Address of the People's Charter Union

Transcript

ADDRESS OF THE PEOPLE’S CHARTER UNION
FELLOW COUNTRYMEN,

The Object of our Union is the attainment of the People’s Charter–the recognition by the legislature of our right of political equality, with such provisions as seem necessary for the fair and efficient exercise of that right for the public good. That is to say: –our Union seeks the enactment of UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE–the admission to the franchise of every man of twenty-one years of age, of sound mind and un-convicted of crime; EQUAL REPRESENTATION – the division of the United Kingdom into equal electoral districts; THE ABOLITION OF THE PROPERTY QUALIFICATION now required of Members of Parliament, and of all qualifications except the choice of the Electors; VOTE BY BALLOT – to prevent bribery and intimidation; ANNUAL PARLIAMENTS – to insure the responsibility of the members to their constituents; AND THE PAYMENT OF MEMBERS – rendered necessary by the abolition of the present property qualification. These are the points of the Charter which we desire to have established as the law of the land: for which purpose we claim the aid and co-operation of all those who agree with our opinions; for which purpose we entreat the attentive consideration of those who differ from us.

Few persons, we believe, deny our right to Suffrage-that inalienable right of every human being, the right of self-sovereignty, of an independent nature, an individuality which cannot be merged in or confused with individuality of another. The objections generally resolve themselves into questions of expediency.

We are told that–“The mass of the people are not fit for the franchise.” We answer – the exercise of the franchise will be their best education. – “There must be some test of intelligence.” Where will you have it? Reading and writing, what is called education, will not be sufficiently clear. They are not knowledge, but only the tools of knowledge. – “The difficulty of election.” A sufficient number of polling places will obviate that.–“The swamping of the intelligent by the unintelligent.” Then, as now, we believe, intelligence will know how to win its way. It will scarcely be intelligence else. – We entreat all classes of society to consider well these things, to judge if there be among their objections, either to the expediency of the immediate enactment of Universal Suffrage, or to the other provisions of the Charter, any of sufficient force to outweigh the broad justice of our claim. For ourselves we believe that, the heavens will not fall because justice is done; but that, justice must produce good results.

But we claim the Suffrage not merely as a right, but as a means of duty. We believe that, it is not good for a nation that any of its members should be without the political education which teaches a man to care for the interests and honour of his country. We believe that, only by the free and concurrent action of all its members is it possible for a nation to develop all its best capabilities, to reach its highest destination.

We disclaim all desire of injuring others, all sympathy with acts of outrage or disorder. We desire by peaceable and legal means, and by them alone, to alter and amend the institutions of the country: by establishing its legislative system upon the only true basis–the ascertained will of the majority, at once the guarantee of present order, and the promise of peaceful growth and happiness for the future.

We call upon all classes to aid us in this work. It is no class-work: but the business and duty of all. It is incumbent on both, the elector and the non-elector, the rich and the poor, the capitalist and the labourer, to consider seriously what measures may be most available to maintain public order and content, on the broad basis of universal justice-universal honesty, which is ever the best policy.

For the Council of the People’s Charter Union:
Thomas Cooper, President.
William Addiscott, Secretary.
17th April, 1848