The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-02-16 00:00:00

•
,
*4ll
usually atteod e follow a violent cheep of Go.,
vernment, weft not, in probabil% se psruidoet
as the grievance we surer dltder a present power.
then the public gqod will justify such a reeehisson-
As to Parliament, I, adored the wisdom of thin Gs,,
Chic institution, which made them Annual; and (
was confident our liberty could never be placed apes
a firm foundation until that ancient law Isere macaw'
among us ; for, who sees not, that while suds 48.,
semblies are permitted to have a longer duration.
there grows up a commerce of corruption berates
the Ministry and the Deputies, wherein they both
find their accounts, to the manifest danger of
.litie,,„
ty ! which traffic would neither answer the desi•A
for expence, if Parliament mel'once a year."
--....-_ .
There is nothing against which Ministers hawse
strongly set their faces as Reform. Even the gsp, .
abuses in the Scottish Boroughs in tie Election et
' Magistrates, and the arbitrary assessment of loot
taxes, though the Crown has, by a direct interferences
altered the Constitution of one of those Boroughs, me.
not be introduced as the foundation of legislative din. -
cession, for fear of its leading to the general tiitestiou
of Parliamentary Reform ! if there be this obvinis
connection between the arbitrary and corropt seaters
pursued by the self•elected bciies who have mad, ' •
such glaring infringements on the rights and prepay. '
ties of the Scottish Communities, and the ttsarN
general, but net less iniquitous plan of Goversosit
which denies the right of a taxed People to a Mr Re.
presentation, which spurns at the Petitions of a taxed
nation, and employs chains and dungeons to silent,
the voice of complaint—we trust the franchised
iiibishitaxts of these Boroughs will now, more than
ever, see the necessity of not only enjoying the
' power conferred by their local elective privi.
leges, bet also that a Reform in Parliament is
necessary to a restoration of their chartered rights;
for so long as Corruption is upheld by corrupt ie. "-
struments, assuming the Government, end centres'.
ing the rights, properties, and immenitiss of the r
People, there can bes.pe Atte choice of their &pm.
sentatives, asr6 me ißiebte In the system, however .' j
i,
absurd and iniquitous, which has produced sack la. 4
meotable elects. The Botoogh System is that of the 4,
Baroughmongers—they both claim the right of tat- :-
ing and governing, without being accountable to the II
Community for whom they pretend to act—a oysters
fraught with absurdity sod injustice, and perpetuated r
upon the ruin of all popular right. The effect of this
mysterious and selfish system of Borough management .
by the self-elected Magistrates and Councils, eke 0
have set aside the ancient rights of their feller,
townsmen, on the prosperity and meows of the'
towns which they crietroul, have been of the asst
cruel and dilapidating nature, sod quite iw uniseri
with the mournful consequences of the system et •
policy which the nation has seen put in practicsupow -
a rpore extended scale ty the Government of the
Boroughmongers and the war and pensiouing fic-
tions. It is but too apparent that the public pre.
peaty of many of the Boroughs in this Kingdom him
been greatly lessened and abused by magisterial cepidi-
ty, and debts contracted, which are severely felt by the
citizens, and will continue to be felt by their Isiett
posterity—that were this public property now entire,
agreeable to their original Charters, instead of the
pittance which, with difficulty, is made to pay the
interest of the debt and unavoidable sixpences of the
Boroughs, the annual revenues might have been more
than quadruple. Nor can, those upon whom the ma-
nifold taxes levied to support this system ascertain $
what has become of the money thus assessed for a
freedom which they,: in many instances, do not ea-
joy ? nave not then such communities reason to come
plain, and demand the exercise of their chartered
rights, as indispensible to the welfare of their socies
ties) We have bailed the exertioos of the Scottish
Boroughs for emancipation from such galling circus.
stances, and we still desire to see them persevere to
procure a system of government suited to the en-
lightened state of society, and. the trite spirit of 4,
'rational liberty, calculeted, as all systems of go-
vernment ought to be, to create a reciprocal cool- '
deuce between the Electors and elected. Booed
men can gain nothing by acting ender the re►
sent miserable system, and every liberal minded! '
1 - -
men most shudder at contributing
to the prolongs.
lion of its pestiferous existence. None will cling
to the close system bet those who fattest by the job.
Bing end corruption to which it gives rise. blinistent
may strive to throw a damp on the exertions of the,
Fr lends of Boroughs Reform, for they acknowledge it is
inimical to their system; but without appealing to them
for Constitutions, the Public may demand, and we
presume the Courts of Law will not refuse them, the
restoration of their ancient Charters; and the systems
of corruption in this Distance must fall amidst the
execrations of all who admire fair, open, and ho-
nourable conduct, and who set any value ou the
Public favour and esteem.
On Saturday evening her MAJFSTT had a dinsef
party, et which the PRINCE REGENr and the Prince
of HOMBURG were present.
The Pricer, of lic,sz-llosisetto visited her M"
JEITY, and the Princess Aucu,r.s and F.LiZABIIiI
yeterday afternoon soon after four o'clock. 111.0
Serene Highness is about to remove from Gair.LO!ea
lintel, to Abe house in St. James's Palace occupied
by the late Mr. BRAVEN, the principsl Page to the
Ktr4(.. His Serene ILehness is expected to remote
into it in a day or too.