The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-04 00:00:00

BOROUGH OF GATESHEAD.

Mr. Rippon, the patriotic Member for the Borough of
Gateshead, in the county of Durham, has addressed the
following letter to his constituents :

" GENTLEMEN—lnterchange of opinion best preserves that
right understanding which should ever exist between an en-
lightened constiteency and an independent representative.
The second Session cf a Reformed Parliament is con-
cluded—we can review the past, and contemplate the future.
" The conduct of the Government since the passing of the
Reform Bill has evidenced no desire to advance sound princi-
ples ; no determination to maintain political justice. Not
having the courage to pursue an upright course of honest le-
gislation, they employ present expedients for present necessi-
ties. They dare not abolish, but they endeavour to disguise,
abuses. They seek to conceal a vicious policy by the low con-
trivance of shifting public grievance.
" No man could have carried the Reform Bill with such
quiet success as Earl Grey. His high character, his long
avowed approval of the principle, the confidence of his Order,
and the countenance of his King, gave him an influence which
no other could possess ; but his official life should have termi-
nated with the triumph of that measure. The effects of age
had unstrung the nerve, had shaken the resolution, had un-
fitted him for the daring duty of boldly employing that power
which was placed in his hands by the Bill.
" Reform is the means by which peaceable improvements in
our various institutions are to be made, but so many are the
interests concerned in the present state of things, that the
struggle to resist alteration must be severe. The rejection of
the Reform Bill by the Peers, alike declared their purpose and
their power, and although their resistance was removed by the
mediation of influence, yet were they aware that their legisla-
tive privileges would enable them to dismiss every proposition
emanating from this measure ; thus quietly staying all results,
thus leaving the bill an inoperative enactment. The people had
not gained their rights, but merely the means by which they
might securely obtain them. If measures of truth and fair
dealing had been proposed by the Minister; if a determination
to act honestly by the community, and attach their support,
had been openly manifested, I do not believe that the House
of Lords would have ventured to oppose them ; but supposing
this calculation on their discretion/to be mistaken, I am assured
that the voice of an indignant and disappointed people would
have instantly compelled the acquiescence of that assembly.
"My own notion has ever been that the reform of one
House necessarily obliged the remodelling of the other. Unity
of purpose and similarity of spirit should exist between the
legislative bodies. To show that I am not converted by
modern theory, nor convicted by late experience, I will beg to
quote the opinion which I offered at the first Reform Meeting
of this County, held on the Ist of February, 1831, as extracted
from the Durham Chronicle, of the sth of February, in that

rear :

" If the House of Peers—if they who are permitted to ex-
ercise the powers of legislators on the lottery-like qualification
of birth—if they resist the wishes of the people, as expressed
by their present or future representatives, for Reform, will the
Minister do his duty? Will he dilute the precious essence of
hereditary nobility, by an infusion of life Nobles, or plebeian
Peers? If he will not, he must at once stand back, and leave
the people to pursue their own course of remedy, for they are
determined to have the substance, not the shadow, of Reform.
They expect the same principle of purification to be applied
to a House of Peers, which they now require in a House of
Commons ; they know that both alike are their legislative
Representatives, using their power by their permission, and
for their advantage.'
" This honest persuasion of my humble judgment was at
that time spurned by Whig Reformers as mere revolutionary
raving, but I believe that I may yet be spared to witness the
realization of my unchanged views. The late closing scenes
of lordly legislation and the maudlin commendation bestowed
upon hereditary obstinacy, by double-tongued authority, must
carry conviction even to the sceptic.
" The course pursued by Earl Grey after passing the Re-
form Bill was mistaken and unfortunate. He was aware of
the hostility of the Court and Aristocracy. He should have
known the prejudices of his colleagues. His first care should
have been to form a Cabinet of men with similarity of senti-
ment, in whom the country had confidence, whose opinions had
been expressed and maintained—who were not the mere con-
verts to modern necessity. But he contrived to consort the
most opposite opinions ; he consented to glean the remnants
of Tory Administrations; be placed .in his Cabinet the ma-
terials of self-combustion. The volcanic effect from time to
time discovered itself by the casting forth of discordant parts,
and eventually by the rejection of himself. A weak, dis-
jointed, Janus-headed Ministry, unable to preserve its own
consistency, uttering liberal opinions in one House and repu-
diating them in the other, received its deserved reward in the
contempt of Peers and People. Examine its composition.—
Whig tacticians of the olden time, when advocacy of popular
right was feignedly employed merely as a means to obtain official
power—refuse relics of anti- Reform Cabinets, whose principle
is place, whose chameleon-like properties enable them to as-
sume every shade of political opinion—counterfeit Reformers
—Tories in disguise, whose hypocrisy is now detected---and,
lastly, a few untried but not mistrusted men.

