The Sun.
London, England, 1822-06-19 00:00:00

power, wantonly relied on the sword without necessity and
' without appeal.-(Applause..)-They were considered the best
conservators of the public peace whose conduct was calculated
to produce on infringement of it.-(Applause.)-They had also
DINNER TO CELEBRATE THE INDEPENDENCE „ seen political judges, who applied punishment, not to the
OF SOUTHWARK. • offence,_ but to the man.-(CheerS.)-They had-known such
as the bestguardians of our
The inclPpendent Electorsof Southwark, friends persons to be applauded .
of justice.-
to Parliamentary Reform, celebrated , the Fmirth laws, and the most impartial dispensers
((Beers.)-Military government was the order •of the- day
Nnnivt.rSary of their independence, at' the Horns. and as the affair of ' Manchester had been alluded to, he
Tavern, K ennington, yesterday.—Sir ItonERT was ashamed to say, that. the wounds which the reformers
received on ttia.,, occasion, if they were net treated as matters
Wiesoot, M.P. in the Chair.
- - of nastime by Sift: own rulers, were very lightly noticed when
At half-past five o'clock, the Hon. Chairman entered the allusion was made to those scandalous transactions by the Mi-
Ygreat room, sccompanied by H. G. Bennet, Esq., 31. P.; J. G. ni: sters of the Crown. But the scene was now Changed with
eamhten, Esq., M.P. ; J.. C. Hobhouse, Esq., 31-P- ; Joseph many of those who formerly supported administration. Every
-Hume E'q., 31. P. ; C. H. Hutchinson, Esq., M.P.; S. C. where now was heard-
'Whitbread, Esq., M.P. ; Ra-on De Stall ; Alderman Wood, ,‘ The loud lament
M.P. ; Alderman Waithnian.„ &c. They were greeted with - "Of rising taxes, and of falling rent;"
fervent applause. Sir Francis Burdett was prevented from mob,. . And those who, heretofore, minded not the necessities of the
.attending by a tit of the gout. labOuring classes, now sympathized with the people in their
Between two and three hundred respectable Electors sat 'sufKrings; and felt it necessary to join with the general interest
,
- clown to dinner. The cloth having been removed, , of the country-many who, a few months since,• would have The Cu.% i nsr.AN proposed, " The_King, and the principles thought it profanation to speak of Reform, began to see. that
-Which place d' his family.on the throne;" with three times three. Reform was the only remedy that could be applied to the evils
Taine-" God save the Ring." . . • - of the country.--(Applause.)--Not a few persons thought that
Toast, " The people, the only true source of. legitimate this penitence depended on circumstances, that these were but
power," with three tirn\r:s three. • ' the proselytes of the day; and, to use a homely phrase, that, if Tune-" Gentlemene of England." '• • . the shoe which now pinched were removed, they would be
"Toast-" The Liberty of the Press," with three times three, the first to recur to the old system.-(Applause.)--But,
and enthusiasticaapplause. whether that were the fact or not, great changes were un-
Tune-h. Hearts of Oak." _ . doubtedly now in progress, a great political crisis was at hand.
Toast-" A speedy and effectual Reform in the Commons' It was impossible that those clouds which had been so long
House of Parliament," with three times three, and long con- gathering over the land, could disperse And melt away, without
timed cheering. ' •
• an elementalwar.-(Applause.)-altefigm would be the conductor
When •siknce was obtained, , ' of the lightning, the most harmlesSoand• the safest, and. the
Mr. WoTraißeinoON rose and said, he was called on by the quickest conductor.-(Applause.)-Thlre was no man more
Stewards to give to the assembly a toast, awl when he inform- disposed than he was to sympathize in the sufferings of the'
-ed themnhat it was the health of their worthy Chairman, the country-gentlemen, whatever might have been, the original
anniversary of whose election they were about to celebrate, he errors of that part of them to whom he had alluded : but when
,had no doubt that they would receive it with all those demon- he considered that that distress might he the means of accelerate
strations of respect and attachment which it had heretofore corn= ing and Procuring reform-when he thought upon that 'goes-
Inanded.-(Aeplause.)--hooking to that flag, (a flag hung at non, which 'embraced every other, and comprised all that was
the lower end of the room, and inscribed with the date of Sir R. valuable to the country-when he reflected on the hope of car-
Wilson's- return), it would appear that they ought to celebrate rying that great measure, which he looked upon to be a sovereign
the important event which had called them together on the good in
politics, as much as health was in physics, and in_
22d of June, that being the day on which the Eleetors tegrity in morals, he felt some consolation in believing that
of the Borough of Southwark gained their freedom, by those sufferings would lead to some redress of the
pea. triumphing over a powerful faction, that would have pie's wrongs--(Applause.)-He had attended on all occae
continued to hold them in thraldom, if they had not resisted sions to the arguments that had been urged by the ene-
their efforts and frustrated their intentions.-(Applause.)-But mies of' reform. He hail found them to be very much con-
the 22d of June falling on Saturday,the most inconvenient day densed ;he had found them to consist of a very few axioms, sup-
in the week for such a meeting, it was deemed advisable to cele- ported by a very few arguments. The enemies of reform/stated
bratetheir triumph on the present dayebeing the annirersaryhof that virtual; not real representation, was necessary, andaliat
the day on which they commenced thatglorious struggle, which, the House of Comrrions must be tilled by men who -either re-
he hopes/had ended in the annihilation of the party who oppress- presented themselves or their gold ; in short, that it ought to
ed them, so far, atleast, as political power was concerned.-(Ap- be a self-electing, seat-purchasing, stipendiary representation.
