6 JUNE 1835, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK. liament during the week.

Lissa' night, the long-expected scheme of Municipal Reform was

introduced to the House of Commons, by Lord JOHN I1 for three years, and the payment of three years' rates for any terse- this would only affect the relative values of gold and silver coin to meat, are the sole qualifications for a burgess. Speaking gene- rally, therefore, it may be said that all who pay municipal taxes the extent of fourpence on the sovereign. According to Mr. Potr- however small their amount, will by this bill gain municipal LETT THOMSON, the effect of the alteration would be very doubtful, privileges. The most important of these privileges will be the

right to vote for members of a Town-Council, or Local Parliament. same opinion. The panacea for landed ailments has not yet, then, The Town-Council is to be elected for three years ; one-third of been discovered. It is worthy of remark, that nothing was Sail the members to go out annually, and their places to be supplied of reducing rents, except with reference to the distress which the by the constituent body. The Mayor is to be elected annually by reduction would bring upon the heavily-encumbered landowner: the Council. The powers and duties of the Town-Council will be there was little cant about the sufferings of the farmer on this very extensive. They will appoint town-clerks, treasurers, and occasion. Sir ROBERT PEEL stoutly defended the bill of 1819, other officers; control absolutely the expenditure of the corporate and denied that its consequences were so disastrous: he also de- funds of every description ; have the management of the police dared, that if there was to be a depreciation, it would be wiser at and licensing of public-houses; and nominate Justices of the once to fix its amount, and make the sovereign a legal tender at 25s. Peace, subject to the confirmation of the Crown. The Mayor Mr.Ric HARM sagaciously justified the depreciation of the currency, Is to be a Justice of the Peace for the county as well as by a retbrence to the gambling of stockjobbers, and the operations town. A Recorder will be appointed by the King, and Quarter- of the Bank of England. In the same way, any piece of folly or sessions established, in those places where the Town-Council think iniquity may have an apology. Of course the House laughed at it desirable, 'and are willing to pay the expenses; but in those Mr. RICHARDS; who contrived, even on this subject, to vent some only. All the exclusive rights of trading, peculiar privileges of of his renegade spite upon the Ministry. Mr. CAYLEY'S motion certain companies, Sc.c. are to be utterly abolished. The noun- was rejected by a majority of 216 to 126; and we hope that them dories of the cities and boroughs are to extend to a distance of will be no more unprofitable discussions on this interminable sub-

seven miles, and be generally similar to those of towns electing

Members under the Reform Act. For a more minute detail of the On Tuesday, Ministers united with the Tory Opposition to de- provisions of the bill, we refer to Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S opening feat Mr. Glum's motion in favour of taking votes at elections by

speech. the Ballot. The numbers, including tellers, were 319 and 146 ;

