Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/234

 22O History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1827- Catholic Bill," he says, " Between them and the Whigs the distance now was at least not greater than between them and the Ministry, and the Whigs had never betrayed them ; and the unblushing disregard of the public voice of England and Scotland, which had been manifested in carrying through the Catholic Bill, had made, even among the opponents of that bill, converts to the question of Parliamentary reform almost the only distinguishing legend that now remained visible on the banners of Whiggery." * Amongst those who had thus been converted to a belief in reform by the action of Government was the Marquis of Blandford. He had been a strong opponent of emancipation, and thought he saw, in the facility with which Parliament had changed its opinions at the call of ministers, a sufficient reason for extending the direct representation of the people. He moved an amendment to the address in this sense, and on the 1 8th of February he asked leave to bring in a bill to provide for the disfranchisement from time to time of decayed or corrupt boroughs, and the enfranchisement of populous places in their stead. Lord Althorpe moved, as an amendment, "That it is the opinion of this House that a reform in the representation of the people is necessary," but both the amendment and Lord Blandford's motion were negatived. The proposals brought forward by the Whigs themselves during the session were not very violent. Another attempt was made, on the nth of March, to transfer the seat from East Retford to Birmingham, but it was lost by twenty-seven votes, and the proposal to give the votes to the hundred carried. It was on this occasion that the serious attention of Parliament was called to the growth of those political unions which were giving expression to the national desire for reform, and organizing the people for the struggle to obtain it. Mr. Huskisson, in his speech on behalf of the enfranchisement of Birmingham, said, " He saw in Birmingham lately an association which, as far as he could perceive its elements, principles, and operations, seemed
 * "Annual Register," 1830, p. 2.