The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-03-01 00:00:00

lions is con-
,r. Many
to resist
their con-
and it is
of social
to adhere
as, with
opinion,
system of
consideration,
• so lately
Ith Road.,
either
than half
',nee t• this
another
me birth
if this no-
I cannot
enjoying
mgest re-
. to expect.
Omi knows,
bad been
'he most
Jed there-
enjoyed it
instead of
this had
trineiples
nen noto-
lea have I
elevation,

countrymen, in
;en me the
much satis-
have done
:en notice
flattering
•citi shortly
'resent mo-
ted in this
extended
less than
ithoot now
presently, I
ifaction, in
world ad-
Ititi I re-
Jnscienee,
magnet in
that
perfrc-
li
ih to see,
.nt, until it
most serious
extensive
istorb the
conceived,
thi abridge
°overt).
'pendence
House of
1. for the
are the
oppose
confident,
_ .iseijorate
been carried
'nation of
ion to be
irely, can
old of the
oar Coa-
-1 my time,
you, hare
the whole
,nt ? Is
with its
low then
impeach
11 ould
that he
Ministers
'wit own
representation
orations of Burke
assembly ?
empty
though
almost
lem, and
ith beef-
money of
war with
ve bees
arainst
lion, and
of etrun
French
into a ba-
'4llCe has
rust that
e franchise
the people
they will
tampered
body, it
iman to tire-
of tier-
may he
them by
t
exist to
at one*
from public
by his ;ni-
ceties, he
and if
.in would
.ntly free,
to which
important
be silent.
itv under
the mil-
kers the
back the
and to that
from a well
Iccomplisb
lirtn and
~....dered and
degrees, in all
--mtihly and
as irre-
tried prin.

are govern
hounds by
►red. and
us from
exclude
At it may
reformation ;
' regarding
grown man
necessary

