Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-21
THE FRANCHISE QUESTION IN ENG
LAND.

During the present session OF the British
Parliament a bill was presented by Mr..
GLADSTONE, Chancellor of the Exchequer,
reforming the electoral basis. 1t has been
the subject Of protracted discussion, and the
most recent English dates indicate its fail
ure. II was a measure to extend suffrage
Under the act Of 1882 of that realm, ten
pound qualification for boroughs, and fifty
pound qualification for the country was the
requisite for the voting privilege. The
present bill reduces this to a seven pound
freehold al cities, and fourteen pound free
hold in country districts
On the ground that this extension would
create new constituency, the original bill
of the Ministry was amended 50 as to pro-
vide for redistribution Of the seats in the
Commons on three propositions-th first
that, subject to few inevitable exceptions
no borough having less than 5000 inhabi-
tants should henceforth stand alone; the Sc.
cond, that no borough having more than
5000 inhabitants should be in any way af
fected by the readjustment; the third, that
no unrepresented borough should obtain the
privilege representation unless it is large
enough to have member Of its own.
To this amendment the Ministry agreed
but before they could bring the Joint meas
ure Of reform and redistribution of seats 70
vote, they were met by a proposition re-
quiring that the measure should embody
stringent provisions against bribery and cor
ruption at elections. The Ministry, through
Mr.. GLADSTONE, while admitting the nece5-
sity Of laws on the last subject, contended
that the reform measure should not be en-
numbered with it, and claimed the sanction
Of precedent for excluding it at the present
time. 1t was held by the Ministerial or
Government party to be an anti-Liberal
or Tory scheme, TO defeat the Reform bill,
but when the vote was taken, the OppOsi-
ton were successful by a majority Of ten.
When revivedin Committee of the Whole
by Mr. GLADSTONE, the measure was again
attacked on frivolous and factions grounds,
and pending its consideration a new bill was
introduced incorporating an educational fea-
ture as a requisite for suffrage. This was
opposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer
in some forcible and judicious remarks. In
the course of the discussion upon the last
proposition Mr.. BRIGHT, who has been re-
garded as ultra-liberal gave utterance to
some conservative views upon the question
Of universal suffrage which might be well
needed in this country. There are men in
this Government who seem to have recon-
struction on the brain, and appear to think
that universal suffrage is a universal panacea
for all political ailments. The wholesome
talk Of Mr.. BRIGHT about adhering to the
"ancient Constitution" and the avoidance OF
fancy franchises is most oppOrtune and
applicable to this country at the present time,
and we give it as reported by Mr.. WELLING,
the correspondent Of the National Intelligent
Ger. Said Mr. BRIGHT:
II is not because this bill admits some,
and only few, nor yet because it will lead
TO universal suffrage, that | am opposing it.
/ don't fear universal suffrage; but l don't
in the least recommend it, and | have never
said anything for it in public or in private.
Hear hear. | have a letter in my pocket
from one of the most eminent writers in the
United States, who tells me he believes uni
yersal suffrage TO be the most conservative
thing in the world. Whether it be so or not
! am for standing on the old line Of the con-
stitution Of this country. ] believe our fore
fathers were right and wise when they were
willing TO entrust the representation of the
cities and boroughg to the heads of families
occupiers of houses, within those cities and
boroughs. | have always opposed, and
probably shall always oppose, any of those
fancy franchises which believe are depart
ures from that ancient constitution, and
which are generally offered to Parliament
and the country by men whom | think /
may say have some fear lest that ancient
constitution should be put in practice.
Mr.. BRIGHT is right. Protection of the
constitution against the schemes of tink-
erers whose greatest fear is that its princi-
pies may be put in practice, is the high
est duty of conservative patriots.