Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-05-06

franchise to places not at present possessing it.
The right honorable gentleman opposite smiled lie
could assure him with all truth and sincerity, and
upon his honor gentleman, that he never had
ference with any individual on the SUBJECT (hear
lie spoke then wholly uninBuenced by personal or
party considerations, in his individual capacity-as
man who had far deeper stake in maint aiming the
integrity of existing institutions, than he could derive
from the possession of any office ,Hcar.l Feeling
bus deeply interested i'll the well-being Of the
st,uon, he could not consent to u measure which, in
the words Of the noble lord, went reconstruct the
very forms Of that House, and he the consequences
what they may. SO wholly did bo despair OF being
able modify The noble lords bill into kind of mo-
derae MEASURE less objectionable, that he would op
pose the plan of the noble lord altogether. (lIear,
hear.) And why would he act thus? Because, lhav-
ing attenvely listened 10 the noble movers state
ment and to oil that had been subsequently, said for
and against 1t, he felt convinced that if the noble
Lords argument was good for any thing, the mea-
sure which he then proposed could not be 6nal one
but mere precedent to Still more dangerous inno-
vations The noble .ord had told them that he found
the ancient constitution of this country in Is Ewd
and in statute de taHdgio concedendo-
but what did these statuetS express? simply that
es should rot be LEVIED without the consent of the
commonly of the realm " And then, argued the no.
BILE Lord, If reform be question Of right, which he
held 1t to be, here the right ancenty establish
ed Ii this then be the right principle of the
let blm ask the noble lord how far he had consult
ed IT when he proposed to disfanchse so many thou
sands OF those upon whom taxes are levied, tHear
hear, hear) Did he assume that tho law admitted
OF such a distinctions 1t did not; vet the noble
lord would disfranchise all tax payers rated under
tlO ,Hear, hear; How could he Justify his dis
tlnction, particularly on his own premises9 This
objection, which had been ably urged by the hon.
member for Callington, appeared TO him quite fatal
TO the noble lords measure. There was another
objection urged by the honorable member for CAL
ling which appeared to him of great weight 1t
was then inevitable tendency the bill sever eve
y link OF connection between the poorer classes and
that class from which their representatives were
usually chosen Now this severing Of the ties which
connected the highest and the lowest classes was
opposed TO the practical workings of the present
system OF representation-a great characteristic re-
commendatory feature of which was, that it enabled
every class III the community to. IN some way or
other, have voice IN the election of the members
OF that house. Now he did not mean by this to saw
that the fronchise should be extended to all the
classes OF the community. but that the constitution
worked we'll from having here and there an entrance
channei Tor the broadcast principle of popular repre-
sentatIon. II to make himself better understood II
was proposed to him 10 make selection between
the franchise in force in Windsor and that i'm force
IN Preston, he would not hesitate to prefer the
FORMER; but he would not, therefore, abolish the
present FRANCHISE, and assimIlatc i. 10 that in
windsor; all that he would do was to take care
not TO take 1t as the model for his plan of extending
tne franchise 10 other places, but not so the noble
Lords bIlL 1t would disfranchse ell those open
ooioughs the votes of which we're not rated at ElO
though no reason had been, or could be, addu
ced fcr deprlving the freemen of Coventry, or the
poi wallpapers of Preston, of their franchise.
!" ouid not, he put it to the noble Lord and the
rouse, the effect of this dqualifying principle be
.se afnxlng political stigma upon those not eligible
70 vote under the El0 qualification? He could not
consent to the measure were it only on this ground
Tor he could not consent to stigma upon from
SoC 70 SUI OF us constituents which the bill would
ueiranchlse; to be LETT, forsooth to Priv Council
arrangement, by which they might possibly be ena.
bled to vote IN an adjoining parish. (Hear hear
hcar.) But, says his noble friend who spoke, last
only see how the bill will put end for ever to the
monslfous principle OF nonresident freet1en, and
all the expenses and veXation of bringing men some
200 o. 300 miles TO vote for member in place in
which they had no local or personal interest. But
he asked his noble friend how nonresident coDstitu
ents OF the University of Cambridge would receive
this proposition? Had the hon. Baronet who re-
presented the University of Oxford contemplated
such an arrangement! Ut here intiuated 10 the
righ, hon. Baronct that the bill would not apply to
the Universities No! What is this their general rule
that had no exception [Lrud cries of sshear. ~
The reason-the peculiar beauty of which was that
1t applied unhinchngy and without exception to all
classes and places. Hear, hear, hear Wha,
does 1t do! why, make an exception Of body
the clergy-the very men who least need being
made an exception; while 1t deprves the less pro.
ected poor man of the privilege of voting where
ne does not possess a house rated at eIO.
Hear, heard The right honorable Barone, dwelt
M 'n point al SOME length He would apply himself to
1ugh system Now 1t usually and as il Appeared to him
most convncng urged that those borougbs advantage
Jus by their aodng the of access TO tina, house. f
men who had no claims beyond their ability Two obiec,ons
lad ee IN the course Of the debate urged against that ag
nen the one which he say with very bad
rom the honorable member for Westminster mir fJobhoHee
nimseh man OF great abIy,-(heaT, hear-was that Il
was by no means desirable that of talents should he
es OF ha IN reformed Parliament .old scnep
u h,eSy would be more highly valued Now he ON the
oet hand maintained that nothing tended noIe tn foster tho
pubic respect ior that House than being the pIea, -
TALENT and eIoquence, and that nothing would lower n,oe ~
public estimation lhan that should be below the I'll
wy OF ehucaed gentlemen and that talent and abiIv uoi
"ye wecone reception, within its walls But, saws tho
honorable Member for CaFe-"Ye let us have men of aIn
oy all means but let us select other means for their
seats than close (esr) us pmrer and no
extensive franchise and they will get in aleas, as much a
ey can at present But what said he your tes If ah,
axe every hundred men you in the street and ons t
mem WI" be man OF abItyake hundred names IN rho
eh book and one may be of abiIy-and en- NJ onc
hundred men OF tawny complexion; are these men 10 %, IN
oy e ACCIDENT OF close borough the bon6yah
member asked Ihem fails Judge by the accident
steso OF the general tendency Of system? Now he r r
fee was content TO judge by the tendency and not the
cent OF me close borough SYSTEM would maintain tina,
at tendency was essentially favourable enhance of e
Of ability, INTO that House He had morning turned I'VE,
the names OF from 20 TO % Of the distinguished mon ,
had 9aced that House for the last 80 or 30 yparssn rs
whom might be said with the glowing language of lerd p
e were possessed OF that "buOyancy