The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-05-06 00:00:00

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Ministers by their silence neither deny nnr admit
the truth of an accusation ; but I nuist'itier that
silence in every such case amounts to all'itlitallsoieu
be guilt, and that 110 man, who can submit to be
silent upon such a ehartgeus this, is capable of be-.
ing responsible Alinister. The consideration and
diameter that -a Minister ought to bear in' the
country, ought to ke.m pace aids the greatness Of
the duty he has to 1K slums. If he go further,
and instead of being disposed •to listen to proof
of u charge, endeavour by his intliiimer, to
stifle inquiries, such a •reprehensible con-
duct renders him totally unfit for a hi Ali mid re-
sponitible situation. Tao of His Nlajesty's Ciemito
'Ministers are by name accused in the most direct
terms of procuring the Return of Members to Par-
liament by the most corrupt means ; and although
the flon. Gentleman-who makes the accusiition.
is not unuch in the habit of addressing
the noose ; yet I trust there are Members in
it will not sutler such a charge to be scouted' for
want of a compliance with any other form, that
some of those Monk of the 'accused suppose ne-•
Cersury. flad it not hecu already bet:united by the
Honourable Baronet. !should have gladly ilone so."

Mr. 11. BATHURST--" I moat say. that its my
opinion this: is a quetailin that goes to affect every
public man of nay consideration in this country, as
weU as the indivailuals now particularly accesed.
If it be sufficient for any individual in this House
to come .forward and say, that he hr' heard of such 1
and such reports, and therefore talk upon you to i
institute on illquiry, then: will he an cud at vague
sad gromidless accusations being made. 'Ellis I
seems to spring front the prosseation that was I
stated last night, as to its being inconsistent with
the empitito lion. that any man holtliiiv a 11111111 e Sit
mime should not sit in the House of Clllllll 1111 l
To make such a prop eaaitiou was only laying the
fourotatiou for erroneous opinions tutu alortrines,
and adding fuel to that spirit which is already too
prevalent throughout the country. as to the ex-
istence of corruption. Such n 'imposition can
be stated for no other purpose than fiat quali-
fying the public taste. I can bee no good likely to
arise front the Hum iientlemitio comitig forward
with such a statement. except be be ',reputed to
give it in a tangible shale, by divulging the
grounds of suspicion be has to support it. I .ap-
prehend that in common sense and feeling we must
presume that the precedent lie has alluded to was
out enconreged till suclatime es a previous expla-
natatni had taken place. At therefore upou the same
grounds appears naursaaL that a day should have
been first named far hearing this charge before we
rail determine whether or test proof should be ad-
rilueed. T. do otherwise would be contrary to
justice, for 'moon the preacitt 04:004011 the Right
Hpitouruble aentletsum and the Noole Viscount ,
accused, could do nothing MUM than retire
in the way they have done, and therefore they
cannot now be heard in defence. It is iiideed a
public cause, and the House are bound to defend
acen.ed, monist -such a pro.
needing as eyed only tend to prektdiee public men
Amato what. been stated by the lionenrable•
creutleioaii spoke last. allhougli 1 have not
the lisneur Qtkisowiug hint. yet I catmint conceive
'where he could have imbibed those ideas he has
stated, unless it may have been at some of those
public meetings he. may frequent."
Mr. lituou ten, iis explanation, said, that the
Right Hon. Gentleman load no right to state of
Iwo,, what he never represented. He could leisure
him, cud the House, that lie never attended atiy,l
public meeting's.
Caarwatunr —a' I slionhl think it were.
necessary, before the •Huiese can encourage any
charge ogamst its Washers, that a reenter ureter
elmuld have beets given to the individuate accuteii.
Iv for one, cannot consent to this motions before I
hear the grouuda upon which it is founded!'
Mr. Marwoces--.. At the time I gave notice
of this motion. I distinctly stated the imbalance of
it us order that 111iiiisters might bat aware that it re-
listed to thrni. I thought I 'tastiest coneultiag the
dignity of the House, when I rested my proceeding
upon the forra of the precedent that has beeirread.
If in that form of proceeding I 'have appears& to
act uocaudially, I sin extrema-1y ready to apologise
to the House, that it has beeit owing to my inexpe-
rience in Parliettientary. prote.dings, usual use uet
having had the honour of addressing you before.
thought 1 had paid As much attention to rune and
regulinty of proceed tag :is aas putssible for me to be-
stow, %%hen 1 consulted malty alto have belonged
to this (louse for it eineaderitlile length of time, and
I have been guided by their opinion, and the doe-
triue i formerly heard upon a late occa • l that it
was highly injurious to character to net forth any
charge against an individual, without a proof of
what. is s• stated. It was, therefore, out of tet.
dernms for the character and reputation of the Ht.
lion. Gent. and the Noble 'Vie:milk that 1 wished
the House to hear only that which should be
proved."
The Secstica—'' Perhaps it may not be im-
proper in use to state. what occurs to one upon this
occasion as to the form of proceeding m such
eases; and indeed I may almost say, it lets become
imperative upon use so to do. If it be thought
necessary, that the. Member who bringe forward
this charge should he heard iu explanatioa of that
charge, this is not the proper time for doing it.
because the individuals mcaiast whom the
charge is made have withdrawn, for against no
ahsent Member call a charge he stated.
With respect to the notice he gave. he will allow
me to state, that as it applied to Ministers gene-
rally, it conic' not amount to any personal notice
to any individual. I conceive it the right and duty
of this House. at any time to receive charges of
Members.
misconduct, whether against its own
Members. or itgainst persons in public.situations,
not Members of this House, and these charges
may be brought for nerd in a mere or leas solemn
form, according to cireumetances. The most
solemn form is, that by impeachment formally de-
livered hi, aild.unother mode is by an OM charge
made by a Member in hit place, upon which the
House is compeemt to judge for itself, of the pro-
per coarse of, procedure. As to the precedent
that has been alluded to, I nerd not state to the.
House, that the. Journals in no case *peek snore
than appears from whet has been read. They are
idteut*d to giee a detail of Speeches made upon
either side of a rjoestion : but what is there stated,
implies that information of a charge has been

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