"The policy of such a mongrel Ministry was evident—to
avoid, as long as possible, the consideration of any measure
which would involve the principle of Reform. One Session
was successfully passed, the 147th clause of the Irish Church
Bill being expunged to preserve Ministerial harmony ; but, un-
fortunately, the time of a second Session could not be occupied
with the discussion of questions which Tories could approve.
The stock of time-consuming measures, as Irish Coercion,
Colonial Slavery, Bank and East India Charters, &c., was
nearly exhausted ; the Poor Law Bill alone remained. They
were thus compelled to regard Reform, and then came disrup-
tion. The fictitious friends of public improvement were obliged
to discover their deception, the vacancies caused by their se-
cession were filled up with official underlings ; cads were ad-
vanced to the dignity of coachmen, and every effort was made
to exclude more liberal men. But necessity defeated the
scheming of ancient Whiggery ; they were obliged to receive
into their body more independent influence : another change
has taken place in the retirement of Lord Grey, and although
we have at this time a Cabinet of better promise, yet we can-
not hope for sound measures until it receives a further purifi-
cation, and this will, I trust, be made before the meeting of
another Session. I warn the liberal part of the Ministry to
remember, that the countenance of power will be afforded to
the narrow-minded, and that their support can only be derived
from public opinion. If they venture to support mere altera-
tive and trimming propositions, they will taint their political
reputation. and destroy their present and future usefulness.
.4 I rejoice to think, that one individual, in whom I, in com-
mon with my countrymen, have great confidence, has hitherto
kept aloof from all administrations of a mixed character; I
sincerely hope that he will remain unconnected with office
until he leads a united cabinet, seeking to accommodate our
institutions to the opinion of the community, and increasing the
popular influence as greater light and knowledge become
diffused.

" The Poor Law Bill was the only measure passed by the
Government in the late Session. An apology for their un-
fruitfulness has been daringly offered, in the plea of much
time being consumed by the propositions of other Members.
By the rules of the House of Commons, Monday and Friday
are set apart for ministerial measures, Tuesday and Thursday
for the general business : thus one half of the Session isplaced
at the disposal of the Minister. But let us examine their pro-
ceedings in the late Session. A Bill for Regulating Dis-
senters' Marriages, was introduced and withdrawn by Lord
John Russell ; a Bill for Altering the Method of Levying
Church Rates, and a Bill for Commuting English Tithes
were brought forward by Lord Althorp, who was so ashamed
of his dishonest and blundering propositions, that he never
ventured to move their second reading. Again, in
the other House, two Bills for diminishing the evils
of pluralities and non-residence were introduced by the Chan-
cellor, and removed by the same personage. Away, then,
with crafty pretences and unreal excuses. Let the plain fact
be stated, that the Government had not courage to propose
any measure which would provoke the hostility of the peers,
and they framed their propositions wholly with regard to the
countenance of that body. The attempt to ensnare the public
judgment by a proposition to abolish Church Rates, and to sub-
stitute in lieu thereof a tax of 250,0001. a-year, was a clumsy
contrivance to gain concealment of an unprincipled object.
Knowing that the interest of all is the care of none, they ex-
pected that public indifference in regard to the just disburse-
ment of common means, would enable them to eseape detec-
tion.

" The course for the present Ministry is clear. To prepare
measures of substantial reform, to show sincerity and decision
in carrying them onward, thus assuring the people of their
faithful intention. The Commons would pass them by over-
whelming majorities ; the liberal Members of that House
would willingly defer their individual plans rather than
embarrass an honest Administration ; and if the House of
Lords should be pleased to reject them, it will be the duty of
the people, at such a crisis, to come forward and claim from
the Monarch the exercise of that prerogative which is entrusted
to his charge, to be employed for the common weal and safety.
"We hear recommendations for cautious reform. Verily
the advocates for this prudent course, having consumed the
time of two sessions without notice of this principle, are exempt
from the charge of precipitancy. The abuses of our church,
the injustice of our laws, the grievances of Dissenters, the op-
pressiveness of Tithes, the corrupt practices of Municipal
Corporations, all remain untouched ; justice to the people is
suspended,—promises are unfulfilled, and hope alone sustained
by the plausible commendation of the caution.
" Another cause for disappointment in public expectation is
to be found in the conduct of Representatives. We see a
large majority supporting the Government with obsequious
deference, asserting their approval of economy on one evening,
and recanting their recorded opinion on another,—accommo-
dating their conduct to the wishes of a•Minister in order to
secure his favour, thus yielding their judgment to their in-
terest, thus divesting themselves of all responsibility to their
constituents.

" Gentlemen, I have frankly communicated to you my un-
disguised sentiments. I may incur the criticism of some, the
condemnation of others, but I only regard your judgment, as
to you alone this letter is addressed. The public voice is at
this moment silent. It is not the consequence of satisfaction
in late measures, but of disappointment and disgust. A de-
ficient harvest, a commercial panic, or manufacturing distress,
would speedily discover the brooding discontent. Collision
between the two Houses of Parliament may soon demand a
firm and fearless display of popular determination, for it must
then be decided whether our rights are to be longer withheld
by the usurping power of artificial superiors. Be ready and
resolved. Remember—King, Lords, and Commons are mere
trustees ; the sovereign power is held by the people, and by
their spirit and sense the liberties of our country must be pre-
served. "Believe that I am, your faithful servant,
"Stanhope-castle, Aug. 30. CUTHBERT RIPPON.