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

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brought before them, and fully diecusse,i. In th
present instance, this snotion having been made,
the Honer must necessarily dispose without v
further fx mutton or the specific charge alleged.;
but this does sot preclude them proceeding to hear
the partiLul aN upon another Orlit*loll, AMA act
upon them as may appear proper."
Mr. MAUDOCKS said he should bow, with defer-
' eller, to what had bhen stated from the chair. and
not attack individuals in their absence, dud should
await the pleasure of the House upon
,his present
inotioo.
Mr. Sveretury CANNING--.-" I situ desipues not
to attrihote other inotism to the lion. Member who
made this motion, than those whicn he self
assigns for his error in point of form, anl l there-
fore appr.-iit nil there can be hut one opinion iii this
(louse, a, to ths propriety of getting rid of it as
iiieirkly as possible. Perhaps the lion. Gentleman
„Ana.). i. • disposed to withdraw his tu ption ; but if so,
I seal: be inclined to oppose that proposal, and ra-
ther leave it to the house to pronounce u precise
negative ; for exactly•in the saline proportion as Ito
has been erroneous in point of turn), it appearft. to
use necessary that the House should comet the
misstatement, by an entry un our..journals, and to
prevent ally other member fallits4 into the saute
error.

Mr. \Visitats.* D...e" I cannot conceive that
andi a result us that which the Right Houour-
able Secretary predict., would follow. It doe.
• not appear that any Member night notbe tuialecl
liu the same way as my Ilosiouralde Friend has
I been, whatever be the entry made in the Jourliala
I upon this occasion. There is sin record at all
as to the information given as to the charge against
Shepherd, the precedent alluded to. All that we
know is, that Ise profeseed his innocence, as any
one might do, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer
might have done if he had thought proper. Va.
times examples bare 114.1:11affarded to us, even in the
last Parliament, or charge., heing made agaiiist II
dividnala without any• previous notice. A charge
of this general nature is no ways ineonsiatent
nor improper, as the Honourable Mover has
stated that his is ready to tell you the par-
titulars upon a hich lie means to found it. We
have already been told of the danger of telling
stories of vermin witholat proof ; and is this not the
proper inside of avoiding that danger? This is
surely the most tangible *nape in wind. such a
charge could be suggested, altheuo lie had never
heard of any apologies bring made for erroneous
statements, as a Right Iloniesnable Gentleman bad
Wen pleased to state was naval in such cases. 1
should be glad to know what tangible charge has
.yer filled, and who has beets the means of excit-
ing the public mind ? Has not the investigation
that has taken place, and the accuactiots that
has been rtleile against Minister., proved
the fart of ciorootion eaisting ? What can tend
more to excite the public mind, than that Minis-
ters shield attempt by any imams to stifle so in-
quiry into allegetiona agairiat littiestera ma a charge
of corruption? I am not ashamed, Sir, to own
that I have, duringthe course of my
,political life..
attended public meeting.; and 1 inn hot sorry for
what I ever said aspens those occasions, nor shell I
retract WIC word if' what hats been tiirreetly reort-
ed—for beyond that 1 ant not revonaible. I did
not attend a late Meeting; at which the Hen-
hourable klerouct behold tie presided, oat be-
vas's.. I del not thiuit it proper, our that nay thing
Viet ham emanated from 'it by way saf Iteseht-
tions, nor is reprehensible, hat Itecaceer I thoaglit
that advantage might be tam of them by those
who wished' to incite and inflame the public mind
against persotis of the general principles of those
who attended such meetings, and I was ufraid that
by my attendance there. I might have done more
fearau thim good to the cause which I espouse.—
It has Iseen maintained that the spirit of Parliamen-
tary Reform is merely an attack upon Parliament,
in ordar to nverthrow public meal, and to go the
length of eNeltoling them from Parlinrseut. Now,
-Sir„ Ido nut go the length of saying, that public
mesa iinght to be excluded, I tneasa by public men
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the First Lords
of the Treasury. the Secretary of State, and the
great efficient officers of this Crown. By this Ido
not go the length of the Ast Of 1700, !int I think
there are many of the Hots. Gruthemeo befurr. me,
who on account of their pieces and pensiono ought to
be excluded from seats in this House ; and if I am
afterwards called upon to explain my reasons for sis
thinking, I shall lve ready. The Chancellor of the
F:xchequel last night allinleil to the Meetiug At the
Crown and Anchor, us the source from which we
formed our rapitiinci of the public mini, and I should
lie glad, were he here, that I might tell him it is not
from that meeting alone we form our judgment of
it ; but that the same opinion exists throughout the
conntry.—That opinion is, that the punishment
of those guilty of corruption is necessary. So long
its we know that corruption exists in the state, cau
we stop and say that we have done enough ? No,
Sir, if you Irish to root out corruption, yon must
never critic your endleavonrs to detect it, so long us
hntwarsuature is human nature. IVe know front
history, that there were times in which nasty per-
sons were paid for voteig with administration, and
were the way practice Meant now, woithl it be said
that we ought not to notice it ? The Chancellor of
the Exchequer has accused ass Hon. Nlember for not
bringing forward corruptions sooner, 141/ he said he
hail known of their existence; but, is there 'set a
great difference between a person knowing a fact
by report, and knowing it emifidentially ? It can
only be brought forward when rue lots learnt with
certainty all that is necessary to prove the fact. I
would not, therefore, wish the Hon. Member to
withdraw his motion far ev.e, although it hr
negatived without a division. It is essential
for the preservation off' our privileges, that we
should maintain our right of making suds
charges in the manner this lead been made.—
If lie withdrew it, it might be attributed to dif-
fidence, even although be offers to prove his charge
by witnesses at your liar, upon Tile's! next.—lf
he hail taken a different mode of prneedisre, lie
might have made his explanation of it this night, but
that cannot now fir dune, a, th.• parties have with-
drawn. As it is, Isnuever, I say that nothing im-
proper has been props-roil ; but if lie fail in this
shape, 1 hope he will bring it soon forward in a more
tangible one.-1 confess I arn sorry for the inch% i •
duel mean whom such charge. fall, if he eoutlints
biassed' othervieys pioptily ; but aurcly he iv out

