The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-04-09 00:00:00

TFIE EEPORY QUESTION.

There is now before the eotintry the statements of the
lenders of the two parties is the House of Commons as
to the principles on wish h the question of Reform mould
be settled.
Two hundred and lifty-four members assembled at
Mr. Gladstone's house on Friday ifternoon, and monist
M them were—r. J. H. M Cali:raft, Mr. G. 1.1. Glyn,
Captain H. G. (iridley, Mr. K. 1). Hodpon, the Hon.
W. 11. b. Portman, Mr. H. D. Seymour, and Mr. C.
Wariug. From the authorised report of the proceedings
which appeared in Saturday's Tines, we learn that Mr.
Gladstone said We desire three thing., Iris., tint, that
• Rood Reform Bill ohould be passed, i e., one giving a
liberal enfranshioment, and calculated to put an end to
agitation; second, that it should be passed during the
present Deaden ; and, thirdly, if possible, through the
medians of the present Government. In ebandoning
opposition to tLe second reading of the Bill I bound
myself, and, no far as was in my power, those who
thought with toe, to take every means of working the
Bill through the Committee, if possible, and hake
what we may call • bad Bill into si good Bill. We are
pledging ourselves to a very difficult task, end total
failure and discredit await us in the country online we
can pull together. The general Impression gioen to the
public by the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
wan, that provided an adequate pressure was brought
to bear upon the Government, the concessions will be
sufficient to give effect to the purpose we have in view.
That pressure must be firm and gentle, and studiously
divested of anything invidious sod offensive—we must
do nothing which may afford a justifiable cause or a
plausible pretest to any one for saying that we imposed
an intolerable burden on the Government in trying
to compel them to bike our morse—(lood cheers).
But now comes' the imestion, oa what beats are we
seeking the settlement of what is the capital sabjeet of
debate -the borough franchise? The basis laid down in
the Bill we have found unanimously to be unsatidee-
tory—(ebeere). I ventured at the earliest stage to refer
to the idea and to make the suggestion that if there
wu, as there is, in the Douse of Commons a desire to
connect personal rating in some way or other as • test
with the enjoyment of the franchise, it might be posaible
and just, and perhaps advautageous, to apply it as a
negative: Cut is not to say, which I think is perfectly
preposterous and untenable, that every man, whatever
his condition in life, should be debarred from the fran-
chise. or have difficulties imposed upon him it be endea-
vours to obtain it, because he is not • personal rate-
poser—(lead cheers). But when you have • portion of
society from whom rates cannot be collected, whose air-
cumstances do not admit of the payment of rates, you
may in their cue adopt that feet as indicating the point
at which, in the ennui state of the country and the
state of the people as to education and independence of
eircumstanece, the enjoyment of the franchise is to end.
That plan was received with favour when you last met.
It has been received with favour in the House of
Commons; and even beyond the limits of our own
party it ia received with considerable favour also. If
we are to adopt thal plan—and that is the one on whieb
think w• should proceed—we then finil ourselves con-
fronted by a necessity which arises out of the forms of
the Home of Commons. If we are to say that • octain
portion of the community now liable to the payment of
rates should be henceforth exempted from personal
Payment, we must take power not only to insert so
many words is the Iteform Bill, but likewise the power
to readjust the Lew of rating on all points—(hear)—which
may &rim isa connexion with that class of the community.
Tells instruction to the aegjeataa In a preliminary to the
motion that the speaker leaves the chair, and, instead
of setting aside that motion, it 114111311105 that lie will
leave the chair and assist the committee in the discharge
of thrir duties. Undoubtedly, there are other seasons
why the basis of the borough franchise should be pre-
muted in that form. And for this reason especially,
that, from the arrangement of the Manses in the Bill,
we should otherwise be compelled to died with the
borough franchise in the most looonvenient manner,
and it would rot be until we bid arrived at the very
sod of the thil and came up to bring new clause, that
we should know what the essential features the
borough franchise were to be. The consideration I
mainly wish to put before you is that if we are to enter-
tain the plan which I thhak Parliament ibinks•good one;
if we are to draw a line, this is the policy to which the
o.l32Mittee OSA only rive effect by an iostruetion.
