Leader (1850-1860), 14th February 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 142, Untitled Article

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  THE NEW BEFOBM iBILE . PeecedED by the presentation of six petitions , whose prayer generally expressed a desire for a& extended franchise , the motion for leave , to bring in the long promised Reform Bill was made on Monday night . Just before Lord John Eussell rose , the , Speakeb read a letter he had received from Mr . Heiiiy , the magistrate at Bow-street , announcing that Mr . Feargus O'Connor had been on that day committed to the House of Correction for seven days , having been convioted of assaulting a ppliee-constahle at the Lyceum Theatre on Saturday night .
  
  In moving for leave to bring in . " a Bill to . extend the Bight of Voting for Members of Parliament , and to amend the laws relating to the Representation of the People / ' Lord John Russelii thought the time he had chosen was most apt , as the country was tranquil , and there was no clamorous demand for reform , He vindicated himself from the charge of having made the announcement of last session on the spur of the moment , for mere party purposes , by stating , that he had given ' ¦ ' many" previous assurances to the House of his intention some day to extend the franchise .., In 1 $ 49 and 1851 he had also submitted the question to the . Cabinet , who had decided for postponement . ; Nothing he had ever said , no expectations that he had ever held put ; should induce " extravagant . hopes" on the one side , or " exaggerated fears" on the , other .
  
  So far the preface . The noble lord added . another ^ which he called a " review" of the " measures which have been taken , and the measures which have been proposed / ' on the reform question at various times ; But first he stated-that , " it is now very well agreed that the claim to have the franchise extended to every individual is not a claim which can be supported / ' and then he gave the House this astounding piece of information : . " ; . \ : ' ¦ : ¦¦>• "The object to be gained is good government ; and the niodcpf obtaining a fair representation of ; the people , arid of obtaining a representation which can perform ttxe functions of-the House of Commons , is to'be sought for- 'in any measures that can be adopted . : > : ¦ ¦ > ¦• . ; .: ' ;
  
  Having delivered' himself ofthis' statesmanlike-observation , he proceeded to '¦ ' review" the efforts ; of ia long period from 1785 to 183 Q . Reaching the Rbforini Bill > he stated the basis , on which that was c ^ n ^ tracfced , and defined the " test of disfranchisement" then adopted as being " the number of houses and the 1 assessment to the assessed taxes ; " and the Reform Bill disfranchised only those boroughs which werey onthte test > obviously nomination boroughs . ¦ ¦ . But it wduld fee ^ extremely Wn *
  
  wise to destroy the balance of the constitution , whiclt would be done if none but counties : and' large cities ' returned members . He saw no ground of necessity which would justify a proposition for an arbitrary and ' absolute disfranchisemetvt j the only thing td be done ' was " to disfranchise in any case of proved corruption . **' Having stated this as a general principle of drafrarichisement , he stated what they were prepared to do" inextending the suffrage : —> . ' ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦
  
  " It appears to me 'that there are two grounds , oh which we may propose a considerable extension of the ' Suffrage in the cities and boroughs of the United Kingdom . One ig , that at the time of the Reform Bill / in placing the right of voting in occupants of houses of the value of 10 ? ., we did what I think ia right and prudent to do—we placed the suffrage rather higher than was necessary . It was a time when then ) was , together with a great wish for rcforrn , a great desire that it . should bo safe , and an- nnwillingncsa to place the suffrage in hands that might be unworthy of it . I own that in fixing the suffrage in JOk householders at that time we obtained a safety , as ahown
  
  by the working of our institutions since , the passing of that act , which was described by some as menacing all our institutions with destruction . I think wo might now place the franchise lower . But tiiere is another ground which I confess haa great influence on my mind , and it was that ground which formed n case for the original proposition of reform in 1820 , namely , the growing'intelligence and education of the people . ( Cheers . ) I could prove , if I were not afraid of wearying the House by going into statistics , —I could show by the sale of newspapers and of books , by the great number of schools established 'since 1831 , that a great increase has taken place in intelligence
  
