The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-10-06 00:00:00

THE ST.

TESMAN

f! •

on which be presumed to solicit their support upon lion, and the rights of the people; and -yet It
this occisida. Helmut been ten years in the Corpo- must he recollected how very widely UMW hied
ration, and the situation In
.which their favour differed. in opinion, upon almost every political
placed him the first four years, required• an anneal lquestion which had been agitated. for usanyyalifss
election, and whenever he went back to them, he ;The fact, however, was well known that the profes-
had the. satisfaction of receiving the. most cordial ' sions of Candidates go for nothing, and that it is by
cn-operation, and It was also a proud reflection to' their conduct only that they are to.be judged. It
him, that he was seven hundred miles distant when was extraordinary that so many of those who pros
he had been elected to the honour of the gown fessed the. greatest attachment to the principles,ef
which he then wore.—[Applause.]---He directed alt the Constitution, should see with such indifference,
his theughts and wishes to no other object than the most vital parts of it daily attacked. , When the
the service of the City, and had devoted him- freedom and purity of elections was attacked, was
I
self'to that object in several Committees, of which not the Constitution invaded? [Applause.]. When
he had been Chairman, among these he would only i it was notorious that seats in Parliament were openly
mention the Committee of Fines; fines with which bought and sold, , was not the Constitution under-
the City had beeen burtheeed, as they all knew—' mined.by these practices?. And, yet those who eterai
[Applause], and which he had laboured to remove. : wally boasted of their attachment to the Constitution, I
The state of the prisons had also occupied his meats- i were found laiacquiesce in and support all those in.
tion, and he had been so fortunate as to have a Bill Inovatiens upsn it. [Applause.] Lord Somers had
brought into Parliament, by which the poor Debtors i called Parliament " the great inquest of the nation, !
were removed from Newgate, where they 'were I whose duty it . was ao enquire into and punish the
crowded to the number of 1000, though the prison I crimes of the king's Ministers." How did they
was only erected to admit 300. [ Loud applause.]— ! perform this duty ?. When an enquiry was pro.
He was aware that there were some persons, of a !"posed respecting that ,most disgraceful and laments
particular description, who were ready to brand him able expedition to Walcheren, did not many
with the epithet of disloyal; but he need only to of their Representatives vote against the enquiry?
remark, in answer to such a charge,that at a moment a--The very author of that expedition was Oill
of danger be had raised 900 men in his own Ward, continued as one of the King's Ministers .and re-
end sacrificed his time and, his property to make ' ceived their support in Parliament. As to his own
1 them an efficient corps. On all occasions he %RS bold political conduct, he had been now W years op-
to say, that he had eonsldered.their interest, and, posing tiAt system which appeared to be undermin-
among other things, he had acted with hi, friend, Mr. leg our Constitution and our liberties. Eighteen
Waithman, in opening the doers, of the .commonyears ago, from the place ht which he noW stood, he
Couucil, by which the Public mightbe retnie aciuhinted erpposed to
-them a petition, to be preseeted against
with what was going forward.
LS° you did !] During that War, WtiCh had since
.been the cause of such
the year is-whirls ha bid the honour of serving the c.elansitiO to all..ruyopef Lind of such accumulation
office of Shy, he hid ("kered extraordinary, labour of debt. tied; tares •to this country. Ile was then
' and toil, in supporting the rights, and interests of , almost thrown elf the Ilustings ba.the Magistrates of
the people, and he had the high and unexampled that day ; and Alderman Skinner With great difficulty
reward, and honour of receiving their Osaka four succeeded in obtaining him a hearing. If that advice
times in tifat year. These exertions he would always bid then been followed, what Calamities would have
continue iu their service, and if they sent him to Par- been spared to Europe,
.and what blOod and treasure
lianient, he would there endeavour to show himself might have been saved to this country ?. In the year
worthy of their choice.—[Loud and reiterated ap7 1800, he also propO;ed a remonstrance against the
plause.l—He could now assure them he had not can- conduct of Ministers id rejectii, as they had done,
vassed one person himself, becauSe he copceiied. that the overtures for peace. Ile had heard a great dee!,
they had consciences as well as he. Ite had not about the shipping interest, and the test India lute.
exacted one promise, till they should declare tbeir . rest, and so forth ; but he thought that those great
opinions at the poll, and then they would act free interests were very sufficiently represented in Parties
from any unfair bias. He would always he a steady meat, and that Ministers did not Aare to ,touch the
supporter of their rights and privileges, and if' hem of their garments. Ile had also heard objec-
any favourable opportunity offered for shaking dons it. a shop-keeper being ii Representattie, as is
peace, he would raise his /yoke in Parliament for • there was less integrity or independence to be found
procuring it, or out of it, by Petition, and to this among them than amongst merchants and. bankers,
he would add that he ever was, and always weak 4 and other men who were strangers to the Livery, qr
be, the advocate of reform, of peace, and freedem, I !qnly carne among them for electioneering purposes.
and he should be aver ready to obey any instructiond IThis objection appeared to him a foul libel on the
they should honour him with, if he should be chosen! ' great body of the Livery of London.—[Applause. ] .
their Representative.—[Loud applause.] tie had not the India House, nor the shipping in,
Alderman ATKINS then presented himself for a I terest at hit back, but he had received a letter (in,
considerable time, but could not obtain a hearing. I deed more than one) requesting his vote and interest
Mr. WAITSIMAN then came forward, amidst very !tor Sit. Jamas Shaw, signed " W. Symonds," and
loud acclamations, waving of hats, and every demon- I written at the instance of three of the Directors,—
stration of fatour. Ws opponents, however, in re- ! [Here the worthy Gentleman read the letter.] A!
veuge for Alderman Antins not being heard, made so a Liveryman witos'e. principles ware. wen knowb, be looked fot
; svuovioi_rt to die Livery at large. [Great appprw.r.) His weak
great. a noise that Mr. Waithman could not be botare ' a. anti -- - their °maim

This appearing to be the only cause of the inter-
ruption, after some conversation on the hustings,
Mr Alderman ATKINS then again came forward,
observil he he - Id detain ".hr •fi

pOlitical life wt.-. _ them, upon -dr .. of It be
, rested his pretensiods. As to particular service's, %owes'''. he
should now state one #hich He user mentioned to theta before
Alderman Cumbe wood hear wiurcss tbat it was principally
owing to bis exertioai. that a s.fuse was inserted is the Income
Tat 8111. bv which a reducOon to the 111ROORt of twu.thirds
of the rent aisdutxes was made to s'•opkeepers of the City. [Loud