The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-20 00:00:00

Parliamentary Reform.

A deputation from the city of Glasgow waited
upon Earl Russell yesterday, at his official residence
in Downing-street, Westminster, to present a me-
morial agreed to at a large public meeting held in
Glasgow, on the subject of Parliamentary Reform.
There were present on the occasion—Mr. R.
Dalglish, M.P., Admiral Erskine, M.P., Mr.
M'Laren, M.P., Mr. Craufurd, M.P., Mr. Crum-
Ewing, M.P., Mr. Graham, M.P., Mr. Potter,
M.P., Mr. Baines, M.P., Colonel Sykes, M.P., Mr.
GOvan, Mr. Cranston, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Muir,
and Mr. Pearson.

Mr. DALGLISH, having introduced the gentlemen
constituting the deputation, read the memorial,
which, after setting forth the reasons why a reform
in the representation of the people in the Commons
House of Parliament was essentially necessary to
the good government of the country, concluded by
calling on her Majesty's Government to introduce
a bill having for its object the extension of the
franchise to £lO rental in counties, and £6 rental
in cities and boroughs, together with a more
equable distribution of seats.
Mr. GOVAN said he had been appointed as one
of the working classes of Glasgow to represent that
body on this occasion. He need not dwell on the
necessity of Parliamentary Reform, or the justice
of the popular demand for an extension of the
franchise. These points had been conceded, and all
that was required of him to do was to ask his lord-
ship to exert his powerful influence to enact a Re-
form Bill that should be liberal and substantial.
The meeting at Glasgow was attended by persons
of all classes and of various shades of political
opinion ; yet, with a view to bring the question
of Parliamentary Reform to an harmonious settle-
ment, they had consented to a compromise,
and had expressed their willingness to accept
a £lO franchise in counties and a £6 fran-
chise in boroughs. He considered this limita-
tion both reasonable and fair. There would be no
danger in basing the suffrage on these grounds. The
working classes had no interests inimical to those of
any other class in the community. All they pos-
sessed and all they sought to acquire was intimately
bound with the welfare of every other class, and,
therefore, any extension of their possessions and
acquirements could not fail in promoting peace,
virtue, and equity throughout the land.

Mr. CRANSTON observed that in constituting a
new 'franchise he believed the working classes would
prefer having it founded on the rental rather than
on the rating. With regard to a new distribution
of the Parliamentary districts, great good was an-
ticipated to result from any measure that should
have that object in view. The abuse would then
no longer exist of some places with a constituency
of only 350 electors sending to Parliament as many
members as other places where there was a consti-
tuency of 3,000. As long as that system continued
no good could be hoped for by any alteration of the
franchise. It was said that the working classes had
shown considerable apathy on the subject of Reform;
but this might be accounted for by their having been
disappointed in the non-fulfilment of the promises
which had been held out to them ever since 1832,
and which had finally driven them into the forming
of trades' unions, co-operative societies, and to self-
legislation. By these means they had reduced their
hours of labour, and at the same time raised their
daily wages. It was from the Legislature they had
been taught to expect those benefits, but they had
at length discovered that they could do it better for
themselves ; and hence the alienation of classes.
They saw the influence of the working classes in
France, and yet they were not more intelligent or
patriotic than the working classes of Great Britain.
It was the same in America, and yet the working
classes of this country were quite as good citizens
as they. They, therefore, with the greatest respect
and confidence, called upon his lordship to introduce
a measure of reform that should be effectual and
lasting.

Mr. CAMPBELL thought the present a most oppor-
tune moment for introducing a Reform Bill, inas-
much as his lordship's Government was strong, not
only in the majority it possessed, but in the sym-
pathy and confidence of the people. The antecedents
of his lordship end of many members of the Govern-
ment gave the people a right to expect that their
interests would be properly attended to, and the
question settled in order that public men might be
able to devote their time and attention without dis-
traction to those other important questions which
concerned the general welfare. Because, after all,
Parliamentary Reform was but a means to an end.
Mr. MUIR said that while the people of Glasgow
differed very widely with each other on points con-
nected with Parliamentary Reform, yet they were
willing to come to a compromise and to assist his
lordship with all their might in carrying a £6 rental
franchise in boroughs, and a £lO rental franchise in
counties ; at the same time they were all of opinion
that no such measure would be satisfactory without
a redistribution of seats. He trusted that the mea-
sure to be proposed by his lordship would be such
as again to awaken the enthusiasm of the country.
Mr. GRAHAM, member for Glasgow, strongly sup-
ported the views of the memorialists, both as regarded
the reduction of the franchise and the redistribution
of seats. Whether those two objects should be the
subject of one and the same measure was a ques-
tion which he was sure the confidence of the coun-
try would leave entirely for his lordship to decide.
At the same time, he would suggest one considera-
tion of no slight importance. If his lordship and
the Government were satisfied that they could
carry simply a measure for the reduction of the
franchise, and in so doing perhaps even strengthen
their means of afterwards dealing with the ques-
tion of redistribution, by all means let them
take that course ; but if they had reason to doubt
their ability to lower the franchise even by a sepa-
rate measure, it would then certainly be much to be
regretted, not only that the question of Parlia-
mentary Reform itself should be turned over to their
political opponents, who, in the case supposed,
necessarily become the Government, but that that
Government should have it in their power to point
to an imperfect measure of Reform as that which
had been introduced by their predecessors. It would
be much better that the Liberal party should now
introduce such a measure as that even, if defeated,
no party which might succeed them in office should
be able to point at as a defective measure.

