The National Register. — London, England, 1819-10-31 00:00:00

ste CLY THE BRITISH CONSTITUTIOA:• The annexed observations on the question of Reform are extracted hostess micron little work tecently petit shed, entitled" .4 Ceeteue curl Impartial Easy ors the UMW rim at4lntire." The author is, as we can collect from his title page, a Solicitor, and he has shewn wt his book very extensive legal readlug. His object seems to have been to prreient to the public a clear Insturical statement of the letWs affeCiillK the presogatives of the Crown, amid the privileges of the people, conceiving, in Use present 'state of the country, that nothing could more effectually con tribute towards removing erroneous impressions, nod leading the public mind to form cot reel clews of what should be consideted public rights, than a familiar and perspicuous exposition of the principal laws on whirl, the Nide of our political system is erected. In this under taking he has shewn diligence and research, turd his book cannot fad of proving useful to those who would wish to snake that branch of legal learning their study. To his legal tract lie has annexed some general remarks upon election., the borough system. and the expediency of Kr fermi Mat although the author earnestly desires a Reform, his is not that scheme of Reform which would captivate the visionary politirians of the present clay. So far is be from advocating Universal Suffrage, that he seems to think the light of Sulfa age is already too gene rally ex tended. 'Ube I.lll4litif alio,' of forty shillings Is eehold pro perty, in his ()einem, ought no longer to be observed, "as It opens a door to the tide of corruption at contested election..." He, however, advocates the expediency of limning the duration of Pediment to lice term of three years. The following renta,ks on the question of a re form its the mode of electing Aleinhers to serve in Parlia ment, will also sheer the genteel style of the work : The purity of our Constitution many enlightened men have conceived has been contaminated, and there fore a radical Reform should take place, first by a mole equal representation of tile people in tile I louse of Coin- Wall., and lastly by an immediate reform in the domes tic economy, by the abolition of all sinecures, useless offices, and unmerited pensions, &c. " Cheque nation dolt se aouverncr scion le fesoin de sea :allies et la con servation du bleu poblique Thu idea also coincides with the popular sentiment that has prevailed utany years past winch has by some been deemed indispensable to our national welfare, and particularly as our taxes at this present time are necessa rily very heavy. It is therefore hoped hat the Con:ruiners of the House of Coalitions will be productive of much good. Every candid person most admit, that when Alinisters themselves acknowledge (,by certain newspa pers). that the sale of seats in Parliament has been the • practice and established custom of their predecessors, as w.:11 known, &c. as that the sun doth shine at noon day, it is time for such a subject to be again and again discussed (if necessary) by their delegates its Parliament; for when an innovation of this dangerous complexion begins to foul the spring of purity, we know not to what extent the stream may be tainted with it, in process of .time, if a remedy be not soon applied to the bleeding wounJ. hloniesqvieu.says, " When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the rising evils but by removing the corruption and re. storing lost principles : every other correcti..n is either useless or a new evil." And again he says, " When mime the principles of governmein are corrupted, the very best laws become laid and turn against the state." Wi'hatever veneration the people of the present day might have fur the practice and precedents of their an cestors, yet when the former is bail and rite latter thap pUeable, measures acid 'ebullitions founded on them cannot he justified. As to precedents, both statesmen and lawyers in my humble conception, pay too much deference to them : and certain it c., th I one precedent can rarely be found to be completely applicable to two cases at remote periods; therefore, though precedents might assist and be useful, implicit deference ought not to be paid to them ; for if we do (after a titre,) we shall become mere mechanics, and be apt to adopt precedents for principles, and thereby never exercise our owit judg nietit sufficiently, ;lad common sense would be snout dared out of the question. If a critical and important case of national moment conic before our present M misters, 1 stiould hope and believe th:y are fully adequate to display as much wis dotn in their ineasiircs or resoles us any of their psede cessors : and why should we doubt its lam not con vinced that tnen of toe ;,rearm Jge (lake them generally) are inferior in capacity to their forelathers : then cer tainly the exigencies of the dates should uc fir.' cOnsi. demi before precedents. iiy wey of strengthening my ergo:nein, I will now take the liberty of gaoling a sentiment front Jir Thomas Torton's speed' use the question of the Regency : he said, the absurdity of acting implicitly upon precedents loronht to his recolieentail some Mies he bad learned at school : . . " Here stands a precedent, itu ;; , it it there: A better man than you. 