Colonel Evansrose to call the attention pf the noble Lords opposite again to the subject of the scot-and-lot voters, who, as he had before stated, would 1292 be disfranchised by the operation of the Reform Bill, if they had not paid their rates. This subject was of such importance, and it was so imperfectly understood even in the metropolis, that he must solicit the attention of the noble Lords to the subject. He had before stated, and he understood, that the rule of disfranchising people, unless they had paid their rates, would be extensive, and injurious in its operation. All the people who had not paid their rates up to the 20th of July would be disfranchised [LORD John Russell said, if the rates had been demanded]. That required explanation. With respect to the Resolution the noble Lord had just moved, he would inform him that the two restrictive clauses of the Bill would operate very favourably for bribery. There were two places, in one of which 1,100l., and in the other of which 900l. had been already advanced, to pay up the rates of the people. Something then should be done to counteract this, and make the Reform Bill understood. According to the papers on the Table, the number of persons disfranchised in Westminster and other places would be very great. He had received some information from Lancashire, which showed how the Bill was expected to work there. For example, he understood that Manchester would have no more than 750 voters; Blackburn, 78; Ashton, 75; Bolton, 84; Bury, 82; Oldham, 40; Rochdale, 40; Salford, 66; and Warrington, 38. That was rather an alarming result, and it would be so fatal that it would be enough to endanger the present Administration. He hoped that something would be done to remedy it, and that a short Session of Parliament would be called to pass a new law, if that was necessary All he knew of the restrictions he had learned only within a few days, and it was not to be supposed that the great mass of the people engaged in their pursuits could have obtained similar information. That might account for their not having troubled themselves about it. Now that they were aware of it, they were much disappointed. The Bill would, positively, convert many large towns into close boroughs. The Tories would not suffer from it, and he did not wonder that they opposed any alteration. The next Parliament, instead of being a Reformed Parliament, would be—he did not say it offensively—a Tory Parliament, if the evils of the Bill were not remedied. He thought this matter of great importance, because the people who 1293 had lately obtained the Reform itself by their own exertions, might have recourse to the same means. In fact, he had heard that the disappointment was so great that the people were again talking of not paying the taxes, and of commencing a run upon the bank for gold. This circumstance would have the most disastrous effects, and might even, from its unpopularity, destroy the present Administration. The hon. and gallant Member concluded by moving an Address to his Majesty, "that he will be graciously pleased to prorogue the present, and convene another short Session of Parliament, with as little delay as possible, to take into consideration the unexpected disfranchisement produced by certain restrictive clauses of the Act for Amending the Representation of the People in Parliament."
Mr. Humeseconded the Motion. He wished to state, that he believed that the statements of his hon. and gallant friend were correct. He had heard the statements from the same persons as his hon. friend. He had no doubt, that as this was not what his Majesty's Government intended, it would take measures to remedy the evil. If the population of the large towns were disfranchised to the extent of three fourths or four-fifths, it would be a most serious evil, and would produce nothing else but dissatisfaction. He was sure, if his Majesty's Government found that this was the case, it would not hesitate to grant relief, and would be careful not to proceed, to a new election, which would disappoint those hopes which had made the people give their most anxious support to the noble Lord.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, it could not be expected that he should agree to the Address. He could not think that the operation of the clause would be so extensive as the hon. and gallant Member represented. He himself knew nothing certain of the matter; and nothing could be certainly known till after the 20th of August. Not believing in the extent of the disfranchisement, he could not believe in the extent of the dissatisfaction. He had always admitted, that the registration clauses might, at first, present some difficulty in the working. It should be remembered, that the period fixed by the Bill allowed three months to be in arrears; and he could not think, according to the custom of parishes, that so many people would be disfranchised.
§ The Motion negatived.