Star.
London, England, 1811-06-11 00:00:00

tection el' , our laws and libeitieS ; but that we are now
so degraded, that Government cannot go on without
t',e most open and avowed corruption ? We are now
t.ild, that the people of this country are so debased
in sensuality) avarice; and selfishness, that they were
incapable of being governed by any other means than
by corruption. He must say. that this whole charge
was a falsehood, and a gross libel on the people of
this country. They were not the brute beasts that
tyrants and slaves had been in the habit of represent-
ing ihem. If even it was true, were they to be en-
couraged to continue in this degeneracy i? The peo,
pie of England were foully libelled by the charge ;
the fault was not in them, but in the odious borough
mongering system. That was the fruitful source of
all the evils of the country. That system had thrown
Ireland into a feverish irritation, and brought upon
this country many most expensive and unnecessary
wars. It was subversive of the virtue and morality
of the country,
" Hac fonte derlvata Glades."
It was as injurious to the just rights of the throne, as
to the liberties of die people. It had been asserted by
the enemies of reform, that the principle of repre-
sentation was not a delegation by the Constituents ;
but that, as the Commons legislated for the whole
nation, it was to the whole nation that they were re-
sponsible. If the repr:sentatives, however, were not
to conceive themselves delegates, the consequence
must be as it now is, that the servants would become
the masters, and no longer confess themselves to be '
agents or trustees for the people. It was most extra-
ordinary that those men who thus contended that drove
who were returned by populous places, such as York,
shire, Middlesex, or Westminster, were not particu-
larly accountable to their Constituents, should hold
themselves in every vote most strictly accountable to
the individual great man to whose patronage they
owe their seats. The great grievances and burdens
which ;he people sustained proceeded necessarily from
the odious borough-system. Never was the necessity
of reform more obvious than at the present moment.
The press-of this country, which formerly was al.
lowed to raise a warning voice to the Government
and to the people, that last refuge of liberty in this
country, had of late been violently assailed. It was
reserved for the lawyers of the present day to disco-
ver that the innocence or guilt of the persons prose.'
cuted ought to make no sort of difference in the mea-
sure of their punishment. .11y the power which the
House of Commons had recently exercised as privi-
lege of Parlianient, the liberty and personal security
et every man was in the hands cf the House of Com-.
mons. It w.ts therefore surely necessary:that the peo-
ple should have the right of choosing the Members.
Much had been said of the example of the French
revolution ; but it appeared to him that the example
should rather awaken every class of people in this
country to do away corruptions and abuses similar to
those which produced that revolution.
.
Mr. 11Leste (of Staffordshire) rose to propose ano-
thtr
reAution. He should not dwell on the neces-
sity of Reform, as he Was sure that every body then I
present was perfectly convinced of it. It the Parlia-
ment
was properly constituted, it could never morel
be contended that the Government could goon with- !I
out corruption ; and the House of Commons must then
learn to study the sense of the People more than they , i
had been accustomed to do hitherto. As to illefatal-1
example ef the French Revolution, as it had so often !I
been emphatically called; he must say, that that event 1,
held out an example to Sovereigns not to despise the .1
wishes of their people, nor wait till they burst forth 1
in the shape of revolution ; it held out a powerful ;
warning to the higher orders, not to desert their sta- I
tion in society as guardians of the rights of the peo- 1
ple. In France but very few of the nobility had sup-
ported
the undoubted rights, and what were at first
the reasonable demands of the people. This revolu- 1
tion also shelved to the multitude, that violence and
intemperance were fatal to the cause of Liberty--
(Hear,
hear.) He had the honour of being one of
the Deputation to the Common Council, to ask the
use of their Hall for this Meeting ; and he thought it '
proper to make those observations in consequence of
a sort of lecture he had heard from one of the Mem- ,
bers of that Court. He thought that all classes of
men in this country might learn wisdom from the
example of France, and that they would do Well to
avert by timely reform the danger of revolution. He
concluded by moving the following Resolution :
Resolved, l'hat it being highly expeslient that the nation in all
its divisions should, on the subject of the decay of teprmentation,
proclaim us opinions, both as to the wrung and to the remedy
'1 his Meeting for itself di-clarets—
That the aggregate of usurpations, which have taken from the
People a majority of the seats in the Commons House of Parlia-
ment, has established that most pernicious m all specks of govern-
ments, an 01-garchy.
'1 hat the Kilig with prerogatives balanced by the hulepend.nee
of a Parliament, holding the national purse, would have no mute
than a wholesome degree of authority, essential to good govern-
mel.t, but yet perfectly congenial wt.h freedom; whereas an
Oligarchy, that usurps Legislation•aud the public paw, bath mu-
bounded means of oppression.
