AMENDMENT OF THE REFORM ACT.
THE complexity of the Reform Act has become a subject of general and just complaint. Unlearned persons are frequently at a loss to ascertain by reference_to the Charter of 1832 whether they have a right to vote or not in certain cases; and if they apply for advice to those whose peculiar duty it is to expound the law of elections--to the Revising Barristers—they will obtain little satis- factory explanation; for the barristers themselves bold different opinions as to the construction to be put upon some of the most important clauses of the Act. any attempts have been made to simplify and expluin the Refbrm Act. The latest which we have see: is entitled "TheElector's Manual; or Plain Directions by which Every Man may know his own Rights and preserve them." It i- the work of the Secre- tary to the Finsbury Reform Club, and dedicated to that society. Considerable pains have been bestowed on this little pamphlet of thirty-five tiny pages; and it is not the built of the author that his resume of the various enactments of the Bill is not as perspi- cuous as it is neat and concise. But, though made as plain as possible, and intended as a mule meram for those who cannot be supposed to have the time to study the Reibrm Act itself, or the faculty of comprehending it, this Elector's Manual will scarcely enable the unlearned voter to "know his own rights and pre- serve them." We reeommend it to the perusal of those wise personages who oppose any alteration in the law as it stands, owl deem it a final measure. They will find that they cannot simplify the statute so as to make it intelligible and consistent. It is complex and puzzling, instead of being brief and clear.
As the jargon of the R-eform Act bsiog a "final measure" is already almost out of date, it is to be hoped that the attention of some clear-headed senator will be turned to the necessary work of revising it. Since the wish to circumscribe the exercise of the franchise must have been at the bottom of much that is objec- tionable in the bill, let a contrary principle be adopted, and most of the difficulties will vanish.
The Liberals have suffered severely from the impediments which are placed in the way of the free and convenient exercise of the right of voting. Ms Tories have taken advantage of them to a great extent. Whatever tends to obstruct or annoy an inde- pendent elector, is so much gain to the anti-national party. It therefore is the duty of' the leading Liberals in and out of Par- liament to take measures without delay to simplify the new elec- toral law, and make it the means of extending the franchise to at least as large a class of persons as it was originally intended to include.
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