TOPICS OF THE DAY.
RETROSPECT, ASPECT, AND PROSPECT OF REFORM.
THE Duke of WELLINGTON, when Prime Minister, was profoundly ignorant of the state of public opinion concerning the House of Commons. In his ignorance he made that memorable speech on our " perfect and inimitable " system of representation, which drove him from office. The successors of his administration were not popular when their Ministry was formed. By that time every soul in the United Kingdom, not personally interested in rotten boroughs and the system that grows out of them, was bent on ob- taiMng a thorough Reform of the House of Commons. That the Whigs have often betrayed the People, is a truism. Hardly any one, therefore, not a mere partisan of the Whigs, expected that the Whig Ministry would thoroughly reform the House of Commons. Hope, mixed with suspicion, was the feeling of the People, when Lord GREY became Prime Minister, and Mr. BROUGHAM took the title of Lord Brougham AND VAUX. The " and Vaux," which inferred an affectation of " Norman blood," * was indeed a suspi- cious circumstance,-to those, at least, who, having studied our glorious constitution, know that we are ruled by a mushroom aris- tocracy, scarcely more skilful in extracting money fromthe pockets of the people than eager to obtain from the people credit for Norman blood. Mr. BROUGHAM, claiming ;Norman descent, could hardly be a Radical Reformer ; Lord GREY'S speech about his order had classed him with the as-little-as-need-be Reformers ; these two were the only men of mark in the Ministry : it was na- tural, therefore, that, with the hope of Reform produced by the dismissal of the Duke of WELLINGTON, there should be mixed much fear or doubt as to the efficacy of any measure of Reform to be proposed by the Whigs. The suspicions of the People exerted a most beneficial influence on the Ministry. Betwixt the 16th of November 1830, the day on which Lord GREY took office, and the 1st of March 1831, when Lord JOHN RUSSELL unfolded the Reform Bill in the Commons, no exertion was spared by the partisans of Ministers to induce the nation to confide blindly in the new Government. " Confidence in the Ministers "-" trust our excellent Ministers "-" depend on our patriotic Ministers "-these were the cries by which, in Parlia- ment, at public meetings, in newspapers, in the clubs, in the highways and byways, on 'Change, amongst bricks and trees, at the corners of the streets, and in the Swing-illuminated fields, the partisans of Lords GREY and BROUGHAM endeavoured to per- suade the people to surrender their judgment, and to accept with- out examination whatever measure of Reform the Ministers should concoct. The attempt at delusion signally failed. Reform had not been demanded until the abuses, to remove which Reform was required, were thoroughly understood; and a mere know- ledge of each abuse pointed out a specific remedy. Nomination was the grand abuse-Representation the manifest remedy. Con- sequently the Nation pressed hard on the new Ministry, whilst they were secretly framing a measure of Reform-demanding, in terms not to be mistaken, that the Reform should be "effectual," and distinctly pointing out that no reform would be effectual which did not abolish rotten boroughs, extend the right of voting to large towns, greatly enlarge the franchise both in towns and counties, and diminish the cost of elections. "A Reform to that extent" was then the cry of an united people-" a Reform to that extent, or-Revolution !" Such a cry, coming from so many, and so loudly uttered, was not to be resisted. It may be that the Whig Ministry would have proposed Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S Bill, even though the people had not been unanimous and earnest in demanding so effectual a measure ; but, at all events, the people did not think so, and a nation is not often mistaken. Following the cry for an effectual Reform, came Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S Bill; and in an instant all suspicion of the Ministers vanished. In the midst of our present disappointment, it is grateful to dwell on the manner in winch the people accepted the Whig measure of Reform. They received it as a new charter of their liberties ; they no sooner understood its provisions than they banished from amongst them every difference of opinion ; they united, high and low, rich and poor-all who had ever professed a wish for Reform-in declar- ing themselves satisfied with it, and in expressing their gratitude to the Administration. The unanimity of the nation in approving Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S Bill is one of the most remarkable circum- stances in history. The annunciation of that great measure acted as a charm,-quelling all bad passions, exciting generous senti- ments, making agreement wherethere had been dispute, converting suspicion into confidence, exchanging jealousies for sympathy, and altogether producing in one day greater moral improvement than might have come by a century of education. What a pity that the measure had not been conducted as ably as it was framed ! The sudden _prospect of so much good as the Bill was calculated to effect "took away the breath" of Mr. JOHN SMITH for very joy. The Tories also lost their breath on perceiving how much public evil the Bill was calculated to abate. Lord Joim Rus- SELL'S speech on the 1st of March, and its reception by the Peo- ple, struck the Tories down. If, when they slowly raised them- selves again, that effectual blow had been properly followed up, we should have heard no more of the Tories : but the blow was not followed up-it appears as if, in giving it, the Ministers had exhausted their strength. For who can doubt, that, • when the second reading of' the Bill was passed in the Commons by a ma- • See the remarks on "Norman blood" in the late speech of Lord Baotronnat
and Ireux on Reform.
question was settled. There is no telling, however, what may be happened were not wanting to suggest a retrieving course of vigour and expedition; but the Ministers observed not the impu- - dence of the Anti-Reform leaders, nor noticed the occasional Swing required its exertion.
fire, nor eared for the revolutionary doctrines amongst the opera- fives, which reappeared when the twentieth clause or so of their through the Commons ; in vain was the sure road to success stands. We have lost the Bill ; but another is promised to us. The House of Commons is not reformed, but it has declared itself te be an usurpation. The paper of Schedules A and B is torn ; but lists of boroughs marked " rotten" and " close—so marked by the King, the Ministers, and the People—are to be found in held the pen as well as the keys of heaven.
