RECORDS OF VOTES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
ONE of the tricks which, we understand, Sir CHARLES MANNERS SUTTON played the Liberals in the last session, was the appoint- ment of one of the slowest writers in London to take down the names of' the Members, on the trial of the new plan of registering the votes on Divisions, which Mr. WARD'S Committee recom- mended. Sir CHARLES, who enjoys a hoax, boasts of his powers of "humbug" (his own word), and laughs in his sleeve when the simple-minded Reformers are annoyed or puzzled, chuckled ex- ceedingly over the success of his manceuvre. Should he be re- elected and have the opportunity, no doubt he will repeat it. But it is to be hoped that he has " humbugged " the House of Com- mons for the last time, and that he will speedily be transferred to the" other place," where he will once more encounter his rival, if not his superior, in the art of" humbug." But whoever may be Speaker, it is of essential importance that means should be taken, at the earliest possible opportunity, to supply the Constituencies with an authentic'record of the votes of their Re- presentatives. Such a document will be the only test of the cor- rectness of the numerous lists which the newspapers have been publishing. It cannot be denied that Members are responsible to those who elected them : it is equally plain that they who refuse to let their constituents know how they voted, do their best to shirk that responsibility; and in a vast majority of cases, no doubt, they have potent reasons for their conduct. There needs be no delay in adopting a plan for recording the votes of Members. The very first division will be of such surpass- ing interest, that the little additional time required to take down the names, or count the cards, should not be grudged. An improved method may be subsequently adopted, if necessary. Last session, some of our dignified senators thought it becoming to give wrong cards, refuse their names to the teller, and play other pranks of a similar kind: but we question whether they will be inclined to act the fool after this fashion in the coming session—matters have assumed too serious an aspect for such nonsense. The Nation is in no disposition for trifling ; but is resolved to scrutinize closely the conduct of its Representatives, and treat them at the next elections according to their desert. It will be rather a grave affair for a Member to have his vote on the Address, for instance, incor- rectly stated. The House of Commons has this matter under its sole control ; and we seriously advise Members to look to it. Mr. WARD, we believe, is pledged to see his own measure enforced.
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