The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1807-04-10 00:00:00

. • . r • . • • Prvalit 1350.) 131Pittl Al, PARLIAMENT. known to he unfortunately founded in fart ; when it did appear that His Majesty had been advised to dismiss his Ministers, because they refined to aft against their oaths, and their consciences ( Loud cries of Hear ! kor 1 lee , o ! from the Opposition Benche , l i and because they had declioed to abdicate the ditty incumbent upon them ; I Sir, for one, was most deeply alarmed ; because I thought it a matter of danger to the Constitution, and subversive of its main props and securities. I did think that this Howie would be defective in its duty, if it suffered any time to elapse previous to coming to such a Ruda. tion as that now proposed. But, Sir, 1 now think, that the adjournment which has taken place, has been rather fortunate than otherwsie ; because L aro convinced, that the time which has intervened, would only tend to enable Members to ascertain more properly the merits of the question, and to come more easily to it Coolf tion of thaseareityof wits &viatica of this rrse sure. It has been thereby rendeked more apparent and more cogent ; so that I am confident that this Resolution, or one of the sort. will be agreed to, bT this House, with mote alacrity, and be attended with more weight, on account of its beiiig adopted on more mature deliberation. Meer ! hap ! bier !J The King, as is well known, exercises the function of the Executive Government, subse , quent to the decisions of his great Council. con'sist ing of the Lords and Commons, in Parliament as , semided. But, Sir, front the popular nature of biep these assemblies, end of their proceedings , it is - email, in order to secure dispatch to put mess, of Flc eat importance, that a large ' thereof be vested in His Majesty's G o - ment. Every ad of that GovernMent, however; it whittle to the re-consideration, to the census% end, if neessary, to the reversal of Parliament, e$ well as to their approbation, previous to its com ing under the consideration of His Majesty ; and this it is which distinguishes onaGovernment from an arbitrary, and from a reptsblican Government. — The security which we possess against th e inisoen duel of Government is obvious. When constitutional principles are attacked, they have may to be stated, with as much clastinetrie.s as possible, lithe Repre- Sentatives of the people, chosen by themselves, iihiiie viikassigs the best safeguard of their rights • • and priv ileges. f! is obvious, that very erroneous measores may be proposed by the Executive'Oos stynment, or it may he guilty of omissions; and iebat security has Parliament or the people, that the Fairs of the nation will be conducted as they ought to be, without prejudice or partiality, and with a sempletekr:owledge of all circumstance% a state ; merit of all arguments. ind an impartial considers- tun of the real totems oe'the country ? What i e. te.ty have they that those steosures have bees ' epos soffirciest reflvetion, or doe' Worms. tins? et bow has the people sit down con tented with the administration. if those who com pose it are to be fettered in their decisions, or bound oy particular pledges? It is impossible to guard agaity i t reistakes; but it is surely in the highest de gree satisfidory to the people to know that public affairs are entrusted in the hands of thoie who are incliited to oft for the general security, and *to set that the hest shall be stone. The security which the people have hitherto fold for this upright cctiduet in the Administr.tioto has been the oaths adminis tered to the • Privy Coonsell.irs, as expressed by the 1140. Gentleman who has made this motion. It was the with of the most tyrannical Pt ince that ever reigned in this country, li.ing Henry the Eighth, that every Privy Ousisellor should throw aside all manner of•ditomulaiino. Lord Cote says, that Oitomulation is of all other evils the most , dangerous to the Constitution; and ad.;l, that the truth, end the whole trush, should, upon eyes y suilyeet meet the Royal ear ; that the best opinions of the Privy Council should be submitted to the Executive Government. What secdrity remains for us. it this House and the other reposz implicit etiqfidence in an Administration v.ho are tri possession of fads which lead them to think some