The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-02-01 00:00:00


would give us a prospect of better days. In the
mean time, let us all endeavour to relieve as much
misery as we can; let ni pursue our object by every
legal sod cOnotitutionsl means, and continue steady
and inflexible until !list object be obtained. The
Learned Gentlemen then mooed the Remit:simile.
Dr. Ilesosam then rose to second the Results-
ttons. and expressed himself quite unable to add
•auy thing to the speech of hie Learned Friend who
.lid just sit down.
The Resolutions were then read from the Chair,
and being put separately, were unanimously carried
amidst the fotukolt acclamations.
Sir M. W. Runt? then rose, and after the
obtuse with which lie was received had subsided,
spoke neatly as. follow, Chairman, I can
assure this Meeting, with the most unaffected sin-
cerity. that I never rose on any occasion to address
any public assembly with greater diffidence than
' tm the present. I really feel that after the able and
• eloquent exposition which has been made by my
Learned Friend, there is little or nothing left for
or to do or to say on this very important subject.
I would rather have left the whole subject to the
• Feet of the impression which has been already
mote. did I not feel myself bound, from the
•itusiton 1 hold as representative of this great
commercial town, to come forward whenever an
"'immunity offers. to appear before my consti-
.l.llrlllP, and the inhabitants at large, and to declare
,hose opinions and principles with which they lave
right to be mcqnainted. I am thankful I have
he liberty to think and act fur ;• but I can
,erer forget that I am the representative of a great
body, acid that it is nip duty to express to them
manfully and honestly even my chfferences of opi-
,w.r, when I ern so unfortunate as to differ from
But air IN, great question it is with pe-
:r 5411.fartion that I state that I have little
ri ~,v•itiou to make, but era hottest ly and conscien-
-10 051 y pledge myselfen support of the general prim
eiptc. on which the Resolutions have been drawn up,
Phis is not a profession formed in a moment for
ti'e ware of pleasing my sudiesce ; it is not an
pinnrn formed for the purpose of meeting with
ular tooter or applause. I am not insensible
he 'slue ef both; I Court it, I confess, hut
*radios, for a moment losing sight of a strict line
independence. one iota of which I will never re-
Tiesusli. I covet it honourably, and, I trust, ho-
nestly. It is the only reward which a public man,
My 'situation, can expect, or has a right to look for.
I 0101 now beg leave to trespass very shortly on
s our 'mention, in &hie/jog my sentiments on one
or Iwo points of the Reaolutious. his impossible
that toy one who has given the slightest attei.tion
to the constitution of the House of Common", can
her.itate to admit, that a moderate reform is essen-
tially necessary. When we look to the origin of
hat Huse, and when we know that Pailiarneut was
origtually called together to collect the reuse of the
couittry. mid to communicate with the Sovereign
on every thing shut concerned the interests of the
country, and particularly that the great object was
to recede coutribotions to provide for the necessary
exigeticiei, it is clear that the towns of the grratest
trades', and most capable of contributing, would be
sunitioned to send deputies or representatives—
and iitver did human wisdom devise a more wise
eapediehi; but so long a time has elapsed, that we
are not to wonder if tnany changes and alterations
hive taken place, and if great abuses have crept
,iito the System. To correct these abuses is the
..ltject of this meeting. We can have but one
ob-
jeet in heir—the improvement of the constitution;
tie OWI to make it as perfect as possible, and re-
store it to its pristine parity. But with alt the int-
perfictiOns of the House of Commons, it is a
consolation to look around us and see that Eng-
-I..4,..ihrice happy England," suffering as she dues
rooter the present system of mistaken government,
still maintains her ertuation among the proudest of
countries. al England, with all thy faults I love
thee 'still."—l wish, however, to improve her situ.-
tion.'7.to cut off the exuberant branches of cur-
'option and bribery, that destroy the beauty of the
cootitution, and enable every Englishman to raise
his Iliad erect and proclaim aloud the possession of
his ancient rights and liberties. We are told by the
enemies of reform. that the innovations now at-
tempted are of a serious stature, 'write, ter let alone.
