The Sun.
London, England, 1819-12-17 00:00:00

cLosi?.

• For the following article we fire indebted to
the Morning Post of this day, a P.trer which gives
a libtral support to Governinew, I-Hit is indepen-

deaf in *os Hity4ys al'oe to the ge.

t►er4l inturesis of tiit People :

" The dehate on Lord JOHN RUFSELL'It mo-
tion r t•Ercting the Borough of Gramnnund, w•e

comider Dile of the most important anti eratifying
features of the prescnt Session of Parliament. To

us, who have always been the advocates of no

tierate and rational Reform, it is gratifying to

foil our opinion sancti(ined by the tinanimity
which prevaiird in the fiwise on ibis occasion ;

bot it is still more gratifying and important, as it
shows the unjustness and; erroneousness of an
opinion, which we fear was too genetally enter-
tained by the Public, that the House of Commons
would never acknowledge, any defect' in its con-
stitution, nor listen to any sogges.ion for the re-
medy al that defect. That time and circumstances
have in some degree impaired and altered the ori-
ginal constitution of the House of Commons, is,
we believe, too evident to be doi.bted or denied ;
but isle precise remedy which it tnay be expe-
dient to adopt, is not perhaps so clear ; it must
be the subject of grave and dispassionate con-
sideration, and we therefore think the course
which was ultimately adopted on this motion
was prudent, and ,bt fitting the wkdout and
dignity of the House ; for though the ques-
tion was diverted from that of an abstract.
principle, to, a particular case of gross and
palpable bribery ; yet there was a general aduris-
slot) by both sides of the House, of the expedi-'
ency of some amendment, that naturally leads us.
to hope, that the general question will undergo
(-aim and deliberate discussion in the course of the
Session. With respect to the arguments adduced
in thin debate, we are inclined to agree with
an Honoorable Member who spoke on the occa•
sion, that the House is bound to remedy the ac-
knowledged abuses of the existing law, before it
proceeds to the iutrodoetion of any new law ; and
that it is only by the application of such remedy
the Constitution can. be, restated to its original
vigour and beauty. Jr liketitse seems to us a
great and important detect in the Noble Lord's
motion, that it was directed against bribery
alone. .For upon what principle, we would ask,

is it that, bribery is obnoxious to the law, hut
that it enables:ja rich and powerful individual,
by means of his wealth, to procure a seat or,
an undue iofiuence in the House of Commons,
by obtaining the return of himself, or any other
person he wishes, to represent in Parliament
towo or borough, where the electors, or the great
body of•them, will submit to the influence of mo-
ney'?:And.does not this principle apply with equal
force to,places where occasiunality prevails ? For
our own parts we can see no difference, whether,
an individual, possessing a large share of that
which constitutes the 'qualification to vote in a
borough, by a mere colourable or pretended dis-
tribution of it among friends or dependents, taken
for the purpose, without any beneficial interest or
title whatever, over-rules anti destroys the will

anti franchise of others who have a real, pertna-
r sot, and incontestible interest and possession;
or whether an individual by bribery is enabled to
prookre the return of a particular candidate, in

orrbs,itiOn to the wishes of the honest owl
pendeak,,Electors for such place. The effect is
the same : boiti individuals obtain an influence in

the Honse, manifestly iiii.n., cs to toe pitelp h
of representation, and contramy to the tinirtta,: thr
Constitution ; and we therefore think bribe,7y amd
occosionality are equally deserving of notice at,d
reprehension. The remedy for thi evil of which
we complain is simple. and easy ;—it will neither
innovate in principle, nor invalidate any charter
or prescription, nor destroy any established right.
On the contrary, it will make the role of election
perfect and nniform, and be productive of general
satisfaction. It is merely to extend the regula-
tions• which now prevail at elections for counties,
and for cities and towns, which arecounties of them-
selves, to all towns and boroughs whalsoeuer, and to
compel the voters to swear, that they are bona fide
possessed of the qualification which entitles them to
vote, and have betas in possession of it for twelve
months previous to the election. To this measure,
we conceive, there can be no rational objection ;
~c advocated the propriety of its adoption in the
Sessions, and it was with great regret we saw the
last Bill, which was introdaeed on this principle,
rejected on the qnestionfor he second reading. It
is, however, gratifying to find the principle re-
cogoizedand adopted its the present Sessions iu the
Bill for the prevention of Seditious Mee iugs ; it
is a satisfactory evidence of the beneficial results
which have been found to flow horn ft, in those
cases where it has been tried, for upon no other
ground can we suppose it would be introduced in
this Bill, and to the extent to which it is there
cariied. We refer to the Manse in page 3of
the amended Print, folio 6, where it is expressly
enacted-4' That.no person shall attend the meet-
ings therein mentioned, unless (inter alia). time
freeholder or copyholder has an estate in lands of
the annual value of 501., of which he shall hare been
in possession twelre months in the city, borough, or
fI
town corporate, parish or township. (as the case
may be), within and for which such meeting shall
be hohlen."—lf, therefore, such a regulation is
necessary to qualify a person to attend a public
'meeting, for -the mete discussion of political
questions, how much more essential is such a re-
gulation, to entitle a man to vote ht time choice
of those who are to determine all political
questions, to legislate and to exercise the
most import ait t functions and authorities ?
But if it were only to overthrow a system
founded on fraud anal subversive of all correct
and honourable feelings, we think this regula-
tion should be applied to all the boroughs mid-
towns which are not affected by. the statutes of
the • I Stli and Igt h Gee. 'II. independently of
the necessity of adopting such a measure on con-
stitutional and public wounds, and to render ef-
fectual time principles of the Common LiW, lie•
knowledged and declared by Lord SOMERS, and
other eminent Statesmen anti Lawyers.
.Lord
JOHN RUSSELL obtained leave last night to bring
in a Bill to disfranchise the Bordugh,of Gram-
pound, and to ehable the town of Leeds to send
two Representatives to Parliament in lieu of those
returned for that Borough. Load Cas'lLEartaots
contented himself withrecitsestiog the Noble Lord
to allow time for the [louse to take the subject
into consideration, and Lord 3. RUSSELL agreed,
that after the Bin' should have been read a first
1 time it should. be pritsted, and the second reading
delayed till after the recess." • -

„ .
TII E A RICAL REGISTER. •
Performed 'Last
THEA IRE TtOiAL, Esauar-LAste.—The School for Scandal:
Sir Peter "fralle, Mr. Mtualec ; Lady-Teazle, Mrs. PE.yoe
(I,t time at this l'laza.trc). 4ftcr Hiiicb, The Sleeping
Draught.
ROYAL, •CovE4-Gaaniv.—.Tane Shore; Lord
Hastings, Mr.. C. Kelohle ; Jane Shure, Mks Macauley.
After which, Cotening ; to whltls was added, A Ryland
fur as Oliver.