The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-28 00:00:00

ts doss replatione width were seen and
41139 inothlithot with their own briereets. There
own not be is bast somiele them this w show the
miltheat et the ethes le wilds these mothogya belonged
kr desidiag upon UMW@ gtheliem at OW or et
pdhisti seesesay. Bs Mimi postleshety . , . -
w to the assays, under thapreeest
niel segssesatation. Greistali
lIIMMISSisie years ago upon
l' psalm had been li.---Har.iie
lie
illillugani erriasfas:26.slB=l/1104
IS-
adwillatmen them wesaillaproliselly as that m hem* be.
tomes the estrum et these isimia. Se tamed that
the importance at this question scald net be mg-
' Iterated. He wee net advocating a change for the sake of
change ; for what he met feared was a systemof4Tiog
with the eseatitarisa. (Hear, hoer.) WhM he t was
Nome stable mil peassmat sy= end he dome t that
stability end_ pomnammse
.. be best guar - 'steed
1 by &system width wadi pewee a balance against the in.
•eg rowakely et the seitatry, and preclude dangers
adieg Oiece Ass pewiag importance of a Rouse of Curli-
ness solely from populous constituencies.
MOW. 4
The Eatl of DERBY said—l don't think my noble
Masi had any oxen= to apologise to your lordships for
big*, saint year consideration a matter in itself of the
ellmaiet Impseeme, and which receives some importance,
ell* Has the great respectability and weight of the
Minas elladed to the petition presented this evening.
I will not follow my noble friend into his investigations of
the first principles of popular government. But I must
my, that 1 certainly concur in most of the observations,
perhaps not in all, which be has made with respect to the
present state of things in this country,the present constitution
of the Rouse of Commons, and some of the effects upon
parliament consequent upon the Reform Bill. I certainly
agree with him that there has been, consequent upon that
measure, and consequent upon the abolition, so far as it
was abolished, of the indefensible system of rotten boroughs,
an increased difficulty with respect to men not known to the
public, not possessing that peculiar talent, that peculiar
readiness of speech and peculiar fluency, and, withal, those
extreme views which would recommend them to populous
cocatituencies, obtaining seats in the Rouse of Commons.
I do think that previous to the Reform 1111 there were
means, not direct or regular means, by which the sense of
the colonies was represented in the Rouse of Commons,
and that there were similar means by which young men
deposed to avail themselves of the advantages of a seat in
parliament, not for their own emolument, but for the ser-
vice of the country, might find admission into the other
house, there to make for themselves a name and • cha-
racter, which would subsequently recommend them to
larger constituencies. At present, and under a new system,
those facilities are undoubtedly to a great extent removed ;
and now, speaking generally, it is necessary that the men
becoming candidates for popular elections should be previ-
ously well known to the world or to the constituency, either
professionally or otherwise, or that they should be pre-
pared to recommend themselves to the electors, by adopting
the intemperate and usually the impracticable views of ex-
treme parties, on one side or the other ; and thus mode-
rato men, of good sense and sound judgment, and not hold-
ing extreme opinions, may find it more difficult thaw it used
to be, or than it should be, to find a way into the House of
Commons. I also fully agree with my noble friend that it
is not eight or just, but that it Is extremely inexpedient and
impolitic, that everything should be referred on the ques-
tion of representation to the mere question of numbers. I
quite believe that in whatever manner you may distribute
the constituencies of the country, there must be always a
large minority, which in a certain sense must be left unre-
presented. Ney, more; I believe that the absolute majority
of the country may not be really represented on an election ;
and in this way (here the noble earl was confused, and
we give his meaning rather than his language); that
the majority of seats may not represent the majority of the
constituencies, for the majority returning may be large it
one case and small in another, and, in the result, the
number of smaller majorities may overbalance the
remaining large oues. Again, the many small majorities
might equally balance the few great majorities, and then in
reality and in effect there would be no great preponder-
me of opinion one way or the other. I confess, however,
I do not see in what manner we are to escape from that
dilemma. Divide constituencies as you please, you must
be directed by the rodiregate votes of different consti-
tuencies, and it would be impossible to take any precautioas
by which you could ensure a parliament exactly reflecting
the majority of those votes. Bat I agree with my noble
friend that if it were necessary to enter into a new distribu-
tion of the constituencies of this country—nay more, if we
were seeking to supply vacancies or to make alterations
which time and circumstances may render necessary in the
state of the re presentation, it would then be exceedingly un-
wise to look merely to the question of numerical amount,
without considering the other question of property,
and, as far as it can be made matter of legislation,