I.


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fit to remain a Member of Admioistration; avid
)et it it onittlerlul that we hint one,* ho i,ki% wars..
redly en v 'timed himself, reinsiiiiiiig in the Ga..
vernmem of the Co'miry !!!—Tlie preavitt motion
is no more connected with dry question of Pseita-
euentary Retried', than that of Ikea iii;4lii, which
was alleged by soiue to be so." The I lonour,d,lit
Gentknolls then concluded sith stsaii% that be
would vote for the present motiou.
, Mr. Yuan;;.—•• I Ida is the most extraordinary,
proceeding that ever took place in a free cumin- v.
and I assert that this is the freest .couotiy iii the
world, and the ',reams are the best tours of our his-
tory. It is astonishing that iii such tinter 4* these
the lion. Nlcitilier, wi.o must know the laws aid
institutions of his s•otintry,•should by such a ino_
ti- ii have violated the most orilitinry pro.. ivies of
justice. I should uposi soda ati common ray that
the most proper mode island be fur the House to
mark its rearehetiouil of such n procreating., by
i nsertittg an ameted anent to the motiou emceed upoii
the Jourinils, that "a charge had been stated with.
out being explained, and concluded by its hovi.l;
been negatived.
Mr. GOODGE.—" I bare . heard it Rind, that
there have beeo attempts to throw aspersious Mein
those who attended mad's: meeting's lately ; and I
most observe, that if the sot•reliee that have pp..
Oared in the • public prints have proceeded from
those to a hom they have beet, attlitosted, I think
they have done mute mischief in dole;., away the
umensinity of the country than oily of those Gen-
drawn in tine House can possibly by their eater-
tune; here recover, if they were to eat for a kill,.
died years. I and disposed to lead my utmost as-
sistance to do away Amato wherever they'exist ;
but why, in (,od's name, 'Mould we be em-
ployed an uo other object their in fishing oat
abuses, which were never thought to be Moises till
theac pure slays in wined' we now live ? Public
meetings of that nature can do no good, but in-
finite uticliiel. 'As to voting *hooks to a cerhmi
Honourable Member for his patriotism, for Ins
exertious in discovering corruption, I confess I
should as moo think of vetting thooks to Mrs•Clai kir
for her virtue. /A Loki.) It is not party, but
faction, that I disapprove of, us these last would
wish to represent themselves as the center and es-
sence of political purity. Whether the motives of
theollonourablwllarocet opposite (Sir F. Burdett)
be good or bed, he may by his enthusiasm do mot-
thief ; and I must 'say, that I dissent Irian every
principle 1 have bevel him utter tie this Home."
Mr. LarriseTne.' What loot fallen from the
lion. Guit, who has just sat down, is 'widow sup-
ported by direct nor presumptive proof. If this
House were reformed, I believe that public inert-
ings would not be so frequent as they have been,
and are likely to be. 'lt ia the only check that ex-
ists upon the misconduct of this •House. I will
support the motion, as this charge d.oes not appear
to me to be. so indefinite ashes been alloyed; hut,
if it may be said to he indefinite to-day, it will
surely be detioite Ull Tuesday, when the evidence
is heard at the bar, by which the House eau form
it s opiiiioti ant I judgment." .
Mr. thump said, that he rose principally for the
purpose of noticing some collateral topics which
had been iatroduced iii the course of the die .
