The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-14 00:00:00

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higher ; but ultimately the qualification was reduced to I primed by way of compromise, which provided that all
10/. value. Now, I think that in taking that franchise, 1 members of the Commons who might take office under the
and in abolishing, as we did, all those intricate franchises I Crown should vacate their seats, but be eligible to be
which then existed, we too much confined ourselves to 1 re-elected. As long as the House of Commons continued
one species of franchise, and did not make the franchise unreformed-as long as there were a number of convenient
sufficiently varied and comprehensive. We propose, then, members connected with the Treasury or dependent on
in the first place, that there shall be several franchises persons in immediate connection with the Ministry, no
common to the counties and to the towns ; and that these great inconvenience was experienced from the operation of
qualification's (as we understood) shall entitle a person to the act. When Mr. Canning accepted the office of Se-
vote in the place in which he resides, whether he be re- cretary of State he vacated his seat for Liverpool, and was
sident in a county or in a borough. The first qualifica- immediately returned for Harwich, because the latter was
tion we propose is 1001. salary, derived from any employ- an easier seat, and would cause him less trouble than
ment, public or private. It is provided that such salary must attend the representation of a large town like Liver-
shall be paid half-yearly or quarterly, so that the qualifi- pool. In those times, when a seat could always be found
cation shall not apply to persons who receive weekly wages. for any person for whom it was required, Ministers suf-
I conceive that this franchise will bring in a very intelli- fared little inconvenience from the act of Anne; but when
gent body of men. (Cheers.) The next franchise we pro- the
principle of popular representation was introduced into
pose is 101. a year derived from dividends either from the all our elections,
funds, from Bank Stock, or from East India Stock. The were hardly compensatedt by the advantage of having new
next is a somewhat similar, though a higher qualification elections. The
ihneoryis,tothat a person ought to go before
than that which I proposed two years ago-namely 40s. his constituentsorder enable them to decide whether
wil have. a member who is a servant of the Crown,
Payment either to the income tax or to the assessed they
taxes within the year. (Hear, hear.) Those who pay the or one whot Is perfectlyt. h independent.. Now, in point of
nwhiicrhdl.gyeenveerralalynsaerissoens
is
-clic,awn
hocactaissiotnhe;
income tax will receive votes for the present, and when fhanctt,ththeacturste
question
they lose their votes they will have the compensation of
most embarrassing topic connected with the member vs-
pose, rid of the tax. (Cheers and laughter.) We Pro-
pose, likewise, that graduates of any university in the eating his seat," or "is he likely or not to obtain hie re-
,
United Kingdom shall have the right of voting, to which turn ?" The consequence of this state of things is, that
than
nged one to
more selectfi a
ttpeedrsofnorths whose
office, re -e election is an conceive they are entitled by their education and at- very often the Crown is embarrassed in its choice and is
in
such banks for not less than three years, shall be entitled o
tainments. We propose, also, that any persons having
obliged
aura,hisose r e. e election
rather
deposits of 501. in savings banks, which have remained i
in
is doubtful. I
am of opinion that no public benefit which
to vote. I think if the franchise were given to
depositors
may arise from an adherence to the principle of popular
whose money had been in the banks for a less period than control in the representation can be equivalent to the ad-
three years,danger
there would be considerable
creation of
fictitious votes, but I have no doubt the house are to appear in this house, and to be answerable for the
will concur in the opinion that a bona ,fide holder of 501. in conduct of affairs, they ought to advise the Crown to give
a savings bank has given a proof of prudence and frugality office-if to members of Parliament-to such members as
which entitles him to a voice in the election of represents- in their judgment are most fitting to hold it. It must be
Lives. (Hear, hear.) I now come to those franchises which obvious that there are many things which a member may
belong exclusively to the counties, and to cities and do fully as important as taking office, without asking the
boroughs. With regard to the counties, - opinion of his constituents. For instance, he may totally
introduction of the Reform change
lected that, at the time of the _ . . his course of politics. (Hear, hear, and laughter
to depart in grin- from Bill, the Government did not propose . . the Opposition.) Upon such an occasion he may, or
ciple from the general provisions of the constitution-that may not think it advisable to go before his constituents,
while occupation gave the right ofc,_
right of
in cities and but the decision on that point rests with himself. For
boroughs, tenure should give the h rie o voting in counties. these reasons we think the operation of the statute in
The 40s. freeholds were added to_ by copyholders and question is not generally beneficial, while it is very often
