The Statesman. — London, England, 1822-01-14 00:00:00

,--~ .. • \ • \ ° ' moat rehab* sad Bombes the most proper mesas a affording relief, is to restore the currency to the stied-, aril of mane in existence previously to and at the tine of passing the Cash Resumption Payment Act (connsin- 1 ly called Mr. Peel's Bill), as, in reference to that stead ard of value, nearly all the existing contracts were media and debts incurred, and the departure - from which, if longer persisted in, must inevitably involve the whole Agricultural commseity iu one common rails. " 3. Tbat no measures of relief can be permanent and effeetnal, toles. the most rigid economy be inforced in every department of the State, and- the exprolltome thereof, as well naval as military, from the bead of the Executive down to the lowest offices of Government, hi very materially reduced; measures, the adoption of which will relieve all classes from the overwlvelming tinrelen of taxation which now oppresses them, enable Landlords to lower their rents, the Clergy their Tithes, and lessen the enormous Pones' Rate, and other heavy expences incidental to the occupancy sod cultivatioa of the soil. " 4. That the present heavy and oppressive duty oil Malt operates greatly to the disadvantage of the Parasol, he reducing the coestoorion, and consequently the prig* of Barley; and that the total annihilation of that tax *1 of vital importance to the agricultural interest. " 6. That a Petition, embracing all the foregoing ob ject., be addressed to each House of Parliament as earl as possible in the next Session ; and that the Earl Albemarle and the Earl of Orford be requested to prewi the same to the Honer of Lords, and the County WW I hers to the House of Coninione." O. WATSON. Esq. rose to second the Resolutions. if any one asked why a measure of such importance as this was did net originate with the leading Gentlemen of the County. the reply of the Requisitionists was, that the leading Gentlemen themselves were best able to answer that question. They (the leading Gentlemen) might have good reasons for their conduct, but those persons who thought differently would sot have dis• charged their duty, either to themselves or to the agri culturists generally, had they not signed the Requisho tion for calling this Meeting. In doing this they fol lowed the course prescribed by law. The Requisition. ists had a stake in the country as well as the leading Gentlemen ; not certainly to the tame amoent, but yet of equal importance to them ; and therefore they were justified in taking such steps as they deemed neceesary to secure the permanence of that stake. In drawing up the Resolutions, the Committee had studiously en deavoured to avoid every thing which was likely to triltlit or imitate party feeling. They were desirous, if possible. of attaining goanionity ; they thought that wilatrver difference of opinion might exist as to the cause of the present distresses, ought to be made sub , ject of discussion elsewhere, and oa a different occasion; there it was totally irrelevant to the object which brought them together.—(Hear, bear.)—.With this view kr had abstained from entering into party politica. and he hoped tlat other Gentlemen would do the same. —(Hear, hear.)-He was of opinion that the proposed Resolutions were most likely to be effectual in remov ing the evils complained of, and therefore he begged leave to wood them. The Earl of ALBEIMARLE came forward, and was received with the loudest applause. After expressing his acknowledgement to those who had preceded him, he proceeded to state the difficulties under which he laboured on that occasion. He was given to under stand that he must come to the discussion of this quer thin totally divested of all political or party feeling's but, with his strong political feelings be would put it to the meeting, nay he would pat It to the Honourable Condemn opposite (Mr. E. Wodehouse, M . P.) who. thee it was not a little restraint not to be allowed ow groan, not even one little groan, against the antben of the calamities by which they were surrounded.--• With respect to the objects before them, lie had only to say, that from the moment be beard of tis meeting, be bad determined to give his bro ther sufferers his best support—(Applause.) He had, therefore. come resolved to make nocaptioasobjeetions to this or the other proposition ; and he hoped that be would redeem his pledge. He bad bad an oppor malty of seeing the resolutions at Holkbam, to which place they had been sent, with that respect which was flue to the advice and opinion of their excellent Repro a aitative. Mr. Coke; and he found that his anxiety to agree with the Committee was much gratified, al though it was in some points a little disappointed, Tlois was, however, rather what had been °milted than in what had been inserted. He rejoiced, and it w ie matter of congratulation to them all, that Norfolk was the first County which met to discuss this impor tant qnestion. He rejoiced also, that in that great County there had not been a word said, not even a Lint dropped, in favour of a Corn Bid.