Then there is mother pint. I laid it down, aud I feel
It as strongly is any use Wore WO Can 1614 illat Is
dooberglag Ibq 444 ralopail>4 kip whibovo

undertaken we must admanr to amid every
semblance of hostility- (hear, hear) -hostility to thy
previsions of the Bill I do not think it is pusible to avoid
I -hat hoetility to the Omura'tient •• • Ooeltriortm., ..1
. ahy mailed *ion of • dispoeition to get rid of the
, Cos-ern...at by imposing on them Unrest ..... AlAu eau-
' .I.:t. es That is t c hostility which it i, our deli to
aroi I. It is, then, iniportant to condder who is fa, be
the mover of the inmaction. and I hop, it will h.,,,,,
, nnr approval the., haring token advice in *arias
no *tens I have ventured to reque-t 11r. Coleridge te
undertake the duty. I think there is no low who
enjoys better favour with both ales of the Home.
rnellenreediad.rio.mcyan who propounds Li. views with more
-yowl
ch,..)_.an.d.d 11,thiii..rminic.iopILlthilgneM4r.flb:le.rii..il,iz
positieu enables him to deel with • question requiring
some preCusional keowledge In the omit setlafectely
manner. The ineruction is, ant you all lee it 1.....iim.1y
notfined too mien ins upaii theecientuitice thia ea I raneolle
power, and indicating the :mita why this is done
•• That it be an ins rust on to the .onunit; ta that they
hove power to eller the lass of rating, and t i lirOsido
that in entry Parliamentary borough the occupiers of
tam/mote below a given rateable v•ltie be nlieved from
liability to tenoned rating. with • view to 111 • line for
the borough franchise at and above which all °couriers
eh
sil be enterml on the rata**, and shout have equal
facilities for the enjoyment of each franchise is. a resi-
der:64l °causation franclide"-(loud and unanimous
cheer int) What is likely to b . the eiket of propOaing this
imtructiou! Well, we are in • position of great report-
Obility. I feel men mere strongly titan at the gem.
mencement of the Mmion that it is nut the party
that sits on the Gov:mini tit benches, but that which
sits on the opposition benches which will be held
reeponsible for the failure or ammo of this Bill. Your
responsibility is great, your power is perfect, bet your
power depends on union W Weyer concessions you show
yeur power to obtain for yourselves you will obtain from
the Government-(cheend. That is the sense which I
!Voice on tbe declerations of the flowernusent, sod that
to the sense in which I invite you to act. Our duty has
been to mill yeu together itt the !Asset moment when we
could proceed in conformity with Paelhoweasey toles,
and give due notice of our intentions. If we have not
done all Chet is desirahle. I trust that you will see that
we have done all tint it in our power (cheers). I
think if we are ensbled to PP, coed as thus far we have
proceeded-I suenn uni.cellr -we have every prospect
of bringing this difficelt end contended lineation to a
ettisfactory eolutien-:ellmee). -Mr. Locke raid the
instruction t ,thy Conimittee should be limited to that
portion which gives them the power to alter the law of
rating.--Mr. Asrton remarked, when a proposition is
made by our own leerier we must not be quick to
take exception to it. We should do well, if, in grappling
with the Government who have introduced • very had
Bill, we were to put ourselves. as far as possible, into
the hands of ilbe leader of the Opposition, al deal with
the matter as if he were the leader of the flevernmmt ,
and had ietroduried a Reform Bill. Mr. Clay paid
give my opinion with the ilsepest sincerity that that
inetruci inn is fatal to the Bill, whereas we might make 1
a good Bill if we contented ourselves with the first line ,
only. -MeSiladetone : I tis totelly impoolble fur me, under ,
any eirctimstancee and eaditions whatever, n accept
the suggestions which Mr. Clay has made. If ask you
to vote for an in.truction to alter the law of rating,
what I. that but ',lacier you bane the Government as
men in ferour of limiting the atrage in one direction,
without showing your readinem to enlarge it in another,
and, therefore, without vindicating 11. e grouuda on
which you set !-Mr. Bright said : Before we go into
committee the advantage of the future teats with us,
but if ern go inte committee having drawn no line and
decided no policy, then depend on it the advantage on
all future proceedings will rest with the Government
and the p.rty whom they Tepees° .t, which party is uot
in favour el making this Bill • sstidactory Bill. I give
ms meet medial assent to the instruction. Shortly after
the prnceedings terminated.