Mr. MON (*AGUE BURGOYNE seconded the Resolu
tion. He considered the cause of Reform in which
they were then engaged, as the cause of virtue and
morality—the cause not only of England but of man-
kind. He was proud to be associated in this cause
with gentlemen of such rank, character, and political
independence, as were now united. They asked no-
thing but what was the essence of the Blitish Consti-
tution. An early reform was only an arrangement
with those in power; whereas when it came late, it
was terms dictated to a conquered enemy. He cer-
tainly feared, that if a calm reform did not sooner or
later take place, this country must become acceiaint,
ed with the horrors of a violent revolution. He had
disclaimed, and been disclaimed by the two greet
political parties, the Whigs and the Tories. Each
o$ those parties were evaily disinclined to the free
representation of the people—without which Liberty
WAS but a name, and the Constitution, a shadow.— 1
The body that was called representative of this coun- I
try, no more represented the People of England than
they did the residents of Constantinople. I'he neces-
sity
of the Commons House fairly and freely repre-
senting
the people, was felt by some of the wisest and
best men that this country ever produced. The great
Lords Chalum and Camden felt this necessity strong.
ly, as did Sir W. Jones, Mr. Fox, and even Mr. Pitt.
The latter once declared, than no honest man could
lung csmtinue Minister : he would have perhaps ex-
pressed it more correctly, if he had said that no Mi-
nister, under the present system, could long continue
an honest titan. He then dwelt at some -length on
the transaction of Lord Castlereagh being engaged

en bartering place ' India r• ' • Ails iionie 014ii'ide31-hiiiinisiti t ' ee" attune. Tl.•'
a m or a,seat in e it _ten m .at
of Cony/erns ; And on thee hide refuliug to punish! Chentiernen, however, conspletele epproied n$ the re-
earn, or to investigate the charge, on the ground of ! iolUeiLis which were stsbnsittid to the meeting, and
the nnowiety of such practices.„ He' alie dwelt at ; wortlo every thing in his power to carry their ob-
some length on the pruposel of Mr. Perceval to the • ject hot, elect. •
Prince Regent, to give a military situation, net for I Mr. PUSHY' Th+ tteht. that the winner in which a
militery merit or services, but as an exchange ter ho- peragrepe in his paper had been ellteled to by the
rough influence. In this transaction he purified highly Honourable attune, would be a sufficient a )(dogs'
themagnanimous conduct of the Prince Regent, and ' for his prestiming to Addetes the Meeting. The Ho.
said that if he Pursee4 tbeeeline of conduct he would ' nourehle Baronet had called Ills publicetain the organ
strengthen the foundatient of the throne in the aim- of the sentiments of the Whigs; a term which, as he
tions of the people. es- e- , • was pleased to say, existed only nn paper. Thu, pa-
Sir leiteecrs Bonnrry rose principal,* to apologiee regrAph alluded to had been written by him., If, wide.
to the Meeting for his unAvoieeble absence at the rest out advising or consulting with any one. His opinion
of their proceediegs, as his fluty in Parliament (Mired of the individnAls eleferredl to tests founded upon his
him to 4ttend that evening on a very important see- observation of their conduct in Parliament ; and he
ject, that of flogging the soldiers. He thought that consideted them still as firm and ze.tieus advocates
it would nss& necessary for him to say much upon of reform as in the year 1792. If any difference in
'the subject of reform, As every one who came into their sentiments existed at all, it was a difference
that room mils\ be supposed to be completely con- I springing out of the difference of the circumstances
vinced of its netessity. He anticipated a great deal of the country. It was impossible not to perceive that
of good from the present meeting, and could not 1 the present circumvances requireJ a different mode
avoid expressing his admiration of the very able and •of teeAtment. When it was considered that at the
excellent speech which had been mole by the secon- present moment the Minister had above 3009 offices
der of the first resolution, (Mr. Peters.) Such were to dispose of annually; when there was scarcely an
the sentiments that the people ought to expect from j elector in the kingdom who was not brought within
country Gentlemen, and such were the country Gen. the vortex of his influence, it might well be a gave.
tlemen who would be returned to Parliiment if the eon, whether the same plan, which had been recem.
people had a fair and free representation. He had mended formerly, would be applicable now i The
rightly traced all the evils of the country to the cor. Honourable Baronet would, he was sure, admit, that
rupt state of the representation. Mac fester derivata he had been through life the adherent of principles of
glades. It was impossible that sweet and wholesome I liberty ; and it was scarcely necessary for him to ad',
waters could come from such a corrupted source hat he would go along with the individuals alluded to
It was unreasonable to expect purity from the interior no Finger than they would go along with him in sup.
