Corrected Report of the Speech of Lord John Russell
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| Hersteller: | Forgotten Books (Russell, John) |
| Stand: | 2015-08-04 03:50:33 |
Produktbeschreibung
Excerpt from Corrected Report of the Speech of Lord John Russell: In the House of Commons, on Tuesday, the 1st of March, 1831, on Introducing a Bill for a Reform of the Commons House of Parliament On the one side it has been said, Do you mean by settled institutions the close and rotten boroughs? I think, before I have done, I shall satisfy those persons that close and rotten boroughs were not intended by the phrase, settled institutions of the country. But, say another party, it is impossible to satisfy the public mind without shaking the settled institutions of the country. We are of an opinion directly the reverse. We think we may satisfy the public mind without endangering the settled institutions: but that the refusal to satisfy it would actually endanger the settled institutions of the country. We are of opinion that these institutions, resting, as they have hitherto done, upon the confidence and the love of Englishmen, must continue to rest on the same foundations: and while we decline to comply with extravagant demands, we are anxious to satisfy reasonable expectations. Agreeing neither with those bigoted adherents of ancient usage who assert that no reform is necessary, nor with those warm enthusiasts who declare that some particular kind of reform will alone be satisfactory or wholesome, we place ourselves on a ground which we hope to find firm and stedfast, between the abuses we wish to destroy and the convulsion we mean to avert. It will not be necessary, on this occasion, that I should go over the arguments which have been so often urged in favour of Parliamentary Reform: but it is due to the question that I should state shortly the chief points of the general argument in favour of reform. Looking at the question then as a question of right, the ancient statutes of Edward I. contain the germ and vital principle of our political constitution. The 25th of Edw. I. ch. 6, declares, in the name of the King, that "for no business from henceforth we should take such manner of aids, tasks, nor prizes, but by the common assent of the realm, and for the common profit thereof, saving the ancient aids and prizes due and accustomed." The 34th Edw. I. commonly called the Statute de Tallagio Concedendo, provides "that no tallage or aid shall be taken or levied, by us or our heirs, in our realm, without the good will and assent of archbishops, bishops, earls, barons, knights, burgesses, and other freemen of the land." Although some historical doubts have been thrown upon the authenticity of this statute, its validity in point of law is asserted in the Petition of Rights, was allowed by the judges in the case of Hampden, and is in fact the foundation of the constitution, as it has existed since the days of the Stuarts. To revert again for a moment to more ancient times, the consent of the commonalty of the land, thus declared necessary for the grant of any aid or tax, was collected from the express voice of two knights from each county, from each city two citizens, and from every borough two burgesses. For two hundred and fifty years, the constant number of boroughs so sending their representatives is about one hundred and twenty. Some thirty or forty others occasionally exercised or discontinued that practice or privilege, as they rose or fell in wealth and importance. How this construction of the House of Commons underwent various changes, till the principle on which it was founded was lost sight of, I will not now detain the House by explaining. Suffice it to say, that no man of common sense now pretends that this assembly actually represents the commonalty or people of England. If it be a question of right therefore, right is in favour of reform. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
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