The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-10 00:00:00

votel great attention to this subject.—(Loud cheers.
It i 3 more than thirty year 9 sincr- I pr,p,isc a r.scastl
On a t übj a of rclbr;a, but it is neaily tbirty yttirs
since I proposed a rcm,ure when I was met by the
ability avid eloquence of Mr. Canniug.—(Bear, bear.)

Since that time I have succeeded, under the auspices o
Lord Grey and his colleagues, in carrying a large mea-
sure of reform; and, so far from fulfilling the forc-
bodinga of Mr. Canning, that measure has tended to

promote the happiness and liberty of this country,
while it is one which has in no respect endangered

the Throne or any of the institutions of this coun-
try.—(Loud cheers.) I trust that by proceeding
further in the same direction, but, in so proceeding, tak-
ing care to measure your steps and to weigh the ad-
vances you make, you will contribute still further to the
liberty and prosperity of the country, while you main-
tain the framework of the cons!itution.—(Cheers.) I
have only to say that two other Bill.) will shortly be in-
troduced—one relating to Scotland, which makes some

provision with respect to the prevention of fictitious
votes, by taking care that the titles to the qualification
shall be completed by the actual infeoffment of the
owner. It provides also for the reduction to 201. of the
franchise in counties, and to 51, of that in cities and bo-

roughs, whether with respect to owners or occupiers.

With regard to Ireland, which, in respect to the repre-
sentation, has been under the consideration of Parlia-
ment very lately, we do not propose to make any altera-
tion with regard to the county franchise; but with re-
spect to the franchise fiver cities and boroughs we do pro-
pose to reduce it from 8/. to 51. It appears that an 81.
franchise has greatly restricted the number of the

electors, With regard to the very small boroughs,
whether it is not advisable to add neighbouring towns to
them I will not say, ncr will I say how far the proposed
extension of the franchise with regard to the Irish
boroughs is likely to enlarge the number of electors;
but when the Bill is introduced it may be a question for
the House to consider bow far that addition to some of
the existing boroughs can be made. Sir, I trust when
this Bill enlarges the franchise in the way I have stated,
we shall next see the Government of this country, in
'whose hands soever it may be placed, considering most
seriously and earnestly the great question of the Ethics-

