§ Ordered,—That all Members who are returned for two or more places in any part of the United Kingdom do make their election for which of the places they will serve, within one week after it shall appear that there is no question upon the Return for that place; and if anything shall come in question touching the Return or Election of any Member, he is to withdraw during the time the matter is in debate; and that all Members returned upon double Returns do withdraw till their Returns are determined.
§ Resolved,—That no Peer of the Realm, except such Peers of Ireland as shall for the time being be actually elected, and shall not have declined to serve, for any county, city, or borough of Great 38 Britain, hath any right to give his vote in the Election of any Member to serve in Parliament.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (SIR MICHAEL HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W., moved:—
That it is a high infringement of the liberties and privileges of the Commons of the United Kingdom for any Lord of Parliament or other Peer or Prelate, not being a Peer of Ireland at the time elected, and not having declined to serve for any county, city, or borough of Great Britain, to concern himself in the Election of Members to serve for the Commons in Parliament, except only any Peer of Ireland, at such Elections in Great Britain respectively where such Peer shall appear as a candidate, or by himself, or any others, be proposed to be elected; or for any Lord Lieutenant or Governor of any county to avail himself of any authority derived from his Commission, to influence the Election of any Member to serve for the Commons in Parliament.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet), rising amid the cheers of the Irish Members, said he desired to ask the Government whether they were of opinion that any good object was served—[cheers]—by the retention upon the Order Book of the House of a Resolution which it was notorious must be evaded, which the House had no means of enforcing, and which he thought scarcely redounded to the credit or the dignity of the House. He questioned whether the House would do right to again assent to this Motion and expressed his readiness to take the sense of the House in regard to it. [Cheers.] He objected, to the House passing any resolution at all with regard to the alleged interference of peers in elections.
The House divided:—Ayes, 334; Noes, 68.—(Division List, No. 1.)
Resolved,—That if it shall appear that any person hath been elected or returned a Member of this House, or endeavoured so to be, by Bribery, or any other corrupt practices, this House will proceed with the utmost severity against all such persons as shall have been wilfully concerned in such Bribery or other corrupt practices.