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

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS,

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

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description of bill which mine host of the Red Lionya°llt presentsvayuetlaigtrlaser,.
ltioamhiesagtanreystrsoofonnuthetaevikeeodf
about for
tbCeoultdweiwutnhet suppose
that Lord John had kept a note-book of all the bits of Par-
istelmecitginhgt
vtehroyseeeoefitlyhehemvoesftehrmaremdltebsse
r
abuses,i
contain, excepting a principle. Thaelentpdtrmee
the framers of this Bill. It is hard to say what it does not
plausibleceifpliense instructions
tatirheanecetoeltrde,
Reform Bill were prominent enough;
ot
the
ea
Billstil 1 gwe ea theer foe.ext i n c
tSi
oon belfindl .
disfranchisement were written upon
3' and unflinchingly
isles either a warm friend
which made every man in these it enfranchisement
with a
distinctness and
a soupd and popular franchise, that
were irretrievably committed, that it w
had been some time before the House; was
and all parties
mai:
jaadistc:noylyeerreweedtbitoooundbioiedtf
an enormous transference of power from the south to the
north, from the agricultural to the
It was the last victory of the Anglo-Saxons,
Parliamentary
disturb Byst
the -
_ Saxons, as they are
called, over the Normans, of the burgh
the populations over the strongholds. burghers over the barons,
plough and
districts.
What olifeuthtahti; wlast is our
oda
fse
tat3hn, objection,etep rreforme s
e n present
Billtthh ee ias snevo answer r
ern, and we are pre-
pared to stand all the consequences.' inc_
the Land Lord and the Cotton Lord. The
between the south and the north, the
by the Minister to himself has been to extend the franchise
proosed
existinge, balanceany
Pditheifloome
as much as possible without affecting the existing adjustment
of interests and classes. Lord John Russell,• as if he had no
wish to perform twice the office of Parliamentary execu-
tioner, most carefully guards bis Bill from the imputation of
being a penal measure. To set about the great task with
calmness, he has drunk of the waters of Lithe, and
effaced from his recollection the thousand and one scan-
dals of the last twenty years. P
- essilte he would
not admit what has lately been proved onthe highest
possible evidence, that since the Reform Bill there has been
far more corruption than before. Of the sixty-seven bo-
roughs to be enlarged there is probably not one which is not
a notorious example of the influences which it was the pro-
fessed object of the first Reform Bill to destroy. There is
not one which is not either purchasable, or under the con-
trol of some neighbouring proprietor ;
_and, as was admirably
shown some time since in this paper by an ex-M.P., the
amount of real corruption, of oppression, and moral degrada-
tion, is generally far greater in the latter case than •in the
former. The measure of corruption, however, in these
small boroughs is not yet full.. They are to have accom-
plices in the shape of satellite towns, with perhaps the infu-
sion of new aristocratical influence, new families to contend
for the representation with the old indigenous borough-
monger. Disfranchisement Lord John leaves to
others. If from this time forward, and with
this rod held up in terrorem, any borough should,
on inquiry, be found to be utterly corrupt,
then Parliament is advised by a special Act in each case to
transfer its franchise to some populous borough. By way of
example, in the present Bill he gives the two seats of the
long.dormant Sudbury to Birkenhead and Burnley, and me-
ditates some such appropriation of the two seats for St. Al-
ban's, when it is disfranchised. We are inclined to think that
England expected more of Lord John Russell than that he
should merely give two examples of what ought to be done.
