The National Register.
London, England, 1809-05-07 00:00:00

THE E N%TIONAL REGISTER.

last, had said it was senseless to suppose men in office watuki
traltc for such places: it was, however, (Aearly ascertairied
t hey tfid so, and having come under the cognizance of the !louse
it appear to him impossi!..le the house should refuse to coun-
tenance a Bill, the object of which ma-. it, coriasct such abuses.
Mr. •Perceval said, he could :nal. y any- means form an
opinion in what way or on what grounds the Hollow:)1e Gen-
tleman meant to obtain his..object. There seemed to hint to he
an impeacticability of doing it, but he would' not oppose his
bringing,io the Hill, in order that he and tae kfloese might hr
able to ii,olge what the merits and demerits of it 'might be. But
in agreeing to the motion id the Ilon. Gel:dem:ln for leave to
brin, in his BILL he hegg.al distinctly to be ouderstond trot to
give any pledge to cottenr in the measure, or to he staked to itay
project of atty alteration, regulation, or reform, such as that
Proposed by the llon. Member. lie could not, under the call
of the Hon. Gentlemen, pledge himself to support his measure
throughout, though he should agree to its introduction, because
as far as he was able to judge of it front the statement of the
lion. Gentleman himself, he did not thiak he could put it into
any practicable shape, which would entitle it to the adoption of
Parliament. It %vas as,ertt-d that they who composed that
Iletc4e, sat there contrary' to the law which seated the
family of his Majesty. upon the throne : because it was en-
iteted by that act, that no pIaCCOICH or pensioners should have a
seat io that 'House. What language was that to be held out to
the people without any comment on the fact, or any illustration
of the law ? The Act in question had been passed in the sear
1700, and was repealed in the year 1•101; it was not to have
taken etrect until after the avte.sioa of the House of 11runso irk
to the Throne, and had rousequently never been the law of the
land. After the very able .peecli of the Right Hon. Gentleman
Opposite (Mr. Windham), it was unnecessary for him to spew
that the measure- proposed would not allay, what the Hon.
lover represented as the disturbed state of the public tallith He
bhoyld not oppose .the motion for bringing. in the Bill, and
trusted he should have the vigilant assistance of the Right lion.
(ientleman (Mc. Windham) in watching o%ery part of its pro-
gress. Whatever he might think respecting the ill;:onveltieOce
stf any change at the present moment, lie had no 'hesitation in
saying that there could ne no inconvenience in discussing any
project of Itiform. What was said to be the growing sentiment
of the copot6, respecting Reform had arisen front the silence of
Vorlialucin and the only effectual mode o( putting an cud to
Cie delusion practised upon the public, was to talc,- up the dis-
ee-sion of such subjects in that house, and not leave them to he
dicussed in popular meetings' and hidammatory papers out of
floors. Oat these grounds, he should allow Bill to go to a
second reading, but 'without giving•any pledge to .sitpport
• Mr. Comet% did notintend to trouble the to any length.
Ile was totally at a loss to aei:pont why the Right 11611. Gen-
tleman d d not oppose the bringing in of the bill when he had
expressed so determined a resolution to oppose it in its progress.
Old he say, that the evils, which it was t.lie object of the hill to
remedy, did not eii:4 ? if hedid,-w by did he allow the bill to
inr, brought in ? I t wits impossible for hiat not to look
round theicouittry, and to hear the expression of public opinimi
echoed Linn% every corner et it. With- respr.t to the of jection
against the indefinite nature of his motion, he would say, that
the form in which it was sehmitt•ed to the House was not of his
ti.ietation,i an that subject he hail cnnsulted some of the aLlest
awn in the !louse, and particularly the dito*uished vliamaCter
in the t-hoir.. :He must,' however, again repeat, that the
ohirel or the- ....as to prevent the obtaining of seats
i'artiafheat, by (!ifect, flagrant, palpable corraption, and not
to the operation of influence. lie could not believe
that an" .lemln2l ot? that ;louse, any man in th..c.cc3inAry, would
of•an art so immoral, as tl.e. violation of the sanetiou
meant' to propose. Be knew that he had great ditlicnlties tee
~.,coutitcr, bat he trusted, with the al.nista,nco of the House, ne
Infond Fe able to surmount them. -.His Bill would have no ty-
re, eace to th, Act iv illiain aced Mary, commonly called, the
i'reating Act.
The quest!on hef4lg put, the mnti fill was carried alroch:t oaani-
mously;•and Cameos. Mr. Po.E.ithy, Sir A. Pigott,
v, Lard Folkestone, Mr. Windham, anu o,hers, %%ere or-
.reih-i to prepare :oaf bring. in. the kilt. [At Mr. Windhath's
alma: there was loud nod eomintied inaghter. j—Ahljoutaed.