every house. Manchester, Birmingham, Marylebone, and Green- wich are still unrepresented; but the inhabitants of those places seen in opposition ; but they early found it their mutual in- are selecting their future members. The Dorsetshire election has been most expensive to the candidates ; but no one expects that they ruled. the member -returned will recover his outlay from the public purse. But all is changed: the links of the chain are broken, the metal If the Tories triumph, they tremble at the .same time. If the is recast : the feudal system remains only in the prejudices it has Ministers have been weak, and have therefore failed, still they are left behind, and in a few forms and some ancient institutions,— solemnly pledged to try again ; and they are so placed, that, the prejudices, however, deeply rooted, and which it will require time next time, they must either succeed or retire. Though the Re- to eradicate, and institutions and formal distinctions which, where formers were divided concerning the Bill, they have found a point they interfere with the wellbeing of the people, must be gradually of union in animosity towards Legislating Bishops. Though the either destroyed or modified. One of these institutions is the Bill be postponed, the Political Unions are spreading. Whilst House of Lords. members of Parliament are "reposing," the People are gathering The reign of force gradually yielded to that of opinion, and the strength for what they know must be the last struggle. Above acquirements of the priesthood became general accomplishments : all, the People no longer confide in the skill, whatever they may nothing was left them but the other world,—which they (lid not think of the honesty, of' the Whigs—they no longer confide in seem to value except as a means of influence in this. But the man- anybody but themselves ! This last point is the most important ; ner in which this change was brought about is important : its his- for, if the People had never confided in anybody but themselves, tory thrcws a flood of light upon the nature and character of they might have obtained representation instead of nomination modern institutions. whenever the change had struck them as desirable. Various causes split the possessions of the great feudal holders From the aspect of Reform we are led to a favourable prospect. of land, and made such a division of ranks among themselves, The imagination cannot conjure up an event which would put that they became distinguished as Greater and Lesser Barons. the question at rest. The question must be settled ; for if it With smaller possessions came smaller consequence; - and while remain unsettled during another year, the stagnation of trade the King continued to summon the Greater Barons to his Council would determine it by a revolution : perhaps it may be settled himself, he deputed the duty of summoning the Lesser Barons to by a revolution, assuredly it will not be settled in favour of the the Sheriffs of each county ; and as these Lesser Barons still Boroughmongers, by a government of the sword. The merest continued to grow more numerous as well as smaller, it ultimately coward is not more anxious than The Spectator that it may be came to pass that two were chosen to represent the Lesser Barons, settled, not by a revolution, but by an act of Parliament. Con- under the denomination of Knights of the Shire. sidering Reform, by one means or other, as inevitable, our atten- Contemporaneously with this change, which was one of deem- tion is directed wholly; to the means. By what means was the position, another took place, which was one full of life and vigour. Reform Bill introduced fr—By the peaceful means of COMBINATION The institutions of feudality permitted men, on paying a certain amongst the People. By that means, the Bill may be carried tribute to their seigneur, to assemble together in towns, and to peaceably. It is now understood, that wherever a Political Union pursue their respective occupations for their own benefit : on these has been -formed, rioting is out of the case. By means of Political towns were conferred charters and privileges, both for their better Unions all over the country, the People will act as one man - regulation, and with a view to draw from them a part of that and when they are prepared so to act, no one will even think wealth which it is the nature of commerce to accumulate. ' The of resisting them. There will soon be a Political Union in possession of wealth and the payment of money always end in con- every district of the North—why not also in the East, the ferrine• upon the possessor an advantage. These towns arid be- South, and the West ? Why not in London, as an extin- rough's and cities sent their delegates to agree as to the sum they .guisher to that wretched marplot Hum ? By means of were to pay; and if a greater amount than usual were demanded, Political Unions, Ministers, and the self-condemned House of it was a natural consequence that they should be told of the-obe Commons, and the 'Twits,. and the 'Bishops, may be informed ject, and consulted-as to its necessity. jority of only one. -Ministers ought instantly to have dissolved of the constant attachment of the People to Schedules A Parliament ? They called the majority of one a triumph ! It was and B, and the le/. qualification. No more than this is required. seen that they-hesitated; and of course the Tories took courage, Doubt the judgment and skill of Ministers ; urge them to re- ared proposed amendments for defeating the Bill. Then came the introduce Lord Joule RUSSELL.S Bill; press that Bill, and nothing People's cry, in aid of the Government, of " the Bill, the whole but that Bill, through the pledged Commons ; .press that Bill into Bill, and nothing but the Bill." The dissolution followed as a the Lords ; do you, the People, declare that by that Bill you will matter of course ' • since, after General GASCOYNE'S amendment, " stand or fall '—do all this, by means of peaceful combination, the Ministers had to choose only between an appeal to the People and so surely there will not he found a majority. of Lords, or even and defeat 'by the Tories who had rallied. However, the Tories of Bishops, to vote against Reform. Above all, trust only to your- were again struck down—though this time by the People alone ; selves. Let the Ministers " repose " themselves with counter- for it must be acknowledged that in the conduct of the Elections working Court intrigues, or endeavouring to convert Lord Lax- the People had no assistance from the Government. DONDERRY, or what they please ; but do you, meanwhile, cox- The General Election produced a large majority of the House of BINE for " the Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing tut the Bill," and Commons pledged to " the Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing hut you will do more than Ministers—you will convert the very the Bill ;" and every one—Tories and all—felt convinced that the Bishops.
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