The National Register. — London, England, 1815-02-19 00:00:00

.. ~~' with'such a question as the\ .ing know whit financial measures would be acquiesced in, as the two subjects were so intimately connected. Mr. VA WSITTA RT said, that it certainly never was intended to press the [louse to decide immediately on the Resolutions that were about to be proposed ; they would be proposed, and reported pro forma, if agreed tu, and then printed ; and the report some days hence would be taken into further consideration, when, his financial measares having been laid before the !louse, they would be in full possession of the whole question. The House having resolved itself into a Committee, Mr. Rontsrsost repeated what the Chancellor of the Exchequer had said, respecting the course to be pursued in discussing his Resolutions, observing, that nothing was farther from his intention than to press his propcsitions without the House having full and fair opportunity to re flect on them, and to discuss them, and that he should have stated as much on a former evening when the subject was mentioned, had he been present. Mich time had elapsed since the propriety of altering the Corn Laws and introducing regulations for the protection of the trade was agitated, and the advantage resulting from the delay which had taken place, was, that the House and the country had enjoyed the opportunity to enter into a full and satisfactory examinat►on of the sub ject. People of all classes and opinions had become better informed, and many of the prejudices that had existed were removed. The ques tion was a most important one, and he had never disguised from himself that the choice of ditculties only was left to them. There would be a certainty of evils either from adopting or rejecting his propositions; but as time had removed many of those erroneous notions that had im pressed the minds of many, there was some hope that the more prudent and safe policy might be adopted. It had been said, and in that Howe too, that the only object of those who deemed a protecting average ne cessary was to keep up the price of corn, rents, and the like; hut no earthly power would have induced him to bring forward any measures founded ►n such mean and paltry views. The object of his Resolutions was—to do good• to all. (Hear !) The first question that presented itself was, whether for the protection of the emit grower they ought to act on a principle of restriction. Tu act on a principle of restriction jn the regulation of our commercial and domestic economy, was by no means new ; it had been repeatedly done, and was intimately ioterwoven in our system. They were to determine in this case between a free and restricted importation of corn. During the wa, in consequence of the difficulties of importation, the corn grower had, with immense expense and labour, made an in creased quantity of land capable of producing wheat to enable him► to meet the increaser{ demands of the country. To allow the foreign grower, without any restrictions imposed on him, to conic to the Bri tish market, would effect the English grower, snit have the effect of making him abandon the cultivation of his land for wheat ; so that there would be a considerable falling off in the quantities produced iu England, and in the event of a scaacity at home, and difficulties or barren crops abroad, we should be exposed to double wants. Ireland being essentially agricultural, andlorrning a part of ihe kingdom, her interests ought not to be forgotten, and what would become or her if she were driven into an unequal competition ?—(hear) Without arguil,g farther the general principle of the policy of restrictive measures, lie would shortly detail his plan as embodied" in the Resolutions,' deeming it impossible fur this country to rely with safety on foreign importa tion. He proposed to fix the average price at 80s. per quarter; that when wheat was at 30s. in our market, foreign corn was to be imported tor home consumptiAt; that foreign corn was to be subject to any duty either on importation or exportation. The question then would be whether any restrictive measures ought to be adopted ; and if ea, whe ther the pretesting price ought to be 80s. As he now only proposed his Resolutions that they might be printed, not intending to press the House on the present occasion to a definitive vote, i.e hoped the House would excuse him for not going into a macs of detail on the present oc casion ; bur, on his conscience, lie believed that the measure which he II should propose would be one of general good. (Hear ! hear !) The first Resolution, that the Committee were of opinion wheat, &c. ought to be imported, &c. free of all duty whatever, Mr. PHILLIPS opposed the plan, and Mr. Writ-rear/ supported it at smut length ; Sir F. FLOOD supported, Mr. BA utivo opposed, and Mr. BLAND agreed to the policy of the Resolution. After some further desultory debate, the Resolutions were read pro forma, and ordered to be re-committed on Monday, and to be taken into further aousideration on Wednesday nest.—Adjourned at one •'cluck. In the early part of the forenoon of Wednesday, the Committee of Mr. J. Burdett's friends again attempted to estai,lish the right of farmed voted, which was re•ieted, as it had previously been, by the High Bailiff, who declared they were illegal, and refused to re ceive them. FEB. 19. A conversation then took place between Mr. Wood (the brother of Mr. Alderman Wood) and the High Bailiff, relative to the presence of a military force in the Borough, di►ring the Election. The. High Bailiff stated, that lie had, in pursuance of orders from the Secretary of State, given directions for the removal of the mili tary from the Borough, bill that, subsequently, part of the 13tIt Regiment, returned from Spain, having received its route, whilst quaitered on the coast, for Clapham, Camberwell, Lambeth, and the adjacent villages, bad accidentally arrived in the Borongli, whilst the Election was in progress, unknown to the Government, and con trary to its intentions and directions. Immediately he beard at the circumstance, lie reported it to the Secretary of State, and, he be lieved, these troops were then removed. Mr. Wood expressed himself satisfied with the