The Sun.
London, England, 1820-05-10 00:00:00

DISFRANCHISING GRAMPOUND.

Lord JonN Russe.u. rose to move for leave. to
bring in a Bill .ro exclude Grampoond from. it s
elective franchise, and enable the populous town
of Leeds to exercise that privili ge. llr noticed
that when, in the last Parliament, he had-stated
his intention of offering this proposition, the prin.;
ciple had been generally admitted, and it waSisot
denied that the transfer to a large and rich place
was altogether unobjectitorable. It would now be
for Parliament to decide whether Gratupound had
deserved the,punishment, arld whether it were ad-
visable to grant the rights it hart forfeited to
Leeds, to the West Riding of Yorkshi,e, or to
any other populous part of the 'country. The local
question was of slight importance, and might, with
other inferior points. be amply discussed thrri,g
the progress of the Bill. Eh was therefore only
anxious at percent, to stare briefly what his views
aerie. His fir t. object was to enable the voters
of Grampound who had not been convicted of
bribery„ to give tit it votes in the county; and
Iris second to allow Leeds to elect Members in
the room of those taken from Gramponntl, at the
conclusion of the present Parliament. The fight
of election he• would prnpose to vest its persons
isayiog house rent above the rate of 51. per annum.
'lnc number of inhabitants in the tillages, 30
tidies round Leeds, -amounting to 7000, and the
Dumber of voters created might be estimated at
about 8000.- Thus it would be seen that his ob-
ject, his great and principal aim was; to establish
the principle of transfer ; to have it aCknovledg-
ed, that in such eases-it was expedient to give ...the'
Tig hi to a populous place,‘ no matter where. All
that he affected !ado, was th confirm that princi-
ple, and if that %fere done, he would be equally
happy in other respects to adopt any better plan
thati.that which he had himself proposed.
finished by moviug for leave to bring in a Bill ac•
cor!lorgly
Mr..rastirG..sai4J,.it was distinctly understood
last Session that the Noble Lord should be as

slit irliy a.; ilo11)1,. affected hy the cbange In 11:
Parliament, and this. of itself would be 9 sufficient
reason for not opposing the introduction of his
Bill. But lot: himself and for hi, Majesty's Mi-
nisters he was prepared to go still farther, and to
admit the principle, that a Borotigh convicted of
corruption ought ti. he.distranchised.-(Hear.)--
So far be was a'g-feeit With. the Noble' Loft!, but
he appealed to his candour, not to be held pledged
to any opinittn as to the ulterior disposal of the
franchise. ThC Noble Lord hadintroduced the
town of Leeds of his own accord, Without con-
cert (as far &site knew) with any one, and no one
could be heldlO concur with him on that point,
from heir allowing the Bill to, be submitted to
the Howe. When that measure came into dis
cossibu, he shisuld be prepared. to.enter into the
b
whole enquiry. •At present e went tin further
than to say, that he would disfralchise a specific
Borough .fora specific offence. The Noble Lord
had told 'bent, that it he got his principle affirm-
ed, be was indifferent as to the sp,cific question ;
hut in this he differed from the Noble Lord, for
he would look to the specific mea,:te, and take
the case by iselt, without cart tr:''og it to the esta-
blishment of :any general ptinciple, He wished to
know if the Noble Lord intended that GraMpOund
.houlti 'he heard 'in its defence.- •.

. _
Lott J. ltugsELL ,t`lilied in the nevitive.

•
Lord A; IA Atst It.ToN said, he could stiggt.st., a
place in his to'Which the elective franchise
migh; he more ad va tit a g eon sly t railsierre4l than to
Leetk. He Mentioned •Dunibarton and
-=•—(A laugh )
Li,rd J. Itussel.t. said fetv words in reply to
what fell from Mr. Cat, ning. He cunt ended that the
admission he last P4rliamerit wi's, that -it would
he expedient to transfer the franchise in L ells,
as it would he attended with great objections to
throw the rigltt of voting itvo the 11undred in
which the Poirooch .W1:13 situated.'
'Mr. D: GILBakiT said; that the litter course
mie.ht he taken without inconvenience with the
first offendlog Boi.ongh in the flundted.
Lord MlLTol;:sajd. if -the five'liorotighS in dais
very' II untired • (tor example) happened, to of end.
and be punished in this Way, the effect would be
cive individuals votes for tkvelve Members.
Mr. D explained. _ _

. _
The Bill was then brought in, and reati. a. first
The seeond reading was fixed for Ftid,iy
se'uniglit, and the Bill was ordered to he prinved.