Mr. DUNLOP, member for Greenock, said that
with regard to the redistribution of seats the people
of Scotland attached great importance, as many
parts of that country suffered gross injustice from
the undue influence given to certain places by the
present system. He therefore thought the two sub-
jects might be combined in one measure, and then
if the Government were defeated, they might ap-
peal to the country with greater hope of success,
inasmuch as they would be able to say that they had
brought forward a perfect measure of Reform. If,
however, his lordship thought a different course was
desirable, and that a bill limited to the question of
franchise simply, not only with the intention but
with the certainty of carrying it, then he believed
his constituents would be ready to support the noble
lord in supporting that course. But with regard to
the extension of the franchise he was afraid he could
not promise similar forbearance. Anything like a

greater franchise than that of a £6 franchise his con-
stituents would not feel disposed to accept.
Mr. M'LAREN, member for Edinburgh, said a
very large portion of the people of the city of Edin-
burgh were in favour of Parliamentary Reform, and
would support the Government in extending the
franchise and redistributing seats, whether in one or
two bills, according as the Government might think
proper to adopt.

Earl RUSSELL said he had listened with great at-
tention to the observations which had been addressed
to him, and while making some remarks in reply, he,
in the first place, must observe that it was not in his
power, neither was it his duty, to state to them the
nature of a measure to be introduced by a member
of her Majesty's Government in his place in Parlia-
ment. Any measure, however, which the Govern-
ment might introduce would be founded not upon
what might have been done in any other country—
whether in France or in the United States. They
were not then discussing the nature of the Parlia-
mentary institutions which the people of France
might possess, or which the people of the United
States might possess. He thought it would well
become them, having had a representative Consti-
tution for 600 years, to found any amendment it
might now require upon the principle of that old
Constitution, and not to depart from that which
which their ancestors and their own experience had
taught them, and go to foreign nations or modern
representative systems, to attain a knowledge of
what was required for the improvement of their own.
With regard to the question of Parliamentary Re-
form the deputation would agree with him that there
must be many elements considered when determin-
ing what should be the representation of the coun-
try. Numbers and population must be considered,
property must be considered, and intelligence must
be considered, and not only intelligence, but local
circumstances must likewise be taken into account.
If, for instance, they were to adopt a plan of repre-
sentation entirely upon the principle of numbers, and
to give to each place what its numbers required, this
great metropolis would have about as many mem-
bers as the whole kingdom of Scotland ; but con-
sidering that the great interests of the metropolis
were not more varied in their nature than the vari-
ous interests of the people of Scotland—though the
population might be as great, an arrangement
must be made with a view to a fair representa-
tion of the interests of the whole United Kingdom.
They had not, however, at present to deal with any
theoretical question, but to consider the present
state of affairs. In 1830 and 1831, when Lord
Grey laid his propositions before Parliament on the
subject of Reform, the abuses in the representation
were of so gross and so glaring a nature, that, as
soon as the subject was broached by the Govern-
ment, with the authority of the Crown, the cry ran
all through the nation with a flame of enthusiasm
sufficient to carry the proposition at once. But in
those days Gatton and Old Sarum, without any in-
habitants, were entitled to send members to Parlia-
ment ; while Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham,
and various other flourishing towns, h ad no mem-
bers whatever. It was so striking au abuse that
the people were quite willing, when the matter was
taken up by Government, to agree to reform that
state of things. But the present state of things
was totally different. Whatever abuses or defects
existed in the present representation, they were
different in degree, if not' altogether different in
kind. It had seemed to him, he confessed, for some
years, considering what they had done in 1832, that
it was a very obvious and a very pressing defect in
the representation that skilled artisans in the towns
—men industrious and enterprising, virtuous, and
intelligent, were to so great an extent excluded from
exercising the franchise at elections. It had been
maintained that any skilled artisan could by indus-
try and prudence occupy a £lO-house, and thereby
obtain a vote ; but he was convinced that no well-
conducted artisan who wished to give his family
that amount of respectability in point of clothing,
and that degree of education which his posi-
sition in society entitled him to do, could afford to
give £lO a year for a house in addition to those
expenses. But he would not now discuss that ques-
tion ; it was evidently a matter for considera-
tion. A measure had been framed, and he
would not anticipate its discussion. As to a redis-
tribution of seats, that question did not appear to
him to involve a defect so obvious, or to require so
immediate a remedy as that of the franchise. It was,
at the same time, a question of considerable diffi-
culty. When Lord Derby introduced his bill on
Parliamentary Reform, he proposed that one mem-
ber should 'be taken from each of 15 boroughs and
be distributed among the large towns that were not
represented at all, or wereinadequately represented.
That, he thought, was a proposition hardly suffi-
cient to give the measure a permanent character.
But, on the other hand, if they went so far as to say
that the number of representatives should be exactly
in proportion to the number of the population, it
would be so great a change that it would be entirely
out of the question to believe it could be carried.
Without saying whether it would be advantageous
or mischievous, it would be quite hopeless to carry
any such measure. On the question of the bill it-
self he did not intend to say anything definite—for
while considering the measure they had a right to
reserve to themselves their own opinions. He re-
membered saying many years ago in the House of
Commons that they were like bees working in a
glass hive. All their proceedings were exposed
to public view ; but he had heard that the bees
adopted the precaution'of filling up that part of the
hive which was not dark with wax, so that their
proceedings might not be seen—a very proper pre-
caution. So he and his colleagues had determined
to imitate the bees and not expose the honey till it
was ready to be gathered.
Mr. DALGLISII then thanked the noble lord, and
the deputation withdrew.