  among the people . ( Hear , hear . ) But I do not think the proof necessary , as the experience of every hon . mem » her is sufficient to induco him to concur in my statement , and to say that the franchise given in 1881 might bo made more extensive at the present time . ( Hear , hear . ) Wo propose , therefore , instead of householders occupying houses or shops of 101 . valuo , to take householders of 5 / . rated value . ( " Hoar , " and cheers from tho Ministerial side . ) Looking to tho gcnwal returns which w have received , I should say that in point of numbers tho house : hojdoraof from . & / . to 10 / ., oe compared with thoBo of 10 / . and upwards , are in the proportion of about six to ten ; ana" it will 1 ) 6 Scon , accordingly , that when we propose to
  
  lower the franchise cfcief fend' Roughs to 57 . rated value we shall adfl fr vfci ^ greM ; number of persons to those who now ex # se the sJfietfve franchise . . For my part , I am persua&a that the franchise may be safely entrusted to these persons . ( Hear , hear . ) - \ - v With respfcdt to the cQunty-fi ^ ta , ha propo ^ tb extend thafr . to all persons qualified to sit onla jujryvtjat is , paying , a rental of 20 Z . % ye ^ anA ^ upwards , tmd ^ cppyholders and Jong leaseholders pdyiug from 10 & to f > £ a year . ¦; . ; . ¦ .:, .. ¦ ' . ¦ . '¦^^¦ \ ¦ ¦"''' "¦>¦ '; ; ' : ; '
  
  " There is another right of voting I have to mentnji ^ which we propose shall be given as a new right of votrag indiscriminately to persons residing either m a county : or in a borough , That is , to say , that if they reside , in ^ a county , without the , limits , of any borough , / ttey may ypte for the county , and if they reside within , . any borpughthey may vote for the borough . Those new voters are persons paying direct taxes ivi the ; diape . of assessed taxes «)» come 4 axtpthe ainbuift o ^ Ministerial side of the houBe . ) Me do not propose , howr ever , that all licences--though they maybe taken as direct taxes—shall give t&r right ; of voting , becausejt is our in that arisedui
  
  bpiniori that abuses might case ; we yrupose that persons who pay 40 s . ; * year m tliese direct . taxes shall have the right of vptmg ; and clauses have been drawn toearrymt this < object ; Now > H ; hte Reason- up ^ wMeh this particular franchise is fouuded js the objection which has constantly beeamade , ' > and : inot mthonfc reasoivihBt while personsrjttoivdg ' jh&old properisfi and othep * iw < ju * pying houi 0 M 4 pfoperti j ., itiX& J&owed . _ the ; franphige ; < ihej » is a large class ,- of wellreducated vjnen A and men likewise of property , % hp r haye not the , quaUfication . de ^ vedv from possessing or occupying a w partic ^ ar . specie § of property ( Hear , hear . ) Mf . mjse , however ,,, by , tb ^ s . jpxovjsipn , ^ enable "th ' epi lojh ' a ^ e ^ yptes ^^ ana' tjms contribute / , tp the representation pf t f he countr ^ . ' .. , , : i ,-.,.. . , % v ^ 'ii- , /
  
  pie ' assertipn that jhribery ; was , most prevalent va . small boroughs ' .-lie . m e ^ - " by the oount ^ r assertion-t ^ at ^ t pre failed as much in larger bor ^ g hsj ^; a iuguoque greatly cheered by , the ' Opppsitlbn . . . B ^ ut agin m ^ ny pf' . the $ e smaU , boroughs , ^ met | ung ,. like ,, ' ^ ormnatipn ^ did jm doubtediy , preva % hjethough ^ that thai ^ as , a reproach ^ choughttob ^^ niawf ayv ^ it ^ rf for ^ . p ^ opp ^ d fe ^ fegfe' ^ , p r <^^ ar ^ , ^ enfie | y , ^ y | ng Q&M habitants of neighbouring towns the rigbj p £ votjng at the elections for such borpugjhs .
  
