Year: 1867

FOR by the owners The Government insist that all occu
piers shall individually rated in order to obtain the


franchise and the clause proposed provides for their
being rated II they claim to be- Mr. Gladstone made


long eloquent speech against the clause lie said he
Tidcued the idea that the Government had any rghtt
call for from the other side ON the faith Of the
concessions which they had already made He asserted
that they had made no bona de concessions until hey
had compelled TO do and then had struggled
against them to the last II they left the compound
householder In the position in which the Government
would place him, they would, instead OF settling the
question: ncessant agitation In future He for one
should regard az grave derecton OF duty lhose
do their hest to prevent the passing Of which
would have such effect, IL they failed in removing ts
obnoxious provisions. The honorable member for Old
ham had taken a most legitimate opportunity to raise
the question: and prevent the introduction OF new re-
relieved of them since the passing of Sir ". Gays
Act He considered the last proposal Of the Government
not an improvement but far from ONE for 1t sought not
to remove the restrictions from the compound house
the compound householders above 9lO who were now
free from them He objected 10 the interference when
OF the borough voters The Government proposal GER
tanly did away with what he had pointed out would be
pei every occuper who desired TO obtain the franchise TO
cease TO be cOmpounder and would not only revive
previous TO Sir W. CIay's Act. He secuted the


idea Of this being considered concession on the
ought to reciprocate He pointed at considerable
length the hardship and Injustice which the last pro
posal Of the Government would throw upon the land


lord The landlord had. from the nature OF his position
coup himself at the cost of his tenants How such pro
pO6a the offspring OF the most perverse ingenuity OF mis-
eeyable IL wcnld set the landlord against any exten
sion of the franchise and bring the landlords and tenants
not expected submit TO the burden, and would he
justified in using every legitimate means Of getting rdof


He dculed the idea that there was any test III making
go through all this trouble TO obtain vote, and
pointed out the power which would give to the owners
small enfranchise their tenants for the sake
Of obtaining political influence, oontending that they
would be the only who would be likely 70 make
Act which had reduced the obstacles TO minimum, had
exered very detrimental effect and he did not believe


that since IT was passed 800 persons had been eniran
chsed by their personal exertons and whatever


ranchisemcnt had taken place In violation OF its pro


shment at the timidity of the trainers OF the bull who
had eyerted SO much Ingenuity N PaTadng their desire
leo would never come upon the register lt was mon
strous 10 call such measure settlement O the question:
For his own part be desparod of making the bl good
effective one, and felt confident that such shallow
would he considered acceptable by the people In
stead Of settlement such measure would he blow TO
the honor and credit of the Legislature and serious In
jury to the institutions Of the country.


Mr. Bright would not condemn the compounding aets,
for they adopted in 7O boroughs, and II was in
favor OF the system that less than 800 parishes had
adopted IT, In connection with this system, he believed


bill of the most extraordinary, unjust and
offensive offered TO tho House OF Commons by any
Ministry. ron, OH" Considering the mistake made by
the last they might be 'tto modest
In Scotland the bill would establish household suffrage
therefore the franchise would begin at that figure IN the





land below a the rate paid by the landlord and
above it half by him and half by the tenant They
would therefore, have this bill In Scotland and Ire
land, and in a English boToughs, applying without
the unfortunate limitations which would operate IN
at first not aware Of this discrepancy, and II was
only pedanie peryersep@ess @ to cling 10 reIe,o a
only pleading for fairness and equality and Parlia
country TO pass bill capable Of such enormous Unequal


y and SslSe @ , s s@shy % ys M nSSbc Which Was
the real point at issue II they adopted that amendment
they rendered the operation OF lne hl Iar ana .1nn
while to induce the Government 10 accept II, aud make
the bill what 10 would not be without ta Just and eq
able settlement OF the question All the boroughs had
right expect eqnal treatment from the Government
There might be men who follow ministry In any propo
son but he hoped that when he did with respect to
unjust this 1t would he the last time he
demnatiOn the unequal operation OF the bill. and pro
tested against the compound houscholdors above tio
ton that for repeating the section OF Sir W. Cays Act
which confirmed and carried ont the intentions OF the
Reform His appeal might be useless as IL
had been in times past but ho wonld again appeal to
them, In dealing with millions Of their fellow connrymen
to act with fairness and justice.


Mr. Roebuck maintained that the apprehensions OF Mr.
Bright existed only in his imagination lie explained
mnutey the operation Of the act and insisted that 1t
was stump oratory TO say 1t would have unequal
effect IN Birmingham and Sheffield. He denied that
there great excitement ont OF doors The whole peo
well understood although mysted by the verbose
elOquence OF Mr.. Gladstone.


The Chancellor OF the Exehequer, who was received
with cheers said that his object to facilitate the
progress Of the committee by clearing up the doubts
which had prevailed with respect 10 the position Of
the compound householder. The object Of the amend
ment WAS to place beyond the franchise was
to be given every ordinary occupier-that WAS, TO
every one who was rated and paid his own rates The
Government retained its opinion as strongly as ever
that this was the right principle to base the franchise
With some term Of residence 1t was not 50 much the
bearing burden but the discharge Of public duty and
Now the compound householder, although he might pay
the full rates indirectly placed in such position
the best school Of experience exercise political rights
He would ask Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Lowe, were they
prepared 90 far and cODcede To a OF those whose
grievances they dlated upon their political rights
Why, Mr. Bright himself admitted that there was a
residuum not III for the franchise, and the object OF the
Government was TO offer facilities, aud very easy ones
that thai Tesduam with respect to the compound house
holder above alo he would be placed favorable
against against the section c cays Act Which
and @ Soad @
position with respect the ordinary occupcr who paid
to the denunciaton OF Mr. Gladstone, and asked the
noss to fairly weigh sn with e
proposal which Mr.. Gladstone favored and to decide
tion Of difficulty that could only be solved BY the united


ort OF both sides OF this house The late Government
would fan this year the COMMITTEES decided against
decide that the best test OF fitness for public duties and
the school for the adequate discharge duties
the fulfment OF public burdens II they had failed
they failed after having done their BEST and ne would al
ways sensible kindness courtesy with which
the Government had been treated He regretted that he
could not accept the amendment OF Mr. HILBERT who had
conducted himself with great dignity and sefrespect
but be still cherished the hope that the house would
sist the Government to carry their bill to happy ermin
alton fCheers.l


Great excitement prevailed Ia the House during the
time of the taking Of the division, 1t having been recog
nized fact that this division the fate the bill
depended this clause and the Rating" clause, upon
which the Government obtained decisive majority on


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