Star. — London, England, 1818-03-24 00:00:00

fresh notice, not signed as the former had been, adopted in its steak; • tire consequence was, that as the notice at presenl stned, none but householders; had any business to be present. Was a canvass to take place to ascertain who were householders and who were not? Of all men the householders of Westminster had less reason to complain than any in the country, for they were represented and might re turn to Parliament whom they liked; but the Inha bitants of Westminster were not represented, and therefore had reason to address a Petition to Parlia ment : as the present Petition was worded, no one but a householder had a right to sign it. However, even in its present shape, he would support it ; for a better Petition, or better Resolutions, than those brought forward on the present occasion, by Major Cartwright, had never been expressed with a pen.— He would support them one and all. He only wish. ed to submit to the Major the propriety of extend ing the Petition and Resolutions to inhabitants ; for his own part, it was of no consequence to him whe ther the Petition was presented to the House opposite or not, for he was of opinion, that those who last year had had their Petitions kicked out of the House, were much more honoured than those who had had them received. The Major had intimated, that what he brought forward this day was his last legacy to the public. It was to be hoped that would not be the case ; but that, if unable to give his personal attendance, he would continue to assist the cause with his pen. If, however, that was his last legacy, its value to the promoters of Reform would prevent its being forgot. Upon the subject o 1 Petitions he would observe, that he happened to be in the House of Commons last week, and had an opportunity of seeing the way in which Petitions were presented. — Doubtless the present Petition would be treated in the same way. The Clerk would say, this is the Pe tition of the Inhabitants and Householders of the City of Westminster; he would then stuff it into his bag, and there would be an end of it. The only use of a Petition was, that being read in Parliament, the contents might go forth into the country ; but if they were shovelled over without being read, and then stuffed into a bag, they might as well not be presented at all. Mr. CHARLES PITT, of the Adelphi, endeavoured to address the Electors, but he was so much inter rupted by groanings and hisses as finally to give up the attempt. Major CARTWRIGHT said, that with regard to the distinction noticed by Mr Hunt, he understood that the first form of the requisition happened not to cor re pond with the Act of Parliament under which they were assembled ; but Mr. Cleary would explain the alteration. He would just observe , that as far as his recollection went, in Middlesex it had always been the practice, contrary to his opinion, to convene the freeholders: but in Westminster he had always understood it to have been the practice of the inha bitant householders. He remembered, a short time ago, when the Duke of Bedford signed a Petition from a Meeting in Middlesex of the freeholders, and. three or four other Noblemen signed a notice for a Meeting of the inhabitants of Middlesex, the Sheriff made such objections to the form, that they were obliged to alter it to freeholders. He had no recol lection in Westminster of any other form than inha bitant householders having been the practice. He did not think it a rignt practice; but the reason given for it was this—lt had been observed, that in and near the metropolis, if; in addition to householders and freeholders, the inhabitants were indiscriminately called together, many, who were considered by some as improper persons, would assemble under that ge neral description. Upon the present occasion, the form usually adopted had been resorted to. Mr. CLEARY said, that Mr. Hunt had charged the Gentlemen who called the Meeting with a fraud, and to repel that charge, he would call the attention of the Meeting to the notice signed at a previous Meet ing. It would be observed that they were now as sembled in a different manner from what they had been. On former occasions it was by certain inha bitant householders calling upon the High Bailiff to convene a Meeting of the inhabitant householders. There had been no public Meeting for the last seven years, that had not been called in the name of the Anhabitant householders; and for what reason there should be any deviation from that mode, he con fessed he could not see. The City of Westminster had done a great deal by their former meetings for the cause of liberty; and they had always met as the iihabiunt householders. At present they did not' meet, as they had formerly dune, under the autho rity of the High Bailiff, but under the authority of an Act of Parliament, upon the requisition of seven householders. A notice had been signed, calling only the inhabitants of Westminster together. They had not then the Act of Parliament, but upon looking into it afterwards, it was found that the notice did not point the precise form of the Act, and as they did not wish to give that power to the Magistrates which they would have been glad of the opportunity of exercising, they had thought it right to be as strict as possible, in order to conform to the Act. Another deviation from the original motion was, that the Meeting had been intended to be called at Covent- Garden ; but on looking into the Act they found that as neither the two Houses of Parliament nor the Courts of Law were sitting, they might lawfully meet in Palace Yard; and therefore they had changed the place of meeting to Palace Yard, as being more con venient. He trusted there could be no just imputa tim of fraud or deception in acting as he had done. lie would ever repel such an attack, as he now did, in the teeth of him who made it. Mr. Huxr explained, and disclaimed any intention of using the word deception or fraud in an offen sive sense.