  " When thrReformxBilUWaS Jifetftlssed in this house , I stated tfiat dn ^ mytopittionr nearly-all ithe ^ droughs sn oul d have / nbt less than- 300 voters eachv i -Wlrilej this is the casfe genbrally , tiere are ^^; smaljei 5 jbowwighs > wbichjhfcwe lea } than that-nnmber of voters ^ , tjtterej . * re upwardso » 3 Qmore ( that , We .. les ^ thaa ; 4 QP . elec ^ pr ^ j , and , there ^ e sevCTjal . mprp . that haye , , le s ^ th , an 5 pO 'Vptcr ? ,,, ;; Y ® K& . < J . speak now ,, of . electors , I alTude ^ to perjnanent , electors ,, nanieiv , those who . are 1 ' OT . Kpusehqld ^ ai ^ d those wHo
  
  are freemen , holding the perpetual right which wa 8 . m $ } ntained "by . thfe { ' Refdrm Bill . " "W 6 pfo ^ se ^ thehi t ^ add places to all the boroughs which , have less ' thanT 500 of suqh electors , ' febhsisting' pf 10 / . 'Kbuseholders ^; utid freefcrieni Thd number of bprbugha to 'which'this ^ principle will ' ^ appb ' cd is 6 * 1 . ( Caries of Hear , heaf , ' and sorae ' 8 «{ h $ ai tion on the Opposition benches . ' An hbn . MfeiipEK ' - ^ In England and Wales ? ' ); Ivain nOw ; Bpeaking ( £ 6 rd John cdntinned ) ' only of Ehgjkn'd andi Wale ' s . " r ' ' ¦ '• w ^ s
  
  ... ^ ojp ^ bejnest , ^? d ^ K ^ , , t « preserve the "^ ame general ; baianjce of interest" mM ppos ^ t > « t } pt d j- ^ nfj , ' not disturb : that balance-7-fearful that if . we , did so , we should only provoke a fierce struggle" jin thafc ^ HcAfse , and ^ a very strong opposition in the , Jf ^ uso of j"prds > However , the " property qua ^ ficat ^ pn'' he would abojis ' h , an ^ . reibrm the parliamentary paths , Jteaviivg pi ^ ti , t h ^ word ? , . (* pn , tb , e , trye , fa | t ^ , , ! of . a qiiristia ^ , " , ^^ which , l ^ e prpppsed that , np member of ^ i £ goyernment upon . mei'fl , change of ^ ffic ^ , $ hjould , require i (^ e asserit of his constiifcuentfl .., T ) ip ^ rjsh bprougU-fr ^ c ^ ise is t 9 be reduced to &l ,, axi ^ ,, t )} c county-irancjusc' . t o 201 . \ 1 , _ ,
  
  ^ Sir , I trust that when this enlarged franchise is given ; we shall next sec the Government of this country ' , in . whos ^ ever hands it be , consider most BQriourty wd fiacnieatiy the great question of , the education of ,, the peopl *? . ; ( I ^ oud cries of JLIear , hear . ) . Th ] s | question p f . thc iranchiBois not o | ien . fro ; n th ^ fc , ' pthcr ' one of proyi ^ iig tl |« it tlie instruction , tho cdqcfttion pf the people , should be in a bet ' tpr state than it now is . ( Hear , hear . ) '' t « n » ephvinepdj that if after a meagre of thiajkjnd , in another pesaiqn of Parliament , thie Howee shall consider , U » c incana of establishing a really national wstem of ciluciition , \ hey will
  
  cqnfcr one of tlie greatest blcssmgs which can bq conferred upon this country ( hear , hear ); n measure for which , I be-H ( jvo , the people arc , n , owalmo 8 t prepared ( hear , hear ) ; , and which , after further diacuasion , f 4 o trust might be carrip )} with very nearly a general apsenjt . ( Hear , hcar ^ « uj d cheers . ) ( I do not prpppse now ,, however , to en't ^ r further into this subject ; I have stated t \\ k general provisions of the bill that I propose to introduce ; and I rejoice that in this time of quiet and tranquillity ( hear , hear ) wcoan fairly consider tltat we are not acting under compulsion of any sort ( hoar , hoar ) , that we are not obliged by any clamour to introduce this measure ( hear , hear ) , out that wo do it in the bumble and earnest hope that we may contribute
  