But lit us look to the conduct of those who Use
this miguatent. Whenever it suits their convenience
to mike innovations on the principles of the con-
stitution.l—if they think it necessary to keep up a
nenaing raiy—or to pus bills to curtail the liber-
ties df the
.pedple, and to throw obstacles in the
say iirthe risektings of the people—we hear nothing
of the lisvilters of' innovations then; hilt when ire
propose a reform of abuses which every one admits
to exist, which stares-everyone in the face, 0 then,
they k:ey. you must not innovate! Bsit 1 take upon
*self to say, that it is a great beauty of our consti.
tutioillhat fl is sinceptible of renovation and num.
It la susceptible of reform in all its
brimolsid. And I will be bold to say, that if the
imnovaliiii now proposed had been introduced
earlieya times dangerous and mischievous innovations
which: have lately been made on the constitution
cola never have been heard of—(Loud applause.)
'The „Second resolution goes to the propriety of
'shorieuing the duration of Parliaments. I thitik
'did this. if Moor, would do more harm than
good ; and that without reform, in other re-
epees", it it the least efßctord method of re-
forming the Commons House of Parliament.—
It May do very well as a stepping stone to greater
improvement", and i have no hesitation in pledging
myself to support the repeal of the Septennial Act.
Indeed, by reference to the votes I have given on
former occasion', it will be seen that 1 have voted
more than once fat its repeal. On the subject of
the lineation of Parliaments. I should inxiosbly
look for 'Moments!' from those who have given it a
More deep research.
Fur myself, I candidly acknowledge, that after
ti rest Oirefu I 'slid industrious ottetidance to my par-
duties, and the forms mid proceedings
of the House, fur a period of seven years, I feel
biuyielf et present quite doable to do justice to my
'eonititients ; and, without arrogsting my prone to
'itiyinff, I eau Nicely kly that tio Member he" token
wore- Oiling to iar&et ininseif upon those subjects.
I issuer fetas.the eiitlg.e of business in the Housed
'Cotillion' is OM to be learnt i ffa few months era few
years ; the-PirUcsol of Iffty-ftrU; folio volumes of the
.""itatufes is Of itself a work df considerable time and
labour: The aloft point in •the •Resolutioni is the
' • '

.

•
ject I fully agree to the doetrinelflaittddrisi by my
Learned Friend, and think that *uch a measure is
essentially necesaary to give the istiople their full
weight in the House of Commons. Whenever
the subject is brought before Parliament, 1 cheer-
kat Pioriiiß If. awe it my support, and though I
despair of seeing it brought immediately before
the House, I have no doubt but the public voice
ATI it tetigth he heard, and the House be obliged
M take it into consideration. As to the pro-
priety of disfranchising such boroughs as have
fallen into decay, or become corrupt, I cordially
agree in it. It has frequently been my lot to sit
upon Election Committees, and I have there bad
ample ',roofs how greatly corrupt a borough may
become, and how completely the trots of represen-
tation may be defeated. If, however, the natural
inflames of properly, character, and the perform-
anre of acts of kindness and shanty its a neighbour-
hood, be called corruption, I must beg in dissent
from that opiololl ; I cannot think it should be
NO considered; rush qualities must and ought to
hive their full indoeiice in every state of society.
But when I know that ten Members are elected by
nine voter*, I can have tio doubt of the existence of •
gross corruption. When a park-wall, • stump of
a tree, and a horsemount, have the right of 'duell-
ing Members ; when a candidate must submit to
the mockery of soliciting such ronatitueuts, of bow.
iug to a park wall, and soliciting its vote, at the
same time promising to attend to its interests, I
would ask, if this is a system under which the free
people of this country ought to be governed ? It
is a burlesque in representation, a libel on the
House of Connuous. Such Representatives can
have little difficulty in attending to the interests of
their constituents, and whether they were elected
for sever& years or for twenty-one, they would feel .
themselves equally comfortable. While Miilliurst,
Galion, and Old Saran), have the right of sen -
ing Members to Parliament, I perfectly agree
as to the propriety of transferring such right to the
larger towns.—/Laud applause.)
