HC Deb 11 August 1854 vol 135 cc1547-8
SIR WILLIAM JOLLIFFE

said, the last Motion he had to bring forward on this subject was, that a new writ should issue for the borough of Kingston upon Hull.

Motion made, and Question proposed— That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a Writ for the electing of two Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Town of Kingston upon Hull, in the room of James Clay, esquire, and George Frederick Samuel Robinson, esquire, commonly called Viscount Goderich, whose Election has been determined to be void.

MR. HUME

said, he begged to ask the noble Lord whether, if the Bribery Bill failed, he would consider all had been done that could be done by legislation, and be prepared to try the ballot.

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

said, he did not think the ballot would be a remedy, and could not admit that the question of further legislation was affected by the failure of this Bill, because parts of the Bill recommended by the Committee had not been agreed to, and the Controverted Elections Bill had been withdrawn. He supposed his hon. Friend would give ten or twenty years for this experiment. At all events, he did not think the trial of the ballot in these isolated cases would be a fair experiment, because if these places, having been made notorious, intended to regain their character, whatever the mode, the elections would be pure.

MR. T. DUNCOMBE

said, he thought this a most painful and humiliating discussion, and that the majority of the Government was disgracefully small, considering the period of the Session, when independent Members generally were gone out of town. In his view, they committed a great injustice if they issued these writs and refused to restore the franchise to St. Albans and Sudbury. He expected much, however, from the promised Reform Bill of the noble Lord next Session. He trusted it would give an extension of the franchise; but, with the infusion of new blood, he hoped there would also be improved conduct. He regretted that he should have to trouble the House by taking one more division.

SIR FITZROY KELLY

said, he wished to give notice that it was his intention in the next Session of Parliament to reintroduce the Bill which he had this year presented to Parliament, for enabling voters to give their votes by written declaration before the magistrates in every parish, which would at once and for ever dispose of the perplexing questions of travelling expenses and expenses of refreshment, and render resort to the ballot unnecessary.

Question put.

The House divided:—Ayes 50; Noes 30: Majority 20.

The House adjourned a quarter before Seven o'clock.