The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-02 00:00:00

vents good influence over the bad.—CLond cheers.) I
I also think it very doubtful that the people of this country,
who have aftways been accustome.to vote openly, and to
state their opinions in the face of day, would ever
resort to concealment in the exercise of the most impor-
tant privilege.—(Cheers.)ne-I am bound, Sir, more-
over to say that it appears doubtful whether there
ought to be in the community any class of persons
wholly irresponsible—(Chesirs)—and that the ballot does
create an irresponsible power no man can doubt. Ido not
think the ballot would counteract the influence of diffe-
rent claloes of society, or that it would counteract aristo-
cratic influence. But even if it did, I own that Ido
not like to see any irresponsible power confided in the
hands of any one man, or of any body of men,
knowing, as I do, that man is a being whose mind
is clouded by a variety of errors, and influ-
enced by every variety of passion and of feeling.
I shill now say a few words as to the merits of this
plan. In the first place, great objections will be urged
iiig
againstn of
ethis measurekind isby
atnhosinenowvhaotiontl:inakndthaat eyert
depar-
ture from the wisdom of our ancestors—these
men will say, As our ancestors have thought
fit that Old Serum should send Members to Par-
liament, let Old Sarum send them still."—(Hear.) •
To that, Sir, I answer " Our ancestors said let
large towns send e embers," and I say Old Sarum
is not a large town ; but Birmingham and Manches-
ter are large towns, and therefore let them send Members,
andof one in saying so
than
believeanl
r m e
to
oacsay ex
acting more
and Manchester, and let Old Sarum have Members. Let
no man say that as Old Saturn in the time of Edward 111.
ul e. Birminghamin th e
spirit
sent Members, that we, by permitting the Old Sarum of
the present day to send Members, are following the prin-
ciples of our ancestors. I know, Sir, it will be sail that
eminent hankers, merchants, and lawyers, who have gained
admittance to this Howe by means of these boroughs, will
now be excluded. I doubt that proposition very much,
f I think no measure of Reform could prevent learning,
wealth, and capacity, frmn having their due influence
upen the great body of the constituents, and I am ;trite
sure that in popular boroughs, that influence would
preponderate. As an instance of the influence of learn-
ing and talent upon the constituents of popular boroughs,
I would cite the case of my Hon. Friend the Attorney-
General—(Bear, hear)—and I am sure that lawyers of
eminence, and merchants of respectability, will continue
to be elected, and to bring to the deliberations of
this House that learning and that Species of know-
ledge which qualifies men to take part in our discus-
sions. I shall again be told, Sir, that the effect of this
measure will be to destroy the influence and power
of the Aristocracy ; that, Sir, I deny, but on the con-
trary I maintain that the influence of the Aristocracy will
be much improved. I mean that Aristocracy which min-
gles with the people, which knows their wants, which
receives their neighbours hospitably, and which mixes
along with the people. Sir, it is not in human nature that
such an aristocracy must not have great influence in the
election of Members deemed worthy to serve their country.
Such an aristocracy will always have each an influence
as every good man will say they ought to have ; but if
gentlemen mean to say that it will destroy the influence
of an aristocracy, which does not live among the people,
which knows nothing of the people, and cares no-
thing for the people, which seeks rank without merit,
which seeks for places without talent, and for pensions
without services, for Fetch an aristocracy I have nosympathy.
The sooner the influence of that species of aristocracy is
cat rigid away with the corruption in which that influence
has thriven, the better for country, and the better for
every wholesome and invigorating influence.—(Cheering.)
The question is, whether, without some large measure of
Reform you can carry on the affairs of the country, with the
countenance awl with the suppert of the people.—(Hear.)
Sir, I believe we cannot.—(Hear, hear.) It may be a
question whether we can or cannot resist that particular
plan of Reform ; but there is no question whatever but
that you must either reform, or with this Constitution
you must perish.—(Cheers.)—This House, in its unra.
