Star.
London, England, 1831-04-27 00:00:00

FOR THE STAR.

*);

GIU4 EV A , /APRIL 6.—Though practice is but a narrow
guide without theory and principle, yet theory is dangerous
without a perpetual reference to the test of practice and ex-
,ience. It is pleaded that the present state of the repre-
tentation in Parliament works well: I deny this. We are
Low discussing local interests—let us therefore examine the
quiition by local cases. I mean nothing personal to those
whom I shall be obliged to name: the nature of the ques-
tion 1 am discussing requires that I should name them.
—Let us see,—putting aside the county—how the cities,
owns, and boroughs of Kent are represented !—Canterbury
—two highly connected young men of honourable families,
having large stakes in the county—but certainly
very young and inexperienced ;—Sandwich,—a London
merchant,—and London Barrister,—both unconnected with
the county ;—Dover,—a Russian merchant—and another
London merchant,—both unconnected with the county ;
Hythe,---a London wine-merchant, and a London East
India Captain and Director,—both unconnected with
the county, Romney, —two strangers nominees of Sir
Edward Dering ; Maidstone, a London banker,—and
London stationer,—both unconnected with the county ;
Rochester,— a London barrister, unconnected with the
county ; and a very young nobleman ;—Queenborough --
two persons unconnected with the county. Is it wonderful
that the interests of the local population should be ne-
glected ? And who can doubt, that this state of representa-
tion arises from the non-resident voters? From resident
voters the neighbouring gentry would have some chance.
It may be asked why these should not be as good repre-
sentatives as neighbouring gentry ? 1 answer—because
most of them are occupied in fabricating their own for
tunes ;—and because they know nothing of local interests.
It is true, that a representative, when he enters the house,
is a representative of the whole nation ;—but be ought also
to represent with especial fidelity and particular knowledge
the interests of the place for which he is returned.
Certainly both the theory and practice of former
days assumed that the cities, towns, and boroughs, as well
as the counties, returned members of local connections and
loCal stakes : otherwise the interest of the general popula-
tion of a county would have been very ill represented : for a
small borough of a few hnrsdred voters—Hythe for instance—
returns as many members as the county Can we wonder,
therefore, that the interests of the agricultural population
have of late been neglected and forgotten ?
How then can it be said, that the system in its present
state works well ? This state is the result of the gradual
abuses of time : and shall we never correct those abuses ?
The anti-reformers cry, " Let us stick to our old men:pai-
nter!" —But it is not an old mumpsimus—it is a modern
corruption ! It never was so till within the last fifty years.
The proposed change, therefore, as to the non-resident voters
would be a counterbalance to a thousand faults in the plan,
if such shall be found to exist.

The Duke of Wellington declared that the state of the
representation is at present practically perfect. Could his
Grace really persuade himself that Parliament had done all
which wisdom could do to relieve the people ? Could he
have no suspicion that legislative error, or legislative su-
pineness, bad brought about the present crisis ? Wu it
the decree of Providence, and not the result of human
ignorance, or incapacity ? Did no glimmering doubt break
on his mind that a double population requires a double amount
of subsistence ; and that a double amount of subsistence re-
quires a proportional increase of currency ? And that with-
out such increased machinery the people cannot obtain
employment and food ; however abundant they may be ? Did
ij never occur to him that these errors might spring from an
imperfect representation of the people ? That the members
returned by rotten boroughs and non-resident voters, might
neither know nor care any thing about the distresses of the
agricultural population ? For my part, I cannot guess,
whence come many of the strange names returned by those
boroughs ? Whether they come from the east, or from the
aew world, from Asia, Africa, or America, I know not.

It is pleasant, no doubt, to some great patron to put in
his elite ! but not very pleasant to the starving labourer
thrown out of work, and driven to break machines, and to
be hanged for it ! 0 that I could see those days return,
when the cottager had his garden, his little closes, and his
cow ! when he was sure of employment either for himself,
or for others ; and of an amount of produce or of pay, which
was a fair remuneration for his toil ; when the farmer found
alteady market for his surplus of growth ; wben he knew
not the misery of seeing at once his crops diminish, and yet
his produce a drug in the market ! When he no longer had
to pay the usurious and relentless creditor, at the rate of
ttocnty shillings, what he borrowed at the rate of ten !
S E. B.

Tu'ry°