measures prudent to be adopted, yet do not think them pro per to be divulged? We may know that they are bound by oaths ; but what well be the conserpience. . They may it they are aiding against the i r oaths? ih h he doing that which they know to be wrong, and omitting that which they krow to be right; their hands rosy be tied up, and theit mouths may lyeblut, by previous stipulations; ...ley may be no longer us possession of the right of dotag their duty, or the right of fulfilling their oaths. It is on these wounds thif I am convinced of the absur dity, and even criminality, of any set of Minis ters coming under stipulations or pledges, 'And it is therefore that I second the Motion. I must own t!, it it appears, upon this occasion, that the Consti mhos has Men attacked in its most vital part. The Government may nai—l , II a SeeCIOU , Clow; but ail Mai be false colours ; Ministers may be rosies.l of gra i l abilities, but their hands may be tied up; their powers of consideration may be tit no security to the people, if they have Ten tinned their characters as faithful counsellors; every' thing may be con dueled in violation of their oaths, and, at the same time, uo the injury of the country. If this House do itot a„ see to such a resolution, it wilt only be show ing t hat we ale sitting here as unfeeling spedatirs of the dangers to witch the fundamental p: metolts of our Constitution hive been exposed." General CRAWFORD—" Sir. in stating my sentiments upo.s ?Lis subject, I am desirous to con cider the question in its full extent, as originally intended to have been proposed to the House, it l may jugs front the original untie% which was given by me Hots. Gentlornan who has brought it tor. ward. I think it is a sto mason which it it impos.i• ble to discuss seeraiately. from its application; I mean that it is impossible au: to advert to the Con. duel of His Pdajooy's late Ministers. whien totem dietely o.c scot. .•!. their femoral trolls las Cnoactis. I commitr that that tam oval from nac't has girth ,c to the present ruction. I by no 'means wish. it my duty to limit or, alter my motioo s so as to effe& a snore general object. I do think that it is the duty of this House too, to dirge their at tention to those doctrines which are hereby likely to be contended for, and to avert the consequences of their dissemination. I allude to that pledge by which His Majesty's Ministers were direaed to re str4ii themselves, by a written obligation, from giving such advice to His Majesty as they might deem necessary, according to the importance of the objet, and the security of the country. Such a wish could only have arisen in minds neither care ful of the prerogative of the Crown, nor the con. stiwtional interest of the country. I conceive it ? Sir, to be proved. as a general proposition of our constitutional law, in dirt& contradieffbn to those doCtrines presupposed upon that occasion, that any attempt to counteraa the power of consideration, and giving that advice which His Majesty's servants may from time to time think proper to submit to their Sovereign. is suhversive of the esta r 1 law 4ififae cnonuy. sad contrary to the f principles of the Constitution. His Majesty has, en. doubt, a full discretion as to the apodunment of his Ministers; but he cannot restrain those whom he has appointed, irons giving that advice which circum- . stances may require. Responsibility is one of the rights of the Constitution, and where can that re sponsibility exist, which has not a correspondent contioul? Where, I would wish to know. win blame attach for miscoodutt, it His Majesty's Mi nisters are to be circumsctibed Responsibility * therefore, is, I AM. a great and predominant prir4 ciple of our Constitution, whir h I believe is sometisnis not well understood. I conceive, however, that such responsibility as I allude to. most be that of great' data:leis and exalted names, trot of mere political adventurers, who will tender their invalid security to a deluded peoples ( Hear ! rie s rir I bear !). Sir, upon a subjeCt of suc importance, it would ill be. come me to attempt to delineate th,ose great outlines of constitutional principles, whiih have been by uniform pra&ice hithetto so completely marked out. If their °bird were doubtful, I might indeed venture tc hazard some mgumcnts to ascertain their dire; ion ; and if