Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-14 00:00:00

bed, after a short conversational discussion,
to let the case stand to one o'clock to-morrow (Tuesday).

Mr. Deighton applied to have Mitchell admitted to bail;
but his Worship refused to do so, as Mr. Mansfield had
refused bail before for him.

The bail of Buchannan was then enlarged, and the ,case
stands over to one o'clock to-morrow.

A REAL REFORM BILL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES

Sir,—Public opinion has pronounced the Govern-
ment measure an aristocratic juggle, and Mr.
Bright's proposal a democratic humbug. The latter
has enunciated the true principle, but does not
follow it out logically. He does not advocate
universal suffrage, nor do I. Manhood voting
measure—this th ignorant clodhopper, the drunken
vagabond, the man " worse than an infidel, who
provides not for his own house," but beats his wife,
starves his children, and casts botheon the parish,
shall rank with, and possibly neutralize the votes of
the intelligent, sober, hard-working artizan. Disraeli
says, because there are such, exclude all who do not
hold £6O in a savings' bank, or £lO in consols,
or occupy a £lO house. Bright says, because
the masses are not ignorant, idle and drunken, admit
all who may be rated to the poors' relief. Neither
speaks like a statesman. Is it not easy when
the old line-of-battle ship British Constitution goes
into dock to be converted into an efficient steam-
propelled vessel to provide that no rotten beam
which can be readily sent ashore shall be left in her
structure ; why should an ignorant man have the.
franchise ? There can be but one answer. How to
test—l submit it can be done, and by no expensive
process, along with other and equally important
objects.
I propose, then, to give every occupier rated to
the relief of the poor at £5, one vote, subject to the
folloWing objections :—Not a British subject, not 21
years of age, not able to read and write, once con-
victed of felony, within twelve months preceding
convicted by a jury, or having plead guilty before
a magistrate of any crime, or twice imprisoned for
any period by any magistrate ; having deserted his
wife ; having left wife and children chargeable to
parish or union, or having himself received poor-law
relief within twelve months preceding, Every man
to vote in regard to his actual occupation, whether
in town or county,. upon the same qualification in
one as the other_ Hence the freeholder should vote
for his 40s. freehold in town or county, as it may be
situated, saving the rights of existinc, freeholders, if
existing freemen are to be continued voters. This
franchise will bring in all the really valuable portion
of the working men, or nearly so. I make no ac-
count of the lodger cant. Family is the basis of
English society, and home means a house, small or
large. Let the intelligent men in lodgings get
houses of their own, or be satisfied to wait the
time of enjoying the full rights of citizenship
until they begin adequately to discharge its duties.
I may now be asked, will not this franchise transfer
political power entirely to the masses. I answer—
I believe it would, if it stopped here. But, as
although life, liberty, and family are as dear to the
£5 as to the £5O occupier, each does not equally
contribute to the expenses of the nation ; each pays
on tea, sugar, &c., but &n exceptional tax is levied on
inhabited houses of £2O, and upwards. Income tax
applies to a higher class, and exempts the lower.
Hence I conclude the voting power should, whilst
widely spread, be given in a larger proportion to
the higher taxed. I therefore propose, that excep'-
tional or increased-taxation be recognised as a title to
a plurality of votes, say as follows :-150 occupation
or payment of income tax, or inhabited house duty,
two votes £5OO, three votes ; £5,000, four votes ;
40s. freehold, one vote, £2O, two votes ; £2OO, three
votes ; £2,000, four votes. Thus property and intel-
gence would have their due weight, although not
an absolute control. Give every single voter the
ballot, and all with a plurality of votes—their choice
of ballot in open voting—and with a proper and
reasonable transfer of representation from close
boroughs to towns and counties which are now
'inadequately represented, we should have the, people
of England, its worth, its intelligence, and its wealth
too fairly represented in St. Stephens's:—l am, sir,
A TRUE REFORMER.
Liverpool, March 12, 1859.

According to the inferences suggested by a leading article
in the 'oat King Ferdinand has become veritably insane.

TUB AUSTRIAN DESPATCH.—The Times says it is
thoroughly Austrian, ably reasoned, in a diplomatic point of
view, and indirectly a fixed determination to defend positive
and guaranteed rights.
WARRING/MC—At the special meeting of the Warrington
Town Council, on Wednesday, Mr. Alderman Rylands
brought forward a motion for a petition to be prepared
against the Reform Bill introdnced by. the Government.
An amendment was proposed on the ground, that it was
desirable that this Council should not interfere in the
general politics of the country ; but, after an animated
discussion, the motion was carried by a 7,:ajority of 5. A
requisition to the Mayor was then numerixlslY signed, in
order that a public meeting might be called. •