(1830) Extension Of Suffrage

speciAL

COLLecdONS

t)OUQLAS

LibKARy queeN's uNiveRsiiy AT klNQSirON

kiNQSTON

ONTARiO

CANADA

EXTENSION OF SUFFRAGE. A PLAN FOR

EXTENDING

RIGHT OF VOTING FOR

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, UPON THE

PRINCIPLE

RENTAL ASSESSMENT: EXAMINATION OF THE LIMITS OF SIR ROBERT PEEL'S JURY BILL MINIMUM OF ASSESSMENT ITS PROBABLE EFFECTS IN LIVERPOOL PRESENT INJURIOUS PRACTICE OF ASSESSMENT UNCONTROLLED BY LAW NECESSITY FOR ITS BEING LEGALLY EQUALISED SAFETY AND ADVANTAGE OF THE

—

—

—

—

—

PLAN.

LONDON, PUBLISHED BY BALDWIN & CO. PATERNOSTBR ROW SOLD ALSO IN LIVERPOOL BY KAYE, ROBINSONS, & M'ALES & BAINES, CASTLE STREET GRAPEL, CHURCH STREET; WORRALL & TAYLOR. SOUTH JOHN STREET AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. ;

Price,

1830.

1

s.

IK ^u.

iii)0.

c^yt?

PLAN FOR EXTENDING THE RIGHT

OF VOTING, As

the spirit of improvement

&c.

now

is

energetically,

and

beneficially, pervading the public institutions of the country,

parliamentary representation, the foundation

particularly

its

of which

the right of voting for

is

of the

a business

some

first

its

members,

it

becomes

importance to invite attention

plan, which, although

it

may

prefer universal suffrage, nor those

not satisfy those

who

desire a limitation,

which would exclude several important

classes of society,

may, when examined and adjusted, lead the principle of the great

to

who

to

unanimity

in

and salutary measure, and ensure

success.

its

The main social order,

much

object with those

who

are sincere friends to

and good government, should

be, to yield so

of the detail on either side as will not sacrifice the

important principle, which principle

is

— an

SIR

is

the

first

consideration.

That

extension of the elective franchise.

ROBERT

PEEL'S

JURY

BILL,

6 Geo. IV, Chap. 50.

An

opinion has very generally prevailed

extending the franchise to

under Mr. Peel's jury

bill,

all

persons

who are

in

favour of

liable to serve

which, in England, includes "all

men, being natural-born subjects of the king, between the ages of 21 and 60,

annum,

who have

in lands or tenements, or both, of freehold,

copy-

man who

has a

hold, or customary tenure clear

a clear income of <£lO per

income of

^20

per

;

and every such

annum, B 2

in lands or

tenements,

under lease

who is a

2 1 years, or more ; and also every such

for

house duty, on a value of not

any other county

or,

;

who

£30 than £20

than

less

the county of Middlesex, nor less

less

man

householder, assessed to the poor rate or inhabited

annum annum

per

per

in

in

occupies a house containing not

than fifteen windows."

The

qualification of every such

county

Wales,

in

is

man

residing

in

to the extent of three-fifths of

any

any of

the foregoing qualifications.

and ministers duly —judges — clergymen — — doctors of law — sergeants at law— — of the courts, of attorneys proctors — — — law, equity, admiralty, and ecclesiastical — coroners — gaolers — physicians —surgeons — apothecaries certificated— of the customs of the navy or army pay — and excise — — high constables — parish clerks and those who are exempt by prescription, charter, grant, men of the age of or writ —justices of the peace — and from being excepted 60 and upwards — serving on juries Peers

priests

licensed

barristers

civil

officers

solicitors

officers

in

officers

full

sheriffs' officers

all

upon the

basis of this bill,

would

also

be excluded from the

right of voting.

The number of which

is

persons within the borough of Liverpool,

co-extensive with the parish, to

only 2340

;

the franchise

by the parish jury list in August although the number of assessments on

would thus be extended, last,

whom

is,

2500 warehouses, counting-houses,

tenements

is,

yards, &c.,

and 25,200 dwelling-houses

;

total,

offices,

27,700.

