§ Mr. Humemoved the further consideration of the Report of this Bill, and said that its object was to extend the same principle upon this subject to England, Ireland, and 619 Scotland. The absurdity of a pecuniary qualification, still more of one of a landed nature, was evident; some of the worst scamps in the country were men of property. Its inutility was also equally obvious, from the evasions which were constantly practised of the existing law. He hoped that his Majesty's Ministers would support the measure, and remove such a mockery from our statute-book. Even if the House were disposed to keep up the qualification, they ought surely to extend it to all kinds of property, not confine it simply to landed property.
§ Lord John Russellagreed fully that the present system of qualification was oftentimes injurious, but was not prepared at once to say, that at this period of the Session, and in the present state of the House, so many Members being absent who might he desirous to take part in the discussion of the subject, they ought at once to pass such a measure as the present, doing away with all qualification whatsoever—or even a Measure admitting a qualification of other kinds of property. He should, therefore, wish that the proposed Bill should not proceed further.
§ Mr. Warburtonwas glad that the noble Lord did not oppose the principle of the Measure, and hoped that his hon. Friend would comprise in it some provision abolishing the necessity for the declaration required of Members at the time of election, and for the description of which he was bound to give in of his qualification at the time of election.
§ Mr. Hume, after the statement of the noble Lord, had no alternative but to withdraw the Bill, at the same time he must say, that he had in nowise altered his opinion on its principle.