—The Petition was put to the vote, and aiopted unanimously. The fourth Resolution, recommending Petitions with 20 signatures, in compliance with the 13th of Charles 11. being moved by Major CARTWRIGHT, and seconded by Mr. WALKER, Lord COCHRANE said, he hoped he should not be suspected of any intention to throw obstructions in the way, but he could not refrain from expressing his confidence, that the inhabitants of Westminster would never chew such deference to the acts of a tyrant, as was implied by the resolution now proposed—(ap p/awe). He begged again to express his strong dis approbation of printed and uniform Petitions. They afforded great facility to forgery. He had himself received numbers of such forged Petitions. He would not be the instrument of scattering infamy against the reformers, by producing such forgeries in the House of Commons. They were the production of the Bo roughmongers ; and the same Honourable Gentle men would be ready to stand up in their places, if he produced their Petitions, to say that they were fat geries, and that he was one of those who forged them. He should on this ground oppose the Resolution pro posed, as encouraging this great abuse. Public Meet ings were the best bulwark of liberty. Were not the' feelings of every one of them at that moment dif ferent from what they would be, sitting at their fire sides and signing a bit of paper ? (applause). The only influence that could affect the Assembly which met over the way, was fear. They were in their hearts towards. Conscious of mal-administration, they trembled to encounter the public voice from the hustings, or public meetings—(great applause). Why had they prohibited their meeting in that place where their forefathers had been accustomed to meet, and to discuss public questions? The pretended reason was palpably absurd. The true cause was fear of encountering the public voice—(applause). The whole acts of that Assembly were against the people, for establishing military despotism, and for sharing among themselves the plunder of the people—(wuch cheering). He therefore moved an amendment, " That ,notwithstanding the Act prohibiting Petitions with more than 50 signatures, and notwithstanding the proneness of Ministers to prosecute according to law, and contrary to law, the people should, like their fore fathers, meet in thousands, and hundreds of thou sands, and cordially co-operate to obtain redress of grievances." He hoped the men of Westminster would not follow the example of the Gentleman (Mr. Hunt) who had said that he was ready to support every thing thtt should be proposed by Major Cartwright. Neither approbation nor disapprobation was valuable unless they judged for themselves—(great applause). Mr. PERKINS seconded the Resolution. He agreed with the Noble Lord in this, as he did in every thing else proposed by him on that day. He had fought their battles both in and out of the House, aftd on all occasions advocated the cause of Reform, without which the country would not be worth residing in. Major CARTWRIGHT said, that there was no diffe rence between the Noble Lord and himself in point of principle ; the only object he (Major Cartwright) had in view, by proposing that no more than twenty should sign any Petition, was to conform to the law. , It was the opinion of the Judges in the time of Lord George Gordon, when a law of the same kind exist ed, that it would be illegal for more than the pre scribed number to sign a Petition. It would be fit, then, to put the people in the country upon their guard, and prevent them, if possible, from being made the victims of Spies and Informers. If Oliver, or Castles, or any other Spy, could prevail upon more than twenty to sign a Petition, the consequence would be, that the persons so signing might be put in prison and fined 1001. People ought to be put upon their guard againt such a snare. It was not for his own individual safety that he made the pro position. He was ready to sign any such Petition as that alluded to by the Noble Lord (Cochrane), and to encounter any personal risk that might arise from it. But at the same time he was desirous to put the friends of the cause in the country upon their guard, that they might not be subjected to inconveniences, by contravening the law. The Noble Lord did not lippear to him to have proved any impropriety in the proposed Resolution, so far as it regarded the numbers who should sign. He (Major