Considerable surprise has been excited at finding no more

than 2340 persons eligible to vote on included

who

in

that

number, there

this basis

are

only

;

80

are resident tenants of houses of £2.0 per

upwards, estimating the number of freemen at

and

that,

freemen

annum

54(X).

or

Tlie freedom of the borough

is

obtained by birth, or seven

years' servitude, to a freeman within the town.

number

The

largest

heretofore polled on one occasion, was in an arduous

contest for the mayoralty in 1827

—3545.

On

the recent

occasion (November, 1830,) of the most spirited contest for

a member of the borough ever known, after a most active, searching, and extended canvass for upwards of six weeks,

and an energetic

poll of

seven days,

lavished, the

number

during which,

an

money most

profusely

polled, including out-voters,

was 4401.

intense influence was exerted, and

—

6

The increase

following statement

will

exemplify

:

County of Lancaster.

the

assumed

THE PLAN. The plan which is

it

the object of these pages to submit,

is

founded upon the principle, that every man, who by rental

assessment contributes to the maintenance of the state, of

which contribution the poor part, should

have a vote

rates

in the election of the

the borough or county in which he

The

proposition which

who may

is

hereafter acquire

those

who may be

every

man

in

or

it

is

members

is,

that in

the privilege of voting, or

upon the same

become

for

so assessed.

therefore submitted,

who have now

addition to those

form a very important

entitled to

principle, except it

by assessment,

England and Wales, being a natural-born

subject of the king,

who

shall

be rated in the parish books

upon one or more assessments each being uot less than c^ per annum, and shall have paid the government assessment and the poor

demanded

rates, or the

poor rates only, which have been

premises so assessed upon him for the

for the

year (ending at the usual period to which those taxes or rates are annually

made up) immediately preceding made at least

the

of election, such payment being

day days

before that day, shall be entitled to give his vote in person,

but not otherwise,

for

the

members of the borough

in

which he is so rated and in case he is assessed in a place which does not send any member to parliament, he shall be ;

entitled to a vote for the

he

is

so rated

members of

and charged.

the county in which

In cases of partnership, each

partner in the firm assessed, to have a vote, provided his

partnership proportion of the joint assessment be not less

than the sum abovementioned.

No man

to be entitled

to,

more than one vote by virtue of any number of assessments in any borough or county, nor to a vote for the county in

he

which he is

is

so entitled to a vote for a borough, although

assessed in

more than one parish

in

the county.

— 8 The

man who

exception, that no

is

assessed according

to the basis of this proposition, although he

have the privilege of voting, he has

shall

to

upon him,

paid the rates so assessed

which

be enhanced

common

an extension of credit, which

One view

payment of

upon the existing

principles

exclude a proportion of the industrious classes

upon those principles, be

The

payment of

rates, as the

by act 38, Geo. III. chap. regulating parish vestries, by which it is enacted, is

shall

established

be entitled to vote, or to be present, in

any parish vestry meeting, rates

not to

who may

entitled to vote, but not be assessed

principle of requiring the

no person

that

is,

it.

passport to a vote, 69, for

denied

of the proposition in not rescinding the

privilege of voting

to obtain

is

to the loss, or

other (possibly sinister) exoneration from the rates.

sub-

is

justice, the

not acquired by assessment, ought not

is

b}'

and which, by delay, might lead

to others,

otherwise

be entitled to vote until

mitted under the impression, that in privilege

may

which

shall be

until

he shall have paid the

due from and have been demanded of

him. If the assessment and

payment of the

were made the criterion, and the a rental value of £lO,

as

and as

all

minimum was intelligent

towns and country places

farm houses,

fixed to be

the lowest basis of a vote,

would exclude a large portion of larly in small

assessed house duty

:

of whatever rent, occupied by

tenauts for the purpose of husbandry only

and

all

it

men, particu-

farm houses occupied by the

oav/ers,

;

and bona

used for the purposes of husbandry only,

fide

which,

with the household and other offices are valued under the act at not are

more than £lO per annum

exempt from the house duty, a very large portion of

yeomen and farming would

made

also be to

tenantry, highly respectable as they are,

excluded from the right of voting

depend upon the

if it

were

basis of the house duty.