—(Applause,) —that no man bad proposed to seek relief by a restric tive duty, or by any other means which would cause an artificial rise in the price of core—(Hear, hear.)—He rejoiced at this, becanse in his view of the question, such a measure would he unjust ; and Use believed, after ail the atteotion which be could give the subject, that it would not be beneficial to their interests.— (Hear.)—Nay more, he did not believe it to be prac ticable. But even if it were both practicable and just, still he maintained that it would not afford them any relief. Suppose corn were at 40s. a comob here, while it was sold at 20s. elsewhere, it would be ion prat Hole to afford protection. It would not he in the power of Parliament to do it, and they had all felt in various ways what the power of Parliament was. But even if it were practicable, he should be glad to see how such a Bill would run. " Whereas wheaten broad is cheap un the continent, be it therefore enacted that it shall be dear in England."—(A laugh!)—Some of their great Parliamentary Economists bad told them, first, that di arose from over-produce ; and then that arose from over-population--(Hear, hear.) —Bet if they passed a law such as he bad described. one at least of those evils would be removed. There would be no over-population, as such a measure would operate as a premium to emigration. He had old Eng lish feeling enough to object to those who, in the hour of distress and danger, serape together what they can of their property, for the purpose of spending it in a foreign country—(bear, bear!)—He for one, even if reduced to his last shilling (sad he might be so re-' doted if the present measures were continued), would not quit his country, but would spend that last shil ling in it—(cheers.)—But it Ministers did not re trench. and adopt other measures than such a one as be described. then every man would bare a right to emigrate to where he could get cheap bread, and the consequent loss in consumption would be much more than the gain in price. He was glad to hear that no gentleman bad attributed the present distresses to the importation of foreign corn ; a fallacy, the continu ance of which surprised him a good deal. There had ~•- •- TI r: STA bees notensmetision Atf foreign corn In one market Of fie list +rewires" ; !wither had any allosinc:lseth maik tolhorwarthonslne of feteign corn.' Is ' thre, perhaps, an alteration might be made, which would af foutimis• teillicerreitef. • Writ was unworthy of tiro attention of t a groat dignity, mad ,if "Wood; would' not be more than a ilnp in the ocean, 'kris likewise. pleasing to find tbit ne allusion had been made to the Matins, doctrine as to rite mode of taking Hit oranges. Os now tame to the Resolutions, wisleli were short in substance. And first, as to the remedy 'promised. The Honourable Mover stated nothing is I support ef the repeal of Mr.feel's Intl nit was called. He was not prepared to ear, whethet the immediate cause, of their distresses dirk not arise dross. Mr. Peel's Rill ; he was, however, rasher disposed to think, that. Doming just when it did, it in some degree produced the distresses of the country. But, supposing this to be the case, it by no Atones followed that its repeal would be beneficial hear.)—What was the great cause of all our present calamities ? A paper currency. What was the remedy proposed? A re turn tea paper currency, by a repeal of this Bill. What was the disease complained of? The issue of paper. What was the remedy ? Why the disease It ult.—Oyer, bear.)—lf a man got bit by a mad dog, what was lie to do to be cured ? Why. according to this principle, he must be bit by the same dog again. —(A laugb.)—He hail heard nu argument is support of this repeal—his own argument was to him clear ahainst it, and therefore be was strongly inclined to oppose the second mention. The great none of their distresses was direct and (what was much less at tended to) indirect taxation.