The Statesman. — London, England, 1810-05-24 00:00:00

ANNIVERSARY OF SIR FRANCIS BURDETT'S ELECTION. • The 23d bf May is a day, which will ever be held sacred in the calendar. On this day, three years ago, the influence of corrupt Ministers re. ceived a check which prevented its operation in the way most dangerous to the liberties of the country. Fur a long period the populous city of Westminster had, under the malign influence of evil administrations, been degraded almost to a level with the luniest borough, and the servile ser vants of the Crown uniformly possessed the means of returning their own creature as its supposed Representative. Reason revolted at the. idea of enduring a system founded on tame submission. The Electors of Westminster wanted, aedlippi. ly found in Si! F. Burdett, a man who was as able as he was willing to assist them in breaking their chains. They set a noble example, which, if fol lowed, will be adeqnate to the correction of all those abuses and oppressions that have nearly de. prived Englishmen of their ancient character. The morn, which dawned on the Antsiversaaly of the Election of this great and tlistinguisted pa. triut, at all times would have been bailed with transports of joy and gratitude, but recent cir cumstances rendered its celebration yesterday more than ordinarily interesting. The recollection that this virtuous man had, in humble imitktion of the Divine Author of the Christian Religion, without any personal motive, sacrificed himself for the good of-lithers, and bad braved and sta ked imprisonment, in order that his conntrymen might eventually be free, excited Impressions that could not fail to impart a solemnity and dignity to the proceedings of the ElVetors of Westminiter, which, under other cireentstanecs, would tut have characterizetrtheir Meeting. Let every coney and eity in this mighty king. don) profit by the lemma. they have received from the Electors of Westminster, and the eursAry may yet be saved. About five hundred pettapVllllllol4ll .0 00 Crown' and Anchor Tavern fte ,lam ' "of dining together, and testifyiets4hae: aii= SO 13 da. meats to their Representative, who had y *night their battles against the enemies of the; Constitution. A stinsptuous dinner was provided. Plenty, 'hilarity, and 'festivity, pre4ded at th e . various tables which were spread, ma the attend. ants of *joy and good. humour stood at the right band of .every visitant. After tht cloths were re moved, Lord CObIIRANE rose, and gave as a tout, The KING, and the Principles w h ich seated his Family up:tithe Throne, with three times three. It was drank with becoming ardour, and with epproptime expressions of approbation. An Elector then rose in the middle of the room, and proposed this toast, We.tolinster's Pride and England's Hope, Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, With three times three, lotul and continued hes- VIS, anti thunders of applause for nearly JO mi. notes. Mr. JONES BURDETT.—Gentlemen, in ris. ing to address you, I must, in the first place, put its my claim for your generous indulgence. I dare nut attempt—l cannot thank you in language adeqoate to the occasion, or sufficiently expressive of the sentiments which press upon my miatl, on witnessing the diitiugoislied mark you have j u st given of your approbation of the conduct of Sir Francis Burdett.—[Plaudits.] —l must, in order to convey any idea of my feelings, appeal to those sentiments by which you are animated, and by which you are inspired in favour of the glorious cause you are here met to wress your opinion of, and your determination to support. I must .ask you to place yourselves in my situation. I must appeal to your own hearts and feelings, and ask you what they would suggest, were you in the situation I am in, witnessing so honourable a us. lemony of the character of one to whom I NA so Dearly and dearly allied— [Very great applanie.) —a relation whose motives I so well know, in whose feelings and sentiments I so deeply partici. pate, and with whom, in all the principles he has• asertcd, I so completely concur. Ido so, Gen. tlemen, bceauso I believe they are principles %which must be acted upon W we look to the ulva. tiun of the country. They are, lam convinced, the only principles which man tend to the safety of the Throne, and maintain the rights and liberties of Use People.