The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-07 00:00:00

PROPERTY QUALIFICATION BILL,

I Mr. L. KING, in -moving the second reading of this
would detain the house a very few moments. He did
not seek to alter a very ancient law. The present act was
based on a statute passed in the reign of Anne, followed
by another in the reign of George 11. ,Under those acts,
coupled with a statute of the present reign, members
were required to qualify before they could take their seats
in that house. Out of this had grown up the practice
of giving false declarations, i. e., of gentlemen represent-
ing themselves as owners of property in whioh they had
really no beneficial interest. Some persons were allowed
to take their seats without qualifying, and there was no
reason why that should not be the case with all. The
law, too, was full of anomalies. The member for Liver-
pool, for instance, need only qualify to the extent of
3001. a-year, while the member for Rutland must qualify
fir 6001. The law in fact was but the relic of an attempt
to keep persons professing certain opinions out of the
house. Without going into the question he might re-
mind them that many persons held that extreme opinions
ought to be represented there if only by way of safety-
valve. He trusted that the measure would not be
opposed, by the government, as he could not but think
that all must feel that the time had come when the
anomalies of the present system should endure no longer.
Mr. BENTINCK said he would not at that hour, and
in the then state of the house a' tempt to oppose the mea-
sure. But he could not let some remarks of the hon.
member pass without observation. The hon. ri7e'mber
told them that the original object of the enactraelit in
question was to exclude all persons from that house
except landed proprietors. II any proof to the con-
trary was wanting, it would be found in the fact that
there was a broad distinction drawn between borough
and county members, the latter requiring double the
qualification of the former.
Mr. L. KING—They were both in land.
Mr. BENTINCK—The original object was, he
thought, a sound and rational one. It was, that there
should not be in the house men whose financial position
was such as that they could not devote themselves
exclusively to the business of the house without
prejudicing their own affairs, or without subjecting
then to temptations which were said, however un-
fairly,
to beset members of that house. If the repeal of
this law was carried it would be likely to introduce into
the house a number of persons whose financial position
would not allow them to devote themselves exclusively
to their public duties. The hon. gentleman had quoted
exceptions, but they only proved the rule that he (Mr.
Beetinck) had laid down, namely, that the original ob-
ject of the enactment was to exclude persons such as he
had described. He wouli not go into the question of
the advisability of introducing into the house persons of
extreme opinions, to which be was inclined to agree—
for he thought that house a great safety-valve, and
that persons who out of doors were distinguished by
extreme opinions, when they came into the house very
soon modified those opinions. (Elear.) If there was to
be no property q ialification for seats in that house, tak-
ing human nature as it was, and knowing that in certain
eircumstances men were open to temptation, you ought
to ensure purity of patriotism by doing away with salaries
for public offices, an I so let members of that house be
placed above temptation. When that was done this mea-
sure might be extremely beneficial. How that state of
things would be received on either side of the house he
could not say—(hear, hear, and laughter)—but you ought
to place members by some such means beyond tempta-
tion.