Another very respectable

class,

who

yet are the tenants of warehouses,

are not housekeepers,

and other

factories,

valuable premises and tenements used for commercial and

manufacturing purposes, and shops

— which are not assess-

able to the house duty, would also be excluded, although

they contribute largely to the poor rates. Therefore, as the assessment to the poor rate, includes the

property that contributes to the assessed house duty, and

comprises

other tangible property,

all

extend the right of voting to those will be

it

appears, that to

who pay

the poor rates,

comprehensive and equitable.

Whether any of

the classes which are

exempted from

serving on juries, or any others, should be excluded from the right of voting for

members of parliament,

is

a question

which demands serious deliberation.

THE MINLMUM OF ASSESSMENT. In order to assist in forming an opinion as to a

of assessments,

it

may

be useful to

state,

minimum

that in Liverpool

the poor rates have not hitherto been obtained from any

houses of c£lO per arm. and under, of which there are about

16200; and,

it

may

be added, that only a very small por-

tion has been received

from houses of c£l5 per annum, and

but a small proportion of those assessed even at or under

£20

per

annum.

It

has been estimated that the rental

of premises of these descriptions amounts to £220,000,

from which, only an inconsiderable part of the poor

rate

10

can be collected under the existing laws, yet the whole is

charged

to

the county rates, which, being payable out

of the poor rates, rental

is

upon the

levied

is,

no doubt,

by such exemption, although that property

benefitted

nishes so large a portion of those

may

It

relief.

The

rate payers.

of the property thus virtualh' exempt

therefore

tenants of houses of

exempt from poor

£lO

who

be confidently stated,

annum and

per

fur-

require parochial that the

under, are virtually

rates.

Under the government house duty assessment,

all

inhabited

houses, which, w ith the household and other offices, yards, are not of the full annual

and gardens therewith occupied,

£10 and upwards,

value of

So

also

the law, by which a person ma}' obtain a paro-

by renting a tenement

chial settlement,

Wales,

are not brought into charge.

in

England or

that the tenement shall be of the annual

requires,

value of ten pounds at the least, and be hired by the year,

be occupied for that period, and the rent for the same to the

amount of

These

pounds be actually paid.

seem

authorities, therefore,

minimum is

ten

of

£\0

per

annum

;

be

to

and,

as

in

far

favour of the as

Liverpool

concerned, and in other towns also where rents are of

equal or superior value,

a rent or

probably be sufficiently low.

minimum would

ikit

value

when

exclude an equally,

if

of Ji'\0

it is

would

seen, that that

not (in reference to

property) a more respectable class of persons in small towns,

and

in

the country, particularly in

where the rental value that the jury

England

bill

to c£l5 in

is

lower,

agricultural districts,

— and when

it is

also seen

reduces the qualification from

Wales,

£20

in

— the subject seems to demand a

further consideration of the

respectable class of persons.

minimum,

in reference to that

11

PROBABLE EFFECT OF THE MINLMUM IN LIVERPOOL. As a proposition

to

to a rental value of

appear

to

extend the right of voting o^!"!©

to

may

it

Liverpool

in

might, at

descend too low in the scale,

some data whereon

refer to

annum

per

sight,

first

be useful to

form some opinion as to

its

understood that the number of assess-

probable

efl'ect.

ments

27,70U, (including 2500 warehouses, offices, yards,

is

It is

&c.) and estimating, according to the latest

ment, the

total

number of assessments of

mode of

assess-

the value of .^lO

and upwards, (allowing 600 for cases of several assessments to one person) at 12,000 AND MAKING DEDUCTIONS For empty tenements occupation, (the proposition requiring ^ the voter to occupy the same tenement for the ^ whole year) )

F'or |)artial

For females assessed For freemen assessed, who would, unless excepted,

)

be otherwise entitled to vote

>

For absentees For sick persons, who would be unable to vote For defaulters in payment of the year's taxes and rates, from disability, disinclination, •