—[Loud and universal applause.], —lt will, Gentlemen, lam persuaded, give l all satisfaction in the first place to learn Avail my brother, Sir F. Bartlett, enjoys his usual health' and good spirits. [Shouts of satigfaction, and reiterated acclamation: of joy.) Gentlemen, he is strung in the justice of his and your cause, he' never will vela]; in his exertions to maintain the kw, of the land ) and to support the rights and berties of the people of the country. I must now advert to the sullied and occasion of our meeting. We are, Gentlemen, assembled to eels.' orate the anniversary of *tat day, which wail a, proud triumph co t o nly for ° lhe Electors of Limier ; but the peopte of ralglitad. The Electors • . t, • • .r • , ,~~. example by the prudence, wisdom, and modera. tion with which they asserted their rights ; they have shewu the people of Engik , d that they know their rights—that they wilereise them . with firmness, but that at the same time they will exer. cise them with prudence and moderation. It is-a tribute duo to them to acknowledge that their glorious effoits have bad an influence and effect upon the country at large; their example has been felt through the country, and we shall all reap the beneficial effects of it. Gentlemen, much has been said about party and no party, sod It has been a charge brought against many who have ad. vocated the public interests, that they were de. siroui of supporting the public cease without themselves being attached to any particular party whatever. Now, Gentlemen, the charge of being, attached to tie pert, is a amp 1 think send and peculiar in its stature, peoffeeihreireieffllle *Moot that men should be chassis's litisivtg . hoso guilty; of an offence for making duly the poblic intoreat the line of their conduct, is a charge Oa isnot erk. traordinary nature. In illy opinion thaigg.side. men who say that they do nut with, liti- elit ' party distinctions, mean to say wethkgellaslit I that sun wish honest men to act forlileCpeillie good ; they do not attempt tout , . have virtue superior to other' no boast of the kind ; they only 411_1411 s i lt* : and feel an interest its the laws of Ile, -4. ' that they wish to endeevoar to prillsittlinii 'c robbery, and take care that the money 'voted for the public services shall be applied to those bend. eial purposes for whith it was intended ; they do 'not like to be robbed and plundered —they do not like the means of the country to be squandered 1 by persons who arc in the enjoyment of useless . places, pensions, and sinecures—they do not sap: prove of the abuses under which the country groans—they do not like these things, or the Inca who shew an inclination to support them. It bail' also bees observed that a part of the people do not took up to the House of Commons with the telepect which it behoves them to do, lied is Weans: ing the dignity of the House of Commons. Now; flontlenien, I conceive that the House of Cons. wino sever can receive any injury from those le which they say are circulated against Or (rout those reproaches on the part of 'thirlpsiapie whisk are the result of their own con. . alpinot the penple.--i-Gentlemen, Tali 1106 St Of COMMONS NEVER ClN'4lO ibIMMLADICI) RUT BY THEIR OW!, 4013. LOW omit hutment plaudits. . Entry ,„111111111.. 111111a.8111$ to stisisew.esisk this sepia _ itioist.j heir own acts are the fair criterion by 'bleb they might to be judged, and in looking to SOW of those acts we shall be able to determine how far they may be deserving of the public con.. Ideate and good opinion. I will not attempt to ieumerate all the acts ,o hich have been sanctioned by the losthovity of the House of Commons ; I will Oftiy mention that disastrous and ever to be d deplete expedition to Waleheren, the calamities ~ of which must be so recent in your memory—an expedition in which so many of your brave sul. , diers were destroyed, less by the sword than a pestilential climate—the health of the survivors 1 rained—the resources of the country uselessly squandered, and tire country sustaining disgrace and a loss of national honour, which it will never be in the power of Ministers to restore.' [Never, never—not al least of oar present Ministers.}—. Another of the acts of the House of Commons, we shall also never cease to remember ; it has made. an impression upon the public iiiiitd which is not to be effaced. When Mr. • Maddocks offered to prove at the Bar of the House of Comitioua that • seats were bought and sold, he was refused a hear. ing.