17:-Idags ,i/ny 5.

CNT %NY A IICSES.

Mr. ''.la,',orkF..---" Mr. Speakci.—Sir, I alit flikty a thr.t
kV:4' very. 11ctic daitn tr.: the EtitClltitP.l of OA': Oxcesit

iTAY 7.

that which I hope the House will always be ready to attend to,
from whatever quarter it may come, I mean a narrative of facts ;
I am aware also of the great importance of the matter which 1
have to submit to the House, which I should.never venture to
do, were I not impe‘led by a strong sense of duty. What I have
to state relates chiefly to the mode of proceeding.upon the mat-
er which I shall offer to your attention ; and it is my object to
regulate my conduct by the forms of the House; but I wish, at
the same time, that the House may not be impressed with the
idea that what I bring forward is not worthy of the mot.' serious
attention, although it be my purpose to decline all argument
Upon it for the present; for indeed the thing itself is most seri-,
ous and important in its nature; for facts have come to ,my
knoWledge of so glaring a colour that were I not to call the at-
tention of this House to them, I should feel that I should deserve
the appellation, not indeed of a Jacobin but of 'traitor to the
constitution of my chuntry. • They are facts arising out of
practice, the which if not speedily put an end to will sap the
very foundation of this our free and glorious eonqitution. Wit h.
out further preface, therefor[;, I loa, leave to move, that the
Journal of this !louse of the 13th of Feh-nary, 1100, he now
read, concerning Mr. Samuel bald Mr. Franci, Shepherd, theu
two Members of this ifoase." The entry bring read, it appear.;
ed that Samuel Sh?pherd, Esq. a Member of the House, having
been guilty or bribery and corruption, In order to procure his
election as a Member, it was resolved that he he heard at the
Bar of the House,. and -also ordered, that the whole matter be
heard al the bar of the !louse. '
Mr. Madocks--" I move that the entry on the Journals of the,
15th •of Feb. IWO he read ; which being; done', it appeared that
the said Samuel Shepherd, by hin-self and his agents, had con..
spired together to corrupt divers electors for the Borough of
Newport, in the Isle 'of Wight, in the county of Southampton;
Wotton- Basset, in the county of Wilts, mid other places
and had corrupted then;, &c.
Mr. M adocks —" I 'now move that the entry on the Journal
of the ISt k'of the same month be read ;" which being done, it
appeared that the al-,ove facts were recited ; and theft it was re-.
solved, that he being charged with these practices, and being
found guilty of then; (reciting them again) it Was finallY'resolvs
ed, that the said Samuel Fheph..lrd he Committed fo the Tower
of Lennon, and that the Speaker do issue Ills warrant, 'and it
was issued accordingly for that purpose. " •
Mr. Madocks--".1 wish to call tke' attention of the House*
simply to the matter of form in this case; because the vubstnare.
is to come hereafter. By 00., form, the House Will ohcerve,
that Sati•tudl Shepht;rd stood charged. w jth the guilt of bribery
and cortuption. That being stated, the ne*t step was, to order
hitn to attend in his ;:lace, and at the sometime to order that 016
whole matter be beard at the bar of the. Muse. Now, Sir, for
the application of 116.4 precedent; and here feel it 'to he my
duty to ia:t.cm this House, that the Right lion. Spencer Perce.
val., a Member of this House, has, through the means of the
Right' non. Ilenry Wellesley, another Member of this House,
and through other means bees) guilty of bribery :Ind corruption,
and other unfair practices,, to procure the return of tI person to
be a Memher of thisliouse. And I. do further' inform this
!louse, 'dm t the Right Hon; Lord Viscount Castlereagh, another
Member of this Huttse, has been guilty Of similar practices. I
therefore move, :" That these charges, thus made against the
Night Hon: Spencer Perceval and Lord ViSCoant Castlereagh,
he heard at the aar of this House on Tuesday neit." •
Mr. Speaker.--" Deliver in the motion." It being delivereil
in, the Speaker • put' it thus The question' is, That tho
charge.; now exhibited against the itightllon. Spencer Perce.
val, a Member of this House, and against Lord Viscount Castle-
reagh, also a 'Member of this flm,use, be heard al the bar of this
•i
II or;-,e on Tuesday next:" '
The rianceiltir of the Exchequer.—" 1 do not know what
the course of proceed itix has been in the year I 7 0 because lhig
comes upon a sudden ''a Me; but this I w il! venture to say, that
since I have had the hodonf of a seat in Parliament, I never
knew of any Cioir.,e brought forward againSt any Menther of.
Parliament of w hid' that ••:',ltimber had not some intimation.--
( Hero. f• hear henr !) I cs.:a only say that, at present, nothing
is stated :1,-ainst me, on which I can by possibility say any thing,
because I have no knowledge vihatever,of any fact to which the
charge diodes, for no intimation has been made to me, private'
or public upon the matter. Thelfouse has beard all-that I have
!mord upon the. subject, and, therefore, Sir, with you and the.
!louse, I shall leave the que;tion.---(//ear hose! gent!). The,
: . . •:
Right lion. Centleman then withdrew. c
Sir John .Nnst.ntlter. " It is' impossible, as I conceive, enn-
sisternll viith atq thiaglfte justice. to a,s,ut to the motiou tor,