•

or negligence the

number of

•

•

i

> )

voters under this proposition

would probably

GOOO and 8000. THE RESULT WOULD THEN BE

fluctuate between

Population, Male '

64,000

I

^^^'^OO

Female .... 76.000 i Male adults 21 years of age and upwards

Number

30,000

of assessments

Rental

27,700 i'700,000

No. of assessments, £lO per annum and upwards-. Number of persons likely to vote upon ^ assessments of ^'10 per annum and wrom 6000 upwards )

Number

of persons eligible to vote, under Mr. bill, as being liable to serve on juries

IVel's

Number

of freemen polled, out of 5400

)

12,600 to

8000

o'^An

S

4400

12

It'

the proposition

v\

ere confined to house-holders only, of

which, there are about 10,000, the number of voters, according to the above data, would probably fluctuate between

5000 and 6000. statements which have

The

now been submitted

lead to

the conclusion, that to restrict the right of voting to the principle of Sir Robert Peel's jury

assessments of houses of not ried to

its

less

bill,

than

which

£20

is

limited to

per annum,

if

car-

utmost practicable extent, without any of the

exceptions in that

bill,

would not only be wholly inadequate

any salutary correction of the evils of bribery and corruption, but would cause great and general disappoint-

to effect

ment and

dissatisfaction.

THE PRINCIPLE OF ASSESSMENT. Whatever amount may be of

assessment, it will

necessary, to guard niarily binding,

assessment,

it

established as the

no doubt appear

to

minimum

be indispensably

by an obligation, mentally and pecuofficers who have to take the

upon the

that they shall

take

it

upon a general and

uniform principle.

That principle appears to be well and equitably defined by the act 55, Geo. III. chap, 51, under which the county rates are levied, to be the full and fair annual value, without any deduction, allowance, or abatement whatsoever.

The same tions

who full

principle

is

established by the laws and regula-

which govern the

officers

of his Majesty's revenue,

are thereby bound to assess for the house duty at the

annual value.

;;

13

But overseers of the poor

bound by any law

are not

to

take their assessments upon any given principle of value.

They are, it is true, bound to levy the pound rate but they are entirely left own ingenuity, caprice, or discretion, ;

value or portion thereof, at which they

man's property, or a whole parish. idle to talk of

which the

rate

an equal pound levied,

is

is

to exercise

as

the

to

may

their

rental

assess

rate, if the property

if they,

any

consequently,

It is,

liable to be unequally

Therefore,

ciously valued.

by an equal

rates

upon

and capri-

from any motive, can

value one man's property higher or lower than another's the case of parishes,

as in

or,

may

either the full

assess

value, or one-fifth, one-half, two-thirds, three-fourths, or

any portion they may think

fit,

of the

they possess a dangerous power which

and public injury and It

was

(viz.

county

18 iG

inflict

to

many

years

1828) paid an unjust portion of the

county not being valued

principle.

many

the

private

injustice.

rate, other parishes in the

upon an equal

Among

may

power, under which Liverpool for

this

from

rent or value,

full

charges brought against metropolitan

self-elected select vestries, not under the general select vestry

act 59 Geo. III. chap. 12, the most prominent and important is,

that of irregular, negligent, capricious,

ments

:

and

it

is

stated,

wo/j-select are assessed, for premises

not worth £0,0 per annum, at a while

many

of the

select,

and

partial assess-

that in one parish "

who

many

of the

which, ad valorem, are

sum double

that

amount

hold premises of ten times the

value and extent of those before mentioned, are rated at sums not exceeding c£30 or £40." Another was " rated at of40 a year

on premises which cost him

„£'700 to c£800,

while others were only rated at £30, for extensive concerns

valued at ^8000.

The next was a brewery,

in

which a

14

number of

improvements alone could not have cost

its

less

than from of 200,000 to £300,000 yet this immense concern was rated at the comparatively miserable sum of „£'1000." ;

This subject was also lately noticed in the House of Commons, when a petition was presented from the parish of St.