It will not be easy to over-estimate the value and importance of but 14 paired off for the motion : thus Ballot now numbers tins measure. Ministers have aimed a deadly blow at the system of 160 supporters among the National Representatives. When local corruption and misgovernment which has demoralized the the question was tried in the last Parliament, the majority was laud. For irresponsible self-election, a system of popular control 211 to 108; so that the proportions have not materially varied. is substitued. Profligate corporators will no longer be permitted It was to be expected that the large increase of Anti-Refornsers, to waste public and charitable funds in debauchery, or the bribing and men who had gained their elections by bribery and intimida- of voters. The squirearchy will be deprived of their great handle tion, would be felt on this division. On the other hand, the num- of- . oppression, the licensing of alehouses; and the sphere of their hers of the advocates for the Ballot, or the really independent jurisdiction as Justices of the Peace will be materially curtailed by exercise of the franchise, have been materially augmented, in ntrusion of the Justices appointed by the Town-Council, spite of some disadvantages under which the question was brought weehos powers will extend seven miles into the country in all forward ; for, in the opinion of several, Mr. GROTE should have directions. Town-clerks will no longer be nominated by noble given way, and allowed Lord JOHN RUSSELL the opportunity of patrons of boroughs, to do their dirty work, and keep up their laying before the House his measure of Corporation Reform. Still, election influence : it will be the people's own fault if they be however, although the friends of the Ballot have not increased in not honest and faithful municipal officers. In short, the measure the House in any thing like the proportion that they have been is essentially popular : it makes representation coextensive with augmented out of doors, we have to record an addition of 52 votes. taxation, cuts down aristocratical and squirearchical authority, The minority in its favour is now at least formidable—larger than and insures good local government, by establishing direct popular that of the Whigs for many years, and than all the force which control over the governing body. We therefore call upon the the Tories could muster in the last Parliament. This being the enemies of corruption and the friends of political improvement to case, was it not perfectly childish in Lord STANLEY to talk as he give this measure their energetic support. It is indeed worthy of did of settling the question by an adverse vote, and of the impolicy support ; and we may rest assured that the utmost exertions of the of encouraging the idea that it was to remain unsettled till the Reformers will be required to carry it in its integrity. Its cense- next session ? Why, Lord STANLEY, you will never be able to quences will be well enough understood by the Tories to warrant settle this question till it is carried. In Parliament and in the their cordial hatred. country, the cry for the Ballot becomes annually louder; and no Sit ROBERT PEEL was tco cautious last night to speak out Whig lordling, no Tory charlatan, no Minister of State, whatever

on the subject. He is aware that the bill will delight and animate may be his politics or his party, will be able to stifle it.

the nation; and it does not suit his present tactics to say that he The most distinguished convert to the'Eallot was Mr. WARD., OpPoses such a measure. He therefore only hinted at faults of We hope it will not turn out that Sir ihirfitY Pexn'LL is a back; NEws OF THE WEF:X— 2 East India Slipping 526 detail, pretended to see grave difficulties where none of any Proceerlingsin Parliament— Corpo.. Permit Paint Mg, by B. It. Ilaydon 536 moment exist, and reserved his opinion on every point of' ration Reform — The Ballot — The Ballot Division 537 importance. The Reformers will not be cheated into false security tion of the Currency—The M"ol. 'The Renegade Member for West. by Sir ROBERT'S present smoothness. The most important provi- verliampton Affray-Sabbath Billntinster 537 sions of the bill are those which confer the right of voting for —Mr. Andrew Johnston and his }lints to Lord John Russell 53; members of the Town-Council on all permanent householders ; Mr. Charlton 52; The Ballot Debate 539 and those which secure to the constituent body, by annual elec. The Court 533 SererA.rou's LIBRARY— lions, an efficient control over the management of their own The !Metropolis 533 Colonization of South Australia— affairs : and on these parts of the measure Sir ROBERT PEEL Epsom Races 534 —The Paella. of Many 'tale.— gives no decided opinion, but insinuates objections to them. To Ireland 535 Villim s —M y Life —II piranha . . 539 what forms the pith and chief value of the bill, he is hostile. The Iiscellancous 533 Pictures and Artists 513 people will care little about the minor alterations or improvements The Army 535 New Music . 545 which he suggests: but if he or his party attempt to mutilate the Prices Current essential features of the measure, then the national spirit will, we

Several other subjects of interest have been discussed in Par- Mr. CAYLEY persisted, on Monday, in his motion for a Com- mittee on Agricultural Distress and the Currency. Mr. CAYLEY

very fully confirmed our estimate of the demands of the farmer. He declared that he was of the same opinion now as in 1832, when sions, that it is a large and comprehensive ry of the main measure, base pd on rove- he told the Comulittee on Agricultural Distress, that unless the price of wheat rose to above 60s. the quarter, rents must be re- sound principles, and exceedingly popular in its bearings. clawed 25 per cent. According to the landed gentlemen, among One hundred and eighty-three cities and boroughs in England whom Mr. CAYLEY is one of the most honest and intelligent, it is and Wales, comprising upwards of two millions of inhabitants, will necessary for their salvation from ruin that wheat should be raised fall under the operation of this bill. It is proposed to repeal all acts, 20s. a quarter by some means; and as high corn-duties will not charters, and customs inconsistent with the provisions of the bill ;