Permit me now, Sir, to congratulate gnu and
the friends of rational Reform iii general, upon the
steps which were gained its the last Ses.iois, among
the many which were lost. I allude, first to the
improvement which was made in the law of ',averse,
one principal beauty of which, in my eyes, was the
source from which it sprung. 1 cannot lint recol-
lect with satisfaction the part which was taken by
an honourable friend of mice, a Nobleman, whose
name I can never mention without exoressioris of
the highest respect said trim:rotion., awl is ho appear*
to inherit all the 1)2161444n and political integrity of
his illii.trious relative, Mr. Fox-1 mean Lord
Flol-
lairrl. The other object of congratulation I also fed
great pleasure in stating to be the work of au ho.
nest Whig, a descendant of the illustrious House
of Russell. We have nut only seen • Bill brought
forward for disfranchising the borough of Gram-
pound, and transferring the right to a large and
populous town, but we lure seen more—we have
seen the Minister of tile Crown supporting the
measure, and thereby acknowledging the great
principle of Reform, that alien a borough shall
be proved to he corrupt, the power of return-
ing bleurbers shall be taken front it, sod trans-
ferred to other towns, and the House was obliged
to sanction the measure, by allowing the Bill
to be brought in and printed. This principle
I consider as the grand ground work of reforma-
tion; for I highly dooipproee of the plan of throw-
ing the right of v,,tiog iota the hundreds, which 13
merely extending the borough. flawing now, Sir,
I stated my accoirlance in the general principles of
the Resolutions, I shall briefly adrift to that
particular slut•ors of Reform, which has lately
been so much agitated in this and other districts.
And I must here dowry', that whenever ally
motion for moderate Reform his !teen brought
before the [louse, the euemiea of the cause have
always endeavoured to connect the advocates of
moderate Reform with the Radical Reformers,
and thereby materiary injuring thu.cause of Re-
form altogether. From the pi ineiples of Radical
Reform I must dissent altogether; and 1 will al-
ways give it my determined wirrosition whenever
as opportunity offers itself.—t Disapprobalim rind
applause./-1 attribute nothing to the motives of
its advocates—they nu doubt ore actuated by good
intentions ; but ins opinion is totully different
from theirs. 1 consider that if their principles
were carried into effect, this y would tend to end.
less confusion and the utter subversion of the Con-
Considerable el,s,opprabation.l—" If that
Crentlemati," colitis, ued the Huu. Baronet, "who
seems so boisterous in comielmmtion of my sell-
timentr, will come forward sod state his opiGions,
can assure him 1 will shrew lain more courtel than
lie is inclined to emeriti to air.— opploope.)-1
am not afraid In meet the radical reformers face to •
face, and honestly, openly, and candidly argue the
subject with them. (upplue se.) —Tlie observation
respecting auntial Parliaments, referring to the elec-
tion of parish officers, appears to me to be very
forcible. Indeed, when we consider the labour and
attention required in the administration of the poor
lairs, it is obvious that one year is insufficient to'
become acquainted with them, arid mail parishes:
have consequently requested to have a perpetual •
overseer.
Annual Parliaments appear to me to be entirely
out of the question. Even triennial would be Tumid
to have flimsy inconverriences; for when that act wits
in force, the business of Parliameist was compares
lively very small indeed. Not more than 11 or 16
statutes were passed in a Session ; private bills, canal
and turnpike acts, were almost unheard of; whereas,
now, there are 150 or IGO Acts passed in a Sea-
broil, and there are so satiny notices to attend to,
that it requires much experience to be able to
go through the business. I 'ideal a hill has ill Many
' stages to go through before it be sent lir Its the
House of Lords, that it would require ildicist tiro
months to become perfectly acquainted With then).
The excellent übservatioirs of my Learned Friend
upon the subject of Univerail biskrike.tender it
unnecessary to say more upon that head, furtitri Man
that 1 consider it to be ellogellirri
As to election by ballot, I Can 'fads Write iled of
the consequences likely to resultfiodsitt'lidaption,
from the practice of chuosink *via etimainters
of *hi House of Cumulous it. Anil slay. Stigptir
any questcou should arise ii stbikh illintereis •
thought proper he here •liamtltailierhiirteoray,
for instance, a green bag qiiiiiiass,-(4
iteonsmittee is chosen by ballott.aid Mit of El
-fibers, wh' is the numbei 'dray-4414u* Con-

itanding a-my—or to peas bills to curtail the fiber- etition.—tConsinerobre dfropprebeitoo.l.• If I
ties a the people, and to throw dbeterles in thi Gent!entail," contisued the Ilms. &MNBet, ii
way Of 'the meetings of the people—we hear nothing seems so boisterous in coudemisation Of my i
,if the &Mors of innovations then; brit when we timents, will come forward and state Ins °Mule
propose a reform of abuses which every one admits I can assure him I will shew lion more colortel t
to esist, which stares-everyone in the face, 0 then, he is inclined to extend to tor.—(applisepe.).