- plause.)--Reverting to the peribd when. Sir R., Wilson was first -(Applause.)-And they maintained these axioms by 'saying
. introduced .to the electors of Southwark,that gallant officer could that a majority- of members •of this ascription was necessary •
not look back upon it without sensations of satisfaction ; and the for conducting the'ordinary measures -of Government. They
electors, in reflectitig on it,could not but feel the greatest pleaso re 'argued that if there were no rotten Boroukhs, men of talent,
in having selected a man who was every way worthy of. being whose eloquence had adorned that House; would have been ex-
. their Repeesentative.a--(Cheirso-dle came amidst them as a eluded froth within its walls; and they also argued, that an elec-•
stranger. They knew nothing of his politics but by report.-. tion by the suffreges of the people would he too democratic for
.He, however, pledged himself to a specific line of .political
,our regal establishment.' He thought the answer of the reformers
..conduct, on which he declared he would always act. Ile might be as mach condensed as the assertions of their opponents,
• pledged himself', in the. first instance; to support Parliament- because they were founded, not on supposition orhypothesis, but
ary;Reform, in the widest 'sense of' the expression; he pledged on reason and on truth.-(Clieers.)-The reformers said, that the
himself to advocate economy and retrenchment in every depart- body politic, like individuals, always sought its own good; that
ment of the State ;he pledged himself, whenever the rights and self-interest was constantly its aim ; ar,d that it was not-in the
-liberties of his fellow subjects were invaded, that he would, in nature of thin g§ to'imagine, that the people, having the oppo
_the House of Commons,. use the best energies of' his mind to tunity of electing their own representatives, would select those
frustrate the intentions of those who made such banetid at_ who were unworthy of the situation.-(Cheers.)-Beyend this,
tempts, who manifested such-wicked intentions.-(Cheering)- the reformers argued, that a frequent return of the period of
That he had redeemed the pledge- thus solemnly given, no election would enable the people to change those Representa-
ferson could behardy enough to deny ; and if any thing were tives who had eith es- acted against their wishes or neglected their
wanting to -prove the purity of' his intentions, and the unties duty.-a(Applause.)-With regard' to the charge that, if Pare
'sting tenour of his exertions, it would be supplied by the pre- liament were refonned, tom of talent Would be excluded, their.
sence of those illustrious Gentlemen who this day honoured answer was no less simple, and indeed he thought it incontro-
• theMeetitig with their campany--(dieers) -and by their appear- vertible. They 'night 'appeal to all history; to the annals of
ance bore testimony to the merits of their non. Represent every other countiy as well as their own, and challenge any
.tatiye.-(Cheers.)h-Although he had said that the political prin- proof to' be adduced, that the people,' when they had the
ciples of Sir R. Wilson were at first only known to the electors power of' electing ogreat officers, whether Consuls or Pre-
of Southwark by report, there was another character in which feets, Mayors or Sheriffs, had, at any period, chosen 'those
they knew him well-he meant as the great defender of those whom they did not think properly qualified.-(Amilause.)_ who were suffering under oppressimi-e(Applatsen-They_ knew It was the observation of one of the severest critics- of an-
at the time that he was just emancipated from a French cient times--of one Who had deeply studied human nature-
prison for having given way, to the best and noblest feelings of that the people, when. the opportunity was given thenas never
the human heart.-(Applause.)-He said this to show that his made a vicious choice. ". What Roman " asks he, h• is there
humanity was nor confined to his fellow-subjects„ but embraced Sc) base, as to prefer a 'Nero to a Seneca'?" . lle would ask a.
his fellow-creatures all over the world Ch
ens'
Period similar question on behalf of the people of England. He must,
during which lie had represented Southwark was' hut short, but however, say, that if' men had no other qualification than ta-
il had been marked by events of' the highest political considera- lents, they ought not to be admitted to the House of Commons. tion-(Applause)--and, during the discussion of every one of It was infinitely more- essential that they should possess inte-
. them, he had been found firm at his post.--(Cheers.)--elte ape grits, in order that they might faithfully fulfil the engagements
peeled to the indefatigable Member ibr 'Montrose to say whe_ they had entered into as Representatives.-(Applause.)-With then, on all occasions, he had not seen Sir It. Wilson in his regard to the assertion. •th Houseat'a. of Commons, emanating
- place ?-4Applause..)-:The first great event that occurred after from a full, fair,
and flee election of the people, would be too
Sir Robert Wilson had been returned for Sorttliwark, was that democratic to support our regal establishment, be whollv denied'
-never-to-be-forgotten Manchester massacre !:-(Cheers.) -The it. -vi.