the question of intelligence. No doubt the numerical
element is that which commends itself to the popular opinion,
and se doubt it is the one most easily ascertained. Next in
the Sale st facility of ascertainment a probably that of pro-
perty.; gatthat *Meat of all others most difficult to deal
with is pervirkg • due balance, is intelligence ; either in
separate imediseacies or by such a plan as my noble friend
ran=• certain aggregate constituency, which
to distinct representation, exclusive of
property eg sumhen. At the same time, lam far from
saying, then* Huey be difficult to introduce that element,
that its ialteid,Mes would not be desirable, and I
with my oak friend that, as far as practicable, it weir* .Brea
advantageouse to consider that ((motion of intelligence and
education apart from the questions of numbers and mere
property. Bat I am quite aware that the carrying that
principle into operation woad be • matter of extreme
difficulty. To a certain extent that principle is carried
oat in regard to the exhibit IJahrersities of Oxford,
Cambridge, sad Dublin; and I wadi say that if there
are other bodies mthelently nunisesim -I am* over-
look that gaieties of number, he repre-
seatalisa) and enticiently dirket is asreeterPirt placed
ea the ewe footing as the admit vaiversitio, Ikea I
think sash bed* would have a ado &dm upon the gersra-
neat he any re-ergainsation et re-construction, or even
anteniseat *hie existing repesentatire system. I can
amen way aside Mood that the subject has net eesapsd the
Mention sit bar Illideetfe gismaimmt, sad even en a meant
cession they have swel eamained the spare tees that
point of view. Bat the are apparent. Take,
Ste instance, the 80.441 saiverdties. No doubt it is ex-
Irmady &nimble that the Beata universities should be
=in parliament bet es the English and Irish
• ! are. Bat than ore three en four separate uni-
eseilliee li Scotland • sane et am the reverse of nia-
theitthitalaall Of Bait ter=striag a very numerous
iiii =113111111101611.4 Allitittat is sot chase wre try
. . am net pike sews that the mailer =leer.
:dim • can a prepaiden as s been, tar they
=
die
athi that missed internam el sawn
einspenee either, *Ps befog sesaberne
ify the NW of the larger univerdtki, whe Night be Mo-
pes/ be di* mile* for et Other saimme rather
"Mkt emu= effikik to sioas„Theth_ ;oath,
,aktpaostitsteesit nee e in Mali es-
pima a.ft.l reeretthis minatile eon-
T+smwis awn probe ly retura to parliament
',.•.:51.1t. .1.1:1„..t ...21 mar to watt Ira
with hie the = of
by them et the Nile as
Misusefi-esid - who Midi and him into pethement
to sit as the representative of the law of
land. But then the herpes and melody that dela wee
find the least difficulty la play peolleent, kr the
tendency of the existing system lath sod Imp ambles at
professional men into the Henn et Commis. Lawyers
are men who go on circuit, car otherwise obtain opportuni-
ties to public display ; whe thee term esomintesse and
Mesas, and bring tasmselms skim ear Auk basal
sem if ass drug inestase. At At the sawn tie* egais, I
ilea% at el mesa to say Liz alseemisa ware to take
pwayees that the hems dean* net teem • enastitaseay
hilly Willed te ensliarellaa ; nail I base so doubt
that this .amber asternal by seek • esailleseasy would
milest weak ea ht pelosgsa ad ups posuggest. ply
amble thlearakeesensteprolep tetholearnsiesekties
—err hose I *Mk he TM Mai ewe •
*ea with rep* te *a •alwasilles awl Calisereedelitia=
Thule k also me yregultiou in this petition le width grsat
=l:aswat be tea It appals to bo • preps Wen no
seperale ostallwaway et rollrei ne*l wad Likely
*leen • awl draw* eat lo • bob int eatitled to kr
lkst reiwesestatleth Ss yespibien bier la els* that we
shear have a nessitter for the Uniesil SWISS Club.
(Laughter.) dubsplass, however, be Ate present. the idea
Ow noble grid, that it weed be irkkehle te have the
asks* the elnestlea, sad He el thee
ereatry eopetsally represearod is I se-
p* that he would And it y difleult in Realise is
losew where to draw the lea between the many esoloties
which would wake aged dims to be so represented.
My noble friend hu WWI the question of mainsail
topresentation--oes of gnat hapseteses sad of di*
culty, but one which, if it omit be the
consideration of it is greatly sass* try the alte-
rations which have taken place shies I , sad the
consequent exclusion of indirect colonial mogreses- , '
tation would ho well worthy of the efteation
of government. If by any mesa seek a repreenstatiss
could be given to the colonies as would if sat
their different individual interests, at leaftics tha laterab of
separate groups of colonies, and as would thirty afford
them the power of bringing before pediment mends '
affecting their materiel, meld, and pelitisel welfare, I
thick
that • great obsesses wadi be pined, that • great
&addles.' tie would be created between the selesdes and
the mother country, and—not an inferior ambles, per-
haps, in my mind—that thus there would be some degree
of control exercised over those amateur eoloalel Ismsla-
lations who are at present the only representatives of the
colonies, who are not always the most discreet, though they
may be always undoubtedly zealous. But there would
be an extreme difficulty in considering this question, with
regard to the members to be admitted, to the mode
by which the representatives would be returned, and of the
manner in which they would represent the collective or