162 report— 1865. 



Statistical Data in Relation to the Representation of the People. By Leone 

 Levi, Doctor of Economic Science of the University of Tubingen, Professor 

 of the Principles of Commerce and Commercial Law in King's College, Lon- 

 don, F.S.A., F.S.S., 4>c. 



Great as were the difficulties of applying the theoretic principles of political 

 science to public administration, harder still was the task imposed on the legislator 

 when he touched the question of parliamentary franchise, a subject so intimately 

 connected with constitutional rights and political conflicts. Without entering into 

 the troubled waters of party politics, the author proposed only to give some statistical 

 data as might serve to mature any views on a matter most important to the well- 

 being of the people, remembering that political science is founded on inductive rea- 

 soning and on facts drawn from political arithmetic. Upon a review of the elec- 

 toral laws of different countries, the author stated, that in France universal suffrage 

 was established in 1852 ; in Germany the qualifications were birth or naturali- 

 zation in the country, age, which in Prussia and Austria is fixed at 24 years, in- 

 dependence, and the payment of a certain amount of taxes. In Spain the limit 

 of age is 25, and the tax which a person need pay to have the right to vote is 400 

 reals, with exemptions for members of scientific bodies or professional men. In 

 Belgium, also, the age of the voter must be 25, and he must pay a tax of 42 frs. 

 32 cents. In Italy the age fixed is 25, the tax is 40 frs., and the elector must be 

 able to read and write, except in certain provinces especially designated, but there 

 are many exemptions to the condition of taxation in favour of members of acade- 

 mies, &c. In the United States of America the law differs in each State*. The age 

 is generally 21. The payment of any tax assessed within two years is a condition 

 in Massachusetts, as well as reading and writing. In Rhode Island the voter must 

 own real estate worth $184, or rent $7 per annum ; or must pay $1 tax, or have 

 done militia service within the year. In Connecticut the voter must be able to 

 read and write. In Pennsylvania the voter must have paid a tax within two years. 

 The same is in Delaware. In North Carolina the voter must possess a freehold of 

 fifty acres for six months. In Georgia he must have paid all taxes required of him. 

 The time of residence in the State before any one can vote differs also materially, 

 and distinction is made of colour. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu- 

 setts, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin make no legal distinctions on the ground of 

 colour. In New York coloured citizens must be owners of a freehold worth $250. 

 The other States deny the right of suffrage to the Negro. In the United Kingdom 

 a difference is made between county and borough electors, the rent of the house 

 or tenement occupied being taken as a basis for the right, — in the county the limits 

 being £50 ; in the borough, £10. The population of England and Wales on the 

 6th of April, 1861, was 20,066,224, of whom 9,776,259 were males, and 10,289,965 

 females. Taking for granted that women are not entitled to the franchise, politics 

 not being their vocation, we have to eliminate first all the female population, and 

 afterwards from the males those under 21, and it appears that the number living of 

 21 years and upwards in 1861, was 5,181,548. From this number we must deduct 

 12,000 deaf and dumb, 24,000 in asylums, and 10,000 in hospitals. The blind, 

 20,000 in number, need not be excluded, but we may take one per cent, of persons 

 ill and bed-ridden, or 50,000. Making these deductions from the number of males 

 of age, the number physically able is reduced to 5,045,000. But to be able to 

 vote, a certain amoimt of intelligence seems requisite, and the least requirement 

 would appear to be ability to read and write. We have no absolute test to ascer- 

 tain who cannot read and write, but the number of persons who sign their marriage 

 register with a cross is a sufficient guide. Now it appears that, in 1861, of 100 

 men married, only 75 wrote their names, one-fourth of the whole signing their 

 register with marks. If we take this as a guide, about 1,250,000 should be de- 

 ducted for intellectual disqualification. And then there are the paupers, criminals, 

 army and navy, officers of the revenue, servants, &c. &c, comprising large numbers 

 incapacitated from moral, social, or official causes. Taking all together we might 



* See Bacon's Descriptive Handbook of America. By George Washington Bacon 

 and William George Larkies. 



