Lord Brougham, in presenting a petition from the traders of London, complaining of the operation, more particularly of that of the 20l. clauses, of the Act of last year, took occasion, in warmly supporting the petition, to express his conviction that it was essential Parliament should, during the present Session, and as soon as possible in it, take some steps for remedying the manifold inconvenience, the ruinous injustice, which the measure complained of had inflicted upon the whole retail trade of the country. He should prefer the remedy for these evils to proceed from the Government itself; but if no one else took up the subject, he most certainly should do so, the more especially that he thought he saw his way to an effectual remedy.
§ Lord Cottenhamsaid, that innumerable communications from all parts of the country, and his own observations, enabled him fully to bear out his noble and learned Friend in his statement as to the excessively injurious operation of the measure referred to upon the retail trade of this country. The Act of last year, while it abolished imprisonment for debts under 20l., gave the unfortunate creditor no practical remedy whatever. He was exceedingly glad to hear his noble and learned Friend intimate his intention to take up the subject should the Government fail to do so.
Lord Campbellhad also received complaints from many shopkeepers of the operation of the 20l. Clause, and he should be glad to know what were the intentions of Her Majesty's Government in respect to this matter. Their Lordships all had very great confidence in the ability of his noble and learned Friend; but it would be still more satisfactory if the Government would take the matter into their own hands.
The Lord Chancellorsaid, he should have been extremely obliged to his noble and learned Friend, if he had given him notice of his intention to put a question upon this important subject. The measure referred to was not a Government measure; it emanated from a Committee, and in the course of the discussion upon it he suggested a clause, which was considered in Committee, and adopted. If, as his no- 1318 ble and learned Friend had said, the clause was productive of inconvenience, the Committee might be reappointed to reconsider it. He did not think he was acting for the Government when he suggested the clause. He would consider the subject, and on Monday next mention what course should be taken.
§ Lord Ashburtonreminded their Lordships of what he had before endeavoured to impress upon them, that the system of legislation upon this subject had been conducted without due consideration for the interests of the principal sufferers, the creditors. He thought their Lordships would neglect their duty if they allowed the present Session to pass over without doing something to remedy the evil.