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

sentatives in about 30 burghs, where the election was
confined to corporate officers alone. The laws excluding
Roman Catholics have been repealed, and, by the repeal•
of the Test and Corporation Acts, corporations have been
opened to Protestant Dissenters. They stated that house-
holders generally were excluded. At present the lahouse-
holders aro admitted by the Reform Act. They stated that
in Scotland superiority without proderty gave a title to
vote. This is entirely altered by the Reform Act. Anti
they stated, lastly, that the polls for counties were taken
in one place and lasted 15 days. This, too, hasbeen altered,
and an instance occurred only last Saturday of the poll for
a county being taken in one day, and in many places. I
state these things to show that great improvements have
been made in the condition of this house as representing
the people since 1793. (Hear.) I need scarcely state, be-
cause the house must have them fresh in recollection, the
important measures which have passed during the period
that has elapsed since the Reform Act was carried, viz.,
the abolition of slavery, the opening of the trade to China,
the reform of the corporations in hngland, Scotland, and
Ireland, the measures taken for the reform of the tariff,
the repeal of the corn laws, the equalisation of the sugar
duties, and the repeal of the navigation laws. These are
only some of the measures which occupied Parliament dur-
ing the period that has elapsed since the passing of the Re-
form Act. (Hear.) Well, then, I come to consider what it
is that now remains for us to do in order to enable this
house still more fully to represent the people at large. In
opening this subject I should state that I think there are
three main defects which either belonged to or were left by
the Reform Act, and which require the serious attention
of this house. The first of these is that, though a very
large disfranchisement took place at that time, there are
still several boroughs which hardly contain a sufficient
number of electors to justify their retaining the power
of sending members to this house. (Loud cheers.) But,
in stating that as a defect, and in seeking to amend
it, I wish likewise to state that I do not concur in some
of the objections made on this head. I do not concur,
for instance, in the opinion that there ought to be
anything like an equal number of electors in every place
returning members. My belief is, that you would hardly
get a fair representation of the people without some variety
in this respect in our system. If you only look to the
history of the last few years you will find, during the
continuation of the agitation which existed on the subject
of free trade that at a public meeting in some agricultu-
ral countygreat applause was given to those who depicted
the selfishness and cupidity of the manufacturers, and at-
tributed their efforts for free trade to such feelings. On
the other hand, at meetings in great manufacturing towns
the landed aristocracy were held up to odium ; a mono-
poly of power was imputed to them and denounced as a
great evil. There existed, however, a vast number of peo-
ple in the country who neither listened to nor believed in
these representations. A great portion of the people, con-
sisting of many of the most moderate and calm men, justly
thought that the landed aristocracy were useful to the
country, contributing to the maintenance and stability of
the free institutions of the State, and who likewise were
of opinion that the country derived great benefit from the
industry of the commercial and manufacturing classes.
(Hear.) If, then, you were to adopt such a plan of reform
as would give the representation only to counties and large
cities, you would want that mediating element, that infu-
sion of moderation, which is derived from those members
who are returned by neither counties nor large towns.
(Hear.) I think, likewise, that it would be impossible—I
will not say whether it would be desirable or not—but I
think it would be impossible in the present social state of
this country, with our law of primogeniture and with the
great proprietors who are found in this country, to attempt
to prevent the influence of those great proprietors affecting
the returns for counties. That is an evil which has been
frequently pointed out as one that ought to be got rid
of ; but it is not with that view I think it necessary to
make the changes which I now propose. At the time
of the Reform Bill I said that there were a certain
number of boroughs which, though small, still had a
sufficient number of electors to enable them to make an
independent election. The number of electors which
I then stated that all boroughs should at least have
iu my opinion was 300. I find several boroughs which
fall below that number. I find, likewise, that there are
boroughs which, though they exceed in electors the num-
ber of 300, yet in point of population are not considerable,
the population, in fact, falling below 5,000. I shall pro-
pose, therefore, to deal with the boroughs in that state.
Proceeding to some other boroughs which are not so small,
I find a certain number which have less than 500 electors,
and others less than a population of 10,000, returning two
members each. I shall propose to deal with these boroughs
by depriving them of one of their members. Taking the
double scale of electors and population, I find that the
number of boroughs which have less than 300 electors, or
having 300 electors have less than 5,000 population, are
19 ; and the number of members which they return to
Parliament is 29. The number of boroughs in the next
table which have less than 500 electors or less than a po-
pulation of 10,000, is no fewer than 33. If the first class
of boroughs were entirely disfranchised, and one member
taken from each of the boroughs in the second class, the
numbers of this house would then be reduced by 62 seats.
1 The next defect in the Reform Act that I have to mention
is, that I think it has tended too much to divide the coun-
try in a Way in which it was not before divided—into op-
posite camps, according as people are connected with land
or with trade. I think we have seen—what was not the
case before—the county members too exclusive, generally,
on their part in respect to the interest they cared for, and
the members for great cities too exclusive also on their
part. Before I proceed to state the mode in which I pro-
pose that the 62 seats should be filled rip; I will mention
that I think a very great advantage would be derived
from a change, which has been advocated in writings and
pamphlets--namely, that there should be a representation
given to the minority. (Hear, hear.) In looking over
the numbers that have voted for some of the larger coun-
ties and for soma of the great cities, I find that there
are 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 who vote for the unsuccessful
candidate, while perhaps 100 or 150 more are found
on the side of the successful candidate. It appears to
us that many advantages would attend the enabling the
minority to have a part in these returns. In the first place,
there is apt to be a feeling of great soreness when a very
considerable number of electors, such as I have mentioned,
are completely shut out from a share in the representation.