I

land. After the very able speech, of the Right Eon. tientieman .pined together to corrupt (livers elCc«/Ts tor tile Dorougn ow.
Opposite (Mr. Windham), it was unnecessary for him to spew Newport, in the isle 'of Wight, in thecounty of Southampton;
that the ineasur:- proposed would not allay, what the Hoe. 1a- Wotton- Basset, in the county of Wilts, raid other places ;
Alove{ tvpresented as the disturbed stale of the public winch. He and had corrupted them, &c.
shoyld not oppose •the motion for bringing. in the Bill, and Air. Mr:docks —" I 'now move that the entry on the Journal
trusted he should have the vigilant assistance of the Right lion. of the }Sit:of the same month be read ;" which being done, ii
tientleman (Mr. Wilidhato) in watching c‘cry part of its pro- appeared that the above facts Were. recited ; mid theft it was re-. t w
gress. Whatever he. might think respecting the in.-onvenieece solved, that he being charged with these practices, and being
of any change at the present moment, he had no 'hesitatiott in found guilty of theta (reciting them again) it Was finallY'resolvs t
~
seeing that there could 'tie no inconvenience in discussing any ed, that the said Samuel Fbepin.ia; be committed eo the Tower
project of lieform. What was said to be the growing sentimeut of Lendon, and that the Speaker dal issue his warrant, and it /
rtf the clattery respecting, Reform had arisen front the silence of was issued accordingly for that purpose.
Varlialucet :' and the only effectual mode of. putting an end to , Mr. 111adocks--"'1l wish to call the' attention of the House*
the del tision practised upon the public, was to talc,- up the dis- simply to the matter of form in this case; because the rubs/awn'
cu--inn of such subjects in that House, and not leave them to he is to come hereaftce. By thi.4 form, the House Will observe,
dicussed in popular meetings' and iefiammatory papers out or that SatiVudl Sitepitt;rd stood charged. w jth the guilt of bribery
I
tioors. 011 these grounds, he should allow t'..e Bill to go to a and corruption. That being stated, tli neat step was, to order
sccond reading, but 'without giving•any pledge to ,rapport it. hitii to attend in his elate, and at the sometime to order that the.
• Mr. Corwen did not intend to trouble the lloii.a. to any length. whole matter lie beard at the bar otthe'llinise. Now, Sir, for
He was totally at a loss to aciTatint why the Right 1161). Gen- the application of this precedent ; and here A feel it 'to he my
demeandemeandid not oppose the bringing in of the hilt when he had (oy to IN:c.uni this lou. s,, thatf the Right lion. Spencer Perce-
,.
expressed so determined a resolution to oppose it in its progress. vai, a 'Member'Member of this House, has, through the means of the
Did he FM', that the evils, w;!icli it was t.!w object of the hill to Right Iton. henry Wellesley, another Member of this House, •
remedy, did not A ist ? i if hedid, iv Ity did he allow the bill to . and through other means bees) guilty of bribery :Ind corruption,
kte brought in ? 1t• was impossible for him not to look and otlier unfair practires,, to procure the return of a person to
round tlascouetry, and to hear the expression of public opinimt he a Member of thisliouse. And Ido further' inform this
