Star.
London, England, 1830-02-22 00:00:00

..

And whereas all such things and doings are in direct contradic-
tion to the spirit and meaning of the law, a disgrace and scandal to
Parliament, subversive of the tights and liberties of the people, and
of the just prerogative and interest of the crown, rendering it im-
possible for the king to conduct the government of the country
without being dependant on a system of corruption and intrigue,
highly detrimental to the safety, honour, and welfare of this king-
dom; and whereas the continuance of such abuses woald be treason
against the people and little short of treason against the king.
And whereas it is highly expedient and necessary that all such
abuses should be reformed, and the Commons of England restored
to their due and undoubted share in the legislature, and also that
the reformation of such long existing abuses should be brought
about with all due we, and in the most rational, just, and contd.
derate manner.

And whereas for the accomplishment of the great ends and int.
portant objects of this Act, it is expedient that a committee of the
House of Commlons be forthwith appointed in the manner, and with
the powers, hereinafter mentioned.
Be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty,
by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled,
and by the authority of the same,
That immediately after the passing of this Act, and in every
subs equent session within ten days of the assembling of Parliament
for the dispatch of business,. committee shall be appointed by ballet
or lot in the usual manner, consisting of twenty-one members of the
Commons House of Parliament, with full power to-do all things ro.
quired by this Act, and the said committee shall be called the Re.
form Committee, and shall retain its power till the prorogation if
the Parliament in which it shall have been appointed.
That it shall be the duty of this committee, in the first place, t•
order by any letter or paper writing signed by their chairman, the
sheriffs of the different counties, or the returning officer, of every city
and borough in the United Kingdom, to report to the said eem.
mines the number of electors for the choosing of members to sit hz
L the House of Commons for the said city or borough, distinguishing
Ale !umber of resident electors from the number of non.reidest
donors, and stating the nature of the rights of voting in 1111C13 City
r or borough; and if necessary the said committee shall call the add
officer before them, together with all books or papers in his raw
don relating to the same, and in like manner shall call before them
and examine upon oath the said officers and any other person er
persons having, or claiming to have, any interest in the election of
the said members, or any knowledge concerning the same.
And whereas, certain corporations or corporate bodies do Possal•
the right of franchise by charter, and do by virtue of the King%
writ, return members to serve in the Commons House of Paella.
meat ; and whereas each corporations or corporate bodies were, at
*effuse of the granting of such charter, and rights of enfranchise-
pew composed of the most respectable persons resident in the
towns or places to which such anporations or corporate bodies be.
tag, mod the members of such corporations or corporate bodies
were Ow the most part chosen or elected into office by the inhabitants
of soda towns or places, out of the most discreet and respectable of
the, teeramnen or Inhabitants of such towns or places. And whereas,
kg the lapse of time and from other calms', many of ouch towns and
pieces have fallen tato decay, and abuses have taken plate in the
mode of election of such corporations or corporate bodies, so that
in some eases they have been, and now are elected from persons not
essidem in or connected with the town; or pieces to which the said
wwporadene at cooperate bodies belong; and in other crass they are
slactpd by nob other, that is to say, by the corporation or cospo.
cps body itsalf, the inhabitants or citizens of such towns or places
hawing so voles so Intim= i* such elections.
And whereas, it is an undoubted and established peinciple that
sajil *wen franchise may be forfeiudby miaow/ or non.user.
And tribmgas it sayer was emilernplated by the law that any City
or benumb that had flies Imo decay. sad ..ea tumble to bear tb
burden of sentiing members to the !lour of Comm..., and o
paying them the Wages of their attendance, alscadd by any art, de
eree, oroMurieanes, fill IOW thg, WI WI Of a few mums or of I
pin& individual to muse the return of a morobor.os members ti
. ?sollooloOot and therefore no methoi M paimed•ost by. tb
irtilitiOn PO OW to loch *AM, pope type n tbeleddeit
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eidemee, emit burgeon to Parliament.


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