§ The Earl of Radnor moved the Order of the Day for the further Consideration of the Report on the Stafford Bribery Bill.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, that when he had first heard of the Bill, he had felt a great objection to it, because bethought it was more calculated to encourage than to prevent bribery; and if the Bill had not been much altered up-stairs, he should have felt it his duty to have opposed its passing into a law. Evidence had, however, been given before that 1343 Committee, which had proved in the clearest manner, that bribery, to an unparalleled extent, had prevailed in the borough of Stafford for a great many years, and the Committee were unanimously of opinion, that the preamble of the Bill had been fully proved. Under these circumstances, he concurred in the propriety of giving the Select Committee of the House of Commons the powers of indemnifying witnesses, as provided in this Bill; which had been also greatly improved in another respect—namely, that the indemnification should not be extended to the candidates at the last election. He thought it was essentially necessary, that those who had carried on the bribery should not be exempted from the operation of the law. Under all these circumstances, he should withdraw his opposition to the Bill.
§ Report agreed to.