In one county it may be the Liberal party—in a great town
it may be the Conservative party ; but, if these electors
form a very large body, I have been told—l don't know it
from practical experience—that there is a very great irri-
tation and anger at their perpetual exclusion. In the next
place, I think that the more you have your representation
confined to large populations, the more ought you to take
care that there shall be some kind of balance, and that the
large places returning members to this house shall send
those who represent the community iu general, Now, when
there is a very large body excluded, it cannot be said that
the community at large is fairly represented. Our plan
would only be adopted when three members represent a
county or city. When that is the case, supposing there to
be a decided majority, even of 100 or 150, that majority
should at all events have two members out of the three, so
that in this hones there might be two to one on any divi-
sion that might take place. I think, besides, that such a
provision would have a great tendency to prevent angry
contests. I propose now to explain in what manner the
seats I have mentioned are to no tilled up. I have stated
more than once, its answer to gentlemen- who complained
that there were places of 6,1)00 or 7,000 inhabitants which
returned as many members as places of 60.000 or 70,000
lniiabitants, that if we were to reform the representation
according to the numbers of the people, then a town of
10,000 or 15,00) inhabitants must yield to the claim of
great counties which have 200,000, 300,000, or 400,000
inhabitants. I remember the right honourable member
for Buckinghamshire (Mr. Disraeli) maintaining that
argument with great ability, in answer to a proposition
made in this house during the time he was Chancellor
of the Exchequet:' It' :appears to me that the argument
Is founded in fairness and in justice. We shall pro-
pose, therefore, to take population generally as the rune
to be applied in the manner I have stated. We shall
take in the first place the West Riding of the county of
York, which has nearly 800,001 inhabitants, besides the
inhabitants of towns which are represented. We shall
take the county of Lancaster, the southern division of
which has, I think, about 500,000 inhabitants. We shall
divide these two counties, and to each of these divisions
we propose to give three members ; and, going on with
counties and with towns, we shall propose to give an addi-
tional member to each county and to each town which has
more than 100,000 inhabitants. Then we shall propose
that, in giving their votes, the electors shall vote as they
do at present, only for two candidates out of the three, so
that when the minority exceeds two-fifths of the whole
number of electors they will be enabled to have one repre-
sentative out of the three who are returned. [This state-
-1 ment was followed, for some moments, by a low murmur
of conversation among hon. members.] The consequence
of taking this rule will be, that four members will be
added for the West Riding of York, and four for the South
Lancashire division, and there will be, I think, 38 for
other counties, making 46 altogether. There are also eight
towns having more than 100,000 inhabitants, and the
borough of Salford, with more than 80,000 inhabitants,
which at present return representatives ; without includ-
ing the metropolitan boroughs, for we have considered the
metropolitan boroughs as parts of one great city,irom 0
as separate towns of themselves—(cheers f n
and not.
tion)—and to each of these towns we propose to give o
additional member. We shall propose also to give one
inhabitants each—Birkenhead, Staleybridge, and Burnley.
member to each of three towns which have more than 20,000
We shall then propose .what has been often asked—that
Kensington and Chelsea shall be formed into a borough,
and that two members shall be sent to Parliament from that
district. (Cheers.) There is another kind of representation
which has been often advocated, and which we propose, at
least in some degree, to recommend. I will first mention
think (C h e et rhsa, t andwe I
haveau g h t
alreadye ) I
sufficient
a cs
emn et
fl e Cmo
gentlemen
r t .
number of lawyers in
bon .Ingnesnot
this house. (Laughter, and loud
and continued cheering.) But, sir, my own persuasion is
that, when we have put the ' •
representation in the position
in which we propose- to place it, it would be most bene-
ficial that we should have two of the most eminent lawyers
in the country returned to this house ; and I believe,
while, of course, lawyers would have as good a chance as
any other candidates, if not a better, in boroughs in gene-
ral—(laughter)—that the lawyers who belong to the Inns
of Court would take a pride in choosing two of the most
eminent of their profession to represent them in this house.
I cannot but think, and I am sure the house will agree
with me, that it is a very great advantage to us to have
some most eminent lawyers to assist in our debates ; and,
if we are in any degree liable to be misled with regard to
legal doctrines by those who have not enjoyed so much ex-
perience and who have not attained the same eminence,
the opinions given by the first lawyers of the day are sure
to sway the house and to prevent its being led to adopt
erroneous views. We propose, therefore, to give two
members to the Inns of Court. We propose, likewise to
give one member to the University of London. (Hear,
hear.) Considering that the two great Universities—the
Universities of Oxford and Cambridge—are so much con-
nected with the church, I think it is only fair that a
University which opens its doors to the whole country
should have the power of sending a member to this house.
(Hear, and cheers.) I will state more particularly after-
wards the counties and towns to which additional
members will be given ; but I will now advert to what I
have before mentioned in this house, and what I think
a defect in the Reform Act which still remains to be
corrected. Hardly any variation took place from the
first proposal we made with respect to the disfranchise-
ment of boroughs under that act. Iu the first draught—
the rough draught —I sketched of the Reform Bill, I
proposed that 50 boroughs should be entirely disfran-
chised, and that 50 ether boroughs should send only
one member each. (Hear.) That proposal was somewhat
varied, but in the Kid I think 56 boroughs were disfrane
chisel, and it was provided that 30 should send only one
member each. The measure eventually adopted v aried but
little from the original proposal I had made to the com-
mittee appointed by Lord Grey to consider the plan of the
Reform Bill; but with regard to the franchise to be given
a great deal of consideration took place, even after the
bill was brought into this house, before the Go vernment
of the day finally made up their minds on the subj set. Tt
was propopd that there should be a 104 rating ; it was
thought 040 ti 010 that the qui4atioa 51404 even her