The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-08
Debate I'm the British House or Commons-
ExtonstOu OF SUFFRAGE.

the ifduSAAoS W csCi idtS- payer VI tuli dHc
sound intellect, and by enacting that votes shall be
taken by ballot. The necessity for his proposed
measure was based by the hon. member upon the
corruption which had crept into the Legislature,
which nothing but universal suffrage could correct
on the principle that representation and taxation
should go hand in hand; and, finally, ON the uni
versally expressed wish Of the people of England.
He showed how far the Reform Bill of 1882 had fall
short Of its original intention, but that u had
been accepted compromise by himself and
brother reformers at the time, under hopes OF its
Woodworking, which the event had very unsatsiac-
torily fulfilled. The bill he now proposed did not
confer universal suffrage, that measure being con-
essedy too strong present acceptance, but adopt
ed the next best plan, by making every man an
elector who paid rates for the poor. II was Prin-
ciple adopted by the government in their franchise
bill for Ireland, now before the house. No trouble
would be given, and no new machinery required
by the enactment Of this new qualification. Large
masses of the worthiest members Of society would
be thus admitted within the pale OF the constitution
Mr. Hume then proceeded to explain the details
of his measure, by which twelve months was APP
pointed as the period necessary for every mans
name to appear on the rate books before he could
claim the privilege Of the franchise. The effect of
electoral basis to 3237 1852 voters for England and
Wales--the present numbers being only about
SO0,0 900 for the whole Of the United Kingdom. Pro-
ceedng 10 the question Of electoral districts Mr.. H.
said he believed in the feasibility Of contriving
some plan by which the constituencies could be in
a great measure equalized without serious disturb
ance of the present arrangements Respecting
other changes in the legislature, he briefly argued
the necessity of shortening to three years the dura-
ton of every parliament, Of paying the members
Of the lower house, and vote by ballot. He would
ask what was creating discomfort in the country I
The spread of knowledge amongst the working
classes for, with the possession Of knowledge,
when distress fell upon them, 1t was natural to
them to turn to that which they thought grievS
ance-[hear.l
he uo ripUn mar I'm he cOud his q.
because the manufacturers had not the means to
pay him, and he turned his attention to the state OF
the franchise. The Chartsts then became active
Isshear, hear" from Mr.. O'Connor;l and he must
say that there was not a greater enemy to reform
principles than his honorable friend-[laughter
He (Mr. Hume) wanted first to show what were
the rights Of Englshmen, and then to adopt the
best means to obtain those rights-[hear. He found
it the best thing to convince people Of the JUS
tice of their claims, the benefits that would result
from granting them, and the evils that would arise
from refusing them-Ghear, hear.] That would be
his means of carrying out reform; but the course
taken by the Chartists had rendered the principles
Of reform odious-[" No, no, from Mr.. OConnor, ]
for it was accompanied with acts Of violence and
attempts to intimidate, which he (Mr. Hume) did
not approve of-[hear. He disapproved of the con-
duct OF the Chartists, for he thought they should
carry their measures of reform by means only that
would prove beneficial to the community.
The question introduced in 1880 by Earl
Grey, one Of peace and concord, and as such il
should be considered at the presentmoment-[hear
What was the cause of the alarm in 1913? The
Chartists did not want to fight any body-[a taught
or interfere with their property. They merely
wanted their rights; but the government, instead
Of yielding to their just demands, refused them
They added 1000 additional men to their force
commanding and staff officers were sent here and
there, and they covered the country with men; but
for what purpose3 Now, let them mark his words
and he addressed himself particularly to the noble
lord at the head of the there again
come such a time as 1912, with improved intelli-
gence in the country, and every State almost in
Europe granting liberal institutions, and was il
possible the working people of the country would
suffer the present system to go on, whilst they saw
themselves taxed to support the establishments Of
the country-[hear.] Those were things which
statesmen should keep in view; and if ever there
time when the question deserved attention,
now is the time-[hear.] He would not ask the
government TO go step beyond that which would
meet with the approval OF the country at large. II
the opinion were taken of every man in the State,
he should have no doubt of there being large ma
joriy in favor of every one of the points he had that
night brought forward-[hcar.l
II became those who had property in the country
TO do justice to those who were the means OF max
ing that property, and it would well become them
TO give to the people of England the rights they
were born to inherit. lHear.] He would say that
If those who had property. wished to preserve it,
they must do justice to the people Hear. The
confidence Of the country in the constitution Of the
House of Commons was gone, and he would end his
address by saying that if the question be one Of
r1ght, right was In favor OF REFORM, III the question
be one Of policy and cxpediency, policy and expe-
diency were in favor Of reform. [Hearl He felt he
had done his duty in bringing the matter before the
public, and would move his resolution, with this
addition, that there should be qualification re-
quired on the part of members of Parliament.
Hear. In making that proposition, he was borne
out by the recent proceedings of the government
with respect to the colonies, and by the practice
adopted with respect to the members from Scot
land, who could sit in the house without any quail
tfcation. Hear.
Sir J. Walmsley in able address seconded the
motion.
Sir. G. Grey thought both gentlemen were actu-
ated by singleness Purpose in bringing forward
this question which well entitled them to the respect
of the house Differing, however, as he did with
them in the opinions which they entertained as to
the result of the scheme, which they had rather
Swallowed out than distinctly brought before the
house, he felt bound 10 ask the house not to sane
ton the motion Of the honorable member for Mon
trose, but, on the contrary, TO meet it with de-
cided negative. The question now submitted 10
the house was not whether there should be
tension of the existing right to the franchise it was
not with respect TO any finality Of the provi-
sions of the reform bill II was not whether the
terms and conditions now affixed TO the exercise Of
the elective franchise might be considered with
the view to enlarge that franchise. Though il
might be desirable 10 extend the suffrage, upon
that point he (sir G. Grey expressed no opinion
because IL not brought before the house this
occasion. But the question a much wider and
more important one. II was, whether the house
should entertain the proposition to lay before it
new reform bill-far more sweeping, comprehen-
sve and extensive in its operation and effects thar
that which the house sanctioned, after a memorable
struggle, in the year 1882
The honorable gentleman asked the House 10 re-
model the whole constitution of that House. He
(Sir G.. Grey for one was not prepared TO do that
The last returns laid before Parliament showed that
the number for Great Britain alone ga 900 out
of an adult male population Of 100000. His hon
orable friend said that the constituency would be
increased to 100000 if they took the number Of
inhabited houses. But he apprehended that some
of these house, were in double occupation and many
Of them were occupied by females who paid take,
both direct and indirect. Whether his honorable
friend would extend the franchise to females he did
not know.
Mr.. Hume.-I have no objection hear, hear, and
laughter
Sir @. Grey.--Hs honorable friend would then
make that part Of the next reform bill-[laughter
Mr. Hume.--It is done in Greenock--flaughter.
Sir g. Grey.-The honorable gentleman made
great use of the constitution 10 New Zealand and
the cape as an argument for his proposition. But
the difference in the circumstances OF this country
and the cape destroyed all analogy between the
two cases; and the constitution TO the cape could
not be considered by any deliberative assembly as
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