  something toJhe jw ^ rt *^ glory of our countrv n , cheers . ) K j ^^ Z * > : / ¦ . , . .-. . ¦/ . '' [ Loxi l Mr ;^ j ^ tsSDB : fowdWdd . Xosd John Russell aft ? *\ . question nad oert * jtat , regretting the " omissio ns" ft the , speech . $ M ifotilelOTdliad not thought fit to to ° ? etthjeVupon'the l ^ p ^ as far ; .-as it ^^ ' lle shpuld support the measure stfopsr W * iM ^ ied , the disciissioii into another cha - M . ¦ : ;"| t ^ ; B ^ gj ^; ) p ^ n ^ stie ^ both its'fttaess in p 6 te % Itiniip , "jM $ & % mi ^ 'tf :: ^ heiweasuTe as the supposed ^ atisnvJ ^ n of anj pp ^ ular jdemai ^ . He deprecated ^! ett
  
  pha nge ^^ a ^ a ^ c ^^ e ^ tmjew ^ old consti tutipn . of ; -England paying passed liway , a despotism w , ould ar ^ se , as , a , co ^ quen ^ pfdemcKJretic institutions Mr . Henet BEEK ^ i ^ T , npt at . all : inclined to follow the ^ axming , disquisitionMSir : Jo ^ n ; Walsh , approved of . the- ^ genexa ^^ fatjjttgpeti&i the ; absence of the baitptj ^ d < 4 ^^^^^ iAt ^ ipn : Pf moving a clause giv ^ g . V # at p ^ ptectioa Jo ,, thef : TOtei % , Mr . ipapup HpV ^» . P warmly ^ apprpved ,-iof # ietbill . . Sir Robebt IifGilS driew , an . elaborate HSpntiraat between the excite . ment of . pL 83 X an 4 thea « i # ude of 1853 ; dealt a stout
  
  bl ^ ja ^< the ! , piropo ^ ed ;; alteration . of .,, tfo paths- and ger ^ r ^ h ^ ss ^ TOved .: of ^ e measiir ^ . 1 ;; frffir $ fai 0 ^ i $ B , C 5 puld ^^; i « S y approve . He cpuJS npfc ^ hp ^ inueb , ; gppd Jth ^^ &igMaQ , The ger ^ t na ^ deffeGt . pf | h » bill , yrm ^ J $ a { &m of any . pro-YJs ^ : % iteK | ngiJie 1 j ? ote by ballot , ^ hk ^ jte not only i ^ , J abo ^ . rj ^ ast ^^ in ^^ ip / cofEcetiheir w ^ rvpepplfii \ : a $ laijdio ^' ao d ^ )^ r ^ . ji } 0 ip ; tQ : ha , ye rempve 4 J > hft otemptation ^ aiid the power from both 0 assei ! . ^ T > evJ ^ vote w-as about ^ as , . mch ^ dej ^ was vp ^ i
  
  brtbe ^^ tp arid ^ | h ^ tensipii p f the franchise , thei Mpble lord wjob bouiid to give the baHpti Mr . Bright -cri ^ g ^ ; &e . hfrmehise qualificatipnsj and complained ^ that ini attempting to maintain th «; balance ;<^ fi pow& / oi ? . iht ^ aasts ; ihe noble lord ^ wteuldonly ^^ maintainithei ? dead Ipcl ^' iinder ^ vhicli his fgoverrtment iwould ? b ^^ ui « We r to march .- "He would not ; get k Hotefe i £ Cbni ^ piBA ? wbJfih- ' represented tlte comitry , -bto ^ a Hb « H 3 e lii a' ^ toilar' position to ; that in which tKeynpVp w ^ -4 ^ ablq fe :: ap ; that ;\^ ch the peopleinsisted on havingdbnfe . ' ¦ ' ti ^ ' coniludmg seiitence ^ r ^ m ^ kabl ^ " . ' W ;* r ? l * M ^ vr ? . - . ^ - -. ; :- , ¦ ¦^
  