bring this to pass, they have recourse to tampering with the cur- and to erect in each of the 183 cities and boroughs a new munici- rency. Thus, Mr. CAYLEY would produce a depreciation by sub- polity, to consist of a Mayor and Burgesses. Permanent residence stituting a silver for a gold standard. According to Mr. CLAY, for three years, and the payment of three years' rates for any terse- this would only affect the relative values of gold and silver coin to meat, are the sole qualifications for a burgess. Speaking gene- rally, therefore, it may be said that all who pay municipal taxes the extent of fourpence on the sovereign. According to Mr. Potr- however small their amount, will by this bill gain municipal LETT THOMSON, the effect of the alteration would be very doubtful, and variable; and Lord ASHBURTON, it seems, has expressed the

ject during the session.

speech. the Ballot. The numbers, including tellers, were 319 and 146 ;

slider from it. He voted for Mr. GROTE'S former motion, and mentioned that vote to his Dundee constituents as one proof of his having faithfully represented them. But where was he on Tuesday night ? We hope he has an apology which the electors of Dundee will consider satisfactory.

We do not find the name of a single Government official in the minority. Was this really made a Cabinet question, then ? Have the Whigs again committed the error of straining Government influence to forward Tory purposes and defeat their own friends ? if so, we can only warn them how they repeat it. No Ministry can possibly sustain itself against a repetition of such monstrous impolicy. We have too friendly a feeling towards Lord Mse- Bounra and his colleagues to pursue this subject further.

The debate produced several excellent speeches. Mr. GROTE'S was admirable for an opening address,—sound in logic, concili- atory in its tone, and we might almost say exhaustive of the ar- guments on the subject. Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH followed with a spirit-stirring description of the evil consequences of inti- midation at the last general election. lie illustrated the argu- ments of Mr. GROTE by a reference to facts and occurrences at the contest in Devonshire, which told well in the House, and which Lord JOHN RUSSELL could not have heard unmoved. Of the other speeches, Mr. CHARLES BULLER'S was by far the most effective. None of the reports do justice to this masterly effort., Mr. BULLER kept the House in a state of constantly excited attention. His analysis of the South Devonshire poll showed at once where the strength of the Tories lies, and how the 50/. clause in the Re- form Act works in their favour. Where men can vote as they like, the Liberals have a majority ; where they dare not offend their landlords, the Tories carry the day ; and as in the Counties the great majority of the landholders are Tories, it follows, that the County representation, in defiance of the Reform Act, will be Tory also, unless means are taken to protect the voters. But these means the Whigs refuse. Mr. GISBORNE'S conduct was unaccountable, and strangely in- consistent. He moved the previous question on Mr. GROTE'S motion, although lie declared himself an advocate for secret voting, —merely because Mr. GROTE had not explained the machinery by which he would secure it. He professed his unwillingness to give the motion a direct negative, as he was almost in favour of it; and yet withdrew his own motion, in order that Lord Jonsr RUSSELL might do the very thing which he wished to prevent; and finally, Mr. GISBORNE voted with Mr. GROTE, whose proposition he set out with opposing and attempting to ridicule. Mr. GIs- BORNE is a very clever Member of Parliament, and a favourite orator; but no man's reputation can long survive such trilling on serious subjects.

