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

though the metropolis was equally great and powerful
m comparison with the boroughs which surroundsa
1t, yet two members given TO each and thus the
ancient ways of the constitution neither Consist
cd OF population returns nicely chosen unorini
ty of suffrage. not until the latter end of the
reign OF Henry III. that any direct representation was
gwen to the boroughs it well known that the cleo
tive power placed in chcisthc mayors, the cor
Porations, and select burgesscs Every one Knew thas
the power of nominating to boroughs formerly Civ
en- by the crown to certain great families, the object
OF which was to virtual representation TO large
masses of property; and greatly he feared IT that bill
should pass (which God Forbid that its destruction
would but for short period prccedc the downfall OF all
,ne established institutions Of the country. ma neigh
boring country, when the mobiles and tho arlstocracy
mad been induced to give up their political influence
they very had TO give up their property also What
had been the effect of their influence upon the destinies
of the country7 What accomplished that event by
which the house of Brunswick was placed upon the
throne and such inesmabc advantages conferred up
on tins country and upon the world! lCheers.l why,
tins close and rotten, system as 1t was now called
lChcoring In SIC division upon that occasion there
Were sixty one members for close boroughs voted for the
bill, and forty three against it. Again what was the
power that stood up against the principles of tyranny
and OPPRESSION when civil liberty was endangered at
the time subsequent the Restoration but that portion
of tho Parliament supplied by the close and rotten sys
TEN, because it represented that portion of the high
minded aristocracy Of England which had never dis
grlced itself by abandoning the cause of civil and
ligous liberty, by whatever description of tyranny it
might have been attacked.
When the Bill of Rights had to be drawn up let them
ook INTO the committee appointed for that purpose,
and when the committee of management appoint
cd to meet the Lords upon that memorable occasion,
how its members chosen from the assembled Com
mons! fhere were two county members, and two
members for open boroughs; the remainder to a man,
were selected from those returned by the reviled close
and rotten boroughs. And why it that these
at all times the foremost i'll the defence of liberty, and
IN the progressive establishment of the constitution?
Because they at all times the arstocracy of talent,
naturally chosen to represent the arstocracy of rank
and OF property such that arisocracy had been
in England. And hence it that they were to be
found recorded III tie page of history at all times as
OF mankind Hitherto all classes had been really, by
Dcng virtually represented; and thus by nutform
franchise and by system which ensured the
wise and enlightened men, the wants of all classes
provided or Now, TO crafty fanciful aud theoretc
wish for system of uniformity the representation was
to spring from class only and who could doubt that
tue interests OF that class, and the minds best adapted
to their comprehension would be prominent in legis-
iturc SO constituted He deny that anon
alies were to be pointed out in constitution. But
tey were clearly discerble at the period to which
he had aiuded-at the Revolution for example-as at
the present day. And there always persons who
iiad ther own reasons for seeing them, ready
them and TO point them out. Rolingbroke ono of
these lie them; he was one of the greatest re-
formers OF his time-and why? Because the represen-
tiio III consequence of those very defects, stood be-
tween lim and his ambition; because stood between
the throne and tho House of Stuart and secured it to
the House OF Brunswick. lie was not one of those
who thought further changes improvements were
ever to be made iii the constitution. But he obecL,
TO these sweeping Innovations which neither owed
their origin to reflection, had experience for their
guide L changes had be made, and defects called
TOR removal then 1t was the duty of the government to
have adopted measures temperate and cautious, and
hcn they ought to havoHpplied them 'tslowy and by
degrees, and therefore wisely they should have kept
the ancient ways of the constitution" AS to the test
OF property, let the House how that had been APP
peaied to- by report of 1871 the rents of houses
| and warehouses m towns and cities was given a,
l3o4o,544l In the same report the rentals in this
country placed 81, 500 3O3J Pho population OF
the towns in England appeared on the returns to be
292O,O95. In the country the population was repre-
sented at s,341 1852. Then, in round numbers what
he I lITrC,, do u,
population and property of the respective classes so h
vded? 10 thirty millions of rental and population of
eIght or nine millions it did propose give LII men,
oers but row l49 was the number according to the
second edition amended and improved, of the new
constitution While to rental of thirteen Millions
and population little above three millions it did a
rst give 21I members, and 295. It would almoet
seem this had been done sudiousy to verify the lam
glage OF Mr. Burke when he said'You offer to me to
portion out your representation in inverse ratio to
the principles which you yoUrselre. PROPOSE Bn tho
most Objectionable tho most ncfarious pronosa in tho
whoe Dill was, that Wiilo this 1OL franchise vas ven to
ne to%nS' rental OF lO five times l0 or of fifty
mes lot aye or of 100 times 10!, which necessarily
implied station and intelligence, was not to rive man
i vote II he lived In the country (Hcar, hear1 This
vas SO inquitous distinction that living could
uSIena II with any color Of principle or of Justice
(Cheers, Such distinction, too was made in n noeo
sure, IN the stating of which the House the noble
lord described the inhabitants of arre towns as Tho
very worst class of the community in whose hands tho
elective franchise could be deposited Those were tbc
noble lords own words lie cautioned The landed inter
/, he
held out to cIn for he had stated the case nrcc;seI
as 1t stood with reference their interests GIear
hcar2 Durham was to have five additional rcpresentn
tivcs. the West Riding OF Yorkshire only one Look
ing further 1t would appear that tho West RIDING OF
orkshlre was to have one member to 100000, and
Durham one to 100000. The noble lord conId no
doubt explain this discrepancy. JTcar, hearI The
hon. member could not decide on what grounds were
tour members given to northumberland and the Gun
" OF York left with only two members? The arrange
,on' vas at variance with every principle of represen
tation. Two members only were given to Lancaster
which had population six times as numerous as some
Of those towns which had more representatives and
SIX times The wealth of Cumberland
northampton was well represented but Buckinoharo
Iiad been lett IN defective state. No ntelIipble nrin
cPLe haG been advanced for depriving men of their
rights. they had right to take away mans birth
right merely because he was not surrounded bv ceri
number OF neigibors To deal with CONSTITUTIONAL
question OF this sort by numbers way un;,,s4
Lhey had kept some boroughs and rejected otRcrs
thcy had left out Nation and kept in Tavistock Fb
had dsfranchised towns and overlooked otbera rbiI
were considered great branches Of trade In the connt
OF Durham Shields and another place had been Chased
togother merely because they formed the taIisnanc
number. 1t might be- he the defender of svster,
10 winch many objected, but the sentiments he then ~
tered were those he entertained before no became
member oil that U0use IIo