§ Against the Third Reading of the Representation of the People Bill.
§ DISSENTIENT:
§ "1. Because the Bill, creating in almost every City and Borough in England a new Constituency more numerous than that which exists, impairs, where it does not destroy, the Power of the present Electors, and substitutes for it that of a new Body inferior to them in Property and Education.
§ "2. Because the Confidence justly placed in Constituencies of approved Worth cannot reasonably be transferred to such Men now first entrusted with electoral Power; and it is to be feared that when Labour makes Laws for Capital, Poverty for Property, Legislation, no longer directed by educated Intelligence, will impair the individual Freedom of Action and the Security of Possession which have been the Foundations of our Prosperity and Wealth.
§ "3. Because it more nearly concerns the Public Welfare that Representatives should be well chosen than that Constituencies should be numerous; and the larger Constituencies have rarely been fortunate in the Choice of their Representatives, or persistent in retaining them when they proved worthy of Support.
953§ "4. Because a Seat in the House of Commons, more difficult in Attainment than heretofore, less secure in Possession, and not exempt from Humiliation while occupied, will cease to be an Object of the same Ambition to that high Class of Gentlemen by whose patriotic Spirit and statesmanlike Wisdom the Liberties of the People were secured and the Greatness of the Country has been achieved.
§ "5. Because the House of Commons, composed of inferior Men, dependant upon the fickle Feelings of the Masses they represent, will not afford to any Ministers a fair and consistent Support; and successive Governments, permanently weak, limited in the Choice of Men to fill the great Offices of State to the few who may have the best Hopes of Re-election, compelled to feel their Way by Measures of a tentative Character, not fully approved even by themselves, will exist from Day to Day by Concessions, lose all Respect for themselves, but not before they have lost that of others, and at length retire with the Conviction that the theoretical Perfection of Constituencies is incompatible with the successful Conduct of the Affairs of the Country in Parliament.
§ "ELLENBOBOUGH.
§ "SELKIRK."