James, Westminster, complaining of great irregularities

in the

mode

of assessment in that parish.

In further proof of the power being absolute, stated that the ally

on the

when

value,

and

was taken upon the

it

the rate

may

be

with occasionally a tritling deduction,

full rent,

1817,

until

mode

it

was gener-

of assessment in Liverpool

was then

3s. 6d. in the

full

rent or rental

pound.

In 1818

one-third was deducted from the rental value, but the rate

was raised

to 7s. 4d. in the

pound

:

this

deduction continued

three years.

Subsequently, for some years,

upon

value

the

full

;

and, more recently,

it

it

was taken

has been taken

at nine-tenths.

The assessment in Leeds lately caused much agitation among the rate payers, those who paid large sums, and who were entitled to six votes, being deprived of five there

votes, because

upon

the overseers chose to take the assessment

To

one-Jifth of the rental.

reply that they " have not the

by which

all

property in

all

this,

the parish officers

slightest objection to a law,

townships in the kingdom shall

be assessed to the rack rent, as nearly as can be ascertained."

The

rate

payers ask,

enacted a law, by which property

fifth of the rack

rent,^

tion of the assessed taxes

And

the legislature ever

to

be assessed, at one-

is

Is this the practice in the colleci

Was

does the vestry act 58 Geo.

votes to a person

"has

who pays upon

it

so in the property tax

III.

chap. 59, giving six

a rental of

leave parish officers a power to nullify

?

all its

£150

per ann.

provisions, for

the due representation of property, by the legerdemain of

making £l50 represent only

.£'30

?

Impossible

!"

!

lo

The clamour which has

the metropolitan parishes against the police, has

difference

been stated to

— between

which the police the

full

rate,

rate

the is

made by some of charge for the new

recently been

arise,

value

in a

main degree, from the

of the

upon

assessments

charged, which

is

understood to be

annual value as professedly assessed for the county

— and

the assessments for parish purposes,

which are

said to be in great variety of proportions of the full value,

— so

viz. two-thirds,

one-half, Sec.

in the pound,

is

magnified into a parish rate of 12d. or

in the pound.

So also in Leeds (as before mentioned) a the pound on the full value, is, by the leger-

rate of 3s. in

;

that a police rate of 8d.

there called, of the overseers, in assessing at

demain, as

it is

one-fifth,

magnified into a rate of fifteen shillings

pound

And

!

Ifid.

in

the

!

it

appears, by a late publication,* that in 1803,

parliament, by an act, required to

which the rated rental bore

know

to the rack

the

when

proportion

rent, there

were

only four counties, 810 parishes, in which the rate was, generally, on the rack rental;

17 counties,

4390 parishes,

in which the rated rental might, upon the average of comities, be taken at all varieties, from one-third up to three-

fourths; and probably a

seen

if

much

greater variety would be

each parish were particularized

counties,

9440 parishes, no

;

and that from 31

satisfactory information could

be obtained as to the mode of assessment. It

seems, that in these cases, notwithstanding their im-

portance, the parishioners are left completely at the mercy

who may raise, or lower, the assessment, both, as it may suit their ideas, predilections,

of the overseers, or the rate, or

or caprice, without being liable to be called to account for "

On

the equity and necessity of equalizinc; aud regulating Parochial Assessments and Parochial Accounts, published by Baldwin and Co. Paternoster-row, London, and Thomas Kayc, Castle-street, Liverpool. Price 2s. 6d.

—

\G partiality.

iheir

peal, but

it

is

It

true, the parties

is

that process

vexatious, dilatory, and expensive, that, to a

remedy may be worse than the

ness, the

may

It

here be inquired,

why

may

aggrieved

also as truly stated, that

man

ap-

is

so

in busi-

evil.

overseers of the poor are

allowed such a latitude of discretion, when

all

other branches

of taxation, and national revenue, are placed under regulations

and

intellect

ted

restraint?