—(Hear, bear.) —To re duce this Ministers must, as was stated in the fourth resolution, retrench In every department of the State. from the head down to the lowest office. Ile concurred in this, hut here again was one thing in which he wished to make some little alteration. Ile oolong the repeal of the Malt Tax by itself. Ile was anxious for the repeal of that tax, and it must and would take place, bet not alone. The public distresses were general, the relief should be general also. It was his intention. there fore, to propose the repeal of the heavy imposts spun salt, soap, candles, and leather. A GENTLEMAN to the Ti g ht of the Chair—Aid all the other taxes.—(A laugh.) The Earl of ALUEMARLIC proceeded. His great oh. ject was that taxation should lie so reduced that those articles of consumption should ne brought down to the price of corn ; not that the present eases should be continued, and corn, by fictitious means, be forced up to the present prices of those articles. This uas his view. Whether the proposed reduction would be altogether sufficient he was not prepared to say, bat he felt that it would be enough to begin with. lie must say, however, that without a !hinge of Minis try no pertinence relief could be afford to the country ; and again (Ito said it with fear and trembli3g, after the interdict of his friend Mr. Wawa.) that this change of ministers could not be brought about with out a Reform is' the representation of the people in Parliameet.—(Loud Cheering.) Coos ' this subject he would sot trust himself one step farther. The Noble Earl, after stating that he bad no objection to the But Resolution, shortly pointed out the nature of the alterations which be Weeded to make is the ethers, after which be proposed that the following amended Resolutions be read ; " 2. That the amount of public expenditure, and con sequently . of public demands, by direct and indirect taxation, is the plain unquestionable cause of our pre sent sufferings, and that the only safe and practicable remedy is to be found in such a diminution of those de mands as may enable the farmer to grow hie produce at a reasonable rate, and thus equally spread the benefit of its inguenre through every class of society through out the kingdom. " S. That this diminution is, to a v •ry great extent. capable of being instantly made with .t any ptiblic de triment whatever, by a rigid economy enforced in every department of the State, naval, military, and civil ; from the bead of the Executive down to the lowest officesof tiovernment, relieving all classes from the overwhelm fag burden of taxation that so heavily oppresses them, enabling Landlords to lower their rents, and Clergymen and I mpropriators their tithes, and by improving the si tuation of the poor. lessening the amount levied for their subsistence. In short, reducing all the heavy and in tolerable earners now incidental to the occupancy and cultivation of the soil. " 4. That though this Meeting disavowing all selfish motives. and anxious only for the g I welfare and prosperity, is willing to leave to the wisdom of Mitt• meat the particular items upon which a reduction of taxation may be best made, yet it feels that the repeal of one half of the Malt Duty. together with the heavy imposts upon Soap, Candles, Salt. and Leather. amount ing. together to Five Millions and upwards, levied upon articles closely connected with Agriculture, and ranking amongst the indispensable necessaries of life, most espe cially call for the most attentive consideration. " 5. That this Meeting feels itself compelled to urge its Resolutions with the greater earnestness, from re flecting that six years of peace, the usoal and only season in ail countries for the redaction of those . h.irdens which war imposes, and the nourishment of pohlic prosperity and individual wealth, have now passed away, not only without prodncin in this country eay adequate relief, bat that during this long period. COOP merce has languished. and Agriculture declined from one degree of depression to another, till at last it has reached a crisis in which either some very important amelioratian must take place. or a total derangement of the whole order and relations of society must ensue." [The sixth Resolution was similar to the last of Mr. Thurtell's Resolutions.] During the reading of the Resolutions, a person asked " How is the National creditor to be paid ?" General WALPOLE said his answer to this question was. that the public creditor ought not. and be hoped would not be paid at the expense of the landed In t t. If the land was reduced to a state of bank ruptcy, to pay the Funded Proprietor, it was bat fair that the Funds should pay a proportion of the expense. —(Hear.) The first Resolution (Mr. Martell 's) was then put and *aided unanimously. Mr. Tnu LLLLL shortly explained the reasons which induced bins to support the ieeond Resolution. The Earl of ALIMMARLII also explained. Mr. Onals jun. supported Mr. Thurtell's woad Re solution. Lord Scrrtst.o rose amidst loud and repeated cheers. After some preliminary observations on the distress they bad met to consider. be said it appeared to him that then were bet two remedies for the esist ing evil. one was an lacressed or remunerating price far their produce. and the other the removal of those causes which prevented their pttiag a remuneratiog lie rejoiced with hie Noble Friend (Albemarle) repot wee an Agrienltoriat in the tawny of wit* near entertained the stupid idea, that ..