The Statesman. — London, England, 1815-03-01 00:00:00

d ie Militia were called out, the proclamation issued f or that purpose, stated the reasons which, by law, ( ight 10 he stated, for the embodying of that con stitutional farce. It was set forth in that Procla mation, that a seditious correspondence was carried on between his Majesty's subjects and persons a b roa d, 311(1 that acts of riot and insurrection had followed. The Proclamation summoning Pasha meat to mert, in fourteen days, at th a t p er i o d, ski in stated that acts of riot and insurrection had taken place—and his Majesty, in his speech from the throne, used the same words. This was the case in 1 7a:, although he had heard it asserted, that no sub stantial reason, under the Militia Act, called for the embo dying of that force at the time. With respect to t h e period of the American war, the Militia were not ca lled out until 1778. That step was then re sorted to, in consequence of information given to ow e Court of the connection that had been formed b e tween France and America. Even then a special Act o f Parliament was passed for the purpose-- b ecau se', it was felt that the Act then in existence did not meet the circumstances of the times —although for three years this country had been at ear with her rebellious subjects in America. He then t o ok a rapid review of the different contests Which this country had been engaged since the spit rears war—and argued, that, as the militia had tot been called out, at periods when some apprehen sion of invasion might have been entertained, it was preposterous to keep any part of it now em bodied, when we were at peace with all the world.— if the necessity of keeping up a force on the Conti sent of Europe, were considered as a sufficient reason far continuing the militia, he could see no limit by which the keeping that force on foot could be restricted. The opinion of the Law Officers was, Nat so long as Mititters conceived it to be exile dient to keep up the militia, they might do so ' • but they mi,ht be impeached, if they could not a dduce sufficient grounds for the proceeding. No doubt, if they were impeached, the answer would be, " We had the sanction of Parliament, who paid the militia, for what we'have done." The SOLICITOR-GENERAL again made use of those arguments which he had adduced on a former occasion, to show that, as the Act of Parliament was silent as to the time at which the militia should be dis embodied. a discretion was •ested in his Majesty to keep that force on foot, under the responsibility of Ministers, which was subject to the controul of that souse. Lord MILTON declared that, although not in the habit of mite.; compliment, he felt the sincerest re spect for the. legal opinion of the Learned Gentleman who bpoke last, and was sure that it would always be given with the most honourable motives. At the Wee time he thought that it was hardly in human 'nature not to feel a strong bias in favour of an opi. niou once deliberately pronounced. He could not help thinking, however, from the manner in which the question was put to the Learned Gentleman, that it was the wish of Ministers to get an answer that would suit their purposes. It was put quite in that way that lawyers call a leading question. The goes. tion was so framed, that it was almost impossible that any other answer could be given to it. Any country Gentlemen of plain sense, without any particular knowledge oflaw, bed only to read the Act, and he would immediately see that there was nothing impe rative in it as to the time of disbanding the militia, [hear, hear! frointhe Ministerial benches]. This point was so clear, that the opinions of the Learned Gen tlemen were only asked, foe the purpose of being sent round the country to produce the effect which Ministers wished. Although the letter of the law might not have been violated, yet the spirit end in. tention of the Militia laws had undoubtedly been violated. The opinions of the Learned Gentleman would certainly go to the extent of maintaining that the Militia might legally be kept up in time of peace, as long as the Crown thought proper. He would put it to the understanclieg of any man in the House whose mind was not sophisticated with legal quib bling, whether this was not the plain meaning that their opinion would naturally convey. He did not think his Hon. and ',partied Friend (Sir S. Romiily) was liable to the charge of inconsistency, in saying, that although it was illegal for Ministers to keep the Militia embodied iu time of peace, it would be ille. gal for the militia.nsen to refuse to march when com manded so to do. The disembodying must clearly be the act of the Crown ; but while the Militia were embodied, the privates must obey the commands of their officers. If, in order to try the question, they were to be guilty of disobedience of orders, they would immediately subject themselves to a Court. martial, and the danger of corporal punishment.