'as it not too much to tell the people they should be go-
moment he heard or it, he hastened from the French capital, veined by a system of which they did not approve ? But the re-
where he was, at the time, and communed with his fellow-citi- formers would go farther, they would appeal to the eyes of their
zens as to the best means of bringing to light and of 'ptinis.hing calumniators to prove that the saeople of this country were loyally
the perpetrators of., that atrociods , act.--(Applause.)72lTheir and royally disposed. They might say, that the King of Eng-
efforts did not, hOwever, obtain jostice for what had been land need only be a republican in- his acts, to ensure, on the
done ; ,and all the - redress the injured People received was part of the people, the most :perfect devotion.-(Applause.}-
those infamous Six Acts, which. would .be a disgrace to There were, he knew, sonic differences of opinion as to the me-
the Statute Book so long as they were suffered to .pollute ture of the reform that ought to be effected ; but if they waited
its pages.-(Applause.)-The next remarkable event was the until all men were agreed'ea this point,-it would be in vain to
persecution of their lamented Queen ;. and there they would hope for reform. They could not arrest, the march of time-
find Sir Robert Wilson, with othsr honourable men, .ear- they must go along with it. •He felt satisfied that ultimately
neatly supporting, and actively engaged in defending, that they must have a reform. in Parliament,. becaus.: the principle
ill-fated individual. And whet was the consequence? The had made very great progress within:the House of' Commons
most bitter, . the • most unrelenting
,persecution followed itself. On the late motion for reform, he believed. ICB-Metna
hins, that ever disgraced the annals of any age or country.- . hers voted in the minority, exclusive Of .those who paired off. ,(Cheers.)-He was struck out of the ranks of the artily, in There were in that 'minority no less than eiht Members who
which he had so ably served; he was'robbed of his property, held their seats in-the House of
Commons under the authority
. and every petty art that malice could, suggest was put in prac- and influence of a -Noble LOrd, and he knew that the Noble
tice against hine-(Hear, hear !) -If the people of. England Lord had declared. that the vote given by those Gentlemen on ,
had not rallied round him in that trying hour, they would have that occasion afforded him the greatest' satisfaction.-(Cheers.)
deserved to be branded as the most ungrateful people in the He hed derived an honest pride from it, which more than.con-
world.-..(Applause,).-lint they, did rally round and defend soled hint for any loss his property or his interest might undergo
him.-(Applause.)-That consideration Whichllie had shown to In consequence of a ;dorm in Parliament.--(Hear !)--He knew
others, they showed to him.-(Applause.)--Ile would trespass it was very unfashionable to allude torepublics. They all knew
-no further on their attention, but by proposing- . what ,Lord Castlereagh's sentiments were respecting them,
" The health of Si: Robert Wilson, our independent, hu- since he had been the means of striking many of them out .of
:mane, and gallant' representative, and may the spirit of the the list of nations.; and the tone in which he spoke of them,
people keep pace with the oppression of the Government."- whenever they happened to be introduced,
still rung in his (Sir
(Loud cheering.) - - . R. Wilson's) ears. But when they were mentioned, he
Sir It. Wrests]; then stood forward, amidst loud applause. could not- help. alluding to the United Statea of America.-
His
Hon. and excellent Friend, who had, in so kind and affec- The gallant officer proceeded tcegive an animated picture of the I'
tionate a manner, presented his name to their notice, had re- happiness enjoyed by America, under her republican form of. -called to their recollection, that this was the anniversary of the government. They had never heard.of any minister of that
. day on which they had engaged in that arduous,. and, by government coming down to Congress, as the English mini- 1
many of their friends, pronounced desperately hopeless con- sters had to the House of Commons, and declaring that corrupt
iiict, but by which, nevertheless, they had , achieved .that influence was necessary for the purposes of goVernMent:-(ap- i
independence, which they had since so nobly maintained.- plause),-and that a standing army was required for-the safety
Whatever might be the cause for pride on his part, of the country in time of peace.-(Applause.)-They knew this,
in forming a political connexion with the Electors of and they could not forget that America worked with our own
•.Southwark orb that occasion, that cause he must say, was laws, and with our own language and Usages ; and yet Ames
uniformly augmenting; for, in the same degree as the electors rica had never, during two wars,- found it necessary to sus-
of Southwark acquired public esteem by their patriotic conduct,. Pend the, Habeas Corpus Act-she had never found it Deces-
-in the same degree did he acquire weight and consideration as sary to have restrictions on the liberty of the Press-she had
their. representative.--(Applause.)---He was absent from .the never found it- necessary to-effect such a revolution as the Six
