The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-10 00:00:00

ELECTION ACT AMENDMENT ACT.

Mr. BOWES, in the absence of Deputy Harrison,
moved, " That the Sixth Proposition of the Freedom
Committee as reported to this Court be now read and
approved." He said the proposition was to the effect,
" that the qualification of candidates for the Common
Council be the same as those of the electors, and that
a provision be made to prevent any person being a
candidate for the office of alderman or common coun-
cilman, who may not have paid his debts in full in
case of his having previously been bankrupt or insol-
vent, or having compounded with his creditors."

Mr BENNO& said he should move an amendment.
He considered that the latter part of the sentence after
the word electors should be entirely omitted. He saw
no reason why gentlemen who had been unfortunate,
and who in the course of years had recovered their
position, should have such a restriction imposed upon
them by the Corporation. It was solely a question
for the constituencies, in his judgment, and not for
the Corporation to consider.—(Hear.) If the Court
thought proper to agree to the amendment, he
should then move, " That if any alderman or common
councilman, who may not have paid his debts in full,
by becoming bankrupt or insolvent, or compound-
ing with his creditors, shall immediately resign his
go wn."—, (Cheers.)
Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR Seconded the amendment.
There were too many bankrupt peers and bankrupt
Members of the House of Commons—(ol3, ob)—and
he thought the constituents of the different wards
quite as fit to return respectable men to the Court of
Common Council as the electors throughout the
kingdom were competent to send representatives to
Parliament.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ANDERTON wished to remind the Court that
one of its bye-laws was, that no person should be
eligible to serve on a committee who had been bank-
rupt or insolvent, and not paid his debts. What
was the use of sending a man to the Court who was
not qualified to act ?

Mr. BLAZE—I am very sorry to be opposed to the
mover and seconder of the amendment, but I do think
it a most extraordinary coincidence, that on the very
day that we hare evinced such extraordinary sensi-
tiveness as to the imputations on our public virtue, it
should be moved and seconded by two highly ho-
nourable and upright men, that we open our doors
to persons who have not fulfilled their pecuniary obli-
gations.—(Hear, hear.) Notwithstanding the prac-
tice of either House of Parliament, let us maintain
that character for purity and virtue which belongs to
us, and defy the imputations which are falsely made
upon our honour and our respectability.—(Cheers.)

Mr. Deputy CORNEY—You cannot compel anal-
derman to resign his gown when he is elected for life.
Mr. BENNocu—You can by Act of Parliament.
Mr. R. TAYLOR—And then he may cheat as much
as he pleases.—(Loud cries cf " Question.")
The motion was then put and carried, two hands
only being held up for the amendment.
Mr. BowER then moved " that the qualifications
for alderman be those of the freemen and citizens
aforaaid."
Mr. ANDERTON seconded the motion.

Mr. I3ENNoca considered it essential to the purity
of the Corporation that the constituencies should have
the opportunity at certain periods of getting rid of an
obnoxious alderman—(Loud laughter)—such an op-
portunity he considered every member of the court
felt to be particularly essential at the present moment.
He, therefore, proposed to add the words, that the
alderman be elected for a period not exceeding seven
years.

- Mr. L. TAYLOR seconded the motion.
Mr. ANDERTON trusted the motion would not be
agreed to. It would be very dangerous to elect
magistrates periodically. It had been considered one
of the brightest gems in the crown of George 111.
that the judges were made independent of the Sove-
reign.—(Hear.) So ought the magistrates to be in-
dependent of the people.—(Cheers.)

Mr. Alderman COPELAND said he should like to see
the broad principle introduced, that every man rated
for the maintenance of the poor, and residing in the
City and carrying on trade, should possess the elective
franchise—(Hear, hear)—but with the number of un-
fortunate cab-drivers and persons who had been
brought before him for using false weights and mea-
sures, ho should like to know what chance he should
have of being re-elected alderman.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BARLEY considered that, if the Corporation
remained as at present constituted, a publican on
being convicted by an alderman might combine with
others in preventing his re-election; but when it was
borne in mind that the number of electors was pro-
posed to be increased from 5,000 to 25,000, he was
sure the publicans and drivers would have no influ-
ence in the election. He was sure the ildermen would
be invariably returned by their constituencies when
they performed their duty properly.
Mr. HALL could not imagine that the city magis-
trates would wish to refrain from going before their
constituencies occasionally, to see whether they had
done their duty.
Mr. ELLIOTT supported Mr. 13ennr,"11' ~„ s motion.

After several other speakers for and against bath
motions and amendment, the latter was carried amid
general cheering by a large rnnjority.
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION.

A petition was read from the City of London Liter-
ary and Scientific Institution in Alderagate-street for
pecuniary aid.
Mr. DIKIN warmly advocated the claims of the in-
stitution upon the City funds, and moved that the
petition be referred to the corn, coal, and finance
committee, p report.