agents, when those who employed them were eve porting those principles. No considerations of private
dently corrupt. It had been always Allowed. I
that friendship should ever induce him to abandon the pub.
contiption in a Judge was a most serious and fermi- lie principles of the Whigs. 'He had always been of
Liable evil ; but corruption in a Legislator was much opinion that every thing was to be expected from the
worse, as it was the Legislature who not only made efforts of a party, especially when the whole army of
the laws, but whose duty it was to controul the axe- the Government was marshalled in close order, dis.
cation of them. Ile did not mean to state that all ciplined to the service, animated by one spirit, and
and every one of our present Judges were not the directed by the same leaders. Could any success be
purest and wisest of all possible beings; but this he expected trom scattered attacks against such a host ?
would say, that in former times it was not by corrupt If they wished to gain what they aimed at, it must be
Parliaments that despotic Sovereigns maintained their by one combined and gen ral effort. They should
power. When they looked for corrupt instruments follow the example of the dissenters, who, las ing aside
to execute their illegal purposes, they found them in their respective differences, united in their common
the Judges of the land. Afterwards they found that cause, and compelled the Government to respect their
corrupt Parliaments were the most efficacious instru- religious liberty. The resolutions before the meeting
ments. With respect to the liberty of the press, and must be approved of by all friends to civil liberty.—
to the conduct of it, he must say that he thought it He did not think it prudent to deal out censure against
would be unfair to expect more assistance from the honourable men, because they may not be prepared
,press than it now gave, especially when it was con- to go the Smile lengths as others. Triennial Parlia-
sidered to what dreadful punishments every condric. ments he thought likely to [move highly beneficial in
tor of a paper exposed hirneele by an unguarded ex. the altered circumstances of the country. It would
pression. The doctrines which were formerly repro- make the Members of Pediment pay more respect
hated in the Star Chamber had been now revived in to the public opinion, and render even the Borough.
modern practice, and such sentences as would not alone) less powerful over those constituents to whom
have disgraced the character of that infamous trihu- he at present dictates.
nal were now suspended over the head of every con- Mr. Irmo, of Hampshire, declare,' his inviolable
ductor of a paper. He vetily believed that public attachment to the cause of Ret am. He had been in
writers were now, exposed to much more severity than town nearly these two weeks, expecting the Metting,
at any time in the history of the Tudors. Those and felt much disappointed from the sleety, and had
who knew the great care, and vigilance, and deli- up doubt that the same cause occasioned the absence
cacy that it was necessary for ;netters to use to of many. He was determined that no personal 0011•
escape prosectoion ,and the severest punishments,. sideretionzn his part should interfere.swith the cone.
would hardly blame them for not going farther neon cause. He was not discouraged tram the thin
in the cause of the. people; but, on the other hand, appearance, as this Meeting was metely an incipient
should be grateful to them ear the assistance measure. He had come to town with a filed deter.
which they affordee. But what E. be expected urination to await the event, and objetted to the word
while the House of Commons, that body, which, like Reform, as they ought. instead of Reform, to strug.
the pendulum of a clock, should govern the Move- gle for a restoration of their Privileges. Men of all
menus of the body politic, was itself corrupt? He parties talked of the glorious Constitution: it was
agreed with his friend (Mr. Montague Burgoyne), that Constitution they asked, and that Constitution it
that a friend of the, people should not attach himeelt was their right to have. In law, it was slid that ab.
to any party. He would neither be of the party of solute authority must reside somewhere. In despotic
Cesar nor of Pompey, because between those two I countries it resided in the Sovereign, but here in the
parties their country was ruined ; but he should at. Three Estates, the King and the Lords were herscli.
tach himself steadily to the party of the people.—: tary. The Commons were electere, stud were to be
Although he had always professed that lie would not elected brthe people. The only question then was,
attach himself to any party, yet he had always, as when they were to be elected ? To complete the Con.
far as he conscientiously could do, supported one stitution the people must be fully and legally rept-
party ; which, it they had acted up to the principles' seined, and every man who paid tie taxes had a right
that they professed, would h,ave rendered important to look to a Representative. It was oa this constitu.
services to the country. Althon hhe never profes-
clonal basis he demanded a reform" in the present
sed any particular attachment td the party to which system of representation, and atter a speech of great
Mr. Fox belonged, yet he believed that he had sup- I warmth and animation, concluded by expressing the
ported him as often, and as consistently as many of most sincere wishes for a complete and full reform la
I
those who professed entire attachment. If there was the Representation of the People, as the only tieitg
any disposition in that party to ken in the cause of; likely to save the ccuntry.—(Repeatedly cheered al./
reform, he was sure that the people would gladly , applauded.)
