HC Deb 30 June 1853 vol 128 cc1074-9

Order read, for resuming adjourned Debate on Question [29th June], "That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a New Writ for the electing of two Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Liverpool, in the room of Charles Turner and William Forbes Mackenzie, esquires, whose Elections have been determined to be void."

Question again proposed.

Debate resumed.

LORD DUDLEY STUART

said, he wished simply to make a statement, if hon. Gentlemen would do him the favour to hear him. ["Oh, oh!"] He did not wish to detain them at that late hour, but he wished to move that the writ for Liverpool should be suspended until the 20th of July. His reason for fixing that day was, that he wished to have an opportunity for asking leave to bring in a Bill to provide that at the next election for Liverpool the votes should be taken by ballot. He had ascertained that the 19th of July was the earliest day which could be placed at his disposal, and he had therefore fixed the 20th for the issuing of the writ. He would not further trespass on the time of the House, but would move that the writ be suspended until the 20th of July.

MR. H. BERKELEY

seconded the Motion.

Amendment proposed, "To leave out from the word 'That' to the end of the Question, in order to add the words 'no new Writ be issued for the Borough of Liverpool before Wednesday, 20th July 'instead thereof."

Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question."

MR. HINDLEY

said, considering the hour, he felt it his duty to move the adjournment of the House."

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, he understood the evidence taken before the Committee had not yet been printed. It was clear that the House ought to act according to former precedents, in which case the House would postpone the issuing of the writ until the evidence was printed. As, however, he could not agree with his noble Friend (Lord D. Stuart) in doing so for the purpose of enabling him to bring forward a measure for taking the votes at that election by ballot, he was disposed to move, that the writ should not be issued until that day fortnight.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

said, he was of opinion that the noble Lord the Member for Marylebone had no case; and as no one could tell when the evidence would be printed and mastered by the Members of that House, he hoped the noble Lord would not persevere in his Motion, and so prevent an important borough like Liverpool from being represented.

MR. MALINS

said, it was the rule of that House not to suspend the writ unless the Committee had made a Special Report. In this case, on the contrary, they had reported that there was no reason for the suspension of the writ. He did not think the House ought to depart from the rules already laid down, and trusted the House would direct the writ to issue.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, that as the Committee had recommended the issuing of the writ, he would not oppose it.

MR. HINDLEY

said, he would not press his Motion for the adjournment.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question," put, and agreed to.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Ordered— That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a New Writ for the electing of two Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Liverpool, in the room of Charles Turner and William Forbes Mackenzie, esquires, whose Elections have been determined to be void.

The House adjourned at Three o'clock.