The National Register.
London, England, 1822-07-01 00:00:00

INFLUENCE OF THE CROWN.

Mr. BROlKaros tl rose to bring forward his motion on the
subject of the increased Influence of the Crown. It was a
subject to which he bad directed his attention for the last six
year. ; and when the wide spreading difficulties of the country
appeared in all directions,it would ill become them to close the
present Session without coining to some resolution oil the sub-
ject of the extent and pressure of the ilfluence of the Crown.
It was calculated to destroy the balance of the Constitution ;
to affect the influence of the people ; and to affect the purity
of that Parliament whisk ought to be the people's safeguard.—
Perhaps it would be requisite for him to require that the reso-
lution of 17140 ( Mr. Dunning'a) should he read, declaring, that
the influence of the Crown had increased, and ought to be di-
minished. It was however sufficiently well known to all. Yet
its truth seemed to have no influence on some men's minds.—
Those opposite appeared to be shocked if there were any insi-
nuation respecting the influence that their places were capsula-
ted to have on them ; they forsooth were not to he affected by
the motives of ainliitiou, or the desire of agile and of profit.—
However, according to the lauguage of the Constitution,
plaoeinen, as 'decennia, were properly the invariable objects
of diitrast.—(Hear, hear !) —But there had grown up a squea-
mish, effeminate distrust on this subject, and lie feared it re-
mitted front the remtuk being more justly merited. In answer
to the squeamish feelings, he would aiiireal to the records of
Parliament. Their acts established the principle that place-
men were objects of distrust. Their resolutions and acts °sixth-
tidied the fact, placemen, contractors, tisc. had been excluded
by act of Parliament. Hu could say to all placemen, as the
!loose had said to the contractors—you are influenced by the
places you hold, by the profit yon gain at the discretion of the
Crown. The proceedings of the Revolution, and the act of
Aurae, excluded certain plaeemen and pensioners, and that
established the principle to their being objects of distrust.—
It was the langauge and doctrine of the best times.—lt was
pa ne:Andy so of that House in 1693, when it was re-
solved, that whoever advised the King to refuse a bill which
went to reject placemen from the House, were enemies
alike of the. king and constitution. He should next proceed
to show the influence of the Crown, by adverting to the in-
crease of the expenditure. In 17140 how different it was to
behold Irma what they stow beheld it. The collection of the
revenue then met one million. There were then eighteen mite
lions at t'se diorama of the Clown, there were now 28,000,0001.
excluding the expellee of the debt. In 1780 this country was
engaged in war ; we had now been at peace fur years. But if
reduced to former peace establishments, the increase was from
7,000,0001. to 28,090,0001. or an increase about four four-fold.
They then were to consider the increase of the influence of
the Crown, nut possibly in the number of persons, hut in
the memos of granting increased influence over them. It might
be said that the same money slid not go so far now as it did thee.
—lle would grant that 21. now was Only equal to 11. in 1760;
bat that only warranted a twofold increase. The (bane in the
value of money therefure, would not warrant the increase of the
expeediture from 7,00d,01131. to 28,000,0001. The same in-
crease took place iii the army, fur instance—there being on in-
crease front three tliousatid eight hundred to 27,000 officers.—
Was that not all increase of patronage t When those officers,
on full pay and on half pay, had connexions all over the
country; when some of those officers held seats in that House ;
when they were liable to lie dismissed or advanced at the
noil of the • 'stem, could it be said that such increased
jiationage, with the mope and uncertain controul of that House,
was calculated to render more secure the balance of the
constitution --(Hear, hear !)--Hesides this, there hail been 19
colunies added since 1780, and they gave 150 staff offices,
and as many civil offices, 'waists.' less offices—altogether up-
wards of 800 places. This was put in one branch. It was
independent of the endless series of offices, boards, Ye. for the
collection of the revenue, the management elate debt, the in-
vestigation of accounts, &c. And t;ioee 800 Oilers. in addition
to all the increase at home, were at the " unela JJJ i J table" disposal
of ministers. He spoke of the increase since 1780—he said
nothing of what existed before in the East and West Indies. and
Low immense was that increase since 1780, even in the de-
pertinent of the colonies. He did nut particularly mean to dwell
on the East India Company's patronage ; but considering the
good understailding that existed between the Compaoy and the
goverimient, it ought to be taken into the account : yet it was
stated that a branch of Government had one fourteenth of the
Company's patronage—namely, that of a chairman and the de-
puty, which annually gave the patronage of 38 places ; there-
fore they bad indirect influence over .100 places. Thus the
goverimient had direct and indirect influence over 1,200 places,
besides those at house. The increase of the debt wan also other
means of great patronage. lii all directions they saw increase
el the crown's patronage, quadrupled at least in all lenience'
since 1780. He then proceeded to condemn the various tax
soul excise acts, as calculated to add largely to the difficulties
of carrying on trade and manufactures; all were placed so
mach under the executive, that to escape the traps to which
the revenue laws exposed trailers suit merchants, they must
set warily indeed. Those laws (mined a frightful code.—
Their frightful severities were completely unknown to ninny
persons. The teeniest member then descanted at consideruble
length on Die effects that bad been produced on Die debates
and ilecisiuns of dint House, by the operation of much istfluvnce,
and he concluded with moving a resolution, that the influence
of the crown, as it slow existed, was not required to support the
constitutional prerogative of the Sovereign ; that it was destruc-
tive of the independence of that House ; and list it was incon-
sistent with good gevermiteut.
Lord LONDONDERRY opposed the motion, maintaining
that it was uncalled for, and even if it were justifiable, it isd
been by the hon. and keened member supported by ilioet ceag-
prated stalemate. Thu hon. gentleman did nut intend this
motion against the influence of the Crown ; his object was in
feet am less than what lie e died Parliamentary refines ; his ob
pet was neither snore tier less than a.a attempt to run ile end
degrade diet Parliament whose ON is had saved the liberties
of this country, and um ouly of this country, but of Europe