Cartwright) •hould therefore adhere to it. The Amendment of Lord Cochrane was then put by the Chairman and carried unanimously. Lord COCHRANE then put his former amendment respecting the diabolical employment of Spies and Informers for stimulating the needy and destitute to acts of outrage. He proposed it now as a distinct Resolution, and hoped the Meeting would consent to it. To employ such miscreants was, as he ob served, a disgrace to the character of a free nation. The Resolution being seconded by Mr. PERKINS, was carried by acclamation. Mr.Warcza then proposed, that the word twenty' should be omitted in the Resolution, and by this omis sion nothing would be adopted inconsistent with the amendment to which the Meeting had just acceded. Mr. HUNT expressed his gratification to find that the inhabitants of Westminster were for the first time about to recognize the principle of Universal Suffrage. This recognition appeared to him a mat ter of great importance. He trusted that the Re presentatives for the City, neither of whom had as yet declared in favour of the principle, would stand for ward on this occasion to state their opinion; and that if any change had taken place in the mind of either, he would not hesitate to avow that change. Lord COCHRANE said, that after having been ten years a Representative of Westminster, and under the observation of his constituents, he did not feel himself called upon to avow his principles. He had made it a rule through life not to do any thing which he did not conceive it right to do. He was indeed a very obstinate fellow, and would never al low himself to be induced or compelled to express any opinion upon the mere demand of another. But who required him to make a declaration in this in stance?—(" Not an Elector of Westminster!" er claimed several voices).—The Noble Lord disclaimed the intention of making any personal specific allu sion ; he merely meant to observe, that the call upon him for a declaration of his opinion was not such as he felt himself bound to obey. His constituents knew his conduct for ten years; and knowing also the conduct of his colleague for double that period, he submitted, that it was rather too much to demand from either a profession of principles. Adverting to the subject of the motion, the Noble Lord observed, that it was much better to leave it to each district to draw up its own Petition, combining local or parti cular grievances with the universal desire for Par liamentary Reform, than to send forth a general prescription to the country at large, with respect to, the precise terms in which every class of Petitioners should approach the Legislature. Mr. WALKER disclaimed, on the part of his ve nerable Friend, Major Cartwright, any intention to prescribe or dictate to the People of England, ob serving, that it was only meant to declare, that, ac cording to the feeling and judgment of the Electors of Westminster, it was expedient to recommend such a Petition as that specified in the Resolution. The Resolution was agreed to; as was a Petition and Remonstrance founded upon diem, on the pro position of Alajor Cartwright. Major CA RTWR G lIT. proposed a Vote of Thanks to Lord Somers, for having Written " An Essay ad mirably well calculated to accelerate the downfall of corruption as by law established, by exposing the extreme ignorance of Its defenders, the brazen fore heads of its champions, the incorrigibility of its gang, and the imbecility of its apologists." In seconding the Motion— Mr. HUNT observed, that this Lord Somers was the descendant of a man who was impeached by the House of Commons for invading the liberty and rob bing the property of the people ; but yet the House of Lords acquitted that great thief, in consequence, of which acquittal the Commons adopted a Resolu •tion, that the Lords had by this act opened a door for every species of public fraud and villainy. Lord CocilnAse deprecated the idea of combining any levity with the grave proceedings of the Electors of Westminster. Such conduct would, in his opinion, be quite inconsistent with the dignity which ought to be maintained by the assemblage which he had the honour to address—(hear, hoar). Lord Somers had, in the publication alluded to, promulgated such sentiments as deserved the universal abhorrence of the British People, and of course it would be quite preposterous to vote thanks to such a person. If by such a vote it were intended to render this person ridiculous, the ridicule must rather recoil upon the Meeting itself, for Lord Somers was not deserving of any attention, unless to mark the folly, falsehood, and impudence of his publication—(hear, hear). Major CARTWRIGHT observed, that as enough had been said and shewn to fix a stigma upon the weak ness and wickedness of the publication alluded to, lie did not think it necessary to press his motion ; and, therefore, with leave of the Meeting he would with draw it.