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

FEBRUARY 10, 1852

voted great attention to this 2ubjeet.—(Loud checr:3.)

ai moredi thirty yeare Eit•C'3 I prop: see u cleaaura,
on a sik et of reform, but it is nearly thirty years
since I proposed a mew,ure a ben I was met by the
ability and eloquence of Mr. Canning.—(Hear, hear.)
Since that time I have succeeded, under the auspice:). o
Lord Grey aed his colleagues, in carrying a large mea-
sure of reform; and, so far from fulfilling the fore-
boding:, of Mr. Canning, that measure has tended to
promote the happiness and liberty of this country,
while it is one which hes 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 s our 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 constitution.—(Cheers.) I
have only to say that two other Bills will shortly be in-
troduced—cne 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 bo 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 Perlis'
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 for cities and boroughs we do pro-
pose to reduce it from 81. to 5/. 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, nor 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 fjr
the House to consider how 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 earnestl:l the great question of the edece
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
people should be in a better state than it now
(Cheers.) lam convinced that if after a measure of this
kind, in another session of Parliament, this House 61101
consider the means of establishing a really national sYs'
tem of eduction, they will confer one of the greatest
blessings which can be conterred on this country, ens
for which I believe the people are now almost prepare',
and which, after further discussion, I do trust may b:
carried with very nearly a general assent.—(Cheers.)
do not propose now, however, to enter into this
tion. I have stated the general principles of the Bill
pi opose to introduce, and I rejoice that in this time 01
quiet and tranquillity—(flear, hear)—we may fairly
consider that we are not acting under compulsion of say
kind, that we are not obliged by any clamour to inure;
duce this measure, but that we do it with an earnest and
humble hope that we may contribute something to the
happiness and the liberty of the country.—(The Noble
Lord then resumed his teat, but the cheering which fol-
lowed was remarkably faint end partial.)
Mr. FUME considered that the present propos,f_ll
contained many beneficial points, but he was sorry tun
Noble Lord had not the coura„,ae to do away with orinY,
injurious restrictions which still remained. He agree"
with the Noble Lord that this was a proper period to
bring forward this Bill. He regretted that the Noble
Lord had stopped short of what the people had a right
to expect. Ho denied that the people were not entitle"
to the franchise. He regretted the omissions made II
the Noble Lord in this Bill. He regretted he had not
introduced the ballot and triennial Parliaments. He re-
garded this no bettor than a patched up Reform Bill.
He should, however, reserve what he had to say upon
this subject to another stage cf the measure. If this vve'
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 pa
Scotland upon an equal footing with England. Ile re-
gretted the Noble Lurd had not gone further, and that
ho had lett between three and four millions of artisan/
unenfranchised.