fallen into disuse, to contend for their adoptioa ; but, Sir, they are principles which are already acknowledged. admitted, and recog nised, by every authotity on constitutional law. Were they even less generally known to many of the Members of this Hose, than they really are, I contend that the very oaths of those Cetinseliets of His Majesty, would be sufficient to remove any existing doubt upon that subject. the Institutes of Lord Chief Justice Coke, the ancient form of the oath is to be found ; and it appears ;hat they were thereby to bind themselves to advise this King gene rally for the good of himself and his sittrje&s, without any partiality, affeCtion, or dread of any person whatever. A bdusirder is hound to keep the seeress of the King's Council, so as ant to pnblida them by word or by writing. How tar this line has been olasered by some indieidnals. will &p -pearl from some late publications in a daily paper. (lino- ! hear ! bear !) I shall that, however, go further beyond my intended line, by making ousel , •ations upon such reprehensible condaet. In all things. it is said, that Priyy Counsellors must faith fully and truly divulge tneir minds, . and deliver their oponons. It, then, a Privy Counsellor. atter swearing such anbath,shall sign a pledge er ei;ccute a deed, ui coontera& its effe3, what has be to an swer for to his King, his country, and his God ? The consequent criminality of such a condo& is so obvious, that I leel ashamed to argue a p. inciole so axiomatic to cnastitutional law. hut some there must be who venture to deny it I Some there must be, who ere ignorant of the Constitution of their country ; or, if they know its principles, have yet dared to advise it. perversion I Conhaing myselr, then, to [fiat part.colar point of view, in which I conceive such a doctrine would be danger. nos e I shall fot heir entering into the merits ut the late Administratior„ as their conduit has been such as mast be approved by all who are friendly to tl.e fundamental principles of our glorious Consti union. I will not detain the iio..se by making aqr futther remarks on the various measures they thought proper to adopt in tupport of the rights, tl,e interests, nay, even the very lives of the people. These are afts which will long br ittirrt4sed *mint the minds, not only of their coultrym:in, but even of the oppressed Africans, who wail shortly feel the effeEts of our national be. nevolence, and pour toith their grateful acknow ledgments to &Assn individuals who, amongst the ttlicr ohjen, of their attention, did out tail to use their efktto it ea .ttions in behalf of the gulf:rung slave. Whin I consider in) Fountry is danger, by threatened innovations upon the principles of our Constittuio.., I shall never f to come forward to pinfortri'what 1 conceive to be my public duty j And such Ale the grounds upon which t have /fled up.in the prehins occasion. I shall not trespass fortne.i upon the patience of the House, than by suirmi.ting Ole following Motion for year con:oder-4c and adoptiom ..'first it emu:ars to the fit* duties of the coniSdarnisl 'wim ps ins owed. w osmium' tbaaile.res by any pledge, ehrte..od isbiawbOtobb saniog is Iris Alas say a4v.ce, wilitc.l t ot 4 r4t ast castablataners Iniy rel.4a tee the welt4l4l Ina sccurtty icy pAtt ,tt lute hiJoety's extgostrio suevirr.' Mr. LAMB..." 1 rise, Sir, for the purpose of seconding tart motion which has been made. Al though use (Asset V.itiClS which have just now filled tr:m the Hors. Mover. must be acknowledged by .all. to be clear, pet %vicunas, and convincing, ye, upon a so:ie..t oU:h importalice as this is, 1 CAS not avoid making a. few A dditional observations. tnibt that the sul.j:a of this in .non, although iiiirulving comaJerainnits of very greet tnagaittnie, adants of a plain, clear, and easy deostoo ; And ap pear. a very small t onipte.. I beg leave th.nt. to n..set se, that immesh/sit:ly before thy recess, wnen those rumours which bad agitated the puhtic mind, as to the change that was abut to take olau.. LA lie' Majesty's Adeamistratiott, woe HOUSE OF LORDS—Tituftsumr, Aran. 9. The Royal Assent was g/Y,n by Commissiop c ertain Bills ; for which see Gie Common*.. Adjourned. HOUSE Ul• COMMONS. Mr. Quarme, Deputy Usher ot the Black Rod, summoned the House to attend in the House of v e ers, in order to hear the Commission read, and tlo Royal Assent given to certain Bills. Upuit their return, the SPEAKER informed the !louse, that the Royal Assent had been given, by .Commission, to the Royal Femly Annuity Amend ment Bill, and several private Bills. 