  ; "^ e wag gjad xthat ither ^ ajl ^ ojt ^ at all—that the noble : lord ; h ^ . pi » ip 6 Sied . ^ n ; Men&ion of political rights to some chisses hitherto unre ^ irfesentfi ^ an ^ - he beUered . inrlu > , cppsei !^ i « , . . ^ t 7 1 that , ^^ W [ o who most ipyeA i hisiounfe ; jawl wajai " W ^ a / iiipus to suppflrt ahefmiuniiun its Mi $ tipus , / 6 M ^^ i < i t ^ n ^ l ^ icidioi lioy in ^ , ' afpme wneii there was no gV 6 al jpolitital ei 6 ite ^ rit , Volunteered a , fiibasure which , although'it did ^ iiot al % ( rt"her ' iye 6 t W ^' views , wdiild yet leaveUtid ' representation : ^' of . thtf , cot ( ntry in ; a better anj more •/ fiatisfactory 7 Jicondltipfi than it was at present . ( Cheers ^^ V ; i- . , •• . ' ^ ¦ ¦ . . ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ 11 1 : . ?¦/¦ . « ¦ . ¦ ' ( . ^' .. - .. ; - ¦ ¦ ¦¦ •¦ ¦¦ ¦¦
  
  , 'Mr . Bright did riot pt all damage the Minister in Ins speech ; but he > vasfolldwe 5 M a / epeiaKer from tbe " Tbi ' y cainp ;** who : kttaelced " tKb iheaisure in flank , and , by unsparing liberal criticism from a Tory point of * vie \ y , ! laid bare its' J gto&t ^ dJftfcdWi ^? to& ** A its vast deficiencies . ; MV- - JUfjxin' TMernfcer $ tc ; InvernessnWSv m ^ oV boi ! ev ^ . fe TOiorm'Bill , " in the
  
  extended Btihse ' df * the term , * was either necessary or required ' at the preset Tnbmenii / but the First Minis er had ddcided tile question' . by ' 'decWing that it was desJrjiVlb to increase / ttfe' tiowbr'bf the dern ' ocracy ; ' an " having made that' d 6 cl | ratl 6 n ; ite dught , at least , to Imvi 3 i > eon prepared ib brih ^ fdrward a Measure catoilatcti to give « tttKfUcti 6 n tb tho ^ e who woreJustly atssatisfied with thih ^ us thev ' were . There was ono 1
  
  dofbet which would of itself prevent . this measure trom beepjiqirig porinatient—there ; Was « 0 . provision for Bhortenhig th < j aurat ' Jon of pariiahiiJhts . ' Tlib ' S * tennuj Act ihfllctiid a great blow oh the democracy , inw was ' * 6 s 8 dt >« nlly a Whig mfeiwttre . " By : removing tiw fbar of tlioii * constituents from tho eyes of menibcis , they very bftoh pursueel a very dif&retit course at ^ t » commeriiceineht of a Wew parliamont to what * n jf ndbptqd ufc the ebnehision cf an Pld One . « Hq wighfc ' jif itw ^ necossary , i ^^ atc this by- nnmorous examples , but he should content , hiro& clt . win * staiicing the course noW pursued W th ^ noble lord Jnnis - The noble lord yas aXiberal , W rep resented a inre cohstitiiCncy . , Now , the Hduse would rwnemUer 1 ' for the first four yriars ^ 6 f tho present ParUament , »» « * Mtfhll llift mMnW f « v Mnn ^ nun h » A nlUlliallV brOUg » * " '
  
  with great ability and with great moderation , the q" ^ J of reform , and upon every ocbasion Imd been flrnuy might say ob 8 tinately-4-opposed by t * ie Government . * noble lord would enter into no compromise ; ^/ Jf ^ lLty sparing in his sarcasms upon his hon . friend ana tne r ^ of which ho was tho head . ( hear , hear ); « nd 1 l * . i : Tthfl intimation that a Reform BiU was to bo broug ht in « v of Government . ( Hear , hear . ) Such was the P 08 r t rh | t the question wp to the la « t wttiog of Pnrii « aae »^
  
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  HISTORY OP PARLIAMENT .
  
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  142 : ' t& $ :. ' 3 ^ -A& : $# ^ ::-- G ^ ctrday ,
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- Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 14, 1852, page 142, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1922/page/2/

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