The New York herald., 1867-04-20

. APRIL ~, l867.-TRlPL
mentary reform. The great question which now as II
has through long series Of years engrosses the serious
attention of thinking men OF all classes having
the welfare Of England at heart that of amending
the constitution As 70 extend the right Of suffrage 70 the
toling millions or This kingdom; to secure purity OF
election and redistribution OF the seats in Parliament
by which the masses Of the people be more fairly
represented In tho government and participate more
fully In the framing Of the laws by which they are gov
erned Heretofore all efforts 70 this end have been
strsnuousy opposed by the privileged classes, whose
anagonism TO the extension OF the elective franchise
would have dsheartened less earnest advocates than
those who have proved themselves the tried friends Of
humanity and champions Of the rights Of thor fellow
men . 80, se- ~ ..-t Z ta sr.f .fsD,.f
The Importance Of the subject under consideration 10
second only 70 that which attached the momentous
events which have tsansped In the United States during
the recent struggle for tho maintenance Of republican
institutions and the results which TO follow the
present agitation or this reform question will create
in the history Of England marked ~ that which
has arisen In the progress towards universal smancpa
ton In America. The movement has obtained an impe-
tus which threatens sweep away not only the political
distinctions OF classes but to elevate the OF nte
gent artisans agncultarists and isboss 70 higher
mO1al, oOc1l luuuouCo
upon all Glasses in Church and State secular aud scce-
sissc Will eventually break the shaokss which bind
the peeple 70 che wheels q arsocatic Juggernaut
and invest them with a the privileges which, under the
The interest with which Americans view the Efforts OF
the great party OF reform this country perhaps
Sva North tGy ID id srae to the
the Union by those who are here battling for the ab0
son Of the arbitrary laws Which regulate the elective
as VIC have bceu nhe light OF democratic institutions,
and accustomed to the full exercise Of the rights OF Free
mcn few'quesons are involved In deeper maze or
more difficult to comprehend by Of the meagrc
ness of details the subject which have reached the
general reader than this one OF English suffrage and
The attempt to throw some light npon the working
OF this unequay adjusted machine OF limited monarchy,
which while it crushes out so called constitutional
liberty it's subjects deprives fvesxths Of the people
of all voice in the administration OF tho government
am constrained to acknowledge that the perpextes
which surround most Americans who deal with this
subject encompass even at the outset Of labors
Having however consulted the most reliable sources Of
informaon and given reasonable amount Of reaec-
ton the great questions involvcd proceed to plunge
in nedas res first considering Tue history o. The move.
better to comprehend the present situation IN this
country.
Since the grievous oppression Of the lower orders by
the arisocratc classes has marked every stage In the
progress OF this nation, the history OF the franchise
becomes the history Of long and painful struggle in
which the masses OF the people, cendemned lives OF
poverty and ignorance, have sought to Tree themselves
from the usurpation OF power by me prvegcd classes
From the invasion Of william the Norman down TO the
time OF Henry the Sixth feudaiism held sway In Eng
land The lands n which lay the wealth OF the country
wero held by Monks and the Barons who
derived their possessions from the sovereign he claim
ing absolute ownership of the soil Of the country
They called together by the King, and swearing
fsaity to him. formed inc MagMm n coneIsn -. dss OF
the Parliament OF the present day These barons were
compelled to attend their sovereign In his wars at the
head OF certain number Ofarmed men, to obtain whom
they leased their estates TO class of dependents who
thereby became their vassas They werc then as they
ducng s wealth. paying Its taxes and lighting It's bat
ties but not considered worthy Of exercising the
comm6nest right Of the constituton-yz. 70 vote for
rhe abuses Of which the ermers Of the present day
complain fastened upon the nation a. tho pcrod
70 which have referred, when anarchy and oppres.
sion were struggling together In weltering chaos Only
arcbishops bishops abbots ears and greater barous
were sumoned TO Parliament by the Kings writs,
and then constituted the House OF Lords Thsir legis
iation naturally favorable TO the landed pr0prieors
Ills exclusive
The abuse Of the power enjoyed by the gentry" gave
s to and ss %s rs
continued to violate its spirit and outrage the rights OF
About the tme Of the accession of Henry VI to the
throne Of England the compost ion OF the then ParIa-
mcnt underwent great modification. As arts commerce
concentrated into larger bodies, and towns grown INTO
preponderance Of population and wealth began 20 as.
position o. and to equal
rich and favored parona They became through pur-
chase Of these privileges Of their immediate
lords or Of the King, Independents communities,
from which the sovereign summoned representa-
tiyes. not barons, but citizens and burgesses
In like manner tho better TO collect revenue from the
richest freehoder tenants OF the barons the King
invested them the right OF representation through
Knights OF the Shire, elected among themselves He
accordingly issued for elections and granted
charters to such towns as responded
In those Days the unsettled condition Of the country
compelled the people 70 travel horseback while the
danger arising from bands OF outlaws aud ruans who
infested the land great that venturcd to
travel alone From these causes, rather than from
general principle OF there uniform
ly two members summoned from each county, city and
borough each TO bear the other company when In heah
and when Ill insure the attendance Of another
representative The burgesses therefore called to
form Parliament with the barons, and hence has
listed the two branches OF the legislature the House Of
Lords and the House or Commons
For many years tho two branches sat In assembly
being seldom called together except impose taxes and
levy drafts for soldiers.