e.choed Liam overy corner et it. With- respra to • the oh jection llouse:that the Right lion:Lord Viscount Castlereagh, another
against the indefinite nature of his motion, tie •would say, that I Alember of this Rause, has been guilty Of similar practices. I
the form in which it was selonitwd to the House was not of his therefore move, 'That these charges, thas made against the
tiictatiomi ort that subject he had cnnsulted some. of the aLlest Right Hon: Spencer Perceval and Lord Vikoant Castlereagh,
o.wn in the House, and particularly the dist itt..Nisficd .charaetcr be heard at the oar of this House on Tuesday nest.'' •
in the LThair.. :Hr must; however, again repeat, that the Mr. Speaker.--" Deliver in the motion." It being delivereil .
object I,l' the- hill '.•*:l4 to prevent Oa obtaining of seats in, the Speaker • put' it thus :---," The question' is., 'flat that
a, i'arli),,,lea., by (:iteet, flagrant, palpable corroption, and not charge.; now exhibited against the Right'llon. Spencer Perce-
.lo i!,va \ the operation of influence,. lie could nut b..dieve val, a Alember of this House, and against Lord Viscount- Castle-
that au. Thanbei to' that ;louse, any man in ducT(3l:a(ry, wouie I reagh, also a 'Member of this tiv•use, be heard al the bar of this
-;;•A•:mo;i1,itf of .an art so immarat, as the violation of the sanction lint:-,eon Tuesday next."" ,)
ile meant' to propuse. Ile knew that he had great ditlienities to The Chancellor of the Exchequer.—" Ido not know what
',,,counter, hot he trusted, with toe al.:lst:lnc.. of the House, ne the ;:ourse of proeeeditix has been in the year 17,0, because thig
tloolid -I.e able to surmount them. -.llis Bill would have no rc- comas upon a sudden tia nit.; but this Ito il! venture to say, that
:et eace to Ow Act (.;:. Vr iffia:ll :Lad Mary, commonly called, the ' since I have had the buffalo.' of a seat in Parliament, I never
• i'rrating Act. ~ T. • •. • .••• • . • knew of any Char..e brought forward againSt any Warner of •
~ The question befog put, the mntina was carried almost veitti;- Parliament of which that ••,'',ltimber had not some intimation.--
mous! v;•atal '4r. Curwen,. Mr. Po•E,a)by, Sir A. Pigott, Sir '. ( Hero- f• hear ! hear !) I.cs.:n only say that, at present, nothing
lia,,oill y, Lard Folkestone„vir. 17 ii,d ham, anu ~,h6.,,, were or- is stated:l rainst me, on which I can by possibility say any thing,
.rei•TT,l 10 prepare and bring in. thii Lfift. [At Mr. Windham's because aave no knowledge vihatever,of any fact to which the
a;ttifie there was lend nod continued leaghter. j—A.djouthed• •••• charge diodes, for no intimation has been made to me, private'
. • . - • . or public upon the matter. The House has beard all-that I have
F:.- .
icialls .IJoy 5. heard upon the subject, and, therefore, Sir, with you and the
. . !louse, I shall leave- the one;tion.---(//ear I /sere'! hear!). The.
PA a LI A M CN.T'A It Y• A LVSES. • a•
Right lion. Centleman then withdrew.
Mr. ‘.la,iorks..--"• Mr. Speake;.—Sir; I' ain roily aware that Sir John .-Nnst.ntlter. " It is' impossible, as I conceive, enn-
: kv-4, very. /11t1c, daite V: the Etitcation of tab. 4?.oasel:eacesitto- 1 s'lMeritty viitle- any-- thiaglihejth:tice. to WSW to the motiou tor,
t • , •:'.) •) . , , . I