MINISTERIAL PLEDGES ON REFORM.
The Earl of ABERDEEN, announcing the formation of his Ministry—" My Lords, whether by the extension of Education, or by the progress of Law Reform, I trust the social condition of this country will be materially im- proved. By a cautious and steady progress in these directions, we hope that 'both the intellectual and material condition of the people will be improved. This will not exclude amendments of our Representative System, not rashly or hastily undertaken, but by safe, well-considered measures. It can, I think, hardly be denied by any man, that some amendment of this descrip- tion is necessary ; and unquestionably the events of the last election have not been such as to render any man more enamoured of the present system."— -December 27, 1352. Speech in the House of Lords.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, anticipating the last general election—" The chief cause of these results [the improved condition of the people, reduction of taxation, preservation of peace, &c.] must not, however, be sought in any existing men, or in any recent measures. They flow front the spirit of our people, from Magna Charta and the Bill of Slights, from the freedom of public discussion, end the temperate use of power by the Crown, the Parlia- ment, and the people. It was from a confidence in this wise and considerate use of popular strength that we thought it at once just and prudent to extend the right of voting for Members of Parliament. It appeared to us, that the advance of the working classes in knowledge and intelligence ought to be ac- companied by an increased share of political power. I am aware how difficult a task it is to adjust in any plan of representation the respect due to ancient pre- scription with the claims of advancing trade, increased population, and growing intelligence; but it appeared to us wiser to endeavour to make this adjustment when various propositions for the purpose could be calmly weighed and de- liberately settled, than to wait for the storm, when the conflict of the ele- ments might overpower the voice of reason, and the rush of the encroaching tide obliterate the footmarks of experience."—May 22, 1852. Printed Address.
Lord Jonas, asking redlection after joining the Aberdeen Ministry- " To this task the Ministry of the Earl of Aberdeen will anxiously apply themselves."—December 27, 1852. Printed Address.
Lord JOHN, as leader of the House of Commons—" My noble friend at the head of the Government has already stated that the amendment of the repre- sentation was a part of the measures which were he his contemplation I think that immediately after the commencement of the next session of Par- liament, it will be the imperative duty of the Government to introduce a measure upon this important subject There are no means of Parlia- mentary representation, however partial and limited—no defect in the dis- tribution of the franchise, however unjust, which is so destructive of public virtue, or of the credit of our representative system, as these acts of bribery and corruption. We are by Select Committees, with respect to many of these cases of alleged bribery and corruption, investigating the truth of the charges. I think it better, therefore, until those investigations shall have been made, and the Committees shall have reported to the House the extent of the evil, to defer giving an opinion as to whether any further measures may be ne- cessary to check bribery and corruption. I will only say, therefore, without pledging myself to any positive measure, that in my opinion the subject is one of the highest importance, and that if any measure should be considered necessary to cure the evil no effort shall be wanting on my part to effect it"— _February 10, 1853. Speech in the House of Commons.- Sir Tastes GRAHAM, on the hustings, in reply to a Chartist speech—" I will say, as Mr. Fox said nearly forty years ago, that in my opinion that suffrage is the best which includes the largest number of persons endowed with the intelligence necessary to enable them to snake a judicious choice, and suffi- ciently independent in station to vindicate their choice when made. I do not hesitate to repeat what I have already declared from these hustings, that considering the growing intelligence of the people of this country—consider- ing, too, their growing wealth, the result of the recent happy change in the law which gives to industry a greater command of the comforts as well as the necessaries of life—I think the time has arrived when, with safety to the institutions of the country, the franchise may be considerably extended."
Sir James subsequently declared, "that if the present Government do not munity."—January 11, 1853.
bring forward a Reform Bill, he will not continue a member of the Govern- ment: on that distinct understanding he had accepted office."—January 1, 1853.
SIR CHARLES WOOD, at a dinner at Halifax in honour of his reiffection- " There is no inherent virtue in a ten-pound house, but some criterion for registration must be adopted. There are defects in thee Reform Act of 1832, and those defects we are prepared to amend. We propose to proceed upon the principle we advocated in 1832, and so to extend the franchise as to em- brace the most intelligent of the classes below those now enfranchised (what I mean by below is in point of pecuniary qualification) who may be most fitted and best fitted to enjoy the franchise, Why, a non-elector, at a meeting at the Old Cock during the last election, my friend ;Bob Wilkinson, talked better sense than any man in the room. Is it not desirable that such men as these should be electors?"—Februare 3, 18.33.
Sir Wri.mast Moresweirrir, on being railected—" The stability of our institutions has been the wonder and admiration of all thinking aud reflecting men throughout Europe, in the midst of the convulsions oc- casioned by the overthrow of unpopular thrones and the establishment of impossible republics. But, in order that the British constitution may re- main firm and stable, it is necessary that from time to time it should, like other ancient edifices, be repaired and improved. Now, the late elections, and the election petitions on the table of the House, have disclosed a hideous scene of bribery, intimidation, and corruption, during the last general elec- tion : and there is too much reason to fear that many of those discreditable and illegal acts were perpetrated with at least the connivance, if not with the positive approval, of persons high in authority. I say that an effort must be made to put a stop to such disgraceful proceedings ; and therefore, the question of a Reform Bill is one which must and will engage the early attention of her Majesty's Ministers. In saying this, I must remind you that I have always supported the gradual extension of the suffrage, and the protection of the elector in the exercise of his rights by means of the ballot. If my memory be not wrong, I seconded the first motion in favour of the ballot, which was made by that eminent political philosopher, statesman, and historian, Mr. Grote ; whose name will, in this country, be for ever connected with the question of the ballot. My opinions on the ballot are unchanged. That question is an open one in the present Government ; and you may rest satisfied that I shall be, as I ever have been, ready to give my vote for secret suffrage."—January 1, 18.53.
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT, asking reelection—" In the month of February 1851, her Majesty was pleased to recommend to her Parliament to take into fits consideration the state of the laws concerning the representation of the people ; and it will be the duty of the present Government carefully and de- liberately to consider what improvemeuts it may be practicable to introduce into our representative system with the increased stability of our institutions, and continued harmony between them and the advancing morality and in- telligence of the people. I still believe, as I leave always done, that in the maintenance of public credit, in the promoticn of the comfort of all classes of the community, in the dissemination of sound education, and in the advancement of well-considered reform in all departments of the state, lies the best security for the permanent conservation of our institutions. " In the conviction that the new Administration will honestly and delibe- rately direct its efforts in furtherance of these great objects, I have accepted office under the Crown—December 27, 1852. Printed address.
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT, on the hustings—" The English people are, I be-. here, a generous people ; and they must be governed generously, in a liberal spirit. I know that governments have spoken in fear of the people ; and when a government speaks in fear of the people, it is not unnatural that the people should fear the government ; but the fear of the magistrate is not the proper basis for the relations subsisting between the governed and the go- vernment; and I trust we shall see, in whatever alterations it may be ne- cessary to make, the reform carried out not only in that spirit which is against all abuses, but in a spirit of reverence towards our institutions—in that spirit which has actuated all classes of statesmen, all classes of the corn-
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