—The resolution was accordingly withdrawn. A resolution of thanks to Mr. BES7TtI A ST, for his work upon Parliamentary Reform, was then pro posed by Major CARTWRIGHT, and adopted by the Meeting with acclamations of applause. Uponjihe proposition of Major C R IGHT. thanks were voted to the Representatives for the City, ac companied by a desire that they should propose a Bill for Parliamentary Reform, founded upon the principles of Universal Suffrage and Annual Eh ction. A Gentleman outside the hustings expressed a wish to know why Lord Cochrane had not attei ded the !House of Commons at any of the Divisions upon the Indemnity Bill, for he observed that the Noble Lord's name was not to be found in the published list of any of the Minorities upon those Divisions. Lord COCHRANE declared that he had attended the House of Commons until he was quite sick of it. There was really something in the fumes of that House which was enough to kill the devil. Debate or Division upon any subject, in such an assembly, was, in his opinion, a mere mockery, until a radical Reform in the system of the Representation was ob tained, and therefore he saw no utility in pressing any question to a division, while he would ever protest against the whole character of its proceedings. Mr. WOOLEN being recognized upon the hustings, was called upon to address the Meeting. He expres sed the highest gratification at the proceedings of the day, and especially at the recognition of the principle, of Universal Suffrage. Such a recognition, founded upon the opinion of the illustrious veteran by whom it was proposed (Major Cartwright), would, he had no doubt, be productive of the best effects. But the whole of that distinguished individual's career had led to good effects. His example was, indeed, an im portant stimulus to the exertion of every man capa ble of appreciating his virtue and talents. For when the worthy Major commenced his exertions in favour of Reform, his partizans were scarcely numerous enough to fill the hustings upon which he then stood ; whereas those partizans now comprehended every in telligent, impartial man in the country. Such was the effect of integrity, intellect, and perseverance.— The worthy Major's endeavours had, indeed, driven all the enemies of Reform from the field of argu ment ; and he had no doubt that those enemies would soon be driven also from the field of usurped power. Mr. HUNT observed, that, according to the prac tice of the House of Commons in good times, sup plies were never granted to the Crown without con sulting the People, and stating their grievances. This practice had, however, been long given up. Nothing was left, then, for the people, but to do that them selves, which their Representatives, as the Members of the House of Commons were called, did not feel it their inclination or interest to do. The immortal John Hampden refused to pay ship-money, and being a rich as well as a good man, he appealed to the Courts of law against the imposition. Those Courts, however, decided against him ; but being a resolute, undaunted Englishman, he persevered in his resis tance, until, with other patriots, he took up the sword, and overturned the tyranny which sought to rob him and his fellow countrymen—(expressions (/igappro- 1 bation). He (Mr. Hunt) disclaimed the intention of urging any one to take up the sword, or to resort to force against the collection of taxes ; but he would have his countrymen generally resist the payment of taxes as the Quakers resisted the payment of titles.— For example, he remembered that during the reign of that odious imposition the Property Tax, namely, about 6 years ago, a fellow called upon him in Somer setshire to say that he had an order to distrain for a surcharge under the Property Tax Act. He dared the fellow to do so, but the fellow withdrew, and some time afterwards lie returned with a warrant from the Commissioners for collecting the Property Tax, accompanied by a letter, that unless the amount of the surcharge were paid, its payment would be en forced. This menace had, however, no influence upon him, forhe distinctly told the agent of the Com missioners that he would surrender his property only to a military force, which it would be absurd in him to resi;t. The tax-gatherer again left him, and he un derstood that a communication upon the subject was made to the Commissioners of the Property Tax in town ; but since then he had neither heard any thing from the tax-gatherer, nor paid a farthing of the tax demanded from him. But a tenant of his at Glaston bury, had also refused to pay scene l'roperty Tax, and his oxen were in consequence taken by the tax-gatherer. These oxen were taken by order of Drake, who was sent to the Continent by a certain Noble Lord to as sassinate Bonaparte, and who then receiving PAKt:. a year from the Public Purse, acted as a Conin,i-.- sioner for the collection of the Property Tax. The oxen were brought to market to be sold, but the owner advertising tliat they were taken from 1,. the Collector of the Property T ax , no b ut o.,..; Lu. ' u . be found in SGmerset,liiie to buy then, were actually restored to their owner, atcrr, by a note from Drake. Ilis tenant, hewer.; watdc paid t 7 1 .0 Property TAR, bet I.:: Itint.;' paid that demanded of him. Nor mend any Englishman to pay these t at , thought, indeed, that the only thirg th,at mained for the people was not to pay rues_ not mean that they should resit •! - 11 force, but that like the (strikers they s' • .e they would not pay, and leave the carry away their goods. If such r2s( formed by one street, for in. a- he that Vansittart would find it ciiisc:ilt of the furniture or to meet brokers to any money upon it.