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

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 9.
PARLIAMENTARY REFORII•

Lord JOHN RUSSELL then rose to move for leave
to bring in a Bill to extend the right of voting for
Members cf Parliament, and to amend the laws
relating to the representation of the people. The stste
of affairs, he said, in which he brought this motion for-
ward ought to be satisfactory to the House and to the
country.—(Hear, hear.) During the last four years
we had seen wonderful changes on the continent, and
yet during that period this country had been tranquil
It appeared, therefore, that this was a proper time
aspppi
rairta n to
fd a
tnhgee rps
people
had l b
thee ne
ma
sveelrvteesd.
and loyal, and many
whether any further extension could be
given to the right of voting consistently with the princi-
fboyr nesi(cioeu6rnaggeous
pie of the Constitution, the prerogative of the Crown, the
authority of Parliament, and the rights and liberties
of the people.—(Hear.) There were some persons who
said that they ought rather to wait for agitation, and
that it was better to legislate upon a subject of this kind
when the passions of the people had been raised; but ho
totally differed from that opinion. He thought if it was
desirable to make any amendment in the state of the
representation, it was well to consider the change in a
rime of peace and tranquillity—to concede it as a reward
for past good conduct, rather than to meke
it, as it were, upon compulaion.—(hear, hear.) He be-
lieved, therefore, he was doing right in now bringing
forward this question.—(Hear, hear.) It had been as-
so,
of w
sertud, but without foundation, that it was merely on the
spur of the moment, when being pressed by a
motion which was last year carried, that he gave notice
that
thehe
shHouoludsebrinthgisthissessuslijoenct under._(fie teh e
hear.)consideration
so far from that being the case, it was stated
by him so far back as 1848, in answer
to the Honourable Member for Montrose, that he thought
the time was rapidly approaching when the further ex-
tension of the franchise might be again considered
and deliberated upon by Parliament. —(Hear, hear.)
It was then thought that it would not be advisable to
bring in such a measure, and when the subject was dis-
cussed last year in the Cabinet the reasons for post-
ponement again outweighed those for its immediate pro-
duction. That postponement, however, subjected the
Government to these disadvantages, that in opposing such
motions it must, in giTing reasons for their postponement,
be supposed to be concealing its real intention, and thus
appear to be forced to do something which it bad never
intended to do, or, in stating a general intention on the
subject, it should be accused of causing apprehension and
expectation as to what the details of the measure were to
be. This alternative, although attended with inconvenience,
he had preferred. Having stated thus much, he thought
it would be convenient if the House would review along
with him the measures which had been taken and pro-
posed on this subject at various times. He did not mean
to enter into the general principles of representation,
but ho believed it was pretty well agreed that
the claim to the franchise in every individual
was one which could not be supported, the object to be
gained being always good government. In deliberating
on the means of obtaining the fairest measure of represen-
tation they must always bear in mind the importance of