The Press. — 1856-11-22 (London, England)

THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."  Sir,—ln your editorial remarks ou my letter in THE PRESS of the Bth inst. you say yon have little sympathy with my attempts to procure an alteration of the electoral system, but that, nevertheless, it may be of use that Conservatives should attend to the inequalities 1 have pointed out, in order that, should any attempt be made from any quarter to tamper with the electoral Fystem, care might be taken that it. should not again be modelled to suit the views of a faction.  Now, if the electoral system was at the time of the Reform Act modelled to suit the views of a faction, I think I am entitled to your sympathy in my attempts to overthrow the successful conspiracy. I admit that if I asked for the agricultural class (or, to speak plainly, for the Conservative party) more than their just share in the electoral system, I am entitled to no man's sympathy ; but if all I ask is a mere instalment of justice, then f am entitled to the support, not only of the Conservative party, but of every lover of fair play. Moreover, it appears to me that since the government of this country must be carried on by party, it is Quixotic suicide on the part of the Conservatives to hold the electoral arrangement of 1832 as sacred ; for the strength of parties must ultimately depend on their relation to the electoral system. If that is fairly constituted, good and weil ; but if it is so adjusted as to give the habitual supporters of one party twice the say in the representation which it gives to the supporters of the other party, then it is perfectly certain that, as a rule, the former party must be the governing party. And although in the oscillation of public opinion, through abuse of power or ill-luck, it may happen that the latter may attain power, it is certain they cannot expect to keep it for any length of time; for the preponderating class in the electoral system will soon return to their habitual political instincts and to the support of their ordinary representatives. The electoral system of Great Britain is in this vicious position, for the town constituencies, whose tendencies are Whig, return twice as many members of I'arliament in proportion to their numbers as the county constituencies, whose tendencies are Conservative. If, then, the Conservatives are not content with mere fugitive glimpses of power, followed by defeats which must in the long run inevitably destroy their prestige and endanger their political existence as a party—a state of things which already seems to me to have commenced—they must (let the electoral system readjusted. It is vain to strive with a steady majority in the electoral body against them. So long as that is the case not all the fine writing in the world about party organisation and discipline will save them.  It is only now that this state of affairs is coming prominently into view. Formerly no such causes were in operation, if anything the electoral balanco being in favour of the Conservatives; but the march stolen by the Whigs is now beginning to tell, and we may rest assured that as time goes on, if allowed to retain their advantage, their power will increase and that of the Conservatives diminish.  I may be asked, if this be so, what chance is there of the changes I advocate being carried ? I answer, the chance which there always is in England in favour of any change which can plead a clear case of justice in its favour. The majority of the Commons are honest men, and an honest case can be laid before them, and, however party zealots may vote, the moderate men both among the Whigs and Radicals cannot avoid voting to redress so manifest an injntice as that which gives twice the say in the government of the country to one class which it gives to another. As to waiting till a proposal to alter the electoral system come from some other political party, that would in practice amount to waiting for ever; for the Conservative change which I have advocated, if proposed and carried as au amendment to a Whig or Radical Reform Bill, would simply lead to its withdrawal and to the indefinite shelving of the question, not to mention the risk of a Whig or Radical Reform Bill being in the meantime carried as the coup-degrace to the Conservative party.—l am, sir, dm.,  J. A..G.  REDPATH AND KENT were re-examined yesterday at the Clerkenwell Police-court. Four more cases of fraudulent transfer were proved against the prisoner Redpatb, and on which transfer he had received dividends. The complicity of Kent was shown so far that he had made the entries in the book which contained Redpath's account. The manner in which Redpath had proceeded was in each of these four cases to plaoes the figure 1 before the sum to he transferred, thus clearing 1,0001. by every transaction. The prisoners were remanded for a week. An application for bail on behalf of Kent was referred by Mr. Tyrwhitt to a Judge in Chambers to fix the amount.