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

and the world ; and be trusted the House would reject the
hon.. id learned gentleman's motion, and pass to the order of
the day; and he would move as au amendment, that the other
orders be read.
Mr. BENN ET supported the original motion ; the iufluenee
of the Crown. he contended, had greatly increased of late
years; there were at present upwards of 18,000 civil ofliaors
in Ce pity of government.
Mr. S. WORTLEY said, if the hon. member could make
good his charges, lie (Mr. W.) must become, strange as it
might appear, a reformer; and the sooner they set about it the
better; but the facts was, those lion. gentlemen hail misre-
presented facts and assumed false positions. He should op-
pose the motion as uncalled for.
Mr. BROUGHAM briefly replied. It was the doctrine of
the lion. Member fur Yorkshire, thst it wet . the duty of the.
House of Commons to give its emilience to any ministers till
they had proposed some measures that proved them to be no •
worthy of confidence. This he denied ; it was the duty of the
House of Commons to be satisfied as to the fitness of the per-
sons, before, by their misgovernment, they hail led the country
into misfortunes. During the last war, the country was, as it
were, struggling for life, when France was thundering at our
gates, and when the country was torn by civil and religious
dissensions. If it we.: proper at such A time for the House of
COIIIIIIOIIII to wait till the country was plitieged in utter ruin, lie
bad read the Constitution ill —it was a doctrine that had been
often departed from, and never more than at the end of the
American war. The noble Lord had said tient he hail indirectly
censured the House. lie did not know the amount of vituiee-
ratios which could satisfy the noble Lord. (A laugh.)-11e
thought be had not been open to the charge of being ill under-
stood.—( Lord Londonderry said a few words across the table.)
Then the nolde Lord was satisfied, lie was glad orit. (A laugh.)
He bad admired the noble Lord's skill ; lie had left all the sore
places untouched, and gently covered them lit general pane-
gyric. A more lame and impotent defence time had lieen set
up, he had never lieu& The question was not merely respec-
ting places and lattices in that House. From that source much
influence arose which was felt in the deliberations anti votes of
that House. But there was a large debt: for the payment of
the interest of that debt a large amount of money mos be
)early levied. The collection sud expenditure of that money
necessarily conferred influence upon the Crown. To meet that
influence, a counterpoise was required. If they would preserve
the balance of the constitution, hey most introduce changes on
the one side equivalent to the changes created on the other, in
order to prevent any alteration of the system. Changes had
been created by the debt and its machinery; changes were
therefore necessary to he placed on the opposite side of the
beam, in order to restore the equipoise. The members of thut
House must therefore be brought more into contact with their
constituents in order to give to the people the counterpoise re-
quired by the pr neiples of the constitution against the influence
of the crown. lie called upon the House, if they valued the
good-will and confidenee'of the country, to restore this counter-
poise ; bat if they turned a deaf ear to the voice of the people,
the consequence would be well-founded dissatisfaction, and all
the evils which must arise Loin an entire derangement of oar
boasted constitution. This, lie said, WAS not as a menace, but
lie stated it as the precaution which experience dictated. If
they should he obdurate, it might hereafter be too late to attempt
what might hereafter be an effectual remedy. It was the put
of sound wisdom to look a little before them, and to act in
unison with the feelings and bite, este of the people. as ninny
former Parliaments had kept tem), gratification, not of the
people, but of the ministers of the Crown. ( Hear, bear.)
The Muse then divided. For the lion, 101 ; against it,
r 216.—Majority against the motion, ILL—Adjourned at one
o'clock.