On Saturday time Chancellor of the Exchequer received
deputations from the Constitutional Associations of
Manehester and other towns In the son hern divisions of
the comity of Lacsshit) Who desires to express their
fTeePtitht with. lila 0 er ellPlort to, Mer Majesty's
Government in the present crisis with respect to the
Reform question. In replying Mr. Disraeli said: It
Wei necepeary that the question of Reform should be
dealt with by the Government sincerely, thoroughly,
•nd comprehensively, PO that • settlement should be
brenght about which would leave us free for the future to
give our mire* ausl our energies to all thou measures an I
, que.tions chic* Increase the fortone and elevate the
, character of the caul ry-(ibeer.). He ill...tight that the
I plan we placed before the couutry *as founded on this
principle, but we had not Pretended, and did not wish
It to be enderstoA that the plan of irrangement
which we brought forward Was a-democratio plan. It
is a Conservative plan, but it is a popular one - (loud
obeers). I an convinced myself that, ands- the
peculiar circumstances in which the country find, itself
with regard to this question, it could do nothing wiser
than to adopt the principle on which we have founded
the weasels before the country-(l.ear). There is not
only a prospect hut • certainty, if it is adopted, of a
permanent arrangement being come to. The principle
is bosh national and retiogal, and one comprehended by
the community at large ; bus, although it is essentially
popular, it demands from every potion enjoying ti,co
suffrage the fulfilment of the duties connerted with
it-(hear, hear). In no ease will her Majests's
Government swerve from the cardinal primp!. e of the
Bill. I look upon a personal paymeet of rates and in
adequate residence NI • check without which the ham
chi* ought not be extended --(lou4 applaud. Every
man, if be desires, may avail himself of it, who can, by
his own energy, industry, and integrity obtain and
coley it ; but if he fs not equal to the occasion, if he
does not aspire to the power, If be s net prepared to
make the self-sacrifice required, or the .elf-exestion, I
draw this inferenee-that he is not deserving, and
ought not to elf:raise that great right -(loud cheers).
I osn auure you that the impression of opinion you
have offered ine to-day from variou parts, or perhaps
the most important dietricts of the country, will be
deeply appreciated by the Government. We shall look
far your support and dncearing energy, es well as good
wishes in the approaching contest-(aeers)- which is
only now beginning. There hae been a great deal of
skirmishing and • great deal of movement on the port
of our opponents which is, perhape, not very
consistent; but apparently now we have a challenge
before ell which I think the country will easily
comprehend, although it ha difficult to annex any
definite meaning to the amendment placed on the table
last eight by the Oppmdticn. I think the eouutry
cannot, although doubtful of its precise ineenine, be in
doubt as to its exact purpose-(hear, hear). That pur-
pose in to defeat the attempt on the part of Lord Derby
to settle the great question of Parliamentary Reform on
national principles. If they succeed, the effect will be
to delay that eettlernent for a year, or indeed mote, and
ultimately to give it to those whose principles, in my
mind, are neither national nor rational-(loud °ries of
"hear, hear"). Under Abe'. circumstanoes, it is difficult
to say what will be tile remit. Rely upon it, in the
piesent Parliament, an Lung as we are on the Minietertal
bench, we shall fight the battle of the nation with un-
compromising principle. I can only express my hope
apd °aviation that if the hour come when the sympathy
of the English people is expresseed in • Manner that
cannot be mistaken, we shall not spout to the people of
England in vain-(lood epplause). What, then, Is the
duty of the Government, and what is the duty of the
Home, in this position of affairs! The first and most
obvious duty of both is one and the some; it is to deal
openly with each other. It is too late for the Govern-
nient so stand or fall by the "principle" of personal
rateability, when thee have expressed their readiness to
accept the Lodger Frani:hie*. It is too late for the
Opposition to fall back on their constitutional right of
obstruotion when their leeder has committed himself
to the expediency of getting a Reform Bill carried
"through the medi m of the present Government."
It is too late for either to make the conntry believe
that anything but sectional and pemonal interests steed
between us and • good Reform Bill. The nation holds
Ithe House of Commoneruponsible for passing a measure
whir* may utisfy just demands and silence agitation
for many years to come,-Tiares.