With this warning, it will be very hard if the most corrupt
borough does not manage its corruption with such secrecy
and address as to elude a Parliamentary inquisition. All
parties in it, however otherwise divided, will combine to se-
cure their house from intrusion, just as the husband and wife,
whose quarrels are the scandal of the village, always com-
bine against the constable. But the worst corruption will
wholly escape this process by separate trial. The borough
described by our correspondent the ex-M.P., in which the
whole frame of society was perverted into one engine
of corruption, will never be one of the vulgar de-
linquents in the hands of the Parliamentary po-
lice. Such is the Reform Bill which Lord John
Russell assures us is the result, not of a hasty pledge or a
sudden emergency, but of many years' quiet observation. To
us it bears undeniable marks of pressure from without in the
specious and illusory character of its boons. We are aware
that some respectable authorities value more any general
extension of the franchise, however illusory, than special
disfrauchssements and enfranchisements, and they will pro-
bably not!concur with us in our opinion of the Bilk But
these authorities do not come to the question quite in the
same spirit that we do. They wish the question of Parlia-
mentary reform to be kept always open. They would rather
have a vague inconsistent, unsatisfactory measure, leaving as
much as possible undone, than one which bore some appear-
ance of finality, or which premised a truce for some 20 years.
So long as the notorious and incorrigible boroughs are
spared they may possibly keep the question continually raw
and unsettled ; and, instead of a war for the sake of peace,
such as the last Reform Bill was meant to be, and actually
proved to be, we shall probably now have a weak compro-
mise, followed by fresh and increasing demands for Parlia-
mentary reform.
DAILY NEWS. - Lord John Russell last night explained
to Parliament and to the country his plans for representa-
tive reform. At the very outset of his speech he put one
point beyond doubt. All he had to propose was to be in the
spirit of plans enunciated in the legislature at various bygone
times. He was no innovator; he sought to make no novel
or eccentric changes ; he was content to discuss Parliamen-
tary reform as Parliamentary reform had often been discussed
before, and was now ready—not to concede a single measure
-that should enfranchise-the great mass of the
any one of the broadly popular
plane propoM by the
representatives of large democratic constituencies—but
rather to step with a cautious and precedent-loving pru-
dence in the foot-prints of those who had gone before on
"similar ends intent." He would, indeed, follow on the
trail he had made himself in 1832. His great anchor was
the Reform Bill of that year—a measure on which he and
his colleagues at that time must stake all hope of being re-
membered as statesmen useful in
the limits placed by that measure, he
ex-
tent to advance ; but his faith to some was willing ,
must be in the strict line of
the constitutional changes then inaugurated.
re-
lax, and even improve, but not c He would
change. The Act of 1832
fixed the relative conditions of city and rural representation
—a state of things not now materially The
to be disturbed.
increased intelligence that has given
com-
mercial towns would be forcounted
rapid advance to
pace of the country was to be considered
; the aloes-coach
being in at the goal. No re-adjustmentered equally worthy of
sentation could be though
t of. The of relative repre-
sentation plan was still to
the plan, from which there was to be from time to time a
mere promise of change. How far this bold adhesion to an-
cient theories may be acceptable to the country remains to
be seen. • . .
The Radical Members who s • • • ' •
Poke in the House of Commons
last night saw the difficulties of
the position they had to
take. The Bill offered them by the Minister is clearly a
step in advance. They do not lied in it all they wish for,
and on one point it is manifest!
ballot,—a deficiency on which _3: deficient. It ignores the
much hereafter to say. But elneY will, of course, have
rection of improvement, they were as it does in the clear di-
weight of condemnation which" unable to launch atit that
satisfactory proposition. They must have greeted any less
asked all it was their duty to ask.stood by their colours, and
was tolerably manifest, and it But the tone of the House
appearance, Lord J. Russell's Itivlais that, judging by its first
the advocates of religious freedom promises to become law. To
the oaths ;to the ultras he, i he offers a modification of
of the Charter"—the property effect, concedes owe " point
he lowers the qualificado qualification; for the suffra-
gistslanded interest he tenders vote: ef voters in towns; to the
than the old Chandos-clause men
a lower range of tenants
suggests an extension without _ ;to the boroughmongers he
much chance of a real change
in the quality of the small constituencies
po-
litico-economic advocate for direct
; whilst to the
out of a vote for each artisan who
taxation the bait is hel
rectly to the state. It is a measur° contributes 40s. a year did
ciple ; of morsels, not masses
.e.of details, not one of prin-
tirety. Yet, although this new an instalment, and not an en-
and inguential subjects it ought Reform Bill may blink broad
sents many popular features, and
to have included, it pre-
sectional demands, and little surprise
clever adaptations to
or indignation roused if it ultiniatle will probably be excited
and improved shape—the law e Y becomes—in a modified
of the land.
