The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-25 00:00:00

the # %Sou urea which the great body of the people ap-
pear •d to be most anxious to see carried ; and he therefore
eh h imsel. f justified in assuming, that if the popular in-
fluenc e m that House at the time mentioned was greater
than it really was, they would probably have that
great measure yet to discuss. The fact indisputably
was, that Government, in carrying that measure, had to
contend against a great amount of popular feeling. It had
been charged against his Honourable Friends, that they
were afraid of allowing the practice of the Constitution to
its theory. He wished to know at what period the prac-
tice of the Constitution had ever resembled the theory
which the present Bill went to establish ? When was the
theory of the Constitution conformable to the present Bill?
Amongst other objections to the proposition then under
the consideration of the House, it was to be observed, that
it would go to change the whole representative system of
Ireland, and it would most probably lead to the further
discussion of a subject, that, above all others, it was most
desirable to avoid—namely, the repeal of the Union.
There was, in his opinion, nothing more to be avoided
than further changes in the representation of that country ;
and, least of all, should there be any augmentation made
of the Members sent from that part of the United King-
dom, seeing that another measure had been introduced,
which would so greatly alter the relations heretofore
subsisting between the Irish and English Members. lie
really, in every point of view, professed himself unable to
understand how any Hon. Member, opposed to the repeal
of the Union, could advocate the present Bill.
Mr. HUNT wished do set himself right with the House
respecting an observation which fell from the Hon. and
Leaf ned Member for Boroughltridge, to the effect that he
(Mr. Hunt)—had spoken of himself as representing the
whole people of England. That he begged most dis-
tinctly to deny. He begged also to state, that neither in
nor out of the House had he ever expressed an opinion fa-
vourable to the disfranchisement of any man ; nor had he
on any occasion demanded more for Preston than be was
perfectly willine to concede to other places. He could not
allow that opportunity to pass of denying the measure of
Reform, as proposed by his Majesty's Government, was re-
volutionary. Let the House see how the matter stood,
viewing it solely with reference to the population of the
United Kingdom, and they would be enabled to judge how
far the Bill went to strengthen the hands of the people.
The population of England, Ireland, and Scotland, he
would take at 22,000.000 ; of that number 11,000,000
were males, and 3,000,000 were infants, leaving a remain-
der of 8,000,000 of adults. Under the new Bill there would
be only 1,000,000 of electors, and calculating their income
at an average of 1501. per annum to each, would be
150,000,000/. Then taking the 7,000,000 of male adults
unrepresented, as earning by their industry the sum of twelve
shillings and sixpence a week, he was entitled to say there
was an annual income of 220,0001. not represented.
Surely a measure which left things in that state, so far
from being revolutionary or democratic, was nothing more
than very moderate Reform.---(Much coughing.)—" If
Hon. Members be really labouring under the effects of
recent colds, I have some lozenges which I can recommend
as very efficacious."—( Great laughter. ) He was sure the
disturbance was not intentional. As to the general plan
of Reform, he must be allowed to say that if it were car-
ried without the protection of the ballot, it placed the
country represented in a worse state titan before.—
(Loud and continued cheering from the Opposition.)—
What were his reasons? The little 101. freeholders
were more open to improper influence than any other
class—(Cheers)—and it was evident that the proposed
change in the representation of counties would lead to
increasing the influence of all the great landholders. Not
one of the persons enfranchised under the new Bill, but
would feel the want of that protection which the ballot
alone could afford ; at the same time he felt bound to thank
the Ministry for putting an end to the rotten boroughs,
but he should rather have the representation in its present
state with the ballot, than universal suffrage without it.
Mr. LEFROY made a few observations, but, owing to
the noise, we could only collect that he disapproved of the

measure.
Mr. JEPHSON felt assured that it would have the ef-
fect of sending into that House men more distinguished
fur knowledge than for readiness or fluency in debate ; and
he was sure that it would be received generally in Ireland
as a great boon. It would be also beneficial as modifying
corporate power, and thereby abating the anti-union spirit.
Mr. GISBORNE contended that this measure was not
calculated to sever this House from the other House of Par-
liament, but at the same time he could not see anything
revolutionary in the measure of the Noble Lord. One of
the effects of the present representation was to impose on
the country an unpopular Government ; and even suppos-
ing the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel) should be called
on to form the Government, he did not see how that
Right Honourable Gentleman could hope to carry it on
so as to meet the popular feeling. What be wanted to
see was, that such measures should be brought forward as
to prevent that House becoming an object of suspicion—
not to say of aversion to the people.
Mr. RUTHVEN appealed to those gentlemen who best
knew Ireland, whether a calm did not reign there which
bad not been known fur a long time previously, and whe-
ther that calm was not to be attributed to the introduction
of the present measure? Another great advantage that
would arise from this Bill passing was, that Ireland would
receive a substantial benefit from the Union, which as yet
had never been the case. He could speak of the North of
Ireland in particular, where he knew that the greatest ex-
pectations were entertained of the advantages likely to arise.
He trusted that the Bill would go through the House, and
if any little alterations were necessary, he trusted they
would be carried into effect.
Mr. PANE (as we understood) made a few remarks,
which did .nt reach the reporters.
Mr. G. MOORE said that he would reserve himself for
the sccond reading, when he trusted that he should be
able to s:;:inv that the measure, as interfering with the cor-
porate bodies' of Ireland, was illegal, unconstitutional, and
unjustifiable.
The Bill was thea read a first time, and ordered to be
read a second time on the 18th of April.