'fen new Members were sworn, and took their seats ; among whom were, Mr. Charles Lung, Mr. Curwen, etc. A Message from the Lords acquainted the House. hat their Lordships hai l agreed to the Coffee and Coco* WaretomeMg ; coon Globe I osurance Cempetiy Bill ; and some private Billie The West Indus Dneir Road Bill WAS read a second time, and entered to be committed. Sir Wm. Curtis presented a Petition from tbe London Clergy, the President and Fellow* of Zion College, against the Catholic Atniy B;11, which was ordered to lie on the Table. The Scotch Schoolmasters' 1361 was read a second time, and ordered to ee committed on this day es'itnight. TheTraders' Assetts Bill was also read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Tuesday neat. Upon the motion of Sir JOHN NEWPORT, the Irish lafirmaty Bill, and tLe Irish Judges' Atfie davit Bill. were severelly read a second urne, and ordered to be committed teenorrove. Lord Folkston presented a Petition from Wil liam Drake, now a frisoner in Nevagate, haying been committed by an order of the Howe, for pre varication before the Ccminittem upon the West re:oster Eleftion Petition, praying his enlarge ment. The SPEAKER observed, that it was his duty to state to the kleuse. that, in Petitions ot this sta ture, it had been constantly expelled, that the Pe taioner should confess his fault ; there did not appear in tbe present Petition, any thing like confession or contrition. fhe Petition was consequently withdrawn. eoetsUCT OF THE ADMINtsTRATICIN. Mr. BRAND rose. in pur.uence of his Notice. and addresses! the House to the following pur port ; Mr. Speaker—l rise, Sir, to submit to you, some observations upon a matter of great national moment, _inasmuch as it ie one of vast constitu t.enel importance; and in doing so, I must confess the* 1 tool * real INA 000.1gued regret, that web a subjese should have come into the hands of one so unequal as I am to tech a task I acknowledge myself unfit to give aufecient va lidity to any arguments that might be ad. duced in support ot the question I am now :area . to ptopve, and gave therefore to express my fed ings of anxiety, conftision, and alarm ; te.lings which cermet but till the mind of one who is so new in this House, and in unaccustomed to public duty, as the humble individual who now addresses you. I have, therefore. Sir, to entreat you and the House to ; rant me that indulgence. welch, it is well known, you are upon all cceesiens so much inclined to give to those indivieuels, who, with 'diffidence, rise to fulfil wagt they may justly deem their duty as Members of Parliament. At the same time, l have also to request. that you will not attribute that weakness wnich originates in its Advocate, to the cruse which be has under. taken to delend. Previous, Sit, to the late Ad journment, a statement was made to .his House, lull, luminous, and highly setiateetory, t xplanatory of the change which has lately taken place in His Majesty's Couuctls. By that statement, I confess, that I, for one, wits enable!' to form a complete and accurate knowledge of the conduCt of that Astral iiiscrettop, as being one that had the confidence of teas llou.e, notwithstanding that His Majesty has been n ivised to displace them. It was All Adnsi. titstretion, Sir, iii whose conduit I see withal to condemn ; but, on the contrary. from their molly, upright. aced persevering conduit. I perceive much to applaud and to admire. By their dismissal, I am convinced, that the country will, with me, tet t every reason to lament; fur, in their management of the public affairs. I Gen pee nothing but what was highly knowable. dignified, and constitu tional. Impressed with such sentiments, from the moment that such a change in His Majesty's Coun cils took place, I felt myselt most mar ets, the , . upon the present occasion, I should su.,isiit to you certain Resolutions, expressive of the opinion of this House. as SO Dia Majesty's late Adminiv. :ration. I was pectaiaily desirous to as.uage the influence of those mluntnious, ilijurtous, and wicked representations, which have been, arse are yet stated, against them, with malignant, I may even say, with criminal persevecence.