The National Register.
London, England, 1809-04-09 00:00:00

suppose, takver been seriously denied, for the last fifty yeari
by persons most interested in maintaining it. This change is to
be attributed principally to) the increased aid incretteng influence
of the crown, and to the corrupt state of the representative
system. if the foran'er is to he confined within the boundi
Prescribed by the constittition ; the latter ninsi undergo ,radical
reform. Atiuses iii every branch of the adniinistratlon have
murtiplied, in a proportionate ratio,. With the accumulating
imperfections of the represehlation, and the monstrous patronage
of government; and It is ludicrous to imagine that any solid, ois
permanent, advantage; can reitult to the people, as long as Mi...
niters are certain of having a Majority of the House of Com-
mons in favour of their nieasures, hastrever unconstitutional
their principle, or ruinous their tendency; That they have had
this majority, with two, or thia4 solitary exceptions, (and it is
painful to remark that the fitenSures then proposed were of
general titility; but crintrary to the wishes of ilti" crown) for
the last thirty years; is obvious to every erne who remembers
the lorneeiMings of Parliaifient during that interval. That the
integrity and talents of the Inclividilnls, who composed the
respective aaidlinistrations; during that period, should be so
uncontaminated and conspicuous; that their condtict Would
Stand the severest test of examinati3n, is; we are bold to say,,.
one of; the mist extratirtlittary phenoMena ever recorded in the •
world. That even their Motives, leaving their actions out of the.
question,(for a ministry thight think honestlji, kind rtrt foolishly);
should have no Other oliject but the public good; wlt hoot any
reference te their own exeluque advantage, or that of the
crown---:-Would afford a proof Of itemaculate IllitliS tetin! purity,
whith has no parallel in our otNo, or the history of a:1) others
country. if, on the contrary; their nieasdres during that (law,
have been prortiinent for telfisltness, disregard of the pithlic
good, of ealtuess, and infringethents on the rights of the peiqle ;
it must then be acknowledged that the majority of the Corinnons,
who invariably sanctioned all their proceedings; most have coni.
pletely lbst sight of the principle; on which liarliaments were
instituted; and have been mdre anxious to promote the partial:
lar views of the EiecutiVe, than to support the rights and inter
rests of the people. If the period should ever arrive when the
persons, who are called the reptesentaties of the people, repre-:
sent theni only in name, but nut in reality; When they are loll-
citoes tEI aspire to this honorable distinction for no other pur-
pose than to promote their own individual advantage to the Anted-
vantage of their constitiwnts--lit seouldthenbe the height ofextia-
vagance to imagine that any praCtical good would result to the
community from such an institution; it would, en the contrary, he
a manifest nuisance; for government, throdgh the Medium of al
prostituted parliament; could, with impunity, he g,dilty of act 4
of violence., which, had it been purely despotic, it would not
venture to commit; This was verified during the tinauspiciaui
reigns of Henry VIII. queen Mary, and Charles 11.
After a long interval of sllenee and indifference,the country,
at last; begins to grow sensible of the inadequacy of the pre=
sent mode of represeothtion; to meet the original principle
of its institution.. This IS one Of the greatest benefits re;
suiting froth Mr. N'fardle's Motion; and, we have no doubt titat•- •
if the public are unanimous and perseVering, they will
mately triumph over intrigue or prejudice. Nobody will
dare maintain, not eves the most besotted or selfish; that any
disadvantage can occur to the CroWn, Were the people more
faithfully represented. Whoever advances so monstrous an
opinion, must imagine that the interests of the people and the
kjthe "overei;en are di•itiott and coraplewly at s'ariauce.. It tual