—(l/tar, bear, f:Wf With respect to what rind been said by Lord (Cochrane) respecting .utendanc? of Commons, he observed, that he heard:: prize and sorrow. The Noble Lord bad s air of the House of Commons was irttolcr A ' ; ', and his Honourable Colleague in the Chair x. to declare, that he disliked that llott,e disliked bad company and bad hours. li t e would ask, was to hecome of the people of l• if in that House no honest mart was row up for them? It; indeed, it became the the proi:essed advocates cf the people House of Commons, dia.. Ceorge the son of old mother 11. in, might go nit yin abusing the char.“ the n- t:. the v.ishes oldie pe , ipleol . E '1 favourite practice was, I.e observed, what he in contempt called the lt.wer t he forsooth, now deemed himself on, orders. Yet the fact was, that this Mr. C;t himself sprung front the very dugs ,;:* tOr his mother was a strolling an. father was nobody knew—!krar, hear i.—Su:e competent to the Noble Lord (Cochrane., lents he respected, and whose courage knew, to put down this man, and c•Arb hi on the people of England and the friends It was indeed matter of astonishment Ont.. t:. of equivocal origin and proverbial daplic:t ; be so long allowed to deal in unqualified once to abuse the character of those w:: ,, poses, and to betray the ct,lll.dence of !Iv • he supports—flu - y/6 hear.)—Were he (Mr. the House of Commons, he I,cl it hi expose and repel such a man, who, v..i:h hi , r,K and two sisters, had so long been quartered opc resources of the country ; and instead of in; the conduct of the Noble Lord, he would every obnoxious measure by all the mear.l power, and press for divisions as often as 1( - for he would never allow corruption or tyLe.. triumph without a struggle. Here the following Itesolutiin was adqted applause: That the cordial and respectful Thanks of this Mc.!., presented to Major Cartwright, the Patriarch cf Reform, who, by die exertions and pi rseverance of A:in a century, has contributed so powerfully to disserairaa ideas, and keep alive the interest of this great quesTion, the spotless purity and virtue of his life have been such as have done honour to the noblest cause rs; - ;c of f Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said, the.: it now out mained for him to declare the meeting at at en. was not necessary for him to enter at lergthi:.e , topics that had been before them, andit %void!? fore he improper to detain them by any obserw , at that hour. In putting the long strir.g tions, as their chairman, it was not nece;.e:' supposed that he acquiesced in them. Nc , p: sions of faith were necessary on his part. If • conduct did not satisfy them that he weal.i tibly, to the hest of his ability, exert himself !e:' establish, and secure the liberty of his ccuntryr: , should attempt in vain to satisfy them by cre:.: He agreed with his Noble colleague, of the people, publicly and frequently declare the only effectual mode of obtaining their Those who blustered about violent measure ther sincere or not, only brought weak, we'll ing, and good men into trouble. The only of the people was to turn upon all who pi violence, and represent their conduct, althc in this there was great danger, for Scholes fered in consequence of giving informatics Oliver. But Mr. Oliver was now a part c: blishment of the country. Lord Sidmeut::,.. , his familiarity with him, ought to knew pronounced him an honourable man. II the character of the mow-lairds de meet spies) in France of old, but a of since England was England, till the Yr But such characters were now vindican Ministers, but by men of a higher chlr.•: of a singular piety—by men, who, the Church of England, inculcated vi: From his experience of it for nearly :r century, this vital Christianity was, : Christianity. It was mortal and liberties of the world, and to the dean. terests of men. In the gradation of the •S• there were degrees of criminality v.!' responding degrees of execraticnn was at the bottom of die scale. temptation, induced him to pra , :ti• - e abhorred. Ear higher in crirninally w created, employed, and rewarded S, nisters were thus more infamous th.:li But there was another degree. exalted piety, of exalted char tcters. Spies, and had hardly words su:F.c:;s: their virtuous indiguatien against thei; - could in the same breath pass pane,.: who employed Spies, and give • of Indemnity to shield be',. seere . . • criminal and execiahle. In the fashionable Orders, they might exy,n; e to he called " the Most Honourable It should have a medallion and a 111,:e the one side of the medaliion shoLld 1. the figure of Judas; but, no, poor din:.e , uniformly execrated ; yet he repented. a suitable act of justice on himself. modern spie:i %VCre not disposed to the High Priest who had bribed him that criminal. This was the Church and S!.ee . age united. (hi the one side then the; the figure el the high Priest v ltd crcated warded the act of the spy. with the motto. aid State • 01: the other aide there should be id t &:i V .e S: 11.► a:. I,