The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-10-23 00:00:00

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- THE STATEAIAN.

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PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

KENT MEETING.
, Yesterday, pursitant to the Requisition of a most
respectable number of Freeholders of the County
a Kent, the High Sheriff, JAMES BURToN, Esq.
.:ulivetied a Meeting of the County, at Maidstone.
At one o'clock the High Sheriff presented him.
if on a hustings erected in the front of the Market
Place, and exhorted the Meeting, as it valued the
floooiir of the county, to give to eve y i geit t 111
ho should offer himself to their atteu u a can.
rtu, e 31
id and patient hearing. It was, only by such a
correct demeanour he would be enabled to return a
fair and impartial. decision of their sentiments. lie
had further to acquaint them, that lie had that
morning received a letter (coin their highly-re.
spected Member, Mr. Honeywood, expressive of his
regret, that continued indisposition alone prevented
him from personal attendance that day, to assist in
furthering that great object to which he was most
friendly, as well from a sense of duty as of incli-
nation. A substantial and constitutional Reform he
would ever support, as the beat remedy fur the
many. political evils under which the Country suf.
fared.
This communication of Mr. lloneywood was re.
ceived with considerable approbation.
Mr. Horton then came forward and addressed the
Meeting. Freeholders of Kent, I believe that it is
'now very,generffiy attinkted, indeed I may, say if is
aIP 11,.41Terially felt, ihatihe dangers which affect
our country, and,the n?apg..grievances of which we
complida, cannot now be remedied, or even pal.
listed; by the common and ordinary process of a
ohange of Ministers.—That process has been tried
over. and over agisin, and our condition, instead of
•
mending, has for a considerable time been most la,
nietvtabty on the decline. Indeed the-pressure ,of.
the public calamity is such, public hope has been
so often disisppointed„•, ha here prevails through-
out the country an abs, it ;eretice as to toe
persons best fitted to co blic affairs. To
what causes ere we to . public apathy
on so important an occ. ? to any feeling
abroad that there exists any Ain alents amongst
political characters. I believe ,r the last fifty
years, there have been in the various administra-
tions of the country, men of the most enlightened
minds gifted with great talents and possessing
high.acconiplishments; yet the condition, in place of
being alleviated, is cuneiderable impaired.—No; it
is not the dearth, of great political intellect, but it.
is the most lamentable deficiency of
.public huneity.
that has produced our sufferings, awl that aggra-
vates their continuance. For what did the immor.
tai Camdeu, at his day, honestly pronounce, when be
declared, that, from the progre.ss of corruption, se
general was the public distrbst, and so extensive the
indilDrence as to statesmen, -that Ministers would
be free from all restraint, that they might set them-
selves up above all con trout, and with safety defy
every opposition. To that state I fear we are new
at this moment reduced, sit fferiag the cala nities
which that great man so long predicted. .But
though degraded, we are not jet, thank God,
without a law ful remedy. lf, iuti. cd, w e were so
reduced, our situation would be desperate indeed.
—But let us not whilst we have
our own .reach a remedy of true English growth,
which, by emancipating the House of Cornaious
from Nlittistertal bondage, shad place the repro.
sentation in such a situation as will prevent•the re.
currence of Owe causes which have led to one pre.
sent dangerous and degrading degeneracy. [Gond-
nued applauses.] That remedy is opposed by some
as unnecessary ; by others its adoption is retreat as
a dangerous novelty. With respell to this object- '
tion on the score of novelty, let us review the many
illustrious statestneti by whom it was mast zealously
recommended. • The immortal Chatham predicted
that the rotten boroughs would not survive the last
century ; and that unless tit,. [louse of Commons
should reform itself from within, it would be re.
formed with a vengeance from without. [Cries rtf
hear, hear!] In 1785, his son, Mr. Pitt, a matt
of great talents also, declared, that without Parka.
