The Sun.
London, England, 1832-03-23 00:00:00

He denied that by the Bill there could he an improvement
in the Constitution of that House. He denied that accord-
ing to.their pledges Ministers were bound to bring in a
measure so sweeping and so dangerous.—(Cheers.) The
Hun. and Learned Member had alluded, not for the first
tithe, to- the history of the French Revolution, and he
took for granted be had very correctly translated the pas-
sages which he cited—(Laughter)—and which had no
great reference to the subjects under consideration.—
(Cheers.) But when he referred to the case of the Re-
volution) in Paris, and above all the late Revolution, he
(Sir R. Peel) thought it behoved the House to consider
the consequences of that Revolution, and to see if we
might not naturally anticipate the same? What were
these consequences ? He spoke in fearful sincerity, and
without, it was well known, the slightost tinge from per-
eons' interest--(Cheers)—and he was sure the House
would permit him to quote a very recent authority, and
one which, it could not be disputed by the ministry at
least, was perfectly impartial. The proposition set forth
most frequently by the other side was, that the elective
franchise ought to he in the hands of the middle
claws- But what said Mr. Fox? He alluded to
the very arguments used by the Honourable Members.—
[Here the Right Hon. Baronet read an extract
from a Speech of Mr. Fox's, wherein it was declared that
although men said the middle classes were those best en-
titled to the franchise, and most likely to use it advan-
tageously to the common-weal, because removed alike from
the corruption of courts and the temptations of poverty,
yet that this was a mere fallacy. 3—The authority, how-
ever to which he had alluded with respect to the conse-
quences of the French Revolution, was the chosen corres-
pondent of the Times newspaper, and he said :—" We
have now a melancholy experience of the reduction of the
electorial qualification. That imprudent measure could
not have been more formally condemned by its results.
In that Chamber, which doubtless contains men of high
talent, though of these the greater portion sit in silent
dissatisfaction, the most conspicuously indiscreet keep up
an agitation, and too often succeed in effecting their
objects. Town-bred envy, and the spirit of animosity
which animates the petty provincial land-owner, are the
Prominent characteristics of the elective Chamber. Those
who are averse to all superiority, offended at all splen-
dour, and hostile to all dignity, amuse themselves by
decrying the ermine and purple with which the law has
invested the Magistrates. The term economy' was never
more ridiculously abused ; it has become a watch-word, a
sort of bell, which is rung in the ears of the ignorant
claws, to elicit applause in the cafe or the estaminet,
What do you think of the President of a sovereign court,
Whose emoluments are reduced to 300 of your pounds
sterling, and whose salary is lower than that which you
grant to an obscure clerk in one of your public offices ?
What say you to the war which is waged against science
and literature in the persons of professors, for whose ser-
vices and capacities the most degrading bargains are made?
By empty words, scholastic sophistry, and declamation de-
void of sincerity, the service of the State is degraded and
disorganized. It is a great misfortune to a country when
Power falls into the bands of the lower classes, and is
exercised only to gratify the petty passions of petty per-
Bons, Our Director-General of Bridges and Highways,
Who annually executes public works at the cost of
60,000,000, has bad his salary, which under Napoleon
Was 80,000 francs, curtailed, first to 50,000, and then
is 40,000, and it is at length reduced to 20,000. For
20,000 francs the Director-General of Domains and Re-
gistrations must superintend a department which pro-
duces to the State an annual revenue of 200,000,000.
As good neighbours, and men who know what be-
loop to the dignity of a great nation, pray do us
the favour to flagellate our modern Lycurguses. Let
them be taught a lesson from the other side of the
Channel, even though they should regard it as contraband
erchandize. We may reciprocally exchange these little
friendly services, and as for myself personally, I am at
Your command." This came from the correspondent of
that paper which was so incessantly spurring the galled
sides of the jaded Ministerial mule Reform.—(Cheers and
laughter.) He maintained that all the expectations enter-
tained by the partizans of the French Revolutions had been
Proved false. Expeditions were still indulged to propitiate
the military spirit of a reckless democracy.—(Cheers.)
Her finances were in a ruinous condition. There was no
Public order, no tranquillity, no security, no prospect of
repose.—(Cheers.) lion. Members had spoken even in
t list House in favour of a National Guard. Let them
now turn their eyes to Grenoble.—(Cheers.) In a word,
the condition of this country was deplorable ; and if they
did not admire the consequences, it would be mere mad-
ness for them to follow the example.—(Cheers.) He
feared that, by the introduction of a perpetual round of
elections, the whole peace of society would be forfeited, as
it was in the United States ; that the free and joyous, the
open and honest character of Englishmen would be con-
tracted and poisoned by the universal devotion of heart
and mind to the means, and not to the end.—(Cheers.)
