The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-06 00:00:00

EXTENSION OF THE FR ANCHISE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—In your paper of yesterday you say " extension
of the suffrage without the ballet is but the extension of
- serfdom.'" I fear this is too true.
Your observations on Sir H. Dryden's speech in South
Northamptonshire induce me to state a tew facts con-
nected with that electoral district, which I think prove
your position to be correct, and show why the Tories of
the present day are advocating what is called " Reform
1 in the Representation of the People." In the year:'lB3l
the representation of the county of Northampton was
3
contested by Lord Althorp and Lord Milton as Liberals,
and Mr. Cartwright, the father of the lately elected re-
presentative of the southern division of that county, and
Sir Charles Knightley, the father of it' other member.
On that contest the fate of the Reform Bill was con-
: sidered to hang. The electors of Nuenbareptonshire did
their duty nobly.
In an extensive and numerously populated parish, now
included in the said southern division, there was but one
voter at that time, and he voted for Lords Althorp and
Milton. The Reform Bill conferred the franchise (as
now appears by the register of voters) upon upwards
of seventy of the owners and occupiers of property in
that parish. Although there is not any extensive land•
owners resident in the parish, great influence is exerted
by gentlemen woo reside in its immediate neighbour -
hood. Mark the working under these circumstances of
an extension of the suffrage-. At the first contested elec-
tion after the passing of the Reformßill that parish
sent, I believe, one voter (a working shoemaker) to poll
for the Liberal candidate ; the remainder (Whigs, T e-,
Liberal, Radicals, Churchmen, Werleyans, and Dieeen•
tern)—there were some of all these classes amongst
them,—voted for the Tories who were of the Dryden
school. After the close of the poll this poor shoemaker
went home and found his house all but a wreck. The
Tory reward for independence. Ile had no redress.
At the contest in 1847, when Lord Henley was a
candidate, some five or six of these voters were induced
to vote for him—the remainder " sticking to their
colours and voting blue," as it is termed by them.
In 1857, some 14 or 15 of these men were induced
under very peculiar circumstances to vote for Lord
Althorp, and about 50 of them voted for the " blue can-
didate," one gentleman marching them to the poll, and
afterwards paying for the dinner and other refresh
ments supplied to hie troop.
In the late contest I have been informed that the
voters for Lord Henley, from this parish, dwindled down
to sor 6. Ido not pledge myself aq to the exact num-
ber of votes recorded at the above-mentioned contest,
after the passing of the Reform Bill, as I am writing from
memory only ; but the general correctness of the above
statement, I am able and willing to prove. Let reformers,
who fancy everything is to be gained to their canoe by
an extension of the suffrage, as the late Mr. Hume did,
consider these facts. If they will make inquiries, I fear
they will find many more such cases.
It sh3uld be known that the Sir H. Dryden you
refer to is the gentleman who, upon the hustings in
South Northamptonshire, in 1847, told the electors teat
the cattle murrain waesent as a judgment upon the coun-
try for its political offences—meaning the preference for
a liberal to a tory government.
A SOUTH NORTFIA.NIPTONSHIRE
ELECTOR.

London, March 5, 1858.

CONFERENCE OF ITALIAN DELEGATES.

The conference met at eleven yesterday morning ;
Signor Borromeo, the president, in the chair. Letters
from almost every part of I'aly were read by the
secretary of the conference, Signor Cerrenti, congratu-
lating the delegates on the firennese they exhibited in
supporting the movement of so much importance to the
welfare of Italy. Also various letters from gentlemen
tendering their support to a movement which eventually
might promise to breonee a reality, the MOBi, important
of which were from several members of Perliament and
two peers of England, offering to support any movement
which, carried on by peaceful agitation, might tend to
advance the interests of the various states of Italy, in
securing for them a constitutional form of government.
The PRESIDENT congratulated the delegates on the
inauguration of a movement which promisee for Italy
the realisation of its brightest hopes. lie bad felt
assured, when consulted by his friends from Italy, the
very fact of the opinions of the true patriots of his
country being uttered in a land that invariably showed ,
itself the true supporters-of liberty, that it wooll be ini-
p4ssible to utter such sentiments as bad been enunciated
at the conference ever since it had been held, without
drawing forth the expressions of kind esteem and senti-
ment that had met them on every side. The conference
meeting io London had established it,: principl• s through
the medium of a press ever willing to suppor the cause
or truth and justice, especially when it was founded on
what was considered a practical basis,.
II Cavaliers CASTINg moved : " That the friends of
constitutional government in Eer;land and in the other
countries of the continent of Eur )pe, be at o .ce invited
to co- perate with the National Italian League."
Signor FARINI offered some observations on the above
resolution, and it was subsequently carried.
Sign r LIM, before he read the address which the
committee were delegated to draw up the various Courts
of Europe, desired to oiler thereon an observation or
two. It was natural, in the first instance, that the
address submitted to them should undergo many altera•
tions, but i,. had been f eunded on the principles he had,
in concert with his colleagues on the committee, adopted
as the solemn pledges of the conference they were sent
to support. In the next instance, many might imagine
the grounds taken were not sufficiently general ; and
others, that the ( xpo:itir,n nf their claims was urged in
language of too strong a nature. lit,uch were the case,
he and his colleagues had agreed to submit without a
murmur to the decision of the general oonference, feeling
assured the only prospect of their country's regeneration
lay in their unity. (Cueers.)
Signor LITTA then read the address, which was of
considerable length, but which we refrain from giving to
our readers, owing to numerous alterations suggestedshy
several of the delegates. The dicussion respecting it
la,ted till past eight o'clock, when the conference ad
journed.