HC Deb 18 February 1863 vol 169 cc469-71

Order for Second Reading read.

MR. HADFIELD

moved the second reading of this Bill.

MR. BAINES

seconded the Motion.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."

MR. NEWDEGATE

rose to move an Amendment that the Bill be read that day six months. The hon. Member who had moved the second reading seemed to think that the House would, as a matter of course, assent to the Motion. There had certainly been a small majority in that House for the Bill, but there was also a considerable minority whom he seemed to think would not venture to express their opinion. He seemed to think there was no other House of Legislature, although last year the House of Lords, by way of informing the hon. Member of their determination, rejected the Bill by a majority of thirty-three, after the third reading had been carried in the House of Commons by a majority of thirteen only. The hon. Member was therefore carrying on warfare at once against the House of Lords and against the Church of England. Upon every possible occasion the Liberals took the most direct means to destroy the order of things which the law authorized. That might be political consistency—it might be progress in their sense—but it meant a downward course towards the absolutism of democracy. When, the Test and Corporation Acts were repealed, a declaration was retained which obliged the members of municipal corporations to declare on their acceptance of office that they would not use the influence, power, and functions of their corporate office in order to assail, weaken, or spoliate the Church of England. The Bill even went further than absolving them from these obligations, for it now pro- posed that any one who held office, commission, or patent, of any kind, under the State, should be at liberty to use the powers, functions, and influence of their position to attack the Church of England. They were asked to reverse the principle on which the whole course of our legislation for thirty-two years had proceeded. He trusted, therefore, that the majority of the House would reconsider this subject, and refuse to give the Bill a second reading.

Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day six months."

Question put, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."

The House divided:—Ayes 74; Noes 63: Majority 11.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read 2°, and committed for Tomorrow.

AYES.
Atherton, Sir W. Johnstone, Sir J.
Ayrton, A. S. King, hon. P. J. L.
Aytoun, R. S. Knatchbull-Hugessen, E
Baxter, W. E. Layard, A. H.
Bazley, T. Langton, W. H. G.
Blencowe, J. G. Lawson, W.
Bonham-Carter, J. Lewis, H.
Bouverie, hon. P. P. Maguire, J. F.
Brand, hon. H. Martin, J.
Briscoe, J. I. Massey, W. N.
Butler, C. S. Mills, J. R.
Butt, I. Morrison, W.
Buxton, C. Onslow, G.
Cardwell, rt. hon. E. Packe, Colonel
Clifford, C. C. Padmore, R.
Clifton, Sir R. J. Paget, C.
Cobbett, J. M. Pender, J.
Cobden, R. Potter, E.
Cox, W. Raynham, Viscount
Dalglish, R. Roebuck, J. A.
Denman, hon. G. Russell, A.
Dodson, J. G. Seymour, W. D.
Enfield, Viscount Sidney, T.
Evans, T. W. Stansfeld, J.
Ewing, H. E. Crum- Taylor, P. A.
Fenwick, H. Trelawny, Sir J. S.
Forster, W. E. Warner, E.
Gaskell, J. M. Westhead, J. P. Brown-
Gavin, Major Whalley. G. H.
Gibson, rt. hon. T. M. White, J.
Gilpin, C. White, L.
Goldsmid, Sir F. H. Williams, W.
Gower, hon. F.L. Winnington, Sir T. E.
Gower, G. W. G. L. Wood, W.
Grenfell, H. R. Wyld, J.
Grey, rt. hon. Sir G.
Headlam, rt. hon. T. E. TELLERS.
Henley, Lord Mr. Hadfield
Herbert, rt. hon. H. A. Mr. Baines
NOES.
Adderley, rt. hon. C. B. Liddell, hon. H. G.
Arbuthnott, hon. Gen. M'Cormick, W.
Barttelot, Colonel Mackie, J.
Beach, W. W. B. Mills, A.
Beecroft, G. S. Montgomery, Sir G.
Benyon, R. Mordaunt, Sir C.
Booth, Sir R. G. Morgan, O.
Bridges, Sir B. W. Morritt, W. J. S.
Chapman, J. Naas, Lord
Clive, Capt. hon. G. W. Northcote, Sir S. H.
Cubitt, G. Packe, C. W.
Dickson, Colonel Palk, Sir L.
Dunne, Colonel Parker, Major W.
Dutton, hon. R. H. Patten, Colonel W.
Elphinstone, Sir J. D. Peel, rt. hon. Gen.
Fane, Colonel J. W. Powell, F. S.
Farquhar, Sir M. Ridley, Sir M. W.
Ferrand, W. Rowley, hon. R. T.
Forester, rt. hon. Gen. Seymer, H. K.
Gard, R. S. Spooner, R.
Getty, S. G. Stuart, Lt.-Col. W.
Grogan, Sir E. Stracey, Sir H.
Haliburton, T. C. Sturt, Lt.-Col. N.
Hamilton, Lord C. Torrens, R.
Hamilton, Major Trefusis, hon. C. H. R.
Hardy, G. Turner, C.
Henley, rt. hon. J. W. Watlington, J. W. P.
Heygate, Sir F. W. Whitmore, H.
Hodgson, R. Wynn, C. W. W.
Hotham, Lord
Howes, E. TELLERS.
Hunt, G. W. Mr. Selwyn
Johnstone, J. J. H. Mr. Newdegate
Knox, Colonel