Sir J. WALSH said it was about 21 years ago since
he had the advantage, or disadvantage, of witnessing
the exposition of the Noble Lord in introducing the
great Reform Bill, which afterwards became the law of
the land; and when he contrasted the manner in which
:
the announcement of that measure was received by t"'
House of Commons—when he recollected the intel
excitement which pervaded all parts of the House, fled
when also he contrasted with tnat excitement the trig'
indifference—(Heart hear)—with which it
appeared t
him the statement of the Noble Lord had been rec'iee;
d
to-night, he could not doubt that when the Noble Lor
said that he had chosen the present time for the intro.
duction ot the measure because there was little genera,
-
or public interest attached to the subject, he was per-
fectly correct.—((fear, hear.) During the 21 yelp
cli
which had elapsed cities the period to which he (Sir o•
Walsh) had referred, the Noble Lord had filled many
high situations, and had run an eminent political career.
t
But he (Sir J. Walsh) did not think that, in the whole
course of that career, the Noble Lord had ever
curred a responsibility so deep, or taken a step so (leeteti
tionable as he had dune on the present occasion.—(l4t
cheers from the Conservatives.) Well did he recollect
numerous discussions which took place on the intl.('
duction of the great measure of 1831. But he hesitetis
not to assert, that throughout the whole of those us,,,
cussiuns, it was alleged as one of the grounds for 1:0.1$
leg that measure so large and so comprehensive that
t 3
was intended by its authors to he a final settlement nos
great constitutional question.—(Cheers.) He did ble
accuse the Noble Loid of a breach of an bouoliOu,
understanding, nor did he mean to throw out an b33the
tation on his personal character; but he did say thatdiss
Government of which the Noble Lord was then s
ea'
anguished member—that the authors of that great foe
sure presented it to the House of Commons ttiltsget
ground that, being so comprehensive told being a°.,ert.
it would obviate the necessity of repeating an e'srooe
ment which must always be considered a daugereaushs of
—that of tampering anew with the fixed instiluttbkrangeS
the country, and plunging again into those never
which must ever be considered as in a greater Ora:tear.
degree possessing the chaeacter of revolution• believed
hear.) It his recollection served him rightly bets° pass;
that during a great portion of the period since t"feede'l
ing of the Reform Act the Noble Lord had es and
the position that that measure ought to be fine,' ~,,ra
of ool'a
that he had incurred a considerable 9
his
The Noble
him in that House. to
on the fart ot those who, though not am-
porters, sat very near s
Lord told them that because the l country
indifferent te
quiet and so prosperous, and the
Noblepeope so
to
Lord's can sPeu
the measure—that because the
amount of
stV
in introducing it had fallen still-born on the !louse
to
a total alteration and large extension .0
that was
bring forward
This was precisely Onethose Seta
the franchise.,..of
thus
he"
twoapsarty what was Ineal3
the Noble Lords c,retr which Would expose him
precisely the reason why he himself Was of
to
atiy
inspu gtS -
sacrificing the interests of the State to the interests r
p. ar tyt—atoi°: °Pen—Vix., of freque
mankind." The measure of 18in ted e6'
-32 was accep uoot
giving
whichng
up
final measure, and a settlement of the question by fir
Gentlemen opposite. He well remembered the late .
e made on that settlement-
R. Peel pruphecying that the first attack—the first 103.0
road that would b ea°
come not from that (the Opposition) but this (their ( 4l
o
-his
nisterial) side; and from reasons not clear the
Walsh's) apprehension, the Noble Lord to
bad ch°ll.eell hsta
present moment for fulfilling that prediction• was
watched cautiously and closely, without alslornsvl/3%id bit
ever, the results of the last Reform Bill, and 'le (,
no means be inclined to concur in the panegv:t
those results which the Noble Lord, as the perms
the measure, naturally passed on them. •so to
therefore, fairly question the benefits said to Ann twat()
it, and refuse to accept the argument based uPde.teetioil•
alleged benefits, for a new step in the same other
The Hon. Baronet the mover of the Address the bed
night had stated that everything which was „g volsbY
resulted from the Reform Bill; but he (Sir d• which
thought there were some of its provisions
_t'',l9,eo
were not so beneficial, and which afforded rieursher
for proceeding most cautiously in taking 04,4000'
strides in the same direction. Every Ge/`7 ce the
without exception, which had been in office sin,u, twit
Reform nu had been marked by one characteris'!juneg
of inherent weakness. Was a week and o°,ool
Government, then, an advantee—a Goverunsentds, tise
did not know its own policy, nor did anYbeu"seseti
know? And those weak Gevernistents were 11°t „ the t
by any deficiency of talent in their members, but_ ',if, and
changes in the Constitution which had been effeotteeusstio.
which rendered them nimble to carry out any sYesovs anti
policy—to give effect, in fact, to their own vi_,l tbeni
ideas. The Noble Lord had forotten to tel b
what he anticipated as the results of his nsesn: 011 the
t
resu)ts, he apprehended, would be to ranttle ee
evils of the weakness of the Governme ant.gg .11!,% biota:
of the former Reform Bill had been to renderistualie;
try, instead ot being a Goveretuent, a bure!
tome sort a body ot clerks, merely carrying
to 03 in-
views of the House of Cemuaoris. He would give cod
stance which was familiar to the Noble L_elcl,7,io,ol de"
plained a few years ago On the subject of th, tope
fenc• s, that the House of Commons had revctott
accio At
whole policy which had been carried with 044.
_a
0.0 or three years before—viz , about the year__try aria,
that time there was a general panic in the eeyotton
an universal desire for organizing a system oCheoo3°
defence. Two or three years subsequently that 103
Lord did see'.
of policy was upset, and the Noble aid no ass
what to no—that the people of Ihe country n.he jots
to know their own emeriti; and now at :.`;iierce.°_,
time they came to the tiara phase of this P tied to IP,
ca s see
violent popular action, and they were again
of
on" elicS
crease their defences. There was thus. of
_Er
saw between opposite extremes—no stabiollYer new
et':„
and all the result of the Reform Bill. An tne, ass° it 7,
influence to beef
lure originated by it was that the v
ions organized out of the House was b
erbes
upon their deliberations in the came nsattn,nunnell. I_l2s.
the political associations of the late Mr.
cheeter Assol,
the Illfluenco of such bodies as the Man
deg the the viewo6
lien was made to overcome in some g's which
.:es
ffect or
and sentiments of that House, the 03 ju the) e_Leo
been to lower the character of the Linn- f tattle
the P"atige o
of tho country, and destroy