'roach it if piu (tar..." Bat to return to my positton on the subject of Reform. The cry of ititiora• ion, and these are the times, by Lie opponents MIL - form, st etas absurd when the canker is supposed to tie std I cotistmitog the very dials of our constitipion ; an.l I belLee no natioaal consieriettecs can arise sty taking away certain prtvilees, the loaves and fishes, from a few close cringing ministerial bomitglis and rich monopolizing ci;rimatious, (with reveet to returning 'Members mil Parleinieni), and granting and distributin,; time same pri% i:eges and traticliises rlsewttere upon popular and swim, constitutional princi l hes. Niany geutlt let W 14,1 Cli, , Ose to attach t,lt'illsels es to the Cause o'..lleiollll, ate ilitiottly surturt zeal %%1111 the odious e l m nets of levellers ;..111(1 j.ICOLIIIIS, Wilt deservedly merit the tunic of filar pallitAS, and the vet best friends and protcci,r, mil' ate cut,slllUn it ,sad ++hu would, ni my Mauna, he the first and foremost 5 ,. ) rally round and ertstrve tile sacred edifice ol our constitution inviolate from die shuck mil Lew u, and ow insidious attacks of lurking corruption. The fear or retonition in accomplistiliti: this great am of Reform, e'en at tins juncture, is, I presume, Tuu NATIONAL REGISTER. --•- get undess anl itnagmary a a oug avepeen l ately told front the pulpit, by an oil Divine, that the refor mers and their demagogue have nothing to lose, and that their sole object was to produce anarchy and con. fusion in the state, and en equal partition of property ! Pray have Sir Francis Burden, Mr. Hubitouse, and Sir Charles Wolseley, nothing to lose t Lord Treasurer Burleigh, knowing the revenue of England to be so immense, says, " Englaud can never be ruined but by the corruption of her Parliament." I will now conclude with the eXCletrillitiollof Horace— " Quid lege: sine raorilnii Vance pnfitiunt :" and perhaps another such sentiment of this author will apply to the present degenerated age—"./Efor parenium pejo). avis !alit, nos negniorcs wax datums proseinens vitiosorens"—'• The age of our fathers, which was oorse than that of our ancestors, produced us, who are shortly to raise a pro geny even more vicious than ourselves." Some have gone so far as to say. " (bre fuming vitia snores sur d . — " W hat were once vices are now the CoLIIIIIOII manners of the age :"• but certainly of all corruption the con- Tonto of the great is rase worst—" Corruptio optima pea mita." It is a maxim ever held by the wise 111 all ages, " that when the morals of a prince are corrupt, the nobles and plebeians generally follow the saii:e fatal principles, and tlitis the nation gradually sinks into effeminacy and consequent decay." have quoted this bel ii ttt ens merely to chew the con tagion of vice and the dangerous consequence of es 11 exaniple: and, in my humble opinion if a public cha racter of rank and fortune falls and indulges litinsell ill vice and folly, such a person sins doubly ; for as 1 itai Just intimated, vulgar minds are greatly influenced by the example of their superiors in rank. Moen in Valli is the gospel preached trout pulpits to the poor, if men of literature and elevated snow ttt s in Itle treat all its precepts with iusiguhficance and contempt. 1 hare rather io reinaik, corruption engenders war, and war misery and poverty ; but 1 3111 here happy to remark, that throughout all the war, and nt all battles and contests iii which the English arms have been fairly engaged, both by sea and land, that they have shone conspicuously and gloriously: in fact, the valour, con• rage, and physical strength of the English troops nave not ocen excelled. It might theretore be mil) , said, England has arrived at the summit of military renown, as the page of history will record. I believe our. national debt now exceeds eight hun dred millions of pounds, which of course intist :be the cause of a heavy taxation for many years to come. Mr. Hume says, that " Either the nation must de stroy public credit, or public cr.:tilt will destroy the nation. However true this assertion might prove by any possibility, it must be admitted that it behoves every patriot to promote public credit: It may not perktps be here impertinent to remark Baron Montesquieu observation on the cliarx:vcr ()Idle English nation: he