The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-05-03 00:00:00

''is gUESTIt Air (4' RISFOILU FAIRLY STATED.I

To THE EDITOR.

The calm of Reform appears to be gaining ground
il.e..ughunt the country: it is, however. to be feared
• 41 its progress is seriously retarded by dissentione
a ~'trot its advocates., who, in their zeal for the ditfu-
-I+4l of their separate and peculiar opinions, appear;
s ueetisses to lose right of the great end of their exer-'
tens—the maintenanor and extrusion of civil liberty. i
'll.e heat of local electioneering polities haring sub-
si.:+d, it may be useful to review and discuss the pro-!
.i-t- rat points of difference which subsist between the:
tl kilt and the Radical Reformer.
The peculiar dectrittes of Radical Ref..rin are Usti-
Stfreze, dem& Parliono its, and Voting' by
itedi.t. With regard to L'areeroul Slfritge. it is
at teed that all men have a right to vete in the elec-
tion of men who are to make laws by which all are
so be governed ; that a poor man's life is as valuable
and liberty as dear to him, as life and liberty are
t,s the rich ; that it is absurd, therefore, to maintain
that property alone sl Id he represented—.that wealth
should be considered the only test of qualitica.ion fair
participating in the legislation of the country. Its
reply, it is urged by the Whig Reformer that no man
has a right to any privilege which, in its exereise,
would be ditrisorntal to tLe community ; that it is
neser contended that the sway of property should su-
perlctie the beneficial influence of intelligence, I ttttt esty,
anal independence. But it is undeniable that multi-
tudes are in that state of servitude to their employers,
that they have nut, or are not aniseed to exercise, any
will of their own ; and Blackstone admits the ohjer-
tion to Universal Suffrage as far as it would be appli-
cable to sach men. The reason is obvious; so indis-
criminate an extension of the franchise would throw a
dangerous accumulation of power into the bands of in-
diaiditals, affording to one man the controul over
hundreds of votes ; besides having a tendency to per.
petuete the most exceptionable parts of the present
system, illegal compalsi..n, bribery, anal free drink.
'1 hat by adopting Unirereal Saliva therefore, yon
would destroy that equality for a hich you contend. II
The Whig Reformer submits, that the fairest anal
most efficient representation of tlse intelligence and in-
dependent sentiment of the country, would he obtained
by conferring the elective franchise upon honeeholslers
paying direct taxes. This distinction is particularlle,
applicable to a rich and co ttttt tercial country, where
almost every instance of oppression, on the part of the
Administration, mar be resolved, immediately, or re-
tele, into exorbitaut demands upon the pockets of
the people, by direct or indirect taxatiou. That such
an extension of suffrage might, in an enlarged sense
of the term, be considered uttiversal ; in as much as
there would be no religious or political die .bilitiee ;
while every man, who, by his industry or his talents, '

advanced idolise!f in the scale of soviet;, and was called

upon to contribute money to the support of Govern-
ment, would have a ♦oice in the elrrtio■ of the men

who were to dispose of the money which hr had so
o untributed. That against such a limitation of the
franchise. the poorer classes would have no reasonable
ground of complaint, unless it should hr found that a
sy stem of tavvernissemt which provided for the liberty
and happiness of the great body of householders, war,
nevertheless, inimical to the well being of the labour-
ill; classes of society; a conclusion unsupported, if
ot refuted by experience, and directly contrary to
every rational expectation.
On the subject of Willem! Parliensexis it is stoutly
affirmed by the Radical Reformers, and as stoutly de-
Lied by the Whip, that they were once the law and
enstom, in this country. With regard to the expe-
dieacy of the measure, it is contended that a Repro-
sentative would not dare to betray the trust reposed in
him, if, in less than a year, be must again appear at
the bar of his constituents, to answer for the (mine
of coaduct which be may have pursued. In reply, the
Whip observe that it is not their wish to rely entirely
upon the fear which their Representatives might en-
teirtain of them ; that, under a judicious extension of
the franchise, it would nut be difficult to elect men, in
whom their country would cheerfully confide fur three
years, under an impression that such a term would be
mare advantageous than a shorter period. The Whip
prefer triemalal to annual Parliamento, because one
year is quite insufficient for the organisation and coal-
plotion of various meamres calculated to support and
advance the prosperity of the nation ; particularl) the
object, of those beneficial investigations carried on in
committees, frequently sitting for two or three Sca-
bious. What Reformer would not have cause fur re-
gret, if the abandonment of Mr. Brougham's inquiry
into the abuses of charitable Institutions had been one
of the fruits of annual Parliaments ? And who dues
not perceive undo r what discouragement a Member of
Parliament would labour, who might be desirous of
persalag- some important political investigation, when
La should redlect that in the course of a few months,
Mther he, or his coadjutors in the undertaking, might
be removed from their posts by the issue of a general
election? - -
In favour of rating by ballot, It Is argued that it
is necessary, in order that a man in humble circum-
stances may net suffer from the caprice or tyranny of
lois superiors, on account of the yule which he may
think it right to give; while, at the same time, it is
latended to prevent that powerful contruul and indi-
vidual preponderance which a wealthy man might
Otherwise assume, and which indeed, is urged as an
'objection to the adoption of universal ealfrare. In
reply, it is observed by the Whip, that to rote with
the secrecy of ballot, upon a great national qui stion,
very ill Records with the open and manly spirit of as
Pnglishman, with whom it is a subject lof noble pride
that be delights to do every thing i.o the light of day,
and ip the face of his country. Moreover, the neces-
sity of a secret ballot, in *reference to certain classes
of the community, is mtfiicient evidence that such
'lasses are sofiret and iailltyeadeat ; qualities hitherto
esteemed essential to the character of au elector. And
should it hlt-esanmed that the secrecy of ballot is in-
sisted,44l for the very- purpose of enabling such men
to rforp.idetom and independent vote, it may fairly be
ansthasetti Olstat there-Is neither proof Der probability
eats: iirtlepose intentled would be effected. The
eno "rjota hundred men would, it is apprehended,
"mar difficulty in aorertlining, ur imagining
It;Sissiertainetl, for Rhone-they teeth in-Abe
iota:; ; if they tufed• in cohfurwity with