ADVERTISER.—The new Ref
country, and it is just such a measure
Bill is now before the
weeks ago. As public expectatioure as we indicated several
high pitch, it will not be disappob:t r 3 not wound up to a
be lowered in towns to 5/., and in e The franchise is to
paying direct taxes to the extent to 201. Persons
aunum, are also to be enfranch of forty shillings per
than a constituency of 500 are to bed' Boroughs with less
with other towns until a constitu electorally incorporated
The only borough at present to tneY of 500 is made up.
Alban's, but in futureny borough : disfranchised is St.
corruption, will, in virtue of that co convicted of bribery or
tinguished, and the representation renews
port, be at once ex-
town or district, on which the represenstaerred to some large
been before conferred. The propert tive right had not
be done away with, and the distinetro qualification is to
ing between the oaths taken by nat present exist-
Catholics is to be abolished. The Protestants and Roman
be repealed which excludes the Jecwaeuse, too, is to
runt by requiring all who take the oaths from Parlia-
do so, "on the true faith of a Christian." sof allegiance, to
visions of this measure. Our readers will notuch are the pro-
ance to form an opinion of its worth. It wired our assist-
not only does Lord John Russell not include
I be seen that
Reform, triennial Parliaments, or even an al) ie his plan of
of Parliaments to any other term, but that heridged duration
condescend to allude to points to which the does not even
so much importance. And so with regard country attaches
that great political necessity of the times, and withe ballot—
no measure of reform would be worth ace hout which
John Russell not only does not mean to gi:Ptance. Lord
but he does not even make the slightest alluesius the ballot,
passes it over in silence. The constituencies ell
t° it. He
their votes in the same way as heretofore. _rriust record
pendent for their daily bread on the patronageraedfeemen de-
tomers, will still be subjected to the alternate • their cus-
tomers,
voting contrary to the dictates of their of either
or seriously injuring their interests—perhaps ruining them
selves and their families. Thousands of instances
them-
record of electors being ruined, in consequenee"eoe;3 are, on
• an honest vote. And dependent voters are •
given having
e still to be
subjected to the same risks for a
.conscientious exerciseof
franchise. The Ministerial measure is no i
w fairly bee the
country. What the country's verdict will be i, a (le the
which, we presume, there will not be two opinions. pointt on
be received with universal disappointment. Iv,
al will
require, is a man of a t the
exigencies of the times position in the
House, and enjoying the confidence of the country, eeb
boldly come forward and represent the seu, ~.‘i who will
mants and
man and
wishes of the people. There is one.t , - one alone, to
whom the country is now directing i s eye, as the " comin
man." That man is Lord Palmerston. All that is . g
Lord, to insure such required
on the part of the Noble
monstrationsrender in his fovour as will _ hire one of the most
influential men of his age, is, that he should come
out tear-
lessly and explicitly in this important crisis.
CHRONICLE.—The sketch which the Premier gave last
night of his projected Reform Bill fully bears out the • •
him. People opinions
we have always expressed of , had been led to
expect some semblance, at least, of novelty, e
Y. Instead of that
there was the old Reform Bill of 1832 staring eis in the
face,
It was a little modernised, perhaps, with a few sham teeth.
added, and ono rotton "one extracted- but there was no °I is
taking our venerable friend. if Lord John
sue
Russell can -
-
"'A in passing off such a Bill on the country as a
great and
original measure, he will be even a greater conjurorthan we
imagined. As
for the general scope of his Bill, we shall
I only say at present that it strikes us
_ as a