Star.
London, England, 1819-05-25 00:00:00

CASH PAYMENTS.

On the motion of Mr. PEEL, the House resolved
itself into a Committee of the whole House, on the
Report of the Bank Committee.
Mr. PEEL rose. He could not conceive it paste
ble that an individual should be placid in —riltuatron
which rendered an appeal to the indulgence of the
House More necessary than that in which he now
stood. He was about to perform a duty which de-
volved upon him as Chairman of a Committee. He
had to call the attention of the House to a subject,
which in his conscience he considered most important,
and which was interwoven with the highest and the
lowest transactions of the country. This subject, at
no remote distance, had occupied the attention of
Parliament. It involved principles of an abstruse
nature, and details uninviting and tedious. It had
exhausted the abilities in that House, and whatever
could be said upon it had already been said in the
best manner. He would not supply any novelty to
it, by a reference to party feelings. If he did so, he
should be an unworthy Chairman of a Committee
from which such feelings had been entirely dismissed.
He had never seen a Committee rise more superior to
party, and more completely devote its .attention' to
the public good—(Hear, hear, hear). He had to sub-
mit to the House a set of Resolutions, adopted al-
most unanimously, for the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman opposite (Mr. Tierney) had alone recorded his
dissent. Yet though almost unanimous, many of
those who felt disposed to concur in the measure,
might in some particulars be opposed to tlse principle
on which it was founded. This relieved him from
much embarrassment. His speech would be only that
, of an humble individual expressing his own opinion,
and responsible for whatever errors he might com-
; mit. Ile would fairly declare, that since he had en-
tered the Committee his own opinion had experienced
a change—(Wear, hear, hear). He had entered it,
with the intention of entirely obliterating from his
mind any former vote which he might have given.
He openly avowed that his sentiments were changed.
He had voted against the Resolutions proposed by
Mr. Horner in 1811 ; and if they were proposed again
he might vote against the practical measure, but he
was bound as an honest man to declare that with
some slight qualifications he perfectly concurred in
their principle. He brought without shame and re-
pentance this tribute to the grave of one froni whom
he frequently differed, but whose abilities he admired,
and whose character he respected—(Hear, hear, hear).
He should now come to the subject of his motion.
He had hoped that after expressing* the opinion that
Cash Payments should be resumed, nothing would
remain but the mode and the time of resuming them.
But he could not conceal from himself that senti-
ments seemed to be entertained, which, if admitted,
would lead to. indefinite restrictions--(Hear, jtear,
hear). Judging from publications, by which, he
feared, the public mind was influenced, if the House
gave way to that influence, it must 1•e prepared to le-
gislate for indefinite restrictions. 1 his was the
reason why he thought it necessary at the very out.
set, to make up ones mind either to have a Metallic
currency or a Paper System. He therefore called
upon the House, in his second Resolution, to declare
whether it would or would not have a Metallic circu-
lating medium ? Was it possible that the system
carried au for the last twenty years could be main-
. tabula t—(Hest, hear, hear). Could the country :e-
-1 main without a Metallic Standard of Value, to which