others who had similar property, but with the exception inconvenient, and therefore we propose its abolition, and
of leaseholders, holding for 3tl years, it was not at first pro- to allow any member- as was the case during the reign of
posed to vary the nature of the rightof votingin counties. William 111.-to accept office under the Crown without
of t la
But during the progress . that tbill through Parliament an vacating his seat. I will now proceed to state to the house
amendment was proposed and carried, by which all 50/. the various boroughs from which we propose taking one
occupiers obtained the right of voting in counties. Now, I member, and likewise the places to which we propose
am far from making any objection to that class of .701. giving the members thus removed. I mentioned to the
occupiers, but it will be seen that this amendment entirely house two classes of boroughs from which respectively 29
chaneed the character and nature of the county franchise and 33 seats are to be taken. To these 62 seats it is feces-
as it had been previously understood, and tended certainly eery to add 4 more which are now vacant, making a total
to diminish the power of that class which I have always of 66. I will state the places to which we propose giving
considered one of the best and most independent 63 of the vacant seats. The remaining 3 will be given by a
classes of voters in this country-namely, the 40s. free- measure which I will not now stop to describe, to populous
holders- When that principle, however, wasonce departed places and universities of Scotland. First, as regards, the
from, reasons were shown why this occupation franchise places from which seats will be taken. The following bo-
should be extended; and considering that we do not pro- roughs, having less than 300 electors, or less than 5,000 in-
pose to add to any great extent to the number of towns habitants, will be disfranchised :-Andover, 2 members;
sending members to Parliament-indeed, we only propose Arundel, 1; Ashburton, 1 ; Calne, 1; Dartmouth, 1 ;
to establish three new boroughs, I believe it will be a very Evesham, 2 : Harwich, 2; Floniton, 2 ; Knaresborough,
great advantage to persons who live in towns which have- 9 Lyme Regis, 1 • Marlborough, 9 • Midhurst, 1 ;
e ;
not the right of sending members to Parliament that they Northallerton, 1; Reigate, 1; Richmond (Yorkshire) 2;
should have a voice in the representation of the counties Thetford,9 T t 9 • Wells,9 • Wilton, Total 19
e : o nes, e , e , i o , .- ,
in which they reside. (Hear, hear.) We propose, there- boroughs, returning 29 members. The following bo-
fore, to adopt a suggestion which has more than once been roughs having less than 500 electors, or less than 10,000
made to the house-namely that 101. occupiers shall have inhabitants, will lose one sent each ;-Bodmin, Bridge-
a vote for counties. (Cheers.) With respect to that right, , north, Bridport, Buckingham, Chichester, Chippenham,
whether in counties or in boroughs, we intend to check an 1 Cirencester, Cockermouth, Devizes, Dorchester, Guild-
abuse which has prevailed. Under the words " any build- ford, Hertford, Huntingdon, Leominster, Lewes, Lud-
ings and lands occupied itherewith," persons run up a low, Lymington, Lichfield, Malden, Melton, Marlow,
shed of the value of only 2s. 6d. a year, making out the (Great), Newport (Isle of Wight), Peterborough, Poole,
rent in land, and a species of voters was thereby created Ripon, Stamford, Tamworth, Tavistock, Tewkesbury,
who were never contemplated by the act. (Hear hear.) Tiverton, Weymouth, Windsor, Wycombe (Chipping)-
We propose, therefore, with respect to this
county right total, 33 members. The counties and divisions of counties
of voting, that-with the exception of a dwelling-house, containing a population of more than 100,000, and at pre-
which may be of any value provided the voter lives in it sent returning two members, to which an additional mem-
-in all other cases the building must be of the value of ber will be given are these :-Bedford • Chester, southern
51. a-year. Supposing there is a house and land-the division ; ditto, northern ; Cornwall, western; ditto,
house may be rated at 11. or 2/. a-year, provided the voter eastern ; Derby, northern ; ditto, southern ; Devon,
resides in it, but if the qualification is made out by any southern ; ditto, northern ; Durham, northern ; ditto,
other building-a cattle-shed, or any building of that southern ; Essex, southern ; ditto, northern ; Gloucester,
kind, then we propose this check, that such building shall western ; Kent, western ; ditto, eastern ; Lancaster,
be of the value of 51. a-year. This, then, is the franchise northern ; Lincoln, parts of Lindsey ; ditto, parts of Kes-
we propose to give in counties for the future, and the house teven and Holland ; Middlesex • Monmouth ; Norfolk,
will see that it has a very considerable bearing upon the western ; ditto, eastern ; Stafford,' northern ; ditto, south-
question of the increase of the number of members which I ern ; Somerset, western ; ditto, eastern ; Salop, northern ;
have stated we propose. Out of the whole number I have Southampton, northern ; Suffolk, eastern ; ditto, western ;
mentioned I shall propose that 46 members shall be given Surrey, eastern, Sussex, eastern • Warwick, northern ;
to counties ; but, as those counties will hereafter include Worcester, eastern ; York, East 'Riding ; ditto, North.
