The Sun.
London, England, 1820-06-21 00:00:00

LICIIrIELD.

[From the Morning Post.]

During the last Sessions of Parliament we
pointed out the abuses which prevail in the Elet-
tion, of Members in many of the Towns and
Boroughs within the Kingdom, and which the
Bill introduced by Mr. WILLIAMS was intended
to prevent. We therefore novice, with much sa-
tisfaction, the Petition from the City of Lichfield,
which was presented on Friday evening by Mr.
LITTLItTON. The respectability of the indivi-
dual, who signed that Petition entitles it to the
early and favourable attention of the Legislature,
awl we augur from it, that it will induce the in-
habitants of other places, similarly circumstanced,
to follow their laudable and constitutional ex-
ample. The correction of the abuses complained
of by the inhabitants of Lichfield, and which are
generally felt in other places, will contribute to
check that spirit of disaffection which has lately
so extensively heed seen throughout the country.
Decidedly adverse ourselves to innovations On the
settled rights of voters—to A.nutial Parliaments,
and to Universal Suffrage—we are induced, from
a deep sense of duty to the Public, to advocate
every rational suggestion which is made to re-
.store to the inhabitants-of Towns the rights of
voting formerly possessed by their ancestors ;
front a conviction that the innovations which have
:been Made in those places, nearly all of them
since the reign of Queen Anne, are direct viola-
tions of the original rights of the inhabitants, in
contravetition of the spirit sod principles of the
CoMmon Law, awl haVe been 'tolerated, as it 'were,
tinder the corrupt influence engendered by the ex-
ceptions in the Acts of King t.-ie'trge the Second,
which regulate the mode of election its m Coities ;
by which it is enacted, that the voters" toast be
possessed of their qualification one year, and swear
that it is their own bona fide property, and was
not given to them for the purpose of voting at
any particular election. Yet, in these beneficial
Acts are contained exemptions of Close Boroughs
ftoll4 their operation, evidently indicating that in
these Boroughs the principles of the Casino('
Lsw may be disregarded, and that occasionality
"awl venality may be therein practised with
int-
pt►nity. Under what circumstances and in-
fluence this total disregard of the Common Law
by the Legislature was introduced, is at this
distance of time more easily imagined than shown;
but the period has arrived n ken these gangrenes
in lite body politic must be eradicated, and the
Common Law enforced 'by the Statute Law, and
.brought iota action .to prevent in,futore a recur-
rence of these evil practices, which have afforded
a pretence for the disaffection which is so univer-
sally expressed on this subject.
The term " Parliamentary Reform" is the cant
expression used by the seditious, to excite a'cla-
moor throughout the country ; but if the Nlini-
s.ers were firmly and candidly to state, that they
w;11 support any Measure to check and put an end
to these abuses, and prevent the practice of occa-
almighty in-towns and boroughs, they will receive,
es•they would deserve, the thanks and the support
of a free and an independent people.
'lf we mistake not, Lord Liverpool-is reported
to have said in the debate on the late Seditious
Meeting Bill, that lip would support any measure
which will p:event occasionality in voting. rye
merely mention this circumstance from reCollec-
titan, but we believe we are correct ; and in this
Act ot. Lord. Castlereagh will be found a clause
preventing any mars from attending a County
Meeting for the discussion of political subjects,
unless he has possessed one whole year a freehold
qttalification of 501. per ormolu. Now, after this
recent enactment against occasionality, which
might be•resorted to though for an inferior pur-
pose, surely the Legislature cannot hesitate to
prohibit it its those instances where it tends to
destroy the exercise of the right of voting by dis-
interested and independent individuals, and con-
tributes to perpetuate the -corrupt arrangements
which are made for admission to the Legislature.
We merely throw out these hints with a view to
their immediate consideration by those persons
who have the means of giving them effect. If
this Session is permitted-to elapse without some
correction of these abuses, we shall not be 31If.
prised to see local meetings on the Subject ;
rn-
deetl a meeting•has been already held in North-
umberland on the sobiect of Parliamentary Re.
form, but what specific measures Sir John Swill-
borne, Sir Chariest Motick, and the other friends
of Lord Grey in that'county propose, we have yet
to learn; but •we are convinced that it, instead of
attempting to create new and extended rights of
voting, they were to confine themselves to re•
storing- the Corunion Lew right of voting in all
the places which have sent Members to Parliament
sioce the reign of• Edward the First, they will
produce that salutary result which can never arise
Irons innovations on the present system. We
wish the Opposition to act on this suggestion,
and to satisfy the people they are.sincere in their
intentions to restore the representative system to
its original state; for as of common right, " all
the- inhabitants, being householders and residents
within the towns and boroughs, had voices in
elections" for Members of Parliament', so in the
towns which have from early times . been repre-
sented they ought --now to enjoy it. We under-
-Stand 'petitious are in a course of signature in
many of the districts we only hope they will he
expressed in respectful language ; if they are, we
are convinced the great end will be obtained, the
exemptions' in- favour of Close Boroughs wilt .he
repealed, and an uniformity of practice in Elec-
tions in all places will be introduced, which Will
rescue the country from' the stigma it labours
under of encouraging the corrupt practices Which
have so long prevailed in' the towns and 'boroughs
we have too often had occation•to mention.