Page:A Few Plain Observations Upon the End and Means of Political Reform.djvu/27

 legal incidents.—But feeling a strong conviction that the true spirit of the British Constitution, (in the first origin, and through all the progressive stages of the House of Commons, from precarious existence to their present dignified and exalted character) has required that property should be the basis of representation, I am anxious that the evils of such tumultuous elections should be counteracted by extending the freedom of Boroughs (as far only as concerns the right of voting for Members of Parliament) to all residents who possess real property of a given extent, or rent occupations of proportionate value within the precincts of such Borough; and by associating in the same privilege the inhabitants of certain neighbouring hundreds (to be ascertained by a schedule annexed to the act) who respectively possess similar (or perhaps greater) qualifications.