The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-04-19 00:00:00

Dnrliam. Much, however, at he disapproved of the Ow
of the Honourable Meniher (although lie wished to pa%
his full tribute to the temper and moderation with whiel..
the Hon. Gentleman bad brought the subject forward),
be theuieht it much better, if the House most enter on
the subject at all, to enter upon it with a reference to
that plan, rather than to accede to the eager, general,
and indecisive recommendation to go into a Committee
whatever helot.? them.—
to examine the state of the Representation irithout hat •
ing any particular proposition
Such a swift would be to condemn the existing order of
tbinge, hout being put in possession of any definite
measure by which it was propoposed to amend it. be
The Right Hon. fientlem to here entered into a detailed
argument to show the iuexpediency of the plan proposed
lir the Hon. Member; which, in his opinion, approach -
ek very nearly to CuiversalSulfrage. lc had heels taken
for granted, that a great majority of the people were
anxious for Parliamentary Reform. lie saw no evitlenee
of such a feeling, and lie did not believe that it existe,i.
It was true that many petitions had been presented t
that Honer, but they were all, whether proceedine
agriculturist'', merchants, or manufacturers, fontided
some particular and specified grievance, which no It..
form of Parliament could remedy, because the object of
the Petitioners werewbolly inconsistent with each other.
It was, in his opinion. an assertion equally unfounded,
that the House of Commons, as now framed, slid not
speak the sense of the people. On the contrary, he had
never known an instance in which the sense of the peo-
ple had been expressed on any subject decidedly, and
after due deliberation, and had failed to sway the majo-
rity of Parliament. The abolition of the
lile lolae Trade
was, in the first instance, not agreeathe wih
of the House of Commons, who were apprehen-
sive of the innovation, and of the injury which
particular interests would sustain from it. Rut the
opinion of the people having been decidedly and deli-
berately formed in favour of that great question, and
enforced at various periods, it at length prevailed over
the reluctance of Parliament, and the abolition wcs
effected But although Parliament was in many cast s
induced to follow the opinion of the public.it nut unfre-
uently corrected their errors. The public were greatly
led by the press, which mixed up with many facts and mush
1 sound argument, so much fallacy and misrepresentatino,
as to impose upon the public to an extent from which
the better information and good sense of Parliament
alone could relieve them. A great deal had been said of
the intli.etter of the Crown in that llouse. lis his opinioe,
that influence had of late years been inueli more thin
counteracted by a variety of circumstances ; aners
which were the greater publicity given to the precool.
lugs of Parliament, and the consequently greater freedom
with which those proceedings were 'discussed by the
public. So great indeed was the influence of the press,
under the almost unrestrained liberty which it enjoyed,
that he did not wonder that foreigners were constantly
apt to apprehend that this country was on the eve of a
revolution or convulsion. Year after year such persons
were deceived on the subject, because they were not
aware how habituated this country was to the utmost
license of discussion on public affairs. Undoubtedly, the
advantage of such a free discussion was not unmixed
with mischief, but the good very much preponderated ;
and one most important benefit resulting trout it o
dist it rendered any attempt on the liberties of the peo-
ple, from whatever quarter it might proceed, as hopeless
as the most sanguine reformer could desire. Never was,
there in any country a greater deeree of practical liberty
than was enjoyed ley this country under the form of Par-
liament which it was now proposed to overthrow. Such
being his opinion on the general question of Reform,
awl the particular plan proposed by the Hon. Meuilwr
tor Durham not having received the approbation of most
seen of those who were the friends of Reform, he I'O4M
see no result from agreeing to the motion fur going into
a Committee, but that of producing a great deal ot pub-
lic agitation to nu purpose.
When the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUEB.
finished, which was a qnarter before eight, there was
a general cry for the question. Strangers accorditigly
withdreiy ; but in a few minutes the Gallery was re-
npened, and we found Mr. Canning on lois legs. Be-
(ore the confusion, however, had subsided, the Right
lion. Gentleman sat down ; and strangers were again
ordered to withdraw. We were unable to hear a
single word that Mr. Canning uttered ;
but we were
given to understand, that he said, that in the absence
of the principal Members on both sides of the House,
who were in the habit of taking a part in their discus-
sion and in the absence even of the lion. Member 191
Durham himself, lie felt it his duty to abstain from
making any observatioes on the subject, or from bi-
ll terfering with the general disposition which seemed tu
exist in the House, to proceed at once to decide upon the
motion.
The House then divirled :—For the motion, V.—
Against it, 55.—Majority, 12.
he other Orders of the Day were then proceeded
'I
with. On reading the Order fur taking into further
consideration the Report tit the Spoiled
inneys
Mil Bill,
Lord Milton complained, that although a,
no explanation had been given to the House of its proti•
sioni ; Mr. lirenfell said, that a promise given to iidol
by the Hon. Secretary of the Treasury, that the lti:1
should be printed, had not been performed ; the I 'hats
cellor f the Exchequer dlared that he had no u-i ri
Con too postpone the furtheecr consideration of the report
until after the holidays ; Mr. Hume pointed out the im-
propriety of altering the discountsn Stamps in on.lor.
from 11. Ills. to 1.. per cent. n li in the country i! trus
-It. per cent., and that too, ;hilt' a Committee tras,•i!tiu:
on time ore proper remuneration to the stamp
►stributur,s;
s;
and Mr. Wilson and Mr. Ellice each said a few
sc
after which it was ordered that the report shoul he
d
taken into further consideration on Monday sinuight.
The CHANUF,LLOR of the EXCHEQUER morel
the seemed reading of the Hereditary Revenue of SO'
land Bill.
Lord A. HAMILTON made some observations ar"
this Bill, which were not perfectly audible in the
tiallef.
The CHANCELLuIt of the ENCIIEQCER fro
about to answer the Noble Lord, when
Ifir.ILAMIITON (who was not present at the diyitiol
upon the Reform question) rose to order. Ile lee'
perceived, on entering the House after the late dieliais
that the laugh of several Members were !minted!!
rected at him. It was impossible that lie coild
mista the nature of that laugh. Ile hoped that the
Honoke
urable Members to whom he alluded %vivid hart
the manliness to stand up and avow their meatiing
and as ailing that avowal he would not go
any tar'
they at present.—(Cries of '` Chair !")
The SPEAKER observed, that the House would us
all occasions see that it would best p:eserve its el
dignity and decorum by takieg cave that
cout none
ary of i
ts
Members should be treated in a manner
the regular forms of Parliament. If any sails
of
was attempted, it was the uniform pce 0
Hosts to discountenance the attempt. to
Mr. LAMBTON, in explanation, begged
bar
e 41.,r
that
11Y
state the circumstances of the case.
11l
evening retired to take some refreshment atter:be
discussion of the measure which he had
boo' t
had commenced (not having taken any rofreshoien
during the whole of the night before.) On Wis. retort
tee 1105'
surprised to hear from tee
to the House be was surp