Are they so superior

and judgment, and so much

by the

to other

less liable to

men

feelings of interest, caprice, or prejudice, that

the valuation of every man's tenement and premises

be

in

be actua-

whether the assessment

left to their discretion,

is

is

to

be

to

the rack rent, or the estimated value, or three-fourths, twothirds, one-half, or one-fifth tice requires

of the rental?

that the public, individually

Common

and

jus-

collectively,

should be protected against the possible consequences of

such an arbitrary discretion.

THE NECESSITY AND BENEFIT OF LEGALISING A GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF ASSESSMENT. The

discretionary power of levying such a rate in the

pound, as

may

be required for parochial purposes,

remain with the overseers. exists, in allowing that

But,

power

to

when

may safely

the injustice which

pervade and detort assess-

— to the poor rates — church rates —land tax — watching — lighting — highway — paving — sewerage — and other local rates — police rates — the right of voting in parish vestries ments

and the right of voting

for

basis of rental assessment,

Majesty's Ministers,

they

will,

legalise

it

members of parliament upon the is

may

brought under the notice of

his

be confidently expected, that

without delay, by a special act of parliament,

an equal principle of assessment,

ment of those

officers

for the

govern-

throughout England and Wales.

17

That

properly guarded, will not only prevent

principle,

private injury, l)ut will

benefit the

community

at large,

by

a more equal and impartial distribution of the assessments

and

rates,

under which, above seven millions

thousand pounds

five

hundred

annually raised as poor rates only

is

but,

;

including the other rates, would probably exceed ten millions per

annum,

levied without any legal controlling prin-

ciple to govern the valuation.

SAFETY AND ADVANTAGE OF THE PLAN. As

the right of voting, under the plan proposed, will be

extended only it will

to those

who have

paid the rates for the year,

of course require a residence or occupation of at least

that period, before the privilege

obtained

is

;

and

this will

exclude the probability of any persons intruding themselves transiently, or of

making any

transient

payment

to acquire

a vote.

The

and payment of

preserve the comparative

will also

voters;

occupation,

residence or

respectability

tenance of the

who, with

from him who thus contributes

in the country, in

means, contributes upon an

much

man

assess-

in small towns,

and

is,

in degree, equal to those

of the advantages of this proposition

and

choice of those, to

who

larger amount.

give to the individual

of importance

main-

premises of that rent are superior to a simi-

large towns,)

contribute a

to the

because, the contribution of the

state,

his limited

ment even under £lO per annum, (and

One

the

and the privilege of voting, perhaps, ought not

to be withheld

lar rent

rates,

of

who pays

satisfaction, at

whom

is,

that

it

will

the taxes or rates, feelings

having a vote

are confided, the

in

the

power of consent-

18 Those

ing to his being taxed.

feelings will operate, not only

abate the cause of the discontent he

to

accordance with the true is

is

justly

but also to induce him to contribute his quota with

entitled,

under the assurance,

comparative cheerfulness,

he

now reasonably

which he

entertains, at not possessing that right to

that,

in

of our glorious constitution,

spirit

not taxed without being represented.

Another advantage

be, that if the great object of

will

man

giving his vote, stimulates a

way leads to ment will be

the

payment of

to pay, or in

his taxes

and

nationally and locally beneficial

in reference to public taxation

the poor rates

—

b}'

some other

rates, that

pay-

— nationally,

— and locally, in reference to

increasing the funds of the national, and

the parochial treasury.

The

writer

is

promulgated:

not aware that a similar proposition has been his object

submitting

in

with the utmost deference,

is,

to

it,

which he does

promote unanimity, by

attracting attention to the support of a defined and equitable principle,

upon which the

elective franchise

may

be safely

and advantageously extended. This extension

is

of paramount importance:

only means to abate,

if

—

it

is

the

not destroy, the nefarious system

of bribery and corruption, which has too long been suffered to prevail,

which destroys integrity, debases those who are

its

victims, and demoralizes the population; a system which

has recently been in

full

and shameless

can only be corrected, by a

liberal

activity,

of the right of voting. Liverpool, December,

1830.

I'hintbw by M'orhai.:.

and which

and equitable distribution

and 7'avu>i, Livsiipuol.