explanation, and said, if the circumstance of the presence of the military wa‘ indeed purely accidental, the protest of the friends of Mr. J. Burdett on that score would of course be withdrawn. Some further explanation on this point took place, which was, we thought. considered satisfactory to the friends of Mr. Burdett. Mr. Kemn►ish stated that the friends of Mr. Bo►den, f►udim„ that their utmost endeavours to promote his interests were not likely to be ultimately successful, had resolved to withdraw their poll clerks from the hustings the next morning, not wishing to disturb the peace of the Borough unnecessarily ; but the electors forming the Corn ! mittee did not hold themselves responsible ter the condoct of any other electors, who, by polling one vote an limn-, might keep the pull open for fora teen days. Mr. BoHand (who was the legal adviser of the High Bailiff in his official capacity, said, that a discretionary power was vested in the returning Officer, by which he could close the poll at any period he thonght tit, for the exercise of which atithori!y he was account able to Parliament. In counties and extensive districts, it was sometimes necessary to kept the poll open till the latest period allowed by the Constitution, to give the electors fair opportunities to come forward, manv of whom might not know of the election until it bad considerably advanced, and they might then have to travel a considerable distance to give their votes. The case was different in the Borough. the electors lived in'a small compass, and could express their opinions without any procrastination; and iu the event of there appearing a disposition to create any unnecessary delay, it was in the power of the High Bailie to return that Caud►- date who had a majority of votes. The High Bailiff perfectly coincided in opinion with Mr. Bol land, and felt it his duty to close the poll. He then came to the front of the hustings, and declared the numbers to be, For Mr. Barclay 1633 Mr. J. Burdett 4Ol Majority• •• • 123'2 Mr. Walker then► stated that _the friends of Mr. Burdett did not think further cxertions were likely to prove availing whilst a mill• tary force was in the neighbourhood, in direct opposition to the principles of the Constitution; they had therefore determined to bring the contest to a conclution. _ _ Mr. Rarelay and Mr. Kenunish severally addressed the meeting, but from the uproar which prevailed they were rendered inaudible ; when the business of the day concluded. Friday, at twelve o'clock, the friends of Mr. J. Burdett retired from the Minding% leiving Mr. Barclay and their opponents await ing the arrival of the High Bailiff; to declare him the sticcrs4lll eau didate. Mr. Barclay will be chaired in the course of the ensuing week. - NATIONAL REGISTER. -- at respecting the Corn Laws, they ougl.t to II SOUTIIWARIC ELECT/ON. PROPERTY TAX.' On Thursday, a numerous Meeting of the Freeholders of Middlesex took place at the Mermaid Tavern. Hackney, for the purpose of talking iota consideration th.• necessi►y of petitioning Parliament against the continuance of the Property Tax after the sth of April ensuing. Soon after one o'clock the Sheriffs, Messrs. Leigh and Reay, arrived, eccow paaied by Major Cartwright, Mr. Bylig, Mr. Mellish, &c. The She riffs having takes their seats, isad stating fur what purpose the Meeting was called, FEB. 19. Major Cartwright then address* all individual stepped forward to corruption so powerful and over./ this country, it was necessary lie s representation of the venal tongo, ters of this corruption never failed pose, he would wish, with the 11 example of a gentleman of high ra their permission to read his speech effect of saving their time, as lie with greater facility and speed tlo alotie. He then proceeded to rear he endeavoured le chew from th tax in this country could be impose nit that account, he unconstitutiou the case with respect to the Prop loitrary power, in a country said to lon , as a scourge on the people i The grand remedy, therefore, for I was a reform in the Commons Hi though this odious tax should now I brought forward in some other sha of the situation of this country et tl tare reform not having taken piste f or that purpose had been presentt from which disregard sprung the to penditure which gave birth to the a he congratulated the Meeting on m i n d, from which he ventured to h ness and faction--that the dense in judice, by the joint effect of all w been rendered as unwholesome as a deuce, suddenly melt and vanish, HI splendour, enlightening all mi will.. Then, gentlemen, said he, down from their lefty pedestals, tl and demons, the gods of corrupt! of . Egypt, now every where blast pies are seen in every rotten boroui once a Christian chapel; stands ne bled you with my sentiments on y and its antidote, with peso leave, to offer. He then read the Reset long, and which, from the first to II ti;ion to be presented to the Howe petition concluded with the follou uttconstitution 41 Property Tax ma nest, and that your Honourable FI serious thon2lits to a full restoration in the constant violation of which, h unconstitutionally exercised ; a cot lific of countless calamities, and tioners, loth hitherto directly led, Continue directly to lead, to the er ruins of public liberty,—an experi aspect, and p r e gnant w i t h noug h t b t jarred and unhappy country." Mr. Bentley, at great length, secoi Mr. Mellish said, there was such c l r: a t x ii , d ai n l:i 't a Pt g tr r l e ia e n t i o en i t t. ary l ß t e h tl do rmf,r it wi the y would pay no more taxes He the !twice for calling the Meeting d part of its object was to petition for then have done their cause more hor Major Cartwright said, it was ii sliewing that Parliamentary Reform of unconstitutional taxation. Mr. Byng said, he had always bet liamentary Reform, and to the abol same time, he must confess, that he motion on enrh of those points separt support any Reform that would mak The Resolutions and the Petition I moved, that as this was a County CC the Petition. This 'notion was cal Sheriff Leigh made no objection to lie could nut approve of the objects Signing it, unless he fdlusd that he WI ou to do.--Thanks were then voted ssrigi,t, and the Meeting broke up.