COUNTING OUT THE HOUSE—COM PLETE SUFFRAGE. (Hansard, 17 March 1843)

§ Mr. S. Crawford
said he would take that opportunity of stating the course he intended to pursue with respect to his motion, which stood as a "dropped motion, by the early, and to him unexpected, motion of yesterday for counting out" the House. He must say, with respect to that motion, that he had never witnessed, on the part of any Government, such an attempt to defeat the order of the proceedings as they had been set down on the book of notices. In the first place, there was an attempt to prevent the "making of a House," and it was with very great difficulty that a sufficient number of 1081 Members were got together to make one. No sooner was it made, however, than an effort was made to prevent any business from being done, and he had no doubt that the great object was to get rid of his motion (to secure the full representation of the people, and to shorten the duration of Parliament), which stood first on the Orders of the Day. No sooner was the House made than several Members on the Treasury side slunk away. The right hon. Baronet at the head of the Government made his appearance at about half past four o'clock, and he thought that that was the signal for rallying against his motion, and that the discussion would be allowed to proceed; but he was mistaken. A motion was made that the House be "counted." He did not hear it put, and the first intimation that he got of it was by hearing the Speaker "ordering strangers to withdraw." Who made the motion he did not exactly know; but, as well as he could judge from the position in which he stood, he should say that it came from the Premier himself. If that were so, he must say that it was an uncalled-for exercise of that right hon. Gentleman's influence, for that right hon. Baronet knew that he could, at any time, command a majority against his motion. Whatever might have been the fate of his motion had it gone to a division, he did not think that the earnest petitions of the people ought to have been treated with such utter disregard by the right hon. Baronet and those who supported him. As far as depended on him, he would still endeavour to obtain a hearing for the voice of the people, and a discussion of their petitions. He felt a difficulty as to naming any day, for after waiting for five or six more, and getting his notice at the head of the order book, it might be got rid of by such a motion as that of yesterday. He would not, therefore, trust to that chance; but would bring forward his motion as an amendment to (he first motion for going into committee of Supply. He would fix it for Friday next, if that should be a Supply day—for he would not again submit to the chance of having it "burked." He repeated, that he would move it as an amendment to the motion for going into committee of Supply, unless he got some assurance from Ministers that they would assist in making an opening for him.

§ Sir R. Peel
was surprised at the state- 1082 ment of the hon. Member with respect to his motion. He had, as he generally endeavoured to do, come down to the House at half-past four o'clock, which he certainly would not have done had he imagined that there would not have been a House. As to the motion for counting out the House, he could assure the hon. Member that he had taken no part in it. Indeed, when he heard the hon. Member mention his presence at half-past four, he thought the hon. Member was going to pay him a compliment on his punctuality. He was therefore rather surprised to hear the hon. Member charge him with having been the party who moved that the House be "counted." That part of the hon. Member's statement, he must say, was wholly without foundation. As to the day which the hon. Member fixed, he hoped he would not press his motion on Friday next, as on that day his right hon. Friend intended to submit his motion for the pro motion of education.

§ Mr. S. Crawford
had no wish to do anything which would interfere with the Government business. He would therefore, if there were no objection, name Monday next.

§ Sir R. Peel
said, let it be Monday week, and he would do everything in his power to enable the hon. Member to bring it forward. He could assure the hon. Member he had no wish whatever to prevent the full discussion of his motion.

§ Mr. S. Crawford
said, that after the explanation of the right hon. Baronet no blame could attach to him personally for the motion by which he (Mr. Craw ford's) motion had been got' rid of yester day. The hon. Member then fixed his motion for Monday week, but subsequently named Thursday, the 30th inst., as the day for its discussion.