me:guy Reform, the nation would be plunged into
new wars ; [Hear, hear !] that without it the
country would not be safe against bad Ministers ;
and that good ones would be of no use. I now Lick
of you to determine, whether the events.of the last 23
years have not furnished the best commentary upon
this prediction? [Mar, hear!] Sir Wm. Black-
stone, and surely he could not be charged with de-
mocritic principles, asserted that the spirit of the
English Constitution was in favour of a more cx.
tended representation of the people. We have the
authority of Sir William Jones, though last not the
least respectable, in support of that Reform, to
which he devoted the great powers of his mind, and
on which lie has bequeathed a most.valuable treatise,
as the best legacy to his beloved -country. With•
respect to the other objection, of Reform being un.
necessary, I must say thatatieh a field of discussion,
is so Unlimited. that...k.e.t this moment could not
venture to trespass upon your kind attention 'bra
detailed review of allthe.argyinents opposed to this
assertion. Sure Lao that: it rests upon the same
weitlearbuilds, and Is equally futile, as those upon
the score of novelty, wbich, I trust, I have sue.
eessfully combated. put I beg leave to ask every
Freeholder present, whether he conceives his liberty
and property justly secured, su long as we have a
House of Commons completely under the influence
of the Slinivtry—liultliivg at their disposal an expert,
diture of seventy millions a year—hoiding.Parlia,..l
ment itself in a state of thraldom, in perfect disregard
of thosesalutary checks which haveits better times ex.
isted, and which our forefathers were weak enough
to consider amongst the must estimable branches of
the British Constitution. But the enemies of Re. i
form tell us, that our measure is to be resisted, be-1
cause that Constitttstion must not be altered. Against
such an intermit:lll protest. The British Constitii.
ottoppreliension, unfulds two principles
tnot'ie of spirit—the other of form ;in some degree
resembling those of soul and body in animal life.
N.,w, the spirit, I conceive to be unalterable ; but I
ibe form capable of being corrected, amended, and
improved, according as its palpable decay, or
Atkin from its original purity, render.such Reform
oecessary. Wilt, then, the enemies to Reforumt
venture to declare that such a deviation has nut
taken place! Will they say, that the forms of our

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Constitution arc not at this moment opposed to Hi
spirit, and that in its most essential principlos-the
British Constitution has nut keit impaired, neiti-•
lated, and absued ? [I !ear ! heqr !] If such a
change has taken place, and who can dons, it, is
it, 1 ask, a crime in us to call iipon the hand of
wisdom to apply the necessary correction ? pear !
hear;] Every ntotive that can inllueisce men,
lieve use, Gentlemen, demands that prompt and
efficacious improvement. CFrom the Free.:
holders—" It is time that it were dune quickly."] -
Yes, but our opponents shelter themselves un-
der the pretext that they cannot ; accede to
our wishes, because they ktiow of no plan of
Reform, as proposed, to which they can agree. Sir
F. Burdett's delineation of the Reform he proposed ;
they opposed, because it was too theoretic and octet'
sive, and not suited in their minds to the exigencies
of the (lines. Yet we find the same men equally hos.
tile to the preposition of the lion. Mr. Brand, a
proposition which narrowed the question of it.furm,
and which at once presented a practical remedy to
the gross abuses which we are all anxious to re.
dress. The truth is, and a lamentable source of
complaint with the Country it i also, that the
House of Commons seems determined even not to
I entertain any discussion upon a question upon which.
there is not an honest man •in the Country but
holds a different opinion from that branch of the
L-gislature ( Hear, hear !). They appear not only
determined to oppose any specific plan of refer.
(nation, but to stifle, if possible, the discussion itself.
But if Englishmen are only true to their own best
interests, there is is the • expression of the 'public
will a voice powerfni 'enough to compel even Par.
liament itself to accede-to that great measure, which
sound men feel to be essential to the salvation of
their country. From my. soul I believe, that if Any
.of the many plans of Reform which have been sub-
mitted to the Consideration of Parliament had been
honestly anti promptly adopted, Incalculable benefit
would have resulted to the country, and many of
its present awful calamities been averted (Hear,
hearvissar !). This is my sincere conviction ; I
felt it. my duty to declare it in the face of this
Cutely. I can have no objects of vanity or Wes
reetito gratify—the tense of what the•public pros.
verity demands has beam my only-impulse. If we'.
can be gratified in the necessary and laudable object
that we this day seek, public contentment will be the
unfailing consequence. And, in answer to those
who oppose the claims of the people, tinder the
. pretext that the just inflitence of the Crown would
be diminished, I reply in the words of a conclude
ing passage of an Address presented by the Huuse
of Commons itself, in 17g3, to his Majesty,' 66 that
the Throne's best security consists in a free; 'unite:
fluenced, unfettered, independent House of Corn-
mons."
