The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-02-05 00:00:00

they did not follow that np by nil the constitutional
enema their power.--(tirestand continued appiarse.)
tbeir voice was not heard. they mint make it he
• He would wait Mr. leach's motion.—(Crics

felt.

move.")
The Hint; SIMI?v said it was impossible fur him to
mit the Resolution to be Moved.. He would suffer
...e right hand to he sot off sooner than put it. If a
requisition was scot to bins numerously and respect-
ably signed. he would give it his best consideratin Go
a future oecuion.—(Much confusion, lases, and some
applause.)
Mr. lateen said, in the county of Suffolk, the High
Sheriff complied with a requisition Opted on the spot,
for an immediate Meeting to consider of Parliamentary
Reform—would the High Sheriff consent to do the
same thing here?
The Hton Suastre.—No; I will not.
Great confusion ensued. in the midst of which
Mr. Lowndes rose, but after a few ineffectual attempts
to address the Meeting, he was compelled to teenier
the percale to
Mr. Menem who, though ready to sign a requisi-
time fur a meeting for Parliamentary Reform, would
sot destroy the unanimity of the agricultural meeting.
.1f the High Sheriff build relieve, as a Magistrate
the aospty be would join in canine a meeting.—(
planee)—He hoped, therefore, that the **Ovalle
`Wettest' would not be injured by cabs! or speaking.
k was the deaire of many to get the force of such meet-
ings destriyed by confusion rad irregular proceediegs.
Let them Ink at the real disease which they wished to
remove. The vital interests of the community were at
stake. If the agricultural interests were sot sated,
the labourer would fall—the state would ultimately
fall. Therefore, it was a great object to consider this
subject wisely and deliberately.- He conjured them to
exercise their understandings on this point. It was
not because be was not friendly to Parliamentary Re-
form; that be entreated of them nut to intermix it with
the present question. How to obtain remote relief in
not the question, but the immediate reduction of taxa-
tion. The expenditure of Governuseut had exceeded
the estimate of their own Committee io 1817, on an
average 1,600,0001. annually. Though Parliamentary
Reform was the most desirable thing they could have
it was inexpedient to connect it with the present peti-
tion. He conjured them. therefore, not to do what
would be unreasonable, aad woold injure themselves.
Mr. LURCH explained. that lie had refused to sign
the requisition because lie wished Reform to be pro-
minently mentioned—not 'because he bad thiught the
mention of it in the requisitiou essential to the discus-
'don of it at the oseetii:g.
The HIGH said, be could not allow Mr.
Leech to proceed further on a topic that was sot before.
therting.
r. Teowes spoke to order, and conteaded that
the latroduction of Parlianteutary Reform mold mobs
the meeting illegal.
Mr. Tueiwasi next presented himself.—Aber
leaving satisfactorily answered the challenges of M
(swedes and the High Sheriff to knew if he was all
«eerier or freeholder of the county. he proceeded al
some length to show that the tepic of Parliamenterf
Morse was embraced virtually is the Iteswieitioik.-
klis observation were reeeived.with great arpladed.
Mr. LOWNDSS made a wood attempt to get a hear-
ing. He proceeded a few sentences with the atten-
tion of his audience; but having stated that the psi-
cipl cause of the present distress was the high recta,
hewn overpowered Mithilarks of disapprobation from
ill sides. •

The Hon. G. BV4MiT felt himself placed in rather
an awkward situation. Wert be to follow the sug-
gestion of his feelings, the first word he should pro-
nouoce would be, Reform 1-• The last word he should
pronounce would be Reform ; that it was necessary,
that the want of it was the cause of all our distress—
the source of all our sufferings. no one could fora mo-
ment doubt.—(" Pat on your hat, you'll get cold.")—
" Never mind that. I'll get warm enough in a few mi-
nutes." This was his opinion about Reform. Bat
here was the difficulty, the requ' ' 'on arid not a ward
about Reform. Now it was by no means certain that.,
if the resolution for Reform was put, it would be car-
ried. At all events, it was certain that the county
was not aware that the topic would form part of the
business of the day ; and the question was, if it did.
would that be exactly the number, would those present
be all that would attend it? Perhaps not. He (Hr.
Bennet) understood that the law (one of the bleseed
Six Acts) made it illegal fur the Sheriff to pat such a
resolution. However, they had a remedy. they might
go into an adjoining room and there agree epee a pe-
tition for reform if they pleased. There they weeld
not have to fear the Sheriff. He wished, however. to
have a petition agreed un which would state to the
House that they wanted the reduction of taxes. Let
them require of the State to do what a private, ass
would do—reduce their establishment to their income.
Before they could touch a prosy of the foods, they
mast reduce their expeaditere to the lowest possible
saw. Let not the men is power lay the Battelle*
auction is their breasts that they have a
the property of every man in the country, "
seemed to think that they were is poasersion of sadb eirl
interest. Let them do as limy pleased with the Con-
solidated Fund—they skoild go no farther. Hod Al-
mighty gave him an arch to defend his property, and,
with the blessing of God. defend it he would ! He ex-
pressed Ms great pleasure at seeing such a respectable
meeting as was then prrsent ; and declared his inten-
tion, as soon as the business of that meeting was over.
to adjourn to an adjoining room, and there have a pe-
tition draws op fur Reform.—(Applause.)
Mr. Connerr —A word or two as to the authority
of the Sheriff on this occasion. At Exeter, on Friday,
a Gaudy Meeting was held. The Requisition said
nothing about Reform, and a petition was agreed to
something similar to this. only more full and positive
In its demand for a reduction of taxes. After this the
Hon. Newton Fellows, brother to the Bari of Porte-
mouth. moved a rider to the petition, which expressed
a prayer to t►e House, that it would, with as little*.
lay as possible, do that moat essential thing la the
world, namely; reform itself. Objections were raised
to the rider ; the subject was est in the requisidoe.
But the High Sheriff determined that it wis his duty to
subjeia the rider, and ea being put to the vote,
there was act more than the number of ihy-two.
oat of four tircasiud persons. who beld sip their
bands against it. The rider he afterwards declared
was embodied Into and formed part of the petition,