The conduct of the Magistrates and Military at Wolverhampton was brought before the House on Monday, in a temperate speech, by Mr. THORNELY ; who was ably seconded by his colleague, Mr. VILLIERS, in demanding a thorough investigation. Lord JOHN RUSSELL seemed to have made up his mind to be content with the report of the Magistrates and the officer commissioned by Lord HILL to inquire into the behaviour of the soldiers,—that is, of the accused parties themselves ; but Sir JOHN WROTTESLEY pressed upon him so strongly the necessity of taking very different mea- sures for the pacification of the mining and manufacturing dis. tricts, that he consented to send down a person with full powers to investigate the conduct of all the parties concerned. Of course the Magistrates were not without their defenders, nor the Military destitute of eulogists in the House of Commons. As the whole case is to undergo further investigation, we shall content ourselves with briefly stating the undisputed and undeni- able facts, as far as they are at present known to the public. Our readers, probably, will be of opinion that all comment_ _upon them is superfluous.

1. The total damage done to property in Wolverhampton on the night of the alleged riot, is the breaking of five panes of glass in the Swan Inn.

2. It is asserted that some Tories were spit upon and rolled in the mud; but not a single serious injury has been suffered by any one.

3. The dragoons separated themselves into parties of two and three, rode violently about the streets, firing their carbines at grown-up people and children indiscriminately, and sometimes through the doors and windows of dwelling- houses.

4. Many persons have been wounded, and some seriously, by sabre-cuts and bullets of the soldiery : one boy has lost his leg, and his life is in danger.

5. A trooper's horse received a wound in the side, which caused its death : how it was given, does not appear, but it is asserted that some one of the mob stabbed the animal. If that were true, it should seem that the rider must have been aware of it, but his evidence has not been adduced. It is probable the horse fell on the trooper's own sword.

The House finally disposed of Mr. POULTER'S Sabbath Bill on Wednesday. A majority of 54 to 43, on the motion of Mr.WARD, refused to consider the report of the Committee; and thus once more we are freed from one description of Pharisaical legislation. We believe there is no other Sabbath-bill before the House at present; and there can be no hope of success for Sir ANDREW AGNEW, while his more moderate and rational coadjutor, Mr. POULTER, meets with so little encouragement.

Mr. ANDREW JouNsroN made a lugubrious appeal to the House, on Monday, for protection against his constituents and the press. Mr. HOWARD'ELPInNsToNB, who was intrusted with a petition from Major ANSTRUTHER, praying for inquiry into Mr. JOHNSTON'S conduct, offered to withdraw the petition, if Mr. JOHNSTON would consent to submit "certain documents "—the statement and affidavit of the electors of St. Andrew's—to the same gentlemen whom he had selected for arbitrators in the case. But not a syllable escaped from Mr. JOHNSTON that could be con- strued into acquiescence with this fair proposal ; and Mr. Eceirits- STONE was proceeding to read from the petition—what, we have little doubt, every Member had read before—a statement, namely, of the behaviour of the Member for St. Andrew's to his consti- tuents, when he was interrupted by Members on both sides. Lord Howicx and Sir ROBERT PEEL, Lord JOHN RUSSELL and Mr. WYNN, all protested against the House being made a party to the quarrel in any way. Messrs.HUME and ROEBUCK entreated, for Mr. Johnston's sake, that a hearing should be granted him, and that the petition also should be heard. Mr. BUXTON requested the indulgence of the House for his " honourable " friend and son-in-law ; and Mr. JOHNSTON, with doleful visage, advanced to the table, and made preparation for a pathetic appeal in behalf of his slandered innocence. But it would not do—the House, which had refused to listen to the accusation, was not so unjust as to allow the defence to be made; and the discussion was closed by the jesuitical remark of Mr. BUXTON, that " he trusted it would go forth to the world, that no statement had been made which could in the slightest degree impugn the honour of the honourable Member for St. Andrew's." We hope it will go forth to the world, that Mr. JOHNSTON did not accept the offer of referring statements of both sides of the question to the referees he had himself chosen ; and that no statement was made impugning Mr. JOHN- STON'S honour, simply because none whatever was permitted by the House, which quashed the proceedings in the case without hearing it.

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NEWS OF THE WEEK. liament during the week.