saytwe are incapable of bearing the delays. the details, and the coolness of negociatunta : " In these they are more unlikely to sneered than any other nation; hence they are apt to lose by treaties what they obtain by their arms." concluding th a subject, sin sorry to have occasion to remark, that although &wand is rich in soil, and productive of the lireeSSdrlCal of life; and although the late harvest has been abundant, yet provisions are now dearer in this country, than per haps any other in Europe. It is therefore an indisputable fact, that the ways of man have perverted the ways of Providence I * The disbipstion in the metropolis amongst titled Gen !cairn veil:l'4.ly confirmed me iu this opinion. CO_ISTIIViION Oh' JUULYI AMERICA. The Constitutional Act of the United Provinces on the Plate, which was completed and published at the beginning of May in America, has reached this country, and been published here in a translation. As it is pos sible that it may be destined to form the basis of a lasting political system, it tuay nut be uninteresting to give a brief' account of its cootents. Like the French char ter (and very unlike die constitution formed by the Spa- Hist' Cones,) this document is short and precise. It consists of 138 articles, which describe and limit the legislative, the executive, and judicial powers. Tht R o man C a tiva t e I'o4loll is declared the religion of tile stale. Ile legislative power is to be exercised, as in the North American States, by a national congress compo sed of two houses, that oh Representatives and that of Senators. 'Fite hauler is composed of delegates elected in the proportion of one lOr every district containing °.:5,000 intiabitatits: (the population of the Untied Pro vinces is about 1,300,04 m.) The deputy must Ise up wards of '2O years or age, must hate been 7 years a citi zen pretloll6 to his 11011:111allon, and must possess 4,000 dollars of property, or bottle equivalent which is not well defined in the article. The representatives sit for 4 years, but a half of tile chamber is renewed every ti years. line House of Deputies, like the British !louse of Commons, ongitiates all motley bills, and has the special right of impeaching Ministers and the high oiii cc rs of state. The Senate IS to COIII , IO of the same no tit her of pros Metal scout rs as there are Fov.iices ; three nilittary sealattirs, of cote bishop, and three l'eir:-I- JbIICS; of a represettiativz to each ttinversil, amid of rite ihr...;;tur whits l.erintl of government is ended. This seems ratio r a singolar arratiAt . ment. Why has e ,ellaillibi Tne appoilitinetit of the se11:11015 is fur 12 years, and they mint a 1 their nominatioo have at tained the age o. 3tl, having been 9 ears a cozen. Cots at ratigeuktit stt'ins welt eiaculated to give stability io me system, JIM V ars iiiteatued to supply the wan, of all Tile moat of eheting the seuais' is t o rs 1:0111i•IllU , C , 1 10u i description 111 Wk. ;AMU Illc Ll'al.littlft. is LO sit tor mantis W die year: tiny, u..te fre, oom Ot sperm.. atm the other pro lieges ii it Ilbat•e, mil Parlianwitt. 11.0 e I,i, passer tic 111 sets tiefore mem, ii. obtain ail) rerpos: , , 16. , 01111.101111. All) IA 111011 originate laws. When tiie projects it law have been agreed to by both 'louses, they arc to be tit:omitted to OCT. St - . the D irector fill his sa - action, who must return thetn in lb days, either with his approbation or objections. IC he approves, t h e hill becomes a law 3-if he states objec tions, these objections are considered; but if two-hunts of the members of both Houses support the original project, their votes constitute a final sanction witho u t 1 second application to the Director. The supreme Di rector is elected by the two Hotises assembled. He is to be supreme chief of all the laud and sea forces. He is - to open the sittings of the Legislature; he appoints all the ollicet s of the public forces, envoys, consuls, and others ; lie chooses-and dismisses his Nlinisters, who arc responsible for their- conduct while employed under hint ; all objects of finance, police, public, national, :it'd scientific establishments, as well as all those formed and supported by the fonds of the State, ate confined to his supreme charg e and i ns p eet i on . H e has the power of pardon, except in cases of State cotrviction. '11).2 -ee.. prelim judicial power of the State is to reside in a !..1— prelim court, consisting of seven Judges and two Recor ders, A nominated by the Director ; every one of vyhtett must have been a regular barrister eight years, and have attained the fortieth year of his age. This Court shall, exclusively, take cognisance of all causes relating to envoys atra consuls front foreign nations, all causes in which a province may be a party, all those concernitig public fautctionaries, all those relating to crimes cont. mitted- agatlist the law of nations, &c. 