they oy, You must not WM:mite! But I take upon am not afraid in meet the radical reformers race
ir4oelf to say, that it is OOM beauty of our cousin. face, and honestly, openly, and candidly ssr;ue
totidt that it is isisceptible of renovation and inno- ' subject with them. (eroolow se.) —The Observal
vetiols. It it tioaceptible of reform in all its respecting annual Parliaments, refkrring to the el
u brindles. And I will be bold to say, that if the lion of parish officers, appears to me to be v
innovation now proposed had been introduced forcible. Indeed, when we consider the labour i
earlier, those dangerous and mischievous innovations attention required in the administration of the p
Which have lately been mode on the constitution laws, it is obvious that one year is insulficient
would :steer have been heard of—( Loud applause.) become acquainted with them, and many paris
i The .second resolution goes to the propriety of have consequently requested to have a perpet
shortioing the duration of Parliament!. I think overseer.
did 'this. if Moor, would do more harm than Animal Parliaments appear to me to be entir
gisod ; and that without reform, in other re. out of the quertion. Reels triennial would be Tot
specie, it is the least effectual method of re- to have many inconverrielices; for when that act
forniiii; the Commons House of . Parliament.— in force, the business of Parliament Was comps
It way do very well as a stepping stone tu greater lively very small indeed. Not more than IS or
imprtivetnents. surf I hive no hesitation in pledging statutes were passed in a Session ; priiiiste bills, ca
. myself to support the repeal of the Septennial Act. and turnpike acts, were almost unheard of; when
Indeed, by reference to the votes I have &ern urns tiow, there are 150 or 160 Acts missed ins 5
former occasion', it will be seers that I have voted *ion, and there are so many notices to mired
,none than once fat its repeal. On the SObjetit of that it requires much experience to lie able
the 'titration of Parliaments, I should absittlay p through the bovines.. Indeed a hill hassles MI
; look for iiiformation from those who have given it a sieges to go through Iscluie it be sent Op to
mire deep research. ' . House of Lords, that it aual4 require ishilost 1
Fur myself, I candidly acknowledge, that atter mouths to become perfectly iscilussirsted with the
4' very Careful 'end industriousOttendance to ttly piw.
.The excellent observations of my Learned Frit
liSint;ortiry Autier, and the forms and pr•oteedirtga
,upon the subject of Universal buff:rake. i'ebder
of the House, for a period of seven year+. -I feel ouisecessary to say more upon that head, further tl
• retyself at Weems' quite unable to do justice to my that 1 consider it to he altogetheitnpfactieeble
risnitonetits; and. without arrogsting link *rise to As to election by ballot. I con Nish So`ilie tats
• itir.rt, 1 tiits'sefely ray that no Member bit taken the consequences likely to result, from its lidopti
loupe to inform hiaiself upon those subjects. from the practice of choosing Secret CtSnithitt
; 'I moiler* iiiis*the Moths, of business in the Housed( of the House of Commons iu that
:sear. Stiflp
' CoMiisnas is not to !elitist intifew months ors few any questwa should arise iis stbleh 'Motet
: • yirisri.i tliitaPiraisof ortffty2R.lrs: Mae volumes of the thought proper to ;save a 'SeeA tliiiiihillfreu
4iiittifori*-01Teett it work df coasiderable tithe toil for instance, a green bag qiiiiiew74/11411iithl
I
litredr... use Wilt point in•ttre Resolution, is the it Ceelmittee is closet) by ballot, and .bdt 'of '
,yeaof the right of sully e, upoo *hi subs
.liletaberr. which is the number they kiiiirelly ki