The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-12 00:00:00

THE REFORM QUESTION.

Earl RUSSELL, in moving for contain returns relating
to the Reform Act of 1832 and • classification of the elec-
tors in each city and borough in England and Wales in
1865.416, denied the statement made some nights ego by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Com-
mons, that the act of 1832 had had the effect of depriving
the working classes of the franchise. On the contrary,
that measure had enfranchised upwards of 58 000 working
men in newly-created boroughs, whilst • return
presented last year upwards of 70,000 of thoee classes
were admitted to the franchise in the old boroughs. He
admitted, however, that since 1832 about 57,000 scot and
lot voters and honorary freemen had disappeared from the
electoral lists, It had also been inoorrectlT stated that be
was an opponent of the occupying franchise in counties,
whereas be had only objected to the proposal to place that
franchise at 50/. instead of 20/. He had heard it said that
the only permanent settlement of the reform question was
to revert to the old soot and lot freemen in boroughs ; but
the state of society in these days had so changed that such
a proposal would be very unsatisfactory, and be very nearly
akin to the manhood suffrage of Mr. Potter and his friends.
The Earl of DERBY consented to the production of the
returns moved fur, but complained that Lord Russell's
speech was unconnected with the subject of his motion.
There was no doubt that the Reform Act had largely in-
creased the number of working men in possession of the
franchise ; but this was counterbalanced by the gradual
removal from the roll of the 57,000 electors of whom the
noble earl had spoken. He thought it was • mistake to
abolish the variety of franchises which had formerly
existed, and to bring the whole down to the dead level of
• 101. occupation.
The returns asked for having been ordered, their lord-
ships adjourned at half•past 6 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, MARca 11.
The Sets.uza took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.
Colonel P. HERBERT took the oaths and his seat for
South Salop on his re-election, after receiving the appoint-
ment of Treasurer of her Majesty's Household.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The West Cork Railway and the Bristol and North
Somerset Railway Bills were read a second time.
NEW WRIT.
On the motion of Mr. BRAND, a writ was issued to
supply the vacancy created in the representation of Boston
by Mr. Staniland'a acceptance of the stewardship of the
Manor of Northatead.
NOTICES.

MR. CFICRCHWARD.—Mr. P. A. TAYLOR to salt the Home
Secretary whether the Mr. Cburchward lately nominated a
magistrate for Dover is the gentleman whom a committee
of this house reported in 1859 to have resorted to corrupt
expenditure affecting the representation of the people in
parliament, and whom a committee in 1853 reported to be
guilty of bribery. (Cheeze.)
THE WAR DI.PARTIIRNT.—Visoount CRANBORRI7that
Lord Eustace Cecil will bring forward this subject on the
sth of April.
Tat RISPORK BILL (BCOTLAND).—CoIoneI STRIA on
Thursday next to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it is the intention of the government to bring in
a bill for Scotland, and if so, whether the principles of
representation to be adopted in the English bill will be
applied to Scotland ; and whether any attempt will be
made to adjust the number of representatives of Scotland
to the present wealth and population of the country.