The New York herald., 1867-04-20

APRIL 20, l867.-RIPL
mentary reform. The great question which now as "
has through series Of years engrosses the serious
attention Of thinking men OF all classes, having
the welfare OF England at heart is that OF 80 amendng
the constitution extend the right Of suffrage 70 Inc
toing millions OF this Kingdoms to secure pnr'y OF
election and redistribution OF the seats in Parliament
by which the Of the people may be more larry
represented in tho government and participate more
fully In the framing Of the by which they are gov
erned Heretofore all efforts 70 this end have been
strenuously opposed by the privileged classes whose
aniagonsm TO the extension OF the elective franchise
would have disheartened less earnest advocates tnan
those who have proved themselves the tried friends o.
humanity and champions OF the rights of sher fellow
men asfe sa M 1E#MM
The Importance OF the subject under considsrason 10
second only 70 that which attached 10 the momentous
events which have anspired In tho United States during
the struggle for the maintenance Of republican
institutions and the results which seen to follow the
present agitation Of this reform question will create an
era in the history OF England marked as that which
has arisen In the progress towards universal smaacpa
tion In America The movement has obtained an mpe-
tus which threatens sweep away not only the political
distinctions OF classes elevate the OF intelii
gent artisans, sgncutursts and isborsn 10 higher
moral social and intellectual pIsae while its influence
upon all Glasses Church and State secular aud sccle
snstic will eventually break The shackies which bisd
the psspae 2 che whe.ls G e ss.tsesac &
higher law Of Divine Right they entitled - onoy
The interest with which Americans view the efforts OF
the great party reform N this country u.s. perhap
couaed only by the sympathy which was felt for the
loyal North In s struggle to preserve the integrity OF
ton OF the arbtrary laws which regulate the elective
franchise in this country But TO Americans educated
as have n.he light OF democratic institutions
and accustomed to the full OF the rights or free
men fewsqucstions involved in deeper maze or
more dicit to comprehend by reason OF tho meagrc.
ness of details the subject which have reached the
general reader than this ono OF English suffrage and
The attempt TO throw some Hight npon the working
OF this unequally adjusted machine OF limited monarchy
which while it crusues called constitutional
liberty it's subjects deprives dvesixtns Of the people
of all voice in the administration OF tho government
am constrained TO acknowledge that the perpexities
which surround most Americans who deal with this
subject encompass at the outset OF my abors
Having however consulted the most reliable sources of
information, and given reasonable amount OF rcfiec-
on 10 the great questions involved proceed to plunge
Ia ,nedns res rst considering the history OF the
mens which will enable the readers oil the HERALD the
better to comprehend the present stuation IN this
country.
the arstocratc classes has marSed every stage In the
progress OF this nation, the history Of the franchise
becomes the history of long aud painful struggle In
which the OF the people, condemned 10 lives or
rom tbe usrpaon of pow er by the priveged classes
and to obtain just and equitable share IN the admins
traton.
time or Henry the sixth feudaiism held sway IN Eng
land. The lands in which lay the wealth Of the country
werc held by casscsthe Monks and the Barons. who
derived their possessions from the sovereign. he claim
ing absolute ownership OF the entire soil OF the country
feay to him. formed the Maguuna Conciyun Regi' or
ssreat Council Of the King" which was the orgin OF
the Parliament Of the present day These barons were
compelled attend their sovereign in his al the
head OF certain number OF armed men, to obtain whom
they leased their estates 70 class of dependents who
thereby became their vasals They werc then as they
are to-day the bonc aud snewn Of tho country pro-
ducing its wealth, paying is taxes and lighting its bat
Ties out were not G % vas tnr r
The abuses Of which the reforncrs Of the prssest day
complain were fastened upon the a, tho period
which have referred, when g anarchy and oppres-
sion struggling together In weterng chaos Only
arcbishops bishops abbots, ears and greater barons
were sumoned 70 Parliament by the Kings writs,
and then constituted the House of Lords Their legis
asion vas naturally favorable 70 the landed propre!ors
cultural interests suffered from this exclusive
The abuse Of the power enjoyed BY the gentry gave
risc TO discomfort and open violence, while its
sors intrenched behind the forms of the constitution
continued to violate its spirit and outrage the rights Of
About the time or the accession of Henry VI to the
throne OF England the compost ion OF the then Parla
mcnt underwent great modification. AS arts
and trade began to take root and flourish the people
cohcentraed into larger bodies, and towns grown into
Of ana rS wealth ~ % as
rights and privileges with the lordy domains Of their
rich and favored paronR They became, through pur-
chase Of these privileges Of their immediate
lords Of the King, Independent communities,
from which the sovereign summoned representa-
tiyes not as barons, but citizens and burgesses
In like manner better 10 collect from the
richest reehoders tenants OF the barons the King
invested them with the right OF representation through
Knights OF the Shire, elected among themselves He
accordingly issued summons for elections and granted
charters TO such towns as responded
In those days the unsettled condition Of the country
compelled the people TO travel horseback while the
danger arising from bands of outlaws and ruans who
infested the land great that man venurcd to
travel alone From these causes rather than from any
general principle OF representation, there were uniform
" two members summoned from each county city and
borough each bear other company when In heah
and when III to insure the attendance Of another
representative The burgesses were therefore called to
form Parliament with the barons, and hence has cx
the branches OF the legislature, the House Of
Lords and the House Commons.
For many years tho branches sat in assembly,
being seldom called together except impose taxes and
levy drafts for soldiers.