— It had been said that the Militia were called out in 1793, upon a flimsy pretence. An Act of Parlia. moot,' however, then justified that measure, and no. body complained of it. It was not the fact, how. ever, that at present there were no complaints. Ile bad received a letter from York, which stated the strongest complaints from the North York regiment of militia. Three hundred of the Derbyshire militia had also sent up a very strong Memorial, and yet the Hight Hon. Gent. (Mr. Bathurst) came before the House with all the insolence of office, and stated that there were no complaints. If there was a Mail in the House who believed that the militiamen had not expected to be released when peace should come, he wished that man would stood fp in the House and lisY so. Every body must feel that it was a viola. Lion of the whole spirit of the Militia Lairs, to keep them embodied in a time of peace, and when none of the circumstances existed which justified their being coiled out. If Government were now to break faith with the militia, designing men might use it as an argument to dissuade mqu from entering into that ICI rice in another war. If Lord North thought pro- Per to call out the militia during the American war, Le had come down to the House, and stated in a fair and manly way, that the reason of calling them out was to enable our disposable force to be sent over to America. He had thought it necessary to get an Act of Parliament for the purpose. This conduct was quite the reverse of what was pursued by Ministers on the present occasion. Mr. BATI I IJLtST and Lord MILTON severally explained. Colonel WOOD, after a few prefatory remarks, "served, that, in the present state of Ireland, it amid have been inhuman to have withdrawn the mi litia from it when there was not a regular disposable ampi itl Irk blin thei thin was that Mil dal teal be eml the we' woi aim It 17i lIIPI boc eve Uri or had 'Jo kit tha inl awls Sly tioi the the %if it'll Pfr Le I and inn Au of qui on up ohm 3901 lE STATESMAN: force to send there.—[llear, hear!]—He concluded by paying a very handsome compliment to the En• glish militia, who volunteered to Ireland, and who had been extremely useful in the absence of an effi cient police. Lord sTA NLEY supported the motion. Sir F. FLOOD stated, that Ireland was possessed of a very efficient police force. Mr. LY'rTLETON thought the keeping the mili tia embodied at the present moment, was highly un constitutional. Its allusion to what had fallen from Colonel Wood, he observed, that he never could agree to the militia of England being employed for the subjugation of the people of Ireland. Mr. H. ADDINGTON said, that the moment the Derby Militia were apprised of the necessity, under the law, of continuing some time longer embodied, they ceased to express any dissatisfaction. Sir J. NEWPORT said, a new cause for con tinuing to keep the militia embodied, had been stated by the Hon. Colonel, namely, for the protection of the tranquillity of Ireland—the best uty to insure that tranquillity was by conciliating the people--it was impossible, by a recurrence to force, to make them happy or contented. Colonel Wood, Mr. Peele, Mr. Lyttleton, Sir J. Newport; Lord G. Cavendish; and Mr. li. Adding ton, said each a few words, chiefly in explanation. Sir. S. ROMILLY replied, after which the House divided. For the motion - 4 76 Agttitikt it - - 179 Majority against the motion - --103 CORN HILL. The Report on the Corn Bin was brought up, and read a first and second time. The Resolutions were then proposed in order, and that which fixed the protecting price at 80s. being read, Mr. CALCRAFT moved an amendment, reducing it to Its. Mr. HUSKISSON spoke in favour of the original question. Mr. ROSE commented upon the evidence before the Committee, and deduced from the entire the plain inference, that a sum much under 80s. would be a sufficient protection to the agricultural interest. Mr. W. SMITH spoke against the Resolutions, and in favour of 725. being the prohibiting price. Mr. PEELE was in favour of the Resolutions for the protection they afforded to the Irish agricultural interest. Mr. BARING contended at some length in favour of the amendment, as a sufficient remunerating price for the farmer. Mr. HUSKISSON explained. Mr. QUIN spoke in favour of the original Resolu tions. Mr. CAREW followed on the same side. The cry of question becoming universal, strangers were ordered to withdraw, and a division having taken place on the amendment, there appeared, - - _ Ayes - - . 33 Noe 4 - - 154 M ijority for 804. ' I ---119 The House then adjourned, at a quarter past three o'clock this moruing. CHAIRING OF MR. BARCL.4Y. TUMULT IN THE BOROUGH. The proposed measures for restricting the imports. Lion of foreign grain into this country, we have al. ready stated, have excited considerable ferment in the minds of the inhabitants of this great city, and the scene which was yesterday exhibited in the Borough of Southwark exemplified, in the strongest manner, the truth of those observations. Our Readers may recollect that Charles Barclay, Esq. was but a few days back returned, by a very considerable majority, to serve in Parliameut, as the Representative of the Borough of Southwark, after a fruitless, but spirited, opposition upon the part of the friends of William Jones Bartlett, Esq.