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Untitled Article
which may be taken of something or other , at home or abroad , to divert the public attention , and plunge , us , for a period of indefinite duration , into a state of division , distraction , and confusion * All this ,- so far as we can
heretofore . le . ft Whig Ministers , in the lurch , must have heard the knell of their tricks in the prorogation speech : and others who looked no further than to what they deemed a favourable opportunity for upsetting the ministry , finding themselves disappointe d of that result , may now be disposed to accede , on the benches of opposition , to the reform which in that case they woujd probably not have hesitated to support from the treasury bench * But even if Jthes , e . several kinds of conversion should suffice for the production of a majority ,, it will still be difficult , to prevent the provisions of the Bill being neutralised and perverted \ n committee ; and , supposing it to pass unmutilated , it may still be apprehended that many of the national advantages which ought to be derived from , its- operation may be intercepted or postponed . . . If the wants and the will of the nation require a change in the constitution of the House . of Commons , it . clearly follows that , sopner . or later , and the sooner the better ^ . the H ouse of Lords must be regenerated also . There
wUl ^ else be continual conflicts between , the tw ; o . Houses .. Why is Reform desired > Not nierely that the .. same individuals who are now nominated b y the few , may be elected by the many , an 4 , Reputed by them to pursue the sajme measures and uphold the same system , JEven that qhange , uninrw pocta . nt as it may se , em , woulcj be beneficial . It would confer moral power upon the Legislature , . would inspire the elector with a wholesome self-respect , and . would conduce to harmony and satisfaction . But a
see , ; might and should have been prevented * At the same time , Ministers have so distinctly and unequivocally pledged themselves to the principles of the Bill , that we not only cannot doubt the sincerity of their determination , but feel ourselves extremely reluctant to question the propriety and wisdom of their proceedings .
If , however , Lord Grey's policy be to carry the Bui in the present House of Peers , we must think that he is pursuing a very mistaken policy . Pro- ? bably the Bill may l ^ e so carri ed . Ministerial persuasives may be effectively applied to minds which the best intelligence of the country , exerted on this subject , has failed to enlighten and convince : some of those who were so jealous of their courage , so fearful of being . afraid , may be satisfied with the exhibition of firmness which they have made , and may be glad of an opportunity of shewing that they have not forgotten that " the better part of valour is discretion : " others who , notwithstanding all the demonstrations which had been made , did really entertain doubts as to the state of the public mind , jmay now Jiave seen proof enough even for their satisfaction : . those who thought that there was a chance of the King's wavering , of his being teazed by the importunities of some about him into disgust with the subject altogether , and of his leaving his Ministers , as kings have ,
Untitled Article
Zf 6 On the present State cf * the Reform Question .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1831, page 776, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2603/page/52/
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