Mr. floecies then read the following Petition,
amidst the most marked demonstrations of applause,
from one of the best-conducted public meetings that
we have ever witnessed :
" • We, the Inhabitants of the County of Kent, in Sall Coe .
ty Meeting assembled, conscious of the rights we posses of all.
dre,ing and petitioning your Honourable Haase upon ail pub-
lic affairs, and impelled by a high sense of tite duty we one to
ourselves and to our country, beg leave ti lay before ‘int our
opinions and sentiments on the greseut defective state of the Re-
peen:fit:aim' of I he People.
" To the a isdom and justice of the original design of con-
vesting to Parliament the Representatives of the People, to de-
liberate and co-operate with the Sovereign mod else Peers upon
ever% question of National Concern, we give our unqualified
approbation ; hut when we take into our con.idcration the
decay of some tloroughs, once prosperous and well-pEopled,
the rise and flourishing conditions of others, formerly •Jf little
note; when we reflect upon the effects of the heavy and
insupportable expense of Elections, which claws the doors of
your Hon. House to many of the best friends of their country,
and robs it of their faithful service ; when we think of tbese
things, we are of oplitiodthat your Hon. Hnu,e is at this time
by no meuns a fair Representation of the People ; and from
i the manner to which a Wee portion Ode Witt:do:ll Member,
obtain and secure their seats in your Hon. House, we cameo
but infer. that that nigh and sacred Ace, intended for the pub-
lie service, is frequently sought for mind procured by oneolisti-
tutional means, and is too often perverted fro its original de-
sign, nod renlered subservient to private ,:.s. In this cisme
. wr. ascribed the greatest part of the national catatonics we now
huve to deplore. The mean principles, and morrow vietrs
which have too to governed Inc Conceits of the Cabinet; the
I false nothition and little intrigues :if its Members; tne conino-
tune of asysteni of expenditure, lavish beyond ex ,ntple ; the
I usahy disgraceful expeditions, in which the blood and trea-
sure of our country have been too prodigally wasted; ;he
decisions 6t. your Honourable House, in direct opposition
to the general sentiments of the nation ;
.the unwillingnesk- hi-
therto evinced by your Honourable house to protoote.iuquiry
into, or couleet abases in, the representation--mot unwillingness
which cannot fall to excite our distrust, and to diminish time re-
spect we owe to the name and functions of your Honourable
House. And we deplore particularly one instance of this am:-
willingness, of which we comp! mia, no your tejectiou ofa Mo-
tion made in the last Scission of Parl'ament, by one of time
Members of the Coon v of Herts,-as that Nlotion, had it been
adopted by sour Hoa-ornble House, must necessatily have
brought before your Committee a full inquiry into the present
defective state of the Representation of the People, anti there-
by have led to a substantial Reform in time Comtism* Home of
Parliament, so essential to the salvation of the State, by restor-
Mg to us a free Constitution, that inestimable inheritance,
transmitted to us by the wisdom and intrepidity of our ancestors.
" The times denmnd this open avowal of:our sentiments, and
is the language employed to convey them,. we intend no disre-
spect ; though we are persuaded that 110 words run he too
Strung to express our feelings upon this occosioo. Therefore,
we most earnestly entreat your Honourable House to under-
like; before it is too late, In a true and cordial spirit, the mea-
sure of Reform, upon principles which, by conciliating the
affections of the People, and Wag restoring to y ous Honourable
House its doe *eight and character, may rescue our country
front domestic discord, and secure it from the foreißli foe,, give
stability to Cie Tlirme, and perpetuate the Constitutimm;
Mr. FOOT then rose and addressed the Meeting.
