During this period the agitation for Reform was monthly assuming
larger proportions, and the mighty voice of _the then unrepresented
masses_ was knocking at the doors of the Houses of Parliaments with
_miles of petitions_ from all parts of the country, for "a Reform in
the Representation of the People." Dudley joined its neighbours at
Birmingham and Wolverhampton in the cry for Reform (neither of which
important centres of industry _had any share_ then in parliamentary
representation, save through their county members.) The serious aspect
of passing events and political agitation, which was evoking most
persistent demands for "Reform," stimulated the great and eloquent
leaders of that movement to introduce a "Reform Bill" into the House of
Commons by Lord John Russell, on the 1st of March, 1831, "_For leave to
bring in a Bill to amend the representation of the people in England
and Wales._"
This sweeping measure was to disfranchise 60 "Rotten Pocket Boroughs"
of most diminutive numbers of voters holding their rights under all
sorts of curious conditions. These Boroughs then sent 120 members to
Parliament; besides 47 Boroughs were to lose one member each, making
168 old members to be ejected from the House; this annihilation of
"vested rights" was to be supplied by 34 _new members_ to be selected
by manufacturing towns, most of which had no Borough representation
at all, and 55 _additional members_ were to be added to the counties.
Such a startling measure as this necessarily created a wild and frantic
torrent of indignation amongst all classes concerned in maintaining
the unjust and vicious system of mis-representation and jobbery,
whilst those large towns (of which Dudley was one) were jubilant at
the prospects of a new feature in those local privileges, "a Borough
representation." This marvellous debate extended over a period of
thirteen long nights in the House of Commons, and was carried by a
majority of votes.
It is almost needless to say that Lord John Russell's speech, as
published in the political life of the Earl, has become history, and
was one of the most telling and searching exhibitions of close, clear,
and comprehensive reasonings ever uttered in the British Parliament.