The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-02-11 00:00:00

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say imputation of that kind. The #roposiiion which
Jtesupported went to pleader no man; it was not likely
that he, whose life bad ever been oppoited to plunder
' and oppression (applause)—lt was not likely that he
would sanction any measure of a scandalous: or infamous
nature (continued applause). When plunder was talked
of, it would be tight to see what Government, backed
by the wisdom of Parliament, had done for the country.
Glivernment took from every man one-half of what he
stolid possessed, and superadded one-half to the income
of the landholder. No person who had ever given him-
self the trunble to think on the subject, could say that
the country was bound to pay in gold the money which
was borrowed in a depreciated currency. The distress
of the conutry was great, but it was natural; for con-
sidering their depreciated means, the people actually
paid now in time of peace more than they paid dating
the war. The property of the country was swept
away by a measure which he would call the greatest
act of scandalous confiscation that any Govern-
tient in the world had ever been guilty of. Now, with
respect to the remedy—the remedy pointed out was not
an act of spoliation—it was not an act that would take
-from tire poor or the defeneelessit was net an act to
attack saving hanks, or to strip from t'he honest and in-
dus•rioos the means of sustaining them in their old age
—but it was an act for an amicable adjustment, an ad-
jostment which would affect the lansilloWere, the trades-
men, the ftindholders, and all other descriptions of
persons holding property—such an arrangement, in
fact, as a private Gentleman would wish eo make with
his crestltwre.—(Applause) That arrangement lie had
wopported wiles it was first mentioned in Parliament,
and he would-ever support it, because he looked upon
it to be fair, and he felt that it was necessary; because
he thought that, without such an arrangement, the
country could not go on, without which they could not
•look foreign tyrants in the face.—(Applause.) What
was the state of England even ie their own recollection ?
What was the state of England in 1792? Tbey heard
no complaints at that period ; the landlord received his
rest.; the f grater had his fair profits; the husbandman
received the fair price of Isis labour; there was no com
-plaint, because there Was no distress: but in 1792 they
.had 20 millions of taxes to pay—they had now to pay 60
nsilliops. With means neatly eqsal they had to pay io
'elm shape of taxes threi times more than they paid in
1792,—Was it too much, then, to ask Parliament to look
etie storm in the face? Ile could assure the Noble Lord
"Ilitftles deprecated as much as any men an interference
With the tights of others; he made no proposition that
'Was tenjthe', and certain he was, that ileums arrangement
was not made now, the imperious necessity of the court-
try would soon demand it. With respect to the great
question of Reform, he hail heard the Noble Lord (El.
lenborough) say, indeed he had seen it (seder his hand,
• the Noble Lod, eith the good sense that distinguished
Mtn--
Mr. Coen Err.—" Bad taste—lnsole nee.'
beer Bestemr said, he was not accountable for the
taste of any man, but the Noble Lord bas steered, that
a Refiarns ought to be granted when called for by the
majority of the people; now he believed, that if the
sense of every Englishman were taken (save those who
refitted by the opposite doctrine), it would be found
that a nation at large was in favour of a Reform.—(Ap-
plause.)— Whenever the people addressed the Parlia-
ment, they spoke a language opposite to that of the
Government : the people were on one side and the llo•
yernment on the other. The people appeared to be 50
years in advance of the Government —the one was for
supporting an old system, by means of ofa jobs, old
an snagement, and corruption ; the other looked to the
improvement of the world—to the march of time and
event. ; and they called upon the Government to adopt
that system of Reform and Retrenchment, which were
so necessary for their prosperity at home, and for their
somas* their etrametee, awl their digeity abroad.—
(Loud stppisuse.)--He hoped be had rescued his charac-
ter freni the imputation of committing, or wishing to
see committed, pillage or plunder of any sort.—(Ap-
plauee.)—He wished not for spoliation—(cries ot " no,
taw, .yon never did") t—he wished to see take place an
udjuitment that was necessary fur all parties.-an ad.
jiistuient which would give to the country gentleman
' his rent ;to the tenant the fair reward of his labour, and
the fair return of his capital; and to the labourer the
wages which he earned by the sweat of his brow, and
which he ought to receive, to keep and to enjoy. He
wished, in fine, to protect the country against the
sdrects of that war which had shaken the security of
all classes of persons, whirl!' had endangered all pro-
perty, and nearly destroyed all confidence. The Ho-
nourable Gentleman retired from the frost of the hust-
ings, .amid the loud and continued cheers of the
Meetilfg.
Mr:'Conlirrr next addressed himself to the Sheriff.
He hail to nay a word in explanation. The Noble Lord
(Ellenborough), with great good taste alluded to his
(Mr. C.'s) private affairs.—(Cries of unfair, unfair.)—
He bad talked of his (Mr. Cobbett's) debts. The Noble
Lord must have seen a petition which he had presented
to the House of Lords, and which petition stated that lie
load mortgaged an estate for 13,0001., which Bost him
30,0001., and that mortgage was foreclosed—and this
at one blow, he bail lost more than two seven thousand
pounds, taken by the Noble Lord's sinecure.—(Ap-
plause.)
• Sir THOII, TURTON said, that the violent and danger.
ous expressions which he had beard that day would fail
to give say thing like satisfaction.
Me. COBBlTT—Especlally to sinecures and placemen.
• •—(A laugh.)
Sir THOS.*TURTON—Since he entered first into
ti al life, he never received any thing Irian Government.
The allusion could not apply to him. The distress of
which the agriculturists complained was too well found-
ed. Bet what. would remove that distress? What
would enable the people to pay their rent ?—(Cries of
Beform.") He was no enemy to Reform ; lie ovoid
wiefila lee a Reform with a view to numbers and pro-
iperty accomplished. An Honourable Gentleman (Mr.
Leech) bad said that there cculd be no Government
without rogues.
Mr. Legal said be never so rap d himself. He
, had said that no honest men would carry on the Go-
verses/at under the present system.
A goirein the crowd—Mr. Pitt bad said so 25 years
ago.
Sir T. TURTON—Then, if that be the case, we are in
a forlorn situation [cries of "we know it.)" He was no
enemy to Reform, but Reform would not redress their
grievances. Did they suppose that if, on retiring to their
Limes, they were asked bow they were to pay their
rents, their answer would be satisfactory if they said we
have beep attending a Meeting on Reform that will ens.
ble us to pay the rent [booting and laughter)? tin it
vas with the poor, oppressed, and injured people of Ire-
land ; the-rivers led to think that Catholic Emancipa-
tion would redress their wrongs (a voice in the crowd—
" no, not all ; but many of their wrongs and insults"]
"-"Mow did it happen that remedies now proposed were
never thought ot before ? The person (Mr. Coldieti) who
proposed the Amendment, wished to take away the
at hole of the interest of the debt.
Mr.Conucrr—No, no such thing. I wish only for
an equitable adjustment.
Sir T. Tuarow—lie felt that the debt was s great
load, and the only means of relieving the country (tom
it was, by making one great and, patriotic sacrifice on
the part of all cl , in order to get rid of that mill-
stone.' He would be one of those who would melte
such a sacrifice—but when persons called fur a reduc-
tion of Rahn ins and of rents agreeable to the standard of
179•2—they ought first to put the persons to be affected