— Subsequent to this Gentleman's return, the subject of the Corn Laws has: been 'brought before the !louse of Commons, mud es this is a question in which the interests of all classes are concerned, con. siderable curiosity was .maeifested by the inhabi tants of the Borough, to know the course which their new Member would puisfie respecting it, the more especially as they hue ytit an opportunity of expressing their sentimeuts upon his conduct, during the • ceremony of chairing, 'which was still to take, place. Those who naturally looked with an eye of jealousy on Mr. Barclay's principles, as he had taken no pains to explain them, soon had au opportunity of guessing at these, and of expressing their disappro bation of them. The event to which we allude, was the first division which took place in the House of Commons 'won the Corn Laws. The question upon which this division took place was, as to whether the House should resolve ,into a Committee upon Mr., Robinson's Resolutions or not, for the purpose of deliberately considering their object, and the policy of their adoption. On this occasion the great ma. jority of the House voted for the Committee, the mi nority amounting only to six Members, independent of the Tellers. Of this Minority. Mr. Calvert, the second Representative for the Borough, was one; and, in a letter which he addressed to Mr. Solomon Davis, one of his constituents, after adverting to other topics which' gave rise to the correspondence, he stated, as a mere matter of fact, that 66 he had just been left io a minority of six against the Corn Laws, and that his colleague, Mr. Barclay, remained in the house, with a considerable majority in favour of the question." This communication, without fur ther explanation, was published, and hence a spirit of opposition was raised against Mr. Barclay. No sooner had the •friends of Mr. Barclay heard of the commotion which had ohtaiued existence, than they used every effort to counteract its bane.' ful influence. Their efforts, however, were, in a great measure defeated by the circulation of hand bills, and the exhibition of posting-bills in every part of the Borough, in which Mr. Barclay was de scribed as the advocate of a measure which had for its object the oppression of the poor, by raising the price of bread. To counteract the ferment no pains were spared— vestry meetings were called in every parish, and the friends of Mr. Barclay, and that gentleman in per. son, protested against the erroneous conclusions which bad beets drawn from the course he bad put. ------- eseaseser I sued. Unfortunately, however, the great bulk of throng, they were overborne by numbers ) and were the population had not admission to these meetings, happy to escape with their lives. and designing persons taking advantage of their As it was anticipated that the Horns at Ketining. . inexperience, and want of information, fomented ton would form the principal point of attraction to the prejudices which existed, and by their misrepre- the discontented assemblage, several Magistrates, sentations added fuel to the flame, which already attended by their Officers„ repaired to that spot, and burnt with too much vigour. All Saturday, Sun- in a short time, Sir N. Conant, Mr. Birnie, Mr. day, and Monday was devoted to endeavours to King, Mr. Colquhoun, and some others, met, and quell this violence: and on Monday evening, as proceeded to swear in extra constables, for the pro , soon as ever the question of the Corn Laws was tection of the peace. brought before the House, Mr. Barclay, in his place, 1 These arrangements, however, were scarcely de. as may be seen by our Report of the proceedings 1 cided upon, when distant shouts announced the near yesterday, protested in the strongest and most un- I arrival of the mob, which soon surrounded the house, equivocal manner, against the Report of the Com- and commenced a dreadful attack on the windows mittee being received, and urged some short but with stones, brickbats, &c. The doors were imme. forcible arguments in support of the sentiments distely barricadoed, and every means taken to pre= which he delivered. This it was thought would vent the entrance of the assailants, who made de have given the finishing blow to the malevolent in- monstrations of such an intent. The cries of ' 6 No sinuations of his enemies; and in order that it might Corn Laws!" were now repeated with additional be universally known, and that no person might clamour, and the conduct of the populace became so plead ignorance of his conduct upon the subject, the infuriated, that, after some deliberation, it was following placard was yesterday morning posted in deemed prudent to send off a Messenger to the Office every conspicuous sit ua ti on i n t h e B orough : of the Secretary o f St a t e f or t h e H ome D epartment to .. TUESDAY aloes IRO, FEL V.—Electors of Southwark! demand the assistance of the military. This reqUisi. Attend to this plain fact : Last night your Representative, • Charles Barclay, E. q. moved, in the House of Commons , tion was immediately complied with, and at half-past That the Itemlutiowi mi the Corn Laws 11/10U L three o'clock a detachment of sixty Life Guards ivr D. Is not this decisive proof of his de termination to support your interests, and of his attentiou to marched from their q uar t ers at t h e the pro,, in thus keepin g d own t h e pr i ce of bread p . II G d orse- Oar S t 0 the scene of action. They were at first received eith These proceedings were considered the more ne- shouts of indignation, and by some trilling resist. cessary, as yesterday was the day appointed for the ance, but by a cool perseverance in their duty