The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-17 00:00:00

t.orting #

LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1849.

Although the proposition of M. EDOUARD CHAR..
TON, to the effect that no electors should be legally
entitled to avail themselves of the franchise who are
unable to write their own signatures, was met with
the comical and derisive exclamation—" Why not
require also that the electors should be vaccinated?"—
we cannot but think that the notion of this amend-
ment to universal suffrage is singularly felicitous.
It would tend to advance the cause of civilization in
the most direct manner, by holding out the preroga-
tive of citizenship as a reward to education. It
would facilitate the diffusicn of knowledge in the
most extraordinary degree, by casting an additional
disgrace upon ignorance. In the event of such a
condition being declared essential to the exercise
of electoral rights, there would very soon be few in-
deed who could not comprehend the rudiments of
learning. The horn-book would no longer continue
to large masses of the populaion as inscrutable a
mystery as the arrow-headed hieroglyphs of
'Nineveh bad been to the lingual-antiquaries before
the genius of Mr. HENRY AUSTIN LAYARD had dis-
covered their grammar and their dictionary. Big A
and little b would very shortly be deciphered by men
who are now more innocent of any acquaintance with
the materials of literature than CALIBAN or Mrs.
MALAPROP. The hedge pedagogues would find
their elder scholars less given to the weaknesses of
mitching. The first barriers against the de-
velopment of the intellect would be broken down,
and, those obstacles being once removed, habits of
sobriety would become more prevalent among the
labouring classes. For it is indisputable that an
artizan who can read after the toils of the day—be it
the Bible, the novel, or the newspaper—has less in-
ducements to neglect the humble roof-tree of his cot-
tage than those who can only wile away their business
hours by smoking bad tobacco in the tap of some ob •
scure public-house, talking slip shod poliric, or
bandying coarse jests with their trulls and pot-com-
panions.

In the present temper of the Natimal Assembly, it
is not surprising that the proposition of M. CHARTON
was summarily negatived. The representatives, now
on the eve of their dissolution and disper-
sion, are exquisitely sensitive of anything
that at all bears the appearance of an encroach-
ment upon their previous labours. In compliance
with the ever memorable suggestion of M. DE LA-
MARTINE, the Assembly had confirmed the decree
evoked by that great man from the councils of the
Provisional Government. The first Republican Par-
liament is consequently loath to modify in any man-
ner, however minute, a decision so grand and com-
prehensive. Nor is the disinclination to alter their
own achievements at all unreasonable. The modifi-
cation would come more within the province of their
successors of the Legislative Assembly. The re-
presentatives appeared to feel this, and acting
upon
the idea, they at once very emphati-
cally discountenance
d the proposition of M. CHARTON.
Abstractedly the principle involved in the proposition
is immeasurably beyond the reach of disproof. It is
based upon right reason, upon humanity, upon
caution, upon morality and religion. It affords the
only secure guarantee that the votes of the ignorant
crowd, who can neither read nor write, shall not be
flagitiously employed by the persons to whom they
may apply for assistance in the penoing of the name
of a candidate. It is the only protection that
should be extended over the ballot- box—the
protection against fraud. It is, therefore, with
absolute amazement that we find an en-
lightened contemporary, like the Journal des
Debuts, crying out cgainet the proposed innova-
tion upon Universal Suffrage-41" What a privilege I
What a monopoly !" A privilege, quotha ? Why,
the only privilege in the whole suggestion is con-
fined to the exclusion of numskulls from the exercise
of a right adapted only to the will of a man who
knows at the least the alphabet of civilization. A
monopoly ? Why, the monopoly involved in the
proposal of M. CHARTON is at any rate accessible to
the must mediocre understanding, to an understand.
ing not much elevated above that of the gentleman
mentioned in Pickwick, who had carved on the lintel
of his door that memorable inscription :...
B I L
L S TU
M P
S HISM

A F K,

and which erpoundcd at last to the astonishment of
the Phibiophical antilu437, Davalka°thing more than

Bill Stumps, his mark." And is simply
because it as required that electors should not be such
ignoramuses as to be unable to scrawl an autograph,
that a virtuous clamour is raised about the projected
monopoly and privilege.
_ _

