shall thereupon be empowered to make sach reform accordingly; but no such order shall confer any right of suffrage on any person who would not, by the general laws affecting the suffrage, be entitled to the same; and a copy of the petition, and of any counter-petition, and of the order made thereupon, shall, within three months after the making thereof, respectively, be laid before Parliament if then sitting, or if not, within the same time after the commencement of their ensuing session.
In explanation of the foregoing clause, it will be observed, that—
It leaves the initiative of all proceedings to obtain a separate representation, to the local or provincial divisions or corporate bodies, themselves.
It must be taken in connection with the clause,—the principal subject of the ensuing chapter,—which would equalise the number of electors necessary for all constituencies, and give to all their due and appropriate weight, and it would not, therefore, affect the number of members.
It does not confer on any person the suffrage, but assumes the right of suffrage, in every case, to be previously settled by law.
It is also assumed, that, in acting under this power, rules for the guidance of the proceedings would be prescribed by an Order in Council, and that they would be such as would guard against any decision upon an application, on which every party really interested had not been heard. The Council, it is assumed, would consider the circumstances of the locality, or of the body making the application; the extent to which the objects of any incorporated institution, which might so apply, were of a public character; competency to provide for the distinct expenses of the registrations, elections, and returns, which would be cast upon them; and generally, whether any public or national object, or any advantage affecting any considerable class or section, would be gained by acceding to the prayer of the petition. The bias would, probably, be to confer the power of making a distinct return, where it is desired by any sufficient body of electors, and