mission, MIA wilic;i referreibto certain !midi., meet-
ingslately held. He was iurprisevl that they should
he made subjects of reprobation in that House ;
that the Members who attended them should tie
called to account for their attendance ; they 'arm
the aucieut established right. of the English
people, and the exercise of them, being con-
formable' to thee constitution, ought not to be
reprehended. lie was always of opinion 4 that
to press upon the people, in meetings legally,
ussenibled, the necessity of a moderate practical re-
form, was likely to •be attended with the very bast
consequences; and he did nut thick that lie Was
Ilballdfliling, in any degree, the duty he owed that
House, in furthernig objects so interwoven with the
telvantage of the country. IF a proper, humble,
and moderate petition was laid before them. they
weir hound to intend to it. it .eau to this House
that the people looked, al the legal source by
which their grievances were to be redressed.—
Ile had acted as steward at a dinner given at the
Crowu anti Atithor Tavern, the object of widen
ass t,/ recomatietul the different (vulture to convene
tegular meeting's, for the purpose of petitioniog in
favour of Parliamentary Reform. Such was the
object of the meeting, at which he was present ;
and it was without feeling any liumiluitioti, but on the
contrary, a sentiment of pride, that lie acknow-
ledged himself •of those, alto were present. Hav-
ing said se much in defence of mcetnige, the right
to which Was established and hauled down by our
ancesturs..he would conclude with observing, that
he never would feel himself ashamed, tior condemn
himself in the slightest degree for having been one
Of closet who was present at the exercise of such is
privilege.
Mr. Sruaeaa Bonant said, that although the
motion went to bring a charge against the Right
Hon. Spencer I'ereeval and others, lie could trot
title, out what the charge was, lie woudered that the
Hon. Centletuait did wit obsei re the usual courtesy,
and signify his intention previously. and - the
specific charge he inn:tided to submit. fie sits
surprised, that the lion. Gentleman should say
enough to make thisobject of hisieliarges uithdraw,
and 'should then in his Oriente proceed to state the
charge,; it was at preceedi in his opinion, cot:-
triiry to justice. He was ' ksurprise.]li ss surprise.] to see t ,
that the on. Gentleman op ite, who was so wed
versed in the business of a public accuser, slioubl
stand up in defence of such 4 aiceeding; hr
was vermin th.tt an Ulan won - ink seriously
under the circurruitences of suing the pe-
timi. With respect to Park are Retrrir.
he would only say, that he was gl as not one
of those, who, at meetings O
arse r tile 01-
pose of recommending such a e, 4traigAil
the vontlitet of persons who sat get iii st lac
pr e oceditig. which WAS Stipp° taViEsh ll"'
J
necessity or it /4; would rather he the 4 jowl el'
the accusation itself. The judisial optliitiii %f.,*
had beet proimnimerf, was motivated, mill OA by
persons who hail um heerd is tittle of the evidence.
Whu had ever ht ard of a verdict of acquittal ar-
raigned before ? To hien it was a eirratinstinice ta-
ttier new, that the. men who professed to he the ad-
vocates of the liberties of the MU lit I. , should one
&mike to promote. that liberty, by rtegrailiiig the
character or th• Canitionis. House ..i Parliament.

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