'rite members exercise their functions during good behaviour. The Supreme .Court, as well as the other tribunals, is open to the public. The corporations and magistrates inv.,- ted with the legislative, exectitiv.., or judicial power, pre the attornies of the nation, and responsible to it in manner the constitution prescribes. The constitittian is ordered to be swore to in the whole territory of the State, and no functionary shall tambourin oilier without taking the oaths to ohserve and sustain it. The nines of the Deputies who passed this charter ere appended us it. It is preceded in the present publication by a roani testa, " addressed by the hued Pon Owes of South America, to all nations, respecting the treatment which they experienced front the Spaniards, and which gave rise to the declaration u: their independence' in 1817, FROM TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. CROWN OFFICE. OFFICE. Orr. 26. MEMBER returned to serve in this present PARLIAMENT. County of Longford.—Sir Geo. Ralph Fethetstoo, of Anlagb. in the county of Longford, Bart. in the room of .Sir Thomas Fetheraton. Bart. deceased. BANKRUPTS. M. and W. Thomas. Surrey Street, Blackfriart Road, linen drapers. Solicitors, Mews. Richardson and Miller, New Inn. E. Savage, Upper North Mee. Gray's inn Lane, grocer. Sol. Mr. M'Huff. Castle Street, Holborn. J. Porter, Frome Selwood, Somerset, clothier. Sols. Messrs. Nethersole and Barron, Essen Street, Strand. H. Whitey Warminster, Wilts, linen draper. Soh. Messrs. Courteon and Robinson, Walbrook. T. Woodhouse. Nottingham; lace manufacturer. Soli. Messr,. littleChipppcndall and een Street. George onQu S Bermondsey New Mad. bricklnyer. Soh. Messrs. Harvey and Wilson, Lincoln's lint _ C. Chown, Manchester, holder. Sols. Messrs. Hurd and Johnson. Temple. J. Baader. Templ e. Street, Oxford Street, dealer in Etaiaed glass. Sols. Messrs. Phher and Sedlow. Thario Inn. D. Pullen, Spread Eagle Court. Finch Lane, bill broker. SuL Mr. Spencer, Belvidere Place, Borough Road. W. Thurnell, Guuldstone Square. hitechapel, upholsterer. Soles M vars. Alliston and Hundlcby, Freeman's Court, Cornhill. K. Jackson, Uley. Gloucestershire, clothier. Solt. Bourtlillon and Hewitt, Bread Street, Cheapsidc. DIVIDENDS. Oct. 30, W. G. Hall, Gutter Lane, silk manufacturer-3n, T. Lloyd and J. Winter, Blue Ball Yard, St. James's Street, wire merchants—Nov. IN H. Webber, Bristol, merchant-17, J. Grant, Scultorites, York, beast jobber—is, T. Robotham. Derby, grecer-20, H. Daniell, Warren Street, Fitzroy Square, coach maker-16, G. Sizer, Holborn 11111, mercer-19, .1. Appleton. Amiley, York, merchant-16. H. and W. Cutbush. Maidstone, carpcnten--16. T. Gubby. Lower York Street, Rotherhithe, timber merchant-16, S. Waldegrave, Stwardstone, Essex, coach and post master-16, H. 11. Payne, Stroud, brewer-25, J. Ad cock, St. Mary Axe, druggist-16. R. Moye, Sloane Streo, Chelsea. carpenter—Nov. 16, T. Willats, Gran Queen Street. Lincoln's Inn Fields, ironmonger -2, G. Pearson, idaceleFfield, and W. Sykes, Milk Street, silk manufacturers--6, T. Jenkins, Judd Street. Brunswick Square, master mariner—l), W. Loss, Royton, Lancashire, machine maker—l 6. R. Outridge, Newport. Isle of Wight, iron founder—Dec. 7, G. M. Thurkle, Ncw Streit Square, wine merchant. CERTIFICATES to be granted Nov. 16. • W. Reid, sen. Rosamond Street, Clerkenwell, watchmaker— W. J. W. Lindsey, Bath, silk mercer—L. Sims, Blinhill Row, Moortields, stationer—H. Lodge, Blackburn, Lanca- hire. butcher —H. Bush, %Vick and Abson, Gloucestershire, dealer—J. Birch. junior, Manchester, cotton spinner—E. Kegg, Liverpool, Irliiata mariner. It was said of a York County Meeting held in the time of Sir George Savile, that there were in one room persons who enjoyed an aggregate income trom landed property of 800,0001. a year ; and it might be asserted with equal truth, that the income of the nobility and gentry on the hustings at the late County Meeting, exceeded one million stcr. ling; and yet this, say the Ministerial Papers, was a Radical Reform Meeting ! the persons constituting which, of course, according to the Loyal Declaration, wish for a division of property, and " hold out the property of others as their inevitable pr-y." W hat absurdities these people involve themselves in ! DINIIU [wit, Oe•r Q5.—A terrible accident bap 'lethal in the neighboulhood el Canuobics on .'ridgy' week. A gentleman on his return from shooting, having a loaded gun in his hand, met in the road a young noman of his an quaintance, whom he at tempted to kiss. A kind of stragp,le enstiol, in whiel, some part of the main-ton:Ate girl's apparel Came in contact with the trigger ; the gun went os, ind its contents lodging. in her breast, she expired on the vet!