After the very able manner, hi which this INlSitiess
has beets opened to you, little remains for me. but
to go through the customary form of strenuously
and heartily seconding the Address which has just
been proposed. Gut even in the performance of
this duty, I feel it necessary to throw myself on
your.indulgence, and to solicit, with all the dif ii.
dome of a. man • unused to public speaking, a candid
and impartial hearing. Were- we met together to
discuss some abstract question of- police—some dif-
ficult theory in the art and mystery of Government,
I should out presume to intrude myself upon your
notice; but. the subject of our Address is a most
simple one. The grievances we complain of are
common to us all—the remedy we seek is obvious
and infallible. We *re anxious for nothing new --
it IS the Constitution that we seek for—the Giusti-
tudion, as established by the wisdom of our tutees.
lon, the Caustitutiou of King, Lords, and Com-
motsa—the Constitution of the Statute Books. It
' la st ;Wen common
_anxiety wu request, that Par-
liament will, in its wisdom, adopt some measure cal-
culated to support its own henuur, and vindicate
'its own lnity. We wish that some effeetuel me-
thlid may he resorted to, to prevent time recurrence
of scenes au disgraceful as those which have, dining

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the two or three last Sessions,_ been exhibited to the
eyes of au astonished *lt'd iusulted people. We
' wish to see.the time when corruption shalt be no
.rarer avowed and silsocated, and when ministerial
imbecility shall cease to lie protected by Miiiieterial
majorities [loud cries ,I hear . We *kit fusee
the time n hen the gua(iltaus orthe imistie. purse.
seal! disburse with wisdom, what they grant with
caution, and when the great machine of the bilge
shall be worked, not for the adibititin of interest
-of the Governors, but fur the happiness of the go.
Tented. It is from an extensile' bt The right of vo-
ting from freehold to copyhold'iiroperty—it is from
increasing the number of Members in a due propor.
Lion to the population of boroughs anti of. counties
—it is from efficacious measures for theveduction of
the enormous expellee attendant upon the present
system of election, that we shall obtain this ob.
jaret, so congenial to the principles of Englishmen'.
Gentlemen, I presume, and I. thick I pretome
fairly, that this is the sum and substance of our
wishes, and to wishes so reasonable, it won't) at
'first sight seem difficult to suppc,se an uppositron ;
but, Gentlemen, the creatures of Administration,
the minions of utile; the expectants of emorument,
are embodied in firm phalstix again,t us. The con.
test in which we are engaged is arduous. Self.iute.
rest is dead to the voice of reason and of truth ; anti
to talk to the borough-monger uf Reform, aud to
1 the hireling of retrenchment, were, indeed, a to
aster to the ocean, and to whistle to the wind."
Hear, hear !] Against this mercenary host of
ti
' des we hive to oppose the unanswerable argument
4f common sense, supported in the first instance
by the countenance of this most respectable Meet.
big; and, in the next, by the Unenimises exertions
irt independent men of all de,eilptioni and et
all parties, whose opinions are dictated by re.
,action, aud who are steadfast in the judgments
the'y have formed. Let os, then, keep the grand
specific of Reform constantly in view—let :of
not be lulled by hope, or dispirited by ditties.
r..pointments. Our sober voices may' at 'Oft ,be
stifled by the yell of corrupttnn, and our: regatta
may at first be denied by prejudice mid by power.—
' fLoud cries of hearse!) Let us,AtOwever, be true
10 ourseiaes. Let stems swerve, even for 4 ino.
anent, and our final success must be the result. The
:march of justice may be slow, it is nevertheless
sure. Ours is the cattle of justice, and it will, be.
neve me, ultimately triumph. [Hear, hear '.]
40 io.by those meifis.wsibtspe, at no distant period,
*Melee a House of Minuet's so c., isiltuted, that
whilst they hotionr. the Crown, they,sltli(t-direteet
the people—who MAI attend to our i....nte4l,iitte.
