The National Register. — London, England, 1809-05-07 00:00:00

THE E N%TIONAL REGISTER. last, had said it was senseless t o s u ppose men in office wa t uki traltc for such places: it was, however, (Aearly ascertairied t hey tfid so, and having come under the cognizance of the !louse it appear to him impossi! . .le the house should refuse to coun tenance a Bill, the object of which ma-. it, coriasct such abuses. Mr. •Perceval said, he could :nal . y any - means form an opinion in what way or on what grounds the Hollow:)1e Gen tleman meant to obtain his . .object. There seemed to hint to he an impeacticability of doing it, but he would' not oppose his bringing,io the Hill, in order that he and tae kfloese might hr able to ii,olge what the merits and demerits of it 'might be. But in agreeing to the motion id the Ilon. Gel:dem:ln for leave to brin, in his BILL he hegg.al distinctly to be ouderstond trot to give any pledge to cottenr in the measure, or to he staked to itay project of atty alteration, regulation, or reform, such as that Proposed by the llon. Member. lie could not, under the call of the Hon. Gentlemen, pledge himself to support his measure throughout, though he should agree to its introduction, because as far as he was able to judge of it front the statement of the lion. Gentleman himself, he did not thiak he could put it into any practicable shape, which would entitle it to the adoption of Parliament. It %vas as , ertt - d that they who composed that Iletc4e, sat there contrary' to the law which seated the family of his Majesty. upon the throne : because it was en iteted by that act, that no pIaCCOICH or pensioners should have a seat io that 'House. What language was that to be held out to the people without any comment on the fact, or any illustration of the law ? The Act in question had been passed in the sear 1700, and was repealed in the year 1•101; it was not to have taken etrect until after the avte.sioa of the House of 11runso irk to the Throne, and had rousequently never been the law of the land. After the very able .peecli of the Right Hon. Gentleman Opposite (Mr. Windham), it was unnecessary for him to spew that the measure- proposed would not allay, what the Hon. lover represented as the disturbed state of the public tallith He bhoyld not oppose . the motion for bringing . in the Bill, and trusted he should have the vigilant assistance of the Right lion. (ientleman (Mc. Windham) in watching o%ery part of its pro gress. Whatever he might think respecting the ill;:onveltieOce stf any change at the present moment, lie had no 'hesitation in saying that there could ne no inconvenience in discussing any project of Itiform. What was said to be the growing sentiment of the copot6 , respecting Reform had arisen front the silence of Vorlialucin and the only effectual mode o( putting an cud to Cie delusion practised upon the public, was to talc , - up the dis ee-sion of such subjects in that house, and not leave them to he dicussed in popular meetings' and hidammatory papers out of floors. Oat these grounds, he should allow Bill to go to a second reading, but 'without giving•any pledge to .sitpport • Mr. Comet% did notintend to trouble the to any length. Ile was totally at a loss to aei:pont why the Right 11611. Gen tleman d d not oppose the bringing in of the bill when he had expressed so determined a resolution to oppose it in its progress. Old he say, that the evils, which it was t.lie object of the hill to remedy, did not eii:4 ? if hedid,-w by did he allow the bill to inr, brought in ? I t wits impossible for hiat not to look round theicouittry, and to hear the expression of public opinimi echoed Linn% every corner et it. With- respr.t to the of jection against the indefinite nature of his motion, he would say, that the form in which it was sehmitt•ed to the House was not of his ti . ietation,i an that subject he hail cnnsulted some of the aLlest awn in the !louse, and particularly the dito*uished vliamaCter in the t - hoir.. :He must,' however, again repeat, that the ohirel or the- ....as to prevent the obtaining of seats i'artiafheat, by (!ifect, flagrant, palpable corraption, and not to the operation of influence. lie could not