--When Lord Castlereagh and Mr. Perccval were proved to have committed the highest crime which could be perpetrated against the laws of the country—a species of treason against the sacred statutes of the land, the House of . Commons re.,, fused to attaud to the just complaint of an offended , natio', or to Juliet the punishment which the de., ' lintluoll*MassiNtaf • on the Contrary, they acquit. led these Minister s of all Mime. Such, Gentle. men, have been the sets wtich the /loose of COnignOps bee. sanctioned. They offered as ati mese fke theft amoduet that the offencii had been -so repeatedly' eimieeineil, that it' had been lio re. pettedly etionhvil it, that it been committed over and.over agoin, and hid been suffered with ee smelt impunity hat ittioglit in the instance of these two public Ministen not to , be taken notice of. Gentlemen, Lord Caittereagh and Mr. Per. revel have committed these high crimes against the country ; they have injured, insulted, and op.' pressed , the people, but they still Wain their si. tuations—they are still at the Gado! the Govern. merit---they are admitted' to the councils of their Sosereig4i, and are loaded with rewards and ho. noun; these sreat violators of this laws are en. counted hi their crimes, while the poor criminal who perhaps from necessity steals a few shillings, is mmilenmed to lose hit life. I cannot help, with reference to this subject, alluding to the words of our celebrated poet : w Moe sin wing geld, aitaithe Imes of Justice , , straw • • It. Ttrebk this, let as only advert to the proceedings whk% have taken place with respect to Mr. Yorke. Mr. Y orke, though be committed an out. rage upon the public feeling,- though he acted in ' Oposithor to the feelings of the nation at large, this same • Mr. Yorke was taken into the favour, of Ministers—is himself Converted into a Minister --is railed to.one of the highest situations in the T 24, 1810. ' . 'y, and is allowed to assist in directing and governing us. [Vehement expressions of indigna tion.] Gentlemen, evidently, in addition to the opposition of Ministers to every thing like the correction of abuses, there is a determination never to yield to the people any thing like a Re form in Parliament. Such are the acts•by which. we are to judge of •the House of Commons; and I wish any impartial man to say, whether by such acts they do not stand self-condemned 1 I must leave it to the opinion of the public , to de. cide upon the question, and to approve or disap. prove of what I have asserted. So much has been said,, so much has been ably written on the subject of those :privileges which are laid claim to by the House of Commons, that I hardly think it necessary to mention my, opinion to you. From the literary productions of eminent men, which have beep laid WWlyott its isisious.alsapea, In Newspapers, Pamphlets, and other works, it has been, I think, proved to you, thatit is *boo. lately impossible, nay, that it is monstrous and absurd that the House of Commetia should be el. lowed those extraordinary privileges, which they pretend" they are entitled to, bat of which they ac knowledge they du not knew the extent. [Great (geplante.] it appears to me that the argument does out lay . wide, but that it may be reduced to a marrow compass, and confined so a few contd. durations. The written laws, or in other winds, the statute laws of the land, are - to form the guide and rule of our conduct ; eithet they are in fore. or they are not. If they are to force, surely no. man will say that we must not abide by them', and snake them the guide for our conduct. Now, I ask any man to read the'clause of Magna Charts,' which . says, that " no freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, • or disseised of his free tenement, or of his liberties or free customs, or endured or banished, or in any manner destroyed, unless by the judgment of his Peers, or the laws of the land." There are *thee statutes to the same per. pose, which go in confirmation of the Great Char. ter. The Statute of 4,8(11 Edw. 111. declares, that 4 . 4 no man ought to be condemned without being called upon to answer the chergeimputed to him." The 25th of the same King matte, " that theism. Ikea that have confided to them thiiinterpreMtion of the lan's shall allow the amp charter as the common law." In the reigeetif Charles 11. It is enacted, referring to. Magna Cherie, and the Acts in eonformation of it, in these terms—" We will/ that if any judgment. be Orin, contrary tas .the Charter aforesaid; it shall beandone, and held fur nought." I really should be gladif bay Mower. at ke seta barof t Ise House of Persian,. if any of these Privileged Gentlemen,. would explain to me how the laws I have mentioned can be consist. ant with the claims of these unlimited and end& tilled privileges they pretend are in force. We are told in Magna Charts, and the laws confirming it, that we are nut to be imprisoned except by the judgment of our Peers, which means, without trial by jury ; but what do the House of Coin. mans say ? the House of Commons say that ere shall have no trial.; they say they will send for us to their , bar; that whatever we may say, or *has. ever we may write, they will Interpret It accord ing to their own understanding of the subject matter, and send us to prison at their pleasure. 