§ Mr. Fieldensaid, it would be in the recollection of hon. Members, that, yesterday morning, after; he resolution of the noble Lord had been put to the House, he had proposed an adjournment of the debate; that motion had been seconded by the hon. Member for Finsbury, and since he had come to the House that evening, he had been told, that the hon. Member for Ashton, who was in the gallery at the time, had also seconded it. Now that motion ought to have been entertained. He had been asked by his hon. Friend, the Member for Kilkenny, to withdraw his motion, on the understanding that at some future time he should have an opportunity of stating his opinions on the subject. What he complained of was, that his motion for adjourning the debate had been disposed of without his consent. The Speaker had never asked him if he would take the sense of the House. The right hon. Gentleman had not put it to the House if they would divide on it. He thought he had a right to complain. It was a question affecting the privilege of his constituents. He thought it probable, that the House might have rejected his motion, but he complained of its having been rejected without a division. His hon. Friend the Member for Kilkenny could bear testimony that he had been asked to withdraw his motion, on the understanding that he should have an opportunity given him, on some future occasion, of speaking on the subject of the previous debate; and he had risen to speak when the noble Lord, the Secretary for the Colonies, had proposed his amendment. He had risen more than a dozen times during the debate to make known his sentiments, but had not been able to attract the Speaker's notice. He did not complain of that. He knew how difficult it was for the Speaker to see every Member who rose. But yesterday morning, between three and four o'clock, he had risen to move the adjournment, as he wished to enter into explanations as to the 675 reasons which would influence him in giving his vote. He had been asked to proceed with his speech, but he refused to do so, and at that hour of the morning it could hardly have been expected. He wanted to know why his motion for the adjournment was rejected—why it was not put from the Chair—and a division taken on the question of adjournment. Before he said anything more, he hoped to have an answer to that question.
§ The Speakerfelt, that he could give the best answer to the question of the hon. Member, and he could state, that if the motion had been seconded, he should certainly have put it from the Chair. After the hon. Member had put the question, he (the Speaker) asked who seconded the motion, and he paused two or three seconds for an answer. No hon. Member in his view seconded it, and he had then proceeded to read the question to the House. As he was reading the question he saw the hon. Member for Finsbury rise, but he did not understand him to say a single word, or to second the motion. He appealed to hon. Members near him whether he was in error, and they concurred with him that the hon. Member had not addressed the House. He concluded, therefore, that the motion was not seconded, and he certainly did not see the hon. Member in the gallery; he had only heard that since the adjournment, and was not aware of it at the time. If he had been aware of it, of course it would have been his duty to put the question.
§ Mr. Wakleycould easily understand that the Speaker was in doubt and difficulty as to what was passing in the House. There was certainly noise and confusion in his (Mr. Wakley's) part of the House, as well as near the Chair. He recollected the Speaker asking who seconded it, and he (Mr. Wakley) had risen from his seat, and said, "I do Sir," but he could easily believe that the Speaker did not hear him, for there was considerable noise in his part of the House, and several hon. Members cried "Don't second it."
§ Sir R. H. Inglissaw the hon. Member for Finsbury rise, but did not hear him say a single word.
§ Mr. Fieldenwas understood to ask why, when he had risen a second time to press his question, it was not put?
§ The Speakerhad omitted to state why the question was not put when the hon. Member rose a second time. The hon. Member did not rise until after the voices 676 had been given in the negative, and the hon. Member's motion could not then, according to the practice of the House, be put. He would also state, that when he observed no hon. Member rise and second the motion, he had said, in the hearing of several hon. Members near him, "There is no seconder."
§ Mr. Fielden,not having had an opportunity of speaking during the debate, would send the speech he intended to make to the newspapers. And he would tell them more, that what he had sent he had written before, and if hon. Members would write beforehand what they intended to speak, they would save a great deal of the time of the House. That would enable hon. Members and the public to see what were his sentiments on the subject.