Church Questions (Volume 2) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1868. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Even if I admitted the competency of a Parliament to abrogate any of our constitutional securities, I should deny the competency of the present Parliament or of any other which did not fully represent every adult male in these kingdoms. The new Reform Bill will not remove the objection. Under it a great many will be excluded from having a voice in the return of members to the House of Commons, and I think that most of these are excluded upon grounds of sound general policy. But it is notorious that many who are excluded from voting for members of the Lower House of Parliament are persons far more competent by position, knowledge, and character to decide upon what is the best political constitution than those who have the right to vote; and it cannot be that a new constitution shall be given to our country without every man who is competent having a potential voice in the settlement of that constitution. It is well known that while a day labourer, who can neither read nor write, and who never heard of the constitution, but who keeps a house, can vote, yet a philosopher who has taken a degree at one of our Universities but has removed his name from the books of his college and lives in lodgings, has no right to vote. This may be necessary in the normal government of the country; probably it is, and I am not now complaining of it, but it is simply intolerable and absurd when a new constitution is to be created. Then it would be a crime to exclude the competent man, who might really be the integer figure which gave value to many ciphers, and yet by our present electoral arrangements he is excluded. So also are many Scotch and Irish peers, every one of whom would have an indisputable claim to take part in the great political change which involved their vast ...