believe that an" .lemln2l ot? that ;louse, any man in th..c.cc3inAry, would of•an art so immoral, as tl.e. violation of the sanetiou meant' to propose. Be knew that he had great ditlicnlties tee ~ .,coutitcr, bat he trusted, with the al. n ista,nco of the House, ne Infond Fe able to surmount them. -.His Bill would have no ty re, eace to th, Act iv illiain aced Mary, commonly called, the i'reating Act. The quest!on hef4lg put, the mnti fill was carried alroch:t oaani mously;•and Cameo s . Mr. Po.E.ithy, Sir A. Pigott, v, Lard Folkestone, Mr. Windham, anu o,hers, %%ere or .reih-i to prepare :oaf bring. in. the kilt. [At Mr. Windhath's alma: there was loud nod eomintied inaghter. j—Ahljoutaed. 1 7 :-Idag s ,i/ny 5. CNT %NY A IICSES. Mr. ''.la , ',orkF..---" Mr. Speakci . —Sir, I alit flikty a thr.t kV:4' very . 11ctic daitn tr.: the EtitClltitP.l of OA': Oxcesit iTAY 7. that which I hope the House will always be ready to attend to, from whatever quarter it may come, I mean a narrative of facts ; I am aware also of the great importance of the matter which 1 have to submit to the House, which I should.never venture to do, were I not impe‘led by a strong sense of duty. What I have to state relates chiefly to the mode of proceeding . upon the mat er which I shall offer to your attention ; and it is my object to regulate my conduct by the forms of the House; but I wish, at the same time, that the House may not be impressed with the idea that what I bring forward is not worthy of the mot.' serious attention, although it be my purpose to decline all argument Upon it for the present; for indeed the thing itself is most seri- , ous and important in its nature; for facts have come to ,my knoWledge of so glaring a colour that were I not to call the at tention of this House to them, I should feel that I should deserve the appellation, not indeed of a Jacobin but of 'traitor to the constitution of my chuntry. • They are facts arising out of practice, the which if not speedily put an end to will sap the very foundation of this our free and glorious eonqitution. Wit h. out further preface, therefor[;, I loa , leave to move, that the Journal of this !louse of the 13th of Feh-nary, 1100, he now read, concerning Mr. Samuel bald Mr. Franci , Shepherd, theu two Members of this ifoase." The entry bring read, it appear.; ed that Samuel Sh?pherd, Esq. a Member of the House, having been guilty or bribery and corruption, In order to procure his election as a Member, it was resolved that he he heard at the Bar of the House,. and - also ordered, that the whole matter be heard al the bar of the !louse. ' Mr. Madocks--" I move that the entry on the Journals of the, 15th •of Feb. IWO he read ; which being; done', it appeared that the said Samuel Shepherd, by hin - self and his agents, had con.. spired together to corrupt divers electors for the Borough of Newport, in the Isle 'of Wight, in the county of Southampton; Wotton- Basset, in the county of Wilts, mid other places and had corrupted then;, &c. Mr. M adocks —" I 'now move that the entry on the Journal of the ISt k'of the same month be read ;" which being done, it appeared that the al-,ove facts were recited ; and theft it was re-. solved, that he being charged with these practices, and being found guilty of then; (reciting them again) it Was finallY'resolvs ed, that the said Samuel Fheph.. l rd he Committed fo the Tower of Lennon, and that the Speaker do issue Ills warrant, 'and it was issued accordingly for that purpose. " • Mr. Madocks--" . 1 wish to call tke' attention of the House * simply to the matter of form in this case; because the vubstnare . is to come hereafter. By 00., form, the House Will ohcerve, that Sati • tudl Shepht;rd stood charged . w jth the guilt of bribery and cortuption. That being stated, the ne*t step was, to order hitn to attend in his ;:lace, and at the sometime to order that 016 whole matter be beard at the bar of the . Muse. Now, Sir, for the appli c ation of 116.4 precedent; and here feel it 'to he my duty to ia:t.cm this House, that the Right lion. Spencer Perce. val . , a Member of this House, has, through the means of the Right' non. Ilenry Wellesley, another Member of this House, and through other means bees) guilty of bribery :Ind corruption, and other unfair practices,, to procure the return of tI person to be a Memher of thisliouse. And I . do further' inform this !louse, 'dm t the Right Hon; Lord Viscount Castlereagh, another Member of this Huttse, has been guilty Of similar practices. I therefore move, :" That these charges, thus made against the Night Hon: Spencer Perceval and Lord ViSCoant Castlereagh, he heard at the aar of this House on Tuesday neit." • Mr. Speaker.