Of this we are satisfied, that the mode pointed out
by M. CHARTON is the most reasonable con-
promise that has hitherto been contrived between
those who demand universal suffrage and those who
are opposed,' to the extension of the elective fran-
chise, from a sense of the ignorance prevalent among
the populace. It would constitute a by no means
stringent or onerous educational test; for that man
must be a dolt indeed who cannot read or write his
own name, now that the channels to knowledge are,
in one way or another, open to whosoever lists to pene-
trate. Even in the days of the Grecian Republic we
find, it is true, that the right of voting was not
restricted to those who had somewhat of the
pretensions of scholarship, for the historian of Attica
tells us that a citizen of the violet-crowned capital
asked ARISTIDES to inscribe his name upon the shell
destined to aid in effecting his own Ostracism. Be-
cause the ancients, however, fell into error, that is
surely no reason why we should go on blundering
to the end of the chapter. As well place a blunder-
buss in the hands of a lunatic as the right of fran-
chise in those of an ignorant man surrounded by
knaves and sharpers. As well entrust the management
of some exquisitely delicate machine to a clown
whose fingers (as the saying goes) are all thumbs,
and who does not recognise any difference between
the cog of a toothed-wheel and the oscillations of a
pendulum. By some such arrangement as the one
proposed by M. CHARTON the working of Universal
Suffrage would be defended from the possibility of
any false movement, and, through the ballot-box, the
popular voice would sound, for ever, clearly and
audibly.

ehaTrhaeerteer adreetaisleedveria facts
in the
tnaereport ofwhich
ny
the
ecoduirreaegtignnre
of the Midland Railway Company, presented to the
shareholders at the half-yearly meeting, which was
he
d ivl
idd
ea
nt
IDerbyanno
no
nn
eTe
dh uwr sdas ay l o
n lays t .
aftlert
tishetrruaetethoaftfithvee
per cent. per annum on the Midland Consolidated
Stock, but there is every reason to hope that the rate
will be speedily and permanently increased to six per
cent. at the very lowest, when the lines now in course
of construction are completed, and the traffic of every
description fully developed.
The gross receipts from the various sources of
revenue during the half-year ending the
31st December last, amounted in the whole to
628,4601. 2s. Bd., thus exceeding the receipts of the
corresponding half-year of 1847 by 29,5771. There
has been a decrease in the receipts from the passenger
traffic of 18,628/. This may easily be accounted for
by the gloom and stagnation that prevailed during
that period. There is, however, every reason to hope
for a speedy restoration of that activity which formerly
existed, and which proved so very beneficial to the
railway companies. This depreciation is, however,
more than counterbalanced by the improvement
in the merchandise End mimral traffics, which are
steadily progressing in the most satisfactory manner,
there being an increase on the receipts arising from
the carriage of merchandise of 24,6001., and of
minerals of 14,622/. These are matters that do not
depend so much on temporary circumstances as the
number of passengers that may be conveyed. The
improvement, therefore, is of a very cheering descrip-
tion, and augurs favourably for the future prosperity
of the company.
The working expenses of the several lines, in-
cluding the rents to the; Lor.don and North-
Western and the Great Western Companies,
amount in the whole to 211,1791. 10s. Bd. The
debenture interest, and dividends on various guaran-
teed stocks, local rates and taxes, 16,386/. 2s. 7d.,
and the Government duty on passengers, 12,4781. 10s.
2d., amount in the whole to 204,930/. 12s. 3d.
After these several deductions 212,349/. 19s. 9d. re-
mains at the disposal of the company, from which
the following dividends are to be paid for the half-
year, that is to say-21. 103. on each 100/. Midland
consolidated stock ; 3/. upon each 100/. consolidated
preference stock ; after the rate of Cl. per cent. per
annum on the Erewash Valley ' shares ; and
of 1/. 16s. 31. upon each 1001. consoli-
dated Birmingham and Derby stock. After
these several payments 26,000/. will remain,
of which 10,000/. is to be set aside towards a fund
for the renewal of the permanent way— a prudent pre
caution that will be duly appreciated by the share.
holders and the community in general, and 16,000

