§ 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 any thing 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 Britain, hath any right to give his vote in the Election of any Member to serve in Parliament.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "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 79 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."(Sir A. Acland-Hood.)
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)said he proposed to move the omission of certain words, the effect of which would be to confine the operation of the order to the cases of Lords Lieutenants of counties. He did not think the House should continue to endeavour to enforce an authority which they did not possess.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)seconded. He was as great a stickler, he said, for the maintenance of the privileges of the House as anyone, but it did seem to him to be derogatory to the dignity of Parliament for it to pass an order year after year which it had not the courage to enforce.
§
Amendment proposed—
To leave out from the word 'Kingdom,' in line 2, to the word 'for,' in line 8."—(Mr. James Lowther.)
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's)The right hon. Gentleman has now raised this question in several sessions, and on each occasion the House by its vote has shown its desire by considerable majorities to maintain this Order. I am not aware of any fresh argument or new circumstances to justify a departure from the practice the House has followed for so many years. In individual instances, no doubt, the Order may not have been observed in the past, and it may be true that the House has no power to enforce it, but I think there are objections which outweigh even these considerations. I believe the Order has a salutary effect, and that it keeps alive a very useful tradition which has worked well in the past. I am sure that the House would not desire that Peers should interfere in elections, neither do I believe that they themselves desire to do so, but I believe 80 that if this Order were deliberately abrogated it would be a direct invitation to them to do so. Under these circumstances I venture to suggest that the House should leave well alone. This is not a matter in which the Government feel great interest, but they do hold that a Sessional Order which has obtained for so many years ought not thus to be changed unless by general consensus of opinion and with the general support of the House. Under these circumstances, I ask the House to reject the Amendment and to pass the Order as usual.
§ Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question," put, and agreed to.
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.
§ Resolved, 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.
§ 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.