'kitty nut Inrding tier our rightt,• bet hiller of
.fir joy.' It Islay these meinitie, 'hope, at ntriiit.
tent period, to see the We ,Ig: divijult• inlipnb *
adherents of the present Minister luriod out Of
office—the management of the Iliritistt Cabinet plaegil
in the hands of those*hrewill Once'Oeore open its ,
us a free career for the' restoritionitlf 'Our honour,
oun liberty, and Our `happiness :—for nothing tees
i further to promote the nation', setfety and the pee.
inlets comfort, than ttielim men of tiaras, 'loyalty,
I.probity, tied honOnr, direct the Public coisteiise.
[Load approbation]: I am delighted with these
unequivocal Marks alone acquiescence, 'and shall
.conclude-with becondlig.tha motion now preeusid.
Mr. Cos called upon the Freahotilers to teens
heart and hand in the great cause of • Refufm ;
,the
system of• venality had so far prevai)ed„, as
,41.
quirerstesply and uniform cutlet's tb resist it. I;
was a system Which had Witten* triuttipfied ',eer au
law,, and bithiefianre to ever public priniple. ft
had succeeded iteconeeeling from their beloved King
or real eentionents of his.failh!til Pou'ple. He trusted
that (he result of that Meeting would set the exam,.
ple to England, and that their traeious Monarch
would at Lolgth be undecelaud ';•hitherto petitions
eit.rtled for the Royal eta were consigned to the
office of some State Secretary, and then transferred
unopened to the builei•-iholis [lrusghier] ; the prey
tent .Mhtistent had abused the confidence they had,
by a triek,. gained from the public delusion, .end how
had they rewarded that eintlidetiee ; Mr. Perceral,
whose brother, Lord Arden, tuuk yearly 24,001. •
out of the pockets of the people; this Mr. Puree.
vat, the Clerk of the Irons, or the Clerk. of She
Mint, he did not know which to call hint, hp told
that people upon whose hard earnings he and hip
family maintained tbeteselves—he had told the peo.
ple that Mr. Hunt's pillage of 200,0001. of their
money was but a misappiting of that money ; bid
he would ask them if it
.was any thing else ,than
public rubbery ?—[..:lpistonser.l He concluded li
calling un the Freeholders to be at once ireati, taad
I temperate. In the present crisiv the etivice of no
man, however huieb!,.., was to, be scorned. 14
would conclude by telling them, in the language
the Poet, that
When dangers call mid delegates are met,
Sage COU ibe k should not come with t irdy feet e
For in the crisis pf our comatry'li fate,
He merits death who gives advice tin late.
The question was' then put 'by, the Sheriff, that
• the Petition, as r.4l,odiviir.
t,abried in theerpresentctl
to the House of readCOm byiuo hins.
affirmative unanimously.
~
A Freeholder then proposed three, cheers for the
11proposition was immediately
conceded to,
riff
; and whichcarried into effect.
M r., RYDER then ruse and moved,• that the 130 ii•
She riff
tion be left for signatures, in the diffetent towns of
the county Of Kent ; and thet a Committee be ap.
pointed to carry 'into execution the objects of this
Meeting, Ind that the persons Whoie 0,10105 are W.
the Reqiiisition do constitute the said Committee,
with the power of enlarging the number .of sold
Committee. . .
Mr. roe?, before the question was put by ills.
Sheriff, •said, that ho was anxious to remind thp.
Freeholders, that one of their ltepresentativcil Sir
klhaard.finateithull (then in his eye); had tic4.lseti
rap hii bandit' favouref the Petition which they bad
so recently adopted. Ho, on the contrary., htut op.
posed that Petition ; turd lie, Mr. Foot, was net
it all surprised that the lion. I.3.tronet had opposed
it ; indeed he should have he:oi surprised if he had
out, such an opposition was only consistent with
the general public conduct of that Hon. Baronet,
which bad been, lie was sorry to say, uniforthly in
uppositionori the sentiments of his Constituents.—
.[Applaases.]
Sir EDWARD KNATCUDULL replied with consi.
eerabic 1$ armth. Ile said that when he first saw

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