Star.
London, England, 1823-02-10 00:00:00

I-

~'/

PARLIA

PROCEEDINGS.

rApiplONS, FEBRUARY 8.
*lsar o'clock die &um proceedol to count the Tlolie,
ent abwerjAnly six Members present, an ailjotkrument took
4ressiskelli
• s.
REFORM INP4IUJAMENT.
•
•
HERTPOIIO COUNTet I MEETING.
The High' 6:heiriErheY,ing convened a Meeting of
the Freeholders of thertrunty, for the purpose of-ad-
dressing the.Hoates of ' Palliartient on the subject of
Reform, a numerous and highly respectable as-
semblage filled the Town Hilt on Saturday, "son,
after twelve o'clock, the hour apPointed.
At half-past twelve, the SHERIFF took the chair,
and proceeded to read the Requisition, which was'
• signed by Lords Essex and- Dactte, Mf.'Catvaar,
and other Freeholders of the County. lieitelk
sion to explain, that 120 names 'were 'afSied to the
Petition, in addition to those which had been inserted
in the Cotenty Chronicle: this arose from their not,
having been transmitted to him in. time for 'the pub-.
lication of that paper. The Requisition called upon
him to convene a Meeting of the Freeholders and
Inhabitants of the county, for the purpose of con-
sidering the state of the House of Commons, and the
necessity.of a Reform thereof. He had, however,
thought. it better to deviate from the terms of this
• Requisition, and to follow the usual course of pro-
ceedings in the county, by calling a Meeting of the
Nobility, Clergy, Gentlemen, and Freeholders, in
whith classes were included those persons who were
qualified to pronounce an opinion upon the matters
proposed to he discussed. He then requested that
the Meeting would listen with an impartiality,
a de-
corum, and a propriety, suitable to the importance of
• thestthject, to whatever sentiments should be expressed.
Mr. WILLIAM HALE then presented himself to the
Meeting. He said, that it was some years since he
stood in that very place the humble but sincere ad-
vocate of Reform ; he then had the honour of sub-
mitting to the Meeting assembled, a series of resolu-
tions, expressive of their sentiments and opinions in
favour of some change in the system of...representa-
tion. That period brought to his mind the strenuous,
powerful, and Constitutional exertions of a Noble
Friend (Lord Dacre) whom he was glad to see on the
present occasion—(Applause).—lt was impossible •to
overlook his services in the cause of Reform—(Near,
hear).—Those exertions were consistent as they were
splendid during the course of his useful and honour-
able life. Though now removed from the body of
the people, he still cherished the same feelings, the
same attachment to public liberty, he was still the
same efficient friend and advocate of Iteform.:—
(Loud and conliniged applause).—lt was some time.
'since they last met on this important subject;
for himself all he could say was, that time had
only strengthened his opinions—(Hear, hear).—No.
Session had passed away during which the House of
Commons did not give birth to some act or other de.
trimental, or at least dangerous to the best interests
of the country—(Applause).—Since that time the
Habeas Corpus was, in his judgment, most unneces-
sarily suspended—(Applause),—and other acts were
done by that assembly, justified by no circumstances,
and utterly subversive of the best and dearest in-
terests of the country—(Applause).—lt was then their
duty to meet as they did for the purpose of expressing
their grievances, and to pray for some relief from
that overwhelming taxation which produced their
present distress. It was but the other day that a Mi-
nister of the Crown, in the face of :that distress, as-
serted, he would say unfeelingly, that taxation was
not the cause of it. He (Mr. Hale) had hoped that
the Country Gentlemen would still have influence in
the House of Commons to protect their interests;
but he was sorry to find that even that influence
seemed so much impaired as to leave them without
redress, with the prospect of absolute ruin before
them. In his opinion, no measure could restore this
wretched country to its former condition and pro-
sperity, but a Reform of the House of Commons—
(Applause).—He was aware, if he were to enter
into an exposition 'of the Constitution before the
present Meeting, it would be an idle waste of
time. He was sure there was not one present who
did not feel that no Englishman ought to be taxed,
unless he was represented—(Load Applause).—
He was aware that those who advocated Reform and
Economy were sometimes considered agitators and
disturbers of public repose. But he took it for granted
that it would be allowed by that Meeting, that when
the People asked for public economy, they asked
only for that which was due to a generous People,
who had made great struggles in the defence of the
Government--(Applause).—ln asking for Reform,
they only asked for what was warranted by precedent,
and justified by the soundest views of policy. From
the earliest periods, the state of Representation was
subject to variation; that was a matter of history,
and could not be doubted. He could produce Acts
of Parliament, if necessa; y, to prove that those va-
riations were from time to time considerable—were
they, then, to be told that Reform was a novelty ?
The history of Parliament, the acts of their ancestors,
proved the contrary. He hoped the Meeting would
agree with him, that a resistance to Reform could
proceed only from ignorance, or from a wish to up-
hold a system which would convert that which was
intended for the protection of the People into a dan-
gerous instrument in the hands of power. Having
said so much, he hoped he-would not be misrepre-
sented : there now, indeed, was very little danger of
that; where fifteen years ago there were not ten in
favour of Reform, there could now be found one hon.,
dred advocates of that measure. They lost, indeed,
some leaders, but their ranks had increased--the
People saw the necessity of Reform, and its friends
greatly increased. With respect to the Reform he
wished for, he wished only toestablish a sympathy
between the People and the House of Commons; he
would wish to promote that Reform which Mr. Pitt
said the House of Comniorts ought to be—" the cx.
press image of the nation.' Having said so much,
he heft it to the Meeting to decide for themselves. lf
they thought that no Reform was necessaiy, then let
things remain as they stood; but if they had, as he
doubted not they had, a regard, for the liberties of
their country, so much endangered--a regard for
their property, which was every day becoming more
Precatious and horror of corruption and public abuse,
.t.h" w9pcliikati" Oininahe general voice of their country.
xneao • ntfor a Reform of the House of Cons-
. . .