Star.
London, England, 1831-05-02 00:00:00

FOR THE STAR.

f
In imitation to( Blair e 121retentary Tract on General Nairn:ledge)
War arc the borough proprietors now so obanxittuva
seeing that their system is not of recent date?
13Ecausr. it is only within the last hundred years, that.
the systew fell into a train of operation, which served the
proprietors at the expense of the pt °plc. and only within
the laa forty yews that the operations of the system pm
ceeded in such an accelerated ratio as ultimately to devour
all industry, and extinguish the hopes of in‘hlitry
Wftv did the system begin to operate perniciously n•ithb,
a century, seeing that the rotten b.)romqh:: !trit
anti:mien( ?

BF.CAUSL the monetary resources of Goverumei.t were
definite till the invention and introduction of the fuuding
system; but the indefinite powers which that system gave
Ministers of rewarding their adherents, led to tl.e organi-
zation of a subordinate system of patronage and bribery,
which had no check hut an obtuse sense of decency, and
no limit but the power of the people to pay taxes.
Wily has so disastrous a system been arres►ed of this
time ?

BECAUSE it was fo:inil impracticable to increase the
amount of taxation, which et•en aided by paper money, had
a limit in its credit ; while it appears that without paper the
taxes could:nbt be collected without seizing on capitals, in- •
stead of merely taking them from profits. TL•c system had
reached its limit, and could not be continm.ed without con•
scantly increasing the means of corruption, which was
' found to be impossible. The majority of one year aliserbeil
for life all the current means of Government, and then the
majority of the next year made new demands, which could
not be satisfied. Hence the numerous changes of admi-
nistration, and the apathy in regard to the snfferin"•s of
trade and industry. Pam liament was insatiable, and the
Minister could not extort more from the people. The sy ,-
tem had worn itself out.'
Wit was the paper-nionry, which grew up with the
funding-system, and which was its instrumeitt, se sud-
denly destroyed?
BECAUSE the system wa.i in ignorant hands, arid the
Ministers of the day in enjoyment of princely salaries, awl
besotted by the facility with which the system worked,
imagined they might with impunity cut away the founda-
tions which superficially considered were factitious, though
part only of a factitious system of funding effected by
paper, and sustained by taxes on profits made out of riper
prices.

Wny did not Parliament correct the errors of tie Mi-
nister ?

BECAUSE theta is confusion ins multitude of councillors
—because a mere majority is no test of truth—because h
large assemblies there are few thinkers—because some vices
and accidents of the system, of easy correction, were treated
as essentials,—and because mobs of men, whether in St.
Stephen's Chapel or in Palace-yard, in the tapestry chamber
or in the gaming-house, rush in crowds in the train of a
leader, especially in that of a Minister who disperses golden
patronage and honours among his followers.
Wit v did not the men of sense in Parliament arrest the
pernicious career of tlw Minister?
BECAUSE the general opposition was divided into two
parties—those who wished the system to work as long as
it could, and who thought that paper-money under regu-
lation might sustain the system for an indefinite period,
constituting the actual minority ; and those who abetted the
Minister, because they hated the funding-system and ab-
horred the practices of corrupt patronage which it sustained,
and these therefore swelled the beguiled ministerial party.
Wiry have such general improvements in the face of tie
country attended the funding system, and so much misery
been simultaneously suffered by the middling and labouring
classes?

BECAUSE the funding system mortgages all the property
and future industry of the country, which are assessed in
taxes for the interest of the sums borrowed ; and then the
expenditure of these sums, so raised, effects a display of
public improvement, and of patronizing luxury in those who
directly or indirectly enjoy the loans. Then the holders of
land, and other property of the first necessity, are enabled
to raise their prices, so as to indemnity themselves against
the interest, or taxes, which increase of rice affects the
mass of consumers, the middling and lower classes, who in
consequence pay all the taxes, and, having no means of
indemnifying themselves, have so severely suffered as to
demand with one voice a change of so unjust and oppres-
sive a system.
Wu Y is it expected that a reformed parliament will
correct these evils?

BECAUSE it is to be presumed that a body of representa-
tives of real electors, more frequently chosen, will not, from
respect to those who choose them, dare to barter their votes
for ministerial patronage ; therefore that patronage will no
longer be necessary to obtain votes in support of measures
for the public welfare—therefore that funding and high taxes
will not be necessary to sustain establishments of all
kinds for the- mere sake of patronage. Therefore that
the public policy of the government trill not be controlled
by majorities to create jobs, places, and appointments—in
fine, therefore, that common sense and patriotism wilt
govern the decisions of Parliament, and the executive Int
free to pursue, fcr their own sake, all measures for the
public good.
WHY has the rotten borouyh system so exclusively
favoured the system of bartering votes for latronage ?
BECAUSE members who paid a price for their seats sere
uuder no moral responsibility for their conduct, as they
would have been to the free voices of inde; endont electors;
ticause it would be reaaonab;e, that if :5,0001. was paid for
a seat, the holder, should in some way, at Last, indemnify
himself; and because, over and above the 5,0001. to be re-
gained in one house, the patron in the other house would
have his 0%411 special claims ; and, therefore, the cost of such
legislators to the country would be indefinite and incalculable.
Wit Y are many of the Aristocracy and their dependents
so alarmed at this great political reformation?
BECAUSE they know best the amount of their own un-
hallowed gains, and their alarm is proportioned to the amount
—the constitution with them means their advantages, and
their facility of increasing them—their terrors are not for the
public, but for their oun pi ivilegtx and influence. The ascen-
dancy of the public voice in the State, which when coolly
obtained is the voice of reason and justice, and if erring,
only on the side of magnanimity and 'benevolence, aced
alarm no man for possessions honestly acquired, for honours
merited, or for pokier or privileges usefully exerted—sand
unless it can be shewn that the million exist for the sake of
the few, as starved slaves for the support of pauipered•and
diseased luxury, the reform bill will receive the support, even
to death, of all honest and sensible men.

0.• The writer f the above has previously favoured the STAR
With oMee similar waist/ lions, eitAia have been generally
into the Provincial Papers, and printed eeporatelyfor local oi..cidu.
ties, by patriotic individuals; bat this Number is ti arch great tee..
perm, interest, that if mill be printed separately by himself, and
asap be had of Bzooass, 421, Oxford-strata, or of Satawoon sad
Co. Paternobtat-row, at One Shilling per awes, &rimy the period of

the General Rieetion. It may 14 swims' thot if mill aid ihe cosin
e/ Reforming Candidates, asea thei► Comssiams.

F