forme! state, has nothing to look to but the countenance,
and the support, and the sympathy of the nation; hut
it is now quite clear, that if yon refuse Reform, that
sympathy will be for the future withheld, and I ask you,
whether when the Ministers of the Crown are convinced,
when they serve a master who has permitted them to
lay their propositions before the House, when they come
forward to declare they think Reform is indispensable,
when the people out of doors, by multitudes of peti-
ttons, and by millions of voices, are calling for the same
thing, whether the House of Commons will say we
alone are the judges of our security—( Hear, bear)—we
despise the propositions of the Ministers of the. Crown,
we despise. the warning voice of the people, whom
we profess to represent, and we will keep our power any
how against all retnoro,trances; against all petitions,
and take our chance of the dreztdrul consequences toat
may ensue.—(hear.)—Sir, I appeal in toy turn to the
i aristocracy of England. My opinion, Sir, of the gentle-
men of England is, that in a great crisis of the ceuntry
they have never been found wanting, that when the country
was (engaged in war against the national enemy, they were
almost the foremost to come forward, that whets biathens
were to he supported they were ever ready to sup,
port those burthens with the rest of their fehow•
subjects, and I ask them now, when a great sacrifice
is to he made which will show their generosity—which
will evince their public spirit—which will identify than
for the future with the people around them—(Hear)-...
I ask them to corns forward in such circumstances, to
give to the Throne stability, to the Parliament strength, and
to tins country peace.— (Continued cries of " hear, hear.")
sir, whatever may be the result of these propositions ;
however they may be met by this House, the King's Mi-
nisters will find that they have done their duty. They
have hitherto proceeded in a straight-forward course, nei-
ther looking for the support of a perticular chose, nor fear-
ing the disapprobation and the frowns of 41K:then
(Cries of "liear, hear, hear.") Wherever stern duty led
theta against popular feeling they have not even in such cir-
cumstances hesitated to persevere. By a firm legitiinate
exercise of law those disturbances which prevailed in many
parts of England, when they came into office, have now, I
trust, been happily terminated, by vigorous exertions
of laws which were passed before they entered into office;
the agitations so extensive and so extreme have been
made in a great degree to subside into peace. At all
events they cannot be accused of leaning to popular error,
or seeking to ingratiate themselves in a mere popular
inconsistent clamour ; therefore, Sir, I think they deserve
to be believed, when they came forward with a
measure of Reform of the greatest consequence as
to the well being of this country.—(Hear, hear.)
They have to-night to be believed, when they say in
the face of this House and of the nation at large, that
they have no sinister or unworthy motive, but that they
bring Reform forward because:they believe it to be fleets-
iry to the welfare of this country. They are interested
in its future prosperity and welfare, "and they do think
that this measure will tend to promote the one
and to insure the other—(Hear, hear.)—They think of
Reform, that it is the only measure that is calculated
to insure permanency to those institutions which have so
long been the admiration of foreign countries—(Hcar)—
on account of their popular spirit, but which cannot exist
much longtr—(Cries of " Oh, oh," from the Opposition
benches)--unless by an infusion of due popular spirit
you show that you are determined not to be the represen-
tative of small classes, of particular interests,.—hut that
you will firm a body, which representing the people, which
springing from the people, which having a sympathy with
the people, can fairly call up the people to support any
future burthens, and to struggle with any future
difficulties they may have to encounter, confident that
those who seek it are united heart and hand with them-
selves, and look only like themselves to the glory and
Pie welfare of England.—(Cheers.)
Sir JOHN SEBRIGHT seconded the motion, but in
consequence of the great confusion and noise that
prevailed in the gallery the Honourable Baronet was very
inaudibly heard. He came down totally unacquainted
with the plan of Reform which it was the intention of hie
Majesty's Ministers to propose to the House, but he
was assured, however, that Reform was the only safe-
guard to the institutions of the country, and it was
upon this principle that be • seconded the motion
whieli the Noble Lord who had just sat down, had so
clearly, so distinctly, and so eloquently supported.
The question bring put from the Chair.
eit. R. 11. INGLIS rose, amidst the greatest confusion,
occasioned by the Members leaving the house: • Nu •
menus groups were formed in the lobbies, ante-rooms, and
passage., discussing the subject of Lord John
speech. The whole scene was one of interest and anima-
tion, beyond what for many years has been witnessed.
Sir R. Inglis at length became audible, amidst the cries
of " Bar, bar," and " Order, order. Ile said that the
plan of tjid Noble isced was wild and impractieahle. .No
man could approach the subject Withounbeing sensible of
its difficulties, and those difficulties were now much in-
creased by the peculiar citcunistances in which the
country was placed, internally and in relation to the other
kingdoms of Europe. Reform had been successfully re-
sisted, when brought forward by better men, and under
different circumstances, and now, he regretted to say, that
there did exist circumstances that gave a totally new cha-
racter to the case. This was the first time that he had heard
a proposal of Reform made in that House by one; who if