'These things, I say, pre inconsistent with Magna Charts, aud either the one or the Other must be. groundless, and without any authority. Either these sacred laws must b taken to have been re pealed, or the claims of the House of Commons cannot be admitted. Gentlemen, I will now only Mention another instance to you. ln the reign of Henry the Seventh, we all knout that Empson and Dudley, two of the King's Ministers, parti. ciliated inmost scandalous transactions; and that their infamous conduct was highly injurious to, the best interests of the country. In their scandalous career they were supported and backed by Parlia ment, • and by the authority of the House of Commons. Now _ mark what happened after. wards: In the first year of Henry VIII. the Act in support of the conduct of Empson and Dudley was repealed, and, they were hanged, notwith. standing they had been before supported by an It'd of Parliament. It is recited in the Act of Henry VIII., which repeals the Act of Henry VII., that it had been manifestly shewn, that many false informations and accusations had been brought forme-LI against divers of the King's shh.l jects, to their grievous oppression ; ,and that it was intended that the ill success of the oppres. sors of the people should deter others from the like conduct, and should admonish Parliament of the danger of resorting to TRIALS 1,31 ? DIS CUSSION, instead of trials per legeos term.— Now, Gentlemen, it has been endeavoured to be maintained, that the words per legem terrw afford a fair opportunity for including within their im. ports, scope, and meaning, the privilege of • Par. liament.—[Conlemptuoul burst: of laughter.] It is impossible, in my opinion, to maintain such a doctrine—:the words per legens terns cannot be construed to have any inference to the pri.: vileges of Parliament.--and for this -reason Magna Cherie was enacted before the House of Commons had any power or privilege whet ever of the nature now contended, for. Gen. tlemen, I will not new take up more of your time upon this subject, as it has already boot :so well and solidly discussed in the able, eloquent, and constitutionalspeech of Lord Eiskine, in the: House of Lords. His manly spirit and noble et.] erti;tns in yaor glorious cause, I have no language t o d o ju s tice to. 1114 exerciom are felt and up- . ereciated by the Public, anti the Public will ever feel•gratefui fur and obliged by the stand he has ~i . • - , . ,• 1 • - > - : • • • • . • - • 4 ", 4 , „ , t ` • . t , • • . , • • • . . \ 4 PRlCEitfir; . . • made in support of their dearest rights. [Rel. :crated plaudits.] Gentlemen . I cannot help la.' matting that we are still desti ned to remain un. der that treinendous and dreadful system which is supported.by the Borottgh.mongering Faction, and ilas already proved so calamitous to the country. I am sorry to say there does not appear to be any iticlittation •on the part of Parliameut to grant 'that Reform in the Representation, which the pub. lie so much desire. [True, Mr. Brand's *la dles is a proof of Md.] It is notorious to You all how the House of Commons is at pro. lent constituted. You well know how the Bo tretegh.mongering System is carried art—it is a let, which permits those Noble Lords wk. iefluenee in corrupt boroughs, to put in . , r grooms if they chose to di so, and seed them IParlisment among the Representatives of the Ittithey may nominatesoute ettorbey'subser. r slant to•their will, 'practised in corruption, and astettle do whatever they may command him,— .16% they may wren nominate the barber of thi !Irish to be a number of Parliament if they please; there Is nothing to prevent them. It is dreadfel to see the sacred rights of the people thus trampled toen,. the real Privileges of Parliament turned into ridicule, and justice and Titlee trampled en. der foot by those who ought to vindicate and maintain the Public cause. I have now, Gentle. men, only to thank you for the patianee and at.L tendon with which you have heard me, lad to crimes my regret that Sir Francis Burdett could not be present among you. He would hive re. joked to have met the Electors of Westminster ) who accord so strongly and fully with his prie. (epics and feelings. [Reiterated ecclassetionst 44 ell! tee do indeed accord "Pith bins !] 