MR. OTWAYsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he would object to substitute for the clause in the "Bill for the Representation of the People" which would deprive the artizans in Her Majesty's Dockyards of the franchise, one enabling those artizans to give their votes by ballot; he would further beg to ask, whether the disfranchisement proposed to be inflicted on the artizans would be extended to officers on full pay stationed in towns where there were dockyards?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, with respect to the latter part of the Question of the hon. Member, I apprehend that the clause in the Bill is perfectly clear as to the class of persons to whom it applies. With regard to the former part of the Question, as Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to admit the principle of secret voting, this is, I think, the last occasion in which it ought to be applied, inasmuch as the object is not so much to protect the artizans from undue influence as to protect the Members who represent them.