— That anxiety arose from a conviCtion and a teeing I entertained, that public chareeter was a mimes trust the !lends of the House, anctot the country, ta se much as public virtue is a national security. Stich was my objet at the time I gave notice ot this ...y intended nictim ; but, Sir, when 1 had obtain e d lime for snore mature deliberation, when I had a:. eppovtunity afforded me to iiieestigate the subject, to tievc!ope a plan, and to analyse that sue:mein which 1 tweed with so much ability and mammies, made in this House, I thoue,to it my Jury to ea-ye nr rather to confine the 4 , l3ji:ct ot nsy motion upon the present be:Aaiun. V. nen 1 traveled upon the eiritimstence of novel pledges teeng demanded of . Ministers. 014 sully 4'unit:sit to the interests, but I.ighly dangerous to the Const.tutiou ot the cottatry. 1.5 evell y prjudisial to the Crosto itself, I. thought ir•P.45 , - - . - --4.7. - 7 - ..:v..1. -- ;eywixi - "kv. -- , - 7 •:- - --- -- 77 ; 111 17 Sr - 4 -"'" Fkiit es." ' a• * • Allr , l''' . • ' ...... 1 - IC -,' ,• • , A t A . • . • • • . , . .•,.. tb . Is •.• • ~.7; ,,.., 412 4 0 --.. ~ t . 1..72/ A: - . •is..).t.sl'9 ift a I:: _— . __ • ----___—___ ___ _ ...___• . . . .... • FRIDAY. APRIL 10, 1807 I PRICE SIXPENCE. unfortunately founded in fart ; I however. to enter into the merits of the C•tholic -*eat that If MAjesty had Question; that : consider as extraneous; and shall 'Os his Ministers, because therefore confine myself striely to the yoestinii sow . ;,,,,:•,. • -.lust their oaths, and before us, as implied in the present motion ; and ••• H ear ! ker f h s ,r ! also to the consideration of what immediately led hecause they had to the dismissal from office of His Majesty's late - ornbent epos Ministers. It was. as I conceive, the own coa ster/fled ; due which immediately forced His Majeray to Jr.. •••1 the miss them. It WAS W:11 known, that C ert 4;.. --in .4 scientious scruples had long eared in the Royal Breast, as to the Catholic question ; which think, proceeded froth the mot sacred and vonstitntiortal foundation; arising as well doubts to their admis•ib4oy to ter -% in a religions sense. as well ' one. It has been cin.idered Twrent from the fuaJamentat -'ion, as well as inconsttent of the Empire in Ir. it was a usbjett, '.4 newer again 4 the most '..,Ctferi .1 •ible „ however, to enter into the merits of the Cstivilie Question; that i consider as extraneous; and shall therefore confine myself stridly to the question now before us, as implied in the present motion ; and also to the consideration of what immediately led to the dismissal from office of His Majesty's late Ministers. It was, as I conceive, the own con— due which immediately forced His Majesty to die miss them. It WAS welt known, that cetra;., -an scienttous scruples had long reined in the Royal Breast, as to the Catholic question ; which I think, proceeded Ginn the mist sacred and most coustitntionel foundation; arising as well from the doubts to their admis,ibility to cer tain privileges, in a religions sense, AS well as in a political one. It has been cm.idered as being widely different from the fuadamentat principle, of the Constitution, as well as inconsitent with tie welfare and interest ad the /Empire in ge. anal; sod, therefore. I think it was a sehjeet, which. upon every ground. should never again have been sebmitted, eecept in a case of the most urgent neceasity--(Aarsilairea fens Me MiTitferi . 1 Reseirq—a necessity arisitig from such irresistible urgency, as involving. absolutely, the very salva tion of the country (Mere Apprareli.”). /limiting the case of this extreme urgency to exist, then ft surely became Ministers to enter ioto the tenet( possible cansideratien of all chase bearings which will render any misseaderstandiog of the subjed ab solutely impossible ; to snake that clear and perspi cuous espienatioe, which might render as a matter tereoxid all doubt,. that the Crown completely on derstands tlie full eatent of the measure which Mia nistera require. If, its the prosecutieu of that mea sure, unforeseen circumstances shoord . Ative, which require a further extension of it, then I think that tie same minute ievestigation should have been en. tered into, and a full espial:alien thereof made to His Majesty ; the same pains should