Mr. MILES said that as the hon. member for Norfolk
with his finances could not of course accept any office, it
would be useless to go on with the argument with him.
(Hear.) Bit at present 300/ a year enabled a man to
stand for a borough. Did any one suppose that because
a man had 2001. a year he was placed beyonl the reach
of temptatisn 7 (Hear, hear.) Had not the house been
long acting on a falsehood, for had every member really
the necessary qualification ? (Cheers.) He believed net.
(Hoar.) If so, let them not mix this subject up with the
reform question, which was only an external reform a
tl?eir own house. If a 101. householder chose to represent
him a person of ability who had not 3001. a year, he
ought to have the power of sending him to that
hrmae. (Hear, He looked to Scotland. (Cheers.)
Mon',ers for that country had no qualification, and he
was sure the house bad no reason to be ashamed of
those tnembe:s who represented Scottieh constituencies.
(Cheers.) Last year he (Mr. Miles) had supported a Go-
vernment which promised a Reform Bill, and he voted
against the proposition of the hcn. member for Surrey ;
but now he was atliberty to express his opinion. (Hear.)
This was not a question to be introduced into a Reform
Bill, but it was a question whether a gentleman who had
not 3001. a-year, should-or should not represent a con-
stituency. (Hear, hear.) He had not the slightest diffi-
culty in assenting to the motion—(loud cheere)—and he
hoped and trusted that among the millionaires whom the
hon. member for Norfolk wished to introduce into Parlia-
ment they should have men of humble means but great
ability returned by such constituencies-as selected them.
Mr. GRIFFITH said if this bill passed, to whion be
-a w no obj,ction— (bear, hear)—he hoped that the house
would recommend sae unfortunate gentleman, now in
pi icon for an offence against the law requiring
a property
qualification for members of that house, to the considera-
tion of the Home Secretary,,,with a view to the commu-
tation of his sentenee. Mani-members of that house were

not duly qualified, and something ought to be done in
the matter.

Major EDWARDS said if this bill passed he should
be placed in a peculiar position with regard to the gentle-
man who had been just referred to ; and he could only
say that no effort of his should be wanting to second the
wishes of the hon, gentleman who had just spoken, and
to induce the Home Secretary to commute the sentence
in question.

WALPOLE said this question had often been be-
fore the house, but he was not aware that its merits had
of late years been much discussed. Last year the post-
ponement of the measure was urged on the ground that
it ought to form part of a larger measure of reform, and
that all questions of reform ought to be put off till next
session. It now earns on, and the question to be consi-
dered was whether the property qualification which was
originally introduced in the reign of Queen Anne, and
which was modified in the reign of the present Queen,
by making personal as well as real estate the subject
of tee qualtficatian, was or was not advisable. There
were two reasons, which t ) his mind seemed the
strongest in favour of the present law. The first was,
that by requiring a man to have a certain income as a
test of his eligibility to sit in that houie, you received a
greater amount of independence in members. The second
reason was, that it would prevent speculative candidates
from coming forward at the time of elections, and put-
ting their opponent+ to unneces.ary expense. With re-
gard to the first reason, the securing the independence
of memb rs, he doubted if that could be secured by the
mere fact that a man possessed 3001. or 6001. a year.
(Hear.) It would certainly not make hi .so indepen-
dent as to place him above any temptation which was
calculated to shake his independence. (Hear ) But one
great reason against the present law wa+ that there was
such an inconsistency in requiring members from one
part of the country to have a property qualification, and
members from other parts none, that he thought it wa,
a principle utterly indefensible—(hear, hear)—and in
order to maintain it Scotch members ought to have a
property qtalification as well as others. (Hear.) But
the other argument against the law was, that they did
not know that it was evaded—(hear, he tr)—that qu li-
fications were given to members to enaole teem to take
their seats; and therefore it ill became the house to main-
tain that which was a great sham. (" Hear, hear," and
cheers.) The other argument in favour of the law way,
that it prevented speculative candidates from putting
bona fide candidates to expense at elections. There was
no doubt somethinqu that argument ; but you might
set against it that now every candidate was obliged to
contribute to the expenses of the election auditor and
the hustings. If by operation of law you prevented able
men with, perhaps, large professional incomes, which
did not legally realise 3001 a year, from entering Parlia-
ment, you deprived the house of a great advantage.
(Hear.) Fer these reasons he thought that the law could
not be maintained as it stood—T• hear," and cheeray—
and thinking that course could be gained by leaving
constituencies to choose whom they would to represent
them, he had arrived at the conclusion that the bill of
the hon. member was much more allowable than any of
the arguments used against it could gainsay. (Hear,
hear, and cheers.) _ _

The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to
be committed on Tuesday nest.
The Franchise of Prisons Bill, as amended, was con-
sidered.

The house adjourned at twenty minutes past 11.