And he could not avoid fancying that when, in after
times, some liberal and enlightened individual, sighing
after the blessings which we now enjoyed, would breathe
forth a hitter reproach against those who had forfeited
for him his bright and precious inheritance.—(Cheers.)
"-a-adrnitting the principle, so highly varnished, of demo-
aratic influence—admitting the contemplated reductions
in the public expenditure, and the relief from the burthen
°_`, taxation—admitting all the tangible benefits which
Were held forth to the public, would not that man say,
W 25 it for this—for those—for all—for all that could pos-
81,u1Y come to pass—that you put rancour into the breasts
of man where it had before no resting place ?—(Loud
.h
vers.) Was it for this you disturbed the harmonious
action of that mixed Government which has solved the
great problem of a Government in which security is blended
with liberty and power ?—(Great cheering) Was it for
this that you disorganised that ancient Monarchy which
United all that was estimable in the character of the pre-
sent age with all that was useful in the days of Feudalism ?
"(Continued cheeriug.) Was it for this that, by a
v innovation, you have subverted all our ancient—
all lir cherished institutions—was it for this that you
ui,Bturhed that admirable system of manners which ad-
rnitted of all distinctions, and which was accessible in all
_its ranks, deprived of all invidiousness, free from all re-
Or" allch' because it opened an honourable path of ambition
men, and the most honourable that could be in a
State, because
becaubecause leas sordid than the accumulation of wealthi
Whichconstituted the only and the fleeting elevation which
teolsibl is hesecured in the other countries. Was it for
you dissipated all those pleasing delusions that made
Power and obedience light? Was it fur this that
~ou
destroyed that time-honoured system of society,
which harmonised all the gradations of life, which blended
the security and stability of the Monarchy with all the ad-
vantages of a
for that you
Government?—(Cheers.) Was it
thislvl,ichwtansatpyuoreu
in
nubyterted the domination of that religion
doctrine and tolerant in its principle
—(Cheers)—and substituted for for it all those conflicting
sects which have
g herbanished
foul Christianity from
amongst us, and left little save' ashes—superstition ?
.—(Cheers.) tie did not overcharge tlieio:n picture.—(LoudGentleman,
Cheers.)
And, continued the Right
that I may not he called to the bar af posterity—that
may not be visited with that censure which willnaturall
arise from the evile, public and private, which I foreseey
this Bill must create—that I may carry with me to the
last the satisfaction of haviug struggled in this conflict
with perseverance, but without effect, and the consolation
of having surrendered without dishonour—my last vote
shall be given as my first, in opposition to the Bill,—(Loud
and long continued cheering.)
Mr. STANLEY was too well aware of the exhausted
vacate of the House, and of his own inability to follow so
able
As,howeveraspeech, to detain Hon. Members at any length.--
the present was the latest occasion on which
he should
have an oppoitunity of combating the argu-
ments of the Rig ht 110 n. Baronet, he could not entirely
omit to take advantage of it. He admitted that the whole
rested
resporrsibility
with Ministers, and he rejoiced in it.
The responsibility of advising the Sovereign to create
Peers was great, as d
bens for 13orou
ghbrid i.ra been truly observed by the Mein-
e and St. Mawes; but when the
two a
Houses of Piiairtliiament were at hopeless variance, it
Was undoubtedly
the difference,power of the Crown thus to decide
Toe me
Right Hon. Gentleman then referred
to the impeachmentpoeferLord Oxford, contending that the
charge of making
which Lord Oxford hads :38a very minor accusation,
Sovereign so to exercise et
by
asserting the right of the
met his
ti
jai
twohis, prerogative e.r mero motu.—
Heover his head, and at last) felleiatrs the charge was hanging
witted. Whatever Ministers to the ground unpro-
might in this case advise,
this he (Mr. Stanley) would
say,oti that they would
not shrink from the respomib
Y. —(Cheers. ) I in-
Pacliment might be a word to frighten children ; but it
gft, would
onot alarm those who knew the stake they were play-
sake of andai,,,who disregarded mere bridum fulnien for the
charging their conscientious duty.—(Much
cheering.)
Sir R. w Upon this point he quoted the authorities of
undoubted
ai p
rpeotloeg
aatn4
of
Sir
theß Crown
. Ste
to
After
createas Peers,
s er ting
he
the
Right
came toHon.
the viiiiairt
noiimaginings and gloomy forebodings of the
et of the
evils this Bill would produce
when corruption
w"atan end, and when those who for-
merly
flourished by looked hack with regret to the
.4 flesh pots of
l
said that this Bill retnedie 1 The
Right Hon. Baronet had
no evil; but he (Mr. Stanley)
would a.k, was it the remedyGovernn of no evil to teach the peo-
ple to know good
ient and to prize it? He agreed
that the Bill would not directly relieve distress ; but it