Agricultural Prospects.

Sunday week opened with a very wet day and a
terrific gale; wind from S.S.W. to S.S.E. ; thermo-
meter 43 degs. ; barometer 20.05 inches. Monday
was fine in the morning, then thick, but subse-
quently held up, with the wind being from the
N.W., and some little appearance of frost at night.
On Tuesday morning there was a slight tinge of
snow on the ground, with a fine dry day, the
second in succession, and on light soils spring
tillage was proceeded with. From Suffolk it was
stated : " The weather has been wet and stormy,
but just now we have a little appearance of frost,
which would prove highly beneficial." From York-
shire, of the same date, " We have frosty weather,
and strong snow storms since 2 p.m." From the
East Riding, " Weather up to yesterday was more
like spring than winter, and the unusual mildness of
the season has forced forward vegetation prema-
turely; but to-day a sharp frost has set in, and a
continuance of it is very desirable." From Northum-
berland it was remarked, "The weather since our
last continues unsettled, but mild, with westerly
gales up to Saturday afternoon, when it turned cold,
with a change of wind to the east, and a great deal of
rain fell. Since yesterdayit has been fine and frosty,
with N.W. wind." On Wednesday morning a white
frost was visible, but the wind being
back to the
south, a return of rain was experienced in the after-
noon, and the evening was very wet ; thermometer
34 deg., barometer 29.65 in. Several farmers in the
light land district had made a good beginning in the
morning and had hoped to go on, but the sudden
change put a stop to their proceedings. Carting of
manure to the meadows had made no progress, and
the farmers were becoming more anxious, as it is
high time this work should be accomplished before
the grass gets too high. The change in the tempera-
ture will, however, give a seasonable check, and be
consequently very
acceptable. On the west coast of
Scotland, on that day, the weather was reported to
be cold, with a heavy fall of snow. Thus the pro-
verbial changes of the weather in the month of Feb-
ruary are being experienced, and we may yet have
a little touch of winter farther south. There has been
no favourable opportunity to thrash wheat, and the
condition of nearly all samples now brought to mar-
'had few parcels can be obtained fit for
theket
use
doa
fmpm
millers. Such as have bought new qualities,
and put them on one side for improvement, have been
wof ally disappointed, for they have " none off," and
are worse for keeping, and must be kiln dried, to make

them immediately usable. There is a complaint from
many markets that a sufficiency does not come out to
supply our present wants; and those millers near ports
where old foreign qualities can be obtained are now
resorting to the lowest markets to obtain more of
this description than they have taken for some time,
while during spring tillage they will have to take
much more, or let their mills stand still. In many
low parts of the country, where the waters are out
so much, there has been a complete stop to mills
worked by water power, and many of them have
stood still since the heavy fall of snow in January,
when floods were more general than usual. On
Thursday the morning was thick, wind W., ther-
mometer 37 deg., barometer 29.50 in., with rain
again at night ; still in Norfolk we understand fair
progress has been made with sowing barley on their
lightest soils. Farmers who have to buy this corn
for seed will do well to secure fine qualities imme-
diately, or they will have to contend with an infe-
rior sort. Our Suffolk advices from that date say—
" During the past week the weather has varied
much, wet predominating; the last few days have
been colder, with frost at night." Friday was
a thoroughly wet day, wind W.S.W., barometer
29.60 in. Of course all field work was stopped
where such was the state of the weather. Our
accounts received on that day from Warwickshire,
state—" We have had changeable weather during
the week. A good deal of rain has fallen, and in
some districts the land has been flooded for a con-
siderable time. The wheat plant is generally, up to
the present date, reported healthy." From Lin-
colnshire it was stated—" The weather keeps fine,
and a short crop of turnips is wonderfully favoured
thereby. No sowing yet ; land too wet. Wheat
looks well." The continued favourable reports of
the wheat plant, after so much wet weather, must
be attributed to the extensive drainage so generally
resorted to, and wet seasons will consequently not
be so much feared as was formerly the case.
On Saturday morning the wind was round to
the north ; the day was cold and dry throughout ;
thermometer 38 degrees ; barometer 29.80 inches ;
and in the evening the wind blew from the north.
A continuance of this sort of weather would be
most acceptable to the farmers and beneficial to the
trade generally.—Mark-lane Express.