-. . , higb , rices would And relief is the Kneel Mit Pi Weir. - Suppose tiler were to get a high price fowl theiefeuiro, what then? Why, his friends is the Northl (for he had Meade Ls . Larreashire) would be tumble to. live. , When the high prices esisteJ, what 'was the "ijoiegunee? Did sot the people of Lascashire ore If redeem for relief, and did they not - get their An& not for so meeting ?—(Criti of " they did.") tliaae 2ifference between the Meetings of the two i Counties was shirr : in Lancashire the populating was i great; here it was unalL It was easy in Norfolk, on I application to a High•SherifE possessing the "hit and independence of the Worthy Chairman, to call a pub lic meeting. But how were the thousands and tens of thousands in L hire to act? Besides, the per sons who composed-that meeting wore ewe enlighten ed. and better Wormed than the population of Lan cashire. He hoped the meeting would excuse this di gression in favour of his friends in the North—(bear, hear!) —Now, having pointed oat the distresses under which they labonred, what was to be theft relief? It was a removal of taxation ; that wits. the only re medy. Why the Wog wean palpable, diet be won dered there could be say question about it. ' They must be relieved, not in' small degraes,bst by whole sale. There must be a redaction of five millions of taxes per year, or else they would do mithing.—Taxa- Goo was oppressive, and burdensome in itself, bat it was ten-fold more mischievous, from the command and Whims which it gave Ministers over the wink ma chinery of Government—(blw, hear. hear!) —This was to-be corrected in no other way than bra Reform in Parliament—pond cheers].—We were approaching. • crisis when public meetings would cease to be called farcical. as some individuals of high rank have called them—[applause]. And if that meeting omit ed Pa liausentery Reform in its Address to Parlia ment, he cou.d ware them it wo•uld not be omitted long—it would soon be inserted in other Addresses. The work of Reform-was already begun. It origia sled with the distresses of the country ; and. though he deeply lamented those di (they all felt them. and suffering was a good r. aeon fur sympathy), yet it was a consolation to reflect that the suffering to which they were reduced would remove the film from their eyes. After noticing the effect of Mr. Peel's Bill. he said he should at first bays- stated. that unless they introduced Parliamentary Reform into their proceedings they would do nothing.—(Hear, bear.) He -was aware that the question would meet with considerable oppo sition from some persons present.—(Cries of " No, so !" " Mole. move •." mixed with some disapproba tion.) He was sure that no man wished for Reform more than he did; but while he thought it would be oppoied be would out propose it. He abstained from doing so the more readily, as be knew that the work of reform was going on ; even those who now opposed it would turn round and join in the cry for it by and by. The Hon. Gentleman who moved the edgiest Resolutions stated, that be did not wish to eat down the public expenditure to what it was in 1792. He should like to hear the Hoc Gentleman's reasons for saying so. He (Lord Suffield) saw no objection against our doing so. Indeed it had been recommend ed by i Committee of the House of Commons. By `Arkpurents which had been produced, it appeared that slate 1792 the expenditure had increased from seven millions eight hundred thousand pounds to twenty-six millions. He should be glad to know bow that hap rued. Ministers retained their place by the extrava gance of the public expenditure. The influence which this extravagance gave them, was worse than the royal prerogative. The royal prerogative would do no hum. Any violeat exercise of it would create alarm, and would, perhaps, meet with resistance. But the influence of Ministers worked in the dark ; it ran through every fibre of the State, and was likely to produce effects from which may God defend as.