the 101. householders, it is obvious that the constituencies Wales.-Glamorgan, 1. Additional members, 38. The
will be less of a special character. (Hear.) It does seem to cities and boroughs containing more than 100,000 inhabi-
me that all the endeavours made to run clown the agricultu- tants at present returning two members but, hereafter are
ral interest or to run down the manufacturing interest are to return three :- Birmingham, Bristol (city), Bradford
totally foolish and absurd, and that there can be no better (Yorkshire), Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester (city), Sheffield,
syrtem of representation than that which takes into consi- Wolverhampton ;Salford, to return in future two mem-
deration the whole of the great interests of the country- bers-total nine members. Unrepresented towns contain-
(hear, hear)-which contribute to its glory and prosperity. ing more than 20,000 inhabitants to receive one member
(Cheers.) Now, Sir, I come to the question of the fran- each are :-Birkenhead, Burnley, Staleybridge-total, 3
chise of the boroughs. It certainly appears to me that in members. I have already mentioned that the West Riding
taking the 101. franchise so absolutely as we did in the of Yorkshire and South Lancashire are each to be divided
year 1831, we did not make a sufficient provision for the into parts, with two members each, which will appropriate
admission of the working classes to the franchise. (Hear, eight more of the vacant seats. The new borough of Chel-
hear.) It was not intended, as has been supposed, that sea and Kensington will take two more ' • the Inns of Court
the middle classes should be exclusively the electors in two, the London University one ; and all these together,
cities and boroughs ; but still it was supposed-as has with the three seats reserved for Scotland, make up the
taken place-that the middle classes would have the greater total number of 66.
portion of the power in their hands, and that they would A MEMBER asked whether each division of the West
have, in effect, the greatest influence upon the future con- Riding and South Lancashire was to have three members ?
duct of the legislation and government of this country. Lord J. RUSSELL.-Yes. It may be convenient to the
Entertaining that desire, I am prepared to maintain the house if I give a summary of the manner in which we pro.
opinions which I formerly expressed. I think it is most pose disposing of the 66 vacant seats. It is thus :-
desirable that the middle classes of this country should Counties, and divisions of counties 3B
have a great influence upon its fortunes; but, seeing the West Riding 4
character of the working classes of this country, seeing South Lancashire
their importance, seeing how much the wealth of the Three new boroughs, one each
country depends upon them-(hear, hear)-I think we One new borough 2
ought to endeavour to snake the door wider-(oheers)- Nine boroughs, one each additional 9
than it now is. I may be permitted to state to the house Inns of C
the views held by Mr. Fox as to the right of voting for
London Uni v ourt
University 1
members of Parliament. He said, in 1797:- Scotland
" I have always deprecated universal suffrage, not so much
on account of the confusion to which it would lead, as be-
cause 1 think we should in reality lose the very object we
desire to obtain; because I think it would in its nature em-
barrass and prevent the deliberative voice of the country from
being heard. Ido not think that you augment the delibera-
tive body of the people by counting all the heads, but that,
in truth, you confer on individuals by this means the power
of drawing forth numbers who, without deliberation, would
act implicitly upon their will My opinion is, that the best
plan of representation is that which shall bring into activity
the greatest number of independent voters, and that that is
defective which would bring forth those whose situation
and cendition take from them the power of deliberation."
(Hear, hear.)