they 1 chairing of Mr. Barclay, according to ancient cos- succeeded in gaining possession of the ground in tom, and for his numerous friends to meet at the the immediate front of the tavern, and then by de- Horns Tavern, at Kennington, to celebrate his re- grees, but not without difficulty, they contrived to turn to ParliaMent. Arrangements for these pur- disperse over a considerable space the messes of poses had been previously made; and it was not people who were assembled. Still, however the 9 , thought requisite to d e f er th e ceremony to any future cries of Down with the friends of the Corti Laws! 1 ' day. At nine o'cl oc k, th ere f ore, yesterday morn - —Down with those who would raise the price of i ing, the friends of Mr. Barclay began to assemble in bread! burst from various quarters, and stones con. 1 the road leading f rom th e o b e li s k i n St. George's- tinued to be thrown at the windows. Every coach fields to the King's Bench Prison. The numbers and full of Mr. Barclay's friends who approached to be respectability of the cavalcade which repaired to the present at the dinner, were pelted with mud, and place of rendezvous, exceeded any thing we have pronounced the enemies of the people, because they witnessed on any former occasion. There were a were friends of him who had acted for the Corn great many carriages and four, and an innumerable Laws. During this period a large stone entered the concourse of carringes and pair, the horses and ser. room in which Mr. Barclay was with some pf his rants decorated with orange and blue ribbons, the friends, and striking Mr. Perkins, his partner, on colours of Mr. Barclay. To these were lidded sere. the head, inflicted a severe cut. Many eicaped'a ray hundred horsemen, well mounted, all decorated similar fate with great difficulty. with the favours of their Representative. When we The activity of the guards produced, after some conjoin with these upwardi of 300 Electors out foot, time, a cessation of those attacks ; and the friends of some idea may be formed of the procession.. Mr. Barclay arrived in considerable numbers. At The approach of Mr. !Barclay in a barouche, drawn five o'clock upwards of five hundred persons had by four blood horses, decorated with ribbons, was taken their seats in the large room where the dinner soon recognised, and he was received with the loud- tables were laid, but, as a measure of precaution, est acclamations of applause. In the barouche with they were forced, although it was yet day-light, to him were Mr. F. Young and Mr. Moulden, the mover let down the curtains, to save thems'elves frem the and seconder of his nomination. The barouche hay. stones and broken glass which occaslonully fell among ing taken the situation appointed in the procession, them. the whole moved on down Blackfriars-road; hailed Soon after this period, Mr. Barclay, attended by by the loudest vociferation, of appla'use, intermixed Mr. Young, Mr. Moulden, and several of the Stew. with occasional hisses. The course of the cavalcade i cads, entered the room, the band playing, " See down Higgins's.lane to the Borough was uninter- the conquering hero comes !" rupted, but on their arrival in Tooley-street, and the The cloth being removed, and the health of Mr. neighbourhood of Horsleydown, the strongest man'. BARCLAY drank, he rose and addressed the assembly. festation of dislike was exhibited. Groans and hisses In the Course of a speech of acknowledgment, for burst from all quarters, and showers of mud and filth the friendship with which he had been helmeted by the of every description were poured on the members of reepeetableend numerous company by whom he wait the procession. The cries of "No Corn Laws" re- that day tin/rounded ; he said, during the election sounded from thousands of an enraged multitude, and foe the. Boroegbecif Southwark, various attacks had indignation of the most marked description," was ex. been made upon, all of which were alike uefoustded„ pressed towards Mr. Barclay, the supposed advocate lie had been called upon at the close of that election of these measures, and all who wore his colours. In to declare his political principles, but he had refused vain did the members of the cavalcade exhibit the pla. to comply with that call, from a conscious feeling card already described, and in the most decided fan- that he was not hound to state upon what side he guage declare, that the people laboured under a nsis. should vote. To those who were now assembled, take; and that Mr. Barclay was their friend, and the however, he.had no hesitation in saying, that he had opponent of the corn measure. In the open and un. always considered it his duty to support the Govern. equivocal detestation Which was expressed of any al- merit of the country, as long as it was conducted teratioa in the Laws respectiug Corn, Mr. Barclay without detriment to the rights and • privileges of the was included, and towards him, as the principal ob- people. Although it was true that this country had ject within reach of popular fury, hostility was every , laboured under severe burdens during the late war, where evinced. Acts of violence, however, were' he considered that we ought not to repine when we not alone confined to him, for the members of the I cast our eyes upon the horrors to which other