— (Hear, hear.) He for one was anxious to stop this oserse of things by Constitutional means is his I power. No man was more attached to the King and Constitution than he was. and any one who should re. result hire otherwise, would do hint a serious injury. —(Hear.) The best hinds to the constitution were those who wished to clear away its abuses. He loved the theory of the Constitution, nor its practice. The practice was in fact a satire upon the theory. What would a foreigner, who heard the theory of our Co • ttion, say ? He would call it a glorious Constitution. he would say that our Ministers were responsible for their acts. Now he would se riously ask, was there any man who conceived tbeprm sent Ministers were so responsible?—(No. no.)—Be- fore what tribunal were they to be tried ? What is. dividnal would care to be put upon his trial, if be had himself the appointment of two-thirds of iris jollies? The next thing which a foreigner would say, was that our's was a representative form of Government, and that the people elected their own representatives. Now be would leave it to the meeting to decide. whether this was the fact when they learned that the majority of the House of Commons is returned by 8,000 per mits out of a population of B,ooo,ooo.—(Hear.)--A foreigner would say too, that our representatives were chosen by the unbiassed voice of the peiple. Now he would ask, whether any English voter was ever less his own master than during an election? The greatest men that ever 'Wee in this country had at one period .rhe other of their liver advocated the cause of telona. Bat unfortunately, the moment they pt into power, they, by some unaccountable fatality, got a sort of film over the eyes; a sort of political epthainsia, without the pain attending that disease. As to the revenue, it became necessary to inform the . fileeting. that the collection alone cost the country more than one half of the total expenditure of 1792 I —(shame.) They bad seen the Agriculturists in Fhr fillment. complaining of the distresses of the landed lament, and yet voting with Ministers for the fullest establishments; they found them opposing Grams of Supply, and afterwards opposing that foe to all extra vagance. Mr. Hunts; and then, at the close of the Susie*, thankiag him for his exertions. There was an inconsistency In all this well worthy of public no lice. Even the Noble Marquess of Londonderry—that manager of the House of Commons—(cheers)—that great Leviathan, had owned that the country was much indebted to Mr. Hume; and be trusted that the resent meeting would for ones credit the Noble Mar lton, awl g ive to Mr. Hank that approbation which a the Minister of the CM,n bad not withheld.— The Noble Lord after some observations upon the sm. jag which Mr. Hume had effected by his imm tv into theemolements of the Receiver-General and whil he stand to amount to 73,6501. out tit' 117,900, concluded b i t speech by heartily seconding the resol e . tinns which the Earl of Albemarle had proposed to to thh meeting.—(Loud OlKripg•) Mr. TIBUITILL, is explanation, said, be had n o objection to reducing our expenditure to the staodArd or 1712;1f each a mestere were practicable. bat he doubted the fact of its being so. Mr. Illowano Tanen after adverting to the various topics is the previous discussion. same, he said, as saes to the real cense of all our salesitie—the eye. rapt sad defective state of the Representation of the people. If the people bad been redly represented, they would have taken care that their Members should have listened is Mr. Hese. sad have acted with a re. gsrd to the Janssens of the people. Bat the fact we., that the House of Commons was sot responsible to the people. bat to the Beronvegh Proprietors. This was the great and crying e►il, and until this was remedied, it was in vain to respect security fur oar liberties, or one property. Under this conviction, and quite un connected with any of the Gentlemen who had alley the present Meeting, be should submit the following Revolts tient : "That it apparel is the coarse of the last Setsien from documents prodscod by the meritorious 'about of Mr. Horne, that there is sot a branch of the public et. penditure, foreign or domestic, in which tetreschatents to a large amount might net be effected, but that all the r prepositions made by him to attain such desirable (tads, were negatived by a large majority of the House of Commons. Therefore. it is our deeided conviction, that the corrupt snd defective state of our Representation is the true mom of onr present distress. and that astil the people are fully and fairly represented in their Hoses of Parliament, no permanent or adequate relief is to be no petted." After a short conversation Mr. Thurtell withdrew his mood. mid Loa Albemarle's second Resolution was put and carried ananinownly, as was also leis Lordship's third Retolstion. The Earl of :tumulus said, that, with respect to the Malt Doty, he would willingly go for the repeal at the whole duty, were it not that he feared, by askinc fur too mach. they would get nothing.