I think that principle is a sound ono, but the difficulty is ,
in applying it. I myself do not at all shrink from saying
that I think the extension of the franchise which I pro-
posed two years ago-neruely, to 5/. householders, did not I
go too far ; but, at the same time, I knew that proposition
would give rise to great objection on the part of those who
think that would be carrying the franchise to too low a
point, and that we should not thereby get the intelligence
and independence we wished to obtain. Yielding to some
extent to that opinion, we turned our attention to the
municipal franchise. Two objections may be urged against
the adoption of the municipal franchise. One is, that we
should make municipal elections always the precursors of
Parliamentary elections, and thereby expose municipal
boroughs to continual excitement and agitation. The
other is, that, under a certain act which passed two or
three years ago, the rates of all houses under a certain
value may be compounded for by the landlord, who thereby
becomes the sole payer of the rates. I purpose taking the
limit laid clown in that act. It must be acknowledged
that the fact of a man living in a house is to a certain de-
gree a proof of independence, and, as to the amount of the
value, without intending to say that all persons living in
houses of less than 6/. value are venal, we have determined
to draw the line there, and to provide that all persons
living in houses of above 6/ value shall be entitled to vote,
on condition that they have fulfilled the municipal term of
residence-namely, about two years and a-half before they
can be placed on the register, or two years and ten months
before they can exercise the right of voting. This is an
extension of the suffrage which will include those among
the working classes who are most remarkable for resi-
dence and conduct-those who are most remarkable
for their skill and enterprise in their respective trades,
and are thereby able to live in houses of better cha-
racter than those occupied by the great mass of their
fellow-workmen. There is one change we purpose making
both with respect to this new franchise and the old
101. franchise. According to the old doctrine of
representation, when votes in boroughs were unknown,
persons pt.ying scot and lot hail the right of voting. By
this means the franchise was extended to the lowest
classes; but it was accompanied by this check, that proof
of the payment of poor rates, which, in process of time,
came to be substituted for the ancient definition of scot
and lot, was always insisted on before the voter was
allowed to poll. We introduced that check and several
others into the Reform Bill, with the view of ascertain-
ing the solvency and sufficiency of voters. Considering,
however, that a voter must be a person living either in a
house of 10/. value, or in one rated at 6/. a-year, and must
be in employment for a considerable time before he can
vote, it appears to us to be no longer necessary to keep in
force the previous payment of cater and taxes, and there-
fore we propose that, in future, persons on the register
shall give their votes without being subject to the check.
(Hear, hear.) We propose another change in the existing
law with respect to the register of electors. There have
been various decisions in election committees upon the
question of striking names off theregister •snake
e , now we
the register of voters final. (Hear, bear.) I, perhaps,
have not explai
subject of the 1.01/e(frinyself with sufficient clearness on the
anchise. We preserve this franchise
exactly
iv, it is,
with
the exception of two changes, one of
which provides that,
of buildings and dvreli ling-house the franchise is claimed in respect
thelbuildings must be ing-house of the joint value of 101.,
charge relates to theof the value of 51. a-year ; the other
no longer be insistednoanyment of rates and taxes which will
added the new one,
fou.ndeTo this franchise will now be
y
and a half or two ea„ founded on a residence of two years
at 61. in a municipal borough.l°
months in a house rated
that that condition can '
overseen fulfilling
name on the register. Impelila the to put his
house with another change
of considerable
'till to acquaint the
which we purpose effecting.
When
nnsiderable importance
bribery and corruption have complaints respecting
boroughs in this kingdom, it has from many
'represented that one again class beeny over and over
e ners -n and the
the
freemen-were deeply implicated in these • m actions. (Hear, hear.) When I proposed tile proper trans-
ia 1831, it contained a clause similar to thnte Reform Bill
inserting into the measure I am about to ask for leave IPani.Pc'se
introduce-namely, a clause to enact that, after teheveto
ex-
piration of existing interests, the freemen's franchise shall
cease. (near, hear) We prepose that no person who neaay
hereafter take up his freedom by. birth or servitude shall
voting. It is this which has •
have the right of . influenced us
in our proposition to add the new right of voting founded
on the 6/. municipal rating ; for otherwise our bill, by
the ex-
tinguishing •freemen's right of voting, would be a mea-
sure for contracting instead Of extending the suffrage. e
have now to mention another intended change, which.
though not arising irn rnedietely out of the proposed bill, is
connected with the general scheme of representation. It is
our intention to propose an alteration
member in
of the House
regard to the
statute of Anne, which obliges any
of (-)ommons who accepts office under the Clown to vacate
his seat and go to a fresh election. The spirit of this act
was unknown from the time of the Revolution until the
6th of Anne. The act arose out of a dispute on a great
principle, respecting which Whigs and Tories took entirely
different views-namely, the question whether the House
of Commons should be entirely independent of the Crown,
or whether it should contain Ministers of the Crown who,
having an influences over the assembly, might establish
Parliamentary government in the country. The Whigs
maintained that Ministers should have seats in Parlia
went; the Tories, on the other hand, maintained that
all placemeu should be excluded from the house. It being
ne,
impossible to reco • a -
e these conflicting views, an act was

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