Lord Craig, W. G.
Bailey, J. Crawford, W.
Bailey, J., jun. Currie, R.
Baines, E. Curry, Serjeant
Baring, hon. W. B. Denison, W. J.
Barnard, E. G. Divett, E.
Barneby, J. Donkin, Sir R. S.
Bateson, Sir R. Dottin, A. R.
Beamish, F. B. Douglas, Sir C. E.
Bewes, T. Dugdale, W. S.
Blackburne, I. Dunbar, G.
Blewitt, R. J. Duncombe, T.
Bodkin, J. J. Duncombe, hon. W.
Bolling, W. Duncombe, hon. A.
Bridgeman, H. Easthope, J.
Broadley, H. Eastnor, Viscount
Brodie, W. B. Egerton, W. T.
Brotherton, J. Eliot, Lord
Buck, L.W. Ellice, E.
Buller, Sir J. Y. Ellis, J.
Busfeild, W. Ellis, W.
Butler, hon. Colonel Etwall, R.
Calcraft, J. H. Evans, W.
Callaghan, D. Ewart, W.
Castlereagh, Viscount Fellowes, E.
Cavendish, hon. G. H. Filmer, Sir E.
Chetwynd, Major Finch, F.
Chichester, J. P. B. Fitzpatrick, J. W.
Clements, Viscount Fitzroy, hon. H.
Clerk, Sir G. Fleming, J.
Codrington, C. W. Fremantle, Sir T.
Collier, J. French, F.
Gisborne, T. O'Connell, M. J.
Glynne, Sir S. R. O'Connell, M.
Gordon, hon. Captain Ord, W.
Goring, H. D. Oswald, J.
Goulburn, rt. hon. H. Palmer, C. F.
Graham, rt. hon. Sir J. Palmer, G.
Greene, T. Parker, J.
Greg, R. H. Parker, M.
Greig, D. Patten, J. W.
Grey, rt. hon. Sir C. Pechell, Captain
Grey, rt. hon. Sir G. Philips, M.
Grimsditch, T. Phillpots J.
Guest, Sir J. Pigot, D. R.
Hawes, B. Planta, right hon. J.
Hayter, W. G. Pollen, Sir J. W.
Heathcote, Sir W. Pollock, Sir F.
Hector, C. J. Power, J.
Heneage, G. W. Pryme, G.
Herries, rt. hon. J. C. Redington, T. N.
Hill, Lord A. M. C. Rich, H.
Hindley, C. Richards, R.
Hodges, T. L. Rolleston, L,
Hodgson, R. Round, C. G.
Hollond, R. Rundle, J.
Holmes, W. Russell, Lord J.
Hope, hon. C. Rutherford, rt. hon A.
Hope, G. W. Sanford, E. A.
Howard, P. H. Scarlett, hon. J. Y.
Howick, Viscount Sheil, rt. hon. R. L.
Hughes, W. B. Sheppard, T.
Hutton, R. Smith, B.
Irton, S. Smyth, Sir G. H.
Irving J. Somers, J. P.
Jackson, Serjeant Stanley, Lord
James, W. Stanley M.
James, Sir W. C. Stanley, hon. W. O.
Jenkins, Sir R. Stansfield, W. R. C.
Jones, J. Staunton, Sir G. T.
Kelly, F. Steuart, R.
Knatchbull, rt. hon. Sir E. Stewart, J.
Stuart, W. V.
Knox, hon. T. Stock Doctor
Labouchere, rt. hon. H. Strutt, E.
Lascelles, hon. W. S. Style, Sir C,
Lennox, Lord G. Sugden, rt. hon. Sir E.
Lister, E. C. Sutton. hon. J.H.T.M.
Loch J. Teignmouth, Lord
Lockhart, A. M. Tennent, J. E.
Lushington, rt. hon. S. Thornely, T.
Lygon, hon. General Troubridge, Sir E. T.
Mackenzie, T. Turner, W.
Mackenzie, W. F. Verney, Sir H.
Macnamara, Major Vigors, N. A.
Mahon, Viscount Villiers, hon. C. P.
Manners, Lord C. S. Villiers, Viscount
Marshall, W. Wakley, T.
Marsland, T. Walker, R.
Marton, G. Wallace, R.
Master, T. W. C. Warburton, H.
Maxwell, hon. S. R. White, A.
Miles, W. Wilbraham, G.
Miles, P. W. S. Wilkins, W.
Milnes, R. M. Williams, W.
Monypenny, T. G. Wilmot, Sir J. E.
Mordaunt, Sir J. Winnington, T. E,
Morris, D. Wood, C.
O'Brien, W. S. Wood, Sir M.
Wood, Colonel
Wood, G. W. TELLERS.
Wood, Colonel T. Maule, hon. F.
Wrightson, W. B. Smith, V.
List of the NOES.
Bagge, W. Hodgson, F.
Ballie, Colonel Inglis, Sir R. H.'
Bentinck, Lord G. Law, hon. C. E.
Blandford, Marquis of Lincoln, Earl of
Bradshaw, J. Maidstone, Viscount
Bruce, Lord E. Maunsell, T. P.
Burdett, Sir F. Muskett, G. A.
Christopher, R. A. Paget, F,
Copeland, Alderman Plumtre, J. P.
Creswell, C. Whitmore, T. C.
Darby, G, Yates, John A.
Dick, Q. TELLERS.
Disraeli, B. O'Connell, D.
Fector, J. M. Hume, J.

Order agreed to.

Mr. Hume

was sorry to say the House had divided upon the wrong question. However, he did not care; for last year he was in a minority of 18 upon the same question, and now he was in a minority of 25, so he would rest satisfied.

Sir Robert Inglis

remarked that, although the hon. Member for Kilkenny might have made a mistake, he had not; for he knew what he had voted, which was, that no resolution of the House of Commons could disfranchise the Peers.

Mr. Ewart

proposed that the words "or his agent" should be added; thus making it equally illegal for the agent of any nobleman to interfere in an election as the Peer himself.

Lord John Russell

could not consent to that proposal, as it would carry the order beyond the bounds of its original intention.

Mr. Ewart

could not perceive any thing improper or unconstitutional in his suggestion; but as the noble Lord opposed it, he felt it would be useless to divide.

Mr. Hume

said he would submit to the House whether it was worth while to retain this order, as strangers and reporters were notoriously admitted. He would not make any motion, but merely threw out this as a suggestion.

Lord John Russell

said, the question was, whether the House should have the power of excluding strangers, if necessary. The question of the admission of strangers, by way of indulgence, had been a matter of discussion a long time, but he would put it to the House whether, by remitting this order, strangers should be allowed to gain entrance as a right, to be present at the proceedings of Parliament, more particularly when it was remembered that questions might arise, especially those relating to our foreign policy, from which it might be expedient, on account of some peculiar and extraordinary circumstances, that the public should be excluded? He thought it was a power which the House ought not to abandon.

The order agreed to as were the other Sessional Orders.