--" Deliver in the motion." It being delivereil in, the Speaker • put' it thus The question' is, That tho charge.; now exhibited against the itightllon. Spencer Perce. val, a Member of this House, and against Lord Viscount Castle reagh, also a 'Member of this fl m, use, be heard al the bar of this •i II or;-,e on Tuesday next:" ' The rianceiltir of the Exchequer.—" 1 do not know what the course of proceed itix has been in the year I 7 0 because lhig comes upon a sudden ''a Me; but this I w il! venture to say, that since I have had the hodonf of a seat in Parliament, I never knew of any Cioir. , e brought forward againSt any Menther of . Parliament of w hid' that ••:',ltimber had not some intimation.-- ( Hero. f• hear henr !) I cs . :a only say that, at present, nothing is stated :1 ,- ainst me, on which I can by possibility say any thing, because I have no knowledge vihatever,of any fact to which the charge diodes, for no intimation has been made to me, private' or public upon the matter. Thelfouse has beard all - that I have !mord upon the . subject, and, therefore, Sir, with you and the . !louse, I shall leave the que;tion.---(//ear hose! gent!) . The, : . . •: Right lion. Centleman then withdrew. c Sir John .Nnst.ntlter. " It is' impossible, as I conceive, enn sisternll viith atq thiaglfte justice. to a , s,ut to the motiou tor, I land. After the very able speech, of the Right Eon. tientieman .pined together to corrupt (livers elCc«/Ts tor tile Dorougn ow. Opposite (Mr. Windham), it was unnecessary for him to spew Newport, in the isle 'of Wight, in thecounty of Southampton; that the ineasur:- proposed would not allay, what the Hoe. 1a- Wotton- Basset, in the county of Wilts, raid other places ; Alove{ tvpresented as the disturbed stale of the public winch. He and had corrupted them, &c. shoyld not oppose •the motion for bringing . in the Bill, and Air. Mr:docks —" I 'now move that the entry on the Journal trusted he should have the vigilant assistance of the Right lion. of the }Sit:of the same month be read ;" which being done, ii tientleman (Mr. Wilidhato) in watching c‘cry part of its pro- appeared that the above facts Were . recited ; mid theft it was r e -. t w gress. Whatever he. might think respecting the in. - onvenieece solved, that he being charged with these practices, and being of any change at the present moment, he had no 'hesitatiott in found guilty of theta (reciting them aga in) it Was finallY'resolvs t ~ seeing that there could 'tie no inconvenience in discussing any ed, that the said Samuel Fbepin.ia; be committed eo the Tower project of lieform. What was said to be the g rowing sentimeut of Lendon, and that the Speaker dal issue his warrant, and it / rtf the clattery respecting, Reform had arisen front the silence of was issued accordingly for that purpose. Varlialucet :' and the only effectual mode of . putting an end to , Mr. 111adocks--"'1l wish to call the' attention of the House * the del tision practised upon the public, was to talc , - up the dis- simply to the matter of form in this case; because the rubs/awn' cu--inn of such subjects in that House, and not leave them to he is to come hereaftce. By thi.4 form, the House Will observe, dicussed in popular meetings' and iefiammatory papers out or that SatiVudl Sitepitt;rd stood charged . w jth the guilt of bribery I tioors. 