Charles Grey Quotes
There is no-one more determined against annual parliaments, universal suffrage and the ballot, than I. My object is … to put an end to such hopes and projects. The ... principle of my reform is, to prevent the necessity of revolution, ... reforming to preserve and not to overthrow.
2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 1764–1845, British Prime Minister (Whig), Tea Pervayor, 1831
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Hunt gave as an example Mary Smith of Stanmore. This quotation is very interesting in the history of women’s suffrage. Hunt was a strong advocate for Universal Suffrage (See {616653}.) At the time, even men had to be a taxpayer and own a sufficient amount of property to vote. Less than 20% of the population of Britain were allowed to vote. The argument at the time was that the husband would represent the family’s interest at the ballot box and there was no need for women to vote. But by facing parliament with the logical inconsistency of its position, he was able to make his point, although there were very few women like Mary Smith who were single and had the economic resources to qualify. Most widows remarried so even if they had economic resources, there was a man who could assume the then perceived role of head of the household.
At the time, the House of Lords which was made up of aristocrats who inherited their titles and the Lords could undo any legislation that was passed by the House of Commons. This gave the aristocrats of England a veto on all legislation.
1st Baron Macaulay. Macaulay was opposed to universal suffrage, and when John Stuart Mill and others started a movement for allowing all males to vote, this was one of the tactics to stave off allowing the lower classes to vote.
He was stating the major objections that were given by many of the royalty and the upper class who opposed universal suffrage. Milton however supported the right of all men to vote. See {632509}. Even in the 21st century, there are right wingers who oppose universal suffrage on the grounds that the lower classes vote only concerned by what they materially will obtain, as if many people of all classes do not do that and that all poor do. For additional reasons see {632533}.
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the primary architects of the Reform Act 1832. His government also saw the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. In addition to his political achievements, he has come to be associated with Earl Grey tea.
