§ Mr. Easthopesaid, he was quite aware of the inconvenience which must necessarily result to the House from any impediment being thrown in the way to delay the resumption of the important debate which stood adjourned from last night, and he was anxious not to be the means of offering any such interruption. But he was sure, that the House would feel, that after the great number of petitions which had been presented, praying for the abolition of church-rates, and, considering the very great excitement which prevailed throughout the country on that subject, it would be impossible for him to forego occupying some portion of the time of the House with the motion of which he had given notice, unless the House, in consideration of his forbearance, would allow him to bring in his bill without further remark at present, it being understood, that it should be fully discussed on the motion for the second reading. Unless the House would consent to this arrangement—reluctant as he was to occupy its time on au occasion like the present—it would be utterly impossible for him, consistently with his duty to his constituents, and to the petitioners on the question, to give way. In the hope, however, that no opposition would be thrown in the way of the arrangement which he had proposed with the view of consulting the convenience of the House, he should now briefly move for leave to bring in a bill to abo- 186 lish church-rates, and to make other provision for the repair of churches.
§ Lord John Russellsaid, the bill which the hon. Member wished to introduce, proposed not only to abolish church-rates, but to make other provision for the repair of churches. If such was the object of the hon. Gentleman's bill, he (Lord John Russell), could see no objection to its being laid on the Table, under the arrangement the hon. Gentleman proposed; because he thought there could be no division of opinion as to the propriety of abolishing church-rates, were other means provided in lieu of them for the repairs of the church. He, for one, therefore, should not object to the first reading of the hon. Member's bill, reserving to himself the right of opposing it, either in part or whole, should he see occasion to do so, on the second reading.
§ Dr. Nichollcould not be brought to think, that upon a question of such vast importance as the present, the way proposed of dealing with it was a proper one for the House to adopt. He did not think the hon. Member entitled to bring forward a measure for changing the law of the land, after the unanimous decision of the Court of Exchequer upon a writ of error, without, at least, laying some ground for such a course. Nor did he think the House would act properly in allowing the hon. Member for Leicester to lay on the Table such a measure, without making a statement of the views he wished the House to adopt. At the same time, he thought it impossible that in the present state of the House, the subject could be fairly discussed; and, therefore, he should move as an amendment, that the Order of the Day for the adjourned debate on the motion for going into committee of ways and means, be now read.
§ Sir R. H. Inglisseconded the amendment, as he could not concur in the expediency, under any circumstances, of bringing in such a measure as that now proposed. On the present occasion, he was sure, that there were not six Members in the House, who expected, that any other subject than the adjourned debate upon the order of the day for going into committee of ways and means, would have taken place this evening.
§ Mr. Easthopesaid, that he would still adhere to his intention of consulting the convenience of the House, as far as possi 187 ble, and would refrain, therefore, at the present moment, from noticing the remarks of the hon. Member for Cardiff upon the general merits of this question. At the same time, however, he could not help observing, that a very high authority in that House (Sir Robert Peel), when the question of church-rates was before the House six years ago (May 25, 1835), stated that:—
So far as any question could be important to the maintenance of social harmony, to the promotion of satisfaction among the great body of dissenters, there was not a single question, excepting that of the Irish church, which so much pressed for an immediate practical settlement, as this of church-rates.He, as he said before, did not wish to take up the time of the House at a moment when there was so general an impatience to resume the adjourned debate. But would the House say, after the great mass of petitions which had been presented from all parts of the country on this important subject, that it would not give them the slightest attention? Were the people to be told, that having petitioned so generally on this subject, and a day being fixed for the consideration of their demands, the House, after all, would not so much as entertain the subject, or would, at most, pay just so much attention to the prayers of the people as was necessary to cast them aside altogether? This was indeed a very Irish way of entertaining the question. Having said so much, he should not trespass upon the attention of the House with further remarks, but as between the motion which he had made, and the amendment which had been moved by the hon. and learned Member for Cardiff, should at once throw himself upon the justice of the House.
§ Lord J. Russellsaid, that after the opening observations made by the hon. Member for Leicester, he, for one, was quire ready to allow the introduction of the hon. Members' bill this evening, reserving the discussion upon it till the second reading. As, however, this arrangement, had been opposed by some hon. Members, he, considering the circumstances in which the House was placed, could not, if the question were pressed to a division, go so far as to vote in favour of the motion of the hon. Member for Leicester.
§ Mr. Humesaid, that although he should have been prepared to vote in favour of his hon. Friend's motion, if pressed to a division, yet, after the declaration which had just been made by the noble Lord, the Secretary for the Colonial Department, he did not think that there would be any use in so doing, and therefore he should, under the circumstances, recommend his hon. Friend not to press his motion at present, but rather to fix another early day when the subject might be brought forward without interruption.
§ Mr. Easthopesaid he hoped that the House would believe that he was very reluctant thus for one moment to engage its attention, contrary to the general sense of its Members; but he should be neglecting his duty to his constituents, and the numerous petitioners who had entrusted their cause into his hands, if he had consented to withdraw his motion without doing everything within his power to obtain a full and early discussion, at the earliet possible time that he could. As it was clear that he could not proceed further with any advantage, he would withdraw his motion for the present, giving, at the same time, notice that he should again bring the subject forward on this day fortnight.
§ Amendment and motion withdrawn.