—(Sove:al voices—" repeal it all at once.") The Earl of Ser/IRLD recommended the Meeting to ask a repeal of a part only of the duty. lly doing to they would make it more difficult for Minister. to refuse them, and they would also render such a refusal more obnoxious to the public. Resides. they would have many supporters if their demands were reasonable. who would certainly oppose them if they asked we much. Mr. Coes spoke to the same effect. The whole Malt Duty was seven maltose. Now they ought to be cau tious in their applications to Parliament, how far they were likely to trench on the ateeessary revenue of the coantry.—(Hear, hear.)—Heeides, he had seen a letter from Mr. Hume (than whoa there had not hem' is kis time a mere industrious or more efficient Member in Parliament), in which that Headman pointed nest the articles mentioned in the Resolutions as those, in the duties on which a reduction coign he made with tilt greatest safety to the nation. The Hon. Getriesnen complimented Lord Suffield on the great attatotioa which he paid to his Parliamentary duties trims da the House of Commons. Hie Noble Friend bad frequently divided 12 or 13 times of a sight wit's Mr. Hume upon his different motions for a reduction of expels/item.— (Loud Applause.) The Earl of Autzwastm's fourth and filth Resole. Lions were put sad carried snasiusonsly. Mr. TASLOIIeII Reoalutioa respecting Parliamentary Reform was then put and carried with the opposition of ten or twelve hands only.—(Load cheers.) A Petition. embracing the foregoing Resolutions. was then read and agreed to unanimously, and wa , ordered to be signed by the High Sheriff ua behalf of the dleetisg. Mr. Coes then came forward and was received with loud and repeated cheering. After taking a briri y of the couJuct of ti mend since they fir.t I sent him to Parliament, be said there were, however. those who wished to turn the attention of the people from that object, and to stifle the public voice. "his was evident from the pains whiell had been ukea in Suffolk to prevent a County hireling, and from the name of faeces. which had been givee in Hampshire to large and respectable Meetings like the present. What could be the iseanisg of such conduct? Was it sot to intimidate the people from having soy opi nions at all, and to beat and trample these into co ne plate subjection ? This was evident, too, from the occurrences in the county of Kent? They load all read the letter of Lord Stanhope, calling upon clue gentlemen and yeomanry to meet in their County 1131). Who had prevented it? The higher el , the life and property gentlemen. who wished the people to put themselves ander their guidance and direction. — Now, if the country was to be saved, those gentlemen must come over to the principles of the people, whom they affected to despise. and must act in direct °pr• sition to that system they had hitherto uppotted. To that system he had always been opposed, since. as one of twelve Members in the Hoene of Commons, be had opposed the commencement of the American war. That system is taxation without representation; and Lot Chatham had taught him to pushier it as both unwise and unjust. It had, indeed, been the cause of all on, calamities for the last :on years, and the only mode of curing them was that pointed out by the Noble Lord; full, fair, and free repmestation of the people is P.lflid• meat. Hari ogagai u adverted to the conduct of Hover.• meat in recent instances he proceeded to say a word or 10 'respecting Lord Londonderry, and the causes his Lori ship bad fossil out for their dist r . First, lie called it a trusition from war to peace ; then he called it an ignorant impatience of taxation ; then he milted it was from want of employment to the poor, for which he recommended that they should dig bolo v one day. and MI them up the next; and last of all 11 , was obliged to say that time and patience would n. meJy every thing. Now he (Mr. Colo') to - disguise Cer tain that the farmers of Norfolk bad she:: n very great patience. and be must own that he expected that they would have to show it for a very long time twfdrr Lord Londonderty's promised remedy would contr. In the last Session of Parliament petitions had come from all quarters. stating the distress of the cultivators of the .seil s and is consequence a Committee was appointed to examine them. as a little acconuentolvtion to the rein. plainants. The majority of that Committee were.