The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-11-24

POWER OF GREAT BRITAIN-SMALL
NUMBER OF HER ELECTORS-EXTRND-
ED CHARACTER OF OUR OWN RIGHT
OF SUFFRAGE.
| In Great Britain and her colonies and posses
| sions abroad, there are more than one hundred
and forty millions Of people. Of thest, the
number directly represented in The Imperial
Parliament does not exceed one million of the
male population, or six millions of every age
and sex; leaving one hundred and thir.y-fve
millions unrepresented. 1t is certainly desra-
bic that the right of suffrage should be extended
as far as practicable; and in tracing, historical
iy, the example Of the British Government in
this respect. am moi TO be considered as taking
| ground against all safe and practicable extern
sion of the right of suffrage. But when Great
Britain boasts Of her superior philanthropy, and
love Of universal freedom, wish TO show what
her example, and, therefore, what her thoughts
really are on the subject, by proving the extent
to which she excludes all the freedom connect
ed with the right of suffrage and the power Of
being directly represented in the legislative APP
| pllcatlon OF the taxing power On this topic
have no need Of any elaborate disquisition, the
facts being readily acknowledged and openly
justified by her own writer's and journalists,
whether Wing or Tory. A very recent in
stance presents itself in the London Times the
leading organ of the Tory arislocracy of Eng
land, paper of singular ability, and, it is said,
OF the largest circulation in the world. That
journal Of the 7lh October last, in its editorial,
| ID or, oC IL W
Indies, denies utterly the propriery or utility of
any further extension Of the right Of sufl. age to
either beyond the present limitations But one
would think that, in a Government so disnte-
rested and phianhropic as that of Great Bri-
tain is represented to be in its efforts to abolish
slavery, the denial of the right of suffrage TO
one hundred aud thirty five out Of one hundred
and forty-one millions, is rather too extensive to
be compatible with lis exuberant benevolence
Why: This is a multitude
Like which the populous North pourd never
From his frozen lons, to pass Rhone or the Da.
| naw"-
all denied the right Of suffrage by the most lux
uriantIy compassionate and benevolent Govern
ment upon earth We certainly do not emu
late this model in our acts and doings with re-
spect to the right Of suffrage Such proper
lion Of our population is not denied il in al
most all the States, If negro becomes free, we
invest him with The right Of suffrage, and in
some without any conditions distinct from the
white population. And of our population, those
enjoying the right of suffrage are as fourteen
and half millions TO three aud half IL
would be strange, indeed, if risking our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred honor in the Revo-
lutionary contest, because we would not suffer
ourselves TO be taxed without direct representa-
ton; aud, successfully ending the conflict, we
should have made war on this great principle by
restrictive constitutional provisions. On the
contrary, we have followed ii up in our organic
laws as fast and as far as circumstances would
permit. Claiming TO exercise an unlimited
| power 10 "bind us in all cases whatsoever of
course to tax us without our being represented
Great Britain waged upon us a cruel war for
seven years. We had other allegations of in.
Justice other reasons Of compIaint-but this
absorbed the rest: this began the great revolu.
tionary movement
One night at tea, began plea,
Within America, man.
Then up they gat the maskin pat
| And 10 the sea did thraw man.
| very able and disinterested writer of those
memorable times, fully exhibits the great ground
OF our hostility to British measures atShat peri
3D. our prescrp,ive liberty of selftaration inh.-
r'ed from Christian and British ancestry, tn.