1 hope the time will not bo long when he will once more, bete the happiness of being amongst ul-.-it will atot , bousere to his satisfaction, than, I eat per. sashed, it will be to yours. Gentlemen, ai the same time it is a source of satisfaction to my mind that you feel no particular disadvantage by his ab. mince on this day ;—the Chair is so well tilled by hit sobleColica g ue, that I am sere Sir F. Burdett himself can Wino regretat thecircumstances which have prevented him from being present. I set not going to make any observations upon the vim 'Wes of that Noble Lord,; I will not &neat upon ids public video, because I we inadequate to do ' jadeite to them ; the Electors of Westminster, Gentlemen, have the satisfaction, I may say the guile satiefaelion, of knowing that they Mee *Warned to Parliamont two hottest men [bursts qf .bpplaisse]: they have chosen two men to repro mit them, who eat In women and unison tore*, in sepport of the Laws end Constitution of the land. It Is a greet and glorious advantage, • hich they could not boast of for many years before, that by the exertion of their independence they have shaven two Representatives who have the same feelings and the same common interest. In general, you. have had one representative acting one way, and one the other; the one supporting you, and the other Ministers. I think it is a con. siderablc advantage to the Electorii, as well as, the couutry, that you have two men steadily acting to. gether; and you have not more to expect from Sir Francis Burdett than from the glorious exertions which have been made, and the patriotic virtues which have been displayed by his colleague, the Noble Lord, for the good of his country. Gen. denten, I am very thankful for the patient hear: in you have given, and without further [retina: jug on your time, I shall conclude" with a toast); which I am sure you will drink with enthusiasm ) because tee subject of it is one which cannot bit beAlear to your hearts. Gentlemen * I give you The Electron of Westminster, with three times ibtee. The toast was drank with siii>uts of applause. A Song was then .called' for from Mr. Smalley: The theme was the virtues of Sir Francis Burdett, and it was sung with Spirit - mid animation. Mr. STUltCll.—Gentlemri►, I am very on• willing to be the interrupter of your eins;ivialityi and I hope I shall not be considered in that lisht if I use the privilege of an old Elector for Warta minster, and offer you a few words in consti.atinCel of the last toast you hate given, in honour tif the . Electors of Westmineter. Gentlemen, what I mean to do is, in a few Words, to fellow up the► idea of the brother whom we are proud [bNrsts'bf applause] his speech wherein he be Imputed as a sin ' k is a sentiment in' wn.. have to offer my congriti present, that they have '" be represented by I both zealously, ana the cause of the'Pete &Won.] Gentlemen. Westminster, which durably more then venture to say that had two Members at were decidedly the Frt perhaps fin. a very short instance when they . their own popularity, their being connected erful by its influence moment I am 'speaking *tour, the dingelar honour, presentstives, *hose ii..- - spond With our o' Befere my time, I have no much the,sa'ce in W till we made a noble and privileges. We , . ''' • i -,' . ' • : 5 ~. , - *;l 6 . ' • - ... - . .b • „,. - - -179rPtirmlirrirwry .7-1 • 41 " . *101 . . 1 ,.. , •,-- -.1,' j 4 ' , ' '4 -,.' 0,„.....,4 ' , lli ‘-. --J •• I' ' • • ' , ... - , t .. - "4 . • ' t 1 • ~ el3ti ii I t , • ! T ied e ,. . ..:-....- : • . 1323. , r qi ' l l , , Irk it4.. ' , 2 1 ," LONDON, THURSD.4IY, MAY VESTIBANTEIi MEETING. ! or Westminster hare offered a • grand and noble 1 country, and ics. of the Honourable Haionet, nd to call our reprvientatird r]; particularly in that part of lie stated, thatit ought not Le to any men to be of ao partyt. • • which L heartily concur. ongritulatfana to the Elattotl lase tiff heppines4 this darilat two sale Members, ilistittlalk I I kelklia hoisted,' 4etiselitt4 , ipti. tignprinwiesti s 4l49% en, doting my lung le • embreces a period. 4 p;0212146 forty, years, I think. I erey we Mete scarociy rk *lf timi • st 'entre tekesenting tit * lA, Fritods of the P 11.04 040 hurt tints; and even that wit sp were elected, not act Mack for ty, is tram the ciretinistinee ot ed with s poly that Wes poWa re 'in the country t hut' of the klng . to yen s we hate that hi+ humour, of possessing t*4 , se sentiments entirely _eeteen . )wn. Et/ferrets dppittnatil' have n 9 doubt that things were Westminster as they reetalea le Wed In defence of owe i It re hitosoir the honour to bi No "7"7" i i