nations cavalcade shared in the ungrateful fronerc which were ! of Europe, during the same period, had been subject. universally distributed, and the windows in which To Russia and Germany he particularly referred, CO well-dressed females were seated to view the passing demonstrative of his argument. His political career had scene did not escape the general attack. The glass I been short, but it had been eventful. The first subject flew in all directioni, and those within reach of these ! which presented itself in reviewing this career, was attacks were most happy to retreat from the work of 1 the Corn Laws. Up on thi s su bj ect h e h a d already devastation which seas going o n . explained himself at severa l p ar i s h meetings, but he Weare sorry to say, that some severe con t us i ons , thought it necessary here again to repeat the course were inflicted during this lawless exhibition, and' he had taken with regard to this question. It would that some of the horsemen were precipitated from be recollected that, on his election, he had made no their seats and much injured. The ferment which pledge as to what particular line he should take upon prevailed here, however, was but trifling compared this or any other matter which might COMP under his with that which afterwards arose In the front of St. ; observation, because he well knew that his mind was George's Church, whither the cava l ca d e arrived i not sufficiently informed to enable him to come to a with great difficulty. At this spot the mob became i definitive judgment. The first step he find beep outrageous. On all sides were seen loaves of called upon to take r e g a r di ng th e C orn L aws, was various sizes, covered with bla c k crape an d cloth, Ito accede to enquiry. To this, as he had not made indicative of the apprehensions which were enter- ' up his mind so decidedly as to give his vote either the tamed of an advance in the price of that article.— I one way or the other, he had acc;ded.-- But, :thee I These exhibitions produced an extraordinary sense-1 listening to the arguments which were urged on both Lion, and the fury of the populace became ungovern. : sides during that enquiry, the conscientious deter able. The numbers received reinforcements every mination of his mind was to vote against the Resole / step they took—and in proportion as they became tions which had been submitted to the House.—[4p. stroug they became audacious—stones, mad, oyster.' please.] —He had voted against the price of 80s. and -shells, and all manner of missiles, were brought into had voted for no other sum, because no other aura requisition, and hurled with violence at the supposed had become a matter of question before the House. offenders. The carriage of Mr. Barclay was frac- I —The Hon. Member then defended himself against tured in the most shameful manner, while its in- ! the imputation of wishing to advocate the centieu. mates were rendered undistinguishable, froth the ; ance of the Income Tax, by stating, that lie had al- • heap of filth by which. they were covered. Some 1 ways entertained a confidence in the assurance Rivet* attempts were made towards dragging these indivi- i to the public, that this Tax would be discontinued duals from their seats, but happily this was not ac. 1 with the war. Ile afterwards adverted to the charges complished. I brought against the Brewers, and entered into a cal. It had been previously intended that the proves., culation, from whence he deduced that the accusa, eion should proceed down Kent-street to the Brick. 1 tions against these indi v ld u ll s were not fobndeel in layer's-Arms, but this pla n was now a b an d one d , justice. In conclusinft,lnv declared his intention, and it was determined to advance in a direct line to , by his actions, to prove the high seism which he en. Newington-causeway. This resolution was carried tertaimed of the confidence that had been reposed in into effect, bet on arriving at that point, the tu. him by the Electors of the Borough of Southwark.— mutt became so great, and the symptoms of pre- [Load and reiterated plaudits.] meditated pertonal violence became so evident, that 1 The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Youpg) then suggested the it was deemed wise for all parties to make good propriety, from the natural state of alarm in which their retreat as quickly as possible. The carriages the family of Mr. Barclay mast he from the events of and horsemen, therefore dispersed in all directions, that day, of permitting that Gentlemen to retire as at full speed; that of Mr. Barclay proceeding to las soon as pessible.--Peplause.l—He also con. the Horns, at Kennington, where he arrived shot tly sidered it wise for the whole party to disperse as soon before two o'clock. This retreat produced, on the as convenient, in order that no incitement to dise minds of the multitude, a feeling of triumph, and turbance might exist. He did not desire this from they rushed forward toward* Kennington with re- fear, for from his birth he scarce koen7 what f e ar newed vigour. was ; but Magistrates who were present considered During these operations the police officers ea. it importaut that a separation should take place as deavoured, is vain ) to check the ferious Cana of the soon as possible; au4 be was most anxious to remove ~.