will remain as a reserve towards future dividends.
Another circumstance was mentioned in the en-
gineer's report that should not be lost sight of, viz.,
the expenditure under the head of maintenance is
greatly diminished since the North Branch has been
fully taken into the company's hands. At the time
of the amalgamation it averaged 2301. per mile per
annum; it is now reduced to 1401. per mile.
Under the capital account we find that the
sums expended to the 30th June, 1848, amounted in
the whole to 13,254,635/. 14s. Gd.; that the further
charges for works, stock, interest, &c., during the
half•year, amount to 755,6541. 19s. 5d., and the pay-
ments on account of shares held by the company to
36,6501., making in the whole 14,042,3401. 13s. 11d.
L'he report further states that. it is believed " that
there is an adequate supply for the working of the main

Ine and branches (those in continuation as well as

those open for traffic), and that no further sums would be
placed to the capital account. The engines
carriages, waggons, &c., will be kept in repair, as
they have hitherto been, at the cost of revenue, and
replaced by new ones from the same source."
It might well be supposed that the shareholders
sould be gratified, indeed, at these various announce-
ments—at finding their property, which had been
fearfully depreciated, before the connexion with the
North iklidland, in so favourable a condition. It was
acknowledged that a deep debt of gratitude was due
to the directors, and more especially to the respected
chairmarj, for their unceasing devotion to the interests
of the company ; and yet, although confidence
in the integrity of the management was avowed
an attempt was made which, if successful, would
practically have amounted to a vote of want of con-

fidence. It was proposed that a committee of inquiry
Should be appointed to investigate the accounts. Al-

;hough the parties by whom the motion was brought
'orward protested that they did not impeach the ho•

nesty or integrity of the directors, the matter was
regarded by the chairman and directors in its true
light. The chairman boldly claimed that confidence
to which he felt his valuable services had so eminently
entitled bim. He exposed the Bearish trap that was
laid for them. He said—

"He would have the shareholders carefully consider
the course they intended to adopt. The directors would
be unwilling to desert the vessel in her present critical
state—at a time, too, when he believed that brighter days
were dawning. His conviction was that the proposed
appointment of a committee of inquiry was a vote of
censure, and he thought it would be more honourable on
the part of the mover and seconder of the revolution to
have come down with a new list of directors than with
their present resolutions. He would once more caution
the shareholders against playing into the hands of men
who might have sold their shares, and have found it incon-
venient to deliver them, and whose interest it consequently
was to depreciate the property."
- -

. _
This bold and manly conduct bad its due effect.
The seconder of the amendment desired to withdraw
therefrom. It was, however, put from the chair, and
lost by an overwhelming majority, and the reso-
lution for the adoption of the report was then sub•
mitted, and carried unanimously ; and a cor-

dial vote of thanks was subsequently passed to the

chairman and directors.

We congratulate the shareholders on the result—we
congratulate them heartily on the " good time coming,"
when they will receive the full benefit of the prospects
now opened to them. The motion was a part of the
system got up and fomented by the Bears. They
played their game boldly, and for a time had but too
much success. The mania has, however, passed

away, the unreasoning and unfounded panic has sub.
sided. The speculators fur a fall, however, still

make expiring effAqs, although their occu-
pation is almost gone. But in Mr.: HUDSON
they have an opponent who detects and unhesitatingly
denounces their insidious devices. They do not for-
get that the admirable letter which that gentleman
addressed to the shareholders of the Midland
Railway on the 24th October last, and which
appeared in The Sun on the 26th of the same
montb, was one of the first measures that
checked th© game they bad been so long playing

with impunity, and which inspired the terrified share-
holders with new confidence, when he assured them of
the " soundness and stability of the concerns over
which he presided." They cannot forget that when
he took upon himself, in conjunction with
the present body of directors, the management
of the concern, the dividends were but 2i per cent.,
and that they have since risen materially ; and as
their object is depreciation—under any circumstances
—they endeavoured to get rid of the board by
the obnoxious resolution. The shareholders, how-
ever, perceived the wily resolution, and the design
met with well-merited defeat.