The National Register.
London, England, 1809-05-28 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY INDEPENDENCE.

Sir Joint NE wro nr said, that there was no period of our
history in which the consideration of a measure of this kind
would not he of great importance, but the present evas time
for its discussion, of which the memory of man, he believed,
could not furnish an instance of greater moment to the welfare of
the country. Solicitous as he was at all times to avoid giving
Cause to men's minds to dwell on any measure out of this House,
bC•thotight the subject now under consideration was one entitled
to the attention of every man In the country. He was an tins ions
slipporter of the Act entitled the Greuville Act, and all other
iticdsurei which had for their object the correction of sitnilar
abuses. The House was indebted to such Acts as these for that
'Wild discretion it has 'exercised on occasions when remedies
have been found necessary for abuses in Parliamentary nepre-
'mutation. It was by this poster that the House was enabled to
Supply a remedy to the ea, e of the town c.f Aylesbury, the repre-
4titation of which was so corrupt, that it wa found absolutely
necessary for Pas liament to entrust it to other than those
to whom it had been originally consigned. Ile considereo the
resent Bill as one of the same nature as that of the Grenville
Act. with this difference, that it was intended to prevent the re-
currence of these abuses to the first instance, it'tcad of apply
a remedy for corruption still liable to be committed. In the
Instance of abuse he alluded to, it was notorious that to such a
pitch of corruption had the electors proceeded, that the re:ire-
*emotion was constantly kept on sale for the highest bidtkr.—
This being actually proved.in evidence, the House, improsiseri
with the disgraceful coaductAof the electors, felt it their bounden
duty to apply the remedy on record. With respect to the rot HT-
of the Bill he thought it was well calculated to compass all
the objects'it professed to tin, and he could not conceive it pos -
*We that objections could he urged sufficiently strop; to shew
the impolicy of it. He could not understand the of matte,
that young men of talent and genuine worth' would be lost to the
Maine by the effects of this Bill, upon what was called the Bur-
lap tenures of the country.--For his own part, he thought such
Men would find their way into Parliament equally as soon, and
Uttlth wuchinore credit to themselves 'and their country, by lay-
ink Out the purchase-money of a se;at in the ordinary Way, in
porurini their return by popular election. There were ex-
amples, and bright ones too, wheeet the right of Bargage tenure
was exercised in the most laudahle manner. His !tight
honourable Friend (Mr. Grattem) of whom the world
*fluid not but speak in the highest terms of eulogium,
owed his first entrance into Parliament, 'to the illustrious
Lord Charlemont, who held that tenure, as he said him-
Self,' for the purpose of sending to Parliament those only. who
were the defenders of the public liberty and the Constitution of
the county-... Favourable as these exceptions *very, Its could
not but bighly approve of the principle of a measure w h ich wen:
$O, put a stop to the trafficking for seats in Parliament; a prin-
ciple which laid an avenue open to any class of men to find their
way into Parliament. Few, indeed,. were Ihnse }t; ho purchased
!heir seals in this manner, that did not do so upon some interested
spewlatiop or other. He could not hut c'ontpare the purchase
of ascot on these terms to the purchase of a ;!arliamentaiy Lot-
tery Ticket, the prize for which was to be paid by the public.
Be saw no bad effects that could result Gout the operation of this

Mr. D. GIDDY opposed the Bill.
lir F4LANGIS UVAPICTT ceniidercd the premt period the mist