tion of the people.—(Loud cheers.) In my mind this
question of the franchise is not alien from that other one
of providing that the instruction and education of the
ople should be in a better state than it now is.--
(Cheers.) lam convinced that if after a measure of this
kind, in another session of Parliament, this House shall
consider the means of establishing a really national sys-
tem of eduction, they will confer one of the greatest
blessings which can be conferred on this country, one
for which I believe the people are now almost prepared,
and which, after further discussion, I do trust may be
carried with very nearly a general assent.—(Cheera) 1
do not propose sow, however, to enter into this ques-
tion. I have stated the general principles of the Bill I
propose to introduce, and I rejoice that in this time of
quiet and tranquillity—(Hear, hear)—we may fairlY
consider that we are not acting under compulsion of any
kind, that we are not obliged by any clamour to intro-
duce this measure, but that we do it with an earnest and
resumed
the
edliberty
his
keel,
ea ot, f
but the
thhumble hope that we may contribute something to the
od then rhappiness a
um
fol-
lowed was remarkably faint end partial.)
country.—(Theohecring which Noble
L
Mr. HUME considered that the present Proposal
contained many beneficial points, but he was sorry 1"
Noble Lord hail not the courage to do away with many
injurious restrictions which still remained. Lie agreed
with the Noble Lord that this was a proper period to
bring forward this Bill. He regretted that the Noble
Lord had etoppod short of what the people had a right
to expect. He denied that the people were not entitled
to the franchise.. He regretted the omissions made hi
the Noble Lord in this Bill. Ho regretted he had not
introduced the ballot and triennial Parliements. He
garded this no better than a patched up Reform NIL
He should, however, reserve what he had to say upon
this subject to another stage of the measure. If this was
meant as a soothing measure- they sought to remove
from the minds of the people that they were unfairly
treated. He was glad to find that it was intended to pat
Scotland upon an equal footing with England. He re'
grettcd the Noble Lurd had not gone further, and that
he had lett between three and four millions of artisans
uneutranchised.
Sir J. WALSH said it was about 21 years ago Sin"
he had the advantage, or disadvantage, of witnessieg
the exposition cf the Noble Lord in introducing thlt
great Reform Bill, which afterwards became the law 1f
the land; and when he contrasted the manner in vrhiest
the announceme et of that measure was received by the
House of Commons—when he recollected the interai!
excitement which pervaded all parts of the House,
when also he contrasted with mat excitement the trigiL;
indifference—(Hear, hear)—with which it
him the statement of the Noble Lord had been reeeivecd
Ler
to-night, he could not cl,:ubt that when the Noble.
said that he had chosen the present time for the Int"
l
duction of the measure because there was little genera
or public interest attached to the subject, be was eeeper-
fectly correct.--(Hear, hear.) During the 21 (Sir
Walsh) had elapsed since the period to which he (01r
Walsh) had referred, the Noble Lord had filled 1330.,
appeared t,
high situations, and had run en eminent political careef,-;
But he (Sir J. Walsh) did not think that, in the srb°l
course of that career, the Noble Lord had ever
in-
curred a respontibility so deep, or taken a step so stoe'l4
tionablo as ha had done on tho preeettit occasion.--(
cheery from the Conservativebe) Well did he recollect
numerous discussions which took place on the intro,
ductiuu of the great measure of 1831. But he hesitatifa
not to assert, that throughout the whole of those
cutsions, it was alleged as one of the grounds for 133aPts
ing that measure so large and so comprehensive thatf
was intended by its authors to be a final settlement °
n,,e
great constitutional question.—(Cheers.) He did
ahi e
accuse the Noble Lord of a breach of an honour
understanding, nor did he mean to throw out an 1031300
Wien on his personal character; but he did say tbat'dis.
Government of which the Noble Lord was then a ex-
tinguished member—that the authors of that great Woo
sure presented it to the House of Commons oP°l3 0,
ground that, being so comprehensive and being so erelol.,
it would obviate toe necessity of repeating an elr
ment which must always be considered a dangeronsee of
—that of tampering anew with the fixed institute3ga
the country, and plunging again into those e_blester
which must ever be considered as in a greater orates'',
degree possessing the character of revolution• believed
hear.) It his recollection served him rightly beet, post;
that during a great portion of the period since tif,-, 000.
ing of the Reform Act the Noble Lord had o' end
the position that that measure ought to be fins' „.,01
that he had incurred a considerable amiount. otfuaolei:4,
on the part of those who, though not
House.ll.B habitual
Nob
was 1°
Lord told them that because the country
d the people so indifferent to
quiet and so prosperouta an
porters, sat very near him in that The
N bleu Lords' • eecb
fallen still-born on the House"'
in introducing it had
' the reason why he himself was of
that was precise y „ • oe
the measure—that because the t. lean sp
hut was precisely one of those acts 111
the franchise. I .
bat
which would expose him to t „
bring forward a total alteration and large extension
the Noble Lord's curet r
which he was open— of f event'',
thimputation toe
intereststhe State to the interests
viz., r
of'
giving party what was me
up "to ant fa:*
mankind.' The measure et 1831-32 was accepted a
final measure, and a settlement of the question by an'.
Gentlemen opposite. 01* He well remembered the late
B. Peel prophecying that the first attack—the first ld
road that would be made on that settlement'w
come not from that (the
Opposition) but this (the f
eisterial) side; and from reasons not clear to bis (Sir
Walsh's) apprehention, the Noble Lord had chosen bad4l..
present mement for fulfilling that prediction. h
watched cautiously arid closely, without anPreviag'eld by
ever, the results of the last Reform Bill, and be c'te of
no means be inclined to concur in the partegyriet
those results which the Noble Lord, as the paren
the measure, naturally passed on them. itrono;
therefor, , fairly qusstion the benefits said to arise.boaa
it, and refuse to accept the argument based uP°11!t00.
alleged benefits, Mr a new step in the same dire ncieer
The Hon. Baronet the mover of the Address the, Lliusd
night bad stated that ever; thing which was go;sh)
resulted from the Reform Bill; but he (Sir J. viteteen
thought there vri re some of its provisions 70-010,
were not so beneficial, and a hich !forded %rater
for proceeding most cautiausly in taking anY
strides in the same direction. officeGovetuThee
without exception, which bad been in east
Reform Bill had been marked by one characteriste;o4
of inherent weakness. Was a weak and Tneliv,biste
Government, then, an advantage—a Government
et to
did not know its own police , nor did causeanyho
know? And those weak Governments were not th
by any deficiency of talent in their members, but D.,
Y
changes in the Constitution which had been effecteerin,:ti,
which reedered them unable to carry out any sYst_e eat
policy—to give effect, in tact, to their own sio,ytheet
ideas. The Nob!o Lord had forgotten to te" The
what he anticsated as the results of his measure;44the
results, he apprehended, would be to aggravate effects
evils of the weakni ss of the Government. The eteets-
of the former Reform Bill had been to lender thelue...tee
try, instead of being a Government, a bureaucrat the
some sort a body of clerks, merely carrying
_°‘,o in-
viewsstance which was familiar to the Noble Lord, istb:_ei des
of the House of Commons. He would give
co-
stance
a few years ago on the subject of the ea 14,21" e) the
had rever. u
terse- a, that the . House of Commons osottion
whole polic
y which had been carried with eee',44 eat
that time there was a general panic in the couttleuertioeee two or three years before—viz, about the year
_I
an univerAl desire for organizing a system ot_.
defence. Two or three years subsequently tha'S. epos/
of policy was upset, and the Noble Lord did :31U0't
eegi
what to do—that the people of the country did' lst/ 0,
time they came to the third phase of this n'
jailed to to know their own minds; and now at*.tubtreenes, of
violent popular action, and they were againceo_too se
ye
errisse their defences. Teem was thus 1,
of Folic
,t,t,
saw between opposite extremes—no stabilityur
cw
te,
and all the result of the Reform Bill. Anothot
tore originated by it eas that the influence
.itt
tions organizA out of the House was brourgat it‘not 10
upon their deliberations in the same manner
Assoc
hester As
the political associations of the late Mr. O' °di* 5."
the lufluence of such bodies as the Mane
„e tee view ,
effect of which es
and sentimente of that House, the e in teo •es 4
tion was made to overcome iu bOaie degn wch
been to lower the character of the liouseot
jliflG•ti
of the country, and destroy the prestige !