The National Register. — London, England, 1809-07-02 00:00:00

T}E NATIONAL REGISTER. the purity of that House. Lord CA IC LER E f t Gu re4ret ted ver% much the accident that brought him in contact with such a man as REDING, for till that period he was ignorant that such a cha ratter existed as a Trafficking Broker. He relied upon the asser tion that he had no unworthy motives in serving his friend, and admitted thatte had been in error, thowgh.not to the extent, or in the manner imputed to him. Upon the division there was $ majority of only forty-nine in favour of his Lordship. This decision occasioned considerable surprise—but we are cer tainly not among the number of those who impute any consider able degree of criminality to his Lordship in the transaction al luded to.and yet we cannot be blind to the effect which a ge neral conduct of this nature must lead to, and the injury which the constitution must eventually stiffer from the practice of any interference whatever on the part of Ministers in the business of elections, or the recommendation of the representatives, and still more so from the exchange of patronage or emolument for par liamentary interest ; but we consider that this practice having obtained, a remedy may and ought to be applied without incul pating those who, without any improper motives, have appeared to acquiesce in it. On the 11th May, Mr, MA nnocits brought forward Charges of Corruption against Lord CASTLEREAGII and Mr. PERM. VA L. and moved Tor a Committee to investigate the same. Ills statement was, that a sum of money had been paid to Lord CAS+ TLICREA GU by Quits -rig DICK, Esq. for the purpose of his be ing returned to Parliament, in consequente of which he' was re turned for the Borough of Cashel, but that when he informed Lord CASTLEREAGH, that he intended to vote against the con duct of 'the Dunn of Yonx, the Noble Lord suggested the propriety of relinquishing his seat rather than give such a vote. The Charge against Mr. PERCENT AI, was merely, that he knew of this transaction.—lt was contended: on the one band, that there would be pecaliar hardship lit selecting at this moment two stately victims for sacrifice, when the offence had been general, and so long connived at. On the other hand it Was Urged that it does not signify how long offences have been con . „ * uived at, or how many may be implicated, but that whenever brought to light they ought not to escape reprehension.—This question Involves many considerations of morality and justice; xnd it is difficult to draw any general conclusions from this par ticular case without entering into the subject more at large than our limits will permit. A discussion took place a few days of terwards in the House of Commons, which had nearly led to Orions consequences : Mr. TIERNEY charged Sir F. By RDZTT with using expressions at a Dinner, given by the Friends of Reform, at the Crown and Anchor, which terminated in a de claration from Sir F. BUR DETT, that he had not said that )11r. TIERNEY'S pockets were swelling with public money— that he was always ready to disavow what he did not say, and for what he did say, he was personally responsible. Another interesting discussion took place on the 24th May, respecting the appointment of Lord Mt tt GII tam, the son of a Cabinet Minis ter, to a Lieut.Culonelcy, within six years after his entrance into the army. Col. SHIP LE v brought this business forward as a-no torious violation, not only of the DUKE of YORK'S regulations, but of the more recent regulations of the present Commander In Chief. Colonel Shipley's motion was for a copy of Lord BURGHURSII'S commission of Major, with the date of it, and it was carried against Ministers by a trajori ty of 71 to 67. Af ter this decision, his Majesty was advised Co annul the comulis : lions of Major and Lieutenant-Colonel given to Lord 13unc- SMASH, who is now only a captain in the army. Upon this occasion 'Ministers certainly chewed a very proper deference to the decision of the House, and we think the decision of great Importance to the army itself, as it will secure the officers from 110 barefaced a violation in favour of young men of rank and interest. In the Navy, there is no instance of a man being ap . ' poured captain who .had' not actually gone through the several 'situations of Midshipmsta and Lieutenant, and surely we di • . JULY S. not want a better school' foi making excellent officers. Lucl.l D is said to have told one of the PTOLEMIES, that there was no royal timid to Matlfeitatici, and there should certainly he none brit that of merit •to superior sititations in the army. The debates which have taken place upon Mr. CUILWEN's for Preventing the Sale df Seats in Parliament, also rittracted a considerable degree of interest: It met in the beginning with decided support from thow who professed to he enemies to more violent innovations, butfilerfds to MOrierate Reform: 111 r. Cult - WEN introduced the Bill as operating a. t..•:..-Aerahle than v the state of representation, by giving a much greater derance to the Landed interest. Upon this g nd many who opposed it, considering that in practice it 41 ad.. vantage to the State that opulent merchants and mcn of - eat professional eminence, should end an easy admix on into Par liament. Others opposed it on the ground, that it would leave the bo roughs more in the power of the Treasury, by removing all competition. It was stated as a fact, that a seat in Parliament had been in one instance surrendered as part of a bankrupts effects under a commission. The practice of selling Podia-. mentary interest had got to such a length, that the Speaker, in delivering his opinions in favour of the Rill, said, that if this, or some such meastire were not speedily adopted, seats in the HOllfe would probably soon be sold by public auction, which would be thegreatest scandal that could be offered. Ministers admitted the necessity of this scandal being done away, but resisted the oath which was proposed to be administered to Orsons elected, that they had not been guilty of any bribery direct or indirect in order to gain their seats. This oath was considered by many as the most efficient part of the Bill.—ln the different debates, Ministers defended the Ijouse of Commons, as it now stands, from the reproaches cast upon it, and Mr. Rose proved very satis factorily that the number of Members now holding places or pensions during pleasure, was much smaller than at any former period, and that a number of useless and sinecure places had been abolished.—lt was urged that nothing could be more con trary to the practice of the Constitution than the plans of choosing Ministers otherwise than from Parliament, the effect of a different practice in the two CH ARL ES'S and JAMES the Second's reigns, led them to the fatal endeavour of governing without a Phrliament. The reasons urged upon this side of the question carry considerable weight, and more time counterbalance what was pleaded on the other side. It appears to us beyond all question that Ministers, and the persons holding responsible offices under them, should certainly be chosen from among the Members of Parliament, and that the character of Parliament itself is very much heightened by the circumstance of the responsible advisers of the Crown sitting among them, and =being liable to be called upon by an) indivi dual Member to defend or explain to the House and to the Country the reasons which have induced them to give such advice. In all the Monarchies which have e not the advantage of an independent legislature, the highest offices of the kingdom are' given to favourites, little is done and little is expected to be done but from prostitution, bribery, or intrigue. The dispenser of power and office being commonly a Mistress in male courts, and a Paramour in female ones, and of pimps, panders, domestics, flatterers, and intriguers in both. In England we have seen Ministers able to hold the Sovereign himself at bay, and hold a language that would scarcely be tolerated be tween individuals of an equal rank. In England it is absolutely impossible that a man should long continue the Minister who was not possessed of abilities to defend and justify the measures he adopted; and we think it more than probable, that the prosperity of the Empire is owing in a great measure to titan cause, united with the freedom of its press, and the publicity which is given to the proceedings in the two Houses of Perna ment. The Reform in Parliament, brought forward by Sir F. BtIRDWiT I is another .feature .of considerable isapeetpacul 418