The National Register.
London, England, 1814-12-18 00:00:00

L REGISTER.

should have thought that his intention was to lead them from a stilt-
jest on which they- were all agreed, to one on which it was inpos•
sible they could be unanimous; fur no question could he more calcu-
lated to divick the sentiments of any assembly of men than that of
merits or demerits of the ditleient parties of this centitry. The
question before them bad nothing to do with the merits or demerit*
of any class of men in power or out of power; they Nt ere assembled
together for the Willie into consideration the propriety of Within-
leg Parliament thr the repent of a disgraceful and oppressive Act,
unjust in itself, and destructive of the beat principles of the British
Constitution (Applause). The question was, wkethei they would
give their sanction to continue an Act of Parliatrent founded on
principles which were 8;1 express violation of the topstitution; or
whether snub Act onekt to he discontinued? It was one of the
best principles of our Constitution that our sludges were hide.
pendent. By our Constitution they were placed be3ond the reach
of the influence of the Crown. But what were the Judges who pie-
%Med over and dispOsed of our properties at pleasure? Their salaries
were unceitaie, and their offices were held during pleasure ? We
could travel from cur judges, to the representatives of the people, to
the bet editary jitifees of the land, and even to 0:e throne; but the
sentence-of the Commissioners of the Property Tax was tvithout ap.
peal. 'I hey possessed a power or enforcing and reetianie evidence
without oath ; they constituted both judges and jut y, there were
00 bounds to their power, there was en appeal from tee it decision
(applause). lie would not enter into any hieg catalogete of sellerieg
under this oppressive tax, because it was to the principles of the Hill-
that their attention ought to be directed. They opposed the Bill
because they loved the British Constitution; they detested its prin-
ciple, because it went to establish a system of tyranny lirolighout
every town and every village of the kingdom they detested ii be-
cause it was hostile to freedom, and accustomed men to the gradual
innovations of 1111)41-4iy pewee (applause). Though it was perhaps
irrelevant to the question, he would say that he prided himself mu
the appellation of a Wrhig, according to the principles 'of that great
man, Mr. Fox. Many of the names on the List of Pensions read by
the preceding speaker, ought not to have been introduced under
that title. One man was named, whose voice had often resounded
in their cars, in defence of the rights aud liberin s • f Evelishnicu.
Who could forget the noble and manly stand rat idle by
.Mr. Erskine,
when all the vengeance of power was directed against those who
stood up for the rights and liberties of their country ? Let not the
proud ornament of the English bar, the defender of the invite; and
liberties of his country, he ever put in the same list with those who
sold them. Was it Ctir thet the recompense granted to hint when
ousted from his situatioW, a ECCOMUCEICC 1111101 smaller in amount
than what he &lived from the fair exer:ion of his prolessioeid
talents, should receive the name of pension (A polio:sea? '1) rawly
in every shape and in every stage he detested. Winelier it assented
the gigantic stride of an overwhelming power which mocked t esist-
mice and trampled on the necks of its uefortimate ‘icliois, er !:n-
-pealed in the less formidable, bnt not less dangerous iorin of pet! y
encroachments and innovations, iii all its shapes, it was equally. de-
restable to an Euelishman ; and the tax in que•tion was v• xations
and tyrannical in its opetation, and iseconstitutiunal in its priuciple
(Loud applause).
The dilkient Ite-a-iltitions were then proposed and carried
unanimously.
Mr. NVAITO MAN then Mlle forward with the draft of' a petition t•
Parliament, in cotiCermity to the Resolutions. He wished to make a
few observations on what had fallen f.-om some of the preceding
speakers. They would du him the justice to say, it:at in alluding to
the American win-, he did not enter into the consideration of its
origin. There was mesh: difference of opinion en that subject; but
whatever its °Heim the war was now changed to a war of revenge ;
and, thought it *night be jut in its origin, it iecame nejust in its cot-
thmation. He thought the present was not the most proper occa-
sion for the ietroduction of the merits of Whigs and Turks. He
conkd not but think that there were plenty of ways for supplying the
deficiency 10601 would he occasioved by the loss of the Property
Tax, by refornation and retrenchnnent. Although he had an •ob-
jection to mix these things with the present question, as the subject
had.been introduced, it would not be deeied but that he bad often
called their attention to places and pensions, and pointed out the infa-
my of having such a load under the present circumstances of the cuun-
try. It seemed, however, as it the election of names made by aFt -
ceding Speaker; was 'Weeded to bring the heads of all parties ado
equal contempt. Many of them had fought a „great battle against
this inquisitorial tax ; and it was their business now to bring togetiu r
all the individuals who could lend them any support in their endea-
-1 yours to get rid of it (Applause!). He belonged to no party—this
Was perhaps owing to his insignificance ; but he was the first !man