The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-05-08 00:00:00

ATF.SII A N

bat if it is the essential o: freedom, founded on the
eternal principles of justice and wisdom, anti cur un-
alienable birth-right, we should nut hesitate in a•-sert-,
hog It. Let its then but determine to art upon thief
broad principle, of giving to every man his own, andl
we shall immediately get rid of all the perplexities to
which the narrow notions of partiality and exclusion
must ever be subject.
In the digesting a plan upon this noble founda-
tion, we shall nut find any difficulty that the wool
rottitnon understanding and pains will nut easily sue-1
mount. It dues not require bait the ingenuity of a
contagion tax-bill; and as a proof of this assertive, 1;
myself drew tile rural of a bill fur this purpose, whichl
I presented to the House of Lords in 17M); nut as al
perfect work, but merely to show how easily the oh-
jerCons to the practicability of the plan, and the in-
convenienees that are sugges'ed, might be got over.
" I shall, therefore, only mention at present a few
of its provi4ions, which I think entirely remove the
untst plausible objections that have been urged agai vs, it.,
" The present number of members in the 'louse of
legman's' is preserved, so that all apprehension from
too numerous an assembly ceases.

" An account ui Ow whole number of males of are
lin the kingdom is to be taken, and divided by the
ustasber ui bleashers to be sent, which will find the,
i.sisista of electors to choose one Member ; from the
' best account I can now g t, it will be about :!,6011;
these are to he formed into districts or boroughs from
the most contiguous parishes : and by haling all the
ele.tions throughout the kingdom its one and the
i same day, and taken in em:S parish, all fear of riot
1 and tumult canish.s.

•` The great expense of elections, which arises
chiefly from the cost of conveying ell eturt to the
place of poll, and entertaining them there and un the
road, will be nu more, when ever}• man will vote in
his own :,arish. Itiibery most entirely cease: in a
single borough' it would be difficult ; on so many, as
to have any rtirct, impossilsle. Ihe numbers to be
bought would be infinitely too great for any purse.
Besides, Alsou3l Parl.ainents, by their frequency, and
by their shortness, would doubly operate in preventing
corruption.

" It fits b .en said, that this plan of extewling the
eight of voting to every individual creates much un-
easiness in tit.. minds of quiet and well-disposed per-
sons ; and that if paupers, vagabonds, and persons of
no property, were tett out, there would be no objec-
tion to extend it to all householders and persons pay-
ing taxes, and that the same division into die rids
might take place. My answer is, that I know of no
man, let him he ever sis poor, who, its his consump
lion of food awl use of raiment, sloes not pay taxes;
and that I would wish to encourage an enthusiasts
for his country in the breast of every subject, by
giving him his just share in its government. 1 rea.tily
admit, that siseti an alteration would he a vast improve-
ment ; but I mast 1 refer the adhering rigidly to
self-evident principle, especially when attended with
no inconvenience in the execution, that 1 can foresee.
Besides, we should again tall into the difficulties of
drawing the line of separatiuss, and into the disputes
ibout qualification.
" With retard to the question, If voting by 1:allot
is advisable? lam clearly of opinion that it is not.
The idea of a Ballot can have arisen het to ay. id the
effect of some improper i,'lluence ; anti I conceive it
much more noble, directly to cheek that influence,
than indirert--.• to evade it by concealment anti deceit.
I &DJ convineetl, that trivial circumstances in things
like this tend greatly to form the national character :
and that it is most consistent with that of a British or
Irish freeman, that all Isis actions sbuuid be open and
avowed. and that hr should not he ashamed of de-
claring in the lice of his country whom he whales to
intrust with its interests. Upon the same idea that
Ballots may be cover for indeeendence, they must also
be a cloak for bribery, and a school for lying and deceit."