have been taken in this case, to remove doubt from the Royal mind. I shall therefore endeavour to examine how far the coudue of the late Ministers has been smelly go verned by such principles, as, in my ophiinn. it ought to have been. Tney have informed uA, that in their opinion some measure was necessary is order to allay some fermentation exisung in V a minds of die Irish Catholic!, and they had th.sefot et determined to andeavour to make His Majesty change his former sentiments, and agree to extend the provisions of the Irish Ad to tne empire at large. Much has been said to prove the ab sordity, initiates, inconvenience. sad Mischief. which arose Iron the anomaly of the Irish Aft not having an operation beyond the limits of that country ; but it does not appear to me, that any case bat been ebsolutely made our. to shoe/ that such great inconvenience exists. kind it aimed at. all, it evetainey would have appeared long ere Nem. Hence acme the ref:lda/ace of His Ma. jestY ; yet. by its being pressed upon him. a relcdant consent was ottrainee. The next teing (lode was to send a dispatch to the Isord Lietn tenant of Ireland, a di.patch which should have been confined smelly to the subjeft which it was meant to express, and ought not to have gone one step further than the extent of His Majesty's corn feat, that is. to the limits of the Irish Act, extended to this country. How it lidopetied I caanot tell. ton an expression found its way into that dispatch. ,'chit all Commissions whatever were to be granted to the Catholics. This was surely a very great inacco rac;,and how it was possible that it should arise undt r the direftme of such able men, so much versant in pudic business, is not ease to imagine. When this dispatch was reed to the Committee of the Ca tholics, it naturally gave rise to great expedations in their minds. which would never otherwise have occurred. They, however, thought it impassible that His Majesty could have changed his opinion so much, and accordingly desired some inform:- ..,) post to clear their doubts. A. com munication to I that cried comes to this country, which was sent t o i His /sl.jesty in the commen w.y, as it it related to 'I as ordinary ouestion. although it was entirely a new one. It it was necessary for Ministers to enter into an ezelartation at first, it was surely doubly necessary oe this occasion. This dispatch was accordingly retained by His M.- jesty, Without any comment. Nn e, what was the natural inference to be drawn from this ? It WAS impaisiele to conceive that His Majesty had / understood it ; yet, at was taken as certain, the r e had consented to the whole of it' s and that although he had expressed reludamie at first, he, on this _ _ occasion, expense,: no reluctance az all. Surely, then, it became the day of Miati'ers no: to send the i,ext dispatch to Ireland. without making the ilea cessary explanation to His Majesty. When His Majesty next came to town. he put some ques:ims • As to the proceedings at the House. and was then, for the first time. informed, that the siihj•a was to be brought forward as a separate Bill, instead of being introduced into the Mutiny Bill. 'then it was that he expressed :al unqualified disapproba tion. Tne original consent was therefore ot no avail, as it only related to the extent of the Aft of 1793. The one was a limited. the other a most unlimited measure ; yet the Noble Viscount persevered is- - bringing torward the measure, in defiance ot such • dissent. His Majesty inforMed them of the alter native he most take, and never wished to exert . any undue power over them, as he understands too well the principle* of the Constitution, to do so.— The King =est conititutinnally lass to his Minis ters, you must either withdraw your countenance tram the measure, or withdraw yourselves, AS it is one to which I have never given my consent. (Hear! bet! hear ! .11,r: (Ar Opt Ula ,0 41 . I proceed entirely Irons what has been staled is the pubti: prints. ' me, (dle r r /3 .' 0 t - O e sU ir esi i tae he. Hon. elg g G n en .j etes S l. 6 " A ta d et a b l era h t ell iOL MCA talus place as to any possible modification of their rein; because, although Ks tdej:sty abaci lately insisted up in their withdrawing their count*. twice to that Slit, lie never withdrew nis conceit, to the original mcassue. He small .abutted to bee la