and thankfully accept of their assistance; and if they Mr. WAITHMAN observed, that several Gentlemen
sincerely supported the cause of the people, the people, remarked that the Meeting was less numerous than
in their turn, would support them. Heeled read that was expected, boo this was not surprising. Sever et
day a paragraph in a very respectable Morning Paper circumstances had conspired to render the Meeting
(the Chronicle) which was generally considered the I very thin. It had been put olf from time to time,
organ of the Whig party, and if the sentiments there ' He, however, thought a Meeting like the present
expressed proceeded from any desire of that party to I better for giving a tone to the public mind, than one
join the cause of the people, he should be very ' snore numerous.
happy to see them united. As to the mere change,' The question was then put upon the second reso.
however, of Parliaments from septennial to triennial, , lution, and cartied unanimously.
that would he doing no good. It would be absolutely' Mr. CAM:TN°, of Warwickshire, rose to propose the
necessary to go to the very source. If Parliaments • third resolution. He trusted Gentlemen would not
were to be unfairly and corruptly chosen, it would , be induced to relax in their efforts by die fears of
be no gain to the people to have two corrupt Pre- some—by the corruption of otheeo—and by the des-
liments in seven years instead of one. In some pondence of many more. If we cuuli effect a re-
respects
they would lose by the change; for all those ` term, we should establish our liberty rounded on , :
periodical riots, intoxicitious, and scenes which at. Magna Charm, which had been acquired by the blood 16
tend the present mode nt electing Members, and which ut our ancestors. Then, indeed, might we defy th
tend to demoralize the nation, would be repeated world united ; for every man would then be fightin
oftener. The only rational reterm must go to that in defence of his own rights and tikerties ; but with-
contemptible and odious oligarchy. the borough sys- out this reform this country could nor long remain a
tern. That oligarchy was as contemptible on ac- great nation. He concluded by musing, tbe follow.
count of its corruption, as it was ()chow% fr.,m its power. ing resolution :
What prerogative of the Crown had they not invaded. Resolved—Thu this Parliamentary Oligarchy became power-
°fowl only
atscea:iii:: the Nation we,. supine—rub sod intemparate,
or what power, which in feet the Crown never claim- Nation, misted by inipinturs, forgot us Raipus
ed, had they not seized and exercised ? What King selie.gteettel its Dums.
of the Tudor or Stuart race ever claimed the power Among a people, whose Constitution is an unrivalled fabik of
which had recently been exercised by the House of
It.pouantriestiiread,aaw.ditsist;RieTzarrnit.awapirietehaChwtalitliouttfeddlt.Witiotie
jilt
ofiliebil4-rrhditplasuiwatrese:;
Commons, which is a power that can only be exer-
cised over the people whose representatives they pro. muse as this Ykte't;. m can only by:obtained by appears to mph axed
fess to he ? He hoped tnat the people would not reason. to law, justice, and morality. Such are the founJedons
suffer themselves to be deluded by the term "
.enl'athei objaectsoo.et Parlpeolan•
leienintarty.arlieform, a comdtitutional Rem.
mode. of be English Constitution.
oa
nit,e,siLvtouenil t
bias
tfary surpass rate reform," but that they would stick firm to their i
text, and demand a fair representation in the House Magna Charts and the Bill of Right.,
of Commons. Those halt-measures which some re- political Liberty iii possession can surpass paper declarations of a
commended right' to It.
s+Would but akin and film
dll on part, vlsotria pa, Mr. JONES BURDETT seconded the Resolution.
" Wbile rank corruption, nig di within, Mr. &MAT, Ot Statiutdshite, moved the Fourth
.
s, Infects unseen." Resolution:
in the opinion of this Meeting, deo* Howarth, who
Although the present meeting was not very numer-
1111::tteiri'Nivirdus'lliri°tylia.ndd Gentry, tlinowf the
iia eilvete• ea°lftli to . t the
oils, yet he conceived it to be only an incipient mese ' our
sure, and bad no doubt but that the cause would rat- . rteedathe Hampdeus, or the prim, a the &doer, dis
masa..
pidly gain ground. He had to apologise for the ab- ,er tie Orrendishes, withall who respect the histilutera and ewer-
Bence of Mr. Fawkes, who was prevented trom atten- ' tors dour Constitution, and who wish it to reams a glories*
ding by a domestic saw= (the ion of his sin) sietnimeet of English courage, wisdoms. and virtue, 'nay be es.
s road naively termites county sad other local owstaiss, that
• i.
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