The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-10 00:00:00

NORTH AND SOI:TH LANCASHIRE.

Th:t revision courts in North Lancashire opened at Raw
tenstsil, on Mocday, before Edward Rushton, Esq., barrio-
ter ; and those in South Lancashire on Wednesday, at
Southport, before W. Forsyth, Eq. Greater complaints
than usual are made by the agents, in whose hands the re-
gisten are placed by the two great political parties (that
they may be properly purged and corrected), of the absence
of all uniformity in the decisions given by the banisters.
Take as an instance, the feet that last year one of the poll.
ticsl parties objected in South Lancashire to 3,500 votes on
the ground of mis-description. Of these objections 2,600
were CAWS in which the description of residence in the
second column was alleged to be insufficient, bonsai the
names of street' and farms were given without the names
being added of the townships in which such streets and
farms were situate. In defence of these descriptions it
was urged in vain that the addition of the name of the
township in the fourth column, along with the name of the
qualification, was sufficient. The barrister held that the de-
scription in the 4th column could not be taken in aid of that
in the second column ; and quoted the case of "Woollet and
Davis" in appeal before the Court of Common Pleas, where
Chief Justice Wild reversed • contrary decision. The
barristers in South Lancashire this year are taking the same
Willie ", but what is law in South Lancashire is not law is
the northern division of the suns county. At Haslingden
it was objected on Wednesday, that the description of red-
dence of Thomas Hamer, in the second column, " Com-
mercial-street," was not sufficient, because clearly, sash a
description upon a letter would not Ind the owner without
the name of the township added. The decision in the Com-
mon Pleas was quoted as showing that neither the descrip-
tion at the heading of the list, nor that in the fourth column
could bo taken to eke out the insufficient description in the
second column. But Mr. Rushton held that the description
was sufficient, and fined the agent for taking a frivolous
objection. Mr. Rushton, however, held in theory a decision
be did not adhere to in pretties ; foe whilst he
fined the agent for this u a akikoe dikilion, he
tech advantage of his work mei Wait he the
second column the name of the township. Nog Aso ha
appear to have great faith in the equity of his diddle. Ise
when applied to for a case, in order that the ,_u
might be taken to a higher court for appeal, be rikwail,
contending that the question at issue was one of fact, eibiella
it was for him to decide. In a great number of came be
has continued to amend the description, whilst fining an
objectors, on the ground that the description was alesaily
sufficient ; and he has as constantly, when applied to for
cue, declined to give one.
To show how opposite is the opinion of Mr. Forsyth, in
the southern division, we give • parallel case. Patrick
Murphy was described in the second column as living at
" Clive's MU." and his qualification is described in the
fourth column to be " freehold houses and land, Clive's
MW, Lighten." It was objected that " Clive's Hill," was
insufficient, and that " Aughton," the name of the town-
ship, ought to be added. For the other aide it was con-
tended that the name of the township being given in the
fourth column was suicisat. Mr. Forsyth was of opinioa
that the description in the second column was incomplete,
and at once amended the description, refusing, of Conn*, to
give the voter his expesess, or, in other words, to fine the
parties instrumental in making the register complete.
The importance of those contradictory decisions may

seem to be slight, but they involve great hardships. One
leer the torts, take objections on this point to 2,500 liberal
voter., and drag them, at great expense, to a distance of
many miles, to a revising banister's court, for fear their
names may be struck a the list: the nest year as many
tories may be dragged up by the liberals on the same objec-
tion, and a new barrister may my it is insufficient, sad
make the liberal party pay their espouses. The liberals
have a double grievance in this case. Or the same thing
may happen the mein, and the grievances be theirs. But II
the mimetic( does not end here. The overseers, who make
out these lists of voters, after the barrister has been round
who decides that the acme of the township in the second
cola= is not necessary, goon year after year omitting it till
the register isms bad as before, and the tory or liberal party
(whichever may be led by the meet unscrupulous men at
the time), speculating on a barrister being appointed fa-
courant' ter their project, dreg
►d
voters from their
justice to
homes agdn• Sorely there should be the aims
one party as the other • and as surely it is but reasonable, if
uniformity of decisions is the most likely way to put an
end to such vezatioss annoyances, the., who have the revi-
sion of the lists should reek !9 attain so desirable an end.