011 these grounds, he should allow t'..e Bill to go to a and corr uption. That being stated, tli neat step was, to order sccond reading, but 'without giving•any pledge to ,rapport it. hitii to attend in his elate, and at the sometime to order that the. • Mr. Corwen did not intend to trouble the lloii.a. to any length. whole matter lie beard at the bar otthe'llinise. Now, Sir, for He was totally at a loss to aciTatint why the Right 1161). Gen- the application of this precedent ; and here A feel it 'to he my demeandemeandid not oppose the b ringing in of the hilt when he had (oy to IN:c.uni this lou. s,, thatf the Right lion. Spencer Perce- ,. expressed so determined a resolution to oppose it in its progress. vai, a 'Member'Member of this House, has, through the means of the Did he FM', that the evils, w;!icli it was t.!w object of the hill to Right Iton. henry Wellesley, another Member of this House, • remedy, did not A ist ? i if hedid, iv Ity did he allow the bill to . and through other means bees) guilty of bribery :Ind corruption, kte brought in ? 1t• was impossible for him not to look and otlier unfair practires,, to procure the return of a person to round tlascouetry, and to hear the expression of public opinimt he a Member of thisliouse. And Ido further' inform this e.choed Liam overy corner et it. With- respra to • the oh jection llouse:that the Right lion:Lord Viscount Castlereagh, another against the indefinite nature of his motion, tie •would say, that I Alember of this Rause, has been guilty Of similar practices. I the form in which it was selonitwd to the House was not of his therefore move, 'That these charges, thas made against the tiictatiomi ort that subject he had cnnsulted some. of the aLlest Right Hon: Spencer Perceval and Lord Vikoant Castlereagh, o . wn in the House, and particularly the dist itt..Nisficd .charaetcr be heard at the oar of this House on Tuesday nest.'' • in the LThair.. :Hr must; however, again repeat, that the Mr. Speaker.--" Deliver in the motion." It being delivereil . object I,l' the- hill '.•*:l4 t o prevent Oa obtaining of seats in, the Speaker • put' it thus :---," The question' is., 'flat that a, i'arli),,,lea., by (:iteet, flagrant, palpable corroption, and not charge.; now exhibited against the Right'llon. Spencer Perce- .lo i!,va \ the operation of influence , . lie could nut b..dieve val, a Alember of this House, and against Lord Viscount - Castle- that au. Thanbei to' that ;louse, any man in ducT(3l:a(ry, wouie I reagh, also a 'Member of this tiv•use, be heard al the bar of this - ; ;•A•:mo;i1,itf of .an art so immarat, as the violation of the sanction lint:-,eon Tuesday next."" ,) ile meant' to propuse. Ile knew that he had great ditlienities to The Chancellor of the Exchequer.—" Ido not know what ',,,counter, hot he trusted, with toe al.:lst:lnc.. of the House, ne the ;:ourse of proeeeditix has been in the year 17,0, because thig tloolid -I.e able to surmount them. -.llis Bill would have no rc- comas upon a sudden tia nit.; but this Ito il! venture to say, that :et eace to Ow Act (.;:. Vr iffia:ll :Lad Mary, commonly called, the ' since I have had the buffalo.' of a seat in Parliament, I never • i'rrating Act. ~ T. • •. • .••• • . • knew of any Char..e brought forward againSt any Warner of • ~ The question befog put, the mntina was carried almost veitti;- Parliament of which that ••,'',ltimber had not some intimation.-- mous! v;•atal '4r. Curwen,. Mr. Po•E,a)by, Sir A. Pigott, Sir '. ( Hero- f• hear ! hear !) I.cs . :n only say that, at present, nothing lia,,oill y, Lard Folkestone„vir. 17 ii,d h a m, anu ~,h6.,,, were or- is stated:l rainst me, on which I can by possibility say any thing, .rei•TT , l 10 prepare and bring in. thii Lfift. [At Mr. Windham's because aave no knowledge vihatever,of any fact to which the a;ttifie there was lend nod continued leaghter. j—A.djouthed• •••• charge diodes, for no intimation has been made to me, private' . • . - • . or public upon the matter. The House has b ea rd all-that I have F: .- . iciall s .IJoy 5. heard upon the subject, and, therefore, Sir, with you and the . . !louse, I shall leave- the one;tion.---(//ear I /sere'! hear!) . The. PA a LI A M CN . T'A It Y• A LVSES. • a• Right lion. Centleman then withdrew. Mr. ‘.la , iorks..--" • Mr. Speake; . —Sir; I' ain roily aware that Sir John .-Nnst.ntlter. " It is' impossible, as I conceive, enn- : kv-4 , very. /11t1c, daite V: the Etitcation of tab. 4?.oasel : eace s itto - 1 s'lMeritty viitle- any -- thiaglihejth:tice. to WSW to the motiou tor, t • , •:'.) •) . , , . I 291