rer -
.
drit_.*•.m...-Art.--- . -,...--...........-
,
1 1 ciesertbetess, that this tie of similar opinions
'okra, the more satisfactory it will appear.
dangerous temptations stirroeuti public men
noprovensents, and to anpport those against ti
I
• t teems who are the fountains of reward; a
therefore in my opinion, one of the wisest c
i . recobinations, above all, in a free country, ta
to. and favour one another in proportion
just allowance, for reasonable differences of
11 they have adopted and stood fast by the Millie s'
liolitlealgovernment. Tothissoundprinciple, illi
r as I have just remarked, by your friendly coital(
I owe the honour of this day. Though coming
s out of one of your London packets in Leith
scarcely recognising when I came upon the deci
I oclikeith or Arthur's Seat, after above more t
a century's absence, and coming from thence
rew city, not one stone of which stood upon
when I left old Edinburgh, which gave a
—I yet found myself suddenly in the midst of
PIPTOIII% assembly of honourable, learned, public-
honest men, receiving me in a manner which
. but feel to be very far beyond my merits; thus II
much more than any distinctioo which the loi
1 silence amongst you could have entitled me it
Mere Is but one thing only, for which, God
I can take any kind of credit to myself. If I I
so unfortunate as to have looked only to tl
probable sad shortest road to eminence—if I Ili
by attained it at an earlier period, and had er
to this hour with corresponding wealth, int
being. as I am, a mere private man—if t
happened to me, by a departure from all the pi
which, whether right or wrong, I was knots
riously to entertain through a long life, I rots
t mind here the cold distinction of a higher el
hut could never have looked yos, my country
the face as I now do; nor would you have given
occasion which tills me this moment with so mu
I cation and delight—lientlemen, when yogi ba
me so much honour and kindness, and have take
of my put public life with such partial and fii
aoorobation, I think myself hound to say to you
tr'at my opinions are, as they apply to the prel
men', one of the most eosin,) that has ewer estate
country. It is a period of great and widely e
suffering, attended, in my opinion, with much Ii
A proportional degree of discontent; and, with/
alre-ting to the causes. which I shall notice pro
twn nil el e r that the only remedy for this ilissatisfin
cur justly famed Monarchy, above all, as the w
ranee' in light and knowledge, is a real substai
I.resentation of the people. I believe, in my con
Viet a Representative Government, like the ma
i.stare, is the pole of the civilized world : and t
Ludy, above all other forms, is best suitisl fur is
tie; and I am quite sure that this country wi
a a feel throughout, what I most ardently wilt
re
a set and affectionate confidence in Parliament,
t s this most momentous subject into its most
consideration. It I believed that a liberal and et
enlargement of the elective franchise would dial
Leisure' of our excellent Constitution—if I eat
tnat whilst it destroyed undue influence, it would
Hie just power antranthority of the Executive I
men, in the bands of the l`rown, or the indept
and dignity of the aristrocratic balance is the II
. Lorlst, against popular encroachments—l would,
sake of the people, whine bappiness and safety
nnly objects of all government, most ardently
any change In the representation ; but I am co
that so far from any such results, it would ins
owl secure them. tioverntnent has too long been
on by a preposterous and dangerous combine
twnresrst balances to one another.—Nothing, ,whichwereprova by
thelt;i:init nstitu
suertio
he so stupidly disgusting, as to be constantly toll
rehpoosibility of 311nistere as the safeguard- of m
, atitution. Wow are they responsible ? In all a
- and I believe lam one if the oldest amongst yo
they ever done one responsible act? Is not the
executive Government curled on in Parlianset
net every thing carried on there, and stamped
authority, previous to any one act of state? We
ran Mi ulster' be responsible?--Cao Parliament ii
gem for carrying their own acts into execution?
nev man now venture to pledge his honour. I
hollered we should have lost America, if MI
bail Isogon and carried on that war upon the
responsibility, to a real and substaotial repress
of the people ? Could the immortal orations of
lave been heard in rain by such au sumo
1$? many of these were spoken to almost
re
nches ; and I am old enonch to remember,
tigh not as a Member of Parliament, being
trodden down by those who had not heard the
who were rushing down from above, gorged wit
steaks, to vote away the dependencies and the m
t'seir country. The saint may be slid of the we
Fratize. Could an independent Parliament hai
made to begin and persevere in such a contest, I
a Prople almost t‘pirillrf in the pangs of reyoloth
who, if left to themselves, could never have t
Forope as they did ? I rejoice to think that the
are now within their own boom's, and settling in'
lanced Government. The present King of Prat
conducted himself with great st Mom, and I tat
he will encourage. with his power, the elective fr
in its real and effective character, because the
will then support their representatives, and ti
a spport his throne ; but if it is curtailed and to
with, to make the Deputies a more manageable I
does not require the second sight of a Scotchntan
see what will become of France. The Princes
mazy are in the same situation. Their thrones
established for ever, if they do tut overtorn t
breaking faith wale the people. As to that
Ferdinand, who seems only to i
tender Monarchy,the best of all Governments,
contemptible and odious. What would the
—be at ? So little has he to fear from
I berty, that it cannot be sufficiently roused by
paralleled baseness. If he had stuck by the Col
would hut eared his empire in South America
he established it even now, the danger in Spain
be. that ilie people would still be not sufficient
Laving been brotffied u long by the despotism tc
they Gave submitted. Ocntlemen—The most ins
topic is yet behind. on whic_hilmotutth.tnnois not to
dot
be
We !Irvin difficult times. W
i them. and how are the people (by which I mean t
t tude in its most universal description) to hi
best and the nearest prospect of bringing he
ry count to that state of plenty. if possible, and
contented confidence, 'which is inseparable from
- administered Government? Nothing can am
this, not, in my opinion, approach it, without a li
energetic. but at the same time, a well conside
sober-minded union of all classes and degrees
parts of the United Kingdom, rising impercepti
calmly as the tide of the ocean; and believe me,
sistibiy, if governiug themselves by the long tai
ciples of the Constitution, as the laws of nature
the other, they shall not pass beyond the hot
which British liberty was ha y establisht
which, if not departed from. I ever secure
I sanguinary revolution. This does by so means
1 the Reform of Parliament, in whatever extent
'4 be deemed most beneficial, nor any other it feta
I
because, as Lord Chatham well observed re
• !
lAmericaore might as well thick of rocking a grc
a the cradle of an ipfaat, as to put aside the tel
No . "6..' •
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