country when the strong arm of power was raised to crush him ; ,Acts had =dein the constitution of this country.-(Applause.) '
but the electors of Southwark, revering the maxim of jurispru- -She had not found it necessary to govern any part of her
dence which declared every man innocent until he was proved provinces by insurrection acts, or any measure of that de-
w- be guilty, -feeling also that arbitrary punishment, though by scription. If . they turned their eyes towards Spain and
hazard it might strike the guilty,was still unjustly inflicted, if the Portugal, they would see each of them .possesssed. of a
individual so punished was not previovsly tried-they, the elec- Cortes, emanating from . the people, securing peace within,
tors of Southwark, acting' on those principles, generously and and controlling enemies without. When they saw Spain and
without -hesitation 'threw their shield over him--that shield of , Portugal, although they knew an attempt was made to kindle
public support which gave hinean opportunity of rescuing his a Yendean war on their frontiers, disdaining to have recourse to
ta ,chacter from spoil, and to render every machination that had an odious Alien Bill, they must believe that the government
been resorted to abortive and inglorious.-(Applause.)-But if was marching forward in
unison with the public feeling awl the
lie had failed in the struggle-if his culpability had been proved, affections of the nation.-(Applause.)-They had been taunted
• still that culpability would in no wise have impaired the title of in the. House of Commons with the observation that this just and
the electors to affectionate esteem for the generous motives which generous people-for so they were called, although the House
urged their interposition. He should only say; that he Would would not listen to, their complaints, approved-of the Alien
ever bear in mind a grateful recollection of their generous kind- Bill, because they were Silent on the subject, not having
ness.-(ApplauSe.)-That recollection would render him, if petitioned the House against it. Now lie asked 'them, was-
possible, more zealous in the discharge of his duty, and he that true ? He was addressing some of the most respectable
knew that his public services were ,the only return for their men of this. most respectable Borough, and he demanded of
kindness which it was fitting for himto offer, or which it would them whether this statement was true, or whether the At-
be honourable foathem to accept—(Applause.)--.He wished the torney-General of Ireland was guilty f a foul and infamous
transaction alluded to waathe omily one that could be adduced slender, when lie said that they and their fellow 'citizens
to prove the violent character of the present Government; but, 'approved of the measure ? (" We do not, we do not," and loud
unfortunately, their every act and measure, for a long series of eacering.)-He was satisfied that such would be their answer, ,
years, showed that coercion, and not conciliation, was the basis otherwise he should have blushed for himself and for his
of their system.-(Cheers. )-=Unfortunately, Ministers, seeking country. The Gallant Officer then adverted to the emancipa-
. arbitrary pewer, and by arbitrary means, had received en- tion of the Spanish colonies, and congratulated the meeting
con eagement and support from many of those who ought to be on that great work having been achieved, and brought to ma-
the p. ;a? sctors of the rights and liberties of the people.-(Ap- turity and perfection, chiefly by the exertions of their own coon-
plause.)-He was sorry to say, but it was very true, that those trymen, and more especially by the zeal and talent of his much-
who had die greatest interest in the soil were found to be per- loved and highly-esteemed friend, LordCochrane.-(Applause.)
fectly indifferent as to the fate of the Constitution. So long as -Greece, it was true, was left to achieve her -fortunes by her
they were satisfied with the produce of their own estates, they own right arm. It was said, indeed, but he would not believe
sympathized but little with the complaints of the people it till he saw it officially proved, that she was basely abandoned
at large.-(Cbeers, and cries of " true.")-The infliction- by Russia. It was asserted that, every feeling which religion and
of a yew tax was looked upon as beneficial to the public; humanity ought to call forth in favour of that• brave people,
and the abolition of any ancient right was constantly pro- had been sacrificed at the wicked and sanguinary shrine of legi-
nounced by them to be an additional security for religion tinsacy : but he had the satisfaction to know, that if she
and social order.-(Laughter.)-Under this system, the country would profit by the means Providence had given her-if she
-a •-i governed by Magistrates who abused their power-Magis- would throw aside all little jealousies, and bring into action the
trates whose admonitions might have preserved tranquillity, but generous sympathies which the nations of Europe felt in her.
who remained silent-Magistrates who, instead of being the faVour, she would be able to keep unquenched the flame of
protectors of the people, were their oppressors-Magistrates liberty until that glorious day should arrive which would